7 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 13)

6. More Mind Games

Karrion Kross Rey Mysterio Scarlett
WWE.com

The Bloodline weren't the only ones playing mind games.

Karrion Kross questioning whether Rey Mysterio still has it isn't groundbreaking stuff by any means, but it did work out well on this occasion. Kross is also a better promo than some might give him props for, and it was nice to see WWE move his story with Rey along a bit this week.

Both guys will collide on the 'go home' edition of SmackDown before Royal Rumble. Keep an eye out for that one, because it's a match Karrion has been looking forward to for a while; he's desperate to make this second go-around in WWE work, and a strong showing opposite Mysterio could turn heads backstage.

There was a lot to like in this segment. Rey's speech about Dominik and the Rumble was passionate, Kross' words were manipulative and dismissive all at once, and the attack orchestrated by he and Scarlett heaped sympathy on Mysterio ahead of their clash.

Solid as a rock.

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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.