Smackdown Live Review 12/18/18

Smack Down Live Review: December 18, 2018
Author: Captain Charisma

Live from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California

Shane McMahon, The SmackDown Live Roster
The SmackDown Live commissioner informs the roster that they have to usher into a new era and bring the WWE Universe a great show. He congratulates Paige on running SmackDown tremendously and removes her role as general manager. The segment ends with the entire roster chanting “thank you Paige” to kick off the show.

In-Ring Segment: Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Asuka, Naomi, Mr. McMahon
The former SmackDown Women’s champion Becky Lynch comes to the ring and states that she runs the show. Lynch declares to the McMahon Family that she wants a match with Ronda Rousey after what happened at TLC on Sunday. After she makes her demands, Charlotte Flair interrupts and makes her appearance to the ring. Charlotte tells Becky to pick the number two because Lynch is behind the Queen and claims to be looked up to. Flair claims that without the interference from Rousey, she would have been a historic eight-time Women’s champion. The new Women’s champion Asuka enters the Save Mart Center and states to forget Ronda because she is the champion now. After a heated exchange of words, Mr. McMahon comes out and congratulates Asuka as champion. He then acknowledges that the TLC match was indeed no-disqualification. McMahon asks Asuka if she would be interested in defending her newly won title in a match. Naomi then appears and steps up to Asuka, leading us to commercial break for an impromptu championship match.
My Opinion:
I will stand by my opinion and state that Becky Lynch is the hottest thing going on in World Wrestling Entertainment today. Her promo skills have absolutely grabbed everyone’s attention as of late. Although she is not champion anymore, the reference towards Raw Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey really got me excited to see her possibly win the second ever Women’s Royal Rumble next year. Also, having a new impromptu championship match between two athletes we have never seen face each other was great. Having the McMahon

Match #1: Naomi vs. Asuka – SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
The Match starts after commercial break and both women attempt to find an advantage. Showing off their athleticism, they end their exchanges with a standoff to get a huge applause from the San Diego crowd. Asuka gains the upper hand with an ankle lock and an arm wrench to slow down the momentum. The empress attacks Naomi near the turnbuckle on the top rope and stares down both Becky and Charlotte who are sitting at ringside. While distracted by the former champions, Asuka is then suplexed from the top rope by Naomi to send us to commercial break. Coming back, Asuka takes control of the competition and sends Naomi rolling out to ringside with a flying basement dropkick. Asuka meets her outside and attempts to ram her into the barricade but is reversed into a flying moonsault. After beating a potential ten count draw, Naomi takes control and attempts a moonsault but is reversed into an Asuka lock submission. After escaping, the rear view signature from Naomi connects but it is only good for a very close two count. Naomi attempts a flying maneuver from the ropes but is reversed to a fourth Asuka Lock submission where Naomi taps for the win. Asuka stands tall after the win towards her two challengers.
Result: Asuka via submission
My Opinion:
That was a fun match between the two superstars who carry two vary different wrestling styles. It was definitely worth the watch considering we saw a display of high-flying offense versus a striking/grappling based offense from The New Daniel Bryan. For some reason, I felt the vibe of a vintage Bryan Danielson match back when he was in the independent wrestling scene. Great display of athleticism and agility between the two athletes!

Backstage Segment – The Miz, Mr. McMahon
The Miz knocks on the McMahon Family’s locker room door and asks where Shane McMahon is. Miz asks Mr. McMahon for his blessing to be Shane’s partner as the best in the world, claiming he is a tag team specialist. Declining the offer, Mr. McMahon states that he will find a partner and put him into a tag team match later tonight. Vince finally closes the door on Miz to end the segment.

