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

1. A Limp Return

Sonya Deville WWE SmackDown
Twitter @SonyaDevilleWWE

Sonya Deville hasn't really been seen on WWE television since losing to Mandy Rose at SummerSlam last August. Before that defeat, she was coming into her own as a heel promo machine, and could've been considered a weekly highlight on SmackDown.

Real-life drama interrupted Sonya's flow, and it's great to see her back, but...how lame was this return? Deville, who has a genuine chance of becoming the top female in the company someday, was shown walking backstage. OK then. Thanks for that!

That was it - she walked.

Imagine Roman Reigns had been shown walking around like he was getting some daily exercise before coming back as the 'Tribal Chief'. That would've killed any surprise element. Deville didn't even do anything later in the show to justify her leisurely stroll.

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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.