5 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 18)

4. The Kanellises Steal One

Mike Kanellis Sami Zayn
WWE.com

Last night’s match between Mike Kanellis and Sami Zayn lasted little over three minutes, but it was exactly what it needed to be. Mike beat Sami up last week, and the former NXT Champion was out for revenge. The babyface was full of fire, while Kanellis worked like a classic heel, using a series of underhand tactics to try and seize an advantage, before stealing a win in the end.

Sami was on the verge of victory following an Exploder Suplex to the corner, but Maria intervened to save her husband. This allowed Kanellis to strike Zayn as he moved in, then put him away with a Samoan Driver. Smart, straightforward, and concise. Kanellis got over as a cowardly heel, and Sami has all the sympathy after losing in such a screwy manner.

This feud will likely continue beyond Battleground, though there’s a chance they could be added to Sunday’s pay-per-view card. This is a good thing. Sami is a great choice for Mike’s first feud: he’s one of the best wrestlers in the company, and a tremendous babyface foil for Kanellis' heelish antics. This should help the newcomer get over, and hopefully start his WWE career on a high.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.