Smackdown Live Review 01/08/2019

Live from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida

Backstage Segment: Daniel Bryan, R-Truth
Smack Down Live opens the show with a backstage shot of Daniel Bryan explaining to the audience how bad and toxic the food at the concession stands are. He then goes on to take another fan’s hotdog and soda and throws it away. Bryan then goes through the entrance of the crowd and starts ranting about how submissive the WWE Universe is. He promises to make Smack Down honorable and something that the children of the world can be proud of. As he jumps over the barricade and continues his rant, R-Truth emerges from the crowd and attacks the WWE Champion with a flying assault. WWE Officials appear to break things up and takes us into commercial break for the first scheduled match of the evening between R-Truth and The New Daniel Bryan.
My Opinion:
Let me start things off by saying how much I really enjoyed Daniel Bryan pissing off the crowd up close and personal throughout that entire segment! I think having this heel persona from Bryan really gives out a new side of him that fans should really invest in more than they are currently. Now the “fickle” chants may get annoying from time to time but make no mistake that catchphrase may become a crowd chant in replacement of the now dead Yes chants sooner rather than later. Also, I firmly believe that if WWE continues to book Bryan how they have been these past few weeks, he is going to be the main roster’s most entertaining heel today.

Match #1: R-Truth vs. Daniel Bryan 
Coming back from the first commercial break of the show, R-Truth starts the match with a furious combo of strikes on the WWE Champion. However, the momentum quickly changes as Daniel Bryan comes back and viciously strikes Truth with hard hitting kicks in the corner. It does not keep Truth down though as he finds a loophole in Bryan’s offense and attempts to gain the upper hand but is unsuccessful as he is caught by Bryan’s knee strike to gain the victory for the world champion. After the match, as Bryan attempts to go backstage, he is attacked by AJ Styles. After the impromptu brawl implodes, it is then broken up by security after Styles grabs a steel chair and Bryan heads backstage.
Result: The New Daniel Bryan via pinfall
My Opinion: 
That was quicker than expected! I personally did not see this match happening, let alone ending as quickly as it did. To me, this bout was just a warm-up for the world champion heading into the Royal Rumble. Seeing Styles attack Bryan at the end of the match was expected but it definitely was more entertaining than the match itself.   

Match #2: Rey Mysterio and Mustafa Ali vs. Samoa Joe and Andrade Cien Almas
The match begins with a lockup between Mustafa Ali and Samoa Joe, two athletes that have never shared the same ring together in the WWE. Ali hits Joe with a kick to stun the submission specialist but is then quickly stopped by Joe and takes control of the offense. Ali finds an opening and quickly tags in Rey Mysterio who comes out of the gate hot with rapid strikes. In the mix of that, Joe tags in Andrade Cien Almas. Mysterio then shows incredible athleticism with high flying springboard maneuvers to wow the Jacksonville audience. However, Joe puts a stop into the display with a rolling elbow. It does not take long for Mysterio to comeback to knock down one of the newest SmackDown Live stars, finds an opening, and tags in Ali once again. Without noticing the tag to Samoa Joe, Ali hits Almas with a Tornado DDT. He then attempts to hit Joe with a springboard crossbody but is caught in mid air by the big man Joe and hits a Fallaway Slam to Ali over the announce table to send us into another commercial break. After the intermission, we see Almas attempt to hit Ali with a turnbuckle double stomp but is unsuccessful and Ali tags in Mysterio. The Ultimate Underdog comes into the match with hot offense, which he takes out Almas with an incredible Texas Tornado DDT. After Ali takes out Joe from the outside, Mysterio attempts to finish the match with a 619 finish but is reversed and Almas hits the Hammerlock DDT finish to get the victory for his team.  
Result: Samoa Joe and Andrade Cien Almas via pinfall
My Opinion:
What more could you have done during that match from start to finish other than smile and applaud? All four of those competitors just showcased how great SmackDown’s roster is! For example, that Tornado DDT from Mysterio to Almas was absolutely insane. I did not think that there was ever an ounce of boringness in the entire bout. You take a look at what the highflyers Mysterio and Ali who displayed great showmanship while the ground-based team of Joe and Almas sold tremendously and had highlights for themselves as well. To be bias, I love when the bad guys win because that means more to me for them to ride more momentum in their careers than anything else! Also, can we commend the fact that Almas pinned Mysterio? That is a huge way to end the match as we see the future displayed beneath our very eyes!  

