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It’s that time to look back on the year that was on SmackDown.
It was a strange year, in some respects, what with WWE’s deal with USA Network coming up and the show moving back to Friday nights on FOX. That put a different focus on the program, as the blue brand was given the “A” announce team and treated very much like the flagship show.
Did it translate to better television?
Well...
Jan. 1 (Fatal 5-Way): B-
Jan. 8 (Who’s ready?): A-
Jan. 15 (More Lucha!): A-
Jan. 22 (Champion of the Planet): A
Jan. 29 (A new prize): B-
Feb. 5 (Chasing the champ): B
Feb. 12 (Kofi’s pride): A
Feb. 19 (KofiMania): B-
Feb. 26 (Damn you, Vince): A-
Mar. 5 (Good guy KO): B
Mar. 12 (Blessed): A+
Mar. 19 (Test your might): A
Mar. 26 (Hope): B-
April 2 (Momentum): B
April 9 (Epilogue): B-
April 16 (The Big Acquisition): A
April 23 (Trouble in Paradise): B
April 30 (Sink or swim): C+
May 7 (Wacky Wild Card): C+
May 14 (Three matches): C
May 21 (Should be me): B+
May 28 (Triple the fun): B-
June 4 (Thank you, next): C+
June 11 (Booking joke): C+
June 18 (Coasting): C+
June 25 (2 out of 3): C+
July 2 (Owens’ outrage): B-
July 9 (Canadian Rattlesnake): A-
July 16 (KO’s influence): B-
July 23 (Kofi calls his shot): B-
July 30 (Champion vs. Champion): B
Aug. 6 (Who attacked Roman Reigns): B-
Aug. 13 (Monster): B+
Aug. 20 (The culprit): C+
Aug. 27 (Liars): C-
Sept. 3 (Rowan): B+
Sept. 10 (Right Owens Right): B-
Sept. 17 (Brock Lesnar returns): B-
Sept. 24 (Ladder match): C+
Oct. 4 (Outclassed): B
Oct. 11 (Bayley’s descent): C-
Oct. 18 (Mutual respect): C+
Oct. 25 (Who’s your papi?): B-
Nov. 1 (NXT Takeover): A
Nov. 8 (Dumb show): D+
Nov. 15 (True artists): B
Nov. 22 (Ultimo Chaos): B+
Nov. 29 (Change): B+
Dec. 6 (Creativity): C
Dec. 13 (Creepy gift): B+
Dec. 20 (Bullies): B-
Dec. 27 (Let him in): B-
What stands out as much as anything is our reviewer, Alex Briggs, quite enjoyed the show for the majority of the year. June was an average month while October was mostly the same, but there was only one grade lower than C- all year.
On to 2020!