Smackdown
Date: March 7, 2025
Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s pretty rare that you see an event take place which turns WWE completely upside down, but that is what we are dealing with following Elimination Chamber. John Cena turned evil for the first time in over twenty years and there are a lot of people who are less than thrilled with the whole thing. There is a good chance we’ll be dealing with that here, plus the US Title is on the line as LA Knight gets his rematch against Shinsuke Nakamura. Let’s get to it.

Here is Elimination Chamber if you need a recap.

Earlier today, as people were coming to work, Drew McIntyre jumped Damian Priest.

Elimination Chamber recap, though we don’t see the Cena beatdown.

Here is Randy Orton to get things going. Orton talks about how crazy things have been lately but ever since he started, John Cena has always been at the top. Now though, he’s just a bottom for Rock, which gives a new meaning to the term “Rock Bottom”. That brings him to Kevin Owens, with Orton admiring the wrestler but not liking the person. Orton thinks Owens’ jealousy has destroyed him, like Owens’ jealousy made him try to destroy Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn.

That brings us back to Orton, who had to come back from a career ending surgery. Owens was trying to give Zayn such a career ending injury at Elimination Chamber. That’s what brought Orton out, and he was hearing those voices for the first time in many years. Now he’s ready to prove that Pat McAfee is the second best punter in WWE. This was a very serious and fired up Orton, which you don’t see very often.

Chelsea Green yells at Nick Aldis about her title match tonight but Tiffany Stratton doesn’t want to hear it. Piper Niven accuses Stratton of censorship and gets a match tonight as a result.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Piper Niven

Non-title. Stratton jumps over her to start and tells Niven to come on, earning herself a big shoulder. Niven’s backsplash misses and Stratton hits a basement dropkick but Niven sends her to the floor. The flip dive off the apron wipes Stratton out and we take an early break. Back with Stratton firing off some clotheslines and a handspring elbow in the corner. Another basement dropkick gives Stratton another two and the Swanton connects for another near fall. Niven powers her down and loads up the Vader Bomb, only to miss so Stratton can nail the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the pin at 7:43.

Rating: C+. Well, the fans are responding to Stratton a bit more positively so things are at least going in the right direction. It’s another example of the simple, classic story here with Stratton having to find a way around the monster. That worked out well, though the buzzsaw that is Charlotte is still waiting for her at Wrestlemania.

Post match Charlotte runs in and takes out Stratton’s knee, setting up the Figure eight to make it even worse.

Nick Aldis explains the issues in the tag division and yes he does have a chart to explain the whole story (which is actually rather helpful). The solution: a #1 contenders match this week and the Street Profits (not in the #1 contenders match) get their title shot next week.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. Pretty Deadly vs. Los Garza

For the #1 contendership. Angel tags himself in to start and is immediately dropkicked by Wilson but Garza TAKES OFF HIS PANTS and all six get in to brawl. Pretty Deadly and the Guns are kicked to the floor, setting up the stereo dives from Los Garza as we take a break. Back with Shelley taking Pretty Deadly down, allowing the tag off to Sabin, who catches Berto with a tornado DDT for two. Everything breaks down and we hit the parade of knockdowns until Sabin hits a dive onto a bunch of people. Skull & Bones is loaded up but Prince reverses into a backslide for the clean pin on Sabin at 7:06.

Rating: B-. There was a lot of action for such little time, especially when you factor out the break. Pretty Deadly winning isn’t the biggest shock but them winning clean certainly is, as that is just not something that happens. This sets up some interesting possibilities, which is a nice sign for the division. There are several stories going on at once, though the reactions to them are only so strong thus far.

We look back at Jade Cargill returning at Elimination Chamber and beating Naomi down.

We look at some reactions to John Cena’s turn.

Here is Bianca Belair for a chat. She should be on top of the world because she is on the way to Wrestlemania but two of her best friends are fighting. Belair doesn’t believe that Naomi did this and Jade Cargill won’t talk to her so she needs some answers from Naomi right now. Cue Naomi, who says she and Belair need to get their Tag Team Titles back. Belair flat out asks Naomi if she did it but Naomi goes on a rant about how Cargill took advantage of Cargill or not. She doesn’t say yes or no so Belair wants a flat out answer. Naomi admits that she did it and Belair is in tears.

Naomi said she did it for Belair, who says they are done and walks out. As Belair leaves, Naomi gets angrier and says she should have pushed Cargill sooner and harder. Naomi: “YOU UNGRATEFUL B****!” Cue Jade Cargill, who shares a quick look with Belair (whose face seems to say “do what you have to do, I’m out”) and Naomi is quickly destroyed again. Naomi as a villain is an interesting way to go, but she doesn’t seem to be the new big bad or anything close to it.

We look at the issues between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest.

McIntyre blames Priest for costing him the chance to be the World Champion at Wrestlemania.

We look at Cody Rhodes surprising Lex Luger with an induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame. Unfortunately, we don’t get any Summerslam 1993 balloons.

Charlotte talks about how the women’s division is soft but B-Fab comes in to say no one is interested in bowing down to her. The challenge is issued for next week. I’m not a big fan of Charlotte, but B-Fab is going to get massacred here, and that’s what should happen.

Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa

Sikoa bounces off of Strowman to start and is knocked to the floor for his efforts. The ensuing charge sends Strowman into the steps though and Sikoa adds a running Umaga attack as we take a break. Back with Sikoa managing a Samoan drop, allowing him to stop for some posing. Another Umaga attack connects but Sikoa takes too long loading up a third one, allowing Strowman to run him over. Strowman hits the running powerslam but Tama Tonga comes in for the DQ at 6:56.

Rating: C+. Again, there was only so much that could be done with so little time but Sikoa was wrestling more of a power style here, which worked well for him. The ending was a good thing to see as you don’t need Strowman losing another match. I’m not sure how far Strowman can go against the evil group, but at least he looked dominant enough at different parts of the match.

Post match Strowman clears the ring but here is Jacob Fatu for the big showdown. The brawl is on with Strowman getting the better of things to start, only to be sent over the barricade. They fight over to the tech area and Strowman slips out of a Samoan drop, setting up a chokeslam through a table (and through the water bottles). Fatu gets up and backs away anyway.

LA Knight is ready to face Shinsuke Nakamura and get the US Title back. All it takes is one BFT to put Nakamura back to factory settings and it’s time to give Old Glory a better representation than it’s had lately.

Chelsea Green yells at Piper Niven for not being ready for the street fight. Zelina Vega comes in to say she’s coming for whomever comes out as Women’s US Champion tonight.

Women’s US Title: Chelsea Green vs. Michin

Green is defending in a street fight (and yes she is dressed as Cactus Jack from the 2000 Royal Rumble because she is that awesome) and has Piper Niven with her. Michin on the other hand is in an Eagles jersey and brings the weapons with her to start slugging away before the bell. They get inside for said bell and Green gets drop toeholded face first into an open chair. It’s already time for a table (yeah you knew that was coming) and we take a break.

Back with Michin spraying her with a fire extinguisher and loading up another table, only for Niven to break it up. Green manages to go Coast To Coast but cue B-Fab to beat on Niven on the floor. Michin fights up with kendo stick and hammers away. A Cannonball crushes a trashcan against Green for two and now the table is brought in.

Eat Defeat sends Green onto the table, which breaks before anything happens. Michin hits a top rope backsplash onto Green onto the broken table but someone in a hoodie (those freaking hoodies) pulls Green out. A kick to the head rocks Michin and it’s Alba Fyre, apparently now part of Green’s team. Fyre hits a Canadian Destroyer onto a chair and Green retains at 10:03.

Rating: B-. This was the usual street fight style match but what matters in the end was about having Fyre joining the team. With Isla Dawn gone, it’s nice to see Fyre having something to do, as she’s far too talented to be left off the shows. If nothing else, Green continues to be awesome, with the Jack cosplay being outstanding.

Santos Escobar isn’t happy with Los Garza. Andrade comes in to seemingly recruit Berto.

TKO is launching a boxing promotion in partnership with Saudi Arabia.

We get the long look at the John Cena turn.

Here is Cody Rhodes (with a HORRIBLE looking eye) for a chat. Rhodes talks about how he didn’t see what happened at Elimination Chamber coming. John Cena turned on him after earning the title shot at Wrestlemania. Rhodes spent two years driving Cena around to learn everything he could.

Now though, Cena has given up and, with Rhodes trying to keep his composure, he talks about how Cena had acted like his friend. Then at some point, Cena said the title was going to get heavier every day and now Cena believes that he is the last of his kind. Now the title has never felt lighter so if Cena wants some, come get some. This was the fired up Cody that it had to be and it worked well enough.

Miz pitches Nick Aldis an interview with Cody Rhodes next week on Melo Don’t MizTV. Carmelo Hayes comes in to mock Randy Orton, who pops up and gets a match with Hayes next week.

Saturday Night’s Main Event is back on May 24.

Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso

Jimmy jumps him to start and knocks McIntyre to the floor, where a dive is cut off with a right hand. A quick charge sends McIntyre over the announcers’ table and we take a break. Back with Jimmy hitting a Samoan drop and nailing the running Umaga attack. A superkick gives Jimmy two but the Superfly Splash misses. The Claymore finishes Jimmy at 7:16.

Rating: C+. This was a win that McIntyre has been missing after something of a string of losses and it evens things up after his loss to Uso a few weeks back. That’s all this needed to be, as McIntyre is likely on to bigger and better things in the near future. Jimmy still needs something to do, and a loss like this isn’t the best sign for his immediate future.

Post match Damian Priest runs in to jump McIntyre. Security can’t quite keep them apart and Priest gets in a few more shots.

Shinsuke Nakamura is ready to finish LA Knight for good.

Video on DIY vs. the Street Profits for the Tag Team Titles next week.

DIY is ready to retain the titles next week because they are the best team. They hold a moment of silence for the Street Profits, with Byron Saxton screwing it up.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

US Title: LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Knight is defending and knees him down to start but Knight is back up with some right hands. They go to the floor, with Nakamura hitting a running knee to take over again. The sliding German suplex drops Knight again but Knight knocks him outside, this time for a baseball slide.

We take a break and come back with Knight hitting his jumping neckbreaker into a powerslam into the jumping elbow for two. Nakamura cuts off the superplex attempt though and hits a nasty belly to back superplex for another near fall. Kinshasa is cut off so Nakamura goes up, only for Knight to run the ropes for the superplex. There’s the top rope elbow but Nakamura heads outside to grab a chair.

The referee takes that away so Nakamura tries the mist, which hits the referee by mistake. Knight’s rollup gets no count so Nakamura kicks him in the head again and a Meiko Satomura Scorpio Rising connects. Nakamura grabs the chair again but gets caught with the BFT, meaning another referee can run in to count the pin and give Knight the title back at 11:10.

Rating: B-. They did a nice job with the fake out of having the rollup with the referee down, only to have Knight get the title back anyway. It’s a bit of a weird way to go as Nakamura only won the title a few months ago and now Knight has it back. That’s good for Knight though, as he was kind of floating around without much to do. It’s a big win for him and hopefully he gets to have a bit of a better reign this time around.

The big celebration ends the show.

Overall Rating: B-. It wasn’t a great show but they had to deal with the huge moment from Elimination Chamber. You can only get so far with that without having Cena or the Rock here, but that’s going to be saved for a bigger moment down the line. The title change at the end was a big deal and we got some emotional promos. You can see a lot of Wrestlemania coming from here and this show took some steps in getting it ready. Now just take those next steps in the coming weeks and things should go well.

Results
Tiffany Stratton b. Piper Niven – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
Pretty Deadly b. Motor City Machine Guns and Los Garza – Backslide to Sabin
Braun Strowman b. Solo Sikoa via DQ when Tama Tonga interfered
Chelsea Green b. Michin – Canadian Destroyer onto a chair
Drew McIntyre b. Jimmy Uso – Claymore
LA Knight b. Shinsuke Nakamura – BFT onto a chair

Remember to follow me on Twitter @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 28, 2025
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s the night before Elimination Chamber and that means we need one last push towards the show. Odds are that is going to include more of Cody Rhodes being unsure about whether or not he should accept the Rock’s offer, plus some final pushes towards the Elimination Chamber matches. That could make for an interesting enough show so let’s get to it.

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

We open with a long recap of Rock telling Cody Rhodes that he wants Cody’s soul.

Cody Rhodes arrives and is told he has a private locker room, courtesy of the Final Boss.

Here is Trish Stratus in a Maple Leafs jersey to get things going, just in case the fans didn’t love her enough. She gets rather emotional at the THANK YOU TRISH chants and then says “it’s the jersey isn’t it”. Trish asks what year it is when we have Lilian Garcia introducing her, the Rock is back and she’s wrestling in her hometown.

