6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Dec 18)

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Not KO’d

Kevin Owens Roman Reigns Jey Uso
WWE.com

Kevin Owens shares more in common with 'Stone Cold' than just his stunner finish.

After taking quite the kicking throughout SmackDown, Owens then took another beating at the hands of Roman Reigns and Jey Uso right before the program went dark. As Roman strolled away content with the message he'd sent though, Kevin got back up and said nothing could keep him down.

That same renegade spirit made Steve Austin one of the best bad asses in wrestling - it's working for Owens too, and it's a way better fit for him than hokey comedy or anything of the sort has been in the past. When he's booked as an unruly, resilient everyman, KO clicks.

Bonus points go to the writers for avoiding a tired 'babyface on top' ending to SmackDown as well. That would've been the easy play, but it wouldn't have fit in with Owens' tough man who's in over his head and knows it gimmick or Roman's arrogant top guy presentation.

What did you think of this week's WWE SmackDown? For more wrestling, check out WWE TLC 2020: 10 Things That Must Happen and WWE TLC 2020: 10 Nightmares That Could Happen!

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Contributor

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.