8 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Aug 28)

Ups...

8. A Proper Monster

Praise the Gods.

As much as it sucks to see Drew Gulak go from Daniel Bryan's tag partner to a low-ranked jobber, his loss to Braun Strowman was forgiveable. This is way better from Braun than anything he did during his Universal Title reign from April onwards, and he'll surely get his old edge back if he keeps this up.

WWE didn't kick the arse out of his segment on SmackDown. He no-sold a steel chair shot, demanded a match, dismantled his opponent quickly and snorted/sweated his way back to heeldom. The reset button has been pushed on Braun - he's back to playing that wrecking ball monster he was between 2016-2017, and it's about time.

The unfortunate thing is that he has to take the pin in that Triple Threat match at Payback. That's unavoidable, because it'd suck for Bray Wyatt to lose the title so soon or for Roman Reigns to eat defeat when he has only just returned.

After that, Braun can go wild as a heel.