8 Ups & 2 Downs For WWE SmackDown Superstar Shake-Up

2. Joe! Joe! Joe!

Samoa Joe
WWE.com

Well, this was a pleasant surprise.

Samoa Joe made his SmackDown debut last night, crushing Sin Cara in a quick singles match that clocked in at just over a minute-and-a-half. It was entirely effective in putting the former NXT Champion over as a dominant brute, and afterwards, Joe did what he does best: he got on the microphone.

Calling SmackDown "the Land of Handouts," he claimed everyone had had it easy until now, then promised to put Daniel Bryan to sleep, defang 'The Viper,' and decimate AJ Styles. After putting Roman Reigns out to pasture at Backlash, he's coming back to rule SmackDown, and signed off with a mocking "believe dat."

There was a slight Intercontinental/Universal Title flub, but let's not nitpick. Joe is a fantastic addition on Tuesday nights. Though his athleticism has declined, he's a smarter worker than ever before, and his promos rank among the best in the company. Nobody is as believable as Joe on the microphone, and he promises to be a major highlight 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.