WWE SmackDown 5 Takeaways: Added Guest Ref Shakes Up The Clash

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The final WWE SmackDown before the Clash of Champions pay-per-view wasn’t as in-ring focused as it could have been, but it decided to focus on storyline building as its top priority.

The Dec. 12 edition of WWE SmackDown saw the addition of a second special guest referee to the marquee tag team match at Clash of Champions that could dramatically shake up the match.  SmackDown also built interest to several other key matches at Clash of Champions.

In addition, a couple matches were added to the Clash of Champions card as it becomes finalized just days before the pay-per-view.  Let’s take a look at five takeaways from the Dec. 12 edition of SmackDown.

5. Mojo Rawley vs. Zack Ryder Deserved a Better Buildup Before First Match

The Hype Bros never got the chance to get going as a truly legitimate tag team on SmackDown.  And if recent trends mean anything, the same might be able to be said for the team’s breakup and individual singles runs.

Mojo Rawley won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33 during Zack Ryder’s time off due to injury, but since reforming The Hype Bros in the weeks that followed once Ryder came back, Rawley never got the chance to reap the benefits from his WrestleMania win.  The WWE teased breaking up The Hype Bros for several weeks, but then it happened.

Following another loss to The Bludgeon Brothers on the Nov. 28 edition of SmackDown, Mojo attacked Ryder after the match to signify the end of The Hype Bros and his heel turn.  However, since their initial breakup, Rawley and Ryder have not appeared on SmackDown, but were booked last night to face each other at Clash of Champions.

This doesn’t do either individual any favors and the company should have built this angle up longer before having a match.  And to make matters worse, the match is on the kickoff show.  These circumstances don’t give this feud a real chance, especially considering Mojo will probably run through Ryder in a relatively short amount of time.

Rawley and Ryder are talented individuals who deserve a chance at a real feud, but aren’t being given one at the moment.