6 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 5 - Results & Review)

Downs...

4. Something STILL Feels Off

Damage CTRL Bianca Belair
WWE

It's hard to put one's finger on it, but it does seem like Bianca Belair challenging for the Women's Title as a spirited babyface is seriously old at this point. She's just sort of...there on programming most week, and the clear spark Bianca had before has all but vanished into thin air. It'll be tough for her to regain lost mojo.

Perhaps that teased-then-abandoned heel turn would've done it.

Look, everyone knows Belair vs. IYO SKY will be a solid match when it happens on PLE, but the story is paper-thin and Bianca's character is a real drag these days. Bayley's face said it all when Belair interrupted some Damage CTRL promo time backstage to confidently rant about taking IYO's belt.

Another problem: Why didn't CTRL kick her head in when it was literally five-on-one? SKY, Bayley, Asuka, Kairi Sane and Dakota Kai moped around like moody teenagers and let one solitary face lecture them without putting a stop to it. Weird.

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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.