7 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (6 Dec - Results & Review)

2. Chad Gable Targets The Ankle

Hey, remember when Cody Rhodes called out Kevin Owens for failing to take advantage of his injured leg back at Bash In Berlin this past August? That played a part in KO's slow burn heel turn before he attacked his so-called friend out in the parking lot at Bad Blood then hit a vicious piledriver on Randy Orton last month. Well, Rhodes suffered more leg-related trauma on this week's SmackDown.

Chad's attacks injured his ankle, and the heel went after that like his name was Charlie Bucket and he'd just been handed a golden ticket. This plot point was logical given Gable's Ankle Lock finisher anyway, but it also fits in with the prior story Cody was working with Kev. Now, his ankle and his knee could be considered soft targets heading into Saturday Night's Main Event.

It'd be a huge surprise if Cody and Kevin missed a trick next weekend by failing to make that part of their WWE Title match. Pros this accomplished don't miss easy lay ups like that. That's next week - on SmackDown this week, Gable and Rhodes worked a predictably excellent match that showed Cody's toughness whilst also making the American Made leader look like he has way more to offer WWE.

Please give this man his flowers in 2025, Hunter. No, Chad will never be the guy in this promotion, but an Intercontinental or United States Title reign isn’t out of the question. His poise is incredible. The way Gable kept countering the Cross Rhodes near the end of this main event was awesome, and adding splashes of late drama like that is nothing new for our Chad.