Who looked good on last night's SmackDown? (January 2, 2018)

The first showing of 2018 from the blue brand, saw more Royal Rumble entries and the slow advancement of its dominant story. There was also a surprise celebrity guest in Karl Malone that hearkened back to the glory days of the Monday Night Wars.

Still, much of the show felt like wheel spinning. WWE still hasn't emerged from its traditional December slumber, it seems. Perhaps it won't until the Royal Rumble itself.

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Looked good: Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable

The team of Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable looked good last night. So good, in fact, that it seemed that they won the tag team titles.

But it was not to be because the pin that was counted didn't involve the legal men, and so the match restarted.

It was there that the champs battled back and took the win. No momentum was lost for the challengers though. A decisive match at the Royal Rumble seems imminent.

Looked bad: Bludgeon Brothers

Stopping its lazy love of rematches apparently isn't one of WWE's New Year's Resolutions. Sure, the Bludgeon Brothers demolished Breezango for the third time, but it's repetitive and boring now, and only harming their momentum.

A match with The Ascension looms next week. Don't be surprised if it's only the first of a trio.

Looked good: Xavier Woods

In a thrilling contest, Xavier Woods defeated Aiden English to advance in the U.S. Title Tournament. While it's unlikely he wins the title, this might be a hint that WWE sees Woods as the breakout star of the New Day.

Or it could just be filler.

Looked bad: The Riott Squad

Sure, they scored a victory over the lowly welcoming committee, but when the real stars of the SmackDown women's division showed up in Charlotte Flair and a returning Becky Lynch, they got beaten back again.

This angle has been a total failure. If the Squad was buried six feet under over the past few weeks, this episode was an avalanche that piled a mountain of debris over the grave.

Looked good: Becky Lynch

Sweet revenge.Becky Lynch returned and got some revenge on the trio that took her out in November. It felt like a bit of a waste, as a surprise return in the women's Royal Rumble match would have paid more dividends, but it was nice to see her back and in top form.

Looked good: Sami Zayn

Though it came under dubious circumstances, Sami Zayn scored a pinfall over AJ Styles, the WWE Champion. The chaos at ringside saw the making of a handicap match between Styles, Owens, and Zayn at the Royal Rumble.

It's puzzling since a triple threat match could let us see some potential cracks in Sami and Kevin's partnership. That's still possible, I suppose, but it primarily looks like a way to advance the tension between Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan, even though it's unlikely the latter will be cleared for a match.

Priorities, I suppose.

Still, it's a big deal for Sami's main roster career. His heel turn has been nothing if not successful.