6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (8 Nov - Results & Review)

3. Randy Orton’s Sell Job

Take a bow, Randy Orton. The 'Legend Killer' has become a legend in his own right, and this sort of work is exactly why. SmackDown featured a world class display of selling from Randy after taking that piledriver from KO. No, the actual move didn't look anywhere near as brutal as hoped, but Orton's sell job should be an example to any young wrestlers watching and taking notes.

He didn't flail around screaming or do that jolt thing The Rock used to after taking a piledriver, but made pained noises where appropriate and sold the moment expertly. Too many wrestlers get planted directly on top of their heads and then are right back on the offensive seconds later, and it's baffling. You see it all the bloody time with those pesky Canadian Destroyers.

This felt old-school. That's not a complaint. Modern wrestling needed a reminder to do the basics well, and Randy was only too happy to play teacher. Imagine he'd taken this unexpected piledriver then bounced back up for an RKO less than 30 seconds later? That's the sort of thing you'd typically see on wrestling telly, so it was lovely to witness the art of selling in full flow.

It'd bring a tear to any traditionalist's eye, so it would.

Special mention again to Randy's initial shock and the grunts that followed once pain kicked in. He didn't over-react, and he put over how dangerous the landing was with his facials and distress. Meanwhile, Owens realised he'd gone too far and decided to get the hell out of there before he was fined.