WWE SmackDown Grades: RKO Outta Nowhere Sets Stage For The Royal Rumble

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1. Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade

It’s not very often that a match of the year candidate comes from free TV opposed to a pay-per-view in the WWE.  However, two men shattered that mold last week when Rey Mysterio and Andrade put forth one of the most impressive matches the WWE has arguably ever seen.

Andrade got the win after a bit of a controversial finish that featured brief interference by Zelina Vega, but last night saw the rematch take place in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match with Vega banned from ringside.  Expectations were high after last week’s instant classic, and this match would live up to those expectations with another potential match of the year candidate.

The innovative offense these two have broken out the past two weeks is nothing like the WWE has seen in a long time, and some of that continued last night.  This match was breathtaking at times and it headed into the third fall with both men tied at one fall apiece.  The third fall was particularly captivating with both men clawing for a victory.  After a 619, it appeared like Mysterio was getting ready to put things away.

However, Samoa Joe ruined things by attacking Mysterio on the outside.  He turned his attention towards Andrade after that just to make a Royal Rumble statement.  Joe got on the mic after he finished with Mysterio and Andrade, but in mid-sentence, Randy Orton came out of nowhere to hit Joe with a spontaneous RKO.  This was an even bigger Royal Rumble statement by The Viper, who will be looking for his third career Royal Rumble match win on Sunday.

It would have been nice to see Mysterio vs. Andrade end normally, but even with a non-traditional finish, this was still an excellent match between two men that have changed the game on Tuesday nights.

Final Grade: A+