7 Ups & 7 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 14)

by Andy H Murray

1. Friends, Thwarted

Kofi Kingston Kevin Owens
WWE.com

Kofi Kingston was full of bravado last night.

Revealed as a guest on the Kevin Owens Show earlier in the evening, he told the injured Xavier Woods to hang backstage while he took care of business. Xavier agreed, presumably through self-preservation, and this led to Kofi facing his WWE Title challenger all alone.

KO started the segment not in the ring, but backstage. Interrupted by the New Day theme, he was invited to the squared circle by Kingston, who look as relaxed as can be while reclining in his leather seat. The inevitable back-and-forth commenced, and then came the entree: Sami Zayn arrived from Raw to jump Kofi from behind, then help his old friend batter the WWE Champion with no sign of Woods whatsoever.

It makes perfect sense for Owens to call on Zayn, given their history, but Woods eventually showed up. Kofi fired back, nailing the Trouble In Paradise on Sami, and off scampered the heels, leaving Kingston standing tall as SmackDown's closing segment came to an end.

Not an A+ angle, but an effective one. Here's hoping the match delivers.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.