5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Aug 5)

Karrion Kross and Scarlett hunt down Roman Reigns; WWE fans boo Liv Morgan.

WWE Scarlett 2022
WWE.com

Genuine surprises on regular WWE TV have become something of a rarity in recent years.

Despite rumours that Triple H might be interested in re-signing the duo post-Vince McMahon, few fans tuned into Friday's episode of SmackDown thinking that Karrion Kross and Scarlett would be thrust right into the main event mix. However, that's exactly what happened - Kross attacked Drew McIntyre, then set his sights on Roman Reigns.

Those major returns weren't the only newsworthy item on this week's show though. SmackDown Women's Champion and SummerSlam tap out queen Liv Morgan has been booked terribly since winning the belt back at Money In The Bank, and her recent woes continued in South Carolina.

Let's just say that somebody in creative should've thought twice before lining up this particular promo. Or, if Liv was shooting from the hip, then she did herself zero favours.

Elsewhere, WWE got back to basics with the Intercontinental Title, set up Sami Zayn's immediate future with The Bloodline and did right by one of the brand's most overlooked stars. On the downside, a previously-dominant tag-team went backwards and Greenville just didn't give a hoot about SmackDown's women.

Here's all the good and the bad.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.