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

3. Melo & Rey Fenix Go Hard In The Paint

Carmelo Hayes has slotted in nicely as the kind of babyface perfect for these United States Title ‘Open Challenges’. Sure, it's high time we moved away from the concept for a little while and got him into a full on feud (there's signs of that, don't worry), but it’s tough to argue with fun matches like this one. Realistically, Rey Fenix was never winning the belt, and he badly needs a new intro to his music because it gets no pop, but these guys work well together.

Melo clearly enjoys being in there with someone roughly the same size as him who's a lot quicker, because he doesn’t need to fight from underneath as the underdog and can just react. That’s a nice change of pace for him. He did play the physical underdog to Ilja Dragunov recently due to the ex-champ's physicality, but Fenix is the kind to bamboozle everyone with stunning rope work and deft movements.

It was smart of Hayes to bow out here or there and let Rey do his thing. That's a lovely position for a baby champ to be in, 'cause it'd normally be Carmelo who has to create a sense of urgency in matches all on his own. He's a pace setter.

Not against Fenix. There was zero need for Hayes to do all the running, which is something the commentary team brought up towards the end of the match. This is a character maturing in front of your very eyes. Melo is more seasoned after a tough few years adjusting to the main roster, and now he's living his best life delivering some of those bangers Sheamus and Drew McIntyre used to talk about.