7 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 23)

6. Filler, But Fun

Bobby Roode The New Day
WWE.com

Last night's six-man tag was filler, but enjoyable nonetheless. The trios gave us three-and-a-half minutes of nonstop action. Rusev Day and Jinder Mahal timed their numerous cut-offs perfectly, and The New Day/Bobby Roode combination showed surprising chemistry levels as they fought back against their dastardly opponents, and concocted a strong closing sequence.

Rusev was in the ascendancy, but Kofi Kingston, the lunatic that he is, took him out with a high crossbody and a dive to the floor. This allowed Xavier Woods and the United States Champion to take care of Aiden English. First, it was a spinebuster, then a ropewalk elbow drop, and that was that.

The bout wasn't anything you'll remember a few weeks from now, but it wasn't supposed to be. Sometimes, wrestling just needs to be fun. There were implications for the Royal Rumble, as every participant bar Mahal has been declared, but that was it was far as storylines go, and that's fine. Very much a 'sit back, grab a snack, and turn your brain off' kind of segment, it hit all the right spots, and there was nothing wrong with it.

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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.