5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (30 Jan - Results & Review)

Ups...

5. The Set

Granted, this could be considered an odd first ‘Up’ to some, but that dual SmackDown/Royal Rumble set design deserves a mention. WWE built the stadium from the ground up exclusively for this weekender. That’s what you can do when you have all the money in the world and are backed by Saudi millions, but then...WWE has oodles of cash all year round but scale down their sets/entrances as a general rule nowadays.

This Rumble-fied set looked banging as soon as you clapped eyes on it, and it's also totally unique to Riyadh. It’ll look amazing come the Rumble when SmackDown graphics give way to more bespoke PLE branding. Triple H was right to gush about the job his team had done during a social media run through showing off the design before Friday's show aired.

This is what a big time, major market company looks like.

No stadium? No problem. Just give WWE's crew some Lego, a few bits of cloth, a crate of Monster and watch them go, go, go. The fact this whole deal was thrown up as quickly as it was is very impressive indeed. 2026's Rumble layout makes WrestleMania IX look rubbish. 'World's largest toga party' or not. You all looked silly. Silly.

Right, enough of that merriment. All of this exists just to say that WWE's set for this year's 'Mania season kickoff looks resplendent. Seeing wind tumble through the Rumble will only add to the unique flavour too. No, Otis hasn't been eating beans - the hastily-assembled stadium is exposed to the elements.