Smackdown Live Review 01/15/2019
The WWE is under a shake up and we are less than two weeks away from the Royal Rumble. Things are heating up on the road to Wrestlemania as we head to Arizona. Who will enter the Royal Rumble? Who will try to make an impact to show they have plans to main event Wrestlemania? It is also Shane McMahon’s birthday and The Miz is planning to throw a birthday bash like no other! Will it go as planned or will the tag team champions The Bar crash the party? Becky Lynch won a chance to face Asuka for the Women’s Championship at the Royal Rumble last week. How will The Man celebrate her big victory this week? Lets find out.
Smackdown is taking place tonight from the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama
It is Tom Phillips, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton on commentary
Smackdown kicks off with Becky Lynch rolling up to the arena in a SUV. Kayla Braxton tries to interview Becky Lynch about facing Asuka at the Royal Rumble but Becky says she’s going to the ring to address it. The New Day and Heavy Machinery are making milkshakes. Dozer puts all types of gross things in the blender and drinks some of it. Becky Lynch walks in and drinks some of Dozer’s shake. Lynch hands it back and says its a little weak. Lynch power walks to the ring.
Becky Lynch Segment
Becky Lynch makes her way out to the ring. Lynch says in two weeks she will have the opportunity to win back her Smackdown Women’s title. The title that Becky Lynch made and had everyone talking about. Becky says now the title isn’t even on TV. Lynch says everyone is trying to copy her swagger and trying to be badass like her to make themselves relevant but its not working. Lynch notes that Asuka was supposed to be unbeatable when she walked into Wrestlemania but Asuka lost to a woman that she beat over and over all around the world in the past year. Asuka interrupts. Asuka says Lynch likes to talk and likes hype, just like a little bee but with no sting. After the Royal Rumble Lynch won’t be in Charlotte’s shadow, Lynch will be in Asuka’s! The IIconics come out and make fun of Lynch and Asuka. Lynch challenges one of the IIconics to a match right now.
Opinion
Similar to Raw we kick it off with the Women’s Championship feud to start the show. Becky Lynch continues to be a badass and demands to take what is hers but now Asuka is in her way. I don’t find myself fully invested in this feud yet and I’m curious to see how it plays out. Will Becky Lynch win her championship back that fast or will Asuka retain and go into Wrestlemania as champion?
Becky Lynch def. Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay
Asuka sat at ringside for this match. They showed Lacy Evans watching this match from backstage. In a solid opening match, Becky Lynch defeated Peyton Royce by making her tap out to the disarmher.
Opinion
This was a good back and forth match that really favoured Becky Lynch most of the time. Becky picked up the victory as she should have making Peyton tap out while looking at Asuka.
– Asuka jumps in the ring and starts yelling in Japanese. Asuka challenges Billie Kay to a match which she declines. Asuka chases after Billie Kay and attacks her thus bringing her into the ring. Asuka locks in her own armbar and then an Asuka lock to make Kay tap out. The ref starts ringing the bell. Becky Lynch and Asuka start having a stare down but AJ Styles music hits and he walks out. AJ Styles walks around the ring and then into the crowd. The commentators speculate where he is going as we go to break.
AJ Styles
AJ Styles is backstage in the arena at the concession stand similar to Bryan was last week surrounded by fans. Styles had hot dogs. popcorn and anything the people want. Styles said these people paid their hard earned money to be here and they can eat whatever they want. Styles said these people aren’t no different than the fans in Phoenix Arizona where they’ll see him kick Daniel Bryan’s ass. Daniel Bryan dressed in a hoodie ambushes Styles and they brawl in the concession area. They crash through the table of hot dogs and food until security breaks them up.
Opinion
This was the perfect segment to counteract Bryans segment from last week. AJ clearly playing the role as the man of the people opposed to Bryan who talks down to the people. The brawl was necessary and I like how they had Bryan dress undercover to do it.
Usos
Jimmy and Jey are getting their photos taken backstage when someone gives Jimmy a gift. Jimmy says this must be an early Anniversary Gift as his annivarsary with Naomi. It was a rose with a letter implying that the sender has been very naughty and wanted to locked up in the Uso Penitentiary and it came along with a hotel room key. It was from Mandy Rose. Jey asked Jimmy what he was going to do and he said he didn’t know.
Opinion
I like this storyline. Its very attitude/ruthless aggression era like so to all those people who praise that era shouldn’t talk down on it. I dont know why Jimmy said I dont know though but that’s prolly to keep us speculating on what is going to happen next. Damn, Mandy Rose is home wrecker
– Samoa Joe is heading to the ring and walks past EC3 flexing in the mirror
– Back from the break Kayla Braxton interviews Andrade Cien Almas and Zelina Vega about his match later tonight against Rey Mysterio. Almas says that Mysterio was one of his idols but he’s going to show Rey that things have changed. Almas then claims that he is going to win the Royal Rumble.
Samoa Joe vs. Mustafa Ali
Samoa Joe attacks Mustafa Ali during his entrance before the match could ever start and he brutally continues his attack outside of the ring. Joe tosses Ali into the ring posts and even teases powerbombing him on the table only to toss him into the barricade.
Opinion
They built this as two guys who are going to be in the Rumble and trying to make an impact. Mustafa Ali vs Samoa Joe would be a fun rivalry so if this is the start of that, I’m intrigued. Ali really sold that beat down too. Ali will be looking for retribution.
– Sonaya Deville questions if Mandy Rose on if she really wants to be this scandalous by giving Jimmy her hotel key. Mandy says she really can’t stand Naomi and the best way to make her life more miserable is to break up their marriage. Mandy Rose excuses herself saying she has a date.
