Smackdown Live Review 12/19/2017

Hello Misfits. It’s time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. It’s the fall-out show from Clash of Champions that took place this past Sunday. There were a lot of questions left unanswered after Clash of Champions. For example what repercussions will Daniel Bryan face after going against his boss’s corrupt actions at Clash of Champion’s saving Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn their jobs? What is next for AJ Styles and Jinder Mahal as they move away from feuding each other? It’s really a period to wonder whats next for everyone. How will the Smackdown Live Women’s roster respond to finding out that 2018 will be the first year the Royal Rumble event will host a all women’s Royal Rumble. Let’s find out.

Smackdown comes to us live from Prudential Centre in Newark, NJ.

–  Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves are on commentary.

Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon
Bryan welcomes the crowd to the show. Before discussing what happened at Clash of Champions, Bryan reminds the crowd the first Women’s Royal Rumble will be taking place at the next PPV. In tonight’s main event AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton will take on Jinder Mahal, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens. Shane McMahon’s music hits and he joins Bryan in the ring. Shane says hello to Bryan and the WWE Universe. Shane puts over the women’s Royal Rumble. Shane says enough about that. He wants to talk about what happened at Clash of Champions. Everything was going the right way that night. Orton hit Zayn with the most beautiful RKO he has ever seen. As Shane was about to count to three, Bryan tripped and landed on top of Shane, thus breaking the count. Bryan says that was an accident. Shane says he knows that now but during the show he let his emotions get the best of him. When Zayn rolled up Orton and Shane was counting three he couldn’t help but think about all of the terrible things that Owens and Zayn had done. Shane’s emotions got the best of him and he didn’t count to three. Shane says he took a moment and stepped away. As he was doing that Zayn rolled up Orton and Bryan quick counted Orton.
Bryan says he did what he did to protect Shane from himself. Shane says with all due respect, he doesn’t need protection from Bryan. Bryan says with all due respect, yes he does. Bryan said he did what he did to protect an idea. Their idea. It’s a shared vision of the land of opportunity for everyone. Not just people that Shane likes. Shane understands why Bryan would have empathy for Owens and Zayn. All of this is going to come back and bite Bryan in the rear… from a business standpoint. Bryan asks if Shane is saying he should have done what was best for business? Bryan has heard those words before and he has fought against those words before. If Shane doesn’t share their vision anymore that is fine. If Shane wants to fire someone, he should fire Bryan. Bryan doesn’t want to see Shane-o-Mac turn into Mr. McMahon. Shane says he respects Bryan and he trusts him. Shane tells Bryan good luck with the show tonight.
Opinion
This was a really great opening segment and great storyline progression. I dont know why but Bryan opening the show rather than Shane O Mac’ felt like a nice change. I really dont know where this is leading if it’s not to a Shane McMahon vs Daniel Bryan match. The only other idea I can think of is Bryan getting fired but thats very lacklustre considering how well the build up of tension between them has been going. It was also great storytelling to see Bryan refer to his past issues with Authority and fighting against what they thought was “best for business.” I’m really curious to see where this is heading.

Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin def. The Usos
In a really good and competitive tag team match Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable picked up the victory over the Usos after getting the fall after hitting their finisher on Jey Uso.
Opinion
This was a great match. It was also a perfect way for Gable and Benjamin to remain in the number one contender spot. Gable and Benjamin are really starting mesh well and I can see them having a hell of a tag match at next months Royal Rumble. Give them ladders.

Charlotte Flair on the Women’s Royal Rumble
They aired a video package about the announcement being made on Raw and the Women’s Revolution. Nothing makes Charlotte happier than carrying the Smackdown Women’s title on her shoulder. After the women’s Royal Rumble announcement, it proves there is nothing they can’t do. She thanks the fans for supporting the Women’s wrestling movement. Charlotte will be waiting to defend her Women’s Championship against the winner of the Rumble. Naomi comes out and congratulates Charlotte on her title defense. Naomi says she is out here to declare that she will be entering the women’s Royal Rumble match. Charlotte says she will see Naomi at WrestleMania. The Riott Squad walks out and Naomi roasts them. For the first time in WWE history, a “chicken head” chant gets started. Naomi challenges two members of the Riott Squad to a tag match right now.
Opinion
I totally understand and agree that Charlotte is in a league of her own but I was disappointed that all the women on the SD roster weren’t out there to address this Royal Rumble match. The odd part is that Charlotte isn’t even in the match because she’s the champion but she was the one out there talking about it. I will say, I do like how ever since she’s been on Smackdown Live and a babyface, Charlotte’s promos have become much more genuine. When she was on Raw and a heel, I felt like her promos always were over the top and she yelled when she spoke. I dig this soft spoken Charlotte who only raises her voice when she needs too. I dig that Naomi and The Riott Squad came out since they’ll actually be in this women’s Royal Rumble but it was only to lead to a tag match. I still think we should have gotten the reactions of the other girls. I mean even 15-20 second videos from each women stating her excitement for it that aired throughout the show would have been great.

Charlotte Flair & Naomi def. Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan w/Liv Morgan
In a decent television tag match, Charlotte and Naomi defeated the Riott Squad when Charlotte destroys Riott with a big boot allowing Noami to blast Logan with the Rear View for the win.
Opinion
This was a solid match where the babyfaces went over. I kind of wish this didn’t end with the Riott Squad being defeated. I feel like it takes away from any momentum they had. I would have rather it had ended in a DQ and a brawl than the new girls actually being defeated. Charlotte and Naomi are already established and this victory for them did nothing for anyone besides send the crowd home happy.

