2018 ended with an episode of Raw and 2019 began with an edition of SmackDown Live. Plus, considering it was the second of two pre-taped episodes of the blue brand, it was a pretty jam-packed two hours. A little more of the road to Royal Rumble was successfully paved, and everybody's second favorite wrestling movie star was welcomed back by The Man herself, Becky Lynch.

New Day's Pancake Throwing Days Are Over

SmackDown Live's New Year was kicked off with a segment from your boys, The New Day. Big E was even dressed as Baby New Year, because it wouldn't be a New Day segment without one of three being dressed as something embarrassing. The trio's announcement was not embarrassing, though. Xavier Woods revealed that the three of them will be entrants into this year's Royal Rumble match. Sadly, they also had another piece of news. The former Tag Team Champions' New Year's resolution? No more throwing pancakes into the WWE Universe. Make sure you don't come to the show hungry.

RELATED: NEW DAY IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO THROW PANCAKES INTO THE WWE UNIVERSE

Some Referees Need A Refresher On The Rules

The biggest revelation of the night came at the very top of the show. An announcement that the main event of the night would be a fatal five-way match with the winner facing Daniel Bryan for the WWE Title at Royal Rumble. Four of the five spots were already filled, but there was when slot up for grabs. Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy fought for that spot in the first match of the night. While battling outside the ring, Joe laid out Hardy and rolled back into the ring with the referee's count at nine. The ref then decided to start the count again, giving Hardy time to get back in the ring. That's not how it works.

This Is Going To End In Some Sort Of Twin Magic

During the Christmas Day episode of SmackDown Live, Mandy Rose tried to tempt Jimmy Uso into a festive kiss under the mistletoe. What she didn't count on was Uso's wife Naomi listening in and running over to take her head off. Clearly, Rose likes to stir the pot. On this week's SmackDown Live she was due to take on Naomi. Right before the bell, Rose revealed she was wearing one of Uso's t-shirts, and then that Sonya Deville would be Naomi's opponent. The last revelation was a post-shower photo Rose claims to have sent to Naomi's husband. Since Jimmy has an unmarried twin in Jey Uso, we would hazard a guess that this angle will end in some kind of mix up including Rose and The Usos.

John Cena Did Not See Becky Lynch Coming

This week's SmackDown Live marked the return to TV of John Cena. The 16-time World Champion expected someone to interrupt and challenge him, but not in the way that ended up unfolding. Becky Lynch's music hit and The Man gave Cena the kind of dressing down he has become used to doling out himself over the years. That didn't stop him from teaming with Lynch moments later though to take on Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega. However, The Man caught her tag partner off guard for a second time. As he was about to pick up the win, Lynch dumped Cena out of the ring. Not to sabotage both of them, but so she could pick up the victory herself.

RELATED: BECKY LYNCH CONFRONTS AND THEN TEAMS WITH JOHN CENA

Vince McMahon's Pep Talk Clearly Worked

Before the New Year's Day edition of SmackDown Live could come to an end, a challenger to Bryan's WWE Title needed to be decided. Joe, who qualified earlier in the evening, stepped inside the ring with AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Mustafa Ali, and Rey Mysterio. The second the bell rang, chaos ensued. We saw some ongoing rivalries bubble over, and also some first-time clashes between Superstars who have never met before. Once the dust had settled, it was a familiar face for Bryan that won the match rather than a new challenger emerging. Styles earned and will be getting his rematch at Royal Rumble. Punching Vince McMahon in the face clearly does wonders for your career.

NEXT: ALL ELITE WRESTLING IS OFFICIALLY HAPPENING, FIRST EVENT ANNOUNCED