6 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (July 17)

Ups...

6. Cheaters Win #1

Shinsuke Nakamura Big E
WWE.com

As much as that tacked-on Steel Cage thing was kinda' weird, at least Cesaro and Big E managed to have a good match that played to both men's strengths. This was a game of power vs. power, and (credit where credit is due) the announcers did a fine job of putting that across.

Then, to top it off, WWE booked the right conclusion.

Shinsuke Nakamura helped his partner cheat behind the referee's back before Cesaro's got a rare win by using his 'Neutraliser' finish. That ending was super-smooth, and didn't suffer from the tired old 'stupid ref' trope; the official rightly ducked out of the way to stop herself from colliding with the wrestlers, and Shin's attack was so swift and quiet she realistically wouldn't have spotted it.

Heels should cheat. Post-match, those same baddies also managed to escape before New Day could exact revenge for last week's table attack. Sure, that gives away the finish to their Tables Match on Sunday, but it was the right call not to pen more table breakage here.

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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.