Forget the Royal Rumble for a moment. Tonight's show featured a match that already should be considered for Match of the Year.
SmackDown Thoughts
- Becky Lynch arrives and says she's ready for Asuka. The New Day are seen with Heavy Machinery. There's a blender with a bunch of pancake mix and some raw fish. Dozovic drinks some of it. Becky stares at him and drinks some of it as well. She tells him "a little weak." And she walks off.
Becky comes out to the ring to a great ovation from the crowd. She cuts a promo about the roster thinking that being "The Man" is easy. Everyone is trying to be a "badass" ever since she's become "The Man." There's those that try to discredit her. Yet she delivers every single time. She then talks about hype and how Asuka had a lot of hype going into WrestleMania 34. And she lost and fell off the radar. Becky says she's beaten Charlotte Flair many times this year. Yet, Asuka asks Becky if she's ready for her.
Enter Asuka. She calls Becky a little bee with no sting. Becky will not be in Charlotte's shadow. She will be in Asuka's. Enter The IIconics. (Oh God.) They cut their usual promo putting down the women in the ring. They are going to win the Royal Rumble and win the Elimination Chamber to win the Tag Team Championships. Becky says she's going to make an example out of one of The IIconics for Asuka to witness. (I'll say this: I thought this was going to be a tag team match. Holla.)
After the commmercial break, Becky and Peyton Royce are in the ring working the match. This wasn't exactly a great match by any stretch of the imagination. At one point, Becky tried to do a kick through the ropes into Royce that mostly missed (as in 90% missed). Royce then takes advantage and works over Becky until we get to our next commercial break.
We come back from break. And after another few minutes, Becky makes Royce tap to the Disarm-Her. Asuka cuts a promo in Japanese with furious anger. She wants Billie Kay in a match and drags her into the ring. The bell rings. After trying to put the Disarm-Her on Kay, Asuka makes her tap within seconds of the opening bell to the Asuka Lock. Becky Lynch and Asuka are in each other's face when... AJ STYLES(?!) comes out. Styles walks a lap around the ring and then goes up through the fans into the concourse area.
(The IIconics were basically used as comedy fodder to the two women involved in the championship match at the Rumble. That's not a complaint. But that is a good use of them for the most part. And for her part, Royce did pretty well in her match.)
- AJ Styles is in the concourse area. He advocates eating hot dogs. The people paid to enjoy themselves. He ends up chucking T-Shirts into the crowd around the merchandise table. A man in a hoodie attacks AJ. It's Daniel Bryan. They end up fighting back and forth, and AJ puts Bryan through a table as he fights him off. Good way to continue to get more heat on the rivalry.
- We see The Usos. Jimmy gets a gift. He thinks it's an anniversary gift. But it's a gift from Mandy Rose who wants Jimmy to lock her up. The package includes a hotel room key. Yikes.
- Samoa Joe is shown backstage walking to the ring, and he happens to pass by EC3 who is just posing and smiling in front of a mirror. Well, that's better than being in a throwaway segment (during a match no less) dedicated to the ALMIGHTY Vince McMahon like he was last night on Raw.
- Andrade and Zelina are interviewed backstage. They plan on Andrade beating Rey Mysterio tonight and going on to main event WrestleMania. Nice dreams for WWE 2K19 there, Andrade.
- Samoa Joe faces Mustafa Ali in the next match. Joe jumps Ali before the match and mauls him inside and outside the ring. Ali goes face first against the ring post. Ali is "knocked out." Joe plays like he's backing off, but he goes back on the attack on Ali. He throws him face first again against another ring post. Joe then decides to walk away. (Samoa Joe is officially in the Royal Rumble. And the commentary team put over that this attack is a prelude to what Joe will do to his 29 opponents at that match.) Joe goes back after Ali and plays like he's going to put Ali through a table, but he just throws him against a barricade wall instead.
- Sonya Deville is trying to talk down Mandy Rose after giving her hotel key to Jimmy Uso. Mandy just wants to make Naomi's life miserable. And the best way to do that: break up her marriage. (Wow. This is going to some weird places.)
- Rey Mysterio is shown walking backstage, and NIKKI CROSS is behind a fence. She laughs maniacally, saying "Let Nikki Play. I'll play with you Rey. HAHAHAHA!" (Nikki Cross seems to be getting over the most so far out of the NXT call-ups from what I'm hearing from the crowd.)
- Samoa Joe cuts a promo backstage saying he will show all 29 of his Royal Rumble opponents with the same "respect" he just showed Mustafa Ali. \
- Rey Mysterio takes on Andrade (w/Zelina Vega) next. That's right: Andrade just has one name now apparently ( I might have missed that news from the promo earlier tonight). I guess that means that he is 2019's Apollo Crews. Let's hope he has a better win-loss record.
