WWEmade its final stop before the reboot of Saturday Night’s Main Event, asSmackDownrolled into the Excel Center in Hartford, CT.Roman Reigns vs Solo Sikoa is WWE’s first match confirmed for Netflix, as The OTC challenged Sikoa for the ula fala on January 6th. Sikoa and his Bloodline would beatdown LA Knight later in the evening after losing the match via DQ, and Jimmy Uso was attacked by Drew McIntyre as the Scottish Warrior took out yet another member of Roman Reigns’s Bloodline.
Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes would brawl backstage after failing to meet in the ring for a showdown, Braun Strowman is SmackDown’s latest signing and he celebrated the move by defeating Carmelo Hayes. DIY and Motor City Machine Guns cut vignettes on one another after Ciampa and Gargano won the tag titles and turned heel on last week’s SmackDown, andMichin vs Cheslea Green for the first-ever Women’s United States Championshipwill take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event after they defeated Tiffany Stratton and Bayley respectively.
1Roman Reigns
The First Match Of The Netflix Era Is Confirmed By the OTC
The presentation of WWE is about to change forever when the company completes it’s enormous move to Netflix in less than one month. One of the subtle changes in recent months has been the “cinematic presentation” of moments like Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns meeting on an empty football field at Georgia Tech in Atlanta ahead of Bad Blood, or CM Punk and Reigns meeting in an unspecified location ahead of their Survivor Series match.Roman Reigns challenged Solo Sikoa for the title of Tribal Chief on Night 1 of WWE on Netflixin another of these dramatic segments.
This style of presenting a promo feels slick and bigger than what was possible in Vince McMahon’s WWE. The forward-thinking Paul Heyman fuels this latest innovation from behind the scenes. The talent benefits from a new way of expressing their sentiments, character, and intent, one that is tailor-made to Netflix’s vision of home cinema. This delivery from Roman was ice cold, laced with historical significance andthe image of The OTC reclaiming his ula fala is perfect for the Netflix curtain raiser.
2Saturday Night’s Actual Main Event
Cody Rhodes vs Kevin Owens Could Go Either Way
Playing a game of psychological warfare, with enthralling cat-and-mouse tactics from the challenger,Cody Rhodes vs Kevin Owens WWE Championship feud has been one of the highlights of the year. It has seen both men deliver scorching promos, they both have valid reasons for their anger, and their coming to blows, from backstage all the way to the ring, on the final stop before Saturday Night’s Main Event felt inevitable. This rivalry feels intensely personal and the correct showpiece choice to reboot this legacy showpiece.
Perhaps the best part about all of it is thatCody vs. KO feels like it could go either way when the bell rings at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Cody Rhodes being the poster child for the new look WWE as they hit Netflix is the likeliest outcome, but Kevin Owens has been the best performer in the company since injuring Randy Orton at the start of November. He hasn’t held the WWE’s main championship since winning the Universal Championship in August 2016 in a Fatal Four Way against Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Big Cass (!) after Finn Balor’s injury forced him to vacate it. Nobody could argue he wouldn’t deserve to be WWE’s main man on this form. It’s a Main Event that has everything.
10 Most Shocking Betrayals in WWE History
Nothing makes good TV like an old-fashioned unexpected betrayal, and WWE has mastered this art over the years.
3The Women’s US Championship Booking
Faith In Today’s Emerging Superstars Is Great To See
In a tournament bracket that started off including Bianca Belair, Bayley, Naomi, Tiffany Stratton, and more,Michin and Chelsea Green will compete to become the first Women’s United States Championat Saturday Night’s Main Event. That Michin reached the final by pinning SmackDown’s heir-apparent in Money in The Bank holder Tiffany Stratton, and Chelsea Green defeated future Hall of Famer Bayley, shows the future intent of the title. This belt is designed to elevate talent, and this match puts its money where its mouth is.
It would have been so easy to have one of the traditional big guns win the first US Women’s Championship. Having a tried and trusted former champion write themselves into the history books is smart and safe booking.Michin vs Chelsea Green is exciting because someone is going to be a first-time champion, as well as the first US Champ. May the best woman win.
4Carmelo Hayes
Who Is In Charge Of Melo’s Booking?
As anyone who has watched the show in recent months will attest, Carmelo Hayes has been one of SmackDown’s stand-out performers. What started as an innocent 1-vs-1 with Andrade turned into an awe-inspiring series of 7 matches. If there is a train of thought that LA Knight’s dance partners didn’t really step up when he held the US Championship, the exception to that rule was his various run-ins with Melo. So with all of that on his side,why on earth is Carmelo Hayes losing to Braun Strowman in less than 90 seconds?
The pros to WWE inthe Paul Levesque eraare that people are not often left looking weak for very long and that it is impossible to believe that WWE doesn’t have a long-term plan for Carmelo Hayes. Even leaning into the faith that brighter days are ahead, it’s disappointing to see Carmelo Hayes suffering a defeat in this manner to someone unlikely to be bothering the main event scene any time soon. Perhaps Melo will see revenge over the big man in the Royal Rumble. Whatever happens,this is a day Carmelo Hayes and everyone else should forgetin a hurry.
5Jimmy Uso
Drew McIntyre Is Eradicating Roman’s Bloodline, Piece By Piece
The good will towards the non-Yeeting Uso brother from all WWE audiences continues to flow, but for how long is it going to be interesting? In a year in which Solo Sikoa has found a breakthrough with his improved humor and delivery,Jimmy Uso continues to struggle to find a definable characterbeyond his association with The Bloodline. Being one-half of one of the greatest tag teams of all time buys you a lot of time and opportunities, but it feels time for Jimmy to find a lane that works for him.
He opened SmackDown with a rabble-rousing chat about the WarGames injuries he and his compatriots endured beforeDrew McIntyre appeared and dropped a lethal Claymore on Jimmy. After Jey Uso was taken out by a mystery assailant, Drew seemingly put three of the five members of Roman Reigns’s Bloodline on the shelf. It is quite the return for The Scottish Warrior. Victory over Sami Zayn at Saturday Night’s Main Event would be the jewel in the crown of one of his most successful years to date.
6LA Knight
Is This His Worst Month Of The Paul Levesque Era?
What a brutal month it has been for LA Knight. He’s dropped his US Championship to Shinsuke Nakamura, and nowKnight was dropped at the hands of a mauling from Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and The Bloodline. His match with Sikoa might be recorded as an LA Knight victory by DQ, but he won’t be feeling like a winner this morning.
This is a very important time for LA Knight. With hordes of new viewers about to experience WWE’s roster for the first time,LA Knight’s Attitude Era vibe is going to be enormous with fans of a certain age. His feud with Logan Paul was the highlight of his 2024, but it’s been a year of going through the motions for The Megastar. No doubt, there’s more out there for LA Knight in the new year and beyond. It would appear as if The Bloodline are going to be his first point of order. Yeah.