Backstage Segment: Shane McMahon, The MizShane is appeared backstage on his phone where The Miz appears into the office asking Shane why The Usos are getting an opportunity at the Tag Team Titles and they are not. Shane responds by saying that they are not ready for title contention and will not abuse his authority to give them a shot. He then goes on by saying that they will need to train to get ready for those types of opportunities. He then walks off as Miz tries to convince him about the matching outfits from weeks past.

In-Ring Segment: Rusev, Shinsuke Nakamura
Rusev appears in the ring and addresses that Lana did not appear tonight due to the attack caused by Shinsuke Nakamura last week. He then claims that he is not standing before the WWE Universe as a champion or the Bulgarian Brute, but as a husband. Rusev promises Nakamura that he will crush him for what he did to his wife, Lana. Nakamura is appeared in the television production truck explaining that the attack on Lana was his fault and plays the footage from last week. He then tells Rusev that he crushed Lana. Rusev then yells that he will come to Nakamura and runs to the backstage area. During the midst of the pursuit, Nakamura attacks Rusev with a production box and hits him with the Kinsasha finisher to end the segment. 

Match #3: The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) vs. The Usos; If The Usos win, they face The Bar for the Smack Down Tag Team Titles at Royal Rumble
The highly anticipated bout starts with a back and forth exchange from Sheamus and Jey Uso. The Celtic Warrior is sent into the corner where he then tags in Cesaro. Jey then tags in Jimmy Uso. Cesaro displays his unbelievable feat of strength but Jimmy escapes and sends Cesaro into the outside. Once both competitors are back into the ring, he tags in Jey Uso for a tag team attack but is sent to the Bar’s corner where Sheamus is tagged in. Jey irish-whips Sheamus and hits him with a lethal clothesline. After a distraction from Cesaro, Jey is hit by a huge strike from Sheamus to send us into commercial break. Coming back, Sheamus takes control of Jey Uso with a headlock but Jey comes back by trying to take out The Bar by himself. After an unsuccessful attempt, Cesaro hits Jey with a flying elbow and we are back to The Bar dominating. Sheamus then hits his vintage 10 Beats and while being cocky, gets hit with an enziguiri from Jey to take him out. Both Jey and Sheamus tag in their respective teammates but it is Jimmy who takes the advantage. After throwing the Bar to the outside, The Usos hit them with Uso splashes. Jimmy then rolls Cesaro into the ring and hits him with a flying crossbody for a pin attempt but is only good for a two count. Sheamus attempts a Brogue Kick but is met with an Uso kick for another two count to send us into the second commercial break of the match. After intermission number two, Cesaro hits the Cesaro Swing and transitions to the Sharpshooter on Jey Uso but is broken up. While the referee is distracted with Cesaro, Sheamus sneaks in a knee attack for Cesaro to make a pin attempt but is not good. Jey Uso tries to comeback but Sheamus stops the momentum and attempts a rolling maneuver but is reversed into a huge Uso superkick which knocks out both competitors. While Jey is reaching for the tag, Mandy Rose appears in a towel and distracts Jimmy Uso. Sheamus knocks out Jimmy and Cesaro gets the pin on Jey for the win. The Miz appears to congratulate The Bar on their victory. He then makes an offer to the Bar to face them for the tag team titles at the Royal Rumble. Sheamus consults Miz with a Brogue Kick and Cesaro accepts the match on behalf of the Bar. The Bar continue to celebrate to end the night.
Result: The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) via pinfall
My Opinion:
It would have been nice to see The Bar and The Usos kill it at the Rumble. I mean, the match itself before the interruption was absolutely glorious! It gave me the vibe of when The New Day and The Usos had that rivalry back two years ago during the beginnings of the brand split. To have Mandy Rose out of all people interrupt a killer bout was something new that I did not see coming but I would assume this means that Jimmy will be now play a huge role into the rivalry with Naomi and Rose than during the beginning since he is out of the tag team title picture now. I think this Mandy Rose scandal storyline is overstaying its welcome and took away from what would have been a phenomenal main card or pre-show matchup.

