8 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (July 17)

7. Not The Opening We Expected

Jeff Hardy Face Paint
WWE.com

Well, this was a pleasant surprise.

We expect somebody like The Miz, Daniel Bryan, or AJ Styles to open SmackDown with an in-ring promo, but not Jeff Hardy. The former United States Champion is usually restricted to pre-recorded backstage bits. This is understandable, as he has never been the most convincing talker in the company, but it was refreshing to see him march out to the ring and speak his mind without the segment devolving into the usual revolving door.

Clad in face-paint, Hardy cut a promo similar to the recent dreck peddled by Johnny Gargano (this writer's favourite WWE babyface) in NXT, only without the cringe. He said he looked like himself, but something is missing, and after calling Nakamura out for what happened at Extreme Rules, he promised to make 'The King Of Strong Style' obsolete and take back his belt.

We then cut backstage, where Shinsuke called his foe a "sad clown" who "wears paint to hide his tears," thus adding an extra dollop of heat to the rematch. A solid job by everyone involved.

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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.