SmackDown goes taped this week for the Christmas Day edition of SmackDown "Live." But as you are about to see, SmackDown brought some presents and not too much coal for its viewers.
SmackDown Thoughts
- First we have Carm-elf-a and Truthy Claus to start the show. Yeah. We get a 7 second "Carol" break before Daniel Bryan comes out to interrupt. He goes off on Truth and Carmella for being fake and fickle. He goes off on how materialism is causing the planet to self-destruct, and in 20 years, there will be NO North Pole or Santa Claus. Lol. Bryan calls Truth's career a joke. Truth says he's going to win the Royal Rumble and beat Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania if he's still champion. Bryan eventually starts beating down R-Truth around ringside, chop blocking the knee, stomping at the face, and locking in the Heel Hook. Good way to continue getting heel heat on Daniel Bryan. So, this wasn't a complete joke.
- Next we have Andrade Cien Almas (w/ Zelina Vega) vs. Mustafa Ali. Almas has control for most of the beginning of the match. We come back to see Ali hitting a rolling X-Factor for a 2 count. Some hard hits between these twoduring the match. Almas gets dropkicked while on the corner, but Ali gets hung up. This allows Almas to hit a Double Stomp on Ali for a 2 count. Excellent match here between Ali and Almas. Almas misses the double knees in the corner, which allows Ali to hit a Satellite DDT and the 0-5-4 for the win. It's matches like THIS that will continue to make Ali a force in WWE, not any one singular victory.
- Samoa Joe cuts a promo about Jeff making up for memories that he destroyed in his life. He's become Jeff's new addiction. He promises to make all those addictive behaviors fade away.
- The Usos team with Gallows and Anderson to take on Sanity and The Bar. The New Day come out in festive attire... and Big E is oiling himself in a sickening sort of way. Disgusting really. I agree with Corey Graves on this one. The New Day are on commentary. Good solid action up into the commercial break. Alexander Wolfe does a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Gallows gets the tag and attacks the heels. Sheamus and Cesaro hit a double team on Gallows for a 2 count. Magic Killer on Cesaro gets the win for Gallows and Anderson and The Usos. Gallows and Anderson have a pinfall victory now on the Tag Team Champions.
- A bunch of the Cruiserweights congratulate Ali on his victory. Shelton Benjamin shakes hands with Ali, and Daniel Bryan jumps Ali from behind likely trying to get revenge for the loss last week. I wonder if this is leading to a match next week between Bryan and Ali.
- Next we get Miz TV with Special Guest Shane McMahon. Shane puts over that they are listening to the fans. Yadda yadda yadda. Same old song and dance, my friends. Miz asks Shane to join him in being "The Best Tag Team in The World." Miz explains why he wants to be Shane's partner. Miz goes over his accomplishments and saying he's never heard his own father say that he was proud of him. Miz says Shane's victory of the World Cup impressed his father, who suggested that Miz and Shane make a good tag team. A good acting performance by The Miz here. The fans say they want to see the match after The Miz asks for their applause. Shane accepts with this caveat: "You better not screw me. Or there will be consequences." In other words, we know what Shane is doing for WrestleMania folks.
- Rusev promises to make this the greatest Rusev Day ever.
- The next match is Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy. Both guys have a good match based on what you would expect from them. Joe doing the ground and pound type of offense, including the always impressive Pele Kick in the corner. Hardy hits his big moves as well, including Whisper in the Wind. Twist of Fate Stunner by Jeff Hardy. Joe rolls away from a Swanton. Flying clothesline off the apron by Hardy to Joe on the floor. Hardy continues to stomp and knee Joe on the floor, leaving the referee no choice but to DQ him. Joe gets sent across the announce table. But he catches Hardy in the Coquina Clutch. Jeff Hardy goes to sleep.
Good match with a finish that adds to the mean streak of Jeff Hardy and the viciousness of Samoa Joe. Maybe we're going to get a NO DQ match in the next few weeks.
- New Day will be doing a New Year's Day Celebration and John Cena will return to SmackDown Live next week. (Note: I will be at the event. So expect a report on it sometime Sunday.)
- The main event sees Shinsuke Nakamura defend the United States Championship against Rusev. Rusev tries to overpower Nakamura, but Nakamura counters into a Triangle Lock. Nakamura tells Rusev to "COME ON!" as we go to commercial. Nakamura is working on offense as we come back from break. Rusev starts overpowering Nakamura with suplex after suplex after suplex. 2 count only though after the 3rd suplex. Nakamura catches Rusev with a running knee to the midsection in the corner. Really good back and forth match here with both men breaking the typical WWE formula (Good guy offense-bad guy offense- good guy offense). Nakamura finally catches Rusev on the apron, sending him to the floor to get some offense going for a few moments. Then, Rusev starts fighting back with a ton of power moves. A big kick to the side of Nakamura's head gets a 2 count.
