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

2. Avoiding An Unnecessary Sasha Banks' Job

It wouldn't have done Sasha Banks any good at all to lose to Lacey Evans on this week's show. When that match was announced last week, this writer groaned and thought about how hot Sasha had been during her comeback march last summer. WWE made the right call by keeping her the hell away from this situation.

Banks would've looked like a right loser by playing gatekeeper to Bayley.

The reason for Sasha going AWOL was suitably arrogant (she has a rap album to finish, damn it), and it was much more satisfying to see champion and challenger brawl than anything else. Now, after sprinting to the back and getting a few licks in on Bayley, Lacey can rightfully want more at the Rumble.

Side note: Bayley still doesn't come across as arrogant or confident enough during her speeches. Her voice shakes, and that makes it challenging to take her seriously as a swaggering champ who has the measure of her challengers. Physically, she's fine, but her verbal skills need some work.