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We are just hours away from the first SmackDown Live after WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, and the men and women of Tuesday nights have a lot to prove.
Whilst the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan clung on to the title at TLC, Team Blue did see a new Women's Champion crowned in Asuka.
But now with TLC in the history books, the SmackDown Live Superstars will be hoping to build a wave of momentum as the road to WrestleMania begins, with the journey to the 2019 Royal Rumble.
It has been a shocking year for WWE, one filled with ups and downs, but tonight the Superstars of SmackDown Live need to focus on surviving, with plenty of huge things already being promised.
Here are five things you absolutely need to know before the December 18th, 2018 episode of WWE SmackDown Live.
5: Can anyone reach The Bar?
Since capturing the Tag Team Championships at SmackDown 1,000, The Bar have reigned over the tag team division, and continued their winning ways at TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs.
Not only did they retain over former champions The New Day, Sheamus and Cesaro were also able to defeat The Usos, proving themselves as the top team on the show.
But with little other competition, the question remains, what is next for The Bar?
They have seemingly dispatched every team they can, so perhaps it is time for the Europeans to aim for singles championship gold.
Or maybe a new team will step up and challenge them, which could lead to some highly entertaining matches.
Either way, don't expect any humility from Sheamus or Cesaro when they come to SmackDown Live tonight.
4: Lynch and Flair to respond to Rousey
In the main event of TLC, Charlotte Flair, Asuka and Becky Lynch proved why they belonged in the coveted spot, when they delivered in the epic first-ever Women's TLC match.
But when the dust settled, it was RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey who made the difference, attacking both Flair and Lynch mid-match.
Clearly a retaliation for both the Queen and the Man assaulting her, both verbally and physically, Rousey's interference practically handed the title to Asuka, who scaled a ladder to make history.
Of course, though, neither Flair or Lynch will be happy about this, and are expected to respond to Rousey tonight on SmackDown Live.
With Flair rumored to be Rousey's Royal Rumble opponent, and Lynch her opponent for WrestleMania, expect things to get heated between these three Superstars.
3: How will Nakamura react to TLC snub?
WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs may have been a historic pay per view for many SmackDown Live Superstars, but for Shinsuke Nakamura, it was just another day not being on Pay Per View.
In what has sadly become a running habit for the founder of Nak-America, the United States Champion was nowhere to be seen at the pay per view, once again.
This will surely not have gone down well with the company's resident rockstar, who has vowed to improve SmackDown Live often at the expense of those who oppose him, including former champions such as the Charismatic Enigma Jeff Hardy, and the Bulgarian Brute, Rusev.
Whatever the United States Champion has planned, expect the former New Japan star to make his intentions clear tonight on SmackDown Live.
2: Who will the new Daniel Bryan face next?
Ever since he captured the WWE Championship, Daniel Bryan has become a changed man, and has shown this new, bad attitude on full display.
But at TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, Bryan proved that he is truly changed when he used every underhand tactic to defeat former Champion AJ Styles.
This victory from the former Yes! man seemingly closes this chapter of both men's careers, as Styles has had his rematch.
As the WWE Universe look ahead to the Royal Rumble, it will be interesting to see who will be the next Superstar to step up to Bryan.
Perhaps a new number one contender will be announced tonight, though I'm sure that Bryan will still be lecturing fans, with or without an opponent.
1: The Era of Asuka begins
2018 has been a rough year for the Empress.
After losing her streak at WrestleMania 34, Asuka slid down the company's totem pole, losing repeatedly to Carmella, before entering a tag team with Naomi.
At TLC though, the Japanese star turned this all around, when she finally captured the SmackDown Women's Championship, the same title she had aimed for at WrestleMania.
Now on top of the blue brand's women's division, expect the Empress of Tomorrow to be more confident than ever, though she does owe Becky Lynch a rematch.
Whether that title match will happen tonight remains to be seen, but if it does, we're confident it will be another excellent match between two of SmackDown Live's most popular Superstars competing today.
To put it bluntly, is anyone ready for Asuka?
