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

4. An Obvious Result, But The Right One!

Kevin Owens Santos Escobar
WWE.com

Nobody should have any problems with Kevin Owens winning the US Title contendership tourney and marching on to wrestle Logan Paul at the Rumble. Looking back at the brackets, it was the most appealing outcome from the get-go, and now the match is set. No amount of crummy guest comms can change that!

Seriously though, KO and LP will have a cracking match later this month. Credit, however, must go to Kev for making sure that Santos Escobar looked like a genuine threat throughout their final - there's no way this is the last we'll hear from Santos in a lofty spot this year. 2024 could be huge for him.

Rey Mysterio (when healthy) awaits.

Owens didn't dominate the match or look past Escobar, and that's why he's one of the best all-rounders on the company books. KO knew exactly when to lay out and let the heel take over, then timed his own offence like a real pro. No-one will be surprised by that.

Good stuff.

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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.