Smackdown
Date: February 27, 2026
Location: KFC Yum Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

It’s the night before Elimination Chamber and the show’s namesake matches are finally set. This week’s Raw saw the final two qualifying matches and that means we can get to the last bit of the buildup. Other than that, the Women’s Tag Team Titles are on the line so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Jey Uso has been attacked and is being taken away in an ambulance (that’s how they get around him qualifying when he wasn’t supposed to). Jimmy Uso says he’ll find out who did it, though Trick Williams says that’s one down. While it doesn’t seem that he’s saying he attacked Jey, Je’Von Evans doesn’t like it.

IMG Credit: WWE

We cut to Drew McIntyre in the arena, saying he didn’t do it. Cody Rhodes, on a split screen, doesn’t like it so here are Nick Aldis and security to get rid of McIntyre. Rhodes comes in to say let’s fight right here and right now, but McIntyre says no because it’s no benefit to him.

Rhodes shouts that McIntyre is “disengaging” and that he has run away his entire title reign but here is Randy Orton to interrupt. Orton wants to be in the main event of Wrestlemania, which draws out Williams to interrupt as well. He brags about getting mentioned by Bruno Mars and says that since we’re in the KFC arena, he can add something to the menu.

Cue Evans, who says he’s here to beat Orton’s record as youngest World Champion. Now it’s LA Knight interrupting, saying everyone here, including McIntyre, belongs to him. Williams: “WHOOP THAT TRICK!” Knight thinks that’s a good idea and the brawl is on, with the two of them fighting to the back and an RKO dropping Evens. Orton and Rhodes stare each other down but don’t get physical.

Tiffany Stratton is ready to win the Elimination Chamber but Asuka, with Kairi Sane, interrupts. Stratton is ready for Asuka and the match seems likely.

IMG Credit: WWE

Solo Sikoa vs. Uncle Howdy

They lock up to start and Sikoa shoves him out of the corner. A slugout doesn’t go anywhere so they head outside, with Sikoa’s Samoan Spike hitting the post by mistake. Howdy sends him into the timekeeper’s area but stops to look at the lantern. Sikoa gets in a knockdown of his own and we take a break.

We come back with a Samoan drop getting two on Howdy and the nerve hold going on. Spinning Solo and a Superfly Splash give Sikoa two more as the fans are behind Howdy. Sikoa loads up his own Sister Abigail but gets the Mandible Claw as a result. That’s broken up with the Samoan Spike but the hand is too banged up. Sikoa charges into Sister Abigail for the pin at 10:51.

Rating: C+. This was another step in a long feud between the two families and that’s an interesting enough way to go. As has been the case, this fits Sikoa far better than the big boss of the top heel stable and it’s making things a lot easier. Howdy winning clean is a surprise, but it’s probably his biggest win on the main roster, which is nice to see.

Post match Howdy gets the lantern back and of course the MFTs jump him to take it back. The Wyatts come in just too late for the save.

Nick Aldis has Drew McIntyre leave when the Vision (all three healthy members) comes in. Paul Heyman is here to volunteer Logan Paul to take Jey Uso’s place in the Chamber. Aldis finds this all very convenient but he’ll make some calls.

Video on the Women’s Tag Team Title match.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are ready for tonight but then they’re ready for Ripley to win the Chamber tomorrow night. Jade Cargill comes in to say Ripley is on her own tomorrow night.

Jacob Fatu comes up to Nick Aldis and accuses Drew McIntyre of taking out Jey Uso. Fatu wants in the Chamber, but Aldis doesn’t say yes.

Video on Damian Priest’s time in NXT and how it helped him get ready for the main roster.

Jelly Roll is here.

Asuka vs. Tiffany Stratton

Chelsea Green is on commentary but hang on, as Asuka says she’s resting before the Chamber so Kairi Sane can do this instead.

Kairi Sane vs. Tiffany Stratton

Chelsea Green is still on commentary as the switch didn’t make her wheel off. Stratton flips away from her to start and hits a hip attack, only to get distracted by Asuka. Sane rams Stratton into the buckle and we take a break. We come back with Stratton flipping into an Alabama Slam for two but Sane breaks up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

Sane’s top rope double stomp gets two but Stratton is back with a running basement dropkick. They go to the apron where Sane hits a quick DDT, only for Stratton to break up the Insane Elbow. Sane is sent flying onto Alba Fyre before missing Stratton and knocking Green into her wheelchair. Back in and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever finishes Sane at 10:21.

Rating: B-. The Green stuff was funny as usual, as she knows exactly how to do what she’s been up to lately. I’m expecting her to cost Stratton the Chamber tomorrow and that could set up a nice showdown. Sane as Asuka’s servant is still fun and it makes perfect sense for Asuka to have Sane to her dirty work here.

Nick Aldis finds the Vision in his office and Logan Paul is indeed in the Chamber…if he wins his qualifying match…against Jacob Fatu. Paul Heyman isn’t happy but Logan says he can do it.

Miz vs. Oba Femi

Miz says they don’t have to fight but Femi takes the mic from him and says get your own. Miz talks about being in developmental in this very city but not listening to the locker room leaders. Now he wants to be Femi’s Undertaker. Femi: “You do look like a dead man to me.”

Miz can get the fans chanting OBA, which they do, though Femi says that means he can do it on his own (not exactly). The fight is on and Femi knocks him out of the air but misses a charge into the corner. The Fall From Grace finishes at 4:48, though the physical part of the match was barely a minute.

Rating: C-. Ok so not much of a match, but Femi did just squash a former multiple time WWE Champion in short order. That’s how you make Femi feel even more like a monster and this was a total destruction. You don’t see someone brought in like this very often and it’s working well thus far, though those last two words are the key.

Carmelo Hayes still wants Ilja Dragunov to take up the US Open Challenge but Dragunov is in a suit. Hayes tells him to take the shot before someone beats him to it.

US Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. ???

Hayes is defending against…Matt Cardona. Feeling out process to start with Hayes ducking a clothesline but running into a dropkick. Cardona grabs a headlock before ducking a dropkick from Hayes for a change. Some choking has Hayes in more trouble as this is a more aggressive Cardona than usual. Hayes knocks him to the floor but misses a dive into the announcers’ table as we take a break.

We come back with Cardona’s running boot in the corner connecting and a knee to the face putting Hayes on the floor. Back in and Hayes catches him in the ropes for the Fadeaway and a springboard clothesline drops Cardona again. La Mistica gets two on Cardona, who is right back with a tiger bomb for the same. The Rough Ryder is countered into a superkick for two but the second Rough Ryder gives Cardona two of his own. Hayes hits a quick First 48 to retain at 11:51.

Rating: B-. Cardona continues his return to WWE and is still doing about the same thing. By that I mean pretty much nothing important other than being a slightly more serious than usual star, which isn’t much of an upgrade over his Zack Ryder days. Hayes adds another title defense to his reign, which is fine, but it feels like another day of waiting before we have the big match with Dragunov.

Post match respect is shown.

The tag teams look at the crate and R-Truth teaches them how to use the ESPN app. Johnny Gargano is wheeled in but Candice LeRae has to get to the ring for her match. Kit Wilson comes in and calls the guys toxic, which they find hilarious.

IMG Credit: WWE

Jordynne Grace vs. Candice LeRae

Johnny Gargano, actually on his feet, is here with LeRae. Well at least he is before the break. Grace takes her down to start fast but gets enziguried for an early two. The chinlock doesn’t last long and they fight over a rollup for a bunch of ones. Grace catches her up top with a delayed vertical superplex but the Grace Driver is blocked. Gargano is at least sitting up now but goes to leave, which is enough of a distraction for Grace to grab a pumphandle suplex for the pin at 3:47.

Rating: C+. Well at least they’re finally doing something with Gargano, who is starting to cause all kinds of issues for LeRae. It’s certainly something different and hopefully leads to something better, as he hasn’t exactly been doing much in recent weeks. Grace doesn’t have much going on either, though at least she won.

Raquel Rodriguez thinks Judgment Day could get both Women’s Title shots at Wrestlemania but Jade Cargill comes in to cut her off. They bicker a bit and here are Michin and B Fab to threaten Cargill again. Can she please just wreck both of them already and get this over with?

We look at AJ Styles’ tribute from Raw, capped off by his Hall Of Fame announcement.

Cody Rhodes says he hopes it’s Jacob Fatu in the Chamber and walks off to see Sami Zayn. They shake hands and nothing is said. Zayn goes over to Fatu and asks how Jey Uso is doing. Apparently not too well, which has Zayn thinking Fatu might have done it. Fatu threatens violence and doesn’t like this, but Zayn goes on a rant about how he might have done it. That’s shot down as well, with Zayn telling Fatu to go win and then get upset about everything.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Irresistible Forces vs. Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky

Ripley and Sky are defending and Legend blocks Sky’s early sunset flip attempt. Ripley comes in and gets kneed down but hands it back to Sky, who dropkicks Jax. The champs are cut off on the floor though and swung into the barricade as we take a break. We come back with Legend kicking Sky down for two, followed by Jax’s cheap shot getting the same. Sky comes back up with a kick to the head and it’s back to Ripley to strike away at Jax.

A missile dropkick gives Ripley two and Sky and Legend send each other into things on the floor. Ripley breaks up the Annihilator and powerbombs Jax out of the corner for two. Jax is sent outside for a cannonball off the apron as we take a break. We come back with Jax’s headbutt dropping Ripley and a Samoan drop putting her onto the announcers’ table.

Back in and Legend’s chokeslam sets up a middle rope legdrop to give Jax two but she misses a charge into the post. Sky comes back in to kick away at both Forces but legend launches her at Jax for…I don’t actually know, though it did put Jax down. The Bullet Train hits Legend and Over The Moonsault gets two, with Jax making the save. An Annihilator gets two on Sky with Ripley making the save. Back in and Riptide drops Jax but Ripley’s back is hurt, allowing Legend to hit the Lash Extension for the pin and the titles at 18:16.

Rating: B. This got pretty awesome at the end and that was cool to see, with Legend getting the big moment of pinning Ripley for a title. I do like this a lot better with Ripley on her way to a big singles match tomorrow, as there is little reason to have a tag champion in that kind of a match. Legend and Jax as monster champions could do well as they’ve been a nice pairing thus far. Good match here with the right result.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss are not happy with the title change and Charlotte eats ice cream to get over Bliss possibly going to Wrestlemania without her. Giulia and Kiana James come in to mock them but Jade Cargill shows up to wish them all some sarcastic good luck.

Solo Sikoa and the MFTs want Nick Aldis to do something about the Wyatt Sicks. Aldis saw Sikoa lose clean, so it’s time to find some new #1 contenders to the Tag Team Titles, which we’ll find next week. Works for Sikoa.

The Irresistible Forces are very happy with their win and Cathy Kelly is NOT invited to their title party.

We get the opening to Elimination Chamber, which does indeed focus on Chicago and CM Punk. He’s used to the sides closing in, which is why he isn’t bothered by the Chamber.

Randy Orton runs into Aleister Black and Zelina. Black thinks the Black Mass woke him up but Orton promises to find him after the Chamber. That’s just what Black wants.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Logan Paul vs. Jacob Fatu

The rest of the Vision is here with Paul, who fires off a running elbow in the corner to start fast. Some clotheslines and a backsplash have Paul in trouble though and Fatu fires off headbutts in the corner. A running splash in the corner puts Paul down again and Fatu scores with a suicide dive as we take a break.

We come back with Fatu’s splash hitting the post but Paul misses a frog splash. A superkick and handspring moonsault give Fatu two but his Swanton hits raised knees. Paul is back with a Blockbuster and a Lionsault which overshoots Fatu for two. The Paulverizer is blocked though and Fatu hits the running Umaga Attack in the corner. Heyman gets up for a distraction, which lets Paul hit Fatu low. The big right hand and frog splash get two and Heyman can’t believe the kickout.

Cue the Masked Man to go after Austin Theory but Paul decks him and steals the mask to reveal…just some guy. Even commentary says they’ve never seen him before as security takes him away. Back in and Fatu hits the pop up Samoan drop but cue Drew McIntyre to knock him into a rollup to give Paul the pin at 11:21.

Rating: B. This was another wild one with all kinds of shenanigans as they had to find a fast way out of Jey Uso getting the spot. Paul getting the spot over Bronson Reed (who seems to have been the original planned winner) is just swapping in one member of the team for another, which is a perfect way to go. The Masked Man (apparently played by Seth Rollins (among others) student Don Furio) definitely feels like it’s going to continue, which is probably for the best as they need some time to figure all of this out.

Overall Rating: B-. The last two matches boosted it up a lot, but the middle hour definitely felt like a section that would have been cut from a two hour show. They had a lot to cover this week and most of it worked, but those US Open Challenges are starting to run out of steam. The good overpowers the bad here, though everything is going to change next week with only time before Wrestlemania.

Results
Uncle Howdy b. Solo Sikoa – Sister Abigail
Tiffany Stratton b. Kairi Sane – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Oba Femi b. The Miz – Fall From Grace
Carmelo Hayes b. Matt Cardona – First 48
Jordynne Grace b. Candice LeRae – Pumphandle suplex
Irresistible Forces b. Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky – Lash Extension to Ripley
Logan Paul b. Jacob Fatu – Rollup

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: February 20, 2026
Location: Amerant Bank Arena, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re just over a week away from Elimination Chamber and that means it’s time for another week of qualifying matches. That has been the case for the last few weeks and we are rapidly running out of spots. The good thing is the matches wind up being pretty good most of the time and it would be nice to see that continue here. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of last week’s main event with Cody Rhodes qualifying for the Elimination Chamber, despite Drew McIntyre’s interference.

Here is Rhodes to get things going. He hits the catchphrase but here is Jacob Fatu to cut him off. Fatu says Rhodes wouldn’t be out here without him and Rhodes knows it. Right now though, Fatu is concerned about Drew McIntyre and he wants McIntyre out here. Instead he gets Nick Aldis, who has given McIntyre the night off. Aldis suggests they go talk about Fatu come to his office and they can talk about Fatu getting his hands on McIntyre.

Cue McIntyre in a suite, which he says he bought to watch the show. McIntyre accuses Fatu of being all bark and no bite so Fatu charges, with Aldis and security cutting him off. Aldis somehow talks Fatu down and they leave, with McIntyre saying everyone is jealous of him. Rhodes: “The whole world is after you because you’re a censored.” Please go with the triple threat at Wrestlemania instead of Rhodes vs. McIntyre again. It’s right there.

We look back at Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s winning a ten man tag last week and having a staredown with the Wyatt Sicks. Ignore an Arby’s ad popping up for a second at the end.

Carmelo Hayes is warming up when Ilja Dragunov comes up to give him a pep talk. Hayes seems appreciative and tells Dragunov to use that intensity for his match. Dragunov says he’s coming for the title.

Nick Aldis tells Jacob Fatu that he has to be patient and he’ll get Drew McIntyre. Fatu agrees, but he won’t wait much longer.

