5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (3 May - Results & Review)

WWE's Bullet Club nod was anything but "Too Sweet" over in France pre-Backlash.

AJ Styles Cody Rhodes
WWE

This week's SmackDown was always going to be a glorified pre-show for Backlash. Anyone who attended the thing probably knew that beforehand, and WWE themselves have started shrugging knowing shoulders by offering combo packages for SmackDown and the following evening's PLE. You might've spotted some spirited erm...chat about the upcoming Scottish dates on social media.

Regardless of any house show-esque feel to the card layout, France was ready for some WWE. Lyon's lively crowd bodes well for Backlash on Saturday night, but the rowdy, party-like atmosphere did step on creative's toes just a little bit. They fancied one of those wink and a nod "insider" moments by referencing New Japan's Bullet Club and the part both AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes played in the group's success.

It didn't really work.

Other issues included the 2024 Draft (a concept that has literally just finished!) looking anything but important, and a WWE Tag-Team Title bout that honestly could've been way better. On the plus side, tensions in the women's division helped massively, and the ongoing Bloodline mutiny provided some fun.

Here's all the good and bad from Triple H's last TV hurdle before Backlash.

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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.