19 Results and Review

Smackdown began with Becky Lynch coming to the ring. She said that she should be main eventing Wrestlemania. She said that Asuka is one of the best in the world, but she is better. Shortly after Asuka came out to interrupt her. Without a microphone, Asuka screamed at Becky in Japanese. Charlotte Flair came out only seconds later. Charlotte said that she will win the Rumble match. As Charlotte was finishing her promo, Asuka jumped Lynch, making them brawl until they were separated. This opening was okay, but nothing too compelling. After the break backstage, we saw that another brawl broke out. This felt a little too over the top.

Naomi vs. Mandy Rose w/ Sonya Deville

This first match got a video package as if the match was on a PPV or something. Well, if it ever was on a PPV it would most likely be a weak card. Naomi attacked Mandy on the ramp before the match began. The finish of this match was that Mandy was shoved into the ref, letting Sonya Deville distract Naomi. Mandy shoved Naomi into a corner post for the win. This felt sort of lame, and maybe didn’t even do the already poor storyline justice.

Rey Mysterio cut a promo backstage about his match tonight. He said that during his rematch with Andrade this week, Zelina Vega will be banned from ringside.

The Miz w/ Shane McMahon vs. Cesaro w/ Sheamus

As a preview for this weekend, The Miz faces one half of The Bar, Cesaro. During this match, it was the ringside guys that were the centre of attention. Cesaro won with a Neutralizer after Sheamus kicked The Miz when the referee was not looking. So that’s how we’re finishing all the matches tonight? Shane and Cesaro started brawling after the match. Shane tried for an Elbow Drop off the top rope to the commentary table, but Sheamus stopped him. Cesaro held Shane in place for a Brogue Kick. The Bar dropped Shane on to the commentary table where The Miz was laying.

WWE Championship Face-To-Face

Vince McMahon came out to oversee a face-to-face between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan ahead of their Championship bout at the Royal Rumble. When Bryan came out he refused to come in the room because he didn’t want to step in the ring with “a sociopath.” Bryan called himself the “planet’s champion” and said that the world needs him. After an extensive back and forth between the champ and the challenger, Vince told Bryan to get into the ring. Styles eventually chased Bryan. Styles tried to do a Phenomenal Forearm but didn’t do it since Bryan hid behind Vince. Bryan landed a knee to end the segment. What I find odd about this rivalry is how Bryan is making some legitimate points. In a promo tonight he mentioned how Vince’s generation hoards wealth and doesn’t share it, which is true.

Samoa Joe vs. Mustafa Ali

The next match was a repeat from last week. The match last week never happened between Mustafa Ali and Samoa Joe because Joe jumped Ali before the bell. Ali was on a roll near the end of the match, hitting many highflyer moves before trying his Reverse 450. His Reverse 450 was turned into a Cohena Clutch by Joe for the win. This was a good match, but I wonder why they decided to give Joe the clean win.

Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade (2 out of 3 Falls Match)

After their great match last week, Rey Mysterio and Andrade (leave the “Cien” and “Almas”), but this time under different conditions. Mysterio got a close count after landing a Canadian Destroyer. On the second rope, Andrade stopped a Huricanrana, climbed to the rope and then landed a Powerbomb to score the first fall. Mysterio landed another Canadian Destroyer to score a fall of his own. Andrade tried to put away the match with his Hammerlock DDT, but Rey put his leg on a rope to break the pin attempt. After Mysterio and Andrade did many more moves the match was ended by Samoa Joe. Of course, a full match between these two would be too good to be true. As Joe was cutting a promo, Randy Orton gave him an RKO out of nowhere. This ended Smackdown.

Smackdown Live 1/15/19 Results and Review

Smackdown started with Becky Lynch arriving at the arena in a car. She is heading to the ring to address her Asuka match at the Rumble. Nearby we see Heavy Machinery blending eggs, pancakes and other random foods with the New Day, who were disgusted at their drink mix. Otis Dozovic was doing his same crazy character that was seen on Monday. Lynch took a sip of the drink after Otis tried it, and said it was a little weak. Lynch went to the ring and talked about how she isn’t worried about her match with Asuka. Asuka came out and said that after the Rumble, Lynch won’t be in Charlotte’s shadow, but hers. The Iiconics came out to chime in on this segment. They proclaim that they will win the women’s Royal Rumble, and then become Women’s Tag Team Champions. Lynch challenges either of them to face her in a match.

