5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (May 26)

3. AJ Styles Comes Through

AJ Styles Karrion Kross
WWE.com

Credit to Karrion Kross for holding up his end of the bargain in this clash, but the match was all about prepping AJ Styles for Saturday's match vs. Seth Rollins. In fairness, Kross knew his role here, and did everything to make AJ look like he has a 50/50 chance of becoming the new World Heavyweight Champ.

If WWE can sort out Karrion's booking, then yours truly wouldn't be against seeing these boys work a series of bouts over the summer. They've got some chemistry, but creative would likely need to cease with the idea that Kross is yet another heel full of empty threats who never comes through on them.

Regardless of Karrion's situation, the match was magic and gave Styles a momentum-boosting win heading into Night Of Champions. This is the most important AJ has felt for a long, long time, and it's sweet seeing him back on SmackDown smashing it.

Here's to more.

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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.