IMG Credit: WWE

Ilja Dragunov vs. Tama Tonga

The MFT’s are here too. Dragunov fires off the chops in the corner to start but Tonga knocks him into the corner. That earns Tonga a German suplex and he rolls outside as we take an early break. We come back with the two of them hitting a double clothesline. Back up and Dragunov escapes a reverse DDT and rolls some German suplexes. Dragunov slams him down again, followed by the top rope backsplash. Tonga Loa offers a distraction though and the Cutthroat finishes Dragunov at 9:38.

Rating: B-. They didn’t have much time here with the break in the middle, but Dragunov needing help to fight off the MFT’s is a story that writes itself. If nothing else, Tonga has been teasing coming after the US Title for a long time now so this is a good way to get the title feud off the ground. They had a short but intense match here, which is pretty standard for Dragunov no matter how long the match goes.

Post match Solo Sikoa says he and his family are coming for everything so Dragunov jumps him, earning a big beatdown. Matt Cardona and Apollo Crews’ attempts at saves are easily thwarted but Uncle Howdy pops up on screen to say it’s time for Sikoa to show he can stand on his own. He wants Sikoa one on one, but will Sikoa show up?

Nick Aldis blames Drew McIntyre for causing chaos around here and threatens him if he does anything else. McIntyre leaves.

Randy Orton talks about Cody Rhodes but is interrupted by Zelina and Aleister Black. They talk about how there was a time when no one could get this close to Orton because he would lay them out. What happened to that man? Orton says he’ll get a match with Black made for tonight.

Lash Legend and Nia Jax dub themselves the Irresistible Forces and are ready to go to the Chamber, as well as win the Women’s Tag Team Titles next week.

Here is Jade Cargill for a chat. She defends her title on her own time, which is what she did last week against Jordynne Grace. Cargill knows that Liv Morgan is making her Wrestlemania decision on Raw in Atlanta and that’s where Cargill resides, so she’ll be there in person. Whether it’s Liv or anyone in the Chamber, she’s still coming out of Wrestlemania with the title because she’s that b****.

IMG Credit: WWE

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Charlotte vs. Kiana James vs. Nia Jax

Charlotte comes out as Cargill is leaving and we get the big staredown. Jax and Charlotte ignore James to start and then hit her in the face. James suggests an alliance with Jax and that’s not happening so Jax headbutts both of them down. The running hip attacks connect in the corner but Jax’s running shoulder hits the post.

We take a break and come back with Charlotte high crossbodying James and chopping away at both of them. A flipping clothesline (Buckshot Lariat without the ropes) puts James down again but Jax sends Charlotte to the apron. James is there to superkick Charlotte but she’s back up to drop both of them. The double moonsault gets two so Jax gives Charlotte a pop up Samoan drop. James Samoan drops Jax (and makes it look WAY too easy) for two before going up, where Charlotte catches her with a super Spanish Fly.

Jax breaks up the cover and posts Charlotte but misses a charge into the steps. Back in and James charges into a powerbomb but Jax is there to break up the Figure Eight. The Annihilator hits James so Charlotte makes the save this time and, after the camera cut for the wardrobe issue, Jax misses a charge into the corner. Charlotte is there with a sunset bomb out of the corner and the Figure Eight, only for James to run in with a rollup to pin Charlotte at 12:30.

Rating: B. That was a surprising result and it was nice to see James win over one of the two most likely results. James isn’t likely to win the Chamber, but much like Je’Von Evans in the men’s version, you have to do something with these people to get them out there. They’re the future (even the future of the midcard) and at some point they have to pick up some wins, just like this one.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are ready to win tonight, at Raw, next week, and at Elimination Chamber. That’s a busy schedule.

Oba Femi vs. Kit Wilson

The bell rings so Wilson grabs the mic and wants to read Femi a poem. Femi looks intrigued at the Ode To Oba Femi, which praises him as dominant, but thinks he looks like a teddy bear. Femi wants another one, but Wilson only has one. Femi: “READ!” Wilson reads Nine Things He Hates About Men, including how they strut every time they get in the ring. The last thing he hates is Femi himself. Clotheslines, a toss slam, Fall From Grace (pop up sitout powerbomb) finishes Wilson at 3:50. Wilson was 31.

Rating: C. This was barely a match, as the wrestling aspect of it lasted about thirty seconds, which is how it should have gone. The poem stuff before the match was fine, and I like that they added in a little something other than Femi comes in and crushes him. Of course that’s how the match should have gone, but they spiced it up a bit. That’s always appreciated.

R-Truth comes up to Nick Aldis, who is standing in front of the mystery crate, and thinks it’s a prestigious award. Aldis says send it back to Raw and leaves. Question: does that mean it’s going back to the same arena Raw was in on Monday? Or does Raw just exist as some strange omnipresent entity in WWE lore? Anyway Damian Priest comes up and R-Truth says only one of them can go to Wrestlemania. Aldis explains that Priest is the only one in the qualifying match and R-Truth complains about the usage of his balls again.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Alba Fyre

The wheelchair bound Chelsea Green is here with Fyre and throws out her newspapers on the way to the ring. Stratton grabs a headlock to start and walks the ropes to take Fyre over. A basement dropkick puts Fyre down again but she’s back up with a tornado DDT of her own as we take a break.

We come back with Stratton making the clothesline comeback, followed by the handspring elbow in the corner. Stratton brainbusters her into a Falcon Arrow for two but Fyre is back with a Gory Bomb for two. An Alabama slam plants Fyre but the Prettiest Moonsault Ever is broken up. Green’s distraction lets Fyre take over, only for her Swanton to hit raised knees. The Prettiest Moonsault Ever finishes for Stratton at 9:50.

Rating: C+. This was fine as a way for Stratton to get some momentum built before the Chamber. Green in a wheelchair, whether or not she needs it, is ripe with potential and you know she’s going to be right there with whatever she thinks of for the idea. Fyre…geez it’s a shame after seeing her be so good as Kay Lee Ray.

Cody Rhodes runs into Sami Zayn, who isn’t doing great. Rhodes tries to give him a pep talk for having nothing to be ashamed of, but Zayn says Rhodes should be ashamed. He says Rhodes took advantage of things last week. Rhodes says he did because you have to and that’s why Zayn has never been WWE Champion.

That hits a nerve with Zayn, who talks about how everything always works out for Rhodes. Speaking of nerves being touches, Rhodes asks where Zayn was in Germany when Jacob Fatu cost Rhodes the title. The only thing in Zayn’s way is Zayn himself and Rhodes leaves. Zayn is ticked but Trick Williams comes in (to a BIG reaction) to say he’s going to take care of things tonight, which Zayn couldn’t do last week.

Zayn runs up to Rhodes and apologizes for what he said (the fans don’t approve). He knows Rhodes will be WWE Champion again, but don’t forget that he had some help on the way there (pointing at himself). Rhodes says he won’t forget and everything seems mostly ok. The Zayn stuff feels like they’re setting up something big and it has the chance to be a heck of a moment.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest

Non-title. Williams is knocked outside to start and Priest hammers on Hayes in the corner as we hear about Hayes and Williams’ partnership in NXT. Priest cleans house and the lifting Downward Spiral drops Williams. A bulldog driver gets two on Hayes but Williams flips out of a chokeslam attempt. Hayes gives Williams a springboard crossbody but gets dropped by Priest for two as we take a break.

We come back with Hayes hitting a running flip dive to Priest, followed by a running dropkick to Williams. A frog splash gives Hayes two on Priest but Williams kicks Hayes in the face. Back up and Hayes chops at Williams to cut off his trash talk before they all go outside. Williams drops Priest onto the announcers’ table and the Trick Kick gets two.

Priest is back up with a Razor’s Edge to Williams but Hayes hits Nothing But Net, with Williams making the save. Hayes and Priest get together to knock Priest down, only to argue over who gets the cover. The First 48 drops Williams but Priest loads up a Razor’s Edge on Hayes. That’s broken up with a Trick Shot each to give Williams the pin on Priest at 12:34.

Rating: B. Williams is this close to getting a rocket attached to his back, though I’m not sure how long the fans are going to be asked to boo him. It’s easy to see why too, as he has the look, the skill and the attitude. You don’t often find people main roster ready with pretty much no changes from NXT and it’s working here.

The tag division is around the crate, with Johnny Gargano on top of it. Candice LeRae wants Nick Aldis to fix this but Jordynne Grace comes in. LeRae doesn’t want her to interrupt so Aldis makes a match between them for next week.

B Fab and Michin interrupt a Jade Cargill photo shoot and threaten her. Good grief these two could not feel like bigger losers.

Giulia vs. Rhea Ripley

Non-title. Ripley powers her against the ropes to start so Giulia spins around into a choke. That’s broken up and Ripley reverses a tornado DDT into a suplex for two. Giulia is back up with a missile dropkick into the corner and Ripley misses a charge into the post (for a sickening thud) as we take a break. We come back with Ripley kicking her in the face to leave both of them down. Ripley catches her on top for a faceplant but Riptide is blocked. The big knee gives Giulia two so Ripley tries Riptide again, only for Lash Legend to run in for the DQ at 9:11.

Rating: B-. That’s the way this needed to end as you don’t want Ripley to lose but you also don’t want her to beat a champion. Instead they moved her further towards the Women’s Tag Team Title match next week. That’s what you should have done here and it come after a pretty good match. If nothing else, it’s nice to see Giulia getting a chance to show what she can do on her own, which isn’t something you often see.

Post match Legend and Nia Jax jump Ripley until Iyo Sky makes the save.

Oba Femi runs into the Miz, who offers to show Femi the ropes inside and outside. That works for Femi, who will go talk to Nick Aldis about it for next week. Miz is happy, until he realizes what that means.

Charlotte tries to keep herself calm about her loss but Alexa Bliss says it’s ok to be upset. Giulia and Kiana James come in to mock them but Bliss seems to issue a challenge. This results in Giulia screaming and having to be dragged off.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Solo Sikoa is ready for Uncle Howdy next week and praises Tama Tonga on his win. For now though, the team needs to focus on the Wyatt Sicks. Sikoa leaves and Shinsuke Nakamura comes in to say that Sikoa is holding Tonga back. A rematch seems to be teased.

Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black

Zelina is here with Black. They circle each other a bit to start until Orton drops him with a shoulder and poses. Some right hands in the corner have Black in trouble and another puts him on the floor as we take a break. We come back with Orton doing the circle stomp so Vega gets on the apron for a distraction.

That allows Black to hit a jumping knee to the back and a running knee to the back connects as well. The chinlock goes on for a bit, followed by a running forearm to drop Orton again for two. The chinlock goes on again but this time Orton fights up, only to get kicked down again. We hit the third chinlock (in less than nine minutes) so this time Orton, who is well experienced in this spot this time, suplexes his way to freedom.

The hanging DDT plants Black but he gets outside to avoid the RKO. Orton follows him and gets kicked in the face, only to come back with a poke to the eye. The hanging DDT drops Black onto the floor but here is Drew McIntyre to hit Orton with the belt (as the referee is with Black). Cody Rhodes runs in to chase McIntyre through the crowd and Black Mass finishes for Black at 13:09.

Rating: B-. It’s nice to see Black getting a win like this, as beating Orton in any fashion means something. Black has at least been doing something here and there since his return, with the devil on your shoulder being a nice place for him. I’m not sure what is next for him, but this is still one of the biggest wins he’s ever had in WWE.

Rhodes runs back in to check on Orton to end the show.

The show is dedicated to Kerwin Silfies to really wrap things up.

Overall Rating: B-. There were some good parts on this show, but it felt every bit of its three hours. That’s the kind of thing that can hurt any show, as the good action felt stretched out over a long time. The good thing is we’re pretty much done with the qualifying matches (at least on Fridays) and can move on to the more important stuff. That should help, as you can see some interesting things being set up, including from some of the newer stars.

Results
Tama Tonga b. Ilja Dragunov – Cutthroat
Kiana James b. Charlotte and Nia Jax – Rollup to Charlotte
Oba Femi b. Kit Wilson – Fall From Grace
Tiffany Stratton b. Alba Fyre – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Trick Williams b. Damian Priest and Carmelo Hayes – Trick Shot to Priest
Rhea Ripley b. Giulia via DQ when Lash Legend interfered
Aleister Black b. Randy Orton – Black Mass

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: February 13, 2026
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re about two weeks away from Elimination Chamber and that means some people need to gain some qualifications. A few of those will be taking place this week, which has been the case in recent weeks. This time around we have quite the big main event though and I’m wondering about who is going on to Chicago. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Tiffany Stratton to get things going. She had the best rookie year anyone could imagine and it’s time for her to get the title back. That means winning the Elimination Chamber but here are Nia Jax and Lash Legend to interrupt. Stratton asks Jax why she’s so obsessed with her, but Legend isn’t having that.

They’re ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles and then have Jax win the Chamber. Or they could just take her out right now, which brings out Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky to interrupt. Ripley says the two of them are going to the Chamber and clear it out before fighting each other to go to Wrestlemania. For now though, they’ll keep their titles.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky vs. Nia Jax/Lash Legend

Jax and Legend are challenging with Jax shrugging off Sky’s dropkicks to start. An elbow crushes Sky but she picks up the pace and kicks at the leg. Sky’s double stomp to the ribs sets up a running knee from Ripley so it’s off to Legend. That’s fine with Sky, who Asai moonsaults onto the two of them as this is one sided so far. Back in and Legend catches Sky on top and it’s a Samoan drop to put her down as we take a break.

We come back with Ripley coming in off the big tag and getting to clean house. Legend blocks a springboard hurricanrana but Ripley is able to hit a spinning DDT (or something like one) to Jax. A good looking powerbomb out of the corner drops Jax hard and Over The Moonsault connects, with Legend shoving Ripley onto the cover for the break. Legend takes Sky outside for a ram into the announcers’ table so Ripley goes to make the save, which is enough for the match to be thrown out at 8:59.

Rating: C+. They were starting to roll near the end there and the result seems to be setting up a rematch where they can go completely insane. For now though, this was an interesting match as you had the two monster powerhouses going up against the team with some pretty great chemistry. I wanted to see where this was going and I could go for a rematch so call it well done.

Post match the brawl stays on, with Legend grabbing a table. Ripley has to fight off of the table and Sky sends Jax through the table, leaving Legend to spear Ripley through the barricade.

Cody Rhodes says he could go on a rant about what happened last week or he could be the golden boy that Nick Aldis wants him to be. The pressure adds up on you over the years, but he is two wins away from main eventing Wrestlemania again. He’s ready to fight tonight.

Carmelo Hayes runs into Apollo Crews and Matt Cardona, who would love to be in the US Title Open Challenge. Hayes is fine with either of them, but tonight’s challenge has been taken. Hayes keeps walking and runs into the Miz, who says Hayes is testing Miz’s three core values. Those would be “master, inspire and zone in”, with Miz wanting to teach Hayes a lesson. Hayes hopes Miz teaches better than he wrestles and walks away. Cardona and Crews come in to mock Miz for saying zone in was one word instead of two.

Aleister Black doesn’t seem done with Randy Orton, while Zelina wants to take out Alexa Bliss and Giulia so she can go on to the Elimination Chamber.

Here is Carmelo Hayes for a chat. He’s been on a roll lately and he has a chance to make Wrestlemania, so he’ll start going there next week in the Elimination Chamber qualifying match. For now though, Ilja Dragunov can come get his shot.

US Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov

Hayes is defending…and hang on as here are Solo Sikoa and the MFTs to interrupt. Sikoa wants the title shot but Dragunov brings up the MFTs abandoning him last week. That’s too far for Sikoa so Hayes issues a challenge for a Tag Team Title match. Instead the whole team runs in, which draws out Apollo Crews and Matt Cardona, who are beaten down as well. Cue Shinsuke Nakamura and the good guys clear the ring. Nick Aldis comes out to make the big ten man tag.

Solo Sikoa/MFTs vs. Carmelo Hayes/Ilja Dragunov/Shinsuke Nakamura/Apollo Crews/Matt Cardona

We’re joined in progress with Crews chopping Mateo in the corner and it’s off to Cardona to work on the arm. Loa comes in and gets middle rope dropkicked but manages to bring Tama in to take over. A faceplant gets Cardona out of trouble though and a diving tag brings in Dragunov. That means a bunch of chops can put Loa into the corner but Mateo offers a distraction. Loa knocks Dragunov off the top and the villains are in control as we take a break.

We come back with Dragunov fighting out of a chinlock and bringing Hayes in for the fast paced comeback. Everything breaks down and Cardona hits some Rough Ryders but Talla is back in. Crews, Cardona and Nakamura are able to knock him to the floor, with Crews hitting a running flip dive. Torpedo Moscow and the H Bomb hit Mateo and the First 48 connects. Hayes goes up but gets shoved into the Samoan Spike, only for Dragunov to Torpedo Moscow Sikoa. Tama is back in for the Cutthroat for the pin on Hayes at 11:44.

Rating: B. I could have gone for more of this as it was the kind of wild tag match that you want. It also keeps Tama’s rise up the ranks going, as pinning the champion in a tag match is a tried and true way to set up a title match. Hayes holding onto the title with so many people coming after him is a good story, though I could still go for fewer of the open challenges. At the same time, Sikoa is SO much better in this role than he was as the main event guy, as this suits him far better. Keep going with this.

Post match the Wyatt Sicks pop up for the staredown with Sikoa and company.

We look at Charlotte eliminating Alexa Bliss from the Royal Rumble.

Charlotte apologizes to Bliss and asks her to be her valentine, complete with black flowers and an autographed photo. She’ll even be in Bliss’ corner tonight in an effort to WOO her. How can Bliss turn that down?

Damian Priest and R-Truth are in Nick Aldis’ office, with Aldis saying Priest is in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match next week with Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams. Kit Wilson comes in to read a poem about Aldis being toxic. R-Truth finds it funny and rhymes about Wilson getting beaten up.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Alexa Bliss vs. Zelina vs. Giulia

Non-title and Charlotte and Kiana James are here as well. They go for the rapid fire rollups to start until Bliss is sent outside. A belly to back suplex drops Zelina and Giulia stomps her down again. Bliss is back in for the choke shove but Zelina takes her down with a Meteora off the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Bliss in trouble in the corner before Giulia takes Zelina up top for a butterfly superplex. They all go up top with Zelina belly to back superplexing Giulia and getting dropped by Bliss. Giulia gets the knees up to block Twisted Bliss and knees Bliss in the face. Giulia’s northern lights bomb hits Bliss but Zelina makes the save. Zelina knocks Giulia outside but walks into the Sister Abigail DDT to give Bliss the pin at 11:22.

Rating: B. This was better than I was expecting as they had a heck of a match with everyone working hard out there. Bliss going all serious to cut Zelina off at the end looked great and some of the near falls were awesome. Good stuff here and thankfully the seconds didn’t do much so they had a mostly clean match.

Tiffany Stratton meets Jordynne Grace, with the two of them agreeing that they would love to face each other at Wrestlemania. Grace leaves and Chelsea Green, riding in a wheelchair due to a foot injury, comes in to want an apology from Stratton for injuring her. Stratton says if Green wants one, she should step up and ask…but she can’t so never mind.

Video on Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu.

Rey Fenix is warming up when Sami Zayn comes in to tell him to teach Trick Williams a lesson. Zayn says he wasn’t all there last week and thanks Fenix for his kind words. Fenix is ready to fight.

IMG Credit: WWE

Trick Williams vs. Rey Fenix

Before the match, Williams mocks Sami Zayn and says he’ll win here before going on to qualify for the Elimination Chamber. Fenix knocks him down a few times to start and gets in a kick out of the corner. Williams is right back with a spinning kick to the face to drop Fenix cold. A tilt-a-whirl backbreaker sets up the jumping neckbreaker to drop Fenix, followed by a clothesline to send us to a break.

We come back with Fenix kicking his way out of trouble, including the springboard kick in the corner. The frog splash gives Fenix two and there’s the big springboard dive to put Williams down on the floor. Back in and Fenix puts him on top for a jumping double stomp to the back of the neck. Fenix runs the ropes but charges into the Trick Shot to give Williams the pin at 12:02.

Rating: B-. Williams continues his hot start on the main roster, which is rather nice to see. He’s someone who has the potential to become a star he was ready to go right out of the package. That isn’t something you get most of the time and it is working this far. Fenix’s high flying looked great as usual, though Williams deserves the focus right now, as he’s quite the prospect.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are banged up but Giulia and Kiana James come in to threaten them. Giulia has to be dragged away but Jade Cargill comes in for a staredown.

Video on Jordynne Grace vs. Jade Cargill in a heck of a hoss fight.

Jacob Fatu knows what it’s like to be locked up with no one to hear you. He’s not scared of the Elimination Chamber because now there’s a Wrestlemania sign to point to while he’s locked up.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Title: Jordynne Grace vs. Jade Cargill

Cargill is defending but hold on as here is Judgment Day to interrupt. They’ll be having a romantic Valentine’s Day date at ringside because Liv Morgan wants to watch the match. After the fans lose it booing Dominik Mysterio, Cargill and Grace fight over a lockup to start. Grace jumps on her back with a sleeper and they fight outside. Cargill forearms the post by mistake but manages to backdrop her onto the barricade. A glare at Judgment Day takes us to a break.

We come back with Grace trying a backslide but ramming her into the buckles instead. A spinebuster drops Cargill, who is right back up with a spinebuster of her own. Some rollups give Grace two and she plants Cargill with a powerslam. They get up and slug it out until Grace tries a torture rack. Cargill slips out and hits a pump kick, followed by Jaded (one armed version) to retain at 10:27.

Rating: B. Take two powerhouses, let them hit each other really hard and do power moves to each other until one of them is done. That’s a formula that has worked forever in wrestling and it still worked here. Cargill had to earn that one and you don’t see her have to do that very often. Very fun match here, with Cargill getting an impressive win and Grace still not being able to win the big one.

Post match Cargill goes outside and gets in Morgan’s face for a threat.

Johnny Gargano rants to Candice LeRae that he has nothing left. LeRae: “I’m right here!” Gargano is done and LeRae says she’ll fix this before wheeling him away. Fraxiom and the Motor City Machine Guns are amused but the MFTs show up. They don’t like being stared at and say get in line. There’s a Wyatt Sicks inspired drawing of Solo Sikoa on the door of his locker room and Sikoa is not pleased.

Some stars went to the National Medal Of Honor Museum earlier this week.

Video on Oba Femi.

Femi is in the back with Nick Aldis, who seems to be offering him a contract. Kit Wilson comes in and Aldis yells at him, but Wilson has another poem. Aldis grabs the book and it’s a poem about Femi being a little man. Femi wants a match next week and gets his wish.

Drew McIntyre isn’t worried about anyone who has qualified for the Elimination Chamber or anyone who might qualify later. This includes Sami Zayn, who pops up and thinks McIntyre still hates him. Actually McIntyre says Zayn should win tonight because he’s earned it. Zayn is very confused.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu

Fatu superkicks Zayn out tot he floor to start and fires off shoulders to Rhodes in the corner. The backsplash misses though and Zayn is back in to knock Rhodes to the floor. The big running flip dive takes out Rhodes and Fatu and we take a break. We come back with Rhodes powerslamming both of them and hitting the Disaster Kick for two on Zayn. Fatu is back up with a handspring moonsault to Zayn and a backsplash to Rhodes, leaving only Fatu standing.

The running Umaga Attacks connect in the corner and Zayn gets caught in a pop up Samoan drop. Rhodes makes the save and we take another break. We come back with a double superplex dropping Fatu, leaving the other two of them to slug it out. Zayn exploders Rhodes into the corner but Fatu is back up. A running boot sends Fatu outside again, leaving Rhodes to walk into a Blue Thunder Bomb. Fatu gets back in and goes up top but dives into raised knees, allowing Zayn to small package him for two.

The Cody drops Zayn but Fatu runs him over and hits Zayn with the triple jump moonsault. Cue Drew McIntyre to break it up and post Fatu. McIntyre powerbombs Fatu through the announcers’ table and goes inside to Claymore Rhodes. Zayn is put on top for two, leaving McIntyre rather perturbed. McIntyre gets back in to hammer on Rhodes but Zayn Helluva Kicks McIntyre down. That earns him a Cross Rhodes to give Rhodes the win at 21:46.

Rating: B+. Much like a lot of the rest of the show, they were working hard here and it wound up being rather awesome stuff, with everyone feeling like they had a chance to pull it off. The McIntyre interference makes sense as he doesn’t want to face Rhodes or Fatu but knows he can beat Zayn. I liked that it didn’t work in the end, though I really hope we’re not actually gearing up for another Rhodes vs. McIntyre match at Wrestlemania.

Overall Rating: A-. This was an awesome show with pretty much nothing but good matches up and down the card. The weakest match, which would have been the opener, was perfectly acceptable and they moved a lot of stuff forward. If nothing else, we have Oba Femi ready to smash Kit Wilson next week, along with more qualifying matches. Heck of a show here, as tends to be the case with the wrestling heavy episodes.

Results
Nia Jax/Lash Legend vs. Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky went to a double DQ when the two teams brawled
Solo Sikoa/MFTs b. Carmelo Hayes/Ilja Dragunov/Shinsuke Nakamura/Apollo Crews/Matt Cardona – Cutthroat to Hayes
Alexa Bliss b. Zelina and Giulia – Sister Abigail DDT to Zelina
Trick Williams b. Rey Fenix – Trick Shot
Jade Cargill b. Jordynne Grace – Jaded
Cody Rhodes b. Sami Zayn and Jacob Fatu – Cross Rhodes to Zayn

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Royal Rumble 2024
Date: January 27, 2024
Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Attendance: 48,044
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s time for the look back at last year’s show which set up one of the biggest WWE events of all time. This show is designed to set up the main events of WrestleMania LX and that means it is time for Roman Reigns to get a new challenger. Speaking of Reigns, he is defending the title in a four way match. Let’s get to it.

Today, various people scheduled for the show did in fact come to the show.

Hulk Hogan narrates a video about how important this area is to wrestling. You have to be RUMBLE READY because it is time to start the Road To Wrestlemania.

Earlier today: even more people came to work.

Pat McAfee comes out for commentary, with Corey Graves going on a hilarious rant about how much he hates this happening two years in a row.

Women’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals, Natalya is in at #1 and Naomi (in a surprise return) is in at #2. We get a handshake to start before Natalya takes her down, only to have the step over dropkick cut off. They hit stereo crossbodies and Bayley is in at #3. The Rear View puts Natalya down and Naomi drops Bayley, only to have them sit there so Natalya can hit a double basement dropkick (that looked awful). Candice LeRae is in at #4 and gets in a few shots to leave everyone down.

TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace is in at #5 and doesn’t get much of a reaction but she looks like a star. Grace cleans house and you can tell McAfee is impressed. We get a hug between Naomi and Grace (who beat Naomi to win the title) and the brawl is on. That doesn’t mean any eliminations yet though as Indi Hartwell is in at #6. LeRae and Hartwell team up as Cole says that we’ve never had two winners in a Royal Rumble, save for that time when we did.

Asuka is in at #7 and teams up with Bayley, who looks rather nervous. Hartwell and Asuka go to the apron with Bayley getting rid of Hartwell for the first elimination. Ivy Nile is in at #8 and impresses McAfee with her rather impressive strength. Katana Chance is in at #9 and anklescissors LeRae. Nile and Grace have a delayed suplex off before Nile hits a loud enziguri.

Bianca Belair is in at #10 and the place is rather impressed. We have Natalya, Naomi, Bayley, LeRae, Grace, Asuka, Nile, Chance and Belair, with the latter getting to clean some house, including a double Blockbuster to Bayley and Asuka. As usual, Belair gets to show off for a bit until Kairi Sane is in at #11 to give us three members of Damage CTRL. The three of them get to beat up various people but not actually toss anyone as the ring is getting way too full. LeRae sends Asuka and Sane to the apron, only to have Bayley make the save and toss LeRae in a big crash.

Tegan Nox is in at #12 and wrecks some people but Grace cuts her off. Natalya makes the save and gives Grace a discus lariat. Natalya goes to throw Nox out but gets tossed instead, with Bayley getting rid of Nox as well, leaving them both stunned on the floor. Katana Chance is in at #13 and is so distraught at losing the Women’s Tag Team Titles last night that she stops to dance.

Sane is sent over the top and one of her feet touches and she tries to hang on to the apron, only to fall down for the elimination (I’m not sure if that was the plan). Asuka is kicked out a few seconds later and Bayley yells at the rest of the team for being eliminated. Chelsea Green is in at #14 and is immediately sent to the apron twice in a row before hitting a Zig Zag on Belair. We get the Grace vs. Belair slugout and they go to the apron, where Belair hits a KOD for the elimination.

Piper Niven is in at #15 and catches Green as we get a set of nifty time counters for various entrants. A bunch of people get together to beat on Niven and it’s Xia Li in at #16. Li racks Green, who kicks at Niven by mistake for a not so great result. Zelina Vega is in at #17 and has what must be some weird cosplay deal. Vega gives Niven a tornado DDT as there are far too many people in there and the pace has slowed down a lot. Maxxine Dupri is in at #18 and does her SHOOSH before dropping to the mat to hide from Niven.

Vega and Belair team up for a Code Red to put Niven down. A bunch of people can’t get rid of Niven, who eliminates Carter. Nia Jax is in at #19 so Li goes after her, only to get knocked out in a hurry. Nile is out as well and Niven accidentally splashes Green. Jax does it in purpose and then gets rammed into Green in the corner for a funny bit. A bunch of people go after Jax, who then charges at Niven, with Green getting crushed between them. Naomi hits a springboard enziguri to Jax who, say it with me, falls onto Green as well.

Shotzi is in at #20, giving us Naomi, Bayley, Belair, Chance, Green, Niven, Vega, Dupri, Jax and Shotzi as the ring is WAY too full again. A bunch of people get together to go after Jax, who shrugs them off. Bayley gets rid of Dupri and Jax tosses Green and Niven. Chance is tossed out onto the pile as well and it’s Becky Lynch in at #21.

Lynch goes right after Jax and DDT’s Vega and Shotzi at the same time. She throws Jax into Bayley as Green is back in, apparently not being thrown out. Lynch knocks her out without much trouble so that was nothing, especially after her hilarious bit earlier. Alba Fyre is in at #22 and hits a double Gory Bomb on Shotzi and Vega. Ignore that Vega didn’t actually hit anything on the way down. With no one else out, Shayna Baszler is in at #23 to start going after arms.

