This was a very good episode of Friday Night Smackdown. The matches were very good, the promos were great, and the storytelling was also good. There were several highlights but I’d say the biggest one was The Bloodline promo which opened the show. Sami Zayn continues to kill it every week and this week’s promo had the most passion and fire behind it. Weren’t many lowlights but the gauntlet match got a little wonky when Ronda Rousey added Baszler into the match. Not sure why that was allowed but the match as a whole was still good.
The match score lost points because while they were all good, none transcended to amazing. Show structure lost points because while it was good, I wouldn’t call it fantastic. The atmosphere was good but the crowd noise wasn’t always amazing. Storytelling lost points because some stories have an unclear path forward, such as the Usos. Finally, the Christmas theme was done very well and moves this category beyond what it normally is rated.
Tonight on Friday Night Smackdown: The Usos defend the Undisputed Tag Team Titles against Hit Row. Will tonight be the end of their historic reign? A gauntlet match to decide the next challenger for SmackDown Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey. Who will emerge to face the Baddest Woman on the Planet? And Braun Strowman teams up with Ricochet as they face Imperium in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight.
AMAZING The Bloodline:
Paul Heyman opened the show by delivering a few spoilers, the Bloodline would win both matches last week. Then, Sami Zayn ripped Kevin Owens for crashing the Bloodline’s moment. He closed by promising that he and Roman would destroy Owens and Cena.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 4 stars
GOOD Hit Row vs The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships:
In the beginning, Top Dolla manhandled the Usos but that changed when they began targeting the big man’s left knee. The sides exchanged near falls toward the middle of the match. Adonis via a rollup and Jimmy Uso with a Samoan Drop. Top Dolla’s knee damage proved critical, as he buckled while trying to slam both Usos. Jimmy and Jey responded with double superkicks and finished off Top Dolla with 1D.
Results: The Usos by Pinfall via 1D
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Imperium dismissed Ricochet and Braun Strowman as nothing more than circus freaks bringing embarrassment to wrestling.
GOOD Emma vs Xia Li vs Raquel Rodriguez vs Liv Morgan vs Tegan Knox vs Sonia Deville in a Gauntlet Match:
Xia Li made quick work of Emma after finishing her off with a cyclone kick. Li then did the same thing with Tegan Knox. Raquel was next in line but her broken elbow put her at a disadvantage, as Li targeted the injured arm. Rodriguez overcame the injury, finishing off Xia Li with a Tejana Bomb. Next, Liv Morgan nearly put Rodriguez to sleep but couldn’t finish her off. The match really became a battle as both women had opportunities to eliminate the other. Raquel finally advanced after reversing ObLivion into a Tejana Bomb. The last competitor, Sonya Deville entered and immediately went after Raquel’s cast, destroying it. It wasn’t enough, as Raquel Rodriguez pinned Deville to earn a title shot. However, Ronda Rousey then inserted Shayna Baszler into the gauntlet match but Raquel rolled her up.
Results: Raquel Rodriguez by Pinfall via Rollup
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
GREAT Bray Wyatt:
Wyatt opened by demanding an apology from LA Knight for the false accusations about the attacks. Wyatt then lost his train of thought and was entranced in the middle of the ring. Finally, Wyatt brutally attacked the cameraman before Adam Pearce and others came to the cameraman’s rescue.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 stars
GOOD Rey Mysterio vs Angel:
Karrion Kross and Scarlett watched this match from inside the arena. Angel mocked Mysterio’s height by getting on his knees to ask for a handshake, a gesture Rey didn’t receive kindly. Later, Rey Mysterio lined up Angel for 619, but Humberto moved his cousin out of the way. Mysterio responded with a crossbody to Humberto. Again, Angel tried to mock Mysterio by using his opponent’s finisher but Rey countered and landed a 619 of his own. A DDT and Mysterio picked up the win.
Results: Rey Mysterio by Pinfall via DDT
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Backstage, Emma smacked Scarlett for the disrespect she showed to Rey Mysterio and Madcap Moss.
GREAT Ricochet and Braun Strowman vs Imperium in a Miracle on 34th Street Fight:
Imperium was the first to use the themed props, using the candy cane kendo stick and the chair with a bow. Strowman countered by throwing Vinci and Kaiser into some Christmas trees. After this, Imperium hit Braun Strowman with a tandem snap suplex. Strangely, Imperium opened a giant present to reveal a ballerina and another that contained The New Day dressed as nutcrackers. Woods and Kingston kicked imperium in the crotch. In another interesting twist, Braun Strowman held the mistletoe over Ricochet and Samantha Irvin (Ricochet’s girlfriend), giving him energy. Ricochet jumped off Braun Strowman’s shoulder in the finish and pinned Giovanni Vinci.
Results: Ricochet and Braun Strowman by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Overall…
This was a very good episode of Friday Night Smackdown. The matches were very good, the promos were great, and the storytelling was also good. There were several highlights but I’d say the biggest one was The Bloodline promo which opened the show. Sami Zayn continues to kill it every week and this week’s promo had the most passion and fire behind it. Weren’t many lowlights but the gauntlet match got a little wonky when Ronda Rousey added Baszler into the match. Not sure why that was allowed but the match as a whole was still good.
The match score lost points because while they were all good, none transcended to amazing. Show structure lost points because while it was good, I wouldn’t call it fantastic. The atmosphere was good but the crowd noise wasn’t always amazing. Storytelling lost points because some stories have an unclear path forward, such as the Usos. Finally, the Christmas theme was done very well and moves this category beyond what it normally is rated.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 1/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
