5 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 8)

3. Good Work Transcends Dire Scripts

Cesaro Xavier Woods
WWE.com

One week removed from defeating Sheamus, professional pancake bandit Xavier Woods met the Irishman's tag team partner, Cesaro in singles competition. It was another effective back-and-forth clash between two of SmackDown's better wrestlers, though not necessarily anything you need to go out of your way to see.

This rivalry might be failing creatively, but there are no problems between the ropes. This is to be expected. There isn't a single weak link within The Bar or New Day, and there are multiple in-ring combinations for the company to play with over the coming weeks and months, all of which should succeed.

While several levels beneath the high-level TV bangers Cesaro was putting on a couple of years ago, his clash with Woods was well worked. They kept a brisk pace throughout, changing momentum on several occasions, before Cesaro scored the victory. It came when Xavier leaped into his uppercut, providing an eye-catching finish for an effective TV bout, while tying the two teams up at 1-1 in such contests.

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Channel Manager
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.