5 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 30)

by Andy H Murray

1. Locked Down

The Usos
WWE.com

WWE's production team got weird last night. For some reason, they decided to superimpose an animated prison cell graphic upon the screen (complete with goofy sound effects) whenever The Usos yelled "locked down" during one of their trademark call-and-response promos. An odd choice to say the least, but not enough to derail what was a typically great segment from Jimmy and Jey.

The duo stand out for their uniqueness. Sure, the "Usos penitentiary" shtick is very sports entertainment-y, but their delivery is unlike anyone else on the roster. This is absolutely vital in the era of heavy scripting, where talented microphone workers are regularly reduced to bland, robotic word-spitters when asked to speak. Fortunately, there are no such problems with The Usos. They're manic without being over-the-top, spout catchphrases without being overly gimmicky, and speak with the utmost conviction.

Their diatribe concluded with The Bludgeon Brothers arriving for their scheduled squash match. The teams' interactions were fleeting, but Harper and Rowan look like The Usos' next opponents. Such a feud would no doubt require Jimmy and Jey to carry the bulk of the mic work, and if last night was anything to go by, they'll have no trouble getting the story over.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.