WWE SmackDown had a solid 2018 with tremendous storylines and great matches, keeping the blue brand on par with the company’s other programming. The year also marked an end to John Cena’s full-time association with WWE. The 16-time World Champion would follow in the footsteps of the man he once criticized for abandoning pro wrestling for Hollywood.
Vince McMahon, however, quickly re-established SmackDown’s main event around the likes of AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, and Samoa Joe. The American Dragon got his medical clearance from WWE to compete in March 2018. He made his return to in-ring competition at WrestleMania 34, tagging with Shane McMahon against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
Bryan’s return gave SmackDown a major boost as far as the brand’s main event scene was concerned. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion found himself involved in several Match-of-the-Year contenders on the blue brand.
With that being said, let’s take at some of the best WWE SmackDown matches of 2018:
The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The New Day (SmackDown Tag Team Championship No DQ Match – August 21)
Luke Harper and Erick Rowan had reunited as The Bludgeon Brothers in October 2017. They would go on to capture the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 34. The pair would hold the titles till August 22.
The loss would come at the hands of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of The New Day. Harper and Rowan, however, put their opponents through pain and punishment in this No Disqualification Match for the tag team titles.
Kingston, in particular, took a painful bump when he got slammed back-first into a ladder wedged between two chairs. He, somehow, gathered his instincts to use Harper’s mallet against him, giving Woods the opportunity to get the win with a flying elbow through the table.
5-Man Gauntlet Match #1 Contender’s Match (WWE SmackDown – June 19)
Daniel Bryan meant business when he announced his in-ring return back in March. The American Dragon quickly put in the word to deliver some solid matches on WWE SmackDown. One of his finest performances came in this five-man gauntlet match.
Bryan opened the match with Big E. The Dragon’s technical prowess brought out the best in E and led to one of the best opening stretches of a gauntlet match in the blue brand’s history. Bryan’s determination gets him past through both Big E and Samoa E.
However, an interference from The Bludgeon Brothers cost Bryan his momentum nearly 40 minutes into the match. The bout ended with Rusev getting the win over The Miz and earning a shot at the WWE Championship.
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Rey Mysterio (Survivor Series Qualifier – November 6)
This was the first of the epic series of matches between Andrade and Rey Mysterio, and it was nothing short of spectacular. Andrade had arrived on the blue brand following a career-defining run in Triple H’s NXT.
The former NXT Champion had Zelina Vega at ringside for this tremendous outing against arguably the greatest luchador to ever exist. Both men traded excellent spots in this nearly 10-minute bout before the future Hall of Famer put away the future AEW star.
The Bar vs. The New Day (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Tournament Finals – August 7)
Cesaro and Sheamus had an epic series of matches before they put aside their differences to form The Bar. The pair advanced into the finals of the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Tournament Finals against The New Day’s Big E and Kofi Kingston.
Both teams showed some splendid coordination in this highly physical bout. The closing stretch was supremely entertaining, with Big E running through The Bar like a tank following his hot tag to earn a shot at their fifth tag team championship.
AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship Match – November 13)
Nobody expected Daniel Bryan to turn his back on the WWE Universe just eight months into his triumphant in-ring return. The American Dragon met AJ Styles for the WWE Championship in the lead-up to Survivor Series 2018.
The match began with the usual exchange and picked up pace as time went on. Bryan had been showing a different side to his character prior to the match. He pulled a massive swerve by delivering a blow to AJ Styles in the closing moments of the match.
The American Dragon then capitalized on the opportunity to take out the champion with the Busaiku Knee strike to claim the WWE Championship – kicking off the highly underrated Planet Champion run in the process.
Also read: Best WWE SmackDown Matches Of 2019
