WWE SmackDown 12/12/2025: 3 Loved, 3 Hated
- despite the individual talents involved, the build-up to the mixed tag team match between Aleister Black and Zoey Stark (Vega) against Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley never generated...
- The constant tagging in and out of competitors inherently disrupts the flow and eliminates the spontaneity that makes tag team wrestling engaging.
- Even acknowledging the inherent limitations of a mixed tag team match presented as parallel singles contests, the execution was subpar.
WWES Mixed Tag Match Falls Flat: Black & Vega vs. Priest & Ripley
A Match That Never Felt Important
despite the individual talents involved, the build-up to the mixed tag team match between Aleister Black and Zoey Stark (Vega) against Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley never generated substantial excitement. The initial premise,while not inherently *bad*,simply didn’t resonate with fans. The match itself, though, failed to capitalize on any potential, becoming both boring and messy.
Format Hindered potential
A significant issue was the tag team format itself. The constant tagging in and out of competitors inherently disrupts the flow and eliminates the spontaneity that makes tag team wrestling engaging. This format prevented Black and Vega from truly connecting with Priest and Ripley, hindering any chance of a dynamic in-ring story. The match felt disjointed, lacking a cohesive narrative.
A Hastily Assembled Encounter
Even acknowledging the inherent limitations of a mixed tag team match presented as parallel singles contests, the execution was subpar. The match wasn’t hampered by its structure so much as it was a collection of loosely connected spots. The seams were visible, and the outcome – a decisive loss for Black and Vega – felt predetermined. No informed observer expected Black and Vega to emerge victorious.
A Decisive Squash Match and a Pointless Feud
Black and Vega were decisively defeated, receiving minimal offensive opportunities. Their offense didn’t appear to impact Ripley, or even Vega, considerably. A notable moment involved Black interrupting a pin attempt only to be immediately headbutted by Ripley, a sequence described as reminiscent of a Looney Tunes cartoon. This underscored the one-sided nature of the contest.
Neither Priest nor Ripley benefited from this feud, and Black and Vega were saddled with a storyline designed for their convincing loss. The three-month build-up ultimately led nowhere, and there’s no assurance that this marks the end of the rivalry. The author argues that the feud *should* end, but expresses skepticism given WWE’s history of prolonged storylines.