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True to form, SmackDown outshined Raw and delivered such a good show during a notoriously lazy month of December. One wonders what's going on behind the scenes to make for the difference in quality between the two shows. With the talent Raw has, there's no reason it should be lagging so far behind, but it has done so all year.
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Back to SmackDown, all of the major storylines heading into TLC were advanced. SmackDown's side of the card looks very good. Who got the most out of a fun show last night?
Winner: The SmackDown women's division
While Raw's women's division feels like a wasteland, featuring an uninteresting feud between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax and "open forum" segments, the blue brand is heading into arguably the most eagerly anticipated women's match of the year. There was some scepticism about bringing Asuka into Charlotte and Becky's feud last week, and the short build time it would have, but things went swimmingly last night.
Becky still has a chip on her shoulder. Charlotte is getting more arrogant despite her losses. Asuka voiced the opinions of fans in essentially saying that she's been criminally underrated and that if Becky had chosen her for Survivor Series, she would have won. Charlotte jabbed at her own mystique being shattered at WrestleMania, and Asuka challenged the "lucky" Charlotte right there.
Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville came out and inserted themselves in the trouble. Surprisingly, they won the subsequent tag team match, with Sonya getting the pin on Charlotte, after the Queen and Empress couldn't get along.
So not only were the three women heading into TLC built up, but Mandy and, more importantly, Sonya, also benefited. SmackDown's women's division has had the problem of only feeling like Charlotte, Becky, and Asuka matter, while everyone else doesn't feel on the level. We saw what happened when Carmella was champion. In building Mandy and Sonya (the latter of which has a lot more potential), SmackDown looks like it's trying to address this divergence.
Losers: The Bar
This was a fun match, don't get me wrong, and their loss here probably means that they're going to win at TLC. The problem is that The Bar has felt undervalued as champions. This feud could be far more creatively booked, but it's just fell into trope. Champions losing non-title matches only to then win the big one later is lazy 50/50 booking that devalues the titles that those champions hold.
The Bar should be starting to feel like proper champions, but that hasn't happened so far, when they could be doing a lot more during their time reign. They've proven that on Raw.
They're going to be in a "rap battle" next week. That isn't the best use of them.
Hopefully, after they likely retain at TLC, The Bar will begin a proper feud with The Usos and their reign will feel more befitting of them.
Winner: The Miz
Thankfully, The Miz dropped the nonsense with Shane McMahon this week after a brief segment backstage. He did Miz TV with Daniel Bryan, and my, how the tables have turned!
One of the first things that Miz said to the new WWE Champion was that he was right all along (as many fans had been thinking) and that Daniel Bryan should admit it. Daniel Bryan went on a long, rambling tangent from there which we'll get into later.
Miz was put in a match with AJ Styles later that night, which he lost, but that isn't the point. Miz feels like he's back on track now after questionable booking following Crown Jewel. Perhaps he won't be turning babyface after all. Either way, we'll be on the lookout for whatever interactions he has with Daniel Bryan over the next few months. Will this rivalry continue or was this just a tease?
Winner: Samoa Joe
Truthfully, I didn't know what to think about this one. Samoa Joe delivered in his segments as he always does. However, the subject matter just felt lame. Some people will think it an example of WWE once again taking things too far by exploiting Jeff Hardy's real-life substance abuse issues. It's far from the first time that the company has done such a thing.
It does, however, give Samoa Joe some airtime. His future had been in doubt after failing to capture the WWE Championship from AJ Styles on four separate occasions.
Jeff Hardy, unfortunately, fell to Dumb Babyface Syndrome in this segment, but I'm interested in seeing where this feud goes. Hardy vs. Joe is a fresh matchup, and the latter will make anything he's in an interesting experience.
Hopefully, Joe will get more sadistic from here and not veer too near to Jeff Hardy's real-life troublesome past.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
You don't like the NEW Daniel Bryan?!
You're FICKLE! FICKLE!
Give credit where it's due. Daniel Bryan knocked this segment out of the park after AJ Styles defeated The Miz. Styles was selling his leg throughout the match, and Bryan ambushed him from behind with a chop block, making it worse with the Heel Hook.
Bryan's attack was relentless. Styles was in agony. Bryan went on to the announcer's table and called the fans fickle with explosive intensity. Running down the fans is old fare. It isn't working with Dean Ambrose, but Daniel Bryan is making it work because this act is so unique.
Daniel Bryan's delusion is strong, and it's fun to see. This is already the most interesting the WWE Championship has been in a very, very long time.
Onward, to TLC, where a great match is probably waiting for AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan!
