WWE Smackdown Live Results and Review December 18 2018 : Bowen’s Botches and Bodyslams
WWE Smackdown Live is from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California this week. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan successfully defend his title against AJ Styles at the TLC Pay Per View, and Asuka won the Smackdown Women’s Championship in WWE’s first Women’s Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match. Tonight is the first Smackdown since the McMahon Family announced that changes are coming to the WWE.
Show Opener with Shane McMahon Backstage Addressing the Roster
Thank you, @RealPaigeWWE!
It’s a new era on #SDLive… pic.twitter.com/wHLje8Kofw
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Becky Lynch In Ring
“I don’t care who’s in charge because #TheMan runs the show!”@BeckyLynchWWE has no time for meetings, but she DOES have time for a fight with @RondaRousey! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/vYOX1UReq3
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) December 19, 2018
The #SDLive Women’s division is HEATING UP, and @VinceMcMahon wants to see @WWEAsuka defend her title TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/dp7FOvcc2f
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Smackdown Women’s Championship Match
Asuka (c) vs. Naomi with Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch watching at ringside
Asuka wins by Submission with the Asuka Lock.
The #SDLive #WomensTitle is ON THE LINE as @NaomiWWE challenges The #EmpressOfTomorrow @WWEAsuka! pic.twitter.com/COPQO469us
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
The Miz Backstage at the McMahon Family’s Office
How does @VinceMcMahon feel about @mikethemiz potentially teaming up with his son @shanemcmahon? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/nHuuCbfB9U
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Rusev with Lana Backstage Interview
A great beard AND a super athlete! @RusevBUL has a lot to offer, ESPECIALLY competition for the #USChampion @ShinsukeN! #SDLive @LanaWWE pic.twitter.com/rYnddwDFQQ
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Samoa Joe’s Apology to Jeff Hardy
.@SamoaJoe never planned on apologizing…
In fact, he wanted to host an INTERVENTION for @JEFFHARDYBRAND?! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/31z34DfgCe
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Mixed Tag Team Match
The Miz and Mandy Rose vs. R-Truth and Carmella
The Miz scores the Pinfall victory over R-Truth after the Skull Crushing Finale.
There’s never a bad time for a…DANCE BREAK!!!#SDLive @RonKillings @CarmellaWWE pic.twitter.com/gFMFGjaVl5
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Tag Team Match
The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) vs. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) come down the ramp to their entrance in the middle of the match and then Sanity attacks both men in the ring during a Pinfall attempt and the referee calls the match. Sanity and The Bar continue to attack both teams, with The Bar holding up their Smackdown Tag Team Championships at the end.
Before #TheBar could make their presence felt, #SAnitY‘s @TheEricYoung @TheWWEWolfe & @KillianDain just decided to make a STATEMENT on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/1spbv6C5jY
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Tag Team Match
AJ Styles and Mustafa Ali vs. Daniel Bryan and Andrade “Cien” Almas with Zelina Vega
Mustafa Ali wins by Pinfall over Daniel Bryan after the 054.
He was the HEART of #205Live, but now @MustafaAliWWE is looking to make a name for himself on #SDLive, and he’s been nothing short of IMPRESSIVE so far! pic.twitter.com/pN2vywTkqI
— WWE (@WWE) December 19, 2018
Botches
- Vince McMahon in the opening segment wasn’t done well. His delivery was off and he slowed everything down and took away the fire of the segment instead of adding to it. Had Naomi come out first to stake her claim on the next title match and Vince came out to make it official, that probably would have worked better.
- There was still too much talking and too few matches, but that may have been necessary for this night.
- Mustafa Ali apologizing to Daniel Bryan after his 054 finisher was clearly audible.
Bodyslams
- Asuka vs. Naomi was a great match and probably Naomi’s best match of the year.
- The Good Brothers are back in action on Smackdown, as are Sanity. These are two teams that add greatly to the tag team division, and have been underutilized. This is a positive change.
- Andrade “Cien” Almas and Mustafa Ali in the Main Event teaming with Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles respectively was a great idea. Four of the best performers in the business were able to put on an inspired match. Mustafa Ali getting a clean pin on Daniel Bryan is exactly the kind of change we need. Those are the kind of unexpected moments we need.
Smackdown has been better than RAW for quite some time, and the acknowledgement by cheering Paige is clear. But this show could still be improved, and that is what happened. The tag team division has been stale, even if it is the same great performers every week. With teams like Gallows and Anderson and Sanity on the sidelines, that should never happen. Seeing them back on television is a good sign. Andrade “Cien” Almas and Mustafa Ali in the Main Event were incredible, and the ending was huge. This is a step in the right direction.
But once again, the women truly controlled this show. Naomi delivered her best match of the year against Asuka, and Becky Lynch gave me goosebumps with her monologue in the opening. The women have definitely stepped up over the last three nights, and they were already ahead of the men. The Women’s Division has the only compelling storyline right now. An improving Smackdown is only going to make it harder for RAW to regain the de facto A Show status.
