7 Ups & 8 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (May 7)

2. A Dull Opener

The New Day Sami Zayn AJ Styles
WWE.com

The participants' four compelling personalities may have carried SmackDown's opening segment on another night, but this week's was p*ss boring.

Nothing makes it seem like WWE programming is going through the motions like a dull revolving door opener. Here, AJ Styles showed up, spat his catchphrases out, and got interrupted by Sami Zayn. The former 'Underdog From The Underground' sh*t on the crowd and Styles' "toxic ego," with AJ resorting to ribbing Sami for "smelling like garbage." It's almost like having Braun Strowman throw the guy in a big wasn't a good idea.

The New Day's arrival came soon after, the chit-chat continued, another bad smell joke came along, and the main event was effectively put together. It ticked that box, but the content itself was unengaging. Nobody stood out on the microphone, nobody said anything interesting, and nobody got their stuff over, making this one of the most skippable curtain-raisers WWE has put together in some time, even if it wasn't as soul-destroying as Raw.

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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.