6 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (24 May - Results & Review)

Kevin Owens returned to action on this week's episode of SmackDown, but his comeback was far too brief to score either an 'Up' or 'Down'. It wasn't the biggest story coming out of the first blue brand show over in Saudi Arabia anyway. WWE set up both the King and Queen Of The Ring finals on the broadcast and hinted that one veteran might retire soon.

That veteran isn't Randy Orton. The 'Viper' has a date with GUNTHER lined up on Saturday night, then...who knows? Backstage, Orton teased that he's not willing to play old buddies with a certain champion, and that frost could have SummerSlam implications beyond the next PLE. Watch this space, and all that.

If you were looking for game-changing episodes, then you came to the wrong place. However, if you're the kind of fan who enjoys spotting when Triple H and his creative team are planting seeds, then SmackDown had loads to offer you. It'll be a trip to the garden centre in the morning for ol' Papa H - he planted a ton of those seeds here!

It'd be nice if the boss would water some other wilting flowers whilst he's at it. The women's division, in particular, could use a spark, and the tag-team ranks are already looking a little too samey to really click.

Here's all the good and bad pre-King & Queen.