WWE SmackDown: Results, Analysis, and Grades for September 11, 2018

Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter

R-Truth (w/ Carmella) vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/ Zelina Vega)

Result: Andrade “Cien” Almas defeated R-Truth via pinfall

Rating: 1.75 out of 5 stars

In case you didn’t see it, WWE posted a great video to their YouTube channel about Zelina Vega and her personal history on 9/11. It’s well worth the watch, and honestly, it’s a much better way to spend a couple of minutes than watching this match.

Where did things go so wrong? And how did they go so wrong so quickly? Last week, R-Truth shocked the world by talking his way into the main event, and beating The Miz. And this week, he gets about 12 seconds to have a part of a match with Almas that ends via distraction rollup with a handful of tights.

I’m glad that the Carmella and Truth pairing is being acknowledged outside of just the Mixed Match Classic, because that could actually be a good union. It would be better if it didn’t mean Carmella had to flip-flop alignments, because she’s much better as a conniving heel than a lovable babyface. But Truth has to be the noble good guy.

Anyway, at least Almas gets a win to kind of sort of look strong for his not having a match at Hell in a Cell.

Asuka Makez Jokez

Because WWE hasn’t dropped the ball on Asuka enough since WrestleMania, it’s time for her to be part of a wacky buddy comedy where no one can understand her accent! It’s like a bad 80s teen comedy, or an episode of South Park. And teriyaki jokes? I’m honestly surprised Naomi didn’t offer to take Asuka out for teriyaki fried chicken, because there weren’t quite enough racial stereotypes in that brief segment.