WWE SmackDown Results, Highlights, And Grades For January 8, 2019

Carmella Promo

Carmella cuts a strong promo about how she will prove she is everything she says she is tonight in the Triple Threat match, with the winner getting an opportunity at the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Asuka at the Royal Rumble Pay Per View.

She took some well-placed shots at Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, stating that “The Man” finally found a personality. As Carmella noted, most members of the WWE Universe see her as the “third wheel” with little chance of winning tonight, so we’ll see if she can prove the fans wrong (again).

Mella is a strong promo, and this was another solid one from The Princess of Staten Island.

The Best Tag Team In The World

The Miz tried to ask Shane McMahon to abuse his power and give the “Best Tag Team In The World” an automatic title shot. Shane gives him some motivational speech about finding their confidence, scouting their competition, and working together to string some W’s.

Miz tried to convince Shane to get some white leather gear (or red leather), but Shane wisely curved him. He’s not the same type of dad as The Miz…

Rusev Is Here

Rusev comes out to address Lana after what Shinsuke Nakamura did to both of them last week, and, uh, I wouldn’t want to be Nakamura right now…

He bellows at Nakamura for crossing a line after attacking Lana last week, and he promises to break every bone in Shinsuke’s “fragile” body. And I don’t doubt him for one second.

Nakamura pops up on the tron in cowardly fashion to say that Rusev was the one who crushed Lana, and Rusev is done with this. He runs backstage to confront Nakamura, who slams him several times with a rolling crate before delivering a huge kick, taunting The Bulgarian George Clooney in truly twisted fashion.

Grade: B, I like the direction of this storyline, and Rusev is one bad dude. Nakamura? He is TWISTED.