5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (April 12 - Results & Review)

1. Cody Rhodes Needed Something Hotter?

This might not be a popular point.

Cody Rhodes is really good at cutting babyface hero promos, but his opening speech on Smackers was paint by numbers. WWE clearly believes cooling things off a bit post-WrestleMania drama is the way to go, but this writer fundamentally disagrees with that. If anything, this would've been the perfect time for Cody's next rival to strike.

Something more dramatic than, 'I'm facing the winner of two Triple Threats and a singles match' would've been preferable. Friday night was Rhodes' chance to hammer home his position as the new face of SmackDown, but he's cut promos almost exactly like this one before (sans title, of course), and recently.

It was all slightly disappointing, if only 'cause something bigger was expected from his first showing on the blue brand since winning the title from Roman Reigns. Cooling everyone off post-'Mania is understandable in a way, but it's also why the traditional lull happens from mid-April until SummerSlam.