– Backstage, The New Day are dress in Christmas costumes. They are handing out gifts. Rusev and Aiden English walk in dressed as Santa and Frosty The Snowman. Rusev says no one wants the crappy New Day t-shirt. Everyone wants a Rusev Day shirt. Engish sings a challenge to New Day. Rusev grabs a bunch of Big E.’s pancakes, takes a bit, and tosses them on the ground. Big E is livid. Big E accepts the challenge.

Dolph Ziggler Championship Celebration
Ziggler says he told us all so. Everyone wanted to know why he was in the United States Title Match. Everyone said him winning came out of nowhere but you clearly haven’t been paying attention over the past 12 years. No one can do what Ziggler does. This isn’t his first and this isn’t his last. Ziggler shows footage of him winning his first United States Championship from Kofi Kingston. Ziggler says he is just getting started. Ziggler says it’s convenient for everyone to forget but he is also a five-time Intercontinental Champion. Footage of all his IC Title victories. Next, footage of Ziggler’s Money in the Bank victory and cash in. Ziggler says he is one of the most decorated Superstars in WWE History. Ziggler has proven it year after year but year after year he goes unappreciated. None of us are worthy of Ziggler’s presence. The WWE Universe doesn’t deserve him. If you all want something to remember him by, remember this: Ziggler drops the United States title in the middle of the ring and walks away.
Opinion
This was interesting. I’m not sure where they are heading with this. I liked how they showed all of Ziggler’s accomplishments and the legacy he’s leaving behind but it still leaves me wondering what exactly is going on. Is Ziggler leaving the company? Is Ziggler coming back repackaged? Did he forfeit the United States Championship? I really don’t have a clue but they have a chance to be creative here. I know for some people this might feel forced because the trying to push Ziggler concept before cutting his legs out from beneath him feels like a tired concept. The highlights of his career kind of showcased that too. I really don’t know what is going to happen but I’m going to try to be optimistic about it.

– Backstage, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens walk into Bryan’s office and thank him. Owens hands him a bottle of champagne. Bryan says he didn’t do it for them. He did it for the WWE Universe… and he doesn’t drink. Owens says he knows the real reason Bryan did it. It’s because he hates Randy Orton. Orton screwed Bryan out of his title years ago. Bryan calls them both delusional. Bryan warns that if they don’t wipe those smirks off their faces he may have to fire them himself. Bryan tells them to go get ready for their match.

The New Day def. Rusev & Aiden English
In a more festive like match while everyone was still dressed in their costumes from the backstage segment, The New Day defeat Rusev and English. The finish came after Rusev and English get the New Day’s pancakes and put whipped cream on them. Rusev then puts cherries on top. They grab Woods, but he fights as Kofi takes out Rusev. They out English face first into the pancakes. Back in the ring,  Woods hits the big elbow drop for the win.
Opinion
Rusev is over as fuck with this Rusev day schtick and that was highly evident at Clash of Champions. Yet he’s here with English in a festive comedy match as we’re close to Christmas. I personally think it would have been cool to see Rusev step up and become the next contender for Styles championship and I’m afraid we’re going to see him become more of a comedy act. This was fun but I hope it was just a throw away for this week because tis’ the season.

AJ Styles, Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura def. Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn w/ The Singh Brothers
In an entertaining and really fun main event the good guys beat the bad guys when Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa but The Singh Brothers attack Nakamura. The refere kicks them out from ringside. Orton RKO’s Mahal which brings The Singh Brothers back only to both get DDT’d by Orton. Styles goes for the Phoenominal Forearm with an assist from Orton on Owens and Nakamura obliterates Zayn with the Kinshasa for the win.
Opinion
This was a fun and solid main event. It was three of the top babyfaces against three of top heels. In the end they sent fans home happy with the good guys overcoming the odds against the bad guys. The finish allowed all three good guys look great. It also worked because everyone involved in this match wrestles different styles and work differently. Orton showed a bit more aggression and anger tonight after the events of Sunday’s match which was cool. The Singh Brothers got to play a role in the match too. It was kind of interesting to think that all three guys in the babyface corner has had issues with Jinder Mahal and the Singh Brothers in the past six months. This all felt like giant blow-off match for all the feuds that took place in the end half of 2017. I have no idea where any of these guys are going from here but I guess with the Royal Rumble being around the corner, the main motivation for most of these guys would be winning the Rumble  However, the only one to really be curious about is AJ Styles and who his next challenger might be. This was a feel-good fun main event for a period where nothing is really going on.

Final Thoughts
I actually enjoyed this episode of Smackdown a bit more than last week and I feel like its because we got some drama and some fun matches. There wasn’t anything mind-blowing or really memorable that happened but it was good. I guess the three things that stood out the most to me from this show was the opening segment between Shane and Bryan, Ziggler walking out and the main event. There was no Breezango, Bludgeon Brothers, Baron Corbin, Bobby Roode, Carmella or Natalya to name a few names but thats okay because Smackdown always tries their best to make the most out of their two hours. This also means we’ll probably see these guys on the show next week. This was a solid episode of Smackdown Live.
Rating – 6.5/10