Becky Lynch vs. Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay

After the break, we saw Peyton Royce fight Lynch. Asuka watched at ringside, as well as the other half of the Iiconics. During the match, we saw Lacey Evans watching the match from backstage. Royce eventually tapped out to Lynch via the Disarmer. Asuka came storming into the ring shouting in Japanese afterwards. Asuka dragged Billie Kay into the ring for a match to intimidate Lynch, I guess. In this match, Lynch felt like a good competitor for Royce, which isn’t what you want. The match went like 15 minutes, with Royce even having a submission move in when coming back from a break. How can Lynch be a good competitor for Asuka when she’s struggling against Royce?

Asuka vs. Billie Kay

Asuka defeated Billie Kay in a couple of minutes. This sort of reinforced the point on Lynch’s match even more. Asuka and Lynch had a face-off after the match.

Numerous Backstage Segments

AJ Styles came out to the ring and headed up the stairs through the crowd before the broadcast went to commercials. The commentary team kept asking “where is he going?” until Corey Graves straight up spoiled it and said, “he’s going to the concourse!” After the break Styles was at the concourse with hot dogs, drinks and merch. This was to He threw merch into the nearby crowd, but then got jumped by a hooded man who was, of course, Daniel Bryan. The brawl didn’t last too long, but they sure made a mess as mustard got all over Bryan.

We saw The Usos backstage doing a photoshoot. Jimmy Uso was given a box, to which he presumed was a early anniversary gift. He was given a note from Mandy Rose, and a hotel key. Samoa Joe headed to the ring but stopped walking to see EC3 backstage posing in front of a mirror. I like some of the people being called up, but, you look at how they are showing them in these segments and I can’t see any of them being cared about or taken seriously. One thing I did like here was how we had three separate segments that just flew by within a few minutes.

Samoa Joe vs. Mustafa Ali

Well, Samoa Joe was supposed to face Mustafa Ali, but the match was thrown away after he jumped Ali before the bell. Backstage we saw Sonya Deville trying to talk down Mandy Rose from meeting Jimmy Uso at her hotel room. As Rey Mysterio was walking to the ring, he saw Nikki Cross shaking a fence backstage while laughing.

Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas

The next match on the show was Rey Mysterio versus Andrade Almas. Heading to the commercials, Almas Powerbombed Mysterio on the floor. After the break, Mysterio did an impressive Huricanrana off the top rope to the outside. After another break, Mysterio hit a Canadian Destroyer. Mysterio tried for a 619 but it got caught, he turned into a Crucifix Powerbomb. The crowd was going absolutely wild at this point. He landed a 619 but couldn’t hit the follow-up Frogsplash because Zelina Vega got on the apron to distract. Almas ended the match with a Draping DDT off the top rope. These two were amazing, and deserve a longer match sometime in the future. This makes both guys look very strong.

After the match, we saw Jimmy Uso head to Mandy Rose’s hotel. Wait, is this not during work hours? Smackdown is still shooting. When Jimmy entered the room there was a paparazzi member taking photos to expose him. Mandy says that his wife, Naomi, will not like when she sees the photos. Naomi was outside the room and came in to brawl. Naomi brawled in the hotel room and lost the fight. This is dumb, I don’t know what else to say. It feels like a joke to have this on the same card as the Becky Lynch versus Asuka rivalry.

Shane McMahon’s Birthday Bash / The Miz w/ Shane McMahon vs. Sheamus w/ Cesaro

The Miz hosted a birthday party for Shane McMahon’s birthday in the next segment. Corey Grave’s talked about The Miz’s parties in the past like he is Jay Gatsby. The Miz had big cakes in the ring and numerous wrapped presents. The Miz gave Shane McMahon a pair of Jordan shoes and then showed him a video package. Their opponents at the Rumble, The Bar, interrupted. Shane challenges one of them to fight The Miz, but The Miz didn’t want this. Shane eventually made him fight by encouraging him. During the match Cesaro got on the apron to interfere, but then Shane pushed him off, and through a nearby table with the cake. The Miz got a roll-up to win the match. I’m sorry but, am I supposed to cheer for The Miz? After the match Shane hit a Coast To Coast on Sheamus, landing on a cake instead of a garbage can. RAW was better than Smackdown this week but wasn’t that bad anyways.

Smackdown Live 1/8/19 Results and Review

Smackdown started with Daniel Bryan in the concessions stands of the venue. He was shaming the food sold at a venue, saying that the food there fills a void. He says that similarily, cheering AJ Styles fills a void. He stole an hot-dog from someone eating nearby and threw it at his face. He went on to another guy and took his drink without a plastic top and spilt it on him. He then went over to the merchandise table and asked for a “Yes Movement” shirt, but couldn’t get one because they aren’t sold. He says he doesn’t want to fill the earth with useless plastic. That last part wasn’t a bad point.

