5 Ups And 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Dec 3)

1. Roman Reigns Wins Handicap Match By Count Out

The main event of the show was a confusing one. WWE desperately want fans to embrace Roman Reigns as a genuine babyface, but they have booked themselves into a corner with the finish to Smackdown. The question must remain, why does Roman need Dean Ambrose or The Usos when he can outsmart all the heels on his own? This was not good booking. It's fine to book Reigns in impossible handicap situations, because it makes the villains look like exactly that. The problem comes when the babyface is written to undermine their villainy and come out on top anyway. There was no consequence for Roman foolishly agreeing to face all the bad guys at once, he won by count out regardless of being at a gross disadvantage. This is an issue many fans previously had with John Cena, the 'Super Human' aspect of his character. It seems that persona has now been shifted onto Roman Reigns, and it's difficult to like. Babyfaces require vulnerability if they are going to be effective, but that isn't how WWE want to do things. Reigns made Sheamus, 'King' Barrett, Rusev and Alberto Del Rio look like clowns here. If he can outlast them all in a 4-on-1 situation, why can't he beat Sheamus in a singles match at TLC?