5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (May 22)

2. Hardy's History Lesson

Jeff Hardy
WWE.com

One thing WWE outright fails to do 90% of the time is sell the personal importance of winning the Intercontinental Title. Sure, they've had guys say in promos that it was a lifelong dream (or something similar), but it's always came across as lip service or just another way to fill air time, and it rarely plays a huge part in the narrative.

Jeff Hardy is a little different - he reminded everyone on SmackDown that the IC belt was the first one he bagged as a singles star. That's why it means to much to him, and it's why he wants to win it again during this "redemption" period. That, dear friends, is watertight storytelling, and the kind of thing WWE should be doing more of.

Seeing Hardy beat Sheamus, despite the crappy finish, and then big up how meaningful the title is to him felt great. He used the title as a springboard to success before, and he wants to relive that magic all over again in 2020.

That gives WWE the chance to book a feel good moment, or the chance to heap more heat on AJ Styles if he ruins Jeff's dream.

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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.