5 Ups & 4 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Aug 21)

2. A PPV-Calibre Main Event

The New Day Harper
WWE.com

Like Rusev Day and Zelina Vega/Andrade Almas, The New Day and Bludgeon Brothers wrestled a SummerSlam rematch that reversed their pay-per-view outcome. Unlike the mixed tag bout, the main event's 50/50 booking is completely acceptable, because Rowan is nursing an arm injury. His limb was all bandaged up last night, and is now set for a spell on the sidelines. The company needed to get the SmackDown Tag Titles off of him and Harper, so they did so in electric fashion, presenting a PPV-calibre clash to close the show.

SummerSlam saw the Bludgeon Brothers disqualified when Rowan brought one of their goofy hammer props into the equation. Last night's No DQ stipulation prevented this from happening again, and it resulted in a better match, with the plunder adding an extra layer of bitterness to the rivalry.

The New Day always excel in urgent, spot-driven bouts like this. Though Rowan was working hurt, they helped Harper concoct a bout that played to their strengths, building towards a conclusion that saw the healthy Brother isolated, hit with the mallet, then finally bested with an elbow drop through the table. For the first time since October 2017, The New Day are champions.

This was the right booking decision in the wake of Rowan's injury, as The New Day are always a safe option to lead the division, and rarely disappoint between the ropes. Here's hoping the big man makes a hasty recovery, though.

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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.