5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown Live! In Newcastle (May 17)
Ups...
5. No Cameras, No Problem
As always with house shows, many of the company's performers were in fine and fun form thanks to the relatively unvarnished nature of the event. Often the highlight of catching the talent getting to iron out kinks or simply veer from the ultra-tight nature of a Raw or SmackDown Live! taping, the atmosphere never fails to be joyous
The New Day, as expected, were a f*cking riot doing nothing at all. Inch-perfect as the opening act in front of a red hot crowd, their schtick went down a storm as did the lashings of gyrations and machinations as opponents The Usos and Bludgeon Brothers subsequently made their entrances.
Several babyfaces gobbled ample time with ringsiders - always particularly pleasing when children get such a close-up experience of their television favourites. Looking just as excited as those young fans, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson bombing out to the ring like contemporary Bushwhackers to make the save for AJ Styles as he suffered the wrath of The Bar and Shinsuke Nakamura was a genuine highlight. Rarely afforded the opportunity to take such a high profile spot, their enthusiasm was infectious and a infused the second headliner with welcome comedy and heat.