Nakamura avoids The Accolade by running to the floor. Rusev follows and throws Nakamura around ringside. Nakamura does a spinning kick on the apron and sends Rusev into the steel steps. Nakamura lands a knee across the back of the neck of Rusev. Jumping Knee off of the corner by Nakamura to Rusev in the ring. Kinshasa into a MACHKA KICK BY RUSEV! 1-2-KICKOUT!!! Nakamura and Rusev go back and forth again with Nakamura eventually relocking the Triangle Lock. Rusev reverses it into a Powerbomb. A Mini-Kinshasa by Nakamura only gets a 2. Nakamura is going for Kinshasa! NAKAMURA GETS LEVELED BY A CLOTHESLINE! MACHKA KICK!!! 1-2-3! RUSEV HAS WON THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP!
An absolutely great match to end SmackDown Live and close out 2018 for the blue brand. For Rusev, this is The Promised Land after a good year of not getting the push that he deserves. He now has the US Championship back in his possession and the momentum that hopefully comes from that victory. For Nakamura, this was one of the, if not THE, best singles match he's had since coming to the main roster. These guys have some great chemistry, and I wouldn't mind them continuing this feud going forward with Nakamura now chasing Rusev for a few months. If not, maybe we can transition Almas into the title picture here.
But wait...
- AJ Styles and Vince McMahon meet. Vince asks who AJ Styles is. AJ goes over his credentials. Vince asks why Daniel Bryan is raising hell in his house and why AJ Styles isn't wrestling tonight. Who is the REAL AJ Styles? Vince has seen wrestlers become complacent. Vince sees a lot of himself in AJ Styles. He knows there's a tormented soul inside AJ Styles. Vince wants to unleash that tormented soul come out. If AJ harnesses that, he will terrorize everyone in the locker room. That animal must be let out. Vince just slaps AJ. AJ slaps Vince hard back. Agents and referees push him away. Vince smiles and says that he's ok.
So, I'm guessing this is going to be a new story with AJ's mean streak coming out after being egged on by WWE management. I'm interested in seeing where this goes from here.
Overall, this was a good edition of SmackDown Live once you get past a couple of the goofier moments (Truthy Claus, Big E oiling himself). And some noteworthy stuff happened: A New United States Champion (along with a great match), Ali and Almas having a great match, the formation of the new Miz and Shane tag team, and the altercation between Vince and AJ.
I have to give WWE credit. Their two Christmas-week shows were very well done. And this show in particular makes me look forward to seeing the live taping for next week's show.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
SmackDown Thoughts
- First we have Carm-elf-a and Truthy Claus to start the show. Yeah. We get a 7 second "Carol" break before Daniel Bryan comes out to interrupt. He goes off on Truth and Carmella for being fake and fickle. He goes off on how materialism is causing the planet to self-destruct, and in 20 years, there will be NO North Pole or Santa Claus. Lol. Bryan calls Truth's career a joke. Truth says he's going to win the Royal Rumble and beat Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania if he's still champion. Bryan eventually starts beating down R-Truth around ringside, chop blocking the knee, stomping at the face, and locking in the Heel Hook. Good way to continue getting heel heat on Daniel Bryan. So, this wasn't a complete joke.
- Next we have Andrade Cien Almas (w/ Zelina Vega) vs. Mustafa Ali. Almas has control for most of the beginning of the match. We come back to see Ali hitting a rolling X-Factor for a 2 count. Some hard hits between these twoduring the match. Almas gets dropkicked while on the corner, but Ali gets hung up. This allows Almas to hit a Double Stomp on Ali for a 2 count. Excellent match here between Ali and Almas. Almas misses the double knees in the corner, which allows Ali to hit a Satellite DDT and the 0-5-4 for the win. It's matches like THIS that will continue to make Ali a force in WWE, not any one singular victory.
- Samoa Joe cuts a promo about Jeff making up for memories that he destroyed in his life. He's become Jeff's new addiction. He promises to make all those addictive behaviors fade away.
- The Usos team with Gallows and Anderson to take on Sanity and The Bar. The New Day come out in festive attire... and Big E is oiling himself in a sickening sort of way. Disgusting really. I agree with Corey Graves on this one. The New Day are on commentary. Good solid action up into the commercial break. Alexander Wolfe does a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Gallows gets the tag and attacks the heels. Sheamus and Cesaro hit a double team on Gallows for a 2 count. Magic Killer on Cesaro gets the win for Gallows and Anderson and The Usos. Gallows and Anderson have a pinfall victory now on the Tag Team Champions.
- A bunch of the Cruiserweights congratulate Ali on his victory. Shelton Benjamin shakes hands with Ali, and Daniel Bryan jumps Ali from behind likely trying to get revenge for the loss last week. I wonder if this is leading to a match next week between Bryan and Ali.
