5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Nov 17 - Results & Review)
1. Santos Escobar Delivers
Not even dreaded "WHAT?!" chants could stop Santos Escobar from powering his way through a crucial promo justifying his heel turn on ex-mentor Rey Mysterio. Evansville's chants were uncalled for too, because Santos turning on Rey is a compelling story with realistic motives.
Escobar ploughed through all of his material with aplomb here.
Zelina Vega slapped him for being a dirtbag, and then Santos kicked old pals Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde to the curb. WWE moved quickly to announce Escobar vs. arch nemesis (one of them, at least) Carlito for Survivor Series. That'll be a fun time-burner before Mysterio is able to return from knee surgery.
Santos referenced that hospital visit by brutally saying he hopes Rey's leg gets amputated. That cruel line was straight out of Dominik Mysterio's heel playbook. No, no that is not a complaint. Escobar also mentioned Dom Dom, and said he agrees with Mysterio Jr Jr's assessment of his father.
Top work from someone with serious potential.
What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more like this, check out AEW Full Gear 2023: 10 Things That Must Happen and AEW Full Gear 2023: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True!