5 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (23 Jan - Results & Review)

2. They Needed This

Michael Cole was conducting a love-in style sit down interview with Cody Rhodes when Jacob Fatu walked in to confront him. Smartly, Cole got the hell out of dodge and Fatu took his place. It was intense, it was upfront and it was…helpful to the issues these guys have. Praise the wrestling overlords for ensuring that Jacob mentioned how he was locked in on Drew McIntyre before Cody put his hands on him inside the steel cage.

That needed to be addressed, because it didn’t make much sense at the time when Rhodes went after someone he has no beef with. Score another for the star making performance from Jacob here - it added some last minute gloss to their match at SNME too. That’s really all you can ask from a skit like this. Well played, everyone.

Cody continued flirting with heel mannerisms and statements by bringing up Fatu's time in prison (which was a verbal low blow), and that was welcome as well. It upped the intensity between both guys further, and it made Jacob point out that he hasn't even started being truly violent with Rhodes just yet. After remarks like the one Cody shot off, that's coming.

Credit to WWE's camera crew for getting up close and personal on their faces, by the way. Directors also told the crew to shoot Jacob and Cody from underneath, so that gave the promo a claustrophobic air that really worked for it. Simple as this: Rhodes vs. Fatu at SNME needed something this fraught and enjoyable.

Jacob was at his menacing best, and Cody gave as good as he was getting by almost threatening to heel it up.