Each week I'll be recapping the previous episode of SmackDown Live in preparation for tonight's episode. Check it out below and let me know what you think in the comments section!
The show started with Becky Lynch arriving and walking in to the New Day & Heavy Machinery, who allowed her to taste their pancake mix. She tasted it and said it was too weak for her before going out to the ring and delivering a promo on Asuka. The SmackDown Women’s Champion came out and offered a reply before being interrupted by the IIconics. After a little verbal sparring, Becky beat Peyton Royce quickly, before Asuka defeated Billie Kay even quicker.
AJ Styles is shown in the concession stand giving out hot dogs before being attacked by Daniel Bryan. Styles gets the upper hand and puts Bryan through a table.
Samoa Joe was scheduled to face Mustafa Ali next but the match never even got started after Joe attacked Ali before the bell leaving him unable to compete.
In the night’s first meaningful match, we got another round of Andrade (no longer “Cien” Almas) vs Rey Mysterio. Another classic between these two, including another Canadian Destroyer, before Andrade got the win again with a Hammerlock DDT off the top rope.
Continuing the Mandy Rose – Jimmy Uso – Naomi triangle, we saw Jimmy arrive at Mandy’s hotel after her invitation earlier in the night. When he approaches her, a camera man jumps out and takes a photo before Mandy reveals it was all just a plan to hurt Naomi. Out of nowhere Naomi appears and a brawl between the two women ensues.
The Miz then hosted Shane McMahon’s birthday party celebrations, while hyping their match with The Bar at the Royal Rumble. A match between The Miz and Sheamus takes place with Shane hitting a Coast to Coast on Sheamus as The Miz held up a cake in Sheamus’ face.
Verdict: As good as Raw was the previous night, this was bad. The Andrade vs Rey match was exceptional and saved the whole show because everything either side of it was just nonsense. Hopefully they used the Samoa Joe vs Mustafa Ali angle to set something up, otherwise that was a complete waste of time. The Jimmy Uso – Mandy Rose – Naomi love triangle feels like it’s trying to please those clamouring for the Attitude Era but it just comes across as cringey. I like Shane McMahon, but his involvement with The Miz and The Bar, brings the other 3 down a level. The Miz has had the best years of his career leading up to this and in my opinion should be in the WWE Title picture. The Bar have become one of the best and most respected Tag Teams, after losing their titles to a 10 year old at WrestleMania last year, they shouldn’t have to put up with anymore of this attempted comedic drivel. Even Becky Lynch couldn’t save this show from being poor, so hopefully we’ll see a much different show next week before the Royal Rumble.
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