Backstage Interview:
As Daniel Bryan leaves the arena, Kayla Braxton asks him about his thoughts on AJ Styles’s attack earlier in the night. Bryan responds that the attack on him was not as vicious as he is, not as vicious as his attack will be on AJ Styles. He promises that he will conduct the most ruthless assault come the Royal Rumble and prove to the world why he is the best champion that WWE had ever had and continues his route out of the arena.

Match #4 (The Main Event): Triple Threat Match – Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Carmella, the Winner Faces Asuka at the Royal Rumble for the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship
The bell rings and the Jacksonville crowd roars with Becky chants. Charlotte then takes out Becky Lynch and goes to work on Carmella. Flair takes out Carmella but is then stopped by Lynch and taken to the outside. The two time SmackDown Women’s Champion takes out both Flair and Carmella on the outside with rapid clotheslines to send us into commercial break. Coming back, Becky Lynch takes down Carmella but is caught by Charlotte Flair on the outside. Lynch attempts a pinfall but is pulled away by Flair. A standoff between SmackDown Live’s top female superstars occur and a back and forth exchange of forearms and chops leads to Charlotte dominating. Flair attempts a Figure 8 on Carmella but Carmella reverses into the Code of Silence submission. Charlotte Flair escapes and goes on a fury of strikes and grapples, standing tall over Lynch and Carmella. Flair then goes to the top rope and hits both Lynch and Carmella with a moonsault. After two unsuccessful pin attempts, we are taken into commercial break. Returning from advertisement, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are seen battling on the top rope but Carmella throws Becky back down. Carmella hits the hurricanrana on Charlotte Flair, goes for the cover but is unsuccessful. She then hits a suicide dive on Lynch. Charlotte then attempts a moonsault onto ringside but Carmella moves out of the way. Becky comes back and hits Carmella with the BeXploder maneuver and takes control. Charlotte hits a big boot on Becky. Becky attempts the Dis-Arm-Her finish on Carmella but it is then turned into a Flying Natural Selection by Charlotte. Charlotte applies the Figure 8 submission on Carmella but is broken up by Becky Lynch. Lynch applies a second Dis-Arm-Her but is broken up. After a series of attacks, Becky Lynch applies the third Dis-Arm-Her on Carmella and makes her tap for the victory! After the match, Lynch’s celebrating is then interrupted by SmackDown Live Women’s Champion Askua, appearing for a standoff. Asuka holds the women’s title high and Lynch smiles, proclaiming her stand as the rightful challenger to end the show.
My Opinion:
Trust me when I say that this main event, just like I have been saying every main event of SmackDown Live that I have reviewed thus far, has been nothing more than spectacular. As a wrestling fan, seeing the women kill it on the closing match just proves how much the women have impacted WWE as a whole. Last year, we had the first Women’s Rumble and now this year, we may have the first Women’s main event in WrestleMania history. Take a look at the main event of tonight’s episode. We witnessed all three women showcase great talent and also see Carmella, who has not been in the title picture recently, be displayed as the Women’s champion she once was some time ago. I am very confident that this match between Lynch and Asuka will tear the house down in Phoenix. Do I believe Lynch will regain her title at Royal Rumble? I hope she does but another part of me wants her to main event WrestleMania against Ronda Rousey and shatter the history books as the first Woman to win a championship in the main event of the granddaddy of the immortals. All three of these female athletes proved tonight that Women’s Wrestling is not just a revolution and a movement, but it is the way of life.  

Final Thoughts
I don’t know if I can post a final thought on Smack Down Live tonight considering all that has happened! So much chaos and so much tremendous action. I feel like if I keep saying that the entire show was phenomenal or glorious, then I will sound like a broken record, repeating myself over and over. What I will do is put all my thoughts into one sentence that is broken down from the hundreds of sentences that is input from my brain. Smack Down Live broke the ground to be considered the A-show of the WWE! Now you, the reader, might respond to that saying, “well that is your opinion, I did not feel the same” or “tonight was not special at all”. To quote Hulk Hogan, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING BROTHER!! You cannot argue that SmackDown Live has produced better production as Tuesday’s premiere show than Monday’s most weekly episodic television show in history. How can you not love the display shown by Ali, Almas, Mysterio, and Joe tonight? How were you not entertained with Bryan’s rant on concessional food? How could you not love three former Women’s Champions putting it all on the line in the main event? If I say it once, I will say it one million more times! Smack Down Live is where it is at! Tonight was just another prime example of how awesome it is to view Tuesdnay night wrestling!