WWE SmackDown Live – January 22, 2019 (Review)

It finally happened. The match we’ve all been impatiently waiting for SmackDown Live to deliver since last November. After three months of solid feud, the blood rivalry has finally come to a head. The new mega powers collide.

Yip, Naomi and Mandy Rose finally faced one another in the ring. One can only imagine the brutality! Literally, you’d have to imagine it, because as soon as the bell rang, the broadcast cut to five straight minutes of commercials for Temptation Island. (Those singles sure are sexy though, man I hope the couples hold strong.)

Once we eventually did return to the match, all we got to see was the end sequence, which saw Mandy Rose pick up the win over Naomi after some Sonya Deville shenanigans. So I guess that means… Mandy gets to take Jimmy Uso home with her now? That’s what this feud was about, right?

That’s right baby! To the top #WomensTagTeamchamps https://t.co/6CRdRslB1X

— Daria/Sonya Deville (@SonyaDevilleWWE) January 23, 2019

Regardless, in the absence of being able to speak about that surefire barnburner, we’ll instead delve briefly into the question of why Vince McMahon has returned to such a prominent role on TV.

In the two decades since the WWE Chairman played the role of chief antagonist to – and one half of the greatest feud in wrestling history with – ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Vince’s presence on WWE’s weekly programming has gradually diminished. Then, suddenly, shortly before the New Year it was announced that the reign of General Managers was over and that the McMahons would be taking over the day-to-day operations of both Raw and SmackDown Live.

Since that change was implemented however, Stephanie and Triple H have been harder to find than Brock Lesnar and Shane is on a pilgrimage of self-delusion, leaving the family patriarch to essentially assume the customary authority role on both main roster shows. (Still no word on where Linda fits into all of this. I’m holding thumbs that she crops up as the Commissioner of NXT South America.)

The question then becomes, why? As in, why after all these years is Vince suddenly so heavily involved in the weekly product? Sure, the occasional advertised appearance by the gravel-voiced Chairman remains a surefire way to drive ratings, which is particularly important with SmackDown’s imminent move to Fox. But in recent weeks he’s become an all too regular fixture on TV, and it’s not entirely clear what his role is.

In one of his first appearances, his jaw was on the receiving end of AJ Styles’ fist, which as we all know acted as the catalyst for AJ to become… exactly the same character he’s always been? Maybe? On Monday night’s Raw, he needlessly belittled Finn Bálor ahead of his championship match against Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble. And on SmackDown last night, Vince took on the role of glorified in-ring interviewer, mediating a really tense exchange between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan. He then shuffled around like an overly muscular deer in the headlights during the ensuing brawl.

Why? Why is he on TV every week, when his role could easily be filled by a standard GM or backstage interviewer? It lessens the special feeling surrounding Vince’s rare appearances, and only serves highlight how time eventually breaks down even the largest of characters. Of course, Vince remains an attraction, and he can still deliver the antagonistic promos he built his gimmick on. But he’s no longer the preeminent figure he once was, and becomes lesser with each passing week.

This was my only reservation in another excellent week of SmackDown programming, capped of by a phenomenal two-out-of-three falls match between Rey Mysterio and Andrade ‘Cie… nope, he’s just Andrade now. Still getting used to that.

With no shortage of talking points coming out of last night’s broadcast then, let our WrestleTalk writers take you through the best and worst the blue brand had to offer. So without further ado, let’s roll on with the good.

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