Best and Worst of SmackDown Live - 23 January, 2018

#1 Worst: Matches without motivation

There's often no storyline reason for the matches on SmackDown Live

Make no mistake. The matches on SmackDown Live are often well worked, to the finest degree. Our main problem with them is the fact that they're seemingly put together to kill time. So, it's hard to care about them, without any major stakes.

Take the 6-man tag team match this week, for instance. It was seemingly only put together from the rubble and ruin of the US Title Tournament. There was no reason for us to care, either way, who won or lost.

10+ years in @WWE, and @TrueKofi's STILL GOT IT! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/K9qTUmqhWr

— WWE (@WWE) January 24, 2018

A few backstage segments or even some vignettes might do the trick. We care about the Universal Championship picture because Strowman made us care, with his antics.

Storytelling is a critical component of any feud, that is oft forgotten in today's wrestling.