Valhalla is in at #24….and here is R-Truth to take her place and enter the match by mistake. Jax throws him out anyway as Adam Pearce is here to say Valhalla is in and R-Truth is out. Then Jax throws Valhalla out without much trouble. Michin is in at #25 and goes after Fyre before Rock Bottoming Bayley onto Baszler. Naomi is up with a hanging Pedigree to get rid of Fyre as things slow down again.

Zoey Stark is in at #26 with a missile dropkick on Michin. The brawling continues, with Baszler blocking a hurricanrana fr Vega, who is kicked out in a heap. NXT’s Roxanne Perez is in at #27 and snaps off a headscissors on Stark. Bayley jumps Perez but can’t get rid of her as Jax throws out Baszler and Michin. Shotzi is tossed out and Jax is the only one left standing…..but Jade Cargill is in at #28. She gets one heck of a reaction and slugs it out with Jax, whom she picks up for a one armed Widowmaker. Cargill throws Jax out and even Lynch realizes that was awesome.

Cargill’s charge hits the post though and everyone is down as Tiffany Stratton is in at #29. She immediately flip dives onto a bunch of people and hits an Alabama Slam on Perez. The returning Liv Morgan is in at #30, giving us a final grouping of Naomi, Bayley, Belair, Vega, Lynch, Stark, Perez, Cargill, Stratton and Morgan. The pace is picked up until Stark kicks Morgan in the face, only to get knocked out without much trouble.

Stratton kicks Perez out so everyone surrounds her, only to split off and start the brawls. Cargill and Belair have stereo gorilla presses and then drop Morgan and Lynch for the mega showdown (the fans approve). Naomi gets spinebustered by Cargill, who tosses Lynch and Naomi in quite the moment.

Morgan and Belair are sent to the apron, with Stratton being pulled out with them. A Codebreaker staggers Stratton but she grabs Belair’s hair for the save. Bayley kicks both of them out, leaving us with Bayley, Cargill and Morgan. They all wind up on the apron and Morgan eliminates Cargill, only to get kicked out by Bayley for the win at 1:04:57.

Rating: C+. This was only so interesting as there isn’t quite enough depth to get all the way to thirty entrants in this kind of thing. The top spots were good with Bayley getting a long awaited win, but other than that there were some long stretches which were needing something better. Get rid of some of the dead spots in the middle and it’s better, but this only got so far.

Come to St. Petersburg!

We recap the four way for the Smackdown World Title. Roman Reigns pinned LA Knight about two years ago so now Knight, Randy Orton and AJ Styles want the title.

Smackdown World Title: Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Roman Reigns

Reigns, with Paul Heyman, is defending. We get a long staredown to start before all of the challengers go after Reigns in a smart move. Styles and Knight get in a fight of their own though, leaving Orton and Reigns to brawl out to the floor. Knight and Styles join them, with Knight sending Styles face first into the announcers’ table. Orton drops Reigns onto the same table and then goes after Knight as it’s time to switch off.

Knight gets the better of things, only to miss a charge and get dropped onto the table for a big crash. Orton takes Reigns back inside for the circle stomp before stopping to powerslam Styles. Knight is back in to stomp Orton down though as the back and forth start continues. Orton and Styles go outside, leaving Reigns to clothesline Knight in the corner. Reigns drops Styles as well and the fans certainly seem to approve.

It’s Knight getting back up with a DDT to Reigns and a slam to Orton, setting up a middle rope bulldog. The jumping superplex brings Styles back down and there’s the BFT to Reigns to get the crowd up again, only for Styles to make the save. Styles fights up and strikes away with the Styles Clash hitting Reigns for two and Knight making the save this time. Back up and Reigns tries the Superman Punch but Orton RKOs him out of the air in a sweet counter for another near fall, with Solo Sikoa pulling the referee out.

Sikoa isn’t done as he Samoan Spikes Orton and Knight before stacking Knight onto Orton (which doesn’t seem overly bright). The running Umaga Attack against the barricade misses Styles though and Sikoa is down. Styles comes back in with a Phenomenal Forearm to knock Reigns onto the other two before getting a triple cover for two, even though that normally means the first person getting a cover (Knight in this case) wins.

Styles grabs a chair and beats on Reigns, then does the same to Knight. Orton breaks that up with a low blow but gets speared out to the floor. Knight goes after Reigns but the BFT is broken up, which breaks up the Styles Clash as well. With Knight down, the spear to Styles retains the title at 19:24.

Rating: B. Rather nice stuff here with everyone going in there and trying hard, with the time flying by. Reigns winning wasn’t exactly in doubt with a milestone Wrestlemania on the horizon, but at least he had to put in the work to get there. If nothing else, it’s nice to see the other three getting a chance, as it has been awhile for most of them.

We recap Logan Paul defending the US Title against Kevin Owens. Paul is the rather braggadocios US Champion while Owens is here o shut him up. They’ve taken turns attacking each other and Paul has injured Owens’ hands.

United States Title: Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul

Paul is defending and offers a handshake but Owens chops him down instead. They’re quickly on the floor and Owens sends him hard into the barricade. Back in and a rather big chop sets up a release German suplex, meaning it’s time to go back outside. Owens drops a backsplash but Paul gets smart by going after the bad hand. Back in again and a high crossbody takes Owens down.

An armbar goes on but Owens elbows his way out of an Octopus. With nothing else working, Paul goes simple by punching Owens’ bad hand. Paul misses a 619 though, allowing Owens to hit a hard clothesline. Another backsplash hits raised knees though, as I continue to love watching someone learn during a match. Back up and Owens stomps away in the corner, setting up a pair of Cannonballs. The frog splash connects but a Swanton hits Paul’s raised knees.

Paul misses a Swanton of his own though, only to hit a Buckshot Lariat. A frog splash gives Paul two but he tries a superplex, which you just do not do to Owens. The swinging superplex gives Owens two but the Stunner is blocked. Paul’s big right hand drops Owens for a near fall and now it’s Paul’s turn to be shocked.

One of Paul’s goons tries to bring in some brass knuckles but the referee cuts it off and has said goon ejected. Cue A-Town Down Under for a distraction though and Paul gets the brass knuckles…which Owens takes away and uses to knock Paul out. The referee sees said knuckles though (McAfee: Oh NOW the referee has 20/20!”) and that’s a DQ at 14:01.

Rating: B. It was a good fight and there is something to be said about a bit of a twist ending rather than Paul just getting the pin. If nothing else, Owens is at his best when he’s upset about something and the ending should fit in well. Paul gets to keep bragging about being champion too and that is good for just about everyone. Well mainly Paul but you get the idea.

Post match Owens puts Paul through the announcers’ table. Then he takes a cough drop.

Hulk Hogan really wants you to come to St. Petersburg.

Elimination Chamber is in Australia.

Wrestlemania is in 70 days.

The attendance is 48,044, a new stadium record. Uh, yay.

Rumble By The Numbers!

30 entrants
1,310 entrants
34 winners
2.6% have won
20 have gone on to win the title at Wrestlemania
1 woman to enter at #1 and win
20 eliminations for Ripley all time, a record
1:01:08, Ripley’s record time in the Rumble
1:11:40, Gunther’s record time in the Rumble
60% of the winners have come from the last ten entrants
#30 has produced the most winners (5)
3 who have won consecutive Royal Rumbles
3 wins for Steve Austin, a record
3rd time Tampa will host the Royal Rumble (1995/2021)
8 eliminations for Shayna Baszler, the most in a single women’s match
9 two time winners
13 eliminations in one men’s Rumble by Brock Lesnar
Natalya is one of four women to compete in all women’s Rumbles
45 eliminations by Kane over 18 Rumbles, both records
3,653 days since CM Punk has been in a Royal Rumble
34,000,000 social media engagements for the Logan Paul vs. Ricochet clip from last year
9 people have won their first World Title off a Royal Rumble win
60% of winners from the last five years have won the World Title at Wrestlemania

Men’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals and Jey Uso is in at #1 and Jimmy Uso is in at #2. They stare each other down to start until Jimmy is punched out to the apron. That’s not enough for an elimination as Jimmy is back in to strike away, but the jumping enziguri misses. Jey superkicks Jimmy down but the Superfly Splash hits raised knees to leave them both needing a breather. Grayson Waller is in at #3 and naturally he runs his mouth about how awesome he is. Jey knocks him of the apron before he can get in, only to come in and team up with Jimmy for some double teaming.

Andrade returns at #4 and cleans house (or as much as you can with two heels in the ring) but can’t get rid of anyone. Carmelo Hayes is in at #5 and we get a three way staredown with Hayes, Andrade and Jey. That’s broken up and Hayes gets rid of Waller without much effort. Shinsuke Nakamura is in at #6 and the fans sing his song. Jimmy seems to approve and gets kicked in the head as a result. The freshly heel Santos Escobar is in at #7 and we get straight to a showdown with Andrade. They hug and pose but Andrade isn’t interested in a Legado del Fantasma pose.

Karrion Kross is in at #8 and everyone goes to the general brawling. With that not going anywhere, Dominik Mysterio is in at #9 and the fans are not happy. It takes a good while for him to get in and he is quickly taken into a corner for some not so near eliminations. Carlito is in at #10, giving us Jey, Jimmy, Andrade, Hayes, Nakamura, Escobar, Kross, Mysterio and Carlito at the one third mark. Carlito goes after Escobar who bails to the floor, leaving Carlito to load up the apple. Escobar gets it in the face and is then tossed out to clear some of the ring.

Bobby Lashley is in at #11 and starts throwing some not great looking spears. One of them is enough to get rid of Kross so here are the AOP for a distraction, allowing Kross to pull Lashley out for the elimination. The big bawl is on with the Street Profits running out to even things up. They all go up the aisle and brawl to the back as Ludwig Kaiser is in at #12. He goes after Dominik for a bit of a weird one and everyone pairs off until Austin Theory is in at #13. The flipping Downward Spiral plants Jey and more brawling ensues as we need someone to clear the ring a bit.

Finn Balor is in at #14 and Hayes is tossed in a hurry. Cody Rhodes is in at #15 and this should pick things up a bit. The Cody Cutter gets rid of Theory but Balor takes Rhodes down and they slug it out. Bronson Reed is in at #16 and gets rid of Andrade. Nakamura and Rhodes slug it out with Nakamura hitting a spinning kick to the face as Kofi Kingston is in at #17. A Disaster Kick and Cross Rhodes get rid of Nakamura and Kaiser is out shortly thereafter.

Gunther is in at #18 and chopping ensues, setting up the staredown with Gunther. That’s broken up and Kingston gets Gunther out to the apron, earning Kingston an elimination (no special save this time). Ivar is in a #19 and hits a powerslam, setting up the slugout with Reed. NXT’s Bron Breakker is in at #20, giving us Jey, Jimmy, Mysterio, Balor, Rhodes, Reed, Gunther, Ivar and Breakker.

A spear immediately hits Jimmy and a running clothesline gets rid of him. Another spear gets rid of Balor and it’s time for Gunther vs. Breakker, which has the fans’ interest. Gunther slips out of the gorilla press but Breakker gives him the spear to quite the reaction. Omos is in at #21 and takes his sweet time getting to the ring. House is quickly cleaned and Reed is knocked out with a big boot. Breakker spears a springboarding Ivar out of the air and gets rid of him before staring up at Omos.

Pat McAfee is in at #22 and looks more than a bit surprised at the news. He sees Omos and Breakker waiting on him and eliminates himself in a funny moment. McAfee has claimed that he didn’t know this was coming and I’d believe it. McAfee: “HOW BIG IS THAT THING IN THERE????” Breakker dumps Omos and Mysterio knocks Breakker out (after a star making performance), with Cole and Graves making up trash talk that Breakker said about Omos.

JD McDonagh is in at #23 and gets speared by Breakker on the floor before he can get in. Cody and Gunther fight some more as R-Truth is in at #24 (the same number he entered the women’s match in for a nice touch). He throws McDonagh in so McDonagh can be properly eliminated, only to stand on the apron or a tag to Mysterio. Naturally Mysterio tags him in (because) and he goes after Omos to little avail.

Miz is in at #25 for an Awesome Truth reunion but Truth saves Mysterio. Gunther breaks that up and Mysterio gives Miz a 619 as Damian Priest is in at #26. Truth is out in a hurry and Priest cleans house, including South Of Heaven to Gunther. CM Punk is in at #27 and gets to do a bunch of running knees in the corner. Mysterio is tossed but Priest decks Punk with a discus forearm.

Ricochet is in at #28 and gets to fly around a bit as Gunther tosses Miz. Drew McIntyre is in at #29 to make things a bit bigger. A bit of house is cleaned, including a heck of an overhead belly to belly to Ricochet. Jey superkicks Gunther almost to the apron but gets pulled out himself to end a rather long run. Sami Zayn is in at #30, giving us a final grouping of Rhodes, Gunther, Priest, Punk, Ricochet, McIntyre and Zayn. The pace picks up as Zayn goes after McIntyre, who recently beat him up pretty badly.

Priest avoids being tossed out but Ricochet can’t do the same as we’re down to six. A variety of suplexes and kicks ensue until Sami gets rid of Priest, only to be dumped by McIntyre. We’re down to Rhodes, Punk, Gunther and McIntyre and everyone needs a breather as Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns watch from a sky box. Gunther and Rhodes pair off as McIntyre chops away at Punk in the corner.

The Cody Cutter seems to wake Gunther up as he hits a hard clothesline to Rhodes. We get the McIntyre vs. Gunther staredown but they go back to what they were doing instead of fighting. A neckbreaker puts Punk down but the Claymore misses. The GTS is blocked and it’s the Glasgow Kiss to drop Punk again. Gunther sleepers Rhodes but gets Claymored by McIntyre. Another Claymore hits Rhodes and McIntyre is the only one standing.

There’s a Claymore to Punk to complete the set but McIntyre would rather yell at Punk than get him out. That’s enough for Punk to toss McIntyre, who looks absolutely crushed. Gunther dropkicks Punk and gives him a powerbomb before sending Rhodes to the apron. Rhodes pulls Gunther to the apron as well though and Gunther is out, leaving us with two. They slug it out and then slug it out some more with Punk getting the better of things.

Rhodes gets in a powerslam but the Cody Cutter is countered into some rolling German suplexes. That’s broken up but so is Cross Rhodes, allowing Punk to put him on the apron. Back in and Cross Rhodes connects, only for Punk to get in a desperation GTS. Punk gets him out to the apron but Rhodes is right back in, meaning it’s a Pedigree to take him down again. Another GTS is blocked though and Rhodes throws him out for the win at 1:08:16.

Rating: A-. This was a heck of a Rumble with some entertaining spots throughout and a bunch of good stuff. The last bit felt epic and, despite Punk’s big injury (as he tore his tricep while fighting McIntyre), the final two had a heck of a showdown. Cody winning is the right call as he is on the way to his destiny in Philadelphia and he had to get there from here. I liked this one a lot as they kept things moving and I wasn’t bored at all.

