5 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Aug 1)

Ups…

5. A Push For Aiden English?

Aiden English’s quick victory over Sami Zayn will have no doubt left some sections of the audience spewing. ‘The Drama King’ is, after all, an enhancement talent by trade, while Zayn is generally regarded as one of the company’s most held-back wrestlers. If it were booked by investment levels, the outcome should be obvious, but it turned into English’s second consecutive upset instead.

Still fresh from defeating Tye Dillinger at Battleground, the former Vaudevillain pinned Sami with a surprise cradle in less than two minutes, suggesting a push is on the way. A clean loss, sure, but its sudden nature keeps Sami protected, and the post-match mockery from Mike & Maria Kanellis helps maintain their ongoing feud.

The bout wasn’t anything you’ll remember a month from now, but it accomplished everything it set out to do. Sami’s not the kind of wrestler who needs to be winning every single week, and while it may seem like he’s “above” losing to guys like English, upsets are important in pushing wrestlers forward, particularly in the era of 50/50 booking. If this win helps establish Aiden as a solid midcard presence, its outcome will be justified.