An opening match sets the tone for a show. For example, the women’s Holiday Havoc match on the December 12 episode of SmackDown gave electrifying in-ring action that gave the crowd a boost of energy that they could carry on throughout the show. The opening contest has the potential to make or break a show — if it is anything but stellar, then the whole show risks being just okay at best, and a flop at worst.

Unfortunately, Carlito and Santos Escobar missed the mark. There was some cool spots, like when Carlito changed his plans from a vertical suplex to a neckbreaker. However, most of their match felt a bit slow, which was very odd for Escobar, who is so experienced in a fast-paced style like lucha libre. They stomped around the ring like heavy dinosaurs — they inflicted some damage on each other, but apart from a few match highlights, the contest was not much more than them walking around each other and on the outside. What should have been a smooth fight full of passion and heart rate-increasing stunts felt like a filler TV match that won’t be remembered in a year of two. I actually had the privilege to see Carlito perform in Irvine, California in October 2022, and he was phenomenal. So, I’m hoping that tonight’s match was just the result of a bad day, and not a degradation in quality. Regardless, Carlito and Escobar’s in-ring chemistry left a lot to be desired. It was not cool.

Elektra Lopez’s appearance is a bit confusing. On “NXT,” she is locked in a feud with Lola Vice, and was recently heard giving a face-leaning promo where she recounted her hard work. Now, she’s on “WWE SmackDown”, and it seems like she is going to be a heel valet for Escobar’s new faction — their answer to Zelina Vega, even if Vega is not doing much with the LWO in the first place. On the other hand, it is always great to have new women on “SmackDown”, especially when over half of the show’s women’s division is embroiled in either the fickle tag team division, or the years-long Bianca Belair vs. Damage CTRL feud.

With the introduction of Elektra Lopez and a dirty win over Carlito from Escobar, this feud is most certainly going to continue. Hopefully, Carlito and Escobar can get some more time to become accustomed to each other in the ring, and deliver the heart-stopping match I know they can.

Written by Angeline Phu