5 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (27 Dec - Results & Review)

2. Bloodline Inspired Chaos

Incoming 'can't believe I'm even typing this' scenario: That was the most bored one can remember being during a Sami Zayn match. It isn't a reflection on the skills of Sami or Carmelo Hayes, but they were killing time before Braun Strowman and The Bloodline arrived. It was painfully obvious just a few short minutes into their bout that we were getting some sort of non-finish that'd lead to an angle.

That's fine, but it means Sami vs. Melo sits awkwardly in the space between 'Ups' and 'Downs'. It wasn't memorable or terrible. Thankfully, the post-DQ stuff more than made up for it. Braun arrived to go after Hayes, who scarpered, then Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu attacked Zayn to cause the bell. After that, there was a super-fun standoff between Strowman and Fatu before things really broke down.

What a flurry of activity. It was mass hysteria for a minute or two!

Hot segments are nothing new for The Bloodline (even Solo's version). They revel in brawls that see bodies start flying around all over the place, and Sikoa got to send a message to Roman Reigns by taking Sami out before 'Tribal Combat' hits Raw's Netflix debut. There was a lot to take in once Zayn vs. Melo ended, put it that way.

Even Hunter's harshest critics must admit that he's done a bang up job of making Fatu look threatening against everybody, and now Solo has a wee bit of juice before meeting Roman to thrash out this 'Tribal Chief' business too. Job done.