WWE SmackDown climbs the ladder to TLC 2018
Note: This article contains full show match results for WWE SmackDown Live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, which aired on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.
Last night was the final bit of WWETV before the final pay-per-view of the year: TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2018 is just days away.
Much of the last few weeks (and months) on SDLive have been built around The Champ, The Man, the Lass-Kicking Icon that is Becky Lynch, so it was fitting that the women's title scene closed things out.
Read on for six things we learned.
1. The US Title scene needs a massive, massive shakeup
There are now 12 (TWELVE!) matches on TLC 2018. And TLC ain't the Rumble, SummerSlam or WrestleMania.
Pay-per-views have certainly had a bloated feel since the brand split was followed by PPV unification, and while it can be bum-numbing you sort-of understand the desire to pack the nights with fights.
But with 12 (TWELVE!) whole matches on the cards, apparently there isn't room for the US Title.
Hmmmmm.
More than that, the belt has barely had its own programme in recent weeks and months.
The US Title wasn't defended at Hell in a Cell, or Super Show-Down. It snuck on to the pre-show of Crown Jewel when Nakamura beat Rusev.
And it's Rusev who's still gunning for it now, but their battle was wedged into a tag match with Jeff Hardy and Samoa Joe last night.
All well and good, but neither Rusev/Nakamura OR Hardy/Joe are on the card for TLC.
Paige has generally done a fine job as GM of SDLive since her appointment, but #1 on her resolution list for 2019 must be to sort out the US Title.
2. Randy Orton is building up a vicious head of steam in the midcard
Shinsuke and the US Title (and Rusev and Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy) aren't on the TLC 2018 card, but Randy Orton is.
Randy's latest feud with Rey Mysterio has seen him take the same approach that he did with Jeff earlier this year.
Beat, berate and bully a WWE legend into violent submission.
But while the approach worked with the Hardy Boy, Rey Mysterio has perhaps learned a few things from watching on.
He took the initiative last night and while Orton was mouthing off decided to attack the Apex Predator with a chair from behind.
His reward is a chairs match at TLC, which may either equalise things or make things worse for the 619-er, as Orton will be free to use the weapon with abandon.
Whatever happens on the night, we have some quiet admiration for the way Randy Orton has built his character up into a must-watch part of WWETV, with or without a belt on the line.
At 38, Orton won't be wrestling for ever, but he's certainly earned his current spot and then some.
If he takes down a couple more heroes in early 2019, there's an argument that he could make one more all-out assault on the WWE Championship.
3. Asuka reminds everyone that she's a serious contender
2018 has been the year of The Man. Becky Lynch has been the best wrestler in the WWE, across any of its brands and programmes (and yes, that includes NXT).
After spending the first half of the year scrapping to survive, in the second half she ramped it right up and took control.
Her dance partner for most of that time has been Charlotte Flair, who she deposed to take the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.
Since then, many in the WWE Universe had all-but forgotten the rise (and slight fall) of Asuka.
Undefeated on the main roster for so long, The Empress of Tomorrow won the Royal Rumble in January and stomped her way through to WrestleMania, when her streak was finally beaten by Charlotte Flair.
The loss seemed to knock the stuffing out of Asuka, and she was shunted to one side as Charlotte and Becky took up arms.
But in recent weeks she's battered her way back into contention, and there was no greater evidence than last night.
In a one-on-one match with The Queen, Asuka seemed to have the better of things before Flair got herself disqualified with a Kendo stick.
But it wasn't just her impressive performance in the match that underlined Asuka's serious title credentials.
As Becky got involved and the sticks went flying, it was Asuka who came out on top, showing that she can hang with anyone, no matter what happens.
4. R-Truth or Jinder Mahal (and Alicia Fox or Carmella) will be the 30th person in the 2019 Royal Rumble
A little bit of a cheat, this, as we learned this after SDLive had gone off air.
In the semi-finals of the second season of the Mixed Match Challenge, Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox earned a surprise win over Bayley and Apollo Crews (The Huggable one losing her regular partner Finn Bálor to injury earlier in the week).
Perhaps even more shocking was the result in the other semi-final.
R-Truth and Carmella got a massive win over The Miz and Asuka, which means it's Mahalicia vs The Fabulous Truth at TLC in the grand final.
And as we found out a few weeks ago, the winning team earns its members that #30 spot in their respective Royal Rumble match at next month's pay-per-view.
#30 isn't a guarantee of anything. The "luckiest" number is actually #27 (four wins), but it makes sense that the last spot is your best bet.
Past winners from #30 have been a trio of massive names: The Undertaker (2007), John Cena (2008) and Triple H (2016).
Could R-Truth or Jinder Mahal join their ranks? And over in the Women's Rumble, could Alicia Fox or Carmella earn their ticket to WrestleMania next month?
WWE SmackDown Live full show match results – Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Daniel Bryan vs Mustafa Ali
WINNER: Daniel Bryan
Shane McMahon & The Miz vs. The Vegas Boys
WINNERS: Shane McMahon & The Miz
Rusev & Jeff Hardy vs Shinsuke Nakamura & Samoa Joe
WINNERS: Rusev & Jeff Hardy
Asuka vs Charlotte Flair
WINNER: Asuka (by DQ)
What did you think of SmackDown Live? Let us know at @digitalspywwe.
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