3 best moments of SmackDown Live (11 December 2018)
In the midst of historically low ratings, the WWE have booked themselves into a corner. They are now forced to dish out a better product to the WWE Universe in order to get back on track.
The creative team tweaked some things on RAW Monday night, and let Seth Rollins open the show for a change. Although the episode wasn't great as a whole, the opening segment was very compelling, and as a result, the show garnered more viewers than the show had drawn last week.
With just days to go until the TLC PPV, SmackDown Live served as the go-home show. While there are a lot of matches scheduled for Sunday, everyone is looking forward to the WWE Championship bout featuring AJ Styles against Daniel Bryan, plus a TLC clash for the SmackDown women's title featuring Becky Lynch against Charlotte Flair and Asuka.
With two phenomenal matches lurking right ahead, the main event of SmackDown provided us with a small preview in the form of a WrestleMania 34 rematch, and an incredible opening promo in Daniel Bryan.
Lets look at 3 things the WWE did right on this week's edition of SmackDown Live.
#3 Daniel Bryan taking his heel character further
The most beloved babyface of this decade, Daniel Bryan's charisma and fan support were on another level, and it led to two Royal Rumble winners in Batista and Roman Reigns getting booed out of the building. Due to the support of the WWE Universe, Bryan forced his way into the WrestleMania main event.
For someone so beloved, and who is a natural babyface, it would be really hard being a heel who dismantles fans, right?
Wrong.
Ever since his heel turn, Bryan has become one of the most engrossing and entertaining characters in the WWE, as he has certainly done a better job than Dean Ambrose in riling up the fans.
My point is that Ambrose is supposed to be leaps and bounds ahead of Bryan when it comes to promos, but it's Bryan who is doing a better job instead. Bryan's motivated babyface promos have always been a treat, but it is surprising to see him do an equally better job as a heel.
Bryan opened this week's show and apologised to the fans for comparing them to Sheep. He called them idiots instead, and accused the crowd of living vicariously through the old Daniel Bryan’s success, while reminding them that the old Daniel Bryan is dead, and the Yes Movement is dead as well.
The WWE Champion continued to insult the crowd some more until Mustafa Ali interrupted. A match between the two was made official, which Daniel Bryan won.
It was refreshing to see someone like Mustafa Ali on the show, since SmackDown is really lacking a pure babyface. The New Daniel Bryan is the best character WWE has had all year, and this was another sensational heel work from a guy who seemed to have waited to unleash his dark side for so long.