6 Ups And 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Feb 14)

Ups...

6. All Killer, No Filler

AJ Styles Bray Wyatt John Cena
WWE.com

SmackDown kicked-off with a promo from new WWE Champion Bray Wyatt, and it was excellent. The Eater of Worlds was serenaded by "you deserve it" chants as he stood in the ring, then spoke of how he knew this day would eventually come, and welcomed everybody to "the Era of Wyatt."

WWE victory speeches rarely go uninterrupted, however, and out came John Cena. The 16-time champion was looking to immediately exercise his WWE Championship rematch clause, but as soon as the words escaped his lips, AJ Styles had to join the party. Daniel Bryan made his way out a few minutes later, booked the trio in a three-way championship match, and SmackDown's blockbuster main event was set in stone.

This was a perfect example of how to open the show with a talking segment without boring the audience into submission. Wyatt was focused on the microphone without veering into the nonsensical psycho-babble he often spews in these situations, and both Styles and Cena were sharp and to-the-point in making their demands. Bryan made a logical move by giving them their shots at the same time, and he booked the match without meandering. A well put-together segment all-round.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.