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

by Jamie Kennedy

1. That Show-Ending Angle

Bad Bunny Damian Priest
WWE.com

Rhea Ripley and Dominik vs. Rey Mysterio and Zelina Vega was a nice blend between one of 'Mania's featured matches and one of Backlash's treats to come. Being totally honest though, it couldn't hold a candle to the show-closing angle that saw Bad Bunny lead the LWO into battle against Judgment Day.

Those stables brawled, and Bunny entered the ring with a kendo stick to confront Damian Priest. Man, the crowd was all over this. Nobody could blame WWE for calling an audible (assuming Cody vs. Brock is the headliner going in) and main-eventing Backlash with the 'San Juan Street Fight' instead.

Puerto Rico badly wants to see Bunny cave Priest's skull in with that weapon, and they'll be amped up for more violence by the time Backlash goes live. Simple angles like this one go a long way when they're played out in front of the right audience.

What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more wrestling, check out WWE Backlash 2023: 10 Things That Must Happen, WWE Backlash 2023: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True and 10 New Directions For WWE After The 2023 Draft!

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Contributor

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.