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Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Live Report! (3/13/18)

Published

6 years ago

on

All images courtesy of the WWE’s official Twitter

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Rusev w/ Aiden English VS AJ Styles; Styles wins, by disqualification.
  • Big E & Jimmy Usos VS The Bludgeon Brothers; The Bludgeon Brothers win.
  • Bobby Roode VS Jinder Mahal w/ Sunil Singh; Mahal wins.
  • Naomi VS Carmella; Carmella wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

AJ Styles heads to the ring!

The Phenomenal One is still the WWE Champion after Fastlane’s fast and furious Six Pack Challenge, and Indianapolis is happy to see him! He welcomes them to “The House that AJ Styles Built!” The odds were against him, and he admits getting put through the commentary table by John Cena was bad. Styles started doubting himself, but he knew it wasn’t impossible. Everyone knows “when you fall down, suck it up!” If you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way. And clearly, Styles found his way! But better than that, Styles knows he’s headed to Wrestlemania. He remembers where he came from, and remembers most thought it was “unbelievable” Styles would even be in the WWE. The fact that he’d become WWE Champion was unbelievable. Him going to Wrestlemania as WWE Champion was unbelievable, but not impossible.

Styles’ Road to Wrestlemania has been a tough one, but fans tell him, “You Deserve It!” No, he earned it. The man standing across from him is the biggest Japanese superstar in WWE history, Shinsuke Nakamura! The Dream (Re)Match is coming, and Styles respects Nakamura because they have similar paths. But when it comes to the title, there’s no comparison. Styles knows he’s no different from anyone else, he’s WWE’s Every Man. At least, until he’s in the ring. When Styles is in the ring, “I am Phenomenal.” But speaking of his opponent, Shinsuke Nakamura appears!

The King of Strong Style won against The Bulgarian Lion at Fastlane to keep himself running at top speed towards this match with Styles. He steps into the ring with his future opponent, hears the dueling chants of “AJ Styles!” “Nakamura”, then says, “AJ, you’re a champion. Everyone likes you. Everyone likes me, too. I respect you. At Wrestlemania, dreams come true. My dream: knee to face. And I become champion!” Fans have mixed reactions to his claim, but then Rusev appears! He’s here for a match with the champ!

Rusev w/ Aiden English VS AJ Styles!

Rusev Day may have been rained on by the King of Strong Style, but there’s always today! Can Rusev ruin Styles’ run this close to Wrestlemania?

The bell rings and the two stare down while fans chant “Rusev Day!” Styles and Rusev circle then tie up, Rusev powering Styles back into a corner. Rusev lets Styles come back out and they circle again. Styles gets a waistlock while Shinsuke watches from ringside, but Rusev throws Styles off. Rusev wags his finger “No, no, no,” then circles with Styles again. Styles kicks Rusev’s leg, but Rusev walks it off. He backs Styles up but Styles kicks back again to get a headlock. Rusev powers out and runs Styles over! Styles gets to a corner while fans duel, “AJ Styles!” “Rusev Day!” Styles and Rusev circle and tie up but Rusev kicks low. Rusev rocks Stylse with a haymaker, then another. Rusev keeps on Styles in a corner with a knee, then runs in but hits buckles.

Styles rocks Rusev back with haymakers and then chops. Styles whips but Rusev holds ropes to kick back. Rusev reels Styles in for a lariat, then drags Styles up to run. Styles ducks under then jumps over to drop Rusev with a dropkick. Rusev springs up but Styles clotheslines him out of the ring! The fans fire up, and Styles takes aim. Slingshot forearm takes Rusev down again!

Styles drags Rusev up and into the ring, fans keep dueling, Styles kicks Rusev. Rusev stands up, blocks the suplex, then suplexes Styles back. Styles escapes and throws chops and haymakers. Rusev blocks another whip, then throat chops! Spinebuster from Rusev, cover, TWO. The champion is in trouble while we go picture in picture.