Rhodes celebrates for a good while and points at Roman Reigns in the sky box (yeah don’t bother teasing that Rollins stuff as there is zero point in this case). Reigns holds up the title and looks a bit nervous.

The big highlight package wraps us up.

Overall Rating: B+. The Women’s Royal Rumble was the only thing close to a weak spot and even then it was good enough. The rest of the show was one hit after another as we are starting to get exactly what we need out of WWE. I liked this a good bit and you can feel the energy around here, which is rather nice to see. Heck of a show here, with Wrestlemania on the horizon as the really big prize.

Ratings Comparison

Women’s Royal Rumble

Original: C+
Redo: C+

Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Randy Orton

Original: B-
Redo: B

Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul

Original: B
Redo: B

Men’s Royal Rumble

Original: B-
Redo: A-

Overall Rating

Original: B-
Redo: B+

I totally shortchanged the Men’s Royal Rumble the first time around as it’s way better than that.

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Smackdown
Date: January 23, 2026
Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re back on this side of the Atlantic but not quite back to America, as it’s time to stop in Montreal before tomorrow’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. The big Smackdown match for that show is a four way for a shot against Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble, so tonight is time for some buildup. That’s a nice enough way to fill some time so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is hometown star Sami Zayn to get things going and yeah they like him. We pause for the OLE chants, which do indeed go on for a bit. Zayn greets the fans in French before switching to English to talk about the momentum he feels he has right now. Right here in his hometown…he is interrupted by Trick Williams.

He calls Zayn Mr. Almost, while Williams knows how to get it done. Williams brings up Zayn losing to Roman Reigns here in his hometown, which Zayn says did happen. Yeah Williams looks like a million bucks, but they aren’t on the same level. Williams is brand new but he is just not as good as Zayn. That’s a NO from Williams, who says they can take care of this later.

Cue Damian Priest (facing Williams tonight) to say that Williams talks a lot but he sounds afraid. If Williams doesn’t want to talk here, he can do something, so Williams hits Zayn with the microphone. Williams goes after Priest but Zayn is back up and goes after Williams, with Priest breaking it up. They’re shoved together, allowing Williams to escape.

Randy Orton is asked what he thought about that and goes on quite the rant about how he’s going to beat all three of them and then go on to Saudi Arabia for the Royal Rumble.

Earlier today, Carmelo Hayes told Ilja Dragunov that he can have the US Title shot tonight, which works for Dragunov. Miz came in to say he doesn’t like this whole “everyone is friends era” and says Hayes is what the French call “les incompetants” (points for a Home Alone line) but Hayes isn’t overly bothered.

US Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov

Hayes is defending and misses an early First 48 attempt. Dragunov German suplexes him down and grabs a waistlock but Hayes is back up with a double clothesline. We take an early break and come back with Dragunov favoring his arm but getting into an exchange of strikes anyway.

Hayes La Misticas him for two but Dragunov elbows him into the Constantine Special for two. Dragunov loads up Coast To Coast but has to stop to cut off First 48. Hayes is knocked down hard and we take another break. We come back with Dragunov hammering away in the corner, setting up an apron superplex to leave them both down.

They go out to the apron to chop it out until Hayes grabs the suplex cutter. Back in and Dragunov grabs the Death Valley Driver into the corner for two more. Dragunov goes up top but cue the Miz to shove him off the top, setting up the First 48 to retain Hayes’ title at 16:36.

Rating: B. These two work well together but this feels like their ceiling to what they’re able to do. You kind of know what they’re going to be doing and while the matches are good, it’s time to move on already. Like to an actual feud rather than just “here’s a title match and here’s another title match and hey, let’s have a title match”. Miz vs. Hayes is already set up so hopefully we get their big blowoff sooner than later.

Post match Hayes figures out what is going on and yells at Miz. That sounds like the setup for a triple threat at the Rumble.

We recap Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu, with the latter costing Rhodes the title against Drew McIntyre.

Earlier today, Michael Cole sat down with Rhodes on the bus, with Rhodes talking about the Royal Rumble. Cole shifts him over to Fatu, who comes in with Nick Aldis and some security. Fatu says he was locked in on Drew McIntyre but Rhodes attacked him. Rhodes says that Fatu didn’t look like he was thinking, which is why he was put in prison in the first place.

That gets Fatu on his feet to go off about how he came from nothing and is now a different man. If Rhodes thinks Fatu is like any other Samoan he’s faced before, he has no idea what he’s doing because Fatu is in control. As usual, Fatu can bring the intensity, though having him go over would be a big step.

Chelsea Green, with Alba Fyre, runs into Jordynne Grace and calls her a star. She can even be the newest Slaygent in the Secret Hervice. Grace can even start tonight and she…actually agrees? I’m sure.

Roman Reigns is back at the Royal Rumble.

IMG Credit: WWE

Chelsea Green vs. Jade Cargill

Non-title and Alba Fyre and Jordynne Grace are here with Green (who is in some Mountie inspired gear). Cargill yells at Grace during her entrance but Green gets in a suicide dive to start it fast. They get inside with Cargill whipping her hard into the corner, meaning it’s time for some pushups. A fall away slam sends Green rolling to the floor, where Cargill gets into it with Grace again. Green uses the distraction to get in a dive and a rollup gets two. Cargill isn’t having this and superkicks her into a powerbomb. Fyre gets kicked off the apron and Jaded finishes for Cargill 3:16.

Rating: C. This was basically a squash with Green being great as the delusional heel who can’t hang with these bigger stars. She’s just so over the top and goofy that it’s hard to not like her at least a bit. That being said, I’m almost scared to see what happens when Grace and Cargill face off. Either way, this was entertaining enough, as is everything Grace does.

Post match Grace gets in the ring to issue the challenge but Cargill walks off instead.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss have a bit of tension before the Rumble, with Charlotte talking about how great it was because she won. Oh and Bliss returned! This time though, it’s about the team. Even though Charlotte won.

Solo Sikoa, with the MFTs and the Lantern, is ready for the Wyatt Sicks.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tag Team Titles: Wyatt Sicks vs. Solo Sikoa/Tama Tonga

The Wyatts are defending and both of their respective stables are here too. Tonga slams Gacy down to start and it’s quickly off to Sikoa, who wants the titles. A shot puts Gacy down again but it’s off to Lumis for some double teaming on Tonga. The Wyatts hit stereo flip dives off the apron and we take an early break.

We come back with Sikoa hammering away on Lumis in the corner but missing a charge. Lumis suplexes him down and Gacy comes back in to deck Tonga. Everything breaks down and Lumis goes up top to splash Tonga for two. Erick Rowan brawls with the MFTs on the floor as Talla Tonga comes out with the lantern. The MFTs offer a distraction though and Talla gets in the big boot to drop Rowan. Uncle Howdy Mandible Claws Talla but gets Samoan Spiked by Sikoa. The lantern to Lumis sets up the Cutthroat to give the MFTs the titles at 9:57.

Rating: B-. This was a big fight in the first place but it feels like it was designed to set up a big wild brawl at some point. It was more of a first act of a match and that’s a good idea. This feud feels like it has some more legs, at least partially because I have no idea what else the Wyatts are supposed to do after it’s over.

R-Truth wants to be in the Royal Rumble and gives Nick Aldis his balls again. AJ Styles comes in and is rather confused but Aldis gets to the point: he’s not sure about Styles putting his title on the line against Gunther. Aldis respects his opinion, but he has someone else here to speak to him. Shinsuke Nakamura comes in to say he wants Styles to prove he still has it. Say on Saturday Night’s Main Event. The match is on and they shake hands.

Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano

Axiom and Candice LeRae are here too and we actually get a tribute to Bobby Duncum Sr., who passed away earlier this year. They trade armdrags to start with Frazer taking him down into an armbar. With that broken up, Frazer hits a running forearm and puts Gargano on top. A super hurricanrana is dropped into a face first drop onto the buckle. Frazer gets knocked hard out to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Frazer hitting a reverse layout DDT to leave both of them down. A springboard ax handle drops Gargano again and a sling blade sets up the frog splash for two. Gargano is back with a knockdown of his own but Frazer runs the corner for a superplex into a suplex neckbreaker for two more. LeRae’s distraction lets Gargano avoid the Phoenix splash but the distraction lets Axiom get the stolen mask back….and put it on her. The blinded LeRae accidentally knocks Gargano into a rollup to give Frazer the pin at 10:07.

Rating: B-. The story of the mask is a fine enough one to go as there is always something to stealing a personal object. That being said, Gargano is going to need a partner to make this feud work since Tommaso Ciampa seems gone. I’m not sure who that could be, but otherwise it isn’t exactly working.

Post match LeRae steals the mask again and runs off with it, making Axiom look like a moron.

Nia Jax and Lash Legend are ready to get a Women’s Tag Team Title shot. They’re ready to get the titles and go all the way to Wrestlemania.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Drew McIntyre for a chat. He gets right to the point by mocking the Montreal Canadiens but he can’t wait to see Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu destroy each other. If Rhodes wants the title back, he has to go through the Royal Rumble to make it happen. Before then though, there’s the fatal four way match tomorrow night.

That means Trick Williams (go get em kid), Damian Priest (McIntyre already wasted a year of his career on him), Randy Orton (who has already lost a title to McIntyre and can’t get a win when it counts)…and then there’s Sami Zayn. After the OLE chants, McIntyre says Zayn’s son is going to be disappointed that Zayn is his father. It doesn’t matter who wins because he’ll retain the title. Smirking ensues. There wasn’t much to this but McIntyre did his job well enough.

Trick Williams runs into Rey Fenix and says Fenix can thank him for the fame. Let’s talk about it. Fenix says Williams will remember him.

We recap Kit Wilson’s crusade against toxic masculinity, which isn’t going well.

Matt Cardona interrupts Wilson, who rants about MEN LIKE YOU, but Cardona doesn’t understand any of this. A challenge is issued, which Wilson says is choosing violence. Wilson is making me chuckle.

Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax/Lash Legend vs. Giulia/Kiana James

Charlotte and James drive Legend into the corner to start before Charlotte Buckshot Lariats James down. Legend is sent outside and it’s Bliss coming in for the dive onto the big group of people standing outside so she can dive onto them. We take a break and come back with Charlotte’s high crossbody dropping Legend for two with Giulia making the save.

Charlotte fights Giulia off so James comes in to load up a double suplex. That’s reversed into a double DDT to put Legend and James down but Jax is in to cut her off. A super Samoan drop is loaded up but James turns it into a powerbomb for two on Charlotte in quite the power display.

Charlotte is able to bring in Bliss to clean house, including a messy tornado DDT for two on Jax. Legend’s pump kick gets two on Bliss with Giulia making another save. James is in with the 401K but Legend gives Bliss the Lash Extension. Charlotte spears Legend outside and James steals the pin and the title shot at 10:58.

Rating: B. I was getting into this one by the end as they went with a bunch of saves and near falls. The surprise winners are a good way to go as well, as it gives us a fresh match and saves the bigger showdowns for a major show. That’s what we’re getting with Giulia and James, as James can take the fall to protect the champion. Either way, I liked this more than I was expecting and I’ll take the surprise.

Sami Zayn comes up to Damian Priest and says he’ll be watching the main event in case Trick Williams cheats. Priest cuts him off and says stay out of it. Zayn: “Or what?” Priest seems angry and walks off, with Zayn going over to slap the taste out of Drew McIntyre’s mouth (that looked great).

AJ Styles runs into Cody Rhodes, who says Styles will be at his best when his back is against the fire. Rhodes wishes him good luck and Styles leaves, with Rhodes seeing an autographed picture from Drew McIntyre on the bus door. The photo is signed “THE REAL AMERICAN DREAM” in a nice jab.

Giulia and Kiana James are ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles, with Giulia wanting to then go on and become a triple champion. Well it’s not like she’s doing anything as US Champion anyway.

Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams

Williams takes him down to start and they lock up against the ropes. Priest actually gets knocked into the corner and here is Sami Zayn to watch at ringside. Priest’s comeback lets him yell at Zayn, who doesn’t want to leave. Old School is broken up though and Williams kicks him out to the floor. Williams talks some trash to Zayn and we take a break.

We come back with an exchange of strikes leading to Williams hitting a kick to the face. Priest can’t hit South Of Heaven and they trade spinning kicks to the face for a double down. Williams’ swinging Rock Bottom gets two, as does Priest’s lifting Downward Spiral, meaning they need another breather. Williams heads outside and yells at Zayn but stops to drop Priest onto the announcers’ table. That’s not enough as he sends Priest into Zayn before heading back inside. Zayn runs in to jump Williams for the DQ at 15:33.

Rating: B-. Well, they couldn’t have Priest win and kill Williams’ momentum right off the bat so this was their best option. You don’t want one of the four people involved in the #1 contenders match taking a loss so this was about as good of an idea as they had. Williams more than hung with Priest too, which is rather impressive for someone still so new on the main roster. He hit the ground pretty much ready to go and that’s a good thing to see, as it gives him some promise for the future.

Post match Williams is knocked into the corner so Priest and Zayn can fight. Williams knocks them outside and obvious RKO is obvious. Zayn gets up and takes an RKO of his own to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. This show felt like a last second push to make Saturday Night’s Main Event feel more important, which is what that even has been needing. Saturday’s show hasn’t felt very big and while this helped, I’m not sure it did enough. There was good action this week though and it did its intended job. Next week is the last show before the Royal Rumble so things are going to pick up even more, so hopefully expect more like this going forward.

Results
Carmelo Hayes b. Ilja Dragunov – First 48
Jade Cargill b. Chelsea Green – Jaded
Solo Sikoa/Tama Tonga b. Wyatt Sicks – Cutthroat to Lumis
Nathan Frazer b. Johnny Gargano – Rollup
Kiana James/Giulia b. Charlotte/Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax/Lash Legend – Lash Extension to Bliss
Trick Williams b. Damian Priest via DQ when Sami Zayn interfered

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Smackdown
Date: January 16, 2026
Location: Wembley Arena, London, England
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Corey Graves

It’s another taped show overseas but in this case we have a pretty big focal point. This week’s show features four matches, with the winners going on to a four way for a future shot at Drew McIntyre’s World Title. That should make for a big and rather wrestling heavy night so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Drew McIntyre winning the World Title last week when Jacob Fatu got involved.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is McIntyre, played to the ring by some bagpipers of course, for his first chat as champion. He takes his sweet time with his entrance, this is the first time he has ever had an introduction as champion in front of fans. McIntyre says he prayed for this and it happened. He’s still the first and only British WWE Champion and talks about how no one did anything for him when he was champion.

There was only one person who believed in him before and that was….himself. McIntyre wants the fans to cheer for him before talking about the former (oh he loves that word) champion, Cody Rhodes. There’s no rematch clause, so he’ll be champion for a long time…and here is Randy Orton to interrupt. Orton talks about beating McIntyre before so he knows he can do it again. Cue Jacob Fatu to chase McIntyre through the crowd but the Miz (facing Orton tonight) sneaks up from behind with a Skull Crushing Finale.

