5 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 1)

3. Babyface Exhibition

Big E Apollo Crews
WWE.com

Big E's Intercontinental Title win on the Christmas Day edition of SmackDown was a landmark moment in his resurgent singles career. Beating a delusional (and excellent) heel like Sami Zayn was the proverbial icing on top of the cake, but what came next was always going to be more important.

It's Apollo Crews.

Crews has done sod all since being drafted from Raw to SmackDown. Suddenly, despite never winning a match to earn it, he's allowed to put himself forward for E's "open challenge" and bag a title shot next week. Again, this isn't inspiring or likeable behaviour, especially when the crux of Sami's frustrations is that he's overlooked.

E vs. Crews is the kind of babyface vs. babyface bout that just seems skippable too. There's almost nothing about it that screams "must see"; WWE may have been better-served putting 'King' Corbin in this spot. Big E needs strong/obvious heel challengers.

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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.