5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (23 Aug - Results & Review)

Ups...

5. Exactly What It Needed To Be

One of the best things about Hunter's time in charge of WWE affairs thus far is how effectively he books babyfaces. The pops don't lie. Live crowds are hot for workers like Cody Rhodes, LA Knight and more. On SmackDown, Knight won a routine first title defence vs. Santos Escobar, but you'd think this was a PLE main event.

Washington was loud.

Knight fighting from underneath against Escobar worked. Other members of Legado del Fantasma attacked during the ring intros before the opening bell, but got punted from ringside by the ref. Then, the rest of the match was really just Santos getting some heat on LA before the babyface comeback, but the live house loved it.

Seeing Knight hold some gold and bag this kind of response for a lukewarm title match going in is very encouraging for his future as champion. Personally, yours truly could go for some more from these guys, but it seems LA will be moving onto Carmelo Hayes and/or Andrade soon.