Smackdown Live Review 01/29/2019
Live from the Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix, Arizona
Opening In-Ring Segment: Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair
The Man, Becky Lynch makes an appearance with an injured knee that was aggravated at the Royal Rumble this past Sunday and enters the ring with a roar of Becky chants from the Phoenix crowd. She enters the ring and commemorates her past few days have been nothing more than historic. Lynch explains that the beginning of the night did not turn her way however, it turned around when she entered and won the inaugural women’s royal rumble. She states that she is proud of the process from working in the pre-show at last year’s WrestleMania to becoming the main event of this year’s showcase of the immortals. Lynch claims that unlike Ronda Rousey, she actually has no doubt that she will win at Wrestlemania. She then tells Ronda that she better be prepared and that she is not backing down. Charlotte Flair interrupts and enters the ring applauding Lynch. Flair tells Lynch in a sarcastic manner that she is proud of Becky of weaseling her way into the rumble match, claiming that she learned lessons from her. Becky responds by sucker punching The Queen and exiting the ring with a cocky grin on her face. Charlotte attacks Becky back from behind which causes a brawl to take hand. The brawl is then broken up by WWE officials to restrain the two female athletes to end the segment.
My Thoughts:
Let me kick things off and state that this was the proper way to hype up this episode of SmackDown Live! To see The Man execute her badass persona and pop Charlotte in the face was definitely giving me the old Stone Cold vibes growing up. Despite her character execution tonight, I actually love the way they presented Charlotte Flair as the arrogant heel. Plus, when you add the audience’s reaction towards Becky, it really made her role key as the biggest woman heel on the roster. I think the entire segment from the strike to the brawl will set the bar of how great the women’s division will be during WrestleMania season!
Match #1: R-Truth (with Carmella) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura – United States Championship Match
R-Truth and Carmella come to the ring and explains how his WrestleMania dreams were crushed at the hands of Nia Jax. He also claims that if it were not for that attack, he would be the winner of the Men’s Royal Rumble. Despite this fact, he takes note that The McMahon Family took notice of the attack and granted him a championship match. As soon as the bell rings, Shinsuke Nakamura hits Truth with a flying kick and has him in the corner turnbuckle. R-Truth gains an opening and hits Nakamura with a sudden Lie Detector maneuver to send the United States Champion to the ringside area to takes us to commercial break. Coming from intermission, Shinsuke traps Truth into the corner turnbuckle and hits him with lethal, continuous knee strikes for an unsuccessful pin attempt. Shinsuke attempts a landslide but Truth reverses it and goes for a rollup. The referee, Mike Shinoda, makes the three count in a controversial pin attempt where it looked like Nakamura kicked out. The United States championship is awarded to Truth but that is interrupted by Rusev and Lana. Rusev makes the claim that the United States Championship deserves better than R-Truth and Shinsuke, proposing an impromptu championship match. Carmella and Lana enter a heated exchange which leads to an impromptu championship match between Rusev and R-Truth.
Result: R-Truth via pinfall
My Thoughts:
I think this match might be the only match in WWE history other than Lesnar vs. Taker at SummerSlam in 2017 that I questioned the finish. First, why in the loving hell would you screw a newly crowned champion as Nakamura? What kind of logical explanation is there to screw him over like that? There is nothing else I can really say about this match, except that it was a successful shock factor but illogical in terms of creative’s decision.
Match #2 (ish): R-Truth (with Carmella) vs. Rusev (with Lana) -0 United States Championship Match
After a brief intermission, Rusev dominates the newly crowned United States Champion and hits him with a fury of corner strikes from multiple irish-whips to the corner. However, R-Truth finds an opening and rolls up Rusev for a successful three count. After a brief post match celebration, Shinsuke appears and throws Truth into the ring. Nakamura and Rusev continuously double team on Truth to knock him out. Rusev then hits Truth with a Machka kick along with Shinsuke hitting Truth with a Kinsassha finisher to end the segment, aligning themselves as allies
Result: R-Truth via pinfall
My Thoughts:
Is R-Truth getting the Mikey Whipwreck treatment, where he overcomes the odds and everyone is supposed to get him over with it? I believe this is absolutely atrocious! I mean, do not get me wrong, I respect Truth’s decorated career so far! However, it is not great pushing him as the next biggest underdog who is taking the spotlight from those who deserve the United States championship.
