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In the midst of historically low ratings, the WWE have booked themselves into a corner. They are now forced to dish out a better product to the WWE Universe in order to get back on track.
The creative team tweaked some things on RAW Monday night, and let Seth Rollins open the show for a change. Although the episode wasn't great as a whole, the opening segment was very compelling, and as a result, the show garnered more viewers than the show had drawn last week.
With just days to go until the TLC PPV, SmackDown Live served as the go-home show. While there are a lot of matches scheduled for Sunday, everyone is looking forward to the WWE Championship bout featuring AJ Styles against Daniel Bryan, plus a TLC clash for the SmackDown women's title featuring Becky Lynch against Charlotte Flair and Asuka.
With two phenomenal matches lurking right ahead, the main event of SmackDown provided us with a small preview in the form of a WrestleMania 34 rematch, and an incredible opening promo in Daniel Bryan.
Lets look at 3 things the WWE did right on this week's edition of SmackDown Live.
#3 Daniel Bryan taking his heel character further
The most beloved babyface of this decade, Daniel Bryan's charisma and fan support were on another level, and it led to two Royal Rumble winners in Batista and Roman Reigns getting booed out of the building. Due to the support of the WWE Universe, Bryan forced his way into the WrestleMania main event.
For someone so beloved, and who is a natural babyface, it would be really hard being a heel who dismantles fans, right?
Wrong.
Ever since his heel turn, Bryan has become one of the most engrossing and entertaining characters in the WWE, as he has certainly done a better job than Dean Ambrose in riling up the fans.
My point is that Ambrose is supposed to be leaps and bounds ahead of Bryan when it comes to promos, but it's Bryan who is doing a better job instead. Bryan's motivated babyface promos have always been a treat, but it is surprising to see him do an equally better job as a heel.
Bryan opened this week's show and apologised to the fans for comparing them to Sheep. He called them idiots instead, and accused the crowd of living vicariously through the old Daniel Bryan’s success, while reminding them that the old Daniel Bryan is dead, and the Yes Movement is dead as well.
The WWE Champion continued to insult the crowd some more until Mustafa Ali interrupted. A match between the two was made official, which Daniel Bryan won.
It was refreshing to see someone like Mustafa Ali on the show, since SmackDown is really lacking a pure babyface. The New Daniel Bryan is the best character WWE has had all year, and this was another sensational heel work from a guy who seemed to have waited to unleash his dark side for so long.
#2 Rey Mysterio getting payback
A week before their much-hyped match at the TLC PPV, Randy Orton came out to question why Rey Mysterio would want to take part in the match on Sunday, given the punishment he's been receiving over the past couple of weeks.
As Orton was about to get more vicious in his game of words, enlightening the crowd about how dangerous the RKO is, Mysterio blindsided him from behind with a chair shot. Orton then retreated from the ring after getting hit by Mysterio's finisher, the 619.
After all the beat down and abuse Rey has suffered for the past couple of weeks, he needed to get a payback. A short and sweet segment, it was nothing spectacular (nor did it need to be), but was simply designed to promote the match this coming Sunday.
#1 The main event: Asuka standing tall
Charlotte Flair ended Asuka's long-running undefeated streak at WrestleMania 34, and days before the match for the SmackDown Women's Championship, the women renewed their rivalry in the SD Live main event. Becky Lynch also made her presence felt on the commentary table.
While it was nowhere near as good as their WrestleMania 34 contest, Flair and Asuka put on another fantastic match. Trapped in the Asuka Lock and unable to escape, Flair showed shades of Survivor Series, and snapped once again, finding a kendo stick underneath the ring, and nailing Asuka with it to cause a disqualification.
Flair then turned her attention to Becky Lynch who was sitting ringside and analysing her opponents.
Eventually Lynch fired back, and as the chaos ensued, Asuka found herself in possession of the kendo stick, and obliged to beat down her opponents with it.
She stood tall on the top of the announce table to close the show. With how rarely Asuka has been utilised on SmackDown in the past year, this match was a great reminder that she’s one of the best female wrestlers alive, while also showing us all what Sunday's main event could be.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