Stratus talks about how it’s a generational thing because the dad of a young girl in the front row probably had her poster on the wall. Tomorrow will be the first time her kids will see her wrestle live and here is her partner, Tiffany Stratton (also in a Leafs jersey). They declare it Trishy Time and then take the jerseys off and throw them into the crowd.

Cue Chelsea Green and Piper Niven (yes, she is dressed as the Mountie) to interrupt, with Green talking about how honored she is to represent the better country of America. Stratton makes the challenge and Stratus thinks it’s a good idea so get a referee out here right now. This was Stratton going for more of a pure hero and it could have gone far worse. Have her adjust her talking style and focus more on her athleticism and it could work.

Chelsea Green vs. Tiffany Stratton

Non-title. We’re joined in progress with Green getting two off an enziguri and grabbing a chinlock. Stratton gets out and hits some clotheslines, followed by the spinebuster for two. Green’s Rough Ryder gets two but Stratton hits a quick dropkick. Niven breaks up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever so Stratton hits a dive, only for Candice LeRae and Nia Jax to jump Stratus. Jax pulls Stratton to the floor for the DQ at 3:13 shown.

Rating: C. They didn’t have time to do much here but thankfully it was a DQ rather than having one of the champions lose. At the same time, this was Stratton’s debut as a more clean cut hero and that might have warranted a pinfall, albeit not over Green. Odds are she can get that at Elimination Chamber, but this is a match that could have probably been a big segment instead.

Post match the beatdown is on but Stratus makes the save and the villains skedaddle.

Nick Aldis announces a one night tournament for the #1 contendership to the US Title. This feels rather unnecessary and like little more than a way to fill in time.

Jacob Fatu isn’t happy with Solo Sikoa, who thinks Fatu should bring the US Title home to the family. Fatu seems pleased.

Cody Rhodes’ dressing room has a bunch of alcohol and what I assume is sushi. R-Truth is here and thinks it might be worth selling out for, with Rhodes telling him to help himself. R-Truth is glad Rhodes isn’t being shellfish.

US Title #1 Contenders Qualifying Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Andrade

Fatu runs him over with a shoulder to start but Andrade gets in a low bridge. A hurricanrana sets up a big moonsault to the floor and we take a break. Back with Andrade hitting a poisonrana and they’re both down. Fatu is back up to run Andrade over, only for Andrade to hit a boot to the head in the corner. The double jump moonsault gets two on Fatu as the fans declare this awesome. Back up and a sunset flip is blocked as Fatu sits on his chest, setting up an implant DDT. The triple jump moonsault gives Fatu the pin at 8:22.

Rating: B. This is where you can have fun with some people you might not have expected to see together and it wound up going well. They had good chemistry together and that made for a nice match here. Fatu gets to beat someone else but he certainly didn’t smash Andrade, which he shouldn’t be doing given what Andrade has done before.

We recap the Street Profits being all violent and aggressive as of late.

Earlier today, the Profits refused to apologize to Legado del Fantasma and Nick Aldis had to break it up.

Los Garza vs. Street Profits

Or not as DIY and the Motor City Machine Guns run in for the big brawl. No match.

Drew McIntyre comes up to Cody Rhodes and talks about how they would do anything to get to the top. Rhodes has a chance to jump up there and McIntyre looks forward to finding out that Rhodes sold out a long time ago.

Video on John Cena going to the Elimination Chamber…and Drew McIntyre comes into the arena, saying cut it off. McIntyre says Cena is going to become a hypocrite, just like he did when he decided he was in the Elimination Chamber. He sits on the announcers’ table and says it would be interested in seeing what 2010 Cena would think of modern Cena.

First up, Cena would make a bad joke about the bald spot that needs its own zip code but here is Damian Priest to interrupt. Priest: “R-Truth makes more sense than you do!” McIntyre says he was screwed over last year, including at Wrestlemania. The reality is that McIntyre won the World Title but was so obsessed with CM Punk that Priest was able to cash in Money In The Bank. McIntyre (sat in Punk’s signature style): “I am not obsessed with CM Punk.”

Priest is ready to beat McIntyre at Elimination Chamber and reminds McIntyre that be dropped him the last time they were here. McIntyre is ready to let Priest try to do it again but here is Seth Rollins to interrupt. Rollins talks about how this place was looking fun so he had to come in and join the party. He blames McIntyre’s terrible Money In The Bank cash in for not winning the World Heavyweight Title last year and gets in Priest’s face.

Cue CM Punk to interrupt, saying that Rollins looks like an oven mitt (close enough) and he’ll Rollins tomorrow night. He doesn’t have any issue with Priest, but he’s ready to take him out in the Elimination Chamber. That leaves the other guy who is obsessed with him, but Punk is obsessed with going to Wrestlemania. Someone asked him if he would be willing to sell his soul to get to the top and they’re all dealing with serious Punk tomorrow.

Punk calls out John Cena for having his retirement tour and not showing up but the other three say they’re ready to take him out. McIntyre will just complain on the internet if he loses…and here is Cena….’s music, with Logan Paul coming out instead. Paul makes it clear that Cena doesn’t care about Canada before mocking Rollins, who is dressed like he lost a bet. There is a Priest standing in the ring but he is still the answer to WWE’s prayers. Paul calls out Punk, who chases him away. This was the “a bunch of people talk to each other” and it worked well.

We go to the Kickoff Show, where a bunch of women got in a brawl.

US Title #1 Contenders Qualifying Match: LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar

Knight drives him into the corner to start before Escobar bounces out of a headscissors. A Side Effect looks to set up Knight’s jumping top rope elbow but Escobar gets up instead. Knight sends him outside, where Escobar gets in a whip to the steps as we take a break. Back with the two of them striking away until Knight plants him down with a neckbreaker.

Escobar’s armbar doesn’t get him very far as Knight is back with some clotheslines into a jumping elbow drop. A missed charge sends Knight into the corner, setting up a top rope hurricanrana. Escobar goes up top, only to dive into the BFT (and a nice one at that) to give Knight the pin at 11:16.

Rating: B-. Another nice back and forth match here with Knight getting the win, as he should have given his recent issues with Shinsuke Nakamura. Escobar is another example of someone who can work well with almost anyone in the ring and that’s a good way to make Knight look better. I’m not sure if Knight is getting the title shot, but he would make the most sense of all of the options.

Here is Sami Zayn for a chat. He knows there is a long history between himself and Kevin Owens, so he wants Owens out here right now. They can say their final piece to each other and that’s it before tomorrow. We cut to Owens in an empty stadium (the location for tomorrow’s show) where he can talk about how they have never had a bigger match.

Owens promises to watch Zayn’s family suffer after tomorrow because this is all Zayn’s fault. Zayn says he is nervous, but it’s because of what he will do to Owens. He brings up the names of Owens’ parents (that gets Owens serious) and says it’s on tomorrow. Owens says he’ll see Zayn tomorrow to wrap it up. As usual, these two feel important together and that will be the case again tomorrow.

Carmelo Hayes says he won’t need the Miz tonight. With Hayes gone, Cody Rhodes comes in and Miz asks him what he’s going to do. Rhodes isn’t sure, but Miz talks about how Rhodes could be so much more in Hollywood if he takes the deal.

US Title #1 Contenders Qualifying Match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Braun Strowman

Strowman throws him around to start and they go outside, but here is Tama Tonga for a distraction. Cue Solo Sikoa with a chair to Strowman’s back for no effect so Strowman takes the chair. Hayes drops to the mat though and the referee sees Strowman holding the chair, which is enough for the DQ at 1:27. Well that was quick.

Post match Strowman powerbombs Tonga.

Naomi, Bayley and Bianca Belair are ready to fight in their six woman tag tonight.

Bayley/Naomi/Bianca Belair vs. Roxanne Perez/Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez

Naomi and Morgan slug it out to start with Naomi kicking her into the corner without much trouble. All six get in for the slugout until Bayley drops Morgan with a suicide dive. Another dive lets her point at the sign and we take a break. Back with Bayley bulldogging Rodriguez out of the corner, allowing Belair to come back in. Belair muscles Rodriguez up for a suplex and the standing moonsault gets two.

Everything breaks down and Naomi gives Rodriguez a hanging Pedigree on the apron, followed by a swinging kick to Perez. Bayley hits the top rope elbow on Perez before Naomi and Raquel crash out to the floor. The Bayley To Belly is broken up and Perez goes after Bayley’s knee, setting up the Pop Rox for the pin at 8:52.

Rating: C+. Perez gets another win and that is a good sign for her future. I could go for seeing more of what she is going to get to do, as she is more than ready for the main roster. While she isn’t likely going to win the Chamber, WWE is giving her a strong push to start and that could go a long way.

Post match Alexa Bliss runs in to lay Perez out. The Wyatt Sicks logo pops up because we just have to do that for some reason.

Charlotte is ready for Tiffany Stratton at Wrestlemania.

Travis Scott will be at Elimination Chamber.

Elimination Chamber rundown.

Shinsuke Nakamura promises to make an example out of whomever challenges him next.

Jacob Fatu is ready to smash the other two.

Jacob Fatu vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. LA Knight

For a future US Title shot. Fatu stomps on Knight in the corner and glares at Hayes for daring to stop him. Knight gets back up to knock Fatu outside and hits an elbow on Hayes, only to get pulled outside by Fatu. Hayes joins them and Fatu misses a big charge into the timekeeper’s area as we take a break.

Back with Fatu in control again and taking turns knocking both of them down. Hayes manages a springboard DDT to Fatu, who just screams at him before hitting the pop up Samoan drop. A BFT hits Fatu but Hayes is back up with the First 48 for two on Knight. Back up and Hayes is thrown outside onto Fatu, who sends him into the steps. Knight hits a nice spinning dive to send Fatu into the steps but Hayes is back with Nothing But Net. Fatu pops up for a Swanton to break up the cover and hits the triple jump moonsault, only for Knight to steal the pin at 12:18.

Rating: B. They were working here with Hayes being there as a way to give Knight the pin without beating Fatu. What matters the most here is that Knight is getting his title match at some point, though I’m not sure we needed to have a tournament to set that up. Either way, Knight winning the title back isn’t out of the question, and he looked good on the way there.

CM Punk asks Cody Rhodes what the Rock could possibly offer him, though Punk says he’s glad he never got that offer.

Here is Michael Cole for an in-ring chat with Rhodes. Cole gets right to the point, saying that Rhodes has the chance to sell out tomorrow night. The Rhodes that Cole has known for twenty years wouldn’t do it but this is a different Rock. Cole goes over what Rhodes could get out of this, including a limited schedule, a bunch of money, and a big red truck, with Rhodes’ name and logo on it, which rolls into the arena.

Rock pops up on screen with his own version of the truck, saying he knows Rhodes is going to do the right thing. He brings up talking to Dusty Rhodes in the hope that Cody will do the right thing and let the Rock have what he wants. Rock busts out a weightlifting belt labeled “Cody’s Soul” with the date of June 11, 2015, the date Dusty died. He’ll see Cody tomorrow for the decision.

Cody is unsure to end the show. It helped to have this laid out a bit more as that helps explain why Cody might want to take the deal, but it’s still hard to believe he’ll do it. That being said, it very well may be the point, as Rock might have someone else ready to take him up on the offer.

Overall Rating: C+. This third hour is dragging the show down and that was on clear display here. It felt like there was a lot on here for the sake of filling in time, with the whole tournament thing feeling like it was just added in. On the positive side, the wrestling itself was good and they fleshed out the Cody deal a lot more. That being said, it’s really hard to get interested in whatever the Rock is talking about as this version of him isn’t making good TV. Get him mad and things are better, but for now it’s a lot of waiting to get to the better stuff. Not a bad show, but dang getting back to two hours sounds great.

Results
Tiffany Stratton b. Chelsea Green via DQ when Nia Jax interfered
Jacob Fatu b. Andrade – Triple jump moonsault
LA Knight b. Santos Escobar – BFT
Carmelo Hayes b. Braun Strowman via DQ when Strowman was accused of using a chair
Roxanne Perez/Liv Morgan/Raquel Rodriguez b. Bayley/Naomi/Bianca Belair – Pop Rox to Bayley
LA Knight b. Jacob Fatu and Carmelo Hayes – Triple jump moonsault to Hayes

Remember to follow me on Twitter @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 21, 2025
Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re closing in on Wrestlemania but the big story this week would be the return of the Rock. That could be for a variety of reasons and now we get to see what he is going to be announcing. Other than that, Elimination Chamber is just over a week away and the show’s namesake matches are officially set. Let’s get to it.

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

Cody Rhodes is here for the main event…but Nick Aldis reveals that the Rock has pulled him from said match.

Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso

During his entrance, Jimmy mocks McIntyre’s chances of going to Wrestlemania. McIntyre mocks the Yeet pose and gets punched in the face for his early efforts. An overhead belly to belly sends Uso flying again and they go outside for a ram into the barricade. Back in and McIntyre says Jimmy will not be going to Wrestlemania so he knocks McIntyre outside for the suicide dive. A hard whip into the steps drops Jimmy again though and we take a break.

We come back with Jimmy knocking him off the top, meaning it’s a Whisper In The Wind to drop McIntyre again. The Samoan drop gives Jimmy two but McIntyre catches him with a headbutt. A superkick and spear give Jimmy two so McIntyre comes back with a neckbreaker. More trash talking ensues but Jimmy rolls him up for the pin at 11:18.

Rating: C+. It’s good for Jimmy to get a nice win like this, even if it was off of a fluke rollup. It was a clean pin over an established main eventer who is likely going to be in a big match at Wrestlemania no matter what. Jimmy needed this a lot more than McIntyre did and points for going with the surprise, which didn’t really hurt McIntyre all that much.

Post match McIntyre wrecks Jimmy and loads up a Claymore against the post but referees break it up. Then McIntyre breaks free and hits a Claymore (no post).

We look at Solo Sikoa returning last week but Damian Priest won his Elimination Chamber qualifying match anyway.

Sikoa arrives and says what happened was an accident. Jacob Fatu says if it wasn’t an accident, Sikoa wouldn’t be here. Tonight, the two of them are running the plays instead.

Video on the men’s Elimination Chamber match.

Earlier tonight, R-Truth told Carmelo Hayes that they had a tag match tonight and Hayes was surprised that he would be teaming with Miz.

Zelina Vega is tired of being treated as too small to be a star and we hear about some of her success. She’ll keep fighting.

Carmelo Hayes/The Miz vs. R-Truth/LA Knight

R-Truth says that Knight is a local legend, because his name is Louisiana Knight. Ok that’s so stupid it’s hilarious. R-Truth takes Hayes down and gets two off a rollup, followed by the hiptoss. He counts his own near fall, despite not actually being on top of Hayes. The armdrag goes on and….R-Truth tags the Miz in as we take a break.

Back with R-Truth hitting a Stundog Millionaire and making the tag to Knight to pick up the pace. Knight seems to drop Miz on what looked like a tilt-a-whirl powerslam but does block Hayes’ First 48. R-Truth comes back in for the John Cena sequence but Miz breaks up the STF. Cue Shinsuke Nakamura to jump Knight though and the First 48 gives Hayes the pin on Knight at 10:04.

Rating: C. I laughed at the LA part but the stuff after the break was pretty much just generic. R-Truth was doing his usual fun stuff but there was nothing all that interesting otherwise. Nakamura vs. Knight has been going on for a long time now and the other people involved just weren’t all that interesting. This felt like a one joke idea to set up the ending sequence.

Mike Tyson will be at WWE World.

Video on Charlotte, who says she doesn’t have to call herself the greatest of all time. She’s officially facing Tiffany Stratton for the title at Wrestlemania.

Here is Stratton for a chat before her match. Stratton knows that people are obsessed with her since she won the title and now she is ready to make sure that the unstoppable force comes to a bitter end. For now though, she wants to talk about Charlotte, who took her sweet time officially challenging her for the title. The rumors are true: no one loves to kick a woman down like Charlotte. Stratton is coming for the top spot in WWE but here are Nia Jax and Candice LeRae to interrupt. Jax promises to come for the title after Elimination Chamber. Stratton laughs it off and is ready to beat LeRae tonight.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Candice LeRae

Non-title and we’re joined in progress with Stratton working on the arm but here is Charlotte to interrupt. The distraction lets LeRae hit a Hennig necksnap but Charlotte is right back up with a running hip attack. Charlotte joins commentary to brag about how great she is, just stopping enough to see Stratton leave a moonsault to the floor short.

We take a break and come back with Stratton hitting a spinebuster for two as Charlotte says Stratton’s career comes from copying one more. Stratton misses a Swanton but LeRae misses a moonsault, only to be pulled out to the floor. Back in and Stratton hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the pin at 9:49.

Rating: C+. It’s good for Stratton to win as she is going to be an underdog against Charlotte no matter what and it would not surprise me whatsoever to see Charlotte walk out with the title at Wrestlemania. The other stuff with Jax and LeRae feels like it’s on another planet for Stratton right now and that’s a weird way to go with Wrestlemania so close. Just keep her strong and don’t let Charlotte, or Jax, run her over and it should be fine.

Post match the beatdown is on but Trish Stratus runs in for the save. Jax puts Stratus and Stratton down for a double Annihilator to leave them laying. With the villains gone, Charlotte comes in for the sign pointing. This whole thing was fine on paper, but I’m going to need a lot more of a reason to cheer for Stratton. She’s still a villain and hasn’t had a big moment to turn her to the good side. Right now, it’s Charlotte being more evil than Stratton and that’s not good enough. They really need to work on that, and I’m not sure how well it’s going to go at Wrestlemania if things don’t improve in a big way.

Damian Priest runs into Cody Rhodes and respectfully says he’s coming for Rhodes’ title. That’s fine with Rhodes, who leaves. Braun Strowman comes in and they’re good for tonight’s tag match.

Video on the women’s Elimination Chamber.

Naomi and Bianca Belair are ready to defend the Women’s Tag Team Titles against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. They’re convinced the two of them attacked Jade Cargill too.

Evolve is coming.

Video on Alexa Bliss, who has changed while she was gone but this place is still the same. She has won the Elimination Chamber before and she’ll do it again.

Naomi vs. Liv Morgan

Bianca Belair and Raquel Rodriguez are both here too and it’s a four way brawl before the bell. Naomi and Belair are laid out. No match.

Post break Nick Aldis throws Morgan and Rodriguez out. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven come in and say they’re ready to take Belair and Naomi’s spots in the Elimination Chamber. Aldis doesn’t think that’s necessary, though Green refers to herself as “the greatest Canadian export since maple syrup.” Aldis puts her in a match on Smackdown next week instead.

Here is the Rock for a chat, thankfully without that personalized belt. Rock says you know it’s important if he’s here and we get the catchphrase…and the announcement that Wrestlemania is coming back to New Orleans next year. It’s on April 11/12 2026 and Rock belts out a little When The Saints Go Marching In, though this is NOT singalong with the Final Boss. Rock insults the fans and says he’s also here to call out Cody Rhodes.

Rock talks about how Cody deserves these cheers and then talks about their good night in Los Angeles last month. They have become friends since then and their moms are even friends now. Yes the Rock is on the Board Of Directors but he wants Cody to be more than a great champion. He wants Cody to be HIS champion. Cody isn’t sure what this is about but says he’s their (meaning the fans) champion.

The Rock brags about his social media following and wants Cody to go even higher. If Cody is his champion, the dreams of Cody, his wife and daughter can come true. What the Rock wants is a brother, and that’s what he wants Cody to be. Last year, he wanted Cody to step aside but Cody did something censored. Then Cody slapped him, which no one does and gets away with it. He wants Cody to think about it and give him an answer at Elimination Chamber. The Rock wants his soul, which has Cody confused.

I have a really bad feeling about where this is going and the Rock is starting to wear thin. He’s a major star, but it feels like he is coming in out of nowhere and is suddenly involved in the World Title picture. He very well might not be wrestling, but it would be fine to see a WWE Title match at Wrestlemania which doesn’t have Rock and everything else involved. I’m curious to see where it goes at Elimination Chamber, but dang Rock takes his sweet time getting to the point.

Tag Team Titles: DIY vs. Pretty Deadly

DIY is defending and want a moment of silence for Pretty Deadly before the bell but get cut off rather quickly. Pretty Deadly clears the ring while the music is still playing but Prince gets kneed to the floor and we take an early break. Back with Prince and Ciampa hitting stereo crossbodies for a collision, allowing the tag off to Wilson. A Codebreaker out of the corner gets two on Gargano…and the Street Profits come in for the double DQ at 6:15. Not enough shown to rate but it was just picking up when the Profits interrupted.

Post match the Profits beat them down so here are the Motor City Machine Guns, who are beaten up as well.

We look at John Cena’s time in the Elimination Chamber.

We look at Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens in an unsanctioned match being set for the Elimination Chamber.

Owens says Zayn got what he wanted and couldn’t just take the beating he deserved. Has Zayn thought about his family? Owens moves the camera to show that he’s outside Zayn’s house and watching them through the window. He’ll see Zayn in Toronto, but remember that Zayn asked for this. That shot made it feel a lot more serious and that’s a good thing.

Damian Priest/Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu/Solo Sikoa

Tama Tonga is here with the villains. During the entrance, Fatu promises revenge as Sikoa stays silent. Priest backs Sikoa into the corner to start but Sikoa headbutts his way out of trouble. Sikoa spends too much time talking to Fatu though and Priest knocks him down, allowing the tag to Strowman.

Everything breaks down and Strowman charges around ringside, only to have Fatu knock him into the timekeeper’s area. We take a break and come back with Strowman fighting up but getting run over by Fatu again. Sikoa hits a running Umaga attack in the corner and Fatu hits his own, only to try once too often and get cut off.

Strowman hits a spinebuster for a needed breather and the double tag brings in Priest to face Sikoa. A superkick staggers Priest, who is right back with his lifting Downward Spiral for two. The Old School crossbody connects but Priest has to take out an interfering Tonga. Fatu gets in a cheap shot and Spinning Solo gets two. Back in and Fatu accidentally superkicks Sikoa and Strowman takes Fatu out. South of Heaven finishes Sikoa at 12:33.

Rating: B-. This was a nice hoss match and I’ll take that in the main event. Priest is being treated as a big deal around here and putting him in the main event slots, even in a show like this, is a good sign for his career. Sikoa’s fall continuing is a logical way to go as well, as there is no reason to keep Fatu as the monster much longer. Let him take Sikoa’s spot, and that seems to be what we are going to see sooner than later.

Overall Rating: C+. This was a weird show, in that the big focal point was in the middle and we’re going to have to wait and see what that means next weekend. Other than that, the Stratton/Charlotte feud is going to need some work and some of the other stuff was only so interesting. The problem with having Elimination Chamber set is it only leaves so much to be done on TV. That was the case here and while it wasn’t a terrible show, it wasn’t something you need to see.

Results
Jimmy Uso b. Drew McIntyre – Rollup
Carmelo Hayes/The Miz b. R-Truth/LA Knight – First 48 to R-Truth
Tiffany Stratton b. Candice LeRae – Prettiest Moonsault Ever
DIY vs. Street Profits went to a double DQ when the Street Profits interfered
Damian Priest/Braun Strowman b. Jacob Fatu/Solo Sikoa – South of Heaven to Sikoa

Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com 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 14, 2025
Location: Capitol One Arena, Washington DC
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Wade Barrett

It’s Valentine’s Day and that means…well very little really as we are likely to be in for a pretty run of the mill show. We have a big hoss fight in the form of an Elimination Chamber qualifying match tonight and that should be fun. Other than that, we need some non-Chamber matches for the show in a few weeks and we might find some of those this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Vic Joseph is filling in for Joe Tessitore for one week. Interesting that it isn’t Corey Graves, who has had that spot before.

We look back at last week with Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso beating Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu, followed by the return of Solo Sikoa.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat. Now that Jey Uso has chosen to challenge Gunther at Wrestlemania, the Elimination Chamber will determine Rhodes’ challenger. Will it be Logan Paul? Maybe CM Punk? Or Drew McIntyre? What about John Cena? Well the fans seem to favor Punk or Cena, but Rhodes would rather talk about someone it will not be, which would be Solo Sikoa. Cue McIntyre to interrupt because he didn’t like being just a name on a list.

Rhodes gives him a more enthusiastic “ALSO DREW MCINTYRE”, with McIntyre listing off his accolades. Is it the former multiple time World Champion Drew McIntyre? Maybe he has to remind Rhodes who he is, but Rhodes remembers McIntyre beating him. Cue Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga to interrupt, with Fatu saying McIntyre already has his spot in the Chamber.

Now it’s time for Fatu to get his spot and go to Wrestlemania to bring the title back home. McIntyre thinks people want to see him fight Fatu right now but nah because McIntyre already has his spot. McIntyre: “Hey Cody, I think he wants to talk to you.” Rhodes is ready to face Fatu at Wrestlemania if that’s what it comes to but we see Solo Sikoa arriving in the back. Fatu says he’s talking to Sikoa first but Rhodes says he’ll be talking to Sikoa last. This was a lot of talking to set up some possible challengers for Rhodes, but we’ll see where that goes in a few weeks.