Rusev stalks Styles to a corner, then rams shoulders in. He backs off at the ref’s count and Styles slumps to the mat. Rusev drags him out onto the apron to then ram an elbow right into Styles’ head. Rusev drags Styles over to a corner, and throws the arm against the post! Styles writhes out to the floor, but Rusev stands over him. Rusev brings Styles up and into the ring, then covers, ONE. Rusev keeps going, targeting the arm with a keylock. He wrenches Styles’ arm, but Styles stands up to fight back with right hands. Styles breaks free, runs but is thrown with a body drop! Rusev roars as he looms over Styles menacingly. Rusev brings Styles up and hatch suplexes him over, then stalks him to the ropes. The Bulgarian Brute sits Styles up to kick him in the back, then covers, TWO.

Rusev grows annoyed, but he toys with Styles while he’s down. He smacks Styles until he falls to the floor, but Styels springs up to rush back in and attack! Styles unleashes right hands, then whips. Rusev reverses, and dropkicks Styles! Rusev celebrates his feat of agility and we go to single picture. The fans duel with chants, but Rusev keeps on Styles by lifting him to the top rope. Rusev smacks Styles and Styles almost falls all the way off! Another right hand and Styles still has to cling to the top rope. Rusev climbs up, prepares a superplex, but Styles slips under to trip Rusev up! Fans fire up while Styles recovers. English grows worried for Rusev while Styles unleashes the Phenomenal Blitz! Sliding forearm, and Styles fires up.

Styles runs corner to corner, big clotheslines! Then the fireman’s carry lift but Rusev slips out. Rusev shoves Styles, styles ducks the kick, another try at the fireman’s but still not enough. Rusev shoves Styles again, and hits a pop-up knee to the stomach, followed by a roundhouse!

Styles goes down, Rusev covers, TWO! Rusev stands up and stomps the mat, preparing for his kick, but misses and gets Styles PELE! Styles lifts in the fireman’s, USHIGOROSHI! Styles’ own knee bothers him, but he keeps moving. He brings Rusev up and around for Clash position, somehow lifts Rusev, but Rusev gets the lag to drag Styles for the Accolade, only for Styles to go for his Calf Crusher! Rusev grabs the ropes, Styles keeps trying, and gets teh roll! Englihsh comes in, attacks Styles, the match is thrown out! English stomps and stomps, then throws hands, but Nakamura slowly rises.

The King of Strong Style sees Engilsh bring Rusev up for another roundhouse, then he comes in to strike! He takes out English with the roundhouse, then a KINSHASA for Rusev!

Nakamura nods to Styles as he stands tall. He leavees without needing thanks, this was all to keep the dream match alive. Will Styles be able to keep himself in good shape to pay Nakamura back?

 

Backstage interview with Big E.

After the carnage wrought by the Bludgeon Brothers, Harper & Rowan expect the survivors to answer an open challenge. Big E says that he wishes the New Day were 5-time champions, or conspiring to fill Corey Graves’ car with pancake batter, but he isn’t. Harper & Rowan didn’t just take away the New Day’s chance at another title reign, they tried ending careers. Kofi & Woods will be back, but Big E will hold down the fort for his team. Jimmy Usos shows up and says he won’t be alone. Jey got taken out, too, and Jimmy has beef with The Bludgeon Brothers, too. The Usos and New Day can settle their differences later, now is about Harper & Rowan. Can Jimmy & Big E get even with the most destructive duo in recent history?

 

AJ Styles finds Nakamura backstage.

He lets the Rockstar know that he didn’t need his help at Fastlane, and he didn’t need his help out there. Nakamura says that it looked like he did. “But don’t worry, I’ll help every time until Wrestlemania. So then I’ll beat you with a knee to face.”

 

Big E & Jimmy Usos VS The Bludgeon Brothers!

Things did not go the way anyone expected at Fastlane for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match. Harper & Rowan wreaked havoc on both champion and challenger teams, sidelining three of the five men in one fell swoop. Now rivals must team together to remove the upstart behemoths from the equation.

