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SmackDown didn't feel like the most exciting episode last night, but it managed to set up a lot for the things to come, compared to Raw, which felt like a bunch of filler. Next week's episode in particular should make for a memorable one. Who took the most and least out of last night's episode?
Winners: The Usos
After a chaotic tag team match, The Usos cut a promo on everyone, saying that no one was on their level.
The Usos have been lost in the shadow of the Shane McMahon vs. Miz storyline, but now that that's behind them, we realize that for the second year in a row, they're heading into WrestleMania as SmackDown's tag team titleholders.
There are a lot of good possibilities to take them on at the Show of Shows, so they should have a bright future ahead.
Winners: AJ Styles and Randy Orton
Styles and Orton have yet to have a singles match for this feud. The names alone would have sold it, but their promo last night started to make it feel worthy of taking place at WrestleMania. Echoing his famous promo from last summer where he said that he would make "indie darlings from bingo halls" pay, Orton told Styles that it was time for him to pay his dues, and that his proclamations that SmackDown was "the house that he built" felt like an insult.
AJ Styles, for his part, simply challenged the Viper to a match at WrestleMania. They would settle things there.
This certainly feels like it's destined for a forgotten spot in the midcard, but work rate wise, it may actually be one of the best of the night, and it ensures Styles and Orton won't be sent into battle royal purgatory, which neither deserve after the year they've had.
Losers: Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
This rivalry is seriously getting overexposed. Now all of a sudden, Ronda Rousey feels like the most interesting part of it, and Becky Lynch is simply rattling off her "greatest hits" collection. Her momentum has certainly cooled since the Royal Rumble with the convoluted booking this angle has taken.
There was no reason for this promo to happen. It simply took time from the blue brand's own WrestleMania buildup. Both of these women should have been on Raw to respond to Ronda Rousey.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston is rapidly overtaking Becky Lynch as the hottest act in the company, and Vince McMahon poured fuel on the fire last night when he announced that Kofi Kingston would take part in another gauntlet match. If he could defeat Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, The Bar, and Rowan next week, he would get his WWE title shot at WrestleMania.
In other words, Kofi Kingston is going to get his shot, and he's going to partake in a probable match of the year contender to do it, heating him up at just the right time.
For Kingston, this rise has been astounding, and unlike what happened with Seth Rollins last year, WWE looks like it might just pull the trigger at the right time.
See you next week!
