WWE SmackDown: 2 Superstars who flopped and 3 who impressed – Roman Reigns’ next feud, big heel turn teased on the show (Jan 8th, 2021)

#2 Impressed on WWE SmackDown: Apollo Crews

Last week on WWE SmackDown, it was confirmed that Apollo Crews would have a shot at Big E’s Intercontinental Championship. Tonight, both Superstars locked horns in an interesting match that played host to a lot of subtleties. Crews finally looked like his old self – the one from early 2020 when he was delivering great matches one after the other.

He looked determined to get his hands on the title at WWE SmackDown and almost dominated Big E throughout their match, or at least until the first pinfall. Crews went for the pinfall after getting the better of the champion, but both Superstars ended up taking the pin simultaneously. The match official believed that it was a draw and handed the title to Big E.

On the other hand, Crews believed that both of Big E’s shoulders were down while one of his shoulders was up. Thus, he was angry about the referee’s decision and ended up slapping Big E. The New Day member demanded the match to continue and ended up defeating Crews to retain his IC Title on WWE SmackDown.

Despite losing the match, Crews came out looking extremely strong tonight. He looked like he could challenge for the title again, and a plausible heel turn will make him look all the more dangerous on WWE SmackDown. It will be interesting to see what’s in store for him on the blue brand.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

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Edited by Alan John