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

1. Injuries Suck

Carmelo Hayes Austin Theory WWE SmackDown Injury
WWE

This isn't your typical 'Down'.

The ref made the right call by stopping that match between Austin Theory and Carmelo Hayes. He couldn't have known at the time that both would only suffer "facial contusions" (according to a later WWE announcement on socials), and it did look like Theory had come down hard right on top of his head during a Spanish Fly spot.

So, this doesn't get a 'Down' because of anything either wrestler, the official or WWE in general did. It is a shame that the match had to be cut short due to that accident though - Theory and Hayes were on their way to having one hell of a scrap, and they were just getting the live crowd really interested when things screeched to a halt.

Carmelo, in particular, will be a bit annoyed about the way fate conspired against him here. He's eager to make a splash on the main roster and earn a full-time call up from NXT, so being robbed of TV minutes certainly won't sit well.

It's nice to hear both guys are alright, at least.

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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.