By: Keila Cash
Location: Legacy Arena at The BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama
Date: 1-9-2018
Rallying Cry: Roll Tide!
Somber Cry: Poor Dawgs...
· SD Live kicked off with Renee Young conducting a sit-down interview with AJ Styles. Young asked Styles if he thought his 2-on-1 handicap match against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble was unfair. Styles sidestepped the question because he didn’t want to throw Daniel Bryan under the bus. Renee pressed the issue again which caused Styles to admit that he felt that the decision was unfair because Bryan took his sarcasm as gospel.
· However, Styles vowed to beat Owens and Zayn at the Rumble to prove that SD Live was still his house.
· Owens and Zayn came out and accused Styles of backtracking because his mouth got him in trouble last week. The dynamic duo planned to do something that hasn’t been done since the days of Laycool: Become co-Champions! Ah, the good old days… *sniff*
· Shane McMahon appeared on the main stage and announced that KO and Zayn will face Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles in a 3-on-2 handicap which will take place later tonight. Despite McMahon not agreeing with Bryan’s decision from last week, he still supports him. For now…
· This was an okay way to start the show. AJ Styles’ promo was fine, but Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were the real MVPs of the segment as Zayn continues to crack me up with his over the top celebrations. His leaping ability is something to behold. Trampoline be damned!
· Becky Lynch defeated Ruby Riott with the Dis-Arm-Her in a decent match. Nothing more, nothing less.
· The Bludgeon Brothers made quick work of The Ascension when Harper pinned Viktor with a Powerbomb. Harper and Rowan weren’t finished as they dropped Konner with a double Chokeslam for good measure. Total Domination from the two men with no first name. What can I say? It’s a WWE thing.
· Mojo Rawley advanced to the semifinals of the United States Championship Tournament when Rawley nailed Zack Ryder with a charging forearm for the win. The match was solid as both men showed nice aggression throughout. Rawley still comes off a bit too hyped for my taste, but I am digging his heel character so far. He’s one of the best talkers on SD Live when he’s allowed to speak in his own voice instead of reading from a script. Here’s hoping Mojo is given more mic time in 2018 because he has potential to get over as a big star if the creative team doesn’t drop the ball on his push.
· Daniel Bryan continues to get booking inspiration from wrestlers when Chad Gable put his foot in his mouth by claiming that Bryan wanted him and Shelton Benjamin to defeat The Usos twice in the same night. Bryan agreed and booked Gable and Benjamin vs. The Usos in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles at the Royal Rumble.
· The segment ran a bit long, but Gable saved the day with his quirky sense of humor while Benjamin played the straight man who set up the punchlines like a boss.
· In an odd booking decision, Breezango defeated Aiden English and Rusev when Fandango pinned Rusev with a roll-up. The match was fine, but I question the decision because Rusev and English are more over than The Fashion Police. WWE continues to miss the boat on Rusev Day. Sigh…
· AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a No Disqualification/No Count Out 2-on-3 Handicap Match when Orton nailed Zayn with an RKO for the win. Owens and Zayn intentionally got counted out which ended the first match prematurely. Shane McMahon came out and restarted the match with no count outs.
· Match #2 got underway with the babyfaces firmly in control. Orton was about to nail Zayn with an RKO when Owens attacked him with a steel chair which drew the automatic DQ. Owens went after Styles and Nakamura before he and Zayn scurried up the ramp like a couple of rats.
· McMahon appeared once again to make Match #3 No DQ which resulted in Styles chasing KO backstage while Orton and Nakamura cornered Zayn at ringside.
· Orton hit Zayn in the face with the steel steps before dropping him with a Belly-to-Back Suplex on the announcer table.
· The Viper tossed Zayn back in the ring as he got nailed with the Kinshasa from Nakamura followed by Orton’s finisher for the win.
· SD Live went off the air with Nakamura and Orton celebrating in the ring while the announcers questioned whether or not Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan were on the same page based on their actions tonight.
· This was a good way to end the show. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn were outsmarted this week, but did McMahon abuse his power by making the duo pay for their sins 2X?
· Daniel Bryan can point to Shane-O-Mac letting his personal feelings get in the way of what’s best for business. However, Bryan has shown power-hungry tendencies over the past couple of weeks which puts his impartiality into question as well.
· Byron Saxton and Corey Graves are playing the roles of Good Conscience/Bad Conscience as they try to defend Bryan and McMahon’s actions as of late. One of them is right while the other is blowing things out of proportion. WWE is doing this intentionally as they try to throw fans off the scent when it comes to who’s playing who.
· It’s a great storyline that keeps people guessing every week. The big reveal will probably take place at the Rumble or Fastlane PPV in March. For the company’s sake, here’s hoping McMahon is the one turning heel because Bryan is not getting booed unless he beats up Captain Planet in a street fight. Just saying…
· Overall, I thought this tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was decent at best. The in-ring action left a lot to be desired until the main event ended things on a high note.
· With two more live shows until the Royal Rumble, SD Live needs to turn up the volume heading into the first major PPV of the year. The main event and tag team scene is on fire while the women’s division and mid-card scene are treading water at the moment.
· The women need to branch off into individual feuds after the Rumble while more depth is needed when it comes to viable challengers for the United States Championship. These issues will continue to bog down the show unless the creative team remedies the situation. *Cough* Push Rusev! *Cough*
· The Rumble is shaping up nicely, but I need WWE to make me care during the home stretch in order to push things over the top. They’ve got two weeks to get the job done. Let’s hope the E takes care of business because I have a feeling that NXT Takeover: Philadelphia might win the weekend if they’re not too careful. It’s happened nine times over the past two years. Can Triple H make it 10-for-10? We shall find out soon enough.
On that note, this wraps up another edition of The SmackDown Files. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back next week with a brand new installment of The Raw Exposé. See you later, boys and girls!
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