The opening minutes of this match are superb. Instead of going full speed, these two have the time to tell a story. They start off doing some fast-paced exchanges. Then, it becomes a scientific match with Andrade trying to use his size advantage to gain the upper hand. Later, in an incredible exchange, Mysterio gets on Andrade's shoulders and flips himself and Andrade over the ropes. BUT Andrade maintains the position after coming on the floor and hits a Sit-Down Powerbomb on Mysterio on the floor. Just excellent stuff here as we head to the break.
When we return from break, we get the kind of back and forth action that you would probably expect from these two. Both hitting great moves back and forth. Mysterio hits a Hurricanrana off the top rope onto Andrade, sending both crashing off the edge of the ring to the floor! Mysterio FLIES AGAIN with a Seated Senton OFF THE TOP ONTO ANDRADE ON THE FLOOR! During the commercial break (USA did one of those half-screen commercial deals), Mysterio dives off the corner but gets met with an Andrade dropkick in the ring!
The two men continue to brawl in the ring. Code Red! 1-2-Andrade kicks out! Another hurricanrana by Rey is countered into a roll-up for the 2 count. Back and forth action from these two men at an insanely fast pace. Andrade reverses a Code Red attempt into a Spinebuster. Double moonsault by Andrade gets a 2 count. THIS IS AWESOME chants from the crowd. (Yes this is!) Canadian Destroyer by Mysterio ALMOST gets the 3! Mysterio calls for the 6-1-9! Andrade catches it. Crucifix Bomb by Mysterio!!! 1-2-KICKOUT! HOLY CRAP! Andrade is put on the ropes. 6-1-9!!! Mysterio goes to the top rope. Zelina distracts the ref and Mysterio while Andrade causes Rey to crash on the buckle! Hanging Hammerlock DDT! 1-2-3! Andrade wins!
(That was an absolutely phenomenal match on this show. For once, I agree with Corey in his statement that this was one of the best matches we've ever seen on SmackDown. Kudos to the WWE for giving this match the time it needed. Mysterio and Andrade just set the standard for Match of the Year in my opinion. And this includes every other wrestling company out there. To me, this may be on the upper tier of that list.)
- Jimmy Uso is seen entering a door. Uh oh. After break, he walks in to see Mandy Rose sitting in a revealing robe and lingerie. Mandy asks "What will your wife think?" Jimmy tells her this needs to stop. A photographer walks in and takes pictures. Mandy tells Jimmy that this was never about him. Naomi will never be as hot as she is. These photos will destroy her entire life. Jimmy says "my life?" NAOMI IS THERE!!! She goes at it with Mandy in the hotel room brawling all over the set/room. Mandy gets the advantage, but Naomi is having none of it. Mandy throws Naomi over a chair and runs off. Jimmy comes in and checks on his wife. (Um, Mandy. A loophole in your plan, my dear. If there's a WWE camera there documenting the whole thing, how is Naomi NOT going to know that you set her husband up? Is part of your plan keeping Naomi off away from YouTube, social media, and TV for a week? That's the type of plot hole that lazy writing will get you.)
- The next segment is The Miz's Bestie-Birthday Bash for Shane McMahon. Miz gives Shane a bunch of presents, including a pair of shoes and a video montage. Shane makes a mistake of saying that the Royal Rumble is "this" Sunday, but who really cares? Miz gets the crowd to sing "Happy Birthday" to Shane. But The Bar interrupt. Sheamus makes fun of the fact that Vince isn't there. Shane makes a match between Sheamus and The Miz. Miz complains about not having gear. Shane gives him a pep talk, and Miz is up for the match.
Sheamus and Miz wrestle in a clear ring with the cake and a table at ringside. Corey makes a joke about Sheamus being in the TMNT sequel and "Cesaro being in all those Transporter movies." Lol. The crowd is somewhat lukewarm for this main event match. Sheamus gets put in the corner, and Miz does the running dropkicks into Sheamus. But Sheamus reasserts control. Cesaro tries to interfere, but Shane flings him off the apron and through the cake-topped table. Sheamus gets rolled up by Miz for the win. Shane fights Sheamus off of Miz after the match. Skull Crushing Finale to Sheamus. Sheamus is put in the corner, and Shane hits Coast-to-Coast while Miz puts a Cake in Sheamus's face! Lol. Miz just rubs the cake In Sheamus's face, and The Besties hold their trophy up to end the night.
While the main event was underwhelming and the Mandy Rose segment turned out to be a poorly thought-out mess, I have to give this show a thumbs up. And most of that lies on the fact that Rey Mysterio and Andrade just delivered a classic TV match that will be remembered for years to come. WWE needs to be applauded for allowing these two to just go and work their way to the finish. So, can one match make a show? You better believe it. Thumbs up.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. Spread some awesomeness.
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