7 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (April 28)

6. Knocking The Champ's Confidence

Zelina Vega is little more than a one-off challenger for Rhea Ripley because Backlash happens to be in Puerto Rico, but that's fine. The important thing is that creative does everything it can to add even the tiniest bit of threat to Zelina, and they managed that on this week's SmackDown.

LWO member Vega fought back against a two-on-one disadvantage to beat Sonya Deville (with Chelsea Green at ringside). Then, she surprised Rhea by reversing into a DDT post-match. This is all totally fine, 'cause it portrays Zelina as a spirited underdog who only needs one such moment at Backlash to upset the champion.

Ripley's post-DDT confusion was excellently-framed by WWE's cameras too.

Later, Rey Mysterio sprinkled some of his own underdog star dust on Vega by saying nobody expected him to win World Championships either. He did it though, and he believes in her. That was a killer backstage moment, and it's the kind of character development this new faction needs.

Good stuff all-round.