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5 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (12/11)

Asuka SmackDown

Written by

Robert Lentini

in

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The December 11th, 2018 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. It was the final episode of SmackDown before WWE TLC 2018 this Sunday night. Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:

Daniel Bryan Continued To Anger The Crowd

WWE Champion Daniel Bryan squared off against Mustafa Ali on this week’s SmackDown. Bryan cut a promo before the match and apologized to the sheep because they don’t need to be compared to the idiots in the crowd.

Mustafa Ali interrupted and Bryan told him to come into the ring. Bryan referred to Ali as the heart of 205 and added that he is an incredible performer. Bryan claimed to see a lot of himself in Ali and stated that the crowd was too xenophobic to appreciate their match tonight.

Ali stated that the old Daniel Bryan would want a fight and that is what he wants right now. Bryan asked Ali what kind of car he drove and Ali responded that he has an SUV. Bryan called Ali a small man and slapped him in the face several times. Ali battled back with a Dropkick and then flipped onto Bryan outside the ring.

Bryan controlled the match early and applied the Yes Lock but Ali was able to reach the ropes to break the hold. Ali battled back and went for the inverted 450 Splash but Daniel got out of the way. Bryan slammed Ali’s knee into the ring post several times and applied the Heel Hook for the submission victory. After the match, Bryan attacked Ali on the entrance ramp and applied the Heel Hook once again.

The new Daniel Bryan is awesome. Bryan’s promo tonight was incredibly condescending and the crowd booed him out of the building. It is so impressive how quick Bryan was able to get the majority of the crowd to turn against him. Bryan and Ali could easily have a classic match but this match wasn’t given that much time.

The Rap Battle Was Lame

New Day hosted a rap battle between The Usos and The Bar tonight on SmackDown. Sheamus and Cesaro performed a rendition of “Ice Ice Baby”. The Usos responded with their own freestyle that poked fun at Sheamus’ mohawk and Cesaro losing his teeth.

The Bar attacked The Usos and then beatdown New Day as well. They then posed with the titles to conclude the segment. Sheamus & Cesaro will defend their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Usos at WWE TLC 2018.

Instead of “don’t get all rated R like your boy Xavier Woods” in the last rap battle, this time we got “Ice Ice Sheamy”. The only thought that went through my head while watching it was that people were actually paid to write this segment. Having said that, the Triple Threat match at WWE TLC should be entertaining as the three teams have great chemistry together.

The Miz Paid Local Competitors To Attack Shane McMahon

The Miz came down to the ring with the Best in the World trophy, The Miz begged SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon to come down to the ring and Shane finally obliged. The Miz suggested another tag match and called down a team called the Vegas Boys.

Miz told Shane to start off the match and McMahon connected with an elbow to the face and then an ugly looking Tornado DDT to the local competitor. Shane followed it up by locking in the Triangle for the submission victory.

The Vegas Boys then approached SmackDown GM Paige backstage and said that The Miz told them that they would receive $5,000 for their efforts. Paige ripped out the invoices and told them to get the hell out of the building.

Shane McMahon confronted The Miz backstage and told him that he crossed the line. The Miz refused to apologize for his actions and that he was never considered Best in the World until Shane came along. The Miz extended his hand but Shane walked away.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1072679394278293504

I’m assuming that this is leading to a match between The Miz and Shane McMahon, possibly at WrestleMania next year. I can only hope that this build becomes more entertaining as it progresses because this was terrible.

Rusev Pinned The United States Champion

Rusev and Jeff Hardy teamed up to face Samoa Joe and United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on this week’s SmackDown. Jeff Hardy knocked Samoa Joe to the outside and then leaped onto him from off the ring apron.

Nakamura set up Rusev and geared up in the corner of the ring. Shinsuke went for the Kinshasa but Rusev was ready for it and leveled him with a massive Machka Kick for the pinfall victory.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1072678840969904130

Samoa Joe had a great promo on Jeff Hardy last week and was barely a part of the show tonight. Shinsuke Nakamura is the current United States Champion but feels completely irrelevant. Rusev is in the exact same spot as always and will be going for the United States Championship once again. The Superstars in this match deserve more than a quick tag team match on SmackDown.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1072678840969904130

Asuka Beatdown Charlotte & Becky Lynch

Charlotte Flair battled Asuka in a WrestleMania 34 rematch tonight. SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch was ringside for the match. She will be defending her title in a Triple Threat TLC match this Sunday at WWE TLC.

Asuka controlled the match early and locked in a Triangle submission. Charlotte countered into a Powerbomb to break the hold. Charlotte applied the Figure Four in the middle of the ring but Asuka reversed it but Charlotte quickly reached the bottom rope to break the hold.

Charlotte connected with a Spear but Asuka was able to kick out at the last second. Flair went for the Moonsault but Asuka got her knees up. Charlotte tried for the Figure Four against but Asuka countered into the Asuka Lock. Flair broke the hold and both Superstars fell out of the ring.

Flair grabbed a kendo stick from under the ring and struck Asuka with it and the match ended in DQ. Becky Lynch got up from her seat and started to walk away but Charlotte hit her with the kendo stick. Becky battled back and hit Charlotte with the kendo stick. Asuka launched Lynch over the announce table and then beat the hell out of Becky Lynch and Charlotte with the kendo stick as Smackdown went off the air.

The Triple Threat TLC match has to be the main event of the PPV this Sunday. I liked that Asuka got the better of Charlotte and Becky tonight. She’s probably not going to win on Sunday night, but at least she can be regarded as a legitimate threat heading into the match.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1072688322659713024

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