Match Ratings For WWE Smackdown 1/10/20 From Sean Ross Sapp

Miz TV

• Miz apologizes for how he acted last week and says he let his emotions get the best of him. He apologizes to Kofi Kingston for how he acted.
• He says the Fiend got in his head, but he’s happy that John Morrison is back, and says he’s like family.
• Morrison has P4P some of the worst theme music in WWE history.
• We get a video highlight on Morrison. He says he was going to come back with pomeranians pulling him because there can only be one big dog.
• Morrison isn’t happy with how ALL YOU PEOPLE reacted to The Miz.
• Kofi says that Miz is turning into obnoxious, annoying Miz. We’re getting a rematch for some reason.

The Miz (w/ John Morrison) defeated Kofi Kingston (w/ Big E)
5.25/10

• Morrison and Big E are on commentary.
• Kofi has a nice counter into a dropkick.
• Miz sends Kofi into Big E at the table as we go to a commercial.
• Kofi counters the Skull Crushing Finale into a pin attempt and an SOS.
• Miz connects with his knees in the corner, which will be a lot better for him long term than dropkicks. A Figure Four is applied.
• Big E is outside arguing with Miz and John Morrison runs into Big E with an awesome flip off the stairs.
• Miz uses the distraction and pins Kofi Kingston with a Skull Crushing Finale.
• Miz and Morrison are an awesome addition to Smackdown’s tag team division, and the best use of them. Raw does need an additional tag team or two, though.

Mandy Rose (w/ Sonya Deville) defeated Alexa Bliss (w/ Nikki Cross)
4.25/10

• Sonya Deville is super excited about Fire & Desire starting a new hot streak. Mandy has to give Otis an “I’m Sorry” cake first, though. Otis is super excited about this.
• I’m sure online comments surrounding this match will be completely normal.
• Mandy knees Alexa off a Sonya distraction.
• Alexa Bliss has some nice strikes, but Heavy Machinery’s music hits. This gets Mandy the distraction win.
• What the shit.

Backstage Crappenings

• Firefly Funhouse runs, with Bray says not everyone is worthy of love, like Daniel Bryan. He wants Bryan to remember, to hurt, and to change. Bryan says he remembers a lot, he’s changed a lot, but he’s changed for the better.
• Elias comes out and sings another terrible song. He has go away heat with me now. That’s saying something, because he’s great.
• Lol Fox couldn’t get WWE to lend them some Brodus Clay footage for his show commercial that runs during Smackdown?

Lacey and Bayley

• The little girl’s face when she was given Lacey Evans’ towel.
• Bayley trolls Lacey Evans about being a Jarhead, and says Sasha Banks went AWOL to record her rap album.
• Lacey gets tired of this and goes backstage after Bayley. She gets her ass kicked and Bayley tells her to put on her mom jeans and go home.
• Lacey fights back and WHOOPS ASS.

Braun Strowman defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (w/ Sami Zayn & Cesaro)
5.5/10

• WWE running this non-title Strowman vs. Nakamura match before we all know we’re getting it for the title is painfully WWE.
• Strowman dominates until Zayn pulls Nakamura out of the ring.
• Back from commercial, Nakamura is in control, but Strowman cuts him off with a clothesline. Repeat, but then Strowman hits a spinebuster.
• Cesaro tries to come in with a steel chair, but gets mowed down.
• Strowman wins with a running powerslam after Nakamura tries to use the belt.
• Strowman holds the title up, but Zayn snags it after the match.

King Corbin & Dolph Ziggler vs. The Usos (w/ Roman Reigns)
5.25/10

• Has Roman “always” had backup? Because it hasn’t seemed like it. Either way he says he does, but now he needed family and 2020 is his year.
• Usos cut a short promo. It’s good to see them back.
• King Corbin comes out and says he’s entering the Royal Rumble.
• Early in the match, Revival run out and distract Usos.
• Corbin catches one of the Jimmy on an Uso Crazy dive, then posts Jey after a splash.
• Reigns causes a DQ with a spear, but Robert Roode is back.
• I was excited to see Robert Roode as #30 in the Rumble and the call to be like “King….we haven’t seen Robert Roode on Smackdown in MONTHS!”
• Deep Six outside the ring from Corbin. Roode spinebusters Reigns though a table, but it doesn’t break. Ziggler’s elbow does, though.
• Not one finish tonight didn’t have a distraction or a DQ. It is amazing how Raw can be so much better than Smackdown and vice versa for months consecutively without much competition between the two.

Rating Guide
10- Perfect, 9- MOTY Territory, 8- Excellent, 7- Great, 6- Good, 5- Average to above average, 4- Slightly below average, 3 or below: Poor

Each match starts at a 5 and slides up and down based on entertainment, execution, time, environment, reaction and stakes. The ratings are in no way an indication of a “star rating,” which is a completely different system. A standard, non-offensive “TV match” lands at a 5. The gap between 5.75-6 is generally the largest, with anything reaching 6 being recommended viewing.
These are opinions, and incredibly inconsistent ones that may change upon a second viewing, or sitting on the match for a period of time. Don’t take them too seriously, and have (and share) your own!