5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (29 Aug - Results & Review)

Predictably, France was loud and rowdy for WWE action on Friday night. Paris lapped up every single second of SmackDown even when things didn't make too much sense or hit the heights expected, and it's amazing what an invested live crowd can do for any wrestling show. SmackDown was proof of that, because this was a fairly middle of the road 'go home' episode heading into the next PLE.

There was one exception: Sami Zayn's big title win in the main event. That could be pivotal in something larger scale heading from here right through to WrestleMania 42 season. If so, then remember this moment as a launching point for the dude's latest singles push. He's a better choice as champ than the struggling Solo Sikoa anyway. Solo isn't bad by any means, but this MFT thing ain't it - it's his Corre next to The Bloodline being Nexus.

Positives came from Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre's logic on the mic. They cut through some babyface bull in Paris, and that was great to see. Another upside? Some neat tag-team wrestling that set up contenders for The Wyatt Sicks whilst still keeping a story going for The Miz and Carmelo Hayes. The result could've been different, but that's perhaps splitting hairs.

On the negative end, WWE blatantly has no clue what to do with Tiffany Stratton. She's gone from being a major part of the SmackDown product to background noise, and that isn't nice to see. A heel turn might well rescue things heading into the final few months of 2025.

Here's all the good and bad from the last TV stop pre-Clash In Paris. Bon dimanche!