Post break, Fatu is looking for Sikoa and, shockingly, isn’t happy.

Wade Barrett talks to Trish Stratus, who is in the crowd. She’s excited for Elimination Chamber and she’s going to be at the show in Toronto.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Naomi vs. Chelsea Green

Non-title and Bianca Belair and Piper Niven are both here too. Naomi wastes no time in rolling her up for two and then does it again for a bonus. Some kicks put Green down again for the splits splash and another near fall. Naomi’s running Meteora gets two and Green is sent outside, where she gets in a pump kick as we take a break.

Back with Green hammering away but Naomi gets in a quick Fameasser for another near fall. The hanging Pedigree gets two but Naomi misses the split legged moonsault. The Rough Ryder gives Green two and a Backstabber out of the corner gets the same. Green can’t hit the flipping Unprettier though and Naomi grabs an X Factor. Now the split legged moonsault can put Green away at 8:29.

Rating: C+. It’s a bad week for midcard champions in the women’s division as both Green and Lyra Valkyria lose in qualifying matches. Naomi getting into the Chamber is a logical way to go as she fits in well, but at the same time I could have gone with seeing what Green could have done in there. Other than that, Green could still probably use a new challenger, and I’m not sure I can picture that being Naomi.

Sami Zayn has a banged up neck after being attacked by Kevin Owens. He knows they have a history of turning on each other and he can’t believe that Owens is going this nuts over not helping him at the Royal Rumble. When Zayn is clear, they’re going to do this again. Anything those two do works fine so this should be no exception.

Michelle McCool is going into the Hall Of Fame. I’m surprised it took her that long.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. Los Garza

Angel knees Sabin in the ribs to start but Shelley comes in to take over without much trouble. The double dive is cut off though and Los Garza gets to pose, complete with Angel TAKING OFF HIS PANTS as we go to a break. Back with the Guns hitting the Downward Spiral/missile dropkick combination for two but everything breaks down again. A powerbomb/World’s Strongest Slam/springboard kick to the face combination gives Garza two but Berto’s moonsault hits raised boots. Now the Guns can hit the stereo dives, setting up Skull & Bones for the pin on Berto at 7:29.

Rating: C+. As usual, the Guns can do just about anything with anyone and having an underrated team like Los Garza in there made it better. I’m not sure what is next for the Guns, as we’ve covered them against DIY. Maybe the Street Profits are up next, but we might be waiting a bit to get there.

Video on Damian Priest.

Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga find Solo Sikoa, who said he needed time away after losing to Roman Reigns. It’s time to start taking over everything and that starts with Fatu winning tonight so he can get the title back in the family. That sounds more like the ending rather than the beginning.

Here is Shinsuke Nakamura for a chat. He has been waiting for a worthy challenge for weeks now but there are no warriors here. Cue LA Knight to interrupt, saying Nakamura is out here looking for a test, but that’s clearly a lie. Knight had him beat when Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu interfered. He’s the test Nakamura is looking for but here is the Miz to interrupt. Miz isn’t impressed with Knight, who mocks Miz for saying the same things for years. Why can’t Miz start his own Farewell Tour?

Miz mocks Knight for saying it’s ok for men to cry, but Knight says Miz and Drew McIntyre have to be at the top of the list of crybabies. Miz says Knight doesn’t have his resume and now he wants the US Title. Knight: “Dude you suck.” The threat of a BFT sends Miz outside but here is Nick Aldis to make the match. This felt like a way to fill in time on a long show.

Miz vs. LA Knight

We’re joined in progress with Knight hitting a running knee in the corner and snapping off a powerslam for two. A hot shot cuts Knight off though and Miz hits a running crotch attack to the back. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Miz grabs a neckbreaker for two. They go outside for Knight’s rams into the announcers’ table, only for Shinsuke Nakamura to offer a distraction.

Miz sends Knight into the table for a breather as we take a break. Back with Knight hitting his jumping neckbreaker for two but Miz catches him with the corner clothesline. A Downward Spiral out of the corner (and off the clothesline as Miz as something new) sets up a DDT for two as things slow down a bit. Back up and Knight grabs the BFT out of nowhere, setting up the jumping top rope elbow for the pin at 10:18 shown.

Rating: C+. Not a bad match at all here as Knight thankfully gets a win over someone with some status. That’s the kind of win he needs and WWE might be on the way to getting him back on track. Maybe he gets another shot at Shinsuke Nakamura at Elimination Chamber, possibly on the way to a bigger match with Drew McIntyre down the line.

Liv Morgan suggests she’ll win the Elimination Chamber and face Nia Jax should Jax win the title back tonight. This matters more as the Wyatt Sicks logo pops up as Bliss talks. Can we just not with that? Please?

Miz runs into Andrade, who offers to teach him something after his loss. With Andrade gone, Carmelo Hayes comes up to say people don’t respect people like them. Miz suggests a partnership but Hayes leaves for his match.

R-Truth vs. Carmelo Hayes

This is after R-Truth got confused by Hayes calling himself “Him”. Hayes jumps him to start but R-Truth is back with the John Cena offense. A Stunner staggers Hayes, who is right back with the First 48 for two. Nothing But Net finishes for Hayes at 2:21. It’s nice to see Hayes getting back on track, at least for now.

The Street Profits don’t know why people are made at them but once Angelo Dawkins is cleared to return, the rest of the tag division is in trouble. They want the smoke. I want to know why Ford’s sunglasses keep appearing and disappearing in between shots.

DIY interrupts Pretty Deadly, who are ready for their Tag Team Title shot next week. Tommaso Ciampa threatens violence.

In his car, Kevin Owens talks about how everyone has betrayed him in the last six months an invites Sami Zayn to come find him at Elimination Chamber. Then Zayn will know pain.

Women’s Title: Nia Jax vs. Tiffany Stratton

Jax, with Candice LeRae, is challenging and powers Stratton into the corner to start. Stratton tries to flip away but gets dropped with a headbutt for two. Jax misses a hip attack on the apron, only to come back with a pop up Samoan drop for two more. The big legdrop gives Jax another near fall and now the hip attack can send Stratton into the post.

We take a break and come back with Stratton flipping out of a powerbomb attempt for two. Stratton hits….we’ll call it a spinebuster for two but Jax sends her flying again. A super Samoan drop is broken up and Stratton hits a top rope double stomp for two. Jax is right back with the super Samoan drop for two more and a middle rope legdrop gets the same.

We take another break and come back with Stratton hitting a moonsault to the floor, followed by the Swanton for two more. For some reason Stratton thinks she can pick her up in a fireman’s carry and collapses just as fast. The Annihilator misses though and Stratton grabs a second spinebuster (thanks for clarifying that Vic) but LeRae runs in to break up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the DQ at 16:57.

Rating: B-. This was a way to get us past the rematch and that’s what it needed to be. Stratton is likely on to something better in the near future, though Jax adding herself into something is pretty normal around here. Having two breaks in there didn’t help things, but Stratton was doing what she could in a longer match like this. On the other hand, Jax more than held up her side, which I’m not sure she would have been able to do in her first run with the company.

Post match the beatdown is on but Trish Stratus jumps the barricade and makes the save. Jax wrecks Stratton and Stratus anyway. Then Charlotte comes out and, as mockingly as she can, challenges Stratton for WrestleMania. Well at least it’s officially set.

Nick Aldis shows Naomi and Bianca Belair a video showing Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez near the scene of Jade Cargill’s attack. They’re going to Raw to deal with this themselves.

We look at Undertaker on Legends & Future Greats.

Trish Stratus comes up to Tiffany Stratton in the back and offers to team with her against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae at Elimination Chamber. Didn’t they not get along last time?

Drew McIntyre comes up to Jimmy Uso to mock him for not qualifying for the Elimination Chamber. At least Jimmy married up! McIntyre calls him Jey, earning himself a superkick.

Braun Strowman is ready to get some gold so he’s coming for Cody Rhodes.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Braun Strowman vs. Damian Priest vs. Jacob Fatu

They stare at each other to start before trading shots to the face, with Strowman being knocked to the floor. Priest gets the better of a fight with Fatu but Strowman runs them both over with a crossbody. We take a break and come back with Strowman pulling Fatu to the floor to break up the running Umaga Attack. Fatu isn’t having that as he sends Strowman into the barricade but gets kicked down by Priest.

The Old School crossbody is countered into a Samoa drop though, followed by a Swanton for two. They go up top but here is Strowman to turn it into a Tower Of Doom, leaving all three down. Priest takes Fatu outside for a Downward Spiral onto the announcers’ table, only for Strowman to drop Priest in a hurry. Back in and Fatu hits some running Umaga Attacks on Strowman before wrapping a chair around Strowman’s neck.

Strowman gets up and unloads with the chair…but here is Solo Sikoa to Samoan Spike Strowman down. Cue Cody Rhodes to go after Sikoa, who Spikes Tama Tonga by mistake. Fatu yells at Sikoa but gets taken out by Priest. Back in and Strowman misses a charge into the post, setting up South Of Heaven to give Priest the pin at 16:14.

Rating: B-. They were teasing a big time hoss fight here but we only got a pretty good one. This needed to be more of a train crash with less time, but going that long hurt it a bit. Priest is the biggest deal right now and it makes sense to put him in the Chamber, as you don’t want Fatu in there if he’s going to take a loss. Nice enough main event here, though it never got to that next level.

Priest and Rhodes share a bit of a moment to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show had a bit better pace than the previous weeks, but there were still some parts which felt like they could have gone a bit faster. They’re turning the Elimination Chamber matches into some big time matches and a Wrestlemania match is officially set. That’s a lot for one show and now we get to see who else will be in the Chambers in the near future. Nice show here, but getting it back to two hours is still going to help a lot.

Results
Naomi b. Chelsea Green – Split legged moonsault
Motor City Machine Guns b. Los Garza – Skull & Bones to Berto
LA Knight b. The Miz – Top rope elbow
Carmelo Hayes b. R-Truth – Nothing But Net
Tiffany Stratton b. Nia Jax via DQ when Candice LeRae interfered
Damian Priest b. Braun Strowman and Jacob Fatu – South Of Heaven to Strowman

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

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AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Smackdown
Date: January 17, 2025
Location: Perchanga Arena, San Diego, California
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re getting closer to Saturday Night’s Main Event and that means we should be in for a bigger push towards the show. Other than that, Cody Rhodes is still dealing with Kevin Owens, which could make for a nice build here. Bayley is getting a title shot against Tiffany Stratton so let’s get to it.

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

The announcers are in the crowd to welcome us to the show as we see some people coming to work.

Here is Rey Mysterio to get things going. Rey is glad to be in his hometown and announces that he is entering the Royal Rumble. He won the Royal Rumble in 2006 and went on to become World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania. Mysterio is impressed by the competition this year but here is Kevin Owens, with the Winged Eagle belt, to interrupt. Owens says he respects Mysterio more than anyone in wrestling, but Owens has done some great things over the course of his own career.

There is one more thing he wants to do though: face Rey Mysterio. Like say at Wrestlemania for the WWE Title. Mysterio points out that Owens isn’t the champion right now, but if things line up, he would love to face Owens at Wrestlemania. Owens goes on a rant about how he’s the real champion and the fight is on, with Mysterio clearing the ring. Of note: Owens is wearing a shirt saying “The Canadian Son Of A Security Systems Technician.” This man is incredible.

Naomi and Bianca Belair still have no word on who attacked Jade Cargill, but Belair makes it clear that they’re cool. Belair even wraps her hair up so Naomi can’t get taken out again.

Nick Aldis makes Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens for tonight. Cody Rhodes comes in to say he’ll have Mysterio’s back but Rey has this. That’s cool with Rhodes, but Aldis has something new to add to the Rhodes vs. Owens title match at the Royal Rumble. Rhodes will sign when Owens does.

Candice LeRae/Nia Jax vs. Naomi/Bianca Belair

Non-title. LeRae gets in a cheap shot to start fast on Belair but she’s back up with a running shoulder. Belair launches LeRae onto Jax at ringside and we take an early break. Back with LeRae pulling Belair down by the hair and Jax pulling Naomi off the apron just in case. Belair manages to get up top for a high crossbody and that’s enough for the tag off to Naomi to pick up the pace.

A quick split legged moonsault gives Naomi two but Jax is back up with a Samoan drop. LeRae tags herself in and hits a backsplash, which isn’t as impressive as the one Jax adds. Jax’s legdrop hits LeRae by mistake and with Jax sent outside, Naomi hits the Bubba Bomb for the pin at 10:35.