Backstage segment: Becky Lynch and Kayla Braxton
Becky Lynch appears backstage to be leaving the arena, limping from the brawl earlier on, when all of a sudden she is stopped by Kayla Braxton for a quick interview. Braxton asks Becky why she was not examined by WWE medical staff yet. Lynch answers that she just wants to exit the arena.
Match #3: Rey Mysterio vs. Samoa Joe
Before the match begins, Zelina appears to confront Rey and accuses him of having her barred from ringside last week. She then goes on to say that Rey was afraid to have her at ringside due to her looks. Then, out of nowhere, Andrade attacks Rey from behind and hits him with the three amigos in disrespect to the late and great Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio reverses and attempts to comeback but Andrade stops him and hits a third suplex to end the cancelled match.
Result: No Contest
My Thoughts:
I think it was absolutely brilliant for Andrade and Zelina to orchestrate that attack, although it will be disappointing not to witness Joe vs. Mysterio. I really think that this rivalry between Andrade and Rey will bring the house down these upcoming weeks until the granddaddy of them all. Just to see a storyline, which is not terrible, combined with a showcase of tremendous selling and athleticism will be something to behold.
In-Ring Segment: The Miz, Shane McMahon, George Mizanin
The newly crowned SmackDown Tag Team champions enter the ring and The Miz claims that Phoenix is ready to party with the new champs. Shane responds by stating that he has something for Miz as a thank you for winning the titles. Shane puts together a video package in honor of the journey to being tag team champions. After the video package, Shane continues to say that he wanted to build this night as something special. He then introduces Miz’s father, George Mizanin. Shane states that he George has something to say to his son and hands him the microphone. George then tells Miz that he loves him and is proud of him. They embrace filled with emotion. Shane then attends to business at hand and announces a fatal four way tag team match to determine the new number one contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team titles, which occurs, next.
My Opinion:
I will admit here, I had some man tears watching this segment. Seeing the awesome video package was pretty cool however, it would have been nice to get straight to the attention grabber and bring Miz’s father earlier on. Nonetheless, it was awesome to see The Miz’s father say the words, “I am proud of you” considering that has been something that the Miz has held to his heart. I think that their tag team reign will be pretty entertaining but it will not last past WrestleMania.
Backstage interview: Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, and Kayla Braxton
Mandy Rose announces that she and Sonya Deville will enter the Elimination Chamber and become the first ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Rose also addresses the reasoning behind her unresolved issues with Naomi is because of her comments at the 2015 Tough Enough competition. Sonya Deville claims that Naomi’s comments were so brutal that it was not aired. They make their motives clear that come Elimination Chamber, they will become the first ever Women’s Tag Champions and will eliminate Naomi in the process.
Match #4: Heavy Machinery vs. The Usos vs. The Bar vs. The New Day
The match starts off with Otis Dozovic and Kofi Kingston, which Otis dominates before Big E is quickly tagged in. Big E attempts a shoulder block but is not successful. Big E attempts at an abdominal stretch but Otis comes back and takes control. Dozovic tags in Tucker Knight to use multiple double team maneuvers to send Big E to the outside and takes us into commercial break with Heavy Machinery standing tall. After coming back, Cesaro is seen hitting Jimmy Uso with a gutwrench suplex and tags in Sheamus. The Bar continue to dominate Jimmy finds an opening and makes the hot tag to Jey Uso who comes out of the gate hot. After a comeback, Jey attempts at a pin attempt but does not make it. After being thrown over the top rope, Big E makes the tag and hits the New Day finisher of the Midnight Hour on Sheamus. Cesaro makes the save from being eliminated. However, it is Heavy Machinery who breaks out with their finisher on Kofi Kingston and eliminates the New Day. The Usos then send Heavy Machinery to the outside and attempt at a Uso springboard splash but Cesaro tags in and only Jimmy is able to take Heavy Machinery out. The Bar then hit a double team military press on the outside, onto the barricade on Jey Uso to send us into commercial break number two. After the second intermission, Cesaro is seen applying the crossface on Tucker Knight. Tucker escapes but is stopped by a newly tagged Sheamus. Tucker Knight gains an advantage and finds a hot tag to Dozovic, who takes out The Bar with a fury of offensive moves. Dozovic hits the caterpillar signature on Cesaro but is unsuccessful. Sheamus sends Dozovic to the outside. Jimmy Uso makes a tag to Cesaro and takes out Tucker Knight to eliminate Heavy Machinery. However, out of nowhere, The Usos hit Sheamus with a superkick and hit the Uso splash to gain the victory.
