7 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 19 - Results & Review)

4. Logan Paul’s Motivation

Logan Paul Kevin Owens
WWE.com

Kevin Owens admitted that he'd forgotten all about the stunner he gave Logan Paul back at WrestleMania 37 three years ago. Confession: So had this fan! So, it was smart of WWE to hark back to that moment and use it as fuel for Paul's quest to take down KO as soon as possible.

Elephants never forget, and neither does LP.

In truth, Owens has become a master of lacing his programs with historic details like this. He's one of the few characters on pro wrestling telly who pays attention, and the fact Logan is doing the same makes for a more realistic, plausible rivalry. SmackDown's face-to-face was very well-worked and well laid out.

That bodes well for their United States Title match at the Rumble. Paul is top notch at playing the unlikeable pr*ck, and Kev excels when he's the everyman who likes standing up to big heads. The way WWE leaned on LP's outsider status here worked a treat, and giving him personal motivation is a shrewd move.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.