Rating: C. This was kind of a weird one with a bunch of things going on and it didn’t quite work. The focus here seems to be on LeRae and Jax having issues, which is going to cause some problems down the line. I’m not sure where it’s going, but LeRae is not exactly feeling on Jax’s level. Not a great match either, but odds are we’ll be getting into whatever is going on with Jade Cargill and the champs sooner than later.

Earlier today, Bayley was in a mostly empty arena and talked about how important it would be to win the title back. She has been champion before bu she never reached her potential so tonight it’s time to get up to the next level by beating Tiffany Stratton.

Michin and B-Fab are in the back when Piper Niven interrupts, saying that it’s clear for Chelsea Green to come in. Green comes in to brag about her success and the result is B-Fab against Niven tonight.

Jimmy Uso is ready for Carmelo Hayes.

Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes

Before the match, Hayes mocks Uso’s lack of solo success, only for Uso to steal his sunglasses and hammer away. Hayes is back up to stomp away in the corner and avoids the running Umaga Attack. A suplex to the apron drops Hayes though and Uso hits a dive onto the announcers’ table as we take a break.

Back with Uso missing a Whisper In The Wind, allowing Hayes to grab a springboard reverse DDT (cool) for two. A double clothesline gives us a double near fall before the pop up Samoan drop gives Uso two. The Superfly Splash is countered into the First 48 (nice) for two but Uso spears him down. Cue the Bloodline to jump Uso for the DQ at 11:52.

Rating: C+. They were getting going here and there was something to it but the ending is what makes sense. The Bloodline is going to want revenge on a lot of people and Uso is certainly on their list. Uso doesn’t have much of his own going on at the moment and this is probably about as big as he’s going to get anytime soon.

Post match the Bloodline takes out Uso and drops Hayes for a bonus. Cue Solo Sikoa who, after a break and a lot of booing….drops the mic and leaves. Fatu says he’s tired of the disrespect and says no one can touch him. If people think he’s crazy, he’s just getting started. Cue LA Knight to go after both of them, which goes as well as expected. Braun Strowman comes in for the real save.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to face the Motor City Machine Guns tonight and they will take the respect.

Los Garza vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Elektra Lopez is here with Los Garza. Shelley headlocks Angel to start but gets caught in a reverse Beverly Bomb (there’s your old school move name…assuming that’s what it was called). It’s already off to Sabin for the Dream Sequence but some stereo strikes take him down. We take a break and come back with a Gory Bomb/slingshot flipping cutter (cool) getting two on Sabin.

A missed charge allows the tag back to Shelley though and house is quickly cleaned. Berto gets caught in the corner with the Guns working on the knee, setting up stereo Figure Fours on Los Garza. Those are broken up and something like a springboard kick to the face Hart Attack drops Sabin for two. Everything breaks down and here is Pretty Deadly, whose interference doesn’t work so well. The Skull And Bones finishes Berto at 11:59.

Rating: B. Good action packed match here and maybe even a few bonus points for the interference not mattering. What matters the most here is that the Guns are on their way back to the title scene and that should be a big one. Perhaps either at the Royal Rumble or Saturday Night’s Main Event. Also one more note: I love that Shelley will usually pump his fist or something similar after he gets a pin. The point is to win a match so yeah, he should be excited that his team won.

Kevin Owens (now in a Rey Mysterio shirt) won’t sign the contract until Randy Orton signs.

Piper Niven vs. B-Fab

Chelsea Green is here with Niven, who powers B-Fab down to start. Back up and B-Fab kicks her in the face for two, followed by a Maivia Hurricane for the same. There’s a pump kick to the floor, where B-Fab takes out Green as a bonus. Back in and the Piper Driver finishes B-Fab in a hurry at 2:16.

Post match the beatdown is on but Michin makes the save.

We get a tribute to Bob Uecker, who really was good when he was around. He was awesome on commentary for the six man tag at Wrestlemania III as he was asking good questions and breaking stuff down like no other celebrity would do.

We look back at Tiffany Stratton winning the Women’s Title a few weeks back.

Stratton is ready to beat Bayley because she doesn’t have to recreate moments. Right now, she is those moments. Nice, short stuff here.

Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens

Owens back him into the corner to start but gets armdragged for his efforts. A wristlock doesn’t work well for Owens either but he knocks Mysterio outside for an early breather. Back in and Mysterio snaps off an anklescissors, only to get dropped for a backsplash. They go outside again, with Mysterio getting in a hurricanrana, setting up the sliding splash and we take a break.

Back with Mysterio fighting out of a chinlock and avoiding a charge to send Owens into the post. A sitout bulldog gives Mysterio two and the spinning DDT gets the same. Owens drops him again and hits an (Eddie Dance) frog splash for two of his own because Owens knows how to do mean things like that. Mysterio comes back with a Code Red for two more, only for Owens to hit a heck of a Stunner for another near fall. The Swanton hits raised knees though and a 619 lets Mysterio go up. Owens gets smart by bumping the ropes and the pop up powerbomb is good for the pin at 15:35.

Rating: B. I’m not sure if there is any surprise that two people with so much talent had a good match. They were trading big spots here and Owens got to get crafty to win. At the same time, you can feel the difference between the old days when someone would get embarrassed in their hometown and here, as Mysterio lost a good, competitive match. That’s a world of difference and it helped boost Owens up on the way to a title shot.

Post match Owens loads up the package piledriver but Cody Rhodes (who is officially medically cleared) runs in for the save.

Post break, Nick Aldis yells at Cody Rhodes, saying next week at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Rhodes and Owens will sign the new contract. As a bonus, Shawn Michaels can be the moderator.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows, including Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu on Saturday Night’s Main Event.

DIY yells at Pretty Deadly, telling them to get serious. With DIY gone, Apollo Crews comes in to say he told them so, only for DIY to beat them down.

Video on Charlotte, who is apparently rather rich. And coming back.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton

Stratton is defending. Feeling out process to start with Stratton getting out of a headscissors but backing away in a hurry. Stratton runs her over and flips away but has to block the Bayley To Belly. Bayley knocks her outside and we take an early break. Back with Stratton pulling her into the post and working on the shoulder. Bayley gets to the apron, where she is taken down by the arm again for another crash.

Stratton charges into an elbow though and a ram into the apron gives Bayley two. A hard forearm cuts Bayley off though and a running hip attack sends her into the apron for a nasty crash. Somehow Bayley is back with the Her To Belly on the floor and we take another break.

Back again with Stratton going to the arm again, setting up a Swanton and a powerbomb for two. They head outside again where Bayley gets in a suplex, only to be distracted by former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez (who Bayley brawled with this week on NXT). Back in and another Bayley To Belly gets two and a sunset bomb sends Stratton into the corner for two more. The Rose Plant is countered into an Alabama Slam and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever finishes for Stratton at 20:05.

Rating: B-. I was a bit surprised at the ending as I was expecting Perez to get involved but she just stared at Bayley and then Stratton retained clean. That’s a good win for Stratton to pick up as she is going to have to build herself up after basically stealing the title. Good first defense here, and Perez vs. Bayley is likely coming sooner than later as a bonus.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a wrestling heavy show and it worked well here, with multiple strong matches which filled in a lot of time. The three hour run time is still taking some getting used to, but what matters the most is that some people are getting a chance to show what they can do. Pretty awesome show here, with some stuff that I want to see getting advanced and some solid matches to back it up.

Results
Naomi/Bianca Belair b. Nia Jax/Candice LeRae – Bubba Bomb to LeRae
Jimmy Uso b. Carmelo Hayes via DQ when the Bloodline interfered
Piper Niven b. B-Fab – Piper Driver
Kevin Owens b. Rey Mysterio – Pop up powerbomb
Tiffany Stratton b. Bayley – Prettiest Moonsault Ever

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

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Monday Night Raw
Date: January 6, 2025
Location: Inuit Dome, Inglewood, California
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee

It’s a new era as we are officially on Netflix, which could make for a heck of a change of pace. The show is not going to have a fixed runtime and this is more or less going to be the pay per view of the month. That alone should make for a special night, but there are likely going to be some guest stars and maybe some debuts as well. Let’s get to it.

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

Earlier today, a bunch of people came to work.

We get a special video, with HHH talking about the story of wrestling being like an artist’s canvas before moving over to television. We see some paintings of Hulk Hogan and Andre (which HHH refers to as “the face and the heel”) and various famous clips (including some from WCW), as HHH says the screens get smaller but the stories get larger. Presenting the never ending story of WWE, with the camera pulling back to reveal a heck of a montage of tars painted on a mat.

The curtain, which the video was playing on, falls from around the ring and HHH is standing inside. HHH says let them hear you louder than ever before and asks if we’re ready. Welcome to the Netflix Era. This was a spectacular opening, as no one in the world can hype up its own history like WWE.

And here’s the Rock to get things going. After a very long intro, Rock talks about how he used to watch wrestling as a kid, but now it’s a lot easier to watch, especially on Netflix. We get the official announcement that this is the largest arena gate in WWE history, for about the fourth time in the last year. Rock thanks some Netflix executives, as well as Cody Rhodes, who is in the crowd for some reason. Rock: “Tell Mama Rhodes the Rock said hello.” He puts over the Tribal Combat match and talks about what it means to be a chief in their family before saying it’s time to start the show.

Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa

Tribal Combat, meaning anything goes, for the title of Tribal Chief and Paul Heyman is here with Reigns. After a break, they start fast with the slugout with Reigns knocking him out to the floor. Back in and Reigns hammers away against the ropes, only to get sent outside. Sikoa sends him over the announcers’ table with Spinning Solo. Sikoa hits him in the head with the steps and then sits on them as we take a break.

Back with Sikoa unloading with a chair and then wrapping it around Reigns’ neck. The running Umaga Attack misses though and Reigns chairs him down but a Conchairto misses. Spinning Solo onto the chair gets two but Reigns fights back up. The spear connects for two, with Tama Tonga pulling the referee out.

Cue Jacob Fatu to lay Reigns out, with the implant DDT into the moonsault getting two. The referee gets taken out but here are Sami Zayn and Jey Uso to brawl with the Bloodline. Reigns hits a spear for a delayed two from another referee but here is Kevin Owens with a Stunner for two on Reigns. The package piledriver is loaded up by cue Cody Rhodes to brawl with Owens. Reigns hits the spear to put Sikoa away at 23:27.

Rating: B. This never quite made it up to the next level, but it was a nice street fight style match with some good interference to make it better. Reigns beating Sikoa is a major result and what matters is that it should be either the beginning of the end of the new new Bloodline or the end of the storyline entirely. Reigns getting the win is what matters here and I could go for seeing what they have going on next. For now though, Reigns beats Sikoa and that should wrap up some things for now.

Post match Heyman loads up the Ula Fala but here is the Rock to give it to Reigns instead.

The Royal Rumble is officially coming to Riyadh next year.

Various wrestlers, like Rey Mysterio, LA Knight and the War Raiders are in the crowd.

Here is John Cena for a chat as the Farewell Tour officially gets going. Cena hypes up how smart the fans are and they know their audience just got a lot bigger. He thanks the fans and Monday Night Raw for letting him stand in the ring in jorts one more time. Cena is ready to start his farewell tour and lists off some potential opponents, like CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. The other question people are asking is when he’ll become the 17 time World Champion, but he’s not seeing it.

Cena is on a streak of over 2,400 since he won a singles match (Cena: “Yeah.”) so the World Title is not in the cards. He has a better chance of winning an Oscar and….well….that’s not going to happen either. The only chance he has to get a title shot is to win Money In The Bank or the Elimination Chamber or….the Royal Rumble. Maybe he could do that! It would be a great way to thank the fans and if you know him, nothing is impossible. The only time they say never is when they say never give up. He’s in the Rumble. Cena had this crow in the palm of his hand and his last Rumble is a going to be a special moment.

Video on Logan Paul, who is in the crowd.

More wrestlers and celebrities (including Macaulay Culkin, who gets a ROAR) are here. Danielle Fishel (Topanga from Boy Meets World is here, sitting next to Will Friedle (Eric from Boy Meets World), the latter of whom is not acknowledged whatsoever.

Raw Women’s Title: Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley

Ripley is challenging. They start fast with Ripley hammering her out to the floor. Ripley wastes no time in tossing her over the announcers’ table and we take a break. Back with Morgan stomping away but Ripley muscles her up. A half and half suplex gets two on Morgan but she’s back with a Backstabber.

Ripley is back with Riptide for two and Dominik Mysterio offers a distraction, allowing Morgan to hit Oblivion onto a chair for a rather near fall. Three Amigos into the frog splash get two on Ripley, but she blocks another Oblivion. Back to back Riptides finish Morgan at make Ripley champion again at 11:29.

