7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (3 Jan - Results & Review)

3. MCMGs Needed To Be Angry

There's a clear upside to this match that'll be explored in the 'Ups', but something else is worth saying before getting to that: Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley really needed to have a bit more bite to them from the off. The Motor City Machine Guns lost their belts and learned not to trust old pal Johnny Gargano in the process. Then, they were attacked backstage. Here, both were content to work their usual zippy style.

Nah, screw that. Context is everything. The Guns should've come out spitting venom. Sometimes, story and characterisation should override the need to hit flashy moves and all that sort of stuff, especially when it'd fit the direction WWE has been running with anyway. This was not the time for babyface tag goodness - it was the time for anger, and should be viewed as a real missed opportunity for the Guns to show a different side to their game.

It's kinda surprising an agent on WWE's watch didn't make sure they were emotional and out for revenge. This didn't ruin the match or anything, but it did stick out a trifle odd during the first few minutes. Sometimes, wrestlers are guilty of ignoring the story they've been working so they can do familiar entrance routines and 'get their stuff in'. That was the case here, unfortunately.

Again, not a deal breaker, but MCMGs should've been all over Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa from the opening bell. A little warning from the ref wouldn't have gone amiss too. Tell your story, gentlemen.