7 Ups & 7 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Nov 20)

2. A Fun Main Event

Randy Orton Rey Mysterio
WWE.com

Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton's main event showdown was promoted throughout the evening, with both men cutting standard promos to hype the occasion up. They worked, and anticipation was high by the time the duo eventually hit the ring for a bout that didn't blow the roof off the building, but delivered regardless.

An early-match ad break was problematic. Still, the action was as cohesive as you'd expect, with their heat and combined star power elevating the bout well above the middling pace at which it was worked.

'The Viper' was victorious, having powered out of the ring, before delivering a beautiful floor RKO as Mysterio attempted to glide out of the ring with his stomach-slide splash. This set the finish up. Back inside they went, and Orton sealed the deal with another RKO, having put his foe away in just over eight minutes.

Just like Mysterio's bout with The Miz last week, this left us pining for a bigger pay-per-view showdown between the two. A brilliant post-match angle only added to the anticipation...

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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.