WWE News: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. The Usos for the first SmackDown of 2018

What’s the story?

After winning an enthralling triple threat match, Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable will face The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships on the first WWE SmackDown Live of 2018.

In case you didn’t know...

SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan came out at the start of SmackDown Live, but The New Day, Gable & Benjamin, and Rusev & English who were each demanding a championship against The Usos.

Bryan resolved the issue by announcing a triple threat tag team match between The New Day, Gable & Benjamin, and Rusev & English to determine a No. 1 Contender for SmackDown Tag Team Championships.

The heart of the matter

Unlike the Christmas Day edition of Monday Night Raw, SmackDown Live’s first match had fans at a fever pitch for most of the contest with a majority of the crowd in favour of Rusev and English getting the opportunity.

There were a multitude of highlights in this match, but the biggest moments towards the end were when Rusev attempted a double Accolade submission on Gable and Woods to nearly win the match, only for Benjamin to break up the submission.

Big E regained control of the match with a spear to Benjamin to the outside. Big E climbed to the top rope, but Benjamin hit a jumping knee and hoisted the former Intercontinental Champion on his shoulders so that Gable could hit their Powerbomb/Diving Clothesline combo for the victory.

What’s next?

The first SmackDown Live episode of 2018 will air on January 2 from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

Benjamin & Gable have had two previous opportunities at the SmackDown Tag Team titles in recent weeks, so next week could be the show where they finally win the championships.

It would be Benjamin's first title in over seven years.

Author’s Take

While it would’ve been nice to see English and Rusev win the No. 1 Contender’s match, Benjamin & Gable are talented performers and will likely have a fantastic match for the titles as well.