5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 10)

1. Numbers Count For Nothing

Shinsuke Nakamura Cesaro Sami Zayn
WWE.com

The natural story between Shinsuke Nakamura and Braun Strowman is that Shin relies on outside help from Cesaro and Sami Zayn. That wouldn't weaken him at all; in fact, it'd put over their group as loyal and make Braun look like an even bigger threat to the Intercontinental Title.

Now, after SmackDown, Nakamura's crew look like chumps.

They tried everything they could to help Shinsuke beat Strowman, but it wasn't enough. The champion elect (which Braun certainly is) rattled through the threesome like he was working against enhancement talent, and that sucked to see. WWE cannot now expect fans to take a strict one-on-one match between these guys at the Rumble seriously.

Braun has already mowed through Nakamura with ease, so why would people believe that the IC Champion has a hope in hell of retaining in Houston? If the numbers game counts for nothing with heel groups, then why even bother?

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