5 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Nov 21)

1. B-Show Syndrome

Daniel Bryan Shane McMahon Kevin Owens Sami Zayn
WWE.com

SmackDown's opening segment was relatively well executed. Shane McMahon, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn were as effective as ever, with the Commissioner keen to fire the long-time frenemies following their Survivor Series shenanigans, but his General Manager talking him out of it.

WWE successfully furthered the tension between the involved parties, and established the night's main event, but in the bigger picture, this segment was a flop.

McMahon began by flogging a dead horse with the now defunct SmackDown vs. Raw angle, claiming that even though his side lost at Survivor Series, they weren't the B-show. His inability to accept the outcome suggests the brand's small-time syndrome is far from cured, though.

Like a bitter, petulant child, Shane pointed his finger at Zayn & Owens, blaming them for the loss, though their interference was completely ineffective. McMahon single-handedly fought the duo off at the pay-per-view. They were non-factors, yet Shane continued pushing his point, with only Bryan's intervention saving their jobs. Positioning Zayn & Owens as a set of rabble-rousing anti-authority trolls is working out for them, but said authority is coming off increasingly poorly, with McMahon's words only strengthening the idea that SmackDown is, in fact, the B-show.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.