Corey Graves: Watching Elias Spank Drake Maverick "Made My Skin Crawl"

On last week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Drake Maverick took exception to comments Elias made about his wife and himself. Seeking vengeance, Maverick called the Drifter to the ring.

After Elias entered the ring, Maverick advanced towards him, but the singing sensation warded him off by putting his hand on Maverick's head. Maverick tried to lash out with kicks and punches, but did not have the reach to connect with Elias.

Maverick then tried to deliver an almighty right hook to Elias, but the King of Song Style easily dodged it, causing the former 24/7 Champion to flop to the floor.

Elias then picked Maverick up by his underwear, bent him over his knee, and spanked him. Later in the segment, Maverick tried to help himself up using the ropes. Elias stopped him from reaching his feet, however, by punting him in the backside, sending the man formerly known as Rockstar Spud flying out the ring.

During the latest episode of the After The Bell podcast, Graves criticised the segment. He explained that it made his "skin crawl, and not in a good way" and that both Superstars were capable of doing better. He elaborated: "Something that absolutely drove me up a wall - and I wasn’t talking about the Rusev divorce on Monday - I’m talking about SmackDown with something that was equally as uncomfortable, probably even more so. That being Elias spanking Drake Maverick in the centre of a WWE ring. It made my skin crawl, and not in a good way […] It was just bad. I love Drake Maverick and I’ve known Drake for a decade, he’s a good friend, he’s a highly entertaining Superstar. [...] Elias, I’ve come around big time on Elias as an onscreen character; the guy’s good. There’s a lot of money to be made with Elias […] but it’s not as a hero. People don’t like Elias. People don’t want to like Elias. People enjoy booing Elias."