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We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy new year! What a ride it has been for the WWE Universe and we thank you all for sharing so many special moments with us at Sportskeeda Wrestling. This year was a memorable one with many highs and lows. It's now time to recap the final WWE SmackDown Live episode of the entire year.
There's a lot about this episode that I did enjoy. There were bits that I did not particularly care for. I have chronicled it all for your reading pleasure in this very article.
Tell me what did you think about this week's episode of SmackDown Live, folks. What did you guys think of the segment at the end of the show, in particular?
These are my views for the episode we saw this week.
#1 Best: The main event
Unfortunately, the best match of Shinsuke Nakamura's reign was his final one. Nakamura is a superstar who never received his due, even when his stock was much higher than it currently is. He lost to AJ Styles, time after time, until he was only a shadow of the superstar that he once was. His US title reign wasn't any better either.
He missed one pay-per-view after another and his title wasn't defended too many times either. His program with Rusev, where Nakamura referred to him as little more than a Total Diva, culminated in a main event match for the United States Championship on this week's show. The match went on for a long time and it was a very good contest.
Chants of 'Rusev Day' came pouring in as the match reached its very final moments. When Rusev finally became the United States Champion, the crowd was ecstatic.
I just wish Nakamura had other opportunities to show how good he is, even while he was US Champion.
#1 Worst: We already knew the outcome
The talents at SmackDown Live were given Tuesday night off, to celebrate Christmas with their families, which is why this episode of SmackDown Live was a taped one. WWE announced the fact that there was a new United States Champion already. Most of the viewers at home already knew that there would be a title change.
I just think that the win would have been even more special, had we not known that Rusev was going over. As good as the match was, it played out in such a manner that it could have gone either way at the end. Both men were trading falls, making the crowd 'ooh' and 'aah'.
That said, it's great that Rusev became Champion on his birthday. What a feat!
Congrats to the Bulgarian Brute!
#2 Best: Styles attacking McMahon
Vince McMahon and AJ Styles met in the final segment of SmackDown Live. This was an interesting way to close the show, after the big title switch. Vince McMahon urged AJ Styles to unleash the animal that resides inside him.
The last time Vince McMahon took a personal interest in a superstar was Kevin Owens, who ended up delivering a headbutt to his boss and laying him out on the floor. This gesture of support from McMahon obviously means that McMahon really believes in Styles. I am really curious to find out what the endgame of the storyline is.
If nothing else, this was just a great cliffhanger and makes me want to tune in next week to find out what lies in the future for both men involved. Vince McMahon obviously won't enter the ring again, so I wonder what AJ Styles' next feud will be.
#2 Worst: 7 second Carol break
I was cringing very hard at the top of the show when R-Truth and Carmella came out. I was actually glad that Daniel Bryan interfered and lay the beat down on R-Truth. The segment was painful to watch, and it actually did a disservice to R-Truth's character.
Truth seemed to be well in control of his future plans, and not the lovable confused character we know and love. He spoke about being Number 30 in the Royal Rumble and possibly even challenging Daniel Bryan down the road. That is if Daniel Bryan managed to remain Champion until then.
I genuinely do think that R-Truth and Carmella are an entertaining act, but this just wasn't their week, because almost every joke that they uttered fell flat. I suppose this is leading to a match between Daniel Bryan and R-Truth down the line, quite possibly on a future SmackDown Live episode.
#3 Best: Committing to Mustafa Ali
You know how WWE pushes a superstar for a while and then just gives up on him/her subsequently. They've apparently realised their folly and are going all the way with Mustafa Ali on SmackDown Live. Ali pinned the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan on last week's show. This week, he scored an impressive victory over Andrade 'Cien' Almas, in an exhibition singles match.
Ali could be just the babyface that the brand needs. He is incredible in the ring and has a vibe that draws you into his matches immediately. It's great to see WWE taking a chance with him.
2019 will be the year for both men to break out and establish themselves as top tier superstars. In the case of both men, the future presents many opportunities to prosper and thrive, especially if they remain on SmackDown Live, going forward.
Let's hope they don't move to RAW anytime soon.
#3 Worst: No women's division matches at all
Jimmy Uso found Mandy Rose under the mistletoe, a situation many men around the world would kill to be in. His wife found him in the nick of time and chaos ensued between the two women. However, this was the only women's segment on the whole show. There was no Charlotte or Becky Lynch.
The SmackDown Women's Champion Asuka wasn't present either. There was no follow up to the announcement of the Women's Tag Team Championships either. This was very surprising considering how hot the division is right now.
Maybe they were kept off the show so as to give Rusev's win its due importance and not dilute his big victory by eating into his match time. Even if that were the case, I am a little puzzled with there being no women's segment at all.
After all, Becky Lynch is the best thing about WWE TV right now.
#4 Best/worst: Gallows and Anderson win their big match
The Usos teamed up with Gallows and Anderson to take on SAnitY and The Club. The Club scored a victory in the match against the Tag Team Champion. It is clear that they will enter into a feud soon. This is a long-awaited moment for the team that has been overlooked in the recent past.
It is unlikely however that they'll win the big prize. This is just a tease and a little more, in my personal opinion. There is no way that The Bar is losing the Championships to The Club anytime soon.
The Club were once the hottest thing in WWE, when they were aligned with AJ Styles to beat John Cena up. Right now, they are little more than an afterthought and not much more.
Lana does not approve.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