Result: The Usos – via pinfall
My Opinion:
This match just proved why the SmackDown Live tag team division is the strongest in WWE today! The showcase of every team was perfect. Seeing Heavy Machinery being highlighted as a real contender for the titles was nostalgic from there NXT days. Seeing teams such as The Bar, The Usos, and The New Day kill it once again made me invested in the product even more and more. I love where the future is going for this division, especially to see where everything goes from here.
In-Ring Segment: The New Daniel Bryan, Eric Rowan, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, Mustafa Ali, Samoa Joe, and Triple H
The New Daniel Bryan enters the arena in Phoenix with despair in his eyes (with a black eye too) and a roar of boos. Bryan then asks the WWE Universe who won at the Royal Rumble on Sunday. He then answers that they won because Daniel Bryan is the planet’s champion. Bryan claims that the people do not know what winning feels like, explains why Rowan came out with him for the greater good, and introduces him. Rowan appears with a mysterious black bag. Daniel Bryan explains that Rowan is an enlightened peer and is able to see through the ignorance known as AJ Styles. He then claims that Styles called Bryan a hypocrite and accepts it because he carries the WWE championship. Rowan grabs a trash can. Daniel states that the WWE title was made by a cow, who’s life was taken away for the WWE title, being unable to feel happiness. Bryan then dumps the WWE title in the trash and states that it is a symbol of disrespect. He then reveals a new design for the WWE championship. While Bryan explains the design beneath the new design, AJ Styles appears and asks id Daniel Bryan smoked the material the new title possesses. Randy Orton enters and sends us to commercial. Coming back, Mustafa Ali appears and states what he has done. Samoa Joe appears and starts going off with everyone. A brawl occurs and Daniel Bryan states that nobody will get an opportunity at the title. Triple H appears on the screen and confirms that he will be defending the title in an Elimination Chamber against all of the competitors in the ring. The end shows Daniel Bryan and Eric Rowan leaving and the brawl continuing on.
My Thoughts:
First of all, mind completely blown about how this final segment turned out! At first, I was pissed to see the WWE title thrown in the trash as did Alundra Blayze did twenty years ago with the WWF Women’s championship on WCW Nitro. So, in a sense, it was symbolic that history would repeat itself. But it confused the hell out of me why people like Mustafa and Jeff would come out. It also confused me why the design of the new championship looked like playdough! But other than that, everyone made a great point in the segment from Bryan to Orton to Joe! And to see a breakout brawl with a huge announcement by Triple H made me hyped for the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view!
Final Thoughts
Am I allowed to use profanity in a review? Holy smokes! This might have been the craziest episode of Smack Down Live when it comes to the road of WrestleMania. Seriously, I know I mention loving each and every episode these past few weeks but I believe it when I say that it is episodes like tonight that make me proud to be a wrestling fan! However, there are a few flaws that I do want to point out in my eyes. First, the entire upset with Truth and Nakamura was unnecessary! Shinsuke should have at least have a credible second reign to out due his last one. In addition to that, we have a horrible backstory to why the rivalry between Mandy Rose and Naomi should be relevant in WWE television, which is not. In the slightest relevant. Overall, I believe this episode was a rollercoaster with the beginning and ending being phenomenal with the addition of its unnecessary slopes in the middle. Hope we can see more hot fire episodes in the upcoming weeks!
