4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Nov 10 - Results & Review)

2. Carlito’s Part In Things

It was a great move to bring Carlito into the LWO, in retrospect.

Not only can Carly work solid bouts like the one against Bobby Lashley here, but he's become very useful in the ongoing split story between Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar. Drafting the veteran in was a smart decision overall. Triple H deserves credit for that one.

Carlito was logically p*ssed off at Santos for effectively handing Logan Paul the means to beat Rey for the US Title over in Saudi Arabia. Firing back, Escobar snarled at someone he believes has stolen his own relationship with Mysterio out from underneath his nose. It's simple, neat storytelling.

WWE did well to set up what was coming next during this opening promo. Rey got to lament his loss to Paul (he even sowed seeds for a possible rematch by pointing out the brass knuckles spot), then Santos watched Carlito muscle in for the last time.