WWE SmackDown: 5 things we learned from this week’s episode (18 December 2018)

#1 SmackDown has more diversified rivalries

The flagship brand has seen a great dip in ratings over the past month or so. Not only has it been because of Baron Corbin taking the reins, but also because of the same faces getting engaged in a cycle of rivalries.

Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler, Finn Balor, Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, and Seth Rollins have taken part in the most matches this year, and the rivalries have remained almost similar since Roman Reigns won the Universal Championship.

SmackDown on the other hand, has seen good rivalries develop and move on from superstar to superstar, which has kept the product fresher. We saw Nikki Cross battle Becky Lynch one week, while Mustafa Ali arrived to take on Daniel Bryan another.

Almas takes the stage at times, while Randy Orton gets to his dirty tactics when it's least expected. Jeff Hardy shows up night after night, while Samoa Joe looks to target one wrestler after another. These things have kept both the men’s and women’s division alive, and only the tag team division has suffered in the past few months.