IMG Credit: WWE

#1 Contenders Qualifying Match: The Miz vs. Randy Orton

We’re joined in progress with Miz hammering away, including an exchange of right hands. They go outside with Miz dropping him onto the announcers’ table for an Orton pose. Back in and Orton wins a slugout before hitting the hanging DDT. They go outside again, with Orton dropping him onto the announcers’ table a few times. The RKO is loaded up but Miz reverses into the Skull Crushing Finale for a near fall. Miz tries it again but has to settle for two off a rollup. Orton pops back up and the RKO (while getting to take a breather) finishes Miz off at 4:37.

Rating: C. Orton shrugged off Miz’s offense and took him out here, which was rather impressive. As old as he is, Orton can still make this stuff work with that RKO being as dangerous as ever. It’s one of the biggest finishers ever and it still works well. On the other hand you have the Miz, who is still a heck of a villain, even if he probably only has so much time left in the ring.

An anxious Drew McIntyre is trying to leave with the title but runs into Ilja Dragunov, who promises to take a step closer to the title tonight. McIntyre says he’ll beat him too and gets out as fast as he can.

The Wyatt Sicks aren’t wild on Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s taking the lantern, but they’ll get it back.

Charlotte comes up to see Alexa Bliss last week, with Bliss ranting about how terrible things went for her last week. She wants to know if Charlotte was really sick, which Charlotte insists was the case. Charlotte says she’s turned down a bunch of title matches for the good of the team. Bliss: “Name two.” Charlotte: “That’s beside the point.” She’s here now though and she’s stretching before her match. Bliss leaves and Nia Jax and Lash Legend come up to gloat. Charlotte isn’t pleased and makes some threats, along with saying Legend has changed.

Kiana James/Giulia vs. Charlotte/Alexa Bliss

Bliss strikes away at James to start but gets caught with a knee to the ribs. Charlotte comes in to send her into the corner, only to walk into a superkick. Everything breaks down and Bliss is in trouble as we take a break. We come back with Bliss kicking her way to freedom, allowing the tag off to Charlotte. Chopping abounds, followed by a big clothesline to James. A high crossbody gives Charlotte two but Giulia breaks up the moonsault. Giulia and Charlotte get to strike it out until Bliss is back in with the Sister Abigail DDT to finish James at 8:28.

Rating: C+. Charlotte and Bliss have turned into a heck of a team, which is nice to see as it means we have some actual teams rather than just doing the revolving door of title challengers. Let the division be built up a bit and see how well it can work. That’s what we’re getting here and it’s rather nice to see after such a long time of it not working.

Post match Nia Jax and Lash Legend run in to drop Charlotte and Bliss, with Giulia and James getting in Jax and Legend’s faces.

Solo Sikoa says if the Wyatts want their lantern back, put the Tag Team Titles on the line.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat (but only after hugging a young fan, which leaves her in tears). Normally he would tap his fist on the mat and we would all say WHOA and he’d move on to whatever he’s talking about. He was champion and saw the fans as his teammates. But now he got too complacent, but maybe it was that Drew McIntyre was just too good. Rhodes brings up the Royal Rumble, and since this is a special city, where he wrestled for What Culture Pro Wrestling to hone his skills and in a city that deserves a Wrestlemania, he is declaring himself for the Royal Rumble.

With that out of the way, he gets to Jacob Fatu, who Rhodes knew was going to be something special. Rhodes knows Fatu is a young veteran and that means he knows what RECEIPT means. Fatu can either come out here and get it or he can stay back there and Rhodes can find him. This was the intense Rhodes and that worked well.

Matt Cardona is disappointed that Cody Rhodes lost last week because he wanted to wrestle his buddy for the title. He’s back to win the title. Another intense promo here and it’s nice to see that he is feeling like something other than Zack Ryder.

#1 Contenders Qualifying Match: Trick Williams vs. Matt Cardona

Williams poses at him to start and gets powered into the corner. Some big shoulders drop Cardona, who is right back with a dropkick into a Downward Spiral. Cardona knocks him outside for a dropkick off the apron and we take a break. We come back with Williams forearming away but Cardona grabs a Zig Zag for two. Williams misses a Stinger Splash but he rolls away before the Reboot. Back in and Williams slingshots him over the ropes and hits the Trick Kick for two. The Rough Ryder misses and Williams Pounces him down hard. The Trick Shot gives Williams the pin at 8:50.

Rating: C+. Williams continues the hot start to his main roster career and that’s a good sign. There is no reason to believe that he’ll win the match at Saturday Night’s Main Event but at least he is getting a few wins like this one. As usual it’s all about the followup, but he’s doing well so far.

Post match Kit Wilson comes out and decks Cardona.

Damian Priest is ready to face Solo Sikoa, but he knows it won’t be one on one. He also knows he has to get to Drew McIntyre, one on one for the title.

Post break, Kit Wilson is still in the ring and says he is the solution to the problem around here. He’s going to solve the toxic masculinity…and Jacob Fatu is behind him. Destruction ensues and Fatu calls out Cody Rhodes. Cue Rhodes (who has changed clothes in the 15 minutes since he was in the ring) for the brawl with security and Nick Aldis not quite being able to break it up.

IMG Credit: WWE

#1 Contenders Qualifying Match: Solo Sikoa vs. Damian Priest

The MFTs are here with Sikoa, who headbutts him into the ropes, only to get caught with a superkick. Priest kicks him out to the floor, where the MFTs aren’t going to allow any shenanigans. Sikoa gets in a cheap shot though and the MFTs drop Priest as we take a break. We come back with Sikoa hitting a running Umaga Attack but Priest spinwheel kicks him in the face.

Priest kicks away and they trade big shots to the head, with Priest getting the better of things. Talla Tonga gets caught trying to interfere and gets ejected, leaving Priest to grab the Razor’s Edge for two. Another MFTs distraction lets Sikoa hit the Spinning Solo into the Superfly Splash for two of his own. Cue the Wyatt Sicks to go after the MFTs but Sikoa grabs the lantern. The distraction is enough for Priest to hit South Of Heaven for the win at 10:51.

Rating: B-. I got into this a bit more than I was expecting as Priest gets to move on to a pretty big match. That’s not the focal point though, as this was more about the MFTs vs. the Wyatts. That will likely be the cool down match at the Royal Rumble, or at worst at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and they are making it feel important.

Post match Priest leaves and Uncle Howdy gets the lantern back but it’s Tama Tonga dropping Howdy to take it back.

Drew McIntyre runs into Sami Zayn, bragging that Zayn has never beaten him. Zayn promises to win twice in a row so he can go to the Royal Rumble and face McIntyre again.

US Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. ???

It’s open challenge time with…TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater answering (and not defending). They lock up to start and Hayes takes him down for an early exchange of rollups. A chop hurts Slater’s hand but Hayes might have banged up his knee. Slater kicks him in the face and adds a handspring elbow to send Hayes outside. The slingshot dive connects and a nice high crossbody puts Hayes down for two.

We take a break and come back with Slater kicking away until a suplex cutter gives Hayes two of his own. Slater kicks him in the face for two more and a slingshot ax kick to the back of the head has Hayes in more trouble. They trade rollups for two each until Slater sends him outside for the huge flip dive over the top rope. Back in and the Swanton 450 misses for Slater, setting up the First 48. Hayes goes up top with Scott following, only to get superplexed into a cutter to retain the title at 11:45.

Rating: B. This was your weekly “here are some talented stars doing their thing for awhile”. Hayes is getting into a groove of this thing, though the whole open challenge thing is getting a bit old. Slater coming to WWE full time sooner than later wouldn’t surprise me, as he seems ready to come over.

Shinsuke Nakamura is watching in the back but Tama Tonga interrupts, saying he’s coming for the US Title. Tonga tells Nakamura to stay out of his way but Nakamura doesn’t seem impressed.

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae have Axiom’s mask, with Axiom popping up. He wants the mask back but LeRae walks off with it. Cue another Axiom to punch Gargano and of course it’s Nathan Frazer, who will face Gargano next week.

Video on Oba Femi.

Chelsea Green vs. Jordynne Grace

Alba Fyre is here with Green and Jade Cargill is watching from ringside. Grace powers her down to start and grabs a rather delayed vertical suplex. Back up and Green manages to sens her into the corner for a superkick from Fyre. Grace clotheslines her down and grabs a suplex, followed by a Death Valley Driver for the pin at 2:36. Well that was almost squashy.

Post match Grace calls out Cargill, who accidentally gets decked by a charging Green.

Trick Williams puts Smackdown on notice (uh oh) that he is that dog. Damian Priest comes in to say they’re both ready for Saturday Night’s Main Event, but on Friday, he’ll whoop that Trick.

IMG Credit: WWE

#1 Contenders Qualifying Match: Ilja Dragunov vs. Sami Zayn

They slug it out to start until Zayn hits a clothesline for the knockdown. The forearms in the corner don’t do much to Dragunov, who is right back with a running boot in the corner. Something off the top misses for Dragunov and Zayn gives him a suplex for two. Dragunov is back with some rolling German suplexes and goes up top, where Zayn catches him with a top rope superplex as we take a break.

We come back with Dragunov busted open and escaping the Blue Thunder Bomb. A missile dropkick gives Dragunov two but the H Bomb is blocked with a raised boot (quite the logical counter). The Helluva Kick misses as well and they fight to the apron. Dragunov hits Torpedo Moscow to leave both of them down on the floor. Back in and Dragunov hits a powerbomb (THUD) but the top rope backsplash hits raised knees. The Helluva Kick gives Zayn the pin at 12:27.

Rating: B. These guys beat each other up in the way you would expect them to do and it made for a good main event. Zayn feels like he is finally on the path towards the World Title, however long it might take for him to get there. Dragunov losing again is perfectly fine, but what matters here is that he didn’t feel too far over his head. If that can continue, they might have something with him.

Post match Trick Williams jumps Zayn to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This show had a theme running throughout, but at the same time, this was the first three hour show that felt every minute. It wasn’t a show that felt it needed to go that long and that made it a bit tedious. On the other hand, the positive was that the show featured four matches which had World Title implications, plus other stories getting coverage. This was a well put together show, but three hours a week can absolutely grind you down in short fashion.

Results
Randy Orton b. The Miz – RKO
Charlotte/Alexa bliss b. Kiana James/Giulia – Sister Abigail DDT to James
Trick Williams b. Matt Cardona – Trick Shot
Damian Priest b. Solo Sikoa – South Of Heaven
Carmelo Hayes b. Leon Slater – Superplex cutter
Jordynne Grace b. Chelsea Green – Death Valley Driver
Sami Zayn b. Ilja Dragunov – Helluva Kick

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: January 9, 2026
Location: Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re overseas this week and it’s a pretty big night as Cody Rhodes is defending the World Title against Drew McIntyre in Three Stages Of Hell. That should be more than enough to carry things, but we also have some fresh faces around here thanks to NXT. We could be seeing some of them this week so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Randy Orton to get things going. After a quick “I’m glad to be back”, here is Trick Williams to interrupt him. Williams says he’s the new star around here and brags about his future. Orton says he’s just as big and tall, but Williams says he’s different. He’s out here to brush up against one of the best ever and slaps the mic away from Orton. The brawl is on but here is the Miz, who gets dropped with an RKO.

Rey Fenix vs. Trick Williams

Fenix runs into Orton on the way to the ring, with Orton giving him a fist bump in respect. They trade some rollups for two each to start and Williams drops him with a running shoulder. Fenix is right back up with a triple springboard dropkick but Williams sidekicks him down to cut off the momentum. They go outside with Fenix being whipped into the steps as we take a break.

We come back with Williams hitting a pop up uppercut for two but a super Rock Bottom is countered into a hurricanrana. The Trick Kick (spinning kick to the face) gets two more, as does a Rock Bottom. A reverse tornado DDT gives Fenix two and he hits the rope walk kick to the face. Fenix tries a rollup but Williams reverses into one of his own and grabs the tights for the pin at 11:10.

Rating: B-. That’s a good way to start Williams off as he showed he could hang in there with the athleticism but also the intelligence. He’s someone who looks like he could be a player in a hurry around here and that’s always a good addition. Throw in his natural history with Carmelo Hayes and the pieces are all there.

Giulia, with Kiana James, is glad the Women’s US Title is back where it belongs. Tonight, she’s taking out Alexa Bliss.

We look back at Damian Priest beating Aleister Black in last week’s ambulance match.

Priest is wondering about which road to take, because he wants to go after Cody Rhodes. Drew McIntyre comes up and Priest wouldn’t mind going down that road either. With Priest gone, McIntyre reveals he has Dusty Rhodes’ watch. After Rhodes gets disqualified out of anger, McIntyre only needs one more fall.

Alexa Bliss is on the phone with Charlotte, who seems to be sick. Nia Jax and Lash Legend come up to mock her but Bliss blows them off.

Women’s US Title: Giulia vs. Alexa Bliss

Giulia, with Kiana James, is defending. They shove each other to start until Giulia grabs a snap suplex, followed by a middle rope missile dropkick for two. Back up and Bliss knocks her to the floor for a flip dive and we take a break. We come back with James getting in a cheap shot but Bliss hits a quick dropkick. The running Blockbuster gives Bliss two but she misses a flipping splash. The big knee knocks Bliss silly, though she’s right back up with a Sister Abigail DDT. A distracting James is brought in and Bliss goes up, where Lash Legend shoves her off. The Northern Lights Bomb retains the title at 8:12.

Rating: C+. They told a simple story here, with Bliss needing her partner/friend to pull off the title win. Giulia is tough enough on her own and beating Bliss makes her look even better. Charlotte will be back and we can get to the big tag match sooner than later. It’s not a great match on its own, but it sets things up for the future rather well.

Post match Jax and Legend lay Bliss out.

Jordynne Grace is officially signed to Smackdown and gets into it with Alba Fyre. A match is set for later. Kit Wilson comes in to complain about toxicity around here but gets a door shut in his face.

Matt Cardona talks about the work it took to get back here. Cody Rhodes is here too though and Cardona says he’s here to win the title. Rhodes says that once he’s done with Drew McIntyre, they’ll talk. Works for Cardona and they’re cool.

We recap the Wyatt Sicks vs. Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s.

IMG Credit: WWE

Wyatt Sicks vs. Solo Sikoa/MFT’s

Tama and Lumis trade shoulders to start and it’s quickly off to Gacy to knock Tama outside. Stereo suicide dives hit Tama and Loa and it’s a staredown as we take a break. We come back with Sikoa hitting Gacy with the running Umaga attack. Gacy manages to get away though and the tag brings in Rowan to clean house.

Rowan and Talla have their bit staredown into the brawl as everything breaks down. A chokeslam drops Gacy and Rowan and Talla hit stereo clotheslines to leave them both down. Howdy and Sikoa come in to slug it out with Howdy taking over. JC Mateo (not in the match) is dragged in but Sikoa grabs the lantern, which is enough of a distraction for Tama to hit the Cutthroat for the win at 10;16.

Rating: B-. Nice job here, with the Tag Team Title match likely being set up for later. I’m curious to see where it goes as the MFT’s might get the belts back, as the Wyatts have had them for a rather long time. This was enough of a wild match that it stayed interesting and the lantern being the Wyatts’ weak spot is fine.

