7 Ups & 6 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 22)

4. More Of This, Please

Mustafa Ali
WWE

Promos like last night's, coupled with focusing on his explosive in-ring skills, are how WWE are going to get Mustafa Ali over on SmackDown.

A well-shot segment began with a quick recap of Ali's feud with Samoa Joe. It cut to the former 205 Live star in street clothes, away from the arena, addressing his new rival through aesthetics completely unlike anything else on the show.

Reminiscent of Ali's pre-WrestleMania 34 promo work, it saw him reflect on his previous career as a police officer, relating it to his feud with Joe. Claiming Joe's eyes "told me you don't think I'm worthy to be in the ring with you," and that "you think I'm nothing," Ali said that if Joe looked in his eyes, he'd see a man lacking in fear, imbued with the self-belief needed to overcome the brutish big man, and we cut away seconds later.

A strong follow-up to last week's angle boosted by its gritty presentation, this should be Ali's thing going forward.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.