7 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Aug 14)

6. A TNA Throwback

Jeff Hardy
WWE.com

There's no getting away from the fact that 'P.I.S.S' was horrible, but it will at least lead to quite the IC Title match.

Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles last locked horns on a July 2013 episode of TNA Impact in that promotion's 'Bound For Glory Series'. Fast forward seven years and they're set to wrestle for a championship AJ is doing his best to protect. Installing Hardy as his first main challenger was wise.

Next week's bout will probably end with some screwy finish that necessitates a rematch at SummerSlam. Maybe Joseph Park will get involved, or AJ will intentionally get himself disqualified so that he leaves with the belt. Nobody should be annoyed at that, 'cause they'll tear the house down on pay-per-view.

One suggestion: WWE should look at how they used to program feuds on NXT and use that template for Styles vs. Hardy. The rivalry need a more straightforward vibe to it than Jeff's feud with Sheamus had, and they're both good enough to make that work.

Advertisement
Contributor

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.