Carmelo Hayes runs into Miz, who is coming for the title but not tonight because of his neck. Hayes scares him into thinking Randy Orton is behind him, which has Miz’s neck a lot better. With that out of the way, Hayes runs into Ilja Dragunov, who says they will fight again at some point, but right now he has something else to set up. They’re on good terms.

Video on Oba Femi.

Jordynne Grace vs. Alba Fyre

Chelsea Green is here with Fyre, who gets chopped into the corner to start fast. Something like a Big Ending drops Fyre but she gets in a tornado DDT for a quick two. A spinebuster drops Fyre again though and Beast Mode (torture rack powerbomb) finishes for Grace at 2:36. Pretty dominant debut.

Post match Jade Cargill comes out and isn’t impressed because this is her show and she’s that censored.

Sami Zayn kind of wants Drew McIntyre to win the title tonight, just because McIntyre is the one guy he can’t beat…but yeah he’s betting on Cody. Either way, he’s coming for the winner.

Nathan Frazer is getting ready for the US Open Challenge….but Axiom jumps him. Ah it’s Johnny Gargano, with Axiom running in to chase him off.

IMG Credit: WWE

US Title: Carmelo Hayes vs. ???

Hayes is defending against….Shinsuke Nakamura. Hayes takes him down by the arm to start and hits a nice dropkick. Nakamura gets dropped again and we take an early break. We come back with Nakamura striking away and grabbing a dragon screw legwhip over the ropes. Another dragon screw over the ropes sets up a half crab, with Hayes making the rope. They strike it out with Hayes getting the better of things and hitting a running DDT for two.

We take another break and come back again with Hayes getting tied in the Tree Of Woe. Nakamura’s sliding knee only hits buckle though and Hayes hits a dive out to the floor. The frog splash misses for Hayes and Nakamura is right back on the leg. What looked like an AA is countered into a Stunner and Nakamura charges into a superkick. Another springboard DDT connects but Nakamura knees him down. Kinshasa is countered into the First 48 and Nothing But Net retains the title at 18:30.

Rating: B-. Another good performance from Hayes, though I wasn’t wild on some of his selling issues. The knee was rather banged up but Hayes could still do most of his offense. That’s a bit annoying, though I can go with Hayes getting another win to boost him up even further. It’s been needed for awhile now and it’s working.

Cody Rhodes talks about how bringing in Dusty Rhodes’ watch is lazy and he’s ready.

Commentary says this third hour is commercial free, despite the previous match, which took place in this hour, having a commercial. Liars.

Nick Aldis announces a set of qualifying matches for next week, with the winners going on to a four way at Saturday Night’s Main Event for the World Title shot at the Royal Rumble.

The qualifying matches:

Miz vs. Randy Orton
Matt Cardona vs. Trick Williams
Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov

We recap Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes. They’ve been feuding for months, with McIntyre trying to make it personal and drive Rhodes over the edge. Tonight, it’s Three Stages Of Hell for the title.

IMG Credit: WWE

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre

Rhodes is defending in Three Stages Of Hell, with the first fall being a regular match, then falls count anywhere, then a cage match. Rhodes starts fast and knocks him outside for the suicide dive. They’re already back in for a Beautiful Disaster Kick into the Bionic Elbow as McIntyre is in early trouble. They head outside with Rhodes being sent into the steps but he comes right back in to slug away. The turnbuckle is ripped off but McIntyre gets in a low blow, setting up a Claymore for the first fall at 3:41.

McIntyre – 1
Rhodes – 0

We’re off to a falls count anywhere match and Rhodes is put through a table for the fast two. Rhodes is back with a suplex in the aisle for two and they fight into the crowd. McIntyre gets bitten on the head while Rhodes takes a photo with a fan’s phone, which isn’t something you often see.

They fight into the back, with McIntyre sending him into various things. Rhodes fights up and puts him on a table, which is somehow enough for Rhodes to go into the balcony for a splash. Somehow that’s only good for two and they fight back to ringside, with McIntyre in trouble. A quick Claymore attempt doesn’t work so Rhodes sends him over the announcers’ table. Cross Rhodes through the table ties it up at 12:55.

McIntyre – 1
Rhodes – 1

We’re in a cage, with both of them sending the other into the steel. McIntyre gets suplexed for two but he sends Rhodes into the cage for two of his own. They go up top, where McIntyre superplexes him back down for the big crash. McIntyre strikes away but Rhodes hits the pop up uppercut.

A quick Futureshock gives McIntyre two but Rhodes spins over into a Cross Rhodes for two more. That leaves them both down and Rhodes is busted open as they strike it out. The powerslam gives Rhodes two and a Cody Cutter connects for the same. Two Cross Rhodes connect but the third is countered with a ram into the exposed buckle.

The Claymore gets two so McIntyre climbs up. Rhodes is right there to knock him back down, followed by a super Cody Cutter for a rather near fall. McIntyre cuts off a climb and they crash down. That leaves McIntyre to go for the door….but a man in a hoodie is back. It’s the returning Jacob Fatu, who jumps McIntyre and then beats up Rhodes, allowing McIntyre to escape and win the title at 31:04.

Rating: B. The last few minutes boosted this up a lot, as the first two falls were just an ok brawl. McIntyre had to win the title at some point in there, as he lost so many times that it didn’t feel like it was going to matter anymore. The best part is this opens the door in a huge way, as there are several people who could take the title from McIntyre, who could also keep it for awhile. On top of that, it’s always nice to have the occasional surprise title change, just to remind you that it can happen.

Overall Rating: B. They’ve managed to have two big time Smackdowns in a row with the three hour format, which is more than I was expecting them to be able to do. Next week is already set up to be another big one so they’re off to a nice start. The title change here is obviously the most important part and it has me interested in where things are going. That’s a good sign and Smackdown is off to a strong start (albeit an early one) in the new year.

Results
Trick Williams b. Rey Fenix – Rollup with tights
Giulia b. Alexa Bliss – Northern Lights Bomb
Solo Sikoa/MFT’s b. Wyatt Sicks – Cutthroat to Howdy
Jordynne Grace b. Alba Fyre – Beast Mode
Carmelo Hayes b. Shinsuke Nakamura – Nothing But Net
Drew McIntyre b. Cody Rhodes 2-1

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: December 26, 2025
Location: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the second taped Smackdown in a row as we wrap up Christmas week. That means it’s time to get ready for the new year, which is going to feature more Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre. Other than that, it’s almost time to start getting ready for the Royal Rumble so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes, with Rhodes possibly getting on the bad side of GM Nick Aldis.

Rhodes arrives and runs into Aldis, who says McIntyre isn’t here yet. Aldis says McIntyre has signed the contract so once he publicly apologizes and pays a fine, Rhodes can’t lay a finger on him. Rhodes understands and says to tell him when McIntyre shows up. Aldis agrees but runs into Miz, who wants nothing to do with….that guy with the name. Aldis accuses him of being a grumpy Grinch and points out that Joe Hendry is in the ring.

We go to the ring where Hendry has dancing elves, Otis and Akira Tozawa and a bunny. The song is about the size of Miz’s testicles and mentions how he can’t beat Carmelo Hayes, gets thrown out of the locker room a lot, and can’t do well in Hollywood. Miz comes out to complain and gets serenaded again. Cue Aldis to make a Miracle On 34th Street Fight right now.

Joe Hendry vs. The Miz

Street fight with a bunch of Christmas weapons at ringside. Hendry shoulders him down to start and grabs a delayed suplex for quite the positive reception. It’s time to head outside where Hendry finds a guitar but Hendry finds a ukulele. With that not working, Miz pulled out some rather tiny….ornaments. A hiptoss sends Miz into a Christmas tree and it’s time for a table (with a bow). Miz gets rather frustrated and stomps on a bow, followed by some elbows onto a present as we take a break.

We come back with Hendry hitting a fall away slam to Miz, followed by another to a tree. They go outside, with Akira Tozawa grabbing a cookie (Graves: “PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN!”) but getting dropped. Otis steals the Singapore candy cane and Hendry hits Miz low, allowing all the good guys (and the Easter Bunny) to get inside. Finishers abound, Otis has a cookie, the Bunny is R-Truth (complete with a hopping Five Knuckle Shuffle), a guitar to Miz sets up the Standing Ovation through a table to give Hendry the pin at 11:31.

Rating: C+. This falls under the definition of goofy fun as they had the annual themed fight. It’s an easy way to get Hendry into the mix as beating Miz is almost the introductory badge these days. The match was silly and featured R-Truth getting the wrong holiday, so it could only be so bad.

Fraxiom and Carmelo Hayes are in the back, with Ilja Dragunov walking to talk to Hayes alone. He talks about their chemistry last week but Dragunov says the Open Challenge is closed because Hayes has a title shot tonight.

Drew McIntyre arrives and won’t say the stipulation he’s picking for his match against Cody Rhodes. For now, he seems off to take a nap.

Video on Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black, with Black swearing to end this.

Jade Cargill isn’t happy with Michin attacking her with a kendo stick. Cargill doesn’t need weapons because she is a weapon.

B-Fab doesn’t want Michin to get hurt by standing up for her. Michin thinks Cargill is worried and they can use that to their advantage next week.

Lash Legend vs. Charlotte

Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss are here too. They fight over wrist control to start and neither can get very far. Legend powers her into the corner to start and hits a clothesline, followed by a heck of an uppercut. Charlotte gets in a kick to the head and tries a running hurricanrana, which is reversed into a powerbomb as we take a break.

We come back with Legend holding Charlotte up and bouncing Charlotte’s head in between the top and middle ropes. Charlotte fights up and tries the Buckshot Lariat, only to get pump kicked down for two (after pausing due to a bit of mistiming). Another powerbomb looks to set up the Lash Extension but Charlotte reverses into a DDT. Charlotte’s moonsault gets two but Jax gets up for a distraction, earning a choke from Bliss. Back up and Charlotte’s sunset flip finishes Legend at 10:52.

Rating: B-. This match told a good story with Legend being a younger, possibly more athletic, but also less experienced Charlotte. It made for an interesting match as you don’t often see someone who can match Charlotte for athleticism and power but Legend is quite the athletic marvel in her own right. It could be interesting to see how far Legend goes, because she certainly has some pieces in place.

Trick Williams (former NXT/TNA World Champion) is in Nick Aldis’ office and asks if Smackdown is going to match an offer from Raw. Before Aldis can answer, Cody Rhodes comes in to ask if Drew McIntyre has paid the fine and apologized yet. That’s a negative to both, but Williams says he doesn’t like Rhodes interrupting him because he is the hottest free agent around.

Solo Sikoa, with the MFTs, isn’t wild on Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks. Howdy hides behind a bunch of people wearing masks while Sikoa has created a family. The fireflies are fading away and the lantern is burning low. We even get a little He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.

IMG Credit: WWE

US Title: Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes is challenging and chops him into the corner to start. That earns him some rolling German suplexes, as Dragunov is known to do. Back up and a running boot to the face sends Hayes outside and we take a break. We come back with an exchange of chops until Hayes hits a springboard clothesline. The spinning faceplant gives Hayes two and he kicks Dragunov down again.

Dragunov gets back up and goes up, only to get kicked out of the air. The Constantine Special drops Hayes and the top rope backsplash gets two. We take another break and come back again with Dragunov putting him up top but getting shoved down.

Nothing But Net is kicked out of the air to leave both of them down. Dragunov superplexes him down and hits the H Bomb for a VERY near fall, leaving Dragunov shaken up. Another superplex is loaded up but Hayes reverses into a cutter (that was so quick I wasn’t even sure what he did at first) for two of his own. They fight to the apron where Dragunov hits a Death Valley Driver but dives into the First 48. Nothing But Net gives Hayes the pin and the title at 20:44.

Rating: B. This wound up being rather good and they pulled the trigger on Hayes, which is more than a smart enough move. Hayes has been around for awhile now and hasn’t done much on his own (or with Miz either) so it’s a huge step forward. I could go for seeing him as someone getting some more focus and at least he won a title on the top level. It helps that the match was rather awesome as well.

Post match Dragunov presents Hayes with the title for the big show of respect.

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte are ready for the Women’s Tag Team Titles but Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky come in to say they’re going to win the titles. Nia Jax and Lash Legend come in to argue, with Nick Aldis getting in between them. The Kabuki Warriors come in to say it’s an eight woman tag match next week.

Carmelo Hayes thanks Ilja Dragunov for everything, including remind Hayes that he is Him. Johnny Gargano jumps Hayes from behind and says that title is his.

Chelsea Green/Alba Fyre vs. Kiana James/Giulia

Green and James shove each other to start and can’t get very far. Fyre comes in so it’s off to Giulia, who wants to face Green. Giulia settles for swinging at Giulia, allowing the tag off to Green, who gets knocked into the corner. Giulia’s missile dropkick hits Green and she sends Fyre outside. The northern lights bomb finishes Green at 3:16.

Rating: C. This was as by the book as you could get and it worked out well for Giulia. The idea is that Giulia can crush Green if they’re going straight up and that’s what happened here. Green is much better when she cheats and gets to connive a lot, which should be happening when they have the inevitable title match.

Kit Wilson is in Nick Aldis’ office and says he wants to showcase his new version. Cody Rhodes comes in to ask referee Dan Angler if McIntyre has apologized yet. He hasn’t, but McIntyre comes out to the ring for a chat, with Aldis and Angler going to join him.

Video on Oba Femi, who seems to be coming to the main roster.

Here’s what’s coming next week, with the show returning to three hours.

IMG Credit: WWE

Drew McIntyre is in the ring with Nick Aldis and Dan Angler, and hands Aldis the check for the fine, which seems to be enough. That brings McIntyre to Angler and he apologizes for the Claymore. Angler accepts, but McIntyre apologizes for Angler clearly wanting to be a wrestler but not being being good enough. McIntyre apologizes to Angler’s wife for not having a husband like him and to Angler’s children for having a corporate stooge for a father.

Cue Cody Rhodes to interrupt, with McIntyre saying he knows Rhodes wants to hurt him. McIntyre tries to goad him into a fight, even bringing up Rhodes’ wife and kids. With that not working, McIntyre says the title match will be outside of the United States and it’s 3 Stages Of Hell (Rhodes agrees). McIntyre says the title match is in two weeks in Berlin and when he takes Rhodes to Hell, say hi to Dusty. Rhodes is ready to fight but gets Claymored to end the show. You could all but count down until he mentioned Dusty and that’s not a bad idea. This feels like the big blowoff and it needs to be.

Overall Rating: C+. The focus here was mainly on setting up Rhodes vs. McIntyre and they did a nice job of building up the match. That’s a big start towards setting up the huge January show before they can get started on the way towards the Royal Rumble. Now just find some other stories to build up as well, as the show could use it.

Results
Joe Hendry b. The Miz – Standing Ovation through a table
Charlotte b. Lash Legend – Sunset flip
Carmelo Hayes b. Ilja Dragunov – Nothing But Net
Giulia/Kiana James b. Alba Fyre/Chelsea Green – Northern lights bomb to Green

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: December 12, 2025
Location: Mohegan Sun At Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the night before Saturday Night’s Main Event and that means we have one more night before John Cena’s final match. That means we very well may be hearing from Gunther before he faces Cena tomorrow, but there is also the matter of Cody Rhodes facing NXT Champion Oba Femi on Saturday. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a quick recap of Cody Rhodes wanting to face Drew McIntyre again.