Rating: C. This was about Ripley getting to smash Morgan for good to win the title back, which is exactly how it should have gone. There comes a point where Morgan can only escape so often as she’s no match for Ripley one on one. The match was only so good as Morgan could only do so much, but what mattered was the result and it went well.

Post match, Dominik tries to hug Ripley and gets kicked low. Ripley goes up the ramp…and here is the Undertaker on the motorcycle to pay tribute to her. They do the double raised fist pose.

Chad Gable and American Made want Adam Pearce to get the best luchador for next week.

As the Rock left, he talked to various people, including HHH (who he leaves hanging on a handshake) Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, naturally with his bottle of tequila in his hand. Oh and he’ll be at NXT tomorrow night. Ignore him driving away after drinking tequila.

More celebrities are here.

Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Uso comes to the ring with Travis Scott and Cole dances to the Yeet song on commentary in an amazing bit. McIntyre powers him into the apron to start as commentary recaps everything that McIntyre has been going through lately. They get inside for the opening bell with McIntyre chopping away in the corner, only to get powerbombed down.

McIntyre fights back and tries the Claymore, only to get kicked in the face for his efforts. Back up and a DDT is blocked, allowing McIntyre to hit a Futureshock for a near fall. The spear gives Uso a rather delayed two but another attempt is blocked. Back up and a quick Claymore gives McIntyre two so he loads it up again, only to get reversed into a crucifix for the pin at 10:22.

Rating: C+. The result is a bit of a surprise as McIntyre has been mowing his way through people lately but just gets pinned here. That should send McIntyre further over the edge, which is a good thing, but I’m not sure what his end game is here. A match with Roman Reigns would make sense, but him losing like this isn’t the best way to set something like that up. Uso doesn’t have much else going on either, but he might have to deal with the Bloodline after getting involved earlier.

Video on Gunther.

Comedian Gabriel Iglesias is cut off by New Day, who aren’t happy that they aren’t getting time on the show. They’re told they’re out of time and Iglesias leaves with the Alpha Academy.

Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman are happy with their win and ready for a celebration. Reigns says it’s on for January 27 and they go into a room marked WWE2K25.

More wrestlers and celebrities are here and it’s Hulk Hogan out for a chat with Jimmy Hart. He promotes his beer and plugs Raw on Netflix, with the fans NOT being pleased.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins

They waste no time in going to the fighting and it’s already on the floor early on. Rollins sends him into the barricade and yells at the referee to LET IT RIDE, which he seems willing to do. Punk backdrops him into the crowd with Rollins getting the better of things, only for Punk to punch him out of the air. They head back inside, where Rollins misses a quick Stomp attempt.

The GTS is broken up as well so Rollins chokes away in the corner and goes up. That’s fine with Punk, who grabs as super swinging neckbreaker for a breather. We take a break and come back with Punk hitting some running knees in the corner and the swinging neckbreaker drops Rollins again. Rollins is favoring his neck as he rolls to the apron, with Punk hitting a neckbreaker over the ropes.

The suicide dive drops Rollins again and they head back inside, where Rollins rolls through a high crossbody into a GTS of his own send him back outside. Rollins mocks Punk a lot so Punk comes back with a Stomp for two of his own. Punk’s GTS is countered into another one from Rollins and they go outside again.

This time a GTS onto the announcers’ table is countered into a Pedigree to drop Punk. Back in and a Pedigree gives Rollins two, meaning they both need to breathe. They slug it out from their knees until Rollins grabs a Buckle Bomb into the Stomp…but Punk gets a foot on the rope. Back up and Rollins tries the Falcon Arrow but Punk reverses into back to back GTS’s for the pin at 19:54.

Rating: B+. This might not have been an all time classic but Punk can still hang in the ring with just about anyone. It worked well here and Rollins has to go back to square one, which should mean a run in the Rumble. Punk very well may be doing the same thing and gets a nice feather in his cap on the way there.

Rollins is bleeding from the eye to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. The show was far from perfect, but they had a lot of special moments to cover rather than just being a regular week. So much of this was about establishing that they were on Netflix and showing the fans what they have to look forward to around here. The opener and main event were both good and the two matches in between were fine enough, while the feed (at least the one I was watching) was perfect. This might not have been a classic, but it was a show that set up the new platform and it could have been FAR worse. Just ask Hogan.

Results
Roman Reigns b. Solo Sikoa – Spear
Rhea Ripley b. Liv Morgan – Riptide
Jey Uso b. Drew McIntyre – Superkick
CM Punk b. Seth Rollins – GTS

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

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Smackdown
Date: December 13, 2024
Location: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

We’re a day away from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that should make for an important night on the way there. One of the biggest stories coming out of last week was DIY winning the Tag Team Titles with Johnny Gargano going full on villain. Other than that, the Bloodline is still lurking around so let’s get to it.

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

Here is a limping Jimmy Uso (thanks to a broken toe at Survivor Series) for a chat. Uso said WarGames didn’t get him but it did get his toe. WarGames meant everything to him because even though he fights with his family, they’ll fight together and throw up the one’s. So that’s behind them, so what is in front of them?

He and his family have been doing this for years and they have been pretty successful. He’s even proud of Jey Uso and the YEET! Then there’s Solo Sikoa, who he might not like but he’s proud of him. So what’s next for Jimmy? He’s not sure. Maybe the Royal Rumble, the US Title or even the WWE Title. He may have one big toe, but he’s here…and so is Drew McIntyre with the Claymore.

A Christmas themed Tiffany Stratton is warming up when Candice LeRae and Nia Jax come in to give her a pep talk.

Nick Aldis yells at Drew McIntyre when Bianca Belair and Naomi come in. Aldis tells McIntyre to stay in his office and then tells Belair she is going to have to relinquish the Tag Team Titles. Naomi offers to step in and be her partner, with Aldis reluctantly agreeing, saying they have to be ready to defend the titles as soon as next week.

Women’s US Title Tournament Semifinals: Tiffany Stratton vs. Michin

Stratton knocks her down to start but Michin grabs a double leg and hammers away. A hurricanrana out of the corner drops Stratton again but Stratton faceplants her on the apron. We take a break and come back with Michin rolling away before the Prettiest Moonsault Ever can launch.

Michin kicks her down and hits a springboard DDT for two. The Tarantula has Stratton in trouble but she flips away and grabs an Alabama Slam for two of her own. A Regal Roll sets up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever but Michin rolls away…and right into the moonsault, which doesn’t count as she rolled away. Eat Defeat gives Michin the fast pin at 8:22.

Rating: C+. The ending didn’t help things and commentary tried to cover it as well as they could but it looked pretty bad. Other than that, Michin beating Stratton is almost weird to see, as Stratton has been pushed fairly strong in recent months while Michin has only been building momentum in recent weeks. Michin should make for a good underdog in the finals though and that’s always a nice role to have filled.

We look back at Johnny Gargano going evil to win the Tag Team Titles last week.

DIY (in black and white) talk about getting cheated in Gargano’s hometown but he promised to do whatever it took to set things right. Then the Motor City Machine Guns were handed a path to the titles so last week, Gargano did what he needed to do to get the titles back. And it was fun.

We look at the Bloodline beating down LA Knight and Andrade last week.

Roman Reigns, with Paul Heyman, talks about how this has been a rough year. They were running everything not too long ago but then they lost everything. Four years ago, Solo Sikoa wasn’t here when Reigns earned everything. That’s why he wants Tribal Combat on January 6, where he can take everything back and everyone can acknowledge him.

There will be a Raw On Netflix Kickoff Show next week. Of note: Logan Paul is advertised despite saying he was retired earlier this week.

Legado del Fantasma complains to Nick Aldis about everyone being attacked so maybe they should go to Raw. Aldis says go call them so Carmelo Hayes comes in, where he is told he’ll find out who he is facing in the ring.

Carmelo Hayes vs. ???

And the newest member of Smackdown is….Braun Strowman. Hayes panics and gets knocked down to make it even worse. The running powerslam is broken up and Hayes misses a charge into the post, allowing Hayes to get one, with the kickout sending him flying. Now the running powerslam can finish for Strowman at 1:28.

LA Knight is always ready to handle his business he didn’t want to get involved in WarGames when he was asked. That wasn’t his business, but now Solo Sikoa has gotten in his business and in the way of his US Title. That’s why tonight, Sikoa’s face is going to get in the way of Knight’s fist.

Solo Sikoa vs. LA Knight

The Bloodline is here with Sikoa. Knight wins a slugout to start and hits a discus lariat, followed by a running clothesline to the floor. Sikoa is back up with some rams into various things but Knight manages a whip into the steps. Knight hammers away on the announcers’ table but Sikoa Samoan drops him back inside.

A middle rope bulldog gets Knight out of trouble and his dropkick through the ropes hits Tonga, allowing Sikoa to hit Swinging Solo onto the announcers’ table as we take a break. Back with Sikoa trying a Superman Punch and getting suplexed down for his efforts. Knight stomps away in the corner but stops to dive onto the rest of the Bloodline. Back in and a Side Effect drops Sikoa and the top rope elbow gets two. That’s enough for Jacob Fatu, who grabs Knight for the DQ at 11:20.

Rating: B-. It was hard to imagine Sikoa being challenged to Tribal Combat next month and losing here, but at least Knight didn’t get pinned. It’s fine to fight against the top heel stable and get taken out by the numbers game so this could have been a lot worse for Knight. He might even get a tag match or something to follow this up so it’s a bit of an upgrade for him, at least for the time being.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Apollo Crews and Andrade’s save attempts not working.

Braun Strowman runs into Pretty Deadly, who offer him a spot in their musical (oh yeah that’s a thing). With Pretty Deadly running off, A-Town Down Under come in and offer him a guest spot on the Grayson Waller Effect. Sure.

Women’s US Title Tournament Semifinals: Bayley vs. Chelsea Green

Piper Niven is here with Green. Bayley plants her down to start in a hurry and a rollup gets an early two. Green’s rollup gets her own near fall but Bayley is back with a basement clothesline for two more. Niven sweeps the leg though and Green stomps on Bayley’s back as we take a break. Back with Green hitting an enziguri and rolling Bayley up for two. We hit the chinlock and go split screen for a quick preview of the Mufasa movie.

Back to full screen and they go to the apron (nice timing on the chinlock for the break) where Bayley hits a Stunner over the middle rope. A hanging suplex to the floor has Green in more trouble, followed by a belly to back for two. Bayley hits a running knee into a sunset bomb into the corner for two but Green (who has lost the flowers in her hair, meaning she can’t go to San Francisco) is back with a Rough Ryder. Niven pulls Green outside so Bayley dives onto her instead. That earns her a toss over the barricade, followed by the Unprettier to give Green the win at 12;12.

Rating: C. This was good enough but points for pushing Green forward. I’m not sure if she is going to win the title but it’s nice to see her getting a chance to do something. She has more than earned the chance to do something on her own (or with Niven behind her) and it’s not like Bayley is going to be hurt by losing to anyone.

The Motor City Machine Guns are not happy with DIY because they can’t believe what Johnny Gargano did to them. Now it’s a fight and Gargano will learn that next week.

Shinsuke Nakamura talks about how there has been a shift which will see the weak dragged into the light. LA Knight had something he never deserved and will never get it again. Nakamura is imminent.

Nia Jax consoles Tiffany Stratton but Candice LeRae comes in and says she and Nia have a Women’s Tag Team Title shot next week. With Jax gone, LeRae says Stratton just might not be a singles wrestler.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Michael Cole brings out Cody Rhodes for a chat with….Kevin Owens, who joins us from his car. Owens can’t believe how Rhodes is willing to use his friends to finish his story. The reality is Rhodes is as bad of a friend as he is a son and brother. The other reality is that Rhodes was always more interesting as Stardust.

Rhodes knows Owens has more zingers up his sleeve but goes to the back to deal with him in person. Owens jumps him from behind and they fight into the arena and into the ring. Security tries to break it up and Owens gets in a belt shot to end the show. Of note: Owens was wearing a Stardust shirt, as that man’s shirt closet must be amazing. Good brawl here, and it feels like a pay per view main event, which is quite the impressive feat for a television special.

Overall Rating: B-. The best thing I can say about this show is I want to see what happens tomorrow night. This show was designed to make Saturday Night’s Main Event more interesting and it pulled that part off. The action itself here wasn’t great, but it was good enough to move things forward. This show wasn’t the one that mattered, but rather the show that set up the ones that matter. Nice job on that front, with tomorrow being the important night.

Results
Michin b. Tiffany Stratton – Eat Defeat
Braun Strowman b. Carmelo Hayes – Running powerslam
LA Knight b. Solo Sikoa via DQ when Jacob Fatu interfered
Chelsea Green b. Bayley – Unprettier

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

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

AND

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Smackdown
Date: November 8, 2024
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re closing in on Survivor Series and that means the Bloodline is going to need some opponents. As luck would have it, Sami Zayn is here to talk to Roman Reigns and that means we could be in for a big showdown, albeit mainly with talking rather than physicality. Let’s get to it.

