5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Oct 15)

1. Let Her Be Her Own Woman!

Sonya Deville Shayna Baszler Naomi
WWE.com

Sticking with the why theme, why is Shayna Baszler suddenly content to do Sonya Deville's bidding when they've never really been aligned on TV before? Unless creative plan to reveal that Baszler is cosying in with those who have influence on SmackDown, then this makes no sense.

Then again, Sonya helps call the shots on Raw too, so that'd still be illogical.

Is it really too much to ask that WWE just let Baszler wrestle and fly solo? She was a powerhouse in NXT before reaching Raw or SmackDown, but all that credibility has been sapped by typical 'show me you can entertain the masses' b*llocks. Shayna doesn't need all these pesky friendships or alliances.

Her involvement in Deville's business with Naomi felt too messy and random and mean anything. Oh well, at least Baszler doesn't have to pal around with Nia Jax anymore, or feud with "stupid dolls". This was a rough, unappealing start for her on SmackDown though.

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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.