And to start, they bring the fight to Harper & Rowan during their entrances! Rowan goes down, then Harper is put into the LED! Jimmy & E then grab steel chairs to equalize things with Harper’s & Rowan’s hammers! Things are tense as the four men stare down, and the referee just gets out of the way.

Harper & Rowan stand in the ring with Jimmy & Big E, and the tension mounts, and the fans are fired up! The fight breaks out, but the chairs are swatted away. Jimmy & Big E get clear before taking hammers to heads, we go to break while things cool off.

SmackDown returns and the match is actually a match now as Big E starts with Harper. The bell rings and they both go at each other! Big E rams Harper in a corner, then stomps away on him. He runs but into the Scrapbuster! Harper tags Rowan, and Big Red splashes Big E! Rowan taunts Jimmy, then turns to Big E to stomp a mudhole into him. He drags Big E up for a big scoop slam, then steps on him before tagging in Harper. Harper mule kicks Big E, then uppercuts him into a corner. The fans chant for Uso & E, but Harper whips Big E corner to corner. Big E elbows back, hot tag to Jimmy!

Jimmy hits back, jumps over then hits again. Jimmy speeds things up to forearm then mule kick and uppercut to another mule kick. Harper blocks teh third, but Jimmy elbows him away. Jimmy goes up, Whisper in the Wind! SUPERKICK for Rowan, then Jimmy runs, but into Harper’s boot! Harper throws Big E out then Rowan throws Big E into steel steps! Tag to Rowan, then the slap to fire him up for the corner to corner splash! Full-nelson lift, Killer Bomb!! The Bludgeon Brothers win!

The Tag Apocalypse of SmackDown isn’t over, Harper rams Big E in the barriers, then feeds him to Rowan’s body check! They leave Jimmy for dead, is there any hope of survival in the Division after this?

 

Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.

Who does Sami blame for not becoming WWE Champion? Well that’s a load question. The obvious answer is Shane McMahon. Sami was pinning Kevin Owens but Shane pulled him off before three. Yet, Sami can’t completely blame Shane, he also blames Kevin. Kevin is the target of Shane’s obsession, and it made Sami “guilty by association.” Sami admits that Kevin is talented, funny and has always been by his side, but he’s also “a self-absorbed, egomaniac.” Sami played his game perfectly, yet because of Kevin and Shane, he paid the price. That is a price Sami will never, ever pay again, not for anyone. Can the Underdog from the Underground turn it around on the home stretch of the Road to Wrestlemania?

 

Charlotte Flair heads to the ring!

The Queen of Flair held onto her SmackDown Women’s Championship against the Squad Leader, Ruby Riott, but then she-like the rest of the WWE Universe-got a great surprise. The Empress of Tomorrow won the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble and therefore had her choice of Women’s Champions in the WWE. Yet she had gone for quite some time without naming who she wanted. That is, until she appeared at Fastlane to be face to face with her choice and issue the challenge in person! Charlotte says she’s honored to be the one chosen, so she wants to be here to meet her “woman to woman.” With that, Asuka makes her way out to the ring.

The Queen welcomes the Empress, and says “be careful what you wish for.” Asuka thanks Charlotte, and Charlotte says that everyoen else always tells her two things: Congratulations; and what would happen if you faced Asuka? The undefeated Empress is almost untouchable, but what would happen to her if she went 1v1 with The Queen? Who bows down? We’ll see at Wrestlemania. “Iron sharpens iron”, and Charlotte saw Asuka win. Charlotte hoped Asuka would choose her, to bring this challenge. When Asuka’s music hit, Charlotte got goosebumps over this “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Charlotte admits she’s never faced anyone like Asuka, but says Asuka’s never faced anyone like Charlotte. Charlotte vows to end the Streak and cement her Legacy. “WOO~!”

Asuka responds with, “I chose you because I like a challenge!” Charlotte is the Queen, but she’s the Empress. “And Asuka bows to no one.” That’s because “no one is ready for Asuka!” The two stare down and even grin, but who will