5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (April 16)

3. Bayley Steps Up

Bayley WWE SmackDown
WWE

"Ding Dong, Hello!"

Bayley will be Bianca Belair's next long-term challenger. She might have to wait on that surefire rematch between Belair and Sasha Banks (WrestleMania Backlash, and all that jazz), but it's a fine pairing. Also, Bayley vs. Bianca has another major plus: WWE can't run a 'frenemies' angle again.

They just burned through that approach with Sasha. It didn't work then, and it wouldn't work with Bayley, but the company are unlikely to book exactly the same dynamic so soon anyway. Breathe a sigh of relief, people, because the writers will need to go a different route with Bayley. It might even make her more serious again.

The unofficial 'Mania 37 hostess is at her best when she ditches the goofy comedy and gets gritty. Hopefully, and if SmackDown's promo is anything to go by, that's the road WWE want to take with this feud. This was a fine first step.

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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.