6 Ups & 3 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jun 26)

5. A Big Improvement

Uso Killian Dain
WWE.com

While Jeff Hardy vs. Eric Young was a fart of a bout, the ensuing six-man was significantly better.

A short 6:50 runtime meant they had no choice but to work a brisk pace. They did just that, with constant momentum swings recapturing the attention lost during the singles bout. Everybody was given the chance to at least do something between the ropes, and while the length meant nobody could truly stand out, it was at least, at the very least, an effective way to build momentum for the babyfaces.

Was showcasing the good guys the right decision, though? Sanity left a strong impression in last week's debut segment, yet they lost last night. Alexander Wolfe looked to have victory locked in following a German Suplex, but Jeff Hardy appeared, hit the Swanton Bomb, and that was that. Sanity have already been defeated.

That's not the way to build a new heel unit, even though Wolfe was pinned by one of the brand's most popular stars. That said, it wasn't enough to spoil the bout completely, and should prove to be no more than a mere bump in the road.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.