Earlier today, Nick Aldis said he can’t get in touch with Drew McIntyre but he’s getting a chance to come here and speak about it face to face.

Aldis tells Cody Rhodes that McIntyre isn’t here and he’s legally claiming an unsafe work environment. Rhodes doesn’t have time for this and heads to the ring.

Here is Rhodes for a chat. He’s not happy with McIntyre’s claims and says they’re happening because McIntyre is only half in. If it was up to Rhodes, McIntyre would be fired, but here is NXT Champion Oba Femi to interrupt. Femi praises Rhodes and talks about how you can often see the future a long way off. This time though, the future is right in front of him and his time is now. Rhodes says they both respect John Cena, but he’s the man who beat Cena for this title. They hold up their titles and stare each other down to wrap up a short but intense segment.

Fraxiom tell Ilja Dragunov they’ll have his back tonight against Tommaso Ciampa. Dragunov appreciates the offer but declines because this is his responsibility. John Cena introduced the US Open Challenge and Dragunov is carrying on its history. Everything seems to be cool.

United States Title: Ilja Dragunov vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Dragunov is defending and they trade forearms to start until Ciampa (with a taped up arm) goes after Dragunov’s previously banged up knee. Dragunov is sent outside and a suplex sends the knee into the steps. We take a break and come back with Ciampa staying on the knee, only for Dragunov to slug his way out of trouble. Some rolling German suplexes have Ciampa down but the knee gives out before Dragunov can suplex him.

Something like a John Cena ProtoBomb gets two but Ciampa catches him on top. That means an Air Raid Crash on the apron for two, only for Dragunov to come back with a missile dropkick to the back of the neck. We take another break and come back with Dragunov looking even more intense than usual but getting taken down with a super Air Raid Crash.

Dragunov strikes away but gets caught with a dragon screw legwhip. Ciampa is back up but the bloody Dragunov hits Torpedo Moscow. Cue the rest of DIY for a distraction, allowing Ciampa to get in a running knee for two. The Fairy Tale Ending is loaded up but Dragunov reverses into a cradle for the pin to retain at 16:57.

Rating: B+. They laid into each other here with Ciampa working on the knee, as a good villain should be doing. At the same time, Dragunov was at his best as he kept fighting through the adversity to retain. I’m not sure who is going to take the title from him but they’re making the idea of beating him into quite the moment.

Post match Ciampa jumps Dragunov but Carmelo Hayes makes the save.

Je’Von Evans is asked about his match tomorrow night but Miz interrupts, saying he doesn’t know why we’re talking to Evans. That doesn’t work for Evans, who wants a match tonight, with Miz saying he’ll get it going.

Here are the Wyatt Sicks for a chat. Uncle Howdy doesn’t like Solo Sikoa casting judgment on his family and it’s interesting that Sikoa’s real family has turned on him. If Sikoa wants the Tag Team Titles, come get them. Sikoa and company come up on the screen, saying they’re coming for the titles next week. The Wyatts are given the option to give them up early, because otherwise, all they can do is RUN.

Charlotte gives Alexa Bliss a pep talk before her match but Rhea Ripley comes in to suggest she and Iyo Sky are coming for the titles instead. Bliss and Charlotte aren’t impressed.

Various celebrities congratulate John Cena on his retirement.

Alexa Bliss vs. Lash Legend

Charlotte and Nia Jax are here too. Bliss sends her outside to start but Legend is back with something like a Dominator onto the barricade. Back in and Legend works on the arm before nailing a rather hard forearm. Jax teases getting involved but Charlotte kicks her down. Bliss tries a DDT but gets cut off for the Lash Extension and the pin at 3:35.

Rating: C. The match was short and to the point, with Legend basically squashing her to show off the power and strength. It would have been a stretch for Bliss to be able to hang with a powerhouse like Legend so the match was put together well. Keeping Legend’s match short made sense and they kept her safe here so well done all around.

Aleister Black and Zelina are ready for Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest.

Smackdown is back to three hours on January 2. Oh joy.

Video on Leon Slater/Je’Von Evans.

Miz vs. Je’Von Evans

They start slowly until Evans snaps off a quick hurricanrana to stagger Miz. With Miz on the floor, Evans takes him down with a springboard moonsault, only to be sent arm first into the post. We take a break and come back with Miz still on the arm but Evans kicks his way out of the corner. A very big moonsault misses though and Miz initiates John Cena’s finishing sequence. Evans fights back though and sends him outside for the dive. Back in and Evans’ springboard cutter is blocked, only for the second attempt to connect for the win at 8:08.

Rating: C+. Evans continues to feel like one of the best prospects around and that means we’re likely going to be seeing him a lot more often. It’s also why he was in there against Miz, who is capable of making anyone look good. Miz pulled it off again here, which really shouldn’t be a surprise given how talented he really is.

Nia Jax and Lash Legend mock Rhea Ripley, who isn’t intimidated. Damian Priest comes in to say he likes that intensity from Ripley, who turns around to stare down Jade Cargill. These teases are great, as there are quite a few matches in there.

Michin doesn’t like bullies so she wants to fight Jade Cargill…who jumps Michin from behind to leave her laying. Cargill comes to the ring to say that’s what happens when you step up to her so here is Michin with a kendo stick. Naturally she loads up a table (because THAT is a logical weapon here) but gets kicked in the face for her efforts. Cargill hits a chokeslam and leaves Michin laying. Could Michin and B-Fab look any more useless against Cargill?

Video on the Last Time Is Now tournament.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Video on Oba Femi.

Rhea Ripley/Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black/Zelina

The villains jump the heroes from behind to start, with Priest throwing Black into the corner to hammer away. Zelina tries to choke Priest, which goes as well as you would expect. Ripley throws her and hits a clothesline as we take a break. We come back with Zelina hitting a middle rope Meteora but getting muscled up for a hard toss. Priest comes back in for a lifting Downward Spiral to Black, followed by the Broken Arrow for two. Black is back up with a German suplex for two of his own as everything breaks down.

Zelina is picked up and launched at Ripley for a hurricanrana. Ripley tries Riptide but it gets reversed into…I have absolutely no idea (it looked like a Code Red but they landed so badly that commentary had no idea who got hurt). Code Red gives Zelina two but Ripley muscles her up into an electric chair. Black comes in for a standoff with Ripley until Priest is back in with a Razor’s Edge. Riptide finishes Zelina at 9:48.

Rating: C-. This was a rather hasty main event and I’m not sure why. The botch on the Code Red (I think) was pretty terrible, but other than that it was a lot of Ripley throwing Zelina around. This didn’t feel like the big ending of Priest vs. Black and that is something we need to see sooner rather than later. After all the hype, this was quite the letdown.

Overall Rating: C+. I liked the stuff with Rhodes/Femi and the opener, but the main event was pretty disappointing. Other than that, you had Legend and Evans getting some nice wins to get them off to a nice start. The problem is this show is coming the night before Saturday Night’s Main Event and that’s the show that really feels important. Not the best show here, but it had some decent pieces, including a heck of an opener to bail it out.

Results
Ilja Dragunov b. Tommaso Ciampa – Cradle
Lash Legend b. Alexa Bliss – Lash Extension
Je’Von Evans b. The Miz – OG Cutter
Rhea Ripley/Damian Priest b. Zelina/Aleister Black – Riptide to Zelina

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Smackdown
Date: November 28, 2025
Location: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the night before Survivor Series and in this case that means we have a Survivor Series match. That’s a nice thing to see, as the pay per view has been taken over by WarGames, leaving little time for the more traditional matches. Thankfully we get one here, plus some Last Time Is Now Tournament matches as a bonus. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at the women’s WarGames match.

LA Knight is told that he’s facing another mystery opponent. This doesn’t sit well with him, as the tournament is starting to get on his nerves. Just say who he is dropping with the BFT, YEAH.

Last Time Is Now Tournament Quarterfinals: Rusev vs. Jey Uso

After Uso runs his entrance back, we’re ready to go. Rusev sends him flying with a suplex and pulls him out of the air for a swinging release Rock Bottom. We take a break and come back with Uso fighting out of a bearhug. Rusev is sent outside for a dive, followed by a spear back inside for one. Uso dives into the Machka Kick for two and the Accolade goes on. The rope is grabbed for the escape and Uso hits another spear, followed by the Superfly Splash for the win at 9:35.

Rating: C+. It’s hard to imagine that the finals are anything but Uso vs. Gunther, so we’ve got some matches to get through on the way there. It should be an entertaining tournament and this was another nice enough stop on the way there. That being said, Rusev getting pinned clean in less than ten minutes, even by Uso, is not the best sign for his future.

Miz begs Nick Aldis to put him in Sheamus’ spot in the tournament. Aldis has to do it himself but R-Truth comes in to do his balls joke. The name is picked…and it happens to be Miz. Truth: “You just couldn’t take my balls could you?”

Damian Priest doesn’t know what Aleister Black and Zelina are talking about with making him break his code. Zelina comes in to mock him and another fight with Black is teased. With Zelina gone, Rhea Ripley comes in to hug Priest and has an idea for him later. Works for Priest.

Here is Chelsea Green, with Alba Fyre, to address the “Patrihots” as the new Women’s US Champion. She thanks the fans and brags about her success but here is Jade Cargill to interrupt and clean house. And then Green’s scheduled pyro goes off in a funny bit.

Rhea Ripley and company are fired up for Charlotte’s advantage match with Asuka.

Jade Cargill has a problem with anyone who runs their mouth. B-Fab comes up for a staredown but doesn’t say anything. Michin thinks something might have to be done about Cargill.

Last Time Is Now Tournament Quarterfinals: The Miz vs. LA Knight

Knight hammers away to start and knocks him down, followed by the stomping in the corner. Miz gets in a knee to get a breather, only to walk into a swinging neckbreaker. They head out into the aisle, where Miz kicks him in the face as we take a break. We come back with Knight suplexing his way out of a sleeper.

Another neckbreaker gives Knight two and a superplex gets the same. The BFT is escaped and Miz’s DDT gives him two of his own. Knight fights back and goes up, only to dive into the Skull Crushing Finale for two. Miz slaps on an STF, with Knight making it over to the ropes. Another Skull Crushing Finale is loaded up but Knight reverses into the BFT to advance at 11:07.

Rating: C+. I’m a bit surprised that Miz lost here but Knight piling up another win is a good sign. I can’t imagine he gets beyond Jey Uso to get a shot at Gunther but at least he’s getting to do something. Knight hasn’t seemed happy as of late so a heel turn could be in the cards, though he likely has at least one more match before he gets there.

Becky Lynch wants the team to follow her lead in WarGames because she’s kind of great at the thing. The team says they have this though, with Asuka being ready.

Video on tonight’s Survivor Series match.

Ilja Dragunov is talking about how he’s ready for Tama Tonga but Tommaso Ciampa comes in. Ciampa took Axiom’s mask next week and next time, it’s going to be the US Title. Dragunov calls him a jackass again.

Charlotte vs. Asuka

For the WarGames advantage. They fight over a rather aggressive lockup to start with Charlotte taking her into the corner for a kick to the head. The fight heads to the apron, where Asuka gets in a head fake and kicks her in the face as we take a break. We come back with Charlotte getting two off a high crossbody so Asuka kicks her in the face. Charlotte’s big boot gets two and the moonsault connects for the same, leaving Charlotte unsure of what to do next.

Asuka gets German suplexed for two more but she comes back with a sliding knee to the head. The cross armbreaker is countered into a powerbomb to give Charlotte another near fall. They head outside, where Asuka loads up the mist but hits the timekeeper instead. Charlotte knocks her over the announcers’ table and rams her face first into it before heading back inside. A quick Asuka Lock attempt is broken up so Charlotte hits Natural Selection for the pin at 11:24.

Rating: B-. This was starting to pick up when it just ended, though I’m curious about how the heroes having the advantage will go. That’s something you see a lot more often in modern wrestling, though it doesn’t guarantee much of anything. As for this match, it was two of the best ever getting to do their thing, though it never got to that top level.

Video on the men’s WarGames match.

Team Zayn vs. Team Sikoa

Sami Zayn, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rey Fenix
Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo

Survivor Series rules. Sikoa takes Sabin down to start and hammers away and it’s off to Tama for some chops. A bulldog gets Sabin out of trouble and it’s off to Shelley for a front facelock. Zayn comes in and gets dropped by Mateo, who hits the standing moonsault for two. Sikoa’s chinlock doesn’t last long and it’s off to Nakamura to fire off the kicks. Everything breaks down and most of the villains are sent outside, setting up Sabin’s rapid fire dive.

More dives ensue until Mateo is rolled up for the first fall at 6:17 (giving us a REALLY nice graphic showing Sikoa’s team and Mateo being listed as eliminated, which we somehow haven’t done in nearly forty years of these matches). Nakamura comes in and fights off an invading Sikoa, only to get dropped by Tama. The Cutthroat gets rid of Nakamura at 8:28 to tie us up and Loa’s spinebuster gets a fast two on Fenix. Back up and a hurricanrana gives Fenix the pin on Loa at 10:01 and it’s Sikoa coming in next.

Sikoa misses a Samoan Spike and gets crossbodied by Sabin, allowing the Guns to come in and clean house. Skull & Bones is broken up by Talla, who chokeslams Shelley onto the apron for the pin at 12:25. A clothesline gets rid of Sabin 12:57 (THERE IT IS) so it’s down to Zayn/Fenix vs. Talla/Tama/Sikoa. Fenix kicks away and shrugs off a crotching to hurricanrana Sikoa. Tama runs him over with an elbow though and Fenix is out at 14:34. So Zayn is all alone and starts with Talla, who sends him into the corner. Tama adds a splash but Zayn hits a quick Helluva Kick for the pin at 16:28.

Talla takes Zayn outside and misses a running boot, which is enough for the countout at 17:43. Back in and Spinning Solo gives Sikoa two, followed by Spinning Solo giving Sikoa two. A Superfly Splash gives Sikoa two but Zayn manages a sunset bomb for the same. Zayn exploders him into the corner but the Helluva Kick is countered with a superkick. The Blue Thunder Bomb gets two, only for Sikoa to hit a quick Samoan Spike for the pin at 20:59.

Rating: B. It was the fast forwarded version of the match, with Zayn doing his best Shawn Michaels 2003 impression. Zayn did his usual thing here and it went well, though Sikoa winning in the end is a good move, especially with him having the upcoming tournament match. The rest of the eliminations just kind of came and went, which granted is about all you can expect out of this kind of thing. Good enough though for a big warmup for Survivor Series.

Post match the Wyatt Sicks come out for the staredown, with Uncle Howdy giving Sikoa the Sister Abigail to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. It was a show that did a good job of setting up the semifinals of the tournament and giving us a push towards the pay per view. That’s more than I was expecting out of this show and it went by rather quickly, which helps with so much more coming from WWE tomorrow. Good show here, and hopefully they can keep that going with the bigger event.

Results
Jey Uso b. Rusev – Superfly Splash
LA Knight b. The Miz – BFT
Charlotte b. Asuka – Natural Selection
Team Sikoa b. Team Zayn last eliminating Zayn

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6