6 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Mar 24)
"WrestleZAYNia" is coming; Dominik Mysterio goes too far; SmackDown's women struggle.
SmackDown just bagged itself '6 Ups & 2 Downs' for the second week in a row.
Storytelling has been the strongest aspect of WWE's output on Friday nights during the Bloodline era, but creative met hardcore wrestling fans halfway with some cracking bouts here. Cody Rhodes was in action against a member of Imperium, and GUNTHER vs. Butch conjured up images of NXT/independent wrestling days of yesteryear.
There was finally some actual movement on a family feud between Rey and Dominik Mysterio too, but other WrestleMania 39 rivalries didn't get so lucky. Charlotte Flair sucked wind when trying to sell her upcoming title defence vs. Rhea Ripley, and the whole "Showcase" thing is fooling nobody.
On the plus side, there's an interesting subplot to the Intercontinental Title situation, and WWE tossed LA Knight an olive branch following weeks of misdirection. The 'Stone Cold' match is a no-goer, but LA could still enjoy his own 'Mania moment next weekend if things fall into place.
Here's all the good and bad from SmackDown's penultimate stop before finally lighting up Hollywood next weekend.