7 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Mar 27)

Ups...

7. Starting With A Match

Rusev Bobby Roode Jinder Mahal
WWE.com

SmackDown opened not with an in-ring talking segment, but a tag match. United States Champion Randy Orton and Bobby Roode were set to face Jinder Mahal and his surviving Singh sidekick. Instead, Rusev was substituted in as 'The Maharaja's' partner, which created an altogether more interesting dynamic.

Still the most popular guy on the roster not named AJ Styles or Shinsuke Nakamura, 'The Bulgarian Brute' remains grossly miscast as a heel, but it's always good to see him shining. Here, Rusev was positioned as the undisputed star of the match. He's an infinitely more interesting worker than any of the men he shared the ring with, and he scored the victory, pinning 'The Viper' after belting him with a Machka Kick.

The match wasn't without problems, which is why it finishes at number seven. 18 minutes is a looonnnggg time to watch Mahal, Orton, and Roode, who, by this author's reckoning, rank among WWE's dullest wrestlers. The company's continued insistence on pushing Rusev as a villain is baffling, too, but that's a bigger picture issue.

Regardless, the match finished as a net positive, and SmackDown gets a supplemental Up for not starting with the usual revolving door segment.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.