– Rey Mysterio is heading to the ring and walks past Nikki Cross behind a fence saying “Let Nikki Play,”
– Kayla Braxton catches up with Samoa Joe backstage where Joe basically just promises that he is going to win the Royal Rumble.
Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega def. Rey Mysterio
In a really competitive main event quality match, Andrade Cien Almas defeated Rey Mysterio after a hammer-lock DDT. Vega had the referee distracted as Almas was able to swipe Mysterio how was on the top rope low-blowing him allowing him to hit the DDT.
Opinion
I could have watched these two wrestle each other till the show went off the air. Thats how fun it was. The pacing of this match was incredible and both guys with their luchador backgrounds really had great chemistry with each other. A 45 year old Mysterio who has had multiple knee surgeries was moving around like it wasn’t a thing keeping up with a young Almas. I’d love to see these two guys tango again. However, the right superstar went over here as we need to build new stars for the future and Almas needs to start defining himself as a singles star.
Jimmy Uso & Mandy Rose
Jimmy Uso hesitantly walks into the hotel room to see Mandy Rose sitting in a chair in a black silk robe. Mandy Rose tells Jimmy to come closer and that the time to play hard to get is over. Mandy Rose takes off her robe to reveal herself in lingerie. Jimmy says we can’t do this and that this needs to stop. Mandy says they can do this and man runs in and takes pictures like paparazzi. Mandy Rose tells Jimmy that this was never about him and never wanted him but that she despises Naomi as she puts her robe back on. Mandy says Naomi thinks she runs the entire locker room and when she sees these pictures its going to ruin her entire life. Jimmy says my wife and walks out. Naomi walks in and attacks Mandy Rose. They start brawling in the hotel room. Mandy Rose gets the last toss and runs out of the room. Jimmy comes to check on Naomi.
Opinion
This was great. It was a little out of the box and different from the modern era which made me enjoy it. I understand people potentially finding it cringy or bad but this is how they need to push the envelope to further develop their characters rather than just regular promos and matches. This is very reminiscent to the stuff I grew up with and Mandy Rose reminded me a lot of year 2000 Trish Stratus here. I knew Jimmy and Naomi had a plan and I enjoyed how it played out.
– The commentary team talk about the announcement of the Women’s Tag Team Titles and Miz makes his way out for Shane O’ Mac’s Birthday Bash.
Shane McMahon Birthday Bash
The ring is decorated with a gifts, a cake and even the best in the world trophy. The Miz welcomes everyone to the best birthday bash ever but says it can’t be a birthday bash without the birthday boy and introduces Shane McMahon. The Miz wishes Shane McMcmahon a Happy Birthday on behalf of everyone and the fans chant Happy Birthday. Shane McMahon says he’s usually not comfortable with birthday parties. Miz says this isn’t no Chuck-E Cheese birthday party and says he got Shane two cakes from his favourite bakery. One of the cakes had a picture of Shane and Miz with the trophy. Miz hands Shane a gift and Miz got Shane a new pair of Jordan’s 33’s. The Miz said they’re red, black and red so that no matter what gear they wear the shoes will match. Miz then introduces the next gift which was a Shane McMahon video package that showcases Shane McMahon’s career up to him and The Miz becoming partners.
Shane McMahon says he is speechless and wants to thank the Miz. Shane then thanks The Miz for sharing suff about his dad a couple of weeks ago. Shane McMahon says that ever since he was kid coming to WWE events he dreamed of becoming tag team champions and his partner was going to be Andre the Giant but he’s glad he’s going into this Sunday with The Miz. The Miz leads the crowd into singing Happy Birthday to Shane McMahon but they are interrupted by The Bar. Sheamus tells Miz that this is embarrassing and what is more embarrassing is they are having a birthday bash without the tag team champions. Cesaro said its embarrassing that they didn’t invite Shane’s father. Sheamus says Shane’s dad doesn’t care about him. Shane McMahon calls out Sheamus and Cesaro for teaming up on his partner last week two on one when Sheamus prides himself on being a tough guys. Shane asks Sheamus tells Sheamus he should go one-on-one against The Miz right now. Miz says he’s not dressed but Shane points out he wasn’t when the BITW tournament happened. He pumps us Miz and Miz obliges.
Opinion
This was a solid segment further building The Miz and Shane McMahon as a tag team. I expected the Bar to come out to crash the party and that was exactly what happened. I wasn’t expecting it to lead to a match but I’m not against it. I loved Graves bringing up the Mean Street Posse and I have a feeling the cake is going to play a role in the main event.
The Miz w/ Shane McMahon def. Sheamus w/ Cesaro
In an impromptu main event, The Miz is dress attire defeated Sheamus by roll-up when Sheamus got distracted by Shane McMahon tossing Cesaro off the apron through a table and cake at ringside. After the match, Sheamus tried attacking The Miz but Shane McMahon came to his aid. Shane McMahon went coast to coast on Sheamus hitting the second cake in his face.
Opinion
This was fun match with hot shot finish but it served its purpose. Shane McMahon got to celebrate his birthday by hitting both members of The Bar with cake in some sort of fashion. It wasn’t the most impactful way to end the show but it was fun.
Final Thoughts
This was solid episode of Smackdown. It may not have been as impactful as last nights Raw but it was still really enjoyable. Mysterio and Almas stole the night with their amazing match up. The stuff with the Usos, Naomi and Mandy Rose was entertaining and different. It kept you watching to see what would happen whether you wanted to or not. They kicked the show off hot with The Man and ended it with some fun involving the Miz, Shane McMahon and The Bar. Definitely check it out if you’re looking for some Tuesday night wrasslin’ entertainment.
