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5 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (1/22)

Bryan SmackDown

Written by

Robert Lentini

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The January 22nd, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, KS. It was the final episode of SmackDown before WWE Royal Rumble this Sunday night. Here are 5 takeaways from the show:

Asuka Attacked Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown by stating that it wasn’t that long ago that nobody cared about her, yet now everyone has thoughts on what “The Man” should be doing.

Lynch claimed that the only thing she should be doing now is main eventing WrestleMania 35 and will take out whoever gets in her way. SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka interrupted and joined Lynch in the ring.

Asuka held up the SmackDown Women’s Championship in Lynch’s face before Charlotte’s music hit. Flair said that everyone wants to see her throwing every other female Superstar over the top rope at Royal Rumble.

Charlotte claimed that she has owned the women’s division for four years and that she is the main event. Asuka then attacked Becky from behind and a brawl broke out as Charlotte smiled on the entrance ramp. Lynch and Asuka were finally broken up once the brawl reached backstage.

I’m really looking forward to the match between Asuka and Lynch this Sunday night at the Royal Rumble. Becky Lynch was terrific once again tonight and I’m enjoying Charlotte trying to steal her spotlight.

https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1087896290950893568

Mandy Rose Got The Better Of Naomi

Naomi vs Mandy Rose

Mandy Rose has been tormenting Naomi for a couple weeks now by flirting with her husband, Jimmy Uso. Last week on SmackDown, Naomi attacked Rose in a hotel room and tonight they finally had a match. Sonya Deville was ringside for the bout.

Naomi attacked Mandy during her entrance and the brawl spilled into the ring. Once the referee called for the bell, Mandy escaped to the outside and tried to regroup with Deville. Naomi controlled the next few moments of the match but became distracted with Sonya Deville. Rose capitalized by bashing Naomi’s head into the ring post for the pinfall victory.

The way this match ended was pretty laughable. Naomi, former SmackDown Women’s Champion, was unable to survive being thrown into a ring post. This entire storyline didn’t work in my opinion, and it ultimately led to a boring match.

The Bar Destroyed Miz & McMahon

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar will defend their titles against Shane McMahon and The Miz this Sunday night at the Royal Rumble PPV. Tonight on SmackDown, The Miz battled Cesaro as Sheamus and Shane McMahon were ringside.

During the match, Sheamus attacked Shane from behind outside the ring. Cesaro choked Miz against the ropes and the referee was forced to break it up. While the referee was distracted, Sheamus hit Miz with a cheap shot and then Cesaro capitalized with the Neutralizer for the pinfall victory.

After the match, Shane McMahon battled back and launched Sheamus into the steel steps next to the ring. Shane then beat down Cesaro and placed him on the announce table. Shane was going to go for an Elbow Drop off the top rope but Sheamus shoved him down into the barricade. The Miz tried to help Shane but the numbers game caught up to him. The Bar put Miz on the announce table and then Powerbombed Shane on top of him.

I would be enjoying this feud much more if I didn’t believe that Shane and Miz were going to win the titles at Royal Rumble. The Bar is a real tag team, Shane & Miz are a temporary team that will dissolve to set up a match at WrestleMania. It just annoys me that the entire SmackDown tag team division is on hold for the storyline between The Miz and Shane McMahon.

Randy Orton Returned With An RKO For Samoa Joe

Last week on SmackDown, Rey Mysterio and Andrade put on an instant classic. Andrade emerged victorious, mostly due to a distraction from Zelina Vega. On this week’s show, Andrade battled Mysterio once again in a 2 out of 3 Falls match. Vega was banned from ringside for the match.

https://twitter.com/Zelina_VegaWWE/status/1087882646418542593

The match started out back and forth. Andrade scored the first fall of the match after connecting with a beautiful Powerbomb off the top rope for the pinfall. Andrade quickly went for another Powerbomb but Rey reversed into a Canadian Destroyer to tie things up at 1-1.

Rey and Joe went back and forth for a few more minutes. Mysterio hit Andrade with the 619 and made his way up to the top rope. Samoa Joe ran down to the ring and Powerbombed Mysterio off the ring apron. Joe then brought Rey into the ring and applied the Coquina Clutch. Joe grabbed the microphone and vowed to win the Royal Rumble match. Randy Orton slithered into the ring and hit Joe with an RKO out of nowhere to close the show.

It is good to see Orton back on SmackDown, as long as he is still a heel. It amazes me how great Rey Mysterio still is at 44 years old, he simply hasn’t slowed down at all. Andrade and Mysterio put on another great match tonight and I hope this rivalry is revisited down the line.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1087908433448370177

Daniel Bryan Is The Planet’s Champion

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon moderated a meeting between WWE Champion Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles tonight on SmackDown. Daniel Bryan refused to step into the ring and complained about Styles slamming him into “processed animal carcasses” last week at the concession stand. Daniel accused Styles of only wanting fame and money.

Bryan stated that Styles doesn’t make the crowd think and that everyone should feel bad about their lives. Daniel shouted that he will tell everyone what they need to hear and declared himself as the “Planet’s Champion”.

AJ accused Bryan of being a hypocrite and claimed that Daniel was afraid to face him at Royal Rumble. Vince interrupted and demanded that Bryan get inside the ring. Daniel Bryan then launched into a rant about Vince’s generation being the parasites of the world and said that all they do is take from everyone and the planet.

Vince got pissed off and once again shouted for Bryan to get in the ring. Styles hopped out of the ring and Bryan threw the title at him before trying to run away. AJ caught up with Bryan and brought him back to the ring. Styles set up for a Phenomenal Forearm but Daniel hid behind Vince McMahon. Bryan then kicked AJ in the face, grabbed his WWE Championship and retreated up the entrance ramp.

I’ve enjoyed every second of this feud. Daniel Bryan has been awesome as a heel and this should be a great match this Sunday night. Bryan has totally reinvented himself into an annoying, know it all and it has been awesome to watch. Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown did a much better job of hyping up Royal Rumble than last night’s episode of RAW.

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