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This week's episode of WWE SmackDown Live is done and dusted, and it was truly one to remember. We saw a huge contract signing by three of the show's top Superstars, as well as some very interesting attire by the Lunatic Fringe.
With TLC looming, the men and women of team Blue certainly wanted to make an impression, with a huge match featuring two former World Champions, and a WrestleMania rematch being announced for next week's show.
Now on the road to Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, the pay per view is the last chance for the superstars to dominate on pay per view in 2018, before the Royal Rumble next month, and the road to WrestleMania 35.
Here are three things the WWE got spot on in the latest episode of WWE SmackDown Live, as well as two things which could've been a whole lot better.
#3 The Empress and the Queen team together
One thing that SmackDown Live definitely has over it's Monday Night counterpart, is a much more prominent women's division.
This elite group of females is being led by Becky Lynch, who this week signed the contract alongside Charlotte Flair and Asuka, for the first ever Women's TLC match in WWE history. But before we get to the pay per view, the Man watched on as her TLC opponents faced off against Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose.
Asuka and Flair, who will meet as opponents next week, worked well together, though there was some clear friction, most notably when the Japanese star dropkicked her partner, allowing Rose and Deville the win.
With tensions now at their highest between Flair and Asuka, and with the duo scheduled for singles action next week, is this the advantage the Man needs going into TLC?
#2 Worst: The Charismatic Enigma falls to the Viper again
Don't get me wrong, in the summer of 2018, I loved the feud between Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy, with their bout at Hell In A Cell being one of my favorite matches from the year.
But since then, both men have moved on, though were put back together tonight. Whilst this wasn't inherently a bad thing, having Hardy lose was, as the Carolinian always was on the short end of the stick during their feud.
Whilst it was nice to see Samoa Joe in a promo on the titantron, and his bar-room speech was enjoyable, something just felt off about this whole match. Hopefully, this will be the last time we see Orton and Hardy face off on SmackDown Live, at least for a little bit.
#2 Best: Triple Threat action with a twist
In recent months, the SmackDown Live tag team division has been dominated primarily by The Bar and The New Day, with The Usos making sporadic appearances. Together, these three teams have had some highly entertaining matches, though have gotten a bit samey after so many encounters.
But this week, the WWE mixed things up, when they put Xavier Woods, Cesaro and Jey Uso in a triple threat, without their partners. The match was unique to say the least, as for many fans, this is their first glimpse of Uso and Woods in singles action, with both men impressing.
With one SmackDown Live left between now and TLC, expect Sheamus, Jimmy Uso, and either Big E or Kofi Kingston to square off next week, in what should be just as entertaining a match.
#1 Worst: Too many missing Superstars
SmackDown Live is two hours long, a solid 60 minutes shorter than RAW, so obviously, they can't feature as much as the Red show. But this week, it felt like there were too many missing high-profile names, that were absent from the broadcast.
Where was Shinsuke Nakamura for example? As WWE United States Champion, you would have thought a spot on the show was guaranteed, especially with this new feud with Rusev he has started.
Even though the Bulgarian did swear vengeance on the champion, even a video from the founder of Nak-America could've been used effectively.
And what about Rey Mysterio, who returned just weeks ago at SmackDown 1,000, and now wasn't seen at all on tonight's broadcast. Hopefully, these stars will reappear when we return to SmackDown Live next week.
#1 Best: Daniel Bryan continues his true heel ways
When Daniel Bryan shockingly turned heel on the SmackDown Live before Survivor Series, many fans wondered whether the WWE's most popular star could be truly hated.
But in recent weeks, Bryan has been proving all doubters wrong, and whilst it may still be difficult for many fans to boo his lovable face, Bryan is making it easier each week. I've always argued that a heel should have a reason to be bad, other than just wanting to spite the faces, and Bryan certainly has his reason.
On MizTV this week, Bryan lambasted the fans as fickle, saying they moved on quickly to stars such as AJ Styles, who debuted in WWE just days before Bryan retired in 2016. Expect great things from both men when they face off at WWE: TLC.
