5 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Oct 27 - Results & Review)

3. Chemistry For Days

John Cena Solo Sikoa Paul Heyman
WWE.com

John Cena and Paul Heyman were f*cking stunning on the mic there.

The way Cena let fans rally behind him by showing fragility was expert-level promo work. This definitely wasn't "Super Cena". It was an ageing veteran who's self-aware enough to realise his best days are behind him, and that has captured people's hearts. Vulnerable John = the way to go from now on.

Heyman's manipulative crap, which reared its ugly head deeper into the segment, was temporarily shelved so he could earnestly praise Cena for a Hall Of Fame career. At one point, Paul seemed legit disturbed that John bloody Cena (of all people) could be standing mid-ring doubting himself.

That was all a ruse to soften up Cena for Solo Sikoa's attack. What a wonderful piece of business from beginning to end this was. Cena's humanity, Heyman's honesty that quickly turned back to manipulation, and Solo's brutality sold the coming Crown Jewel match brilliantly.

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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.