He walked down the stairs to the ring while talking to the crowd. He said he is changing the world and said that people around him are weak. He ripped apart a fan’s AJ Styles sign while saying he will fill the world with “something the world can actually be proud of.” Once he made his way near the ring, R-Truth jumped him. Their previously scheduled bout began after the break. I thought this was a pretty good segment to start the show, to be quite honest. It was nice that we had the next segment before we went to the first break. A fast, but welcomed start to the show.

Daniel Bryan vs. R-Truth

In very short time Bryan won the match, ending it with a Running Knee. As Bryan was on the ramp, AJ Styles jumped him from behind. Security came in to try to break it up. A conveniently placed steel chair was beside the ramp, but Bryan got away before Styles could use it. As Styles was still talking to the security, Rey Mysterio came out. Like, this is the best way to pace a show.

Rey Mysterio & Mustafa Ali vs. Samoa Joe & Andrade “Cien” Almas

After the break, it was explained that all of the wrestlers in this match will be in the Royal Rumble match. Mysterio got a big reaction from the crowd when he was tagged in. Ali had a good combo of moves onto Almas after being tagged in. Ali did a Crossbody to the outside but was caught by Joe. Joe made Ali bounce off the commentary table and into the floor below the desk. The commentary team just happened to be out of the way the whole time. After the break, Ali reversed Almas’s corner stomp move and then tagged in Rey. Rey did a Springboard Huricanrana to start things off. After eliminating Joe, Mysterio did a Canadian Destroyer for a two count that Joe stopped. Mysterio gave Joe a 619, and then Ali did a 450 to Joe as well. Almas came back in and went after Ali. Ali dove to outside the ring onto Joe, and Almas reversed a 619 into a Hammerlock DDT for the win. This was a great combo at the end that clearly had the crowd unglued.

Rusev Calls Out Shinsuke Nakamura

After the break, Rusev was in the ring. He sadly talked about how Lana is at how hurt because Shinsuke Nakamura hurt her. Of course, he then called out Shinsuke. We see backstage where Shinsuke is sitting in the production room. He is there to show that Lana being hurt is not his fault. He shows a replay from last week where Lana fell off of Nakamura’s back after a kick from Rusev. Rusev didn’t buy this and went backstage to find Nakamura. While trying to find him he got jumped by Nakamura. Shinsuke squished him with a crate and then kicked him. Others came in to split it up, but Nakamura got one last knee in anyways.

Sheamus & Cesaro (The Bar) vs. Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso (The Usos)

Before the next match, the “Mean” Gene Okerlund tribute from Monday was played. The stipulation of this match is that if The Usos win they get a title shot. It makes no sense, but whatever. The Usos got a lot of offence in, with a moment where Cesaro got hit with a dive and went into the first row. After that, he got hit with a Crossbody in the ring. Sheamus got hit with a Superkick for a two count as the broadcast went to another commercial break.

Later on, Sheamus went to the second rope for a move but Jey Uso escaped and Superkicked Sheamus off the ropes. Cesaro went off the ropes and ate a Superkick as well. Before Jay went to the corner for the tag, Mandy Rose appeared on the stage in a towel. She asked Jimmy if she left her golden clothing in her hotel room. This distracted Jimmy, stopping the eventual tag. Cesaro hit the Neutralizer onto Jey Uso to end the match. I guess The Usos won’t be getting their title match. After the match, The Miz came out and introduced The Bar. He then tried to set up a Royal Rumble match against them for the tag belts. Sheamus gives The Miz a Brouge Kick, and then Cesaro accepts the match.

Backstage we saw Naomi find Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville and fight them. Jimmy came to break up the fight. This was the third pull apart brawl on the show. I don’t really have any interest in this, it just makes no sense.

After the break, we saw video packages for Lars Sullivan, Lacey Evans, Heavy Machinery, Nikki Cross & EC3. We also saw backstage that The Miz and Shane McMahon will team at the Rumble. Wait, so they don’t have to earn their title match but The Usos do?

Becky Lynch vs. Carmella vs. Charlotte

The final match of the evening was a triple threat match, with the winner getting a shot against Asuka at the Rumble. After the break, there was a nice spot where Charlotte was thrown back first onto Carmella who was already down. Late into the match, Charlotte did a Moonsault off the top rope onto the outside but everyone got out of the way. Lynch hurled Carmella across the floor right after. A Lynch tried for a Disarmer in the ring on Carmella, Charlotte did a Natural Selection off the ropes. Later on, Lynch got the Disarmer onto Charlotte but Carmella broke it up. Lynch put Carmella in a Disarmer for the win. Asuka came out to face off with Lynch after the match. This was pretty much expected, but at least they put on a pretty good match to officially make Lynch the contender. This wasn’t that bad of a Smackdown. The only segments that felt like they really dragged was the tag team part and the Rusev moment. Other than that, it was a fun viewing.