8 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Sept 18)

Ups...

8. Randy Orton: Torture Pervert

Fresh off a startlingly brutal Hell In A Cell clash against Jeff Hardy (which this writer ranks among his favourite main roster bouts of 2018), Randy Orton wasn't up to much last night, but still made an appearance early in the evening.

With Hardly seemingly sidelined for a while, 'The Viper' was basking in his grisly victory's glory. Cameras found him sat in the production truck, w*nking himself dry over footage of him twisting Jeff's ear out of shape at the pay-per-view match, threatening to do the same to the producers should they refuse to keep rolling the tape.

This isn't a new point, but there isn't a more compelling version of Orton than this, and though brief, last night's appearance once again painted him as a sick, evil bastard. This heel turn has clearly lit a fire under him. Though HIAC was methodical, he came off more dangerous than he has since his brief McMahon-punting spree in 2009, and should probably play this character for the remainder of his career.

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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.