Interview: Rusev, Lana, Kayla Braxton
Kayla Braxton appears and welcomes Rusev and Lana. Braxton asks the Bulgarian Brute why Shinsuke has been avoiding him. Rusev responds claiming his good looks, biceps, and superhuman strength scares the United States Champion. He then claims that he will reclaim the United States championship on the most glorious day of them all, Rusev Day!
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In-Ring Segment: Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe
Jeff Hardy comes out to the ring baffled about why Samoa Joe would issue this apology. He claims that he does have his demons but that was in the past. Samoa Joe appears and apologizes to Hardy for his past. Joe claims that this segment is not an apology but an intervention. He argues that his past will repeat itself, causing him to fall apart. Hardy comes back by saying he will never go back to his old demons and asks Joe why he has not won a championship since coming to the main roster. Joe attempts to attack but is caught by a Twist of Fate to end the segment.
My Opinion:
This Jeff Hardy comeback story to contrary belief has been very interesting. Seeing WWE Creative mention Jeff’s past and develop a cool storyline has really gotten me invested. This rivalry reminds me of the Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk storyline back at WrestleMania where it involved Punk’s aspiring love for alcohol. Hope this means storylines are getting more intriguing as time goes on in this new dawn of storyline.

Match #2: Mixed Tag Match – Mandy Rose and The Miz vs. R-Truth and Carmella
Before the match begins, R-Truth claims that they are the reigning Mixed Match Challenge winners, excited that they are going to the WWE headquarters and look forward to the matchup with The Miz and Maryse. In classic Truth fashion, he mistook Mandy Sacs as Maryse. When the bell rings, Carmella brings explosive offense to Mandy Rose which causes her to be tagged in by The Miz. Miz and Mandy Rose roll to the outside, which leads to a dance break. Mandy Rose attempts to stop the party but is stopped. After Carmella kicks Mandy Rose to the outside, a distracted R-Truth gets hit with the Skull-Crashing Finale to end the match.
Result: The Miz and Mandy Rose
My Opinion:
An odd way to put forth the second bout of the evening. At first, I thought Mr. McMahon was referring to a regular tag team matchup but of course, I thought wrong. However, I am glad to see Mixed Tag matches comeback and see what new teams can be made. I was also surprised that Miz was paired up with Mandy considering we have not seen them in the same ring since the Tough Enough days three years ago! Really interested in seeing where this storyline goes from here!

In-Ring Segment – The Usos
The Usos appear and claim that they run Smack Down Live. Although they had their championships stolen at WWE TLC, they call out The Bar for a confrontation. Instead of The Bar, the team of Gallows and Anderson appear and argue to get paid with a clean slate. The Usos make the challenge for the Good Brothers to step up. Gallows and Anderson enter the ring and faceoff with the Usos. After a heated exchange of off-aired words, announcer Greg Hamilton announces that The McMahon Family have sanctioned a match between the two teams for after commercial break.

Match #3: The Usos vs. Gallows and Anderson
Returning from commercial break, Karl Anderson gains control of Jimmy Uso and starts using the numbers game against him. Gallows is tagged in and gains advantage for the Good Brothers. Jimmy finds an opening and makes the hot tag to Jey Uso. After a quick sequence of offense, Karl catches Jey in his tracks. He tags in Luke Gallows and sets up for the finish but Jimmy interrupts. The Usos then take Gallows to the outside. However, it is Karl Anderson who stops Jimmy from making a springboard attack to the outside with a flying big boot to send it into commercial break. Coming back, The Usos take out Gallows but are unsuccessful for a three count. Anderson is tagged in but Jimmy takes out both Anderson and Gallows with superkicks. The Bar appear to intervene in the match but Jimmy connects with the Uso splash but is attacked by Sanity for a disqualification. Sanity exits after the attack and The Bar enters the ring and puts an onslaught on every team in the ring. The Bar stand tall with the SmackDown Live Tag Team titles in the outside to end it.
Result: The Usos win via disqualification
My Opinion:
To be fair as a fan, I loved the television time a team like Gallows and Anderson stepping up to the main contenders for the tag team titles. Also, I agreed with their points of seeing the same three teams have the exact same championship matches each time! The idea of fresh new faces was really put together having the addition of Sanity, who have been MIA for some time after debuting earlier this year to the main roster. Now the disqualification finish was unnecessary due to my bias opinion of having The Club win but nonetheless, the match as well as the build of the tag team division was ever so glorious.

