WWE SmackDown: 10 Things You Might Have Missed (Dec 27)
Was that Tamina Snuka?
So heavy was the hype for this week's SmackDown Live that it's almost like the past few episodes didn't exist to WWE. Not only did John Cena return on the show, the company also wheeled out no less than three big title bouts for the last SmackDown of 2016.
The SmackDown Tag-Team, Women's, and WWE Titles were all on the line, something Cena made sure to mention during the opening part of his promo. Giddy and delivering lines like the guest host of the show, Cena then changed dramatically and for the better halfway through his speech.
Those watching the show with an eagle-eye may have noticed the change in Cena's tone, facial expressions, and general mannerisms. The returning star wasn't the only one to offer up subtle nuances on SmackDown this week, as the likes of Rhyno and Alexa Bliss were at it too.
Joining those moments you may have missed, there are also others involving SmackDown's announce crew, Baron Corbin and - for the second WWE show of the week - CM Punk.
Here are all those hidden gems from Tuesday night's show...
10. WWE Putting Over SmackDown's Importance To John Cena
Those name plates that flash up on screen during SmackDown Live help differentiate the program from Monday Night Raw. Often, the graphics contain some interesting pieces of information, such as title history or what a performer's nickname is. This week, John Cena's name plate made sure to put over the show itself.
Back in June 2002, Cena was a fresh face on the roster. Challenging Kurt Angle, Cena quickly developed into a stalwart on the WWE scene afterwards. Specifically, the first few years of his tenure were spent on SmackDown. This was clearly something the production team wanted to put across, therefore talking up the blue brand.
Directly underneath the fact that Cena is a 15-time World Champ in WWE, the graphic told viewers which show the man had actually debuted on.
As frightening a thought as it is to longtime fans, there are those watching now who didn't back in 2002. This was a nice little touch and added some historical context to his most recent comeback.