7 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 10)

by Andy H Murray

1. These Guys Again...

Shinsuke Nakamura AJ Styles
WWE.com

Eyes were rolled when AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura was announced for SmackDown. The duo have only just concluded a rivalry in which they wrestled five disappointing bouts in two months. Though it unfolded over a relatively short time period, the feud dragged, and the prospect of another rematch six weeks later wasn't at all enticing.

Repetitive booking is a problem, but the match was about as good as could be expected from these two on weekly television. It was good. Not great, but perfectly solid, and a reminder that while the main feud's bouts didn't live up to colossal expectations, no Styles vs. Nakamura match was worse than "pretty decent."

They were wrestling on SmackDown, not a pay-per-view, so of course they held back. Still, the crowd were into it for the duration. Nakamura and Styles kept things competitive, working a textbook back-and-forth format for 16 solid minutes that concluded when Rusev emerged from the commentary booth, attacked Styles, and prompted the disqualification. Both wrestlers were protected, and it led into the next angle. A more fitting finish WWE could not have booked.

Styles vs. Nakamura does now need to go away for a while, but they succeeded last night.

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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.