WWE SmackDown - Best and Worst - Cody Rhodes' replacement; huge issue with the Bloodline angle ahead of Tribal Combat
WWE had a lot to address on the first episode of SmackDown following the revamped Saturday Night's Main Event. Chelsea Green became the first Women's United States Champion.
Fans may not know if they missed the show or SmackDown. The situation between Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes was addressed after a clunky loss at Saturday Night's Main Event.
Alex Shelley battled his former student, Johnny Gargano, in singles action. Bianca Belair defended the Women's Tag Team Titles with Naomi for the first time since Jade Cargill's "mystery" attack.
Despite clearly having cameras backstage, the mystery still hasn't been solved. Here's the best and worst for SmackDown after Saturday Night's Main Event.
#3. Best/Worst - Drew McIntyre saves everyone from the same Solo Sikoa promo
After a recap of Saturday Night's Main Event, Solo Sikoa opened SmackDown with his usual promo. He hit the same notes he always does - demanding to be acknowledged, challenging Roman Reigns, and claiming he's better.
A few new lines couldn't save the same old message. He accepted the challenge for Tribal Combat Reigns made via video last week. Luckily, Drew McIntyre saved the segment when he came out. He claimed to be torn because he despises Reigns and Solo.
Both stars were instrumental in costing him a chance to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Title two years ago at Clash at the Castle. The Scottish Warrior claimed he'd come for Sikoa - after Solo erases Roman Reigns from history.
Some may claim that McIntyre needs to get over it, but Reigns and Rollins cannot get over their history either. Why does Drew have to move on?
#2. Best - Kevin Owens claims he hasn't snapped yet
Kevin Owens may have lost at Saturday Night's Main Event, but he's not letting anyone off the hook. While he did introduce the chair in his title match with Cody Rhodes, he technically didn't land a shot.
Rhodes purposely hit his finisher on the chair to win. Owens cut a pre-taped promo blaming referees, Rhodes, WWE officials, and Nick Aldis for the situation.
No one has acknowledged his feelings as valid, instead opting to call him delusional and a hypocrite. After piledriving Rhodes off air, he left with the special winged-eagle title belt Triple H bestowed upon Rhodes ahead of the title match.
The brilliant message was that everyone against The Prizefighter thinks he has snapped. Owens claimed they hadn't seen him snap at all. He will also "replace" Cody on the live Holiday tour with the classic belt.
#2. Worst - An underwhelming Grayson Waller Effect
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory received a featured segment on SmackDown for the first time in months. The duo hosted Braun Strowman in a rather boring episode of the Grayson Waller Effect.
It was all a setup so Carmelo Hayes could come out and challenge Santa Strowman to an impromptu match. Hayes ended up winning via countout when Strowman tossed him back in the ring at the nine count.
The two rampaged backstage, likely continuing the feud into the new year. It's nice to see other people featured but the segment felt like a miss.
#2. Best/Worst - Chelsea Green makes use of limited time
Chelsea Green made history by winning the Women's United States Title at Saturday Night's Main Event. WWE aired her post-match interview with Byron Saxton on SmackDown.
The Hot Mess said she knew this would always happen even though she was unsigned in 2015 (off Tough Enough) and released three years ago.
The shame is that it was a huge moment for her and WWE in general but it only received about four minutes of air time on SmackDown.
The Men's United States Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura, also appeared for two minutes to attack LA Knight during the six-man match to open SmackDown.
#1. Best - Old school wrestling between student and teacher on SmackDown
The one-on-one match between Johnny Gargano and Alex Shelley didn't set the world on fire. Both stars are capable of fast-paced, high-flying action to wow the crowd.
With the story they're telling, however, that style of action was not necessary for their showdown. Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa called the Motor City Machine Guns dumb for not knowing everything before the match.
Johnny Wrestling asked Ciampa to stay in the back, but now that they're heels, fans had to know he'd come out at some point. That's exactly what happened as Ciampa interfered to help Gargano pin his mentor for the win.
The new champs have had the upper hand lately and their villainous deeds help sell the heel turn. Shelley and Chris Sabin will get revenge at some point, but the subtle storytelling among the respected veterans is working.
#1. Worst - The Bloodline takes up a third of the show
After a recap of Saturday Night's Main Event, Solo Sikoa opened SmackDown this week, as he has for much of 2024. His message hasn't changed at all this year, making the segment feel like a waste of time.
Other than accepting the challenge, which could have been done via a pre-taped or backstage segment, the first third of SmackDown involved the Bloodline. Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga eventually defeated LA Knight, Apollo Crews, and Andrade.
The surrogate face team was never going to win since they don't have a big match at RAW's Premiere on Netflix. On a night when other champions received little to no time, it felt like they didn't matter in the context of SmackDown's hierarchy.
#1. Best/Worst - Tiffany Stratton's cash-in and face turn is on the horizon
Nia Jax and Candice LeRae condescendingly told Tiffany Stratton to stay in the back for their title match with Bianca Belair and Naomi.
After a predictable finish in an average match with the champs retaining, attention turned to how LeRae and Jax would inevitably blame Stratton for the loss. Jax is the one who called for Tiffy to give her the case, which she did.
The ref just happened to catch it. With the way The Annihilator and LeRae have treated Stratton, a face turn is surely on the horizon.
Her cash-in will send her into the stratosphere, even if she cashes in on Liv Morgan. WWE has to make the moment count because the women's division needs some new names shuffled in and out of the title scene.