5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (19 July - Results & Review)
Cody Rhodes is helpless; SummerSlam matches made official; WWE needs to rethink Bayley.
WWE taped a double shot of SmackDown goodness for fans in the house on Friday, and that typically changes how the show comes across on TV. Marathon tapings mean there's a ton of filler spread across all four hours of telly on back-to-back weeks, but that's unavoidable due to the roster's upcoming mini-tour in Japan.
SmackDown still got the main story beats right.
A major title bout was locked in for SummerSlam, and Solo Sikoa's Bloodline 2.0 continued wrecking the competition as the would-be 'Tribal Chief' stared down on a fallen Cody Rhodes. There's enough meat on the bone between those guys to make the next PLE clash fun, but it's also true that people want Roman Reigns back in a hurry.
How about the downers? Well, Carmelo Hayes has zero direction right now, creative made an odd choice during Bayley's sit-down snarl-fest with Nia Jax, and one women's match topped Booker T vs. Edge for a shampoo commercial in terms of "high stakes". Look out for some, 'They're Fighting Over A Queue' signs soon.
WWE's product is undeniably hot, but a strange malaise has crept over Friday nights lately. Here's hoping Roman's return and the emergence of some new stars like Tiffany Stratton can change that.
Here's all the good and bad!