This was an excellent episode of SmackDown. The show was easy to watch and the storytelling was good throughout. Bray Wyatt went back to his roots and made allusions to his time leading the Wyatt Family. That was among several highlights that also included the main event between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The title match between Braun Strowman and Gunther was excellent as well. The lowlight of the show was the match between Xia Li and Tegan Nox. While there wasn’t much story there, it was still a decent match.
The rating for matches would have been much higher if not for the ending of the Zayn-Owens match. The ending was still good but it interrupted the flow of a great match. Nothing really to complain about from a show structure standpoint. The atmosphere was very good but had its down moments. The storytelling was very good but the Li-Nox match lacked storytelling. Production was good as usual but nothing special or unique about it.
Tonight on Friday Night SmackDown. Gunther defends the Intercontinental Championship against the Monster of all Monsters, Braun Strowman. Will the Ring General defend his title? And Sami Zayn looks to avenge the Bloodline in a match against Kevin Owens. Will Zayn be able to defeat his former best friend?
AMAZING Braun Strowman vs Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship:
Strowman, donning Green Bay Packer-themed boots in honor of a young man who lost his life in the Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack, dominated Gunther with power early on. Gunther countered the strength mismatch by targeting Strowman’s shoulder with strikes and a submission hold. That wasn’t the only strategy Gunther had up his sleeve, as his stablemates attacked Strowman while the referee was distracted. The Monster of all Monsters fought off the attack and hit Gunther with a power slam. After a ferocious battle, Gunther pinned his opponent after a powerbomb.
Results: Gunther by Pinfall via Powerbomb
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 4 Stars
Paul Heyman told Sami Zayn (or as Heyman calls him, Shmuley) that there are no members of the Bloodline present. This meant to be a show of belief in Zayn’s ability to get the job done against Kevin Owens.
GOOD Rey Mysterio and Karrion Kross:
Mysterio called out his son for his behavior at Christmas and on Raw. Mysterio then used this moment as a chance to declare his entry into the Royal Rumble match. Then, Karrion Kross and Scarlett marched their way to the ring. Kross insulted Rey’s current wrestling skills and called him a bad father for what happened with Domenik. Mysterio attacked Karrion Kross before Kross put him in a Kross Jacket.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 stars
Raquel Rodriguez told Lvi Morgan that someone her size doesn’t have a good chance to win the Rumble from the number one spot. Morgan slapped Raquel and the two agreed to a match.
ABOVE AVERAGE Xia Li vs Tegan Nox:
Li tossed Nox from the turnbuckle and then put Nox in a cross-face. Li looked like she was in control for most of the match, but Tegan Nox countered a kick. Tegan Nox won this match on a Shining Wizard.
Results: Tegan Nox by Pinfall via Shining Wizard
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
After a video package from the Viking Raiders, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre told Adam Pearce they wanted to face the Usos and the Viking Raiders. Pearce replied that they would face the Viking Raiders in a tournament. The winner of that tournament faced the Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
AMAZING Bray Wyatt:
Throwing it back to the days of the Wyatt Family, Wyatt told Green Bay “we’re here.” Bray Wyatt then promised that his match at the Rumble would be a rebirth for him. He finished with a warning to LA Knight, run.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 4 stars
Sami Zayn went after Kevin Owens verbally for questioning his place in the Bloodline.
Gunther told Kayla Braxton that he plans to enter the Royal Rumble.
GOOD Liv Morgan vs Raquel Rodriguez:
Morgan unsuccessfully tried taking Rodriguez head-on, demonstrating Raquel’s power advantage. Each woman tossed the other over the top rope, in preparation for the Royal Rumble match. Later, Morgan set up Rodriguez on a table outside the ring, but she moved off the table. In the end, Raquel Rodriguez won the match with a Tejana Bomb.
Results: Raquel Rodriguez by Pinfall via Tejana Bomb
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Sonya Deville begged Adam Pearce for a rematch with Charlotte Flair. Pearce told her that if she wanted it then she would have to win the Royal Rumble. Deville then went to attack Flair coming out of the commercial break.
GREAT Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn:
This matchup was very physical from the get-go, as Zayn hit Owens with a brainbuster on the ring apron. Later, Owens countered a superplex with a splash. Then, Zayn countered a pop-up powerbomb with a Blue Thunder Bomb. in another highlight, Owens landed an Avalanche Fisherman’s Suplex. Then, the Usos and Solo Sikoa entered the ring and attacked Owens. Sami Zayn appeared upset with the interference. The Usos thanked Zayn for taking care of business and Sikoa splashed Owens on the announcer’s table.
Results: Kevin Owens by Disqualification
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
Overall…
This was an excellent episode of SmackDown. The show was easy to watch and the storytelling was good throughout. Bray Wyatt went back to his roots and made allusions to his time leading the Wyatt Family. That was among several highlights that also included the main event between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The title match between Braun Strowman and Gunther was excellent as well. The lowlight of the show was the match between Xia Li and Tegan Nox. While there wasn’t much story there, it was still a decent match.
The rating for matches would have been much higher if not for the ending of the Zayn-Owens match. The ending was still good but it interrupted the flow of a great match. Nothing really to complain about from a show structure standpoint. The atmosphere was very good but had its down moments. The storytelling was very good but the Li-Nox match lacked storytelling. Production was good as usual but nothing special or unique about it.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 1/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 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:
