5 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Oct 2)

3. This Bad Made-For-TV Movie Continues

Paige WWE
WWE.com

Your mileage will vary on the night's opening segment depending on your enjoyment of the ongoing AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe storyline. For this author, that angle jumped the shark, sh*t the bed, and shot the hat with Joe's home invasion last week, so as a result, this is a clear Down.

Paige kicked things off in the ring. She attempted to put over the severity of what her old pal "Samoa" had done, but clarified that Joe hadn't actually entered AJ's home, with the authorities taking him in for trespassing. If it was up to her, she'd have released him. A telephone conversation with Styles changed that, and after convincing his General Manager to keep hold of his Super Show-Down opponent, their WWE Championship match is back on.

Cue a cringe-worthy promo from the usually dependable 'Phenomenal One,' who claimed he was too shaken up and upset to be at SmackDown. Isn't this guy supposed to be a professional, and shouldn't Paige, as his boss, be pulling him up for this? Get on with your job, AJ, you big soppy git.

AJ promised to "bury [Joe] alive" on Saturday. Let's hoping WWE do the same with the feud.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.