5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Nov 18)

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Kevin Owens KO’s The Bloodline

Drew McIntyre Kevin Owens Brawling Brutes Sheamus Butch Ridge Holland
WWE.com

Worst-kept secret.

That's what Kevin Owens linking up with Drew McIntyre and team before Survivor Series: WarGames was. Everybody and their budgie knew that KO would be part of the babyface crew if he was physically able; on that, Kev gingerly walked out to even the odds during SmackDown's closing moments.

Fingers crossed he's able to hit more than a few stunners on pay-per-view then. His 'Stone Cold' tribute on Roman Reigns here was impactful, not least 'cause it's pretty rare that Roman's Bloodline squad backs off the way they did before WWE's cameras faded to black.

Fans there live in Hartford loved seeing KO link up with Drew, Sheamus, Butch and Ridge Holland. His history with both Roman and Sami Zayn (more so with Sam) helps give his inclusion in the WarGames main event some proper context too.

What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more wrestling, check out AEW Full Gear 2022: 10 Things That Must Happen and AEW Full Gear 2022: 10 Nightmares That Could Come True!

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Contributor

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.