The February 5th episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA. Here are 4 takeaways from this week’s show:
Rusev & Nakamura Picked Up Their First Victory As A Team
Gallows & Anderson battled Rusev and Nakamura tonight on SmackDown. Gallows & Anderson dominated the match early and knocked Shinsuke Nakamura out of the ring. Lana started shouting at Nakamura to get it together and get back into the ring.
Nakamura regrouped and went back into the ring and hit Gallows with the Kinshasa. Anderson then knocked Shinsuke back down but turned around into a Machka Kick from Rusev for the pinfall victory.
.@ShinsukeN is not impressing @LanaWWE right now. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/JFSDBaZ9sp
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 6, 2019
Gallows & Anderson are an established team that has been completely wasted in WWE. At the very least, they finally got some TV time tonight. Rusev and Nakamura could have been terrific singles Superstars but WWE has dropped the ball with them over and again. If they actually keep Shinsuke and Rusev together, this could actually be an entertaining team.
Samoa Joe Vowed To Win the WWE Championship
Mustafa Ali and Randy Orton had a great match tonight on SmackDown. Mustafa Ali had control of the match and climbed to the top rope. Ali was going to go for the 054 but Orton tripped him up and planted him with an RKO for the victory. After the match, Samoa Joe attacked Orton from behind and locked in the Coquina Clutch.
Joe was heading up the entrance ramp when WWE Champion Daniel Bryan’s music hit. Joe got in Bryan’s face but Erick Rowan got in between them. Joe then marched backstage for a brief interview. Samoa Joe said that every action has a reaction, in reference to Orton hitting him with an RKO last week. Joe then vowed to win the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber.
Just when you think you have #TheViper cornered, he strikes back. @RandyOrton defeats @MustafaAliWWE on #SDLive. pic.twitter.com/ZwU2Lpb9qs
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
It is a longshot that Samoa Joe will win the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber, but I’d absolutely love to see it. He’s been one of the better heels in the company for some time now but has never been given a chance to have a run with a title.
"At #WWEChamber, it'll be about DEVASTATION, it'll be about the EVISCERATION, and most of all, it will be the JUSTIFICATION of my means!" – @SamoaJoe #SDLive pic.twitter.com/rdTS3rFd0a
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
AJ Styles Sent A Message To Daniel Bryan
Bryan raised his eco-friendly WWE Championship in the ring as his hometown crowd cheered for him. Daniel said that the people of Washington are intelligent people and they realize that we need change.
Daniel said that the new WWE Championship is a symbol that people can rally behind. Bryan claimed that the new title is a symbol of excellence and change. Rowan grabbed the microphone and said that people fear Bryan because he is a great thinker and holds the WWE Championship.
The crowd chanted “what?” at Rowan and Bryan scolded them. Daniel raised the belt and referred to himself as the Planet’s Champion. Bryan claimed that the suits backstage don’t want him to be champion and complained about having to defend his title against 5 other Superstars inside the Elimination Chamber.
#TheNew @WWEDanielBryan feels right at home addressing his fellow people of the state of Washington! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/tPURdqqYxu
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
Bryan later battled Jeff Hardy in the main event of this week’s show. Hardy controlled the match early and knocked Bryan to the outside. Jeff tried to leap off the steel steps onto Bryan but Rowan got in the way. Bryan capitalized on the distraction and took control of the match.
Back in the ring, Hardy connected with the Twist of Fate and followed it up with the Swanton Bomb. Jeff went for the cover but Rowan dragged him out of the ring and thew Hardy into the steel steps. The match ended in a DQ but Bryan still locked in the Lebell Lock on Hardy.
Samoa Joe rushed the ring from the crowd and shoved Rowan into the ring post. Joe then locked in the Coquina Clutch on Bryan but Orton came down to the ring. Orton and Joe traded shots as Mustafa Ali joined the party. Ali went for a Suicide Dive onto Rowan but Erick caught him and slammed Mustafa on the announce table.
AJ Styles ran down to the ring and hit Orton with an Enziguri. AJ followed it up with a Phenomenal Forearm to Hardy as Bryan and Rowan retreated up the entrance ramp. Styles pointed at Bryan as he retreated backstage. Bryan was interviewed backstage and claimed that he was the greatest. Daniel said Rowan wasn’t his bodyguard, he is an intellectual peer. Bryan stated that he is going to be the Planet’s Champion forever as SmackDown went off the air.
Just THINK about the carnage we're going to see in less than two weeks at #WWEChamber!#SDLive @WWEDanielBryan @AJStylesOrg @RandyOrton @SamoaJoe @MustafaAliWWE @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/O4040vLfzh
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
I’m looking forward to the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match in a couple of weeks. This was just a standard brawl that everyone has seen a thousand times now, but these 6 Superstars are capable of putting together a special match at the PPV.
Interesting. ? #SDLive @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/e6lKng051i
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
Becky Lynch Slapped Triple H
Charlotte Flair kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown by claiming that Becky Lynch’s arrogance got the best of her last night when she beat up Stephanie McMahon last night on RAW.
Flair claimed that she hopes Lynch is healthy for WrestleMania and then mockingly started a “Becky!” chant. Charlotte said that she was 100% healthy and would love to face Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania. Charlotte pointed at the WrestleMania sign and Becky Lynch appeared in the crowd.
Charlotte demanded that security stop her as the crowd chanted “Becky!”. Flair accused Lynch of stealing Roman Reign’s entrance and stated that Lynch was trying to steal her spotlight.
Becky got into the ring and told Charlotte to stop boring everyone to death. Triple H’s music hit and the COO marched down to the ring. Triple H told Becky that she is suspended and she is not supposed to be here. Triple H told Lynch to see the doctor if she wants her suspension lifted.
Triple H told Charlotte to get out of the ring because this does not concern her. Lynch said that she doesn’t trust any of this and Triple H told her to go home until she gets cleared. Lynch asked how Stephanie was and asked if Triple H made sure if she was medically cleared.
Triple H got pissed off and called Becky a “self-destructor” and claimed that she was afraid of failure. Triple H added that Lynch was just looking for a way out of this whole thing. Triple H told the crowd to shut up and once again claimed that Becky was scared of what the doctor might say.
He then accused Becky of faking an injury because she is scared that the doctor will tell her that she is cleared. Triple H added that if she is cleared, Becky is afraid that Rousey will expose her as a fraud. Lynch slapped Triple H in the face and had a stare down with him as the crowd chanted “one more time!”. Becky then left the ring with a smile on her face.
Make way for THE MAN!
The suspended @BeckyLynchWWE has CRASHED #SDLive!!! pic.twitter.com/OCdIGAw6O7
— WWE (@WWE) February 6, 2019
Becky Lynch beat the hell out of Stephanie McMahon last night, and tonight hit Triple H. This storyline has been entertaining so far and it looks like we are heading towards a match between Lynch and Flair before WrestleMania.
Triple H’s promo was the best part of this segment. He challenged Becky and she responded with a slap. I actually would have preferred she went back and forth with Triple H some more because it was the highlight of the show.