Here is Crown Jewel if you need a recap.

Crown Jewel recap, focusing on the Bloodline beating Roman Reigns and the Usos, plus Sami Zayn having issues with Reigns after the match.

Here are Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso to get things going but Jey Uso cuts off Reigns’ request for acknowledgment. Jey thinks there has been a lot of misunderstanding going on and he’d like Reigns to listen to Sami Zayn, who joins everyone else. Reigns isn’t impressed as Zayn says the kick to the face at Crown Jewel was an accident. It’s been a long time since they’ve been here together but when it was the four of them for just a minute, it was special. It felt like Zayn was with family and he knows reigns felt it too.

On some level, Reigns wants all of this back. The opposite of love is indifference, and Zayn thinks Reigns still loves him. They can run everything back, but Zayn needs an apology…for Jey. With Jey standing there, Reigns apologizes….for letting Reigns waste his time with this. Zayn isn’t family, so Reigns wants Solo Sikoa out here right now. That makes Zayn leave but Jacob Fatu pops up on screen to say that Sikoa is the Tribal Chief. It’s on Sikoa’s time, so Reigns will acknowledge him. This feels like the latest “will they/won’t they” moment, but they need to get the match set up already.

Post break the Usos want talk to Reigns, who isn’t interested. Reigns wants to know why Zayn is so important. Jey says that was Reigns’ one pass, but otherwise, Jey is out. Reigns sends Jimmy after his brother.

Bayley vs. Candice LeRae

LeRae wastes no time in knocking Bayley down for a step up enziguri. Bayley shrugs that off and hits a basement lariat for a quick two, only to have her neck snapped over the ropes. We take a break and come back with Bayley fighting out of a Muta Lock before they fight up to the corner. Bayley gets knocked off the top so LeRae hits a missile dropkick, which is shrugged off for a hard clothesline. Bayley’s Stunner over the middle rope sets up a swinging side slam for two. LeRae feigns a knee injury but Bayley reverses the nefarious rollup into a cradle for the pin at 7:59.

Rating: C. I liked the ending as Bayley used her brain to cut off the cheating, but the rest of the match was pretty basic. LeRae is only so good in the ring and it was slowing Bayley down a bit here. Bayley needs something else to do and even commentary was pointing out that she wasn’t part of the title hunt.

Johnny Gargano comes up to the Motor City Machine Guns and is glad that they’re here. Have fun punching Grayson Waller in the face! The Guns leave and Tommaso Ciampa comes in to yell at Gargano for not being serious enough. DIY wants the titles back but Randy Orton storms past them and heads to the ring.

Here is Randy Orton, with a voice so raspy his dad would be jealous, to demand Kevin Owens get out here right now. That’s just what Orton gets and the fight is on in a hurry. Owens quickly gets the better of things and hits a piledriver, which has commentary panicking. Everyone checks on Orton as Owens leaves through the crowd. Orton even gets taken out on a stretcher as Cody Rhodes is here to check on him. Rhodes gets in the ambulance with Orton.

Pretty Deadly vs. DIY

Ciampa jumps Prince at the bell and the beating is on, with Prince being rammed into the announcers’ table over and over. Prince is sent hard into the steps and the Fairy Tale Ending finishes at 1:37. Neither of the partners ever tagged in.

Video on the European tour.

We look at Tiffany Stratton’s attempted Money In The Bank cash-in costing Nia Jax at Crown Jewel.

Candice LeRae runs into Tiffany Stratton in the back and mocks her for being upset over her loss to Bayley. Nia Jax comes into yell at Stratton for putting them in a tag match but Stratton says it’s part of her plan. LeRae brings up Stratton’s plan at Crown Jewel and Jax says this better work.

Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill vs. Tiffany Stratton/Nia Jax

Non-title. Stratton yells at Cargill to start and slaps her in the face, which does not seem to be the best idea. Cargill easily knocks her into the corner and it’s off to Jax for a Samoan drop as we take a break. Back with a split screen congratulating Golden Corral on hiring veterans. The full screen sees Cargill reversing a suplex into one to drop Jax and it’s Belair coming in to clean house.

Belair hammers away in the corner and it’s back to Jax, who is too big for the KOD. Instead it’s a middle rope G9 for two on Belair as Cargill makes the save. Jax runs Cargill over but Belair hits a spear on Stratton. Cue Candice LeRae to shove Belair off the top so cue Naomi to jump LeRae. The distraction lets Cargill kick Jax down and Belair to hit the KOD to finish Stratton at 9:28.

Rating: C+. I do like it when a bunch of stuff comes together to make a match feel more detailed. That’s what we had here, with LeRae getting involved after what happened earlier. Jax and Stratton keep having trouble and those are going to come to a head. It would be nice to have that happen already so we can get rid of the briefcase, but that’s not how WWE tends to roll.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. A-Town Down Under

Non-title. Theory knocks Shelley into the corner to start but it’s quickly off to Sabin, who armdrags Waller into an armbar. Stereo kicks to the chest/back get two on Waller, who gets in a shot of his own for a breather as we take a break. Back with Waller knocking Shelley down for two and talking a lot of trash as he hammers away.

A missed charge in the corner allows Sabin to come back in and slug away, setting up a missile dropkick to send Waller outside. Back in and a missile dropkick/Downward Spiral combination plants Theory for two but Waller is back in with a jumping Downward Spiral of his own. The middle rope elbow misses though and Skull & Bones finishes for Shelley at 10:29.

Rating: C+. Perfectly nice win here as the Guns make it clear that they’re able to beat another regular team. They were in trouble, fought back and won clean. That’s a simple, effective way to make a team look good and it worked for the Guns here. It’s not like A-Town Down Under is going to lose anything from a match like this anyway.

We look at Cody Rhodes beating Gunther at Crown Jewel.

DIY come up to the Motor City Machine Guns and say they want the titles back but the Street Profits come in to say they’re getting the title shot next week. Works for the Guns. Not so much for the Profits.

Nick Aldis is happy with what the women’s division has done around here so he has something new: the Women’s United States Title. Fair enough, though Raw likely introducing their own version is going to flood the title picture even more.

Here is the Bloodline for Solo Sikoa’s acknowledgment ceremony. Roman Reigns joins them to say he doesn’t acknowledge Sikoa but instead to offer a challenge for the undisputed spot as Tribal Chief. Sikoa laughs him off because Reigns can’t be a chief without a tribe. Instead Sikoa offers the challenge for a five on five WarGames, with Sami Zayn as his fifth partner. Cue Zayn, with Reigns turning to look at him and getting jumped by the Bloodline.

The Usos run in for the save and get dropped as well. Sikoa tells Zayn to come to the ring so he slides in…and intentionally kicks Sikoa in the face instead. Zayn helps Reigns take out Fatu and the spear hits Sikoa. Reigns nods at Zayn and the Usos do the One pose. Zayn does it as well….and Reigns joins in to end the show. I’m assuming it’s going to be 4-4 rather than 5-5, as adding another entrant each would seem stupid at this point. I don’t think this was much of a surprise as they didn’t have many other options for WarGames, but it’s nice to actually have it announced with only about three weeks before Survivor Series.

Overall Rating: C+. It wasn’t my favorite show, but this did a good job of getting things ready for Survivor Series. You’ll like WarGames and probably Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens, along with whatever they have with the women’s division. Things are starting to come together, but it would be nice if they had done things a bit more interesting here. Some better matches would have helped too, as there is only so much you can get out of the latest Bloodline episode.

Results
Bayley b. Candice LeRae – Cradle
DIY b. Pretty Deadly – Fairy Tale Ending to Prince
Bianca Belair/Jade Cargill b. Tiffany Stratton/Nia Jax – KOD to Stratton
Motor City Machine Guns b. A-Town Down Under – Skull & Bones to Waller

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Smackdown
Date: November 1, 2024
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

We’re taped from last week as tomorrow is Crown Jewel in all of its glory. That means it is time to give us the final hammering home before the pay per view, including the big push towards the Bloodline vs. whatever the other team is called, which was announced earlier this week. Let’s get to it.

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

Here is Nia Jax to get things going. She wants the Crown Jewel Title and she tends to get what she wants. The last time she was in Saudi Arabia, she wanted to become Queen Of The Ring and that’s what happened. She’s going to win the Crown Jewel Title and Morgan will be crying on the floor.

Cue Morgan, with Raquel Rodriguez and Dominik Mysterio, to talk about how she won in Saudi Arabia too. Morgan beat her the last time they fought but here is Tiffany Stratton to interrupt. She promises to cash in, but she’s not sure which one it will be. Maybe something could change her mind though: if she takes Morgan’s title, does Dominik come with it? She could use a little dirty in her life (Dominik shakes his head no). Morgan thinks Stratton has enough dirty in her life and the fight is on, with a call for a referee. Adding some stakes, even if they’re not guaranteed, to the Crown Jewel match helps so much.

Liv Morgan vs. Tiffany Stratton

Non-title and joined in progress with Morgan taking her to the floor for some rams into various things. Back in and a dropkick sends Stratton into the corner so she grabs the briefcase. Nia Jax pops up on the apron but Morgan uses the distraction to grab a rollup (with trunks) for the pin at 2:27 shown.

Post match Nia gives Morgan the Annihilator.

We look back at Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton being made for Crown Jewel.

Owens has sent in a video saying he doesn’t want to fight Orton because he never wanted to hurt him. Now he’s going to hurt Orton like Orton hurt him.

Street Profits vs. Pretty Deadly

B-Fab is here with the Profits. Pretty Deadly has Playbills for their upcoming musical and talk to Lin Manuel Miranda (of Hamilton fame) in a likely smart move. The villains jump the Profits before the bell and it’s Ford getting knocked into the corner, with Prince getting to dance a bit. Wilson comes in for some stomping of his own but Ford slips away and brings in Dawkins to clean house without much trouble. A middle rope Codebreaker cuts Dawkins down but B-Fab cuts off the choking and slams Prince. The Doomsday Blockbuster finishes Wilson at 4:01.

Rating: C. Pretty Deadly has fallen pretty far in the last few months as they have very little to do save for talking about their musical, which doesn’t exactly seem likely for some big payoff. The Profits are stuck in this weird place where they’re good enough to challenge for the titles but have lost so many big matches that it doesn’t seem likely. They need to figure something out though, because this is only going to hold out for so long.

Nia Jax isn’t happy with Tiffany Stratton, who says it’s all part of the plan. Bayley and Naomi aren’t convinced.

Naomi/Bayley vs. Indi Hartwell/Candice LeRae

Hartwell pounds Bayley down to start and then punches her in the face for a bonus. LeRae adds a dive off the apron to drop Bayley again and we take a break. Back with Bayley fighting out of a chinlock and hitting some knees to Hartwell in the corner. Naomi comes in to slug away on LeRae, including a middle rope splits splash for two with Hartwell making the save. Everything breaks down and the Bayley To Belly hits Hartwell, but LeRae is back up with the Lionsault to Bayley. That’s not worth a count though as Naomi is legal, meaning she hits the Rear View for the pin at 8:50.

Rating: C. As usual, there is only so much you can get out of a match with so much missing, but they were trying well enough. I’m not sure how much drama there was in the match as Bayley and Naomi are much bigger stars, plus the whole Hartwell is released thing. If nothing else, I’m surprised LeRae took the fall, but it only makes so much of a difference.

We look at the recent Bloodline situations, resulting in the Usos joining forces with Roman Reigns to fight the villains.

Here are Jimmy Uso and Roman Reigns to officially clear the air with Jey Uso. Jimmy says he and his brother made up and it’s time for Roman to make everything ok of they’ll lose at Crown Jewel. Cue Jey Uso, who wastes no time in taking off the sunglasses. He gets right to the point in saying that this is about him getting back at Solo Sikoa. This isn’t ok with all three of them yet because he remembers how Reigns treated him.

There was physical, mental and emotional damage, but now they have to show the next generations that it’s family above all. Reigns isn’t going to be the boss though and they’re all equals right now. Reigns can keep going that way or he can act like Jey’s cousin and they’ll be together at Crown Jewel. Jey looks at him as Reigns thinks about it….and says YEET to quite the reaction. Jimmy and Jey hold up the fingers and Reigns joins the pose to blow the roof off the place.

The Motor City Machine Guns are in the back when A-Town Down Under interrupts them. The villains invite them to be on the Grayson Waller Effect next week and the champs are in.

Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs. Lash Legend vs. Piper Niven

Their respective partners are here too. They pair off to start with Belair hammering on Niven and avoiding a charge in the corner. Niven runs Belair over as Legend drops Sky onto the apron. Back in and Legend and Niven hit a double clothesline for a double knockdown. Niven breaks up Sky’s Asai moonsault but gets taken out by Belair. Legend and Niven drop Belair though and we take a break.

Back with Niven hitting a backsplash for two on Sky, with Legend stealing the cover. Belair comes back in with a high crossbody to both of the, followed by a spinebuster to Niven. Legend takes out Belair but Sky is back in to hit both villains in the corner. Niven and Sky go up but get Tower of Doomed back down by Belair.

Legend plants Belair but Chelsea Green makes the save as the brawl breaks out on the floor. Back in and Niven backsplashes Legend and piledrives Belair. Legend cuts off the basement crossbody as Cargill cleans house on the floor. The KOD hits Legend but Sky comes in with Over The Moonsault to hit Belair and steals the pin on Legend at 12:04.

Rating: B-. This is the kind of formula that tends to work best for these matches as it was a bunch of people going nuts and trying to get in as much stuff as they could. That made for an entertaining match and I had a good time with it, especially when you add in all of the others on the floor. Good stuff here, even if it means almost nothing for the title match.

Cody Rhodes asks Randy Orton to save him a piece of Kevin Owens.

Andrade, Carmelo Hayes and LA Knight are ready for the triple threat for the US Title.

Crown Jewel rundown.

Solo Sikoa isn’t happy with Roman Reigns and the Usos being together again and promises to take them out.

Randy Orton/Cody Rhodes vs. Imperium

Cody and Gunther get things going…and we’ll make that Kaiser instead before anything happens. A gordbuster sends Kaiser outside and Rhodes hits a big dive as we take an early break. Back with Gunther kicking Rhodes down so Kaiser can hammer away. The double kicks in the corner have Rhodes in more trouble and Kaiser grabs the chinlock.

That’s switched into an abdominal stretch until Rhodes hiptosses his way to freedom. A double clothesline leaves both of them own and Rhodes is able to hand it off to Orton. The hanging DDT hits Gunther but he blocks the RKO. Rhodes and Kaiser come back in to slug it out, with a Cody Cutter connecting. The RKO and Cross Rhodes finish Kaiser off at 10:14.

Rating: C+. They could only do so much here as the question was more about which one would pin Kaiser for the win. What matters here is giving us just a taste of Gunther vs. Rhodes, which is what they pulled off, but at the same time, their showdown doesn’t feel that important. This helped the match a bit, but it was facing quite the ceiling.

Post match Kevin Owens runs in with a chair to Orton as Gunther chokes Rhodes out to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I am not feeling Crown Jewel in the slightest and this didn’t do much to help things out. The best thing here was the addition of teasing a cash in for the women’s match, as it at least gives the match some bigger stakes. The Bloodline match isn’t that much better, as it’s clearly just a warmup for WarGames. That’s the problem with Crown Jewel in general: it feels like a show that we have to get through to get to the important stuff and that’s not great. This show boosted it a bit, but it could only go so far.

Results
Liv Morgan b. Tiffany Stratton – Rollup with trunks
Street Profits b. Pretty Deadly – Doomsday Blockbuster to Wilson
Bayley/Naomi b. Indi Hartwell/Candice LeRae – Rear View to LeRae
Iyo Sky b. Lash Legend, Bianca Belair and Piper Niven – KOD to Legend
Cody Rhodes/Randy Orton b. Imperium – Cross Rhodes to Kaiser

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

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Smackdown
Date: September 13, 2024
Location: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s back to USA as the FOX run has ended after five years. The new era is starting with a bang too as Cody Rhodes is defending the Smackdown World Title against Solo Sikoa in a cage. That should be more than big enough but now we get to see where things are going for Bad Blood as well. Let’s get to it.

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

Opening sequence, complete with new theme song and logo.

Here is HHH to say it felt like yesterday when he was main eventing the first episode of this show against the Rock. Now it’s 25 years later and we’re starting big.

The cage is lowered.

We recap Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa. Rhodes retained the title at Summerslam with an assist from the returning Roman Reigns. Now Sikoa wants a rematch and it’s inside a cage to keep things interesting.

Smackdown World Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa

Rhodes is defending inside a cage. Sikoa knocks him into the corner to start and hits an elbow early on. A bulldog doesn’t do much to Sikoa but ramming him into the cage a few times does. Sikoa is right back with a backdrop into the cage and a splash against it makes things worse. There’s the running hip attack to drive the back of Rhodes’ head into the cage and the front of his head is busted open.

Sikoa misses the running headbutt in the Tree of Woe but he’s fine enough to send Rhodes into the cage again. A toss powerbomb sends Rhodes into the cage as this is mostly dominance so far. Rhodes manages a quick Cody Cutter and they fight to the top, with Rhodes slamming him into the cage. They both go up to the top of the cage, with Sikoa getting a rather scary looking superplex to bring Rhodes back down.

A pair of Spinning Solos gives Sikoa two but the Samoan Spike is blocked. Rhodes hits a quick Cody Cutter for two and they’re both down again. Sikoa is back up to send him into the corner for the running Umaga Attack and a Samoan drop. Sikoa actually goes up and a Superfly Splash gets two.

Another Umaga Attack connects but Rhodes flips over him and Cross Rhodes gives Rhodes two of his own. With Sikoa down, Rhodes goes up and hits a high crossbody for a rather near fall. Rhodes goes for the door but gets is slammed onto his head to give Sikoa an opening. The Samoan Spike is blocked though and another Cross Rhodes retains the title at 16:20.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match and probably Sikoa’s best match ever. The title didn’t exactly feel like it was in jeopardy for the most part but what mattered was Rhodes had to work for the win. It felt like a big fight for Rhodes and could have been a pay per view title match on one of the lower level shows. That’s a great way to start the new run on USA and it was a rather solid performance from both guys.

Post match the Bloodline runs in and the big beatdown is on, with Jacob Fatu hitting the triple moonsault. Fatu goes up top….and Roman Reigns is back. Reigns locks himself in the cage and cleans house, even shrugging off Sikoa’s comeback. Reigns has the big staredown with Fatu, who is ready to fight, but Sikoa pulls him out. The Tonga’s come back up and beat on Reigns but Rhodes makes the save. Reigns slowly turns to look at Rhodes, seemingly thanking him without actually saying or doing anything.

Post break Nick Aldis says everyone has been sequestered in their dressing rooms but Solo Sikoa has an offer for a match, which Aldis doesn’t know just yet.

Michin vs. Piper Niven

Chelsea Green is here with Niven. Michin slugs away to start and sends Niven outside, where a big dive can connect. With Niven down, Michin kendo sticks Green and, after shrugging off Niven’s shot back inside, hits a belly to back superplex. Eat Defeat ends Niven at 2:02.

Post match Green and Niven lay Michin out, including the Unpretty-Her onto a trashcan.

We look at some classic Smackdown moments over the years.

Rob Van Dam, Vickie Guerrero and Gunther/Ludwig Kaiser are here.

Kevin Owens/??? vs. A-Town Down Under

Owens’ partner is…..a bald guy that no one recognizes. Owens admits that the guy isn’t his first choice but his original partner had travel issues, so this is (after a whisper from the partner) Ricky! Hold on though as a production member comes over to say Owens’ partner is here. That means a Stunner to Ricky and we have a substitute.

Kevin Owens/Randy Orton vs. A-Town Down Under

It was going to be him or Sami Zayn. Owens hammers on Waller to start but they quickly head outside, where Owens is dropped onto the announcers’ table. Waller mocks Orton’s pose, which Cole says is not a good move for his career. We take a break and come back with Owens hitting a clothesline but Waller breaks up the tag attempt. Waller loads up a superplex and Graves points out that THIS NEVER WORKS.

Owens knocks Waller down and then does the same to Theory, setting up the Swanton. Waller pulls Orton down though and the tag is delayed again. Owens fights out of the corner though and rolls outside, then runs around the ring and slides back in right in front of Orton (that was brilliant) for the tag. Everything breaks down and the villains are dropped onto the announcers’ table. Stereo hanging DDTs set up an RKO and Stunner to give Orton the pin on Waller at 9:20.

Rating: C+. There wasn’t much in the way of drama about who was winning here and that is not a bad thing. It’s ok to have a match where you can just see the bigger stars beat up the goofy villains and that is what happened here. Owens rolling over to the corner was a smart spot and I liked this well enough, though it’s time for Owens to move on to something new.

Post match, Orton says “Sorry Ricky!”.

Nick Aldis has a contract in hand for a tag match at Bad Blood: Solo Sikoa/Jacob Fatu vs. Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns. Sikoa and Fatu have already signed the contract (which Aldis points out they haven’t read) but Rhodes comes in to say he’s done with the Bloodline, making it Reigns’ problem alone. He won’t be signing the contract and walks away. Aldis has to talk to Reigns.

More classic moments, set to a different Smackdown theme.

Booker T., Queen Sharmell, Sheamus and Michael Hayes are here.

Here is Nia Jax for a chat. She talks about her dominant year since her return and now it’s time for her do annihilate someone else at Bad Blood. While she doesn’t know her opponent, she’s ready to beat anyone. Cue Bayley to say Jax has had a better year than her return, but it wasn’t like she had a hard bar to clear. Bayley wants her rematch but Jax says she doesn’t need a posse like Damage CTRL. Bayley asks why Tiffany Stratton is always around and wonders who owes whom what.

Cue Stratton, who doesn’t like what Bayley is saying. Bayley points out that she beat Stratton last week, with Stratton saying it was Jax’s fault. That doesn’t work for Jax, but Naomi comes out to even the odds a bit. Naomi wants the title shot too, so Jax suggests a tag match next week for the title shot. But if Jax and Stratton win, whoever takes the loss is gone from Smackdown permanently. That’s a big stipulation and enough of a twist to keep things from feeling stale.

Roman Reigns has an answer about the tag match and will address things after the next match.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade

They’re 2-2 in their first four matches and Hayes jumps him before the bell. The beatdown is on as we officially start but Andrade takes it to the floor for a moonsault. A big boot drops Hayes and they fight onto the barricade, where Andrade hits a jumping reverse Spanish Fly for the big crash. Thankfully they both seem ok as we take a break. Back with Hayes hitting the First 48 but Andrade hits the spinning back elbow for two and they’re both down again.

The double jump moonsault only hits knees but Nothing But Net misses. Instead Andrade is back with a Canadian Destroyer to send Hayes into the corner. The running knees in the corner connect but Hayes avoids a split legged moonsault. Hayes puts him on top for a kick to the head but gets reversed into the super swinging double underhook neckbreaker for the pin at 9:52.

Rating: B. Good stuff here, as has been the case with the entire series. Odds are this sets up Andrade as the news challenger to the US Title and that’s what it should be. They have had a competition now and one of them has won the series, at least in theory. It was a positive for both of them here and that is always nice to see.

Post match LA Knight comes out and says Nick Aldis has names Andrade the next challenger to the US Title, with the title match coming next week.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are ready for all comers. Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton come in to say that Naomi needs to keep her nose out of things, with Jax reminding the champs that she beat both of them on the way to becoming Queen Of The Ring. Belair and Cargill are not impressed.

Here is Roman Reigns to respond to the challenge. With Nick Aldis joining him, Reigns takes the mic and says he doesn’t change. Aldis doesn’t need Aldis or a contract, because this is family business. He doesn’t need a partner, and especially not Cody Rhodes. No matter what he has, he is still the Tribal Chief and the ONLY Tribal Chief and this is still his show and WWE.

Cue a rather serious Cody Rhodes (he doesn’t even do the WHOA) to say it WAS Reigns’ WWE. It hasn’t been since Wrestlemania, which is enough to make the both drop their mic’s. Cue Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu for a distraction, allowing the Tonga’s to jumps them from behind. Reigns and Rhodes fight them off and Reigns signs the contract, with Rhodes doing so as well. That’s certainly a Smackdown main event for the show and I like it a lot better than another middle of the road title defense.

We actually get some credits (ok two of them) to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Very good opener, good main event, solid main event segment and stuff being set up for next weeks. That’s a heck of a starting point for Smackdown as this was a hot show that gave ans a reason to want to come back. I had a great time with this one and it flew by, with Reigns making things feel that much more important. Keep doing this and Smackdown is going to be the A show again in a hurry.

Results
Cody Rhodes b. Solo Sikoa – Cross Rhodes
Michin b. Piper Niven – Eat Defeat
Randy Orton/Kevin Owens b. A-Town Down Under – RKO to Waller
Andrade b. Carmelo Hayes – Super swinging double underhook neckbreaker

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

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AND

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