7 Ups & 6 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 22)

5. Straight Fire

Asuka Becky Lynch
WWE.com

SmackDown opened with Becky Lynch for the second consecutive week, as 'The Man' swaggered down to the ring with trademark confidence, serenaded by chants and cheers from the arena's every corner.

She put herself over as a WrestleMania main eventer, then promised to "slap the heads off" anyone who gets in her way. Asuka soon fell into Lynch's crosshairs. Becky claimed that while her Royal Rumble opponent is among the best in the world, she is better, and after dethroning 'Queen' Charlotte Flair at Hell In A Cell 2018, she was now coming to break 'The Empress.'

Out came Asuka, but the face-to-face was broken up by Flair. An expert sh*t-stirrer, Charlotte promised victory in the women's Rumble and took shots at Becky, Asuka, as well as Raw's Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks. Flair speaking to Becky directly allowed Asuka to spring an ambush on 'The Man,' but Charlotte refused to get her hands dirty, watching from a safe distance as her two rivals battered the hell out of each other.

A typically well-done segment featuring three of WWE's more interesting personalities, this highlighted Becky's confidence, Asuka's ferocity, and Flair's arrogance. It's hard to ask for anything more than that.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.