'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAA37/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAECEAAAAB//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAFf/xAAiEAABBAEDBQEAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEEQUABmISExQiMWH/2gAIAQEAAT8AxbMZ7bUhfjoDURxuN2qBDllB6zzurI+1WtrsY9O2cQlMFNCGyB7cB+a//8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECIf/aAAgBAgEBPwCVtH//xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAED/9oACAEDAQE/AN2rBn//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Smackdown emanated from the Amway Centre in Orlando, Florida and it was a good solid show to start the New Year. Here are 5 takeaways from the show:
#5 Xavier Woods
Xavier Woods is a tremendous wrestler and one of the most underrated in the ring in the whole entire company. He is consistently one of the best mic workers and now is getting the opportunity to back it up in the ring. I really hope he wins the US title and gets the chance to shine weekly as an in-ring performer. A great showing against Aiden English who is also coming along very nicely.
#4 Rusev
The end of 2017 and into 2018 is continuing to have every day as Rusev Day. The volume of cheers when Rusev hits the screen and starts quoting around Rusev day is tremendous. Couple this with his timing, wit and ability in the ring and Rusev continues to show why he was booked so strongly a few years ago. Rusev should be in the main title picture and absolutely deserves it.
#3 Riott Squad
As much as I love all the women competitors in WWE, this feels on a weekly basis like a rehash of the Absolution story over on RAW. Paige is the leader of that group and this is positioning Ruby Riott as the leader of the Riott Squad. Although true, she doesn't command the same feeling as Paige and doesn't feel like she could legitimately beat Charlotte or Becky, whereas Paige is being booked strongly against Sasha and Bailey etc.
#2 Kevin Owens
As the recent WWE Network show '365' would show, Kevin gets frustrated behind his booking and performances all the time, and one has to wonder what he is making of his current position. Although he's main eventing Smackdown PPV's and Tuesday nights, he doesn't feel close to beating AJ for the title, and is often made to look weak. It wasn't long ago he was headbutting the Chairman of the Board and being thrown off the Hell in the Cell by Shane, so of course he will be butting heads with Shane but he seems to have gone backwards in his ferocity and doesn't look like a killer heel anymore.
#1 Daniel Bryan
What to make of the Daniel Bryan situation. Every indication is being given that he will return to the ring at some point, most likely to face Shane at Mania. The whole show is revolved around Shane and Daniel, just like Raw used to be back in the Attitude era with Austin and Rock etc. Daniel is always the most over character on the show and is beloved by fans. This shows no sign of stopping and we look forward intently to whether it moves into an actual return to the ring!
