8 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Dec 27)

Ups...

8. Elias' Musical Intro

Time for a boatload of positivity.

Kicking off SmackDown with a brief musical interlude from Elias was a good idea. It's certainly a better way to use this generation's Honky Tonk Man than having him stir Batista's custard (hope you're not eating) with a dancing Dana Brooke in backstage segments or ridicule Bayley for 'looking like a bloke'.

This week's song was inoffensive and quick, and it successfully geed fans up for the night's action that followed. Best of all, Elias' one-and-done act didn't encroach on any other segments and played to his strengths; it'll take time for his call-back chorus to catch on, but this is still early days for babyface Eli.

He hasn't been used properly for the longest time now, so hopefully this is a step in the right direction for someone so clearly talented. The next stage will be tweaking his in-ring work so he doesn't fall into the trap of playing heel mid-match and good guy everywhere else.