5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (16 May - Results & Review)

Ups...

5. Simmering Tensions Offer Hope

Here's that bright side.

SmackDown launched with a solid opening segment starring Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and JC Mateo. The crux was that Solo wanted to hear Jacob say he loved him again. This is his version of Roman’s “Acknowledge Me” stuff, but it's a good way to go for the story considering Fatu has clearly outgrown playing the wild bodyguard. Sensing that he's losing him, Sikoa pushed Jacob around a little bit here before LA Knight ran in seeking revenge for what happened at Backlash.

You've got to like where this is going, and fans there live played their part by chanting for Fatu relentlessly. The skit was simple and to the point, and it worked as a kickoff to the show without eating up much time or going through the motions. Even the tiniest bit of depth to the story between these ex-New Bloodline partners works.

People are ready to embrace Jacob and watch him launch Sikoa into outer space before marching on and doing his own thing. Meanwhile, Solo is passive aggressively bringing in new heavies like JC to illustrate that Fatu is expendable. That isn't true, naturally, but it's what Sikoa's power-hungry character is all about.

There's simmering tension a-go-go between these dudes. WWE can sit on this for as long as they please, because Jacob is over enough already to show some restraint. He won't truly explode until Solo does something that negatively impacts his aspirations. Y'know, like costing him that United States gold. Or beating him for it.

One to look out for.