The January 8th episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL. Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
Daniel Bryan Ran Away From AJ Styles
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown. Bryan was standing next to a concession stand and claimed that the people eating this garbage were filling a void in their lives.
Bryan grabbed a hot dog out of a man’s hand and threw it in his face. Bryan then launched a large soda into another fan’s face. Bryan went to the merchandise stand and pointed out that there were no more Yes Movement shirts available.
Daniel called AJ’s merch trash before stepping into the crowd. Bryan claimed that he was out here changing the world and making the world a better place. Daniel called everyone in the crowd weak, submissive, and impotent.
Bryan ripped away a sign for AJ Styles and ripped it apart. Bryan vowed to fill this world with something that all of these children can be proud of. R-Truth then attacked Bryan before their match. Bryan wound up winning the match in quick fashion with a running knee to R-Truth’s face.
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After the match, AJ Styles attacked Bryan on the entrance ramp. WWE officials quickly broke it up but AJ escaped and launched Bryan into the stage. AJ grabbed a steel chair but Bryan ran away before Styles could hit him.
.@AJStylesOrg didn't feel like waiting until #RoyalRumble to get his hands on @WWEDanielBryan. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/6ZTqkc3DMC
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2019
Bryan’s promo to start off SmackDown was hilarious. I’m so much more interested in this feud compared to Strowman and Lesnar. I’d already be looking forward to a match between Styles and Bryan, but both of their characters are interesting as well. Styles is becoming more aggressive after Vince McMahon challenged him and Daniel Bryan’s work as a heel has been awesome so far.
Andrade “Cien” Almas Pinned Rey Mysterio
Andrade “Cien” Almas teamed up with Samoa Joe tonight to face Mustafa Ali and Rey Mysterio. Ali and Mysterio had the match in control and Mustafa sent Joe to the outside. Ali then flipped onto Joe but took himself out of the match by landing on the floor.
Back in the ring, Mysterio sent Almas to the ropes and set up for the 619. Almas caught Mysterio and planted him with the Hammerlock DDT for the pinfall victory.
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It is about time something good happened for Almas on SmackDown. He was incredible in NXT and it is infuriating to watch how he has been booked since joining the main roster. Almas is immensely talented and Vega works excellently as his business associate/manager. Hopefully, WWE will start building Almas up on SmackDown every week, which is something they should have been doing the second he arrived on the main roster.
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Shinsuke Nakamura Attacked Rusev
United States Champion Rusev came down to the ring with a sad look on his face. Rusev stated that last week, Lana got hurt because of the selfish actions of Shinsuke Nakamura. Rusev added that Lana is at home resting and that he stands before the crowd tonight, not as the US Champion.
Rusev said that he stands before everyone as a husband. The crowd broke out in a “Lana is the best, Lana #1” chant as Rusev nodded along. Rusev then got pissed off and shouted that Nakamura has crossed the line and he will not be able to come back from it. Rusev demanded that Nakamura come down to the ring so he could break every bone in his fragile body.
Shinsuke appeared on the jumbotron from the production truck. Nakamura claimed that Lana getting hurt was Rusev’s fault and rolled the footage from last week. Nakamura said that Rusev crushed Lana and Rusev stormed backstage to find Shinsuke. Nakamura attacked Rusev backstage and slammed a storage crate into his chest.
The Miz & Shane McMahon Will Get A Shot At The SmackDown Tag Team Titles At Royal Rumble
The Usos battled the SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar on tonight’s show. If The Usos won the match, they would get another shot at the titles. Jimmy and Jey dominated the match early and forced Sheamus and Cesaro to try and regroup outside the ring. The Usos brought Cesaro back into the ring and isolated him in the corner.
Cesaro escaped and tagged Sheamus into the match. The Bar eventually took back control for a bit but Jey Uso battled back with a series of headbutts to Sheamus. Jey hit Sheamus with a Superkick that sent him out of the ring. Cesaro tagged in and leaped off the top rope but Jey was ready and leveled him with a Superkick.
Mandy Rose’s music hit and Mandy came down to the entrance ramp with nothing but a towel on. Mandy asked if she left her tiny shorts and tiny top in Jimmy’s hotel room. Cesaro knocked Jimmy off the apron and planted Jey with the Neutralizer for the victory.
The Miz then came down to the ring and asked the crowd to give it up for Sheamus and Cesaro. The Miz challenged The Bar to put their titles on the line at the Royal Rumble. Sheamus hit Miz with a Brogue Kick and The Bar accepted the challenge. Sheamus and Cesaro will defend their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Miz and Shane McMahon at the Royal Rumble PPV. Naomi attacked Mandy Rose backstage but Sonya Deville broke it up. Jimmy then rushed backstage to help Naomi.
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I’m glad that The Usos aren’t getting another title shot. Jimmy and Jey are a great team, but I’ve been dying to see something different on SmackDown. I was thinking more along the lines of SAnitY or Heavy Machinery challenging for the titles at Royal Rumble, instead of The Miz and Shane McMahon. It just annoys me that The Bar might lose the titles to a team that isn’t going to be together for long and will likely break up in order to set up a WrestleMania match in a couple of months. I would rather see other teams finally get a shot to succeed, rather than the entire division be put on hold in order to likely set up a midcard WrestleMania match.
.@mikethemiz issues a CHALLENGE for #TheBar at #RoyalRumble and it looks like @WWESheamus and @WWECesaro accept… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/fZgfJNDDwh
— WWE (@WWE) January 9, 2019
Becky Lynch Earned A Title Shot At Royal Rumble
Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Carmella battled in a Triple Threat match in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. The winner of the match will face Asuka for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the Royal Rumble PPV later this month.
Carmella was knocked out of the ring, which allowed Becky and Charlotte to start trading shots. Charlotte hit a flurry of chops but Becky responded by tackling Flair to the canvas. Carmella got back into the ring and took out Becky with a Flatliner. Carmella applied the Code of Silence in the middle of the ring but Flair escaped. Flair hit a Moonsault onto both Lynch and Carmella but both Superstars were able to kick out at two.
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The action spilled out of the ring and Lynch planted Carmella with an Exploder Suplex. Back in the ring, Charlotte hit Lynch with the Natural Selection. Carmella leveled Flair with a Superkick and tried to cover Becky but Charlotte broke it up at the last second. Charlotte locked in the Figure Four but Becky came out of nowhere with a Leg Drop off the top rope.
Lynch locked in the Dis-Arm-Her on Charlotte but Carmella broke it up with a Superkick. Charlotte then hit Lynch with a Spear but turned around into another Superkick from Carmella. Lynch then locked in the Dis-Arm-Her on Carmella for the submission victory. SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka came down to the ring and had a staredown with Becky to end the show.
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Charlotte, Carmella, and Becky Lynch put on a very good match in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. The crowd was into it the entire time and a few “this is awesome!” chants broke out. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing Lynch vs. Asuka at Royal Rumble 2019. It will also be interesting to see where WWE goes in regards to the Charlotte, Becky Lynch, and Ronda Rousey storyline leading up until WrestleMania. Overall, tonight’s episode of SmackDown was entertaining. The only negative, in my opinion, was Miz and Shane getting a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
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