4 things SmackDown got right on the first episode of 2020 (January 3, 2020)

SmackDown tried to lead WWE into the new year on a high with a fast-paced action-packed episode this week. The show started with a good triple-threat tag team match between six leading women of SmackDown to establish which is the most deserving team to get a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.

There were also some huge returns to kick-off 2020 and give fans a lot more to look forward to in the weeks to come. ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt made an appearance on the show as well to lay down his challenger for Royal Rumble and send a message to the entire WWE Universe.

In this article, we'll look at the 4 things SmackDown got right in its first episode of the year.

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#4 Cesaro vs Braun Strowman

If you thought no one could match Braun Strowman’s strength in the ring, you must have forgotten about The Swiss Superman.

Cesaro was able to beat down the big man and show why he is considered one of the best pound for pound wrestlers in the world. However, The Monster Among Men was able to make a comeback during the match.

Sami Zayn tried to distract Strowman to allow Cesaro the Neutralizer, but The Monster was able to turn it into a running power slam to pick up the victory.

This was a great match which showed yet again why fans want to watch Cesaro enter the top title picture rather than appear as just another Superstar on the mid-card. These two men matched each other perfectly, and one can only hope that we'll get to watch them perform at their finest down the line in a pay-per-view match.

A Kinshasa from Shinsuke Nakamura after the match ensured that the build for the Intercontinental Championship match between he and Strowman continued, and we'll possibly see the title change hands at the Royal Rumble.

#3 Dana Brooke scored a pin

This week, three big teams from SmackDown decided to get into the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship scene by coming out and trying to lay claim as top challengers. Bayley & Sasha Banks, Lacey Evans & Dana Brooke, and Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross were the three teams that came out to fight for a chance to become the next contenders to the titles.

Banks and Bayley stayed on top for most of the match, but the Sassy Southern Belle eventually knocked out The Boss with the Woman's Right, allowing Brooke to pick up the victory.

The match was decent and gave the spotlight to all three teams. Brooke picking up the pin in such a big match was something good to see, as she’d been used as an enhancement talent for a long time.

At a time when reports were emerging that Brooke was being used to push Evans forward, it was nice to see her pin someone on television in a major match involving some of the top Superstars of the company.

#2 Sheamus’ return

Sheamus took down one of the biggest babyfaces on the roster

Sheamus was among the four Superstars who made their returns this week, as The Celtic Warrior believed it was the right time to strike.

Earlier in the night, The Revival made fun of Shorty G backstage, but G wasn’t ready to back down from a fight and accepted Dash Wilder’s challenge to a match.

Even though Wilder tried everything in the book to pick up the victory, The Olympian was able to trap him in an ankle lock and made him tap out. After the match, Scott Dawson entered the ring to beatdown G alongside his partner.

This brought out the returning Sheamus, who took to the ring and scared The Revival off, but he then delivered a vicious Brogue Kick to Shorty G to end the segment.

This was an interesting way for the former WWE Champion to return. Sheamus’ return will bolster SmackDown in a big way, and even though it seemed like he returned as a face to help out Shorty G, it looks as though he will play the role of a less distinguishable character.

#1 The Usos return

While the match between the teams of Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns, and Baron Corbin & Dolph Ziggler was decent, it was what happened after the match that made things much more interesting.

During the final stages of the match, Bryan applied the LeBell Lock to Ziggler, which was broken by Corbin who took a Spear from Reigns for his trouble.

Bryan then connected a running knee, but ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt appeared to haunt the former WWE Champion. He sent him through the barricade and then applied the mandible claw to Bryan, taking him out for good.

This allowed The King and The Showoff to attack Reigns and handcuff him once again. However, The Usos returned to a huge pop and saved The Big Dog by super-kicking both heels.

This was a great way for SmackDown to bring back The Usos, by having them save Reigns at a time when he seemed helpless. It will be great to watch these three men work together down the line, much like Seth Rollins and AOP.

File under:Matches We Need To See In 2020. pic.twitter.com/5cj3EUpBxl

— Gary Cassidy (@consciousgary) January 4, 2020

The return was booked to perfection by creative, and the return of Robert Roode to the mix will allow SmackDown to have some big six-man tag team matches.