- Next we get Miz TV with Special Guest Shane McMahon. Shane puts over that they are listening to the fans. Yadda yadda yadda. Same old song and dance, my friends. Miz asks Shane to join him in being "The Best Tag Team in The World." Miz explains why he wants to be Shane's partner. Miz goes over his accomplishments and saying he's never heard his own father say that he was proud of him. Miz says Shane's victory of the World Cup impressed his father, who suggested that Miz and Shane make a good tag team. A good acting performance by The Miz here. The fans say they want to see the match after The Miz asks for their applause. Shane accepts with this caveat: "You better not screw me. Or there will be consequences." In other words, we know what Shane is doing for WrestleMania folks.
- Rusev promises to make this the greatest Rusev Day ever.
- The next match is Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy. Both guys have a good match based on what you would expect from them. Joe doing the ground and pound type of offense, including the always impressive Pele Kick in the corner. Hardy hits his big moves as well, including Whisper in the Wind. Twist of Fate Stunner by Jeff Hardy. Joe rolls away from a Swanton. Flying clothesline off the apron by Hardy to Joe on the floor. Hardy continues to stomp and knee Joe on the floor, leaving the referee no choice but to DQ him. Joe gets sent across the announce table. But he catches Hardy in the Coquina Clutch. Jeff Hardy goes to sleep.
Good match with a finish that adds to the mean streak of Jeff Hardy and the viciousness of Samoa Joe. Maybe we're going to get a NO DQ match in the next few weeks.
- New Day will be doing a New Year's Day Celebration and John Cena will return to SmackDown Live next week. (Note: I will be at the event. So expect a report on it sometime Sunday.)
- The main event sees Shinsuke Nakamura defend the United States Championship against Rusev. Rusev tries to overpower Nakamura, but Nakamura counters into a Triangle Lock. Nakamura tells Rusev to "COME ON!" as we go to commercial. Nakamura is working on offense as we come back from break. Rusev starts overpowering Nakamura with suplex after suplex after suplex. 2 count only though after the 3rd suplex. Nakamura catches Rusev with a running knee to the midsection in the corner. Really good back and forth match here with both men breaking the typical WWE formula (Good guy offense-bad guy offense- good guy offense). Nakamura finally catches Rusev on the apron, sending him to the floor to get some offense going for a few moments. Then, Rusev starts fighting back with a ton of power moves. A big kick to the side of Nakamura's head gets a 2 count.
Nakamura avoids The Accolade by running to the floor. Rusev follows and throws Nakamura around ringside. Nakamura does a spinning kick on the apron and sends Rusev into the steel steps. Nakamura lands a knee across the back of the neck of Rusev. Jumping Knee off of the corner by Nakamura to Rusev in the ring. Kinshasa into a MACHKA KICK BY RUSEV! 1-2-KICKOUT!!! Nakamura and Rusev go back and forth again with Nakamura eventually relocking the Triangle Lock. Rusev reverses it into a Powerbomb. A Mini-Kinshasa by Nakamura only gets a 2. Nakamura is going for Kinshasa! NAKAMURA GETS LEVELED BY A CLOTHESLINE! MACHKA KICK!!! 1-2-3! RUSEV HAS WON THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP!
An absolutely great match to end SmackDown Live and close out 2018 for the blue brand. For Rusev, this is The Promised Land after a good year of not getting the push that he deserves. He now has the US Championship back in his possession and the momentum that hopefully comes from that victory. For Nakamura, this was one of the, if not THE, best singles match he's had since coming to the main roster. These guys have some great chemistry, and I wouldn't mind them continuing this feud going forward with Nakamura now chasing Rusev for a few months. If not, maybe we can transition Almas into the title picture here.
But wait...
- AJ Styles and Vince McMahon meet. Vince asks who AJ Styles is. AJ goes over his credentials. Vince asks why Daniel Bryan is raising hell in his house and why AJ Styles isn't wrestling tonight. Who is the REAL AJ Styles? Vince has seen wrestlers become complacent. Vince sees a lot of himself in AJ Styles. He knows there's a tormented soul inside AJ Styles. Vince wants to unleash that tormented soul come out. If AJ harnesses that, he will terrorize everyone in the locker room. That animal must be let out. Vince just slaps AJ. AJ slaps Vince hard back. Agents and referees push him away. Vince smiles and says that he's ok.
So, I'm guessing this is going to be a new story with AJ's mean streak coming out after being egged on by WWE management. I'm interested in seeing where this goes from here.
Overall, this was a good edition of SmackDown Live once you get past a couple of the goofier moments (Truthy Claus, Big E oiling himself). And some noteworthy stuff happened: A New United States Champion (along with a great match), Ali and Almas having a great match, the formation of the new Miz and Shane tag team, and the altercation between Vince and AJ.
I have to give WWE credit. Their two Christmas-week shows were very well done. And this show in particular makes me look forward to seeing the live taping for next week's show.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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