Shinsuke Nakamura Exclusive
Shinsuke Nakamura appears and asks why he should be afraid of a total diva. He then plays footage of him and Lana during a season of Total Divas. Nakamura claims that Rusev is no United States Champion but a mistake of a man. Ultimately, the United States champion declines the challenge of a US title match down the line with the Bulgarian Brute.

Match #4 (Main Event): Daniel Bryan and Andrade Cien Almas vs. Mustafa Ali and AJ Styles
Before the match begins, Daniel Bryan claims that he killed the Yes Movement and the House that AJ Styles built. Bryan states that he is a man of creation and that the WWE Universe is afraid of change. He argues that the people of Fresno are the most guilty of wasting Earth’s resources. Bryan says that he will teach people a new way and help all who suffer from realizing the harshness they do every day. After commercial break, the match starts off with Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles but Bryan tags in Cien Almas. El Idolo showcases his talents by stunning the former WWE Champion and gains control. However, it is Styles who stops his hot offense and tags in Mustafa Ali. Ali comes in and highlights his skills with his high-flying moves. Although, Daniel Bryan stops the young star’s fire and starts going off on the heart and soul of 205 live. After a short breather, Mustafa Ali gains the advantage which sends Almas to the outside. Styles tags in and assists the high-flyer in a boosted springboard plancha to both Almas and Bryan to send us into the break. Returning from commercial, Bryan gains the advantage for his team with a Single Leg Boston Crab and starts weakening the newest member to the SmackDown roster. Ali attempts to comeback but is stopped with a Dragon Sleeper from Bryan. Andrade attempts to end the match with a feint double moonsault but disconnects for Ali to tag in Styles. Styles gets tagged in and makes his comeback, hitting the WWE champion with multiple maneuvers to get the win. Styles locks in the calf crusher on Bryan but is broken up by Almas. Styles brings Almas over the top rope onto the outside. He attempts to finish with the Styles Clash but the champion reverses and brings Styles to the corner. Styles tags Ali and connects with the flying tornado DDT. Mustafa Ali connects with the 054 on Bryan while Styles connects with the Phenomenal Forearm to Almas to get the pin victory.
Opinion:
As soon as this main event was announced early this morning, this already had fireworks written all over it before it even begun! The promo by The New Daniel Bryan represented how great his heel run has been. In my wrestling fan thought process, this match from the start of the bell was a true main event in its own right. I mean, look at all the combustible elements in the match from the WWE title rivalry Bryan and Styles with the impactful addition of fresh new faces of Mustafa Ali and Andrade Cien Almas! All four of those men proved to the world their incredible individual talents in one match. Who would have seen Almas contribute a bunch in the closing moments of the show? Who would have expected Styles to hit a Phenomenal Forearm on Almas in the process of a Mustafa Ali 054 to the WWE champion? Who would have expected the newest member of the SmackDown roster coming from an incredible run on 205 Live to pin the world champion in his first match, in the main event? I sure as hell know that The McMahon Family put together a real masterpiece with this one. I will stand by it when I say that when you have a chance to watch that main event back on DVR or as a replay on the WWE Network in a few months, you the wrestling fan will be glorified about how this turned out for the better! Truly enjoyable to watch and a bittersweet experience from a television screen!

Final Thoughts
Granite, ever since I have written reviews for SmackDown Live thus far, they have had the same sayings of positive feedback. However, I guess I will have to toot my own horn per-se and state that SmackDown Live tonight was the best episode in the majority of 2018! Yes, that is a huge statement to claim but if you take a look at everything that occurred tonight under the McMahon Family, it definitely made for some phenomenal (excuse the pun) entertainment. From Gallows and Anderson, Sanity, the new addition of Mustafa Ali, and the impromptu Women’s championship match, you can really see how big of a step they have taken from these past few weeks. I am excited to see the new direction the blue brand will go to as we end 2018. Overall, as a fan and most likely speaking for the fans of wrestling in general, Smack Down Live will be the premiere show every single week!