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I could not even watch all of RAW because I was sent away on assignment to interview Matt Hardy. But I must admit that I'm a lot more invested in SmackDown Live than RAW in the lead up to TLC, one week removed from next Sunday. This could stem from the fact that the WWE Championship is on the line on the blue brand. Brock Lesnar hasn't been seen for weeks now.
In isolation, this was an average episode of SmackDown Live. But then again, it set up things beautifully for TLC I thought. A lot of actual character development happened during the course of this very episode.
Let me know your thoughts about this episode in the comments below. Did you think that SmackDown Live this week lived up to all your expectations?
I am anxious to hear from you!
#1 Best: The New Daniel Bryan
There hasn't been a lot of character development with Daniel Bryan ever since he became Champion. For once, it's not WWE's fault because he was thrust into the Survivor Series match against Brock Lesnar soon afterwards, and didn't get to show off his new attitude at all. Looking at him play a heel, it's easy to forget that he was once everyone's favourite babyface too!
Daniel Bryan shut up all the 'What' chants in the audience by berating the audience and calling them 'sheep'. He would speak about how he saves the planet and the average wrestling fan is intent upon ruining it. He came off as surly and bitter, and it was absolutely great.
I even loved the savage beatdown at the end of the show on AJ Styles. The new Daniel Bryan is unquestionably mean.
This could be his best run yet!
#1 Worst: The same old theme song
WWE has done a commendable job with Daniel Bryan's turn. However, there is a little problem worth pointing out. Bryan's old babyface theme song does not fit his character anymore. In my opinion, he needs a new theme to really do justice to his character.
This was the one wrinkle in this whole picture. You can just imagine Daniel Bryan coming out and going into the whole 'yes' routine when the song hits, taking away from the newfound bad attitude. I am surprised that nobody in the WWE thought to change the theme song, after the heel turn.
Remember how WWE added lyrics to Shinsuke Nakamura's theme after he went heel? So that people wouldn't sing along?
WWE needs to do something like that with Daniel Bryan too, to make the crowd hate him.
#2 Best: Samoa Joe's interruption
Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton fought again, this week. Jeff Hardy seemed to have the match under control when a voice was heard on screen. Samoa Joe showed up on the big screen in front of an stocked bar.
This was obviously in relation to Jeff Hardy's past, where he has struggled with alcoholism and much worse. Joe is doing a fabulous job getting the crowd to hate him with his antics. When the two men do meet in the ring, I'm guessing that the feud will be super hot.
Isn't is amazing how Samoa Joe has excelled in almost every role that he has been entrusted with, ever since he came to the main roster? From Triple H's bodyguard to Brock Lesnar's nemesis to AJ Styles' opponent for months on end, to the current role, Joe has slammed it out of the park on every occasion.
#2 Worst: Making opponents team up
I thought SmackDown Live began on the perfect note, with the women of TLC squaring off in the ring. But the tag team match that followed was very weird. Charlotte Flair and Asuka, who'd been engaged in a war of words only moments ago were forced to team up for the match.
I knew how the match would end before it even got under way. Asuka and Charlotte Flair had a miscommunication and Flair ended up hitting Asuka accidentally. And Asuka would end up costing the team the match.
I liked how Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose got a big win, but this was way too predictable from the word go. I'm just not a fan of two opponents teaming up before a pay-per-view in any case, because it doesn't make sense from a realistic perspective.
#3 Best: Lars Sullivan's independent status
I think that the Lars Sullivan vignettes have been great. Vignettes are a lost art that aren't used in wrestling any more. They create excitement and anticipation before a debut. And I think WWE has done a great job with Lars Sullivan thus far.
The Freak has not made up his mind which brand he'll go to yet. And I think that this is not a bad thing. It creates suspense and intrigue in the mind of the audience member.
I can't wait to see how this storyline plays out in the weeks that follow. Will it be Shane McMahon or Stephanie McMahon that gets a chance to book NXT's resident savage freak?
One thing is for sure and that's the fact that whichever brand Sullivan goes to, he will rise to the top almost at once.
#3 Worst: The Miz and Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon has been pressurised by The Miz to form a tag team unit with him, going forward. I don't get the storyline. Shane McMahon has been reluctant to ally himself with the A-List superstar ever since the storyline began. And yet, The Miz seems quite persistent.
I would personally prefer to see The Miz in the AJ Styles-Daniel Bryan scenario instead. He seemed like a much more serious contender and a worthwhile competitor when he took on AJ Styles in the main event. These goofy segments are confusing and just distract from his otherwise supremely amazing skills.
Let's be honest for a minute anyway. Can we actually see Shane McMahon and The Miz becoming a legitimate Tag Team unit down the line?
I personally cannot, but if you think they can, be sure to leave a comment.
#4 Best/worst: The triple threat match
Three teams will battle it out for the SmackDown Tag Team titles at TLC. Three members of those teams battled it out this week in singles competition. It was a solid match as one would expect. It was, however, a match with no real stakes.
And that is why I have mixed feelings about the contest. That is probably why the numbers are falling in terms of viewership. So few things on WWE's weekly television have actual stakes anymore, sadly.
That said, the men and women of WWE give it their all every time they compete in the ring. If Creative can step it up as well and create compelling storylines that the WWE Universe can sink their teeth into, the fans would truly be blessed.
For now, let's agree that Becky Lynch is 'The Man'!
