WWE SmackDown Live – February 12, 2019 (Review)

What was the worst part of last night’s episode?

Jeffrey Bowie Jr.

To be honest, I didn’t have much problem with SmackDown Live. If I had to choose something, then it would be The Usos / Miz & Shane McMahon segment. I didn’t care much for the comedy bits in the beginning but the segment became interesting when the tension between the teams grew. Not a terrible segment by any means, but one that could’ve done without the comedy stuff.

Nate Craver

The gauntlet match was the majority of the show. Therefore, there wasn’t really a lot to choose from. However, I have to say the Randy Orton finish would be the worst. I know we’re supposed to suspend our belief of what would happen in reality when we watch wrestling. But, Randy is pretty well known for jumping out of the crowd and attacking his opponents. Given that his music played for what seemed like forever, AJ looked pretty stupid.

Also, I’m not sure Orton needs to be the one standing tall at the end. I’m guessing WWE was trying to make it look like AJ wasn’t weak because he got hit out of nowhere. I just think the storyline heading into the Chamber is AJ vs. Bryan. Given the way it played out, AJ looked like an idiot. I would rather AJ have been the victim of a roll up or lost because of his temper getting the best of him. There were lots of ways they could have made him not look stupid, lost, and still be a serious threat to Bryan.

…and from OUTTA NOWHERE @RandyOrton RKOs and PINS @AJStylesOrg to secure himself as the last Superstar to enter this Sunday's #EliminationChamber Match! #SDLive #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/Gt2JFF75Qa

— WWE (@WWE) February 13, 2019

Steven Lugo

Women’s triple-threat tag. This was hardly bad, but compared to other moments on the show, it was my low point, I guess. I like that they continue to promote the Elimination Chamber match with sit-down backstage interviews, presenting the chase for the titles as a ‘real fight feel.’

It helps to have something on the line, too. To me, Naomi and Carmella still seem like an unlikely, thrown-together tag team. That’s fine, but I think it should be acknowledged more often; we shouldn’t just have to accept it as fans ‘just cuz.’ Carmella used to be a massive heel.

During the match, The IIconics almost completely avoided competition, and their antics went unpunished to the point where the commentary team didn’t even chastise them much. Also, compared to ‘Absolution’, the tag team name of ‘Fire and Desire’ sounds stupid.

Kyle Payne

It’s really disrespectful that the two main women on SmackDown Live – Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch – are fixated and focused on the Raw Women’s champion, while there is absolutely no sign of the SmackDown Women’s champion.

Asuka is the champion for this brand and she hasn’t been featured, has no viable contender, and I don’t even think she was even mentioned this week. I don’t mind Becky and Charlotte wanting to fight Ronda, as there is a lot of unfinished business between the three of them. But it’s a disservice to Asuka that she, at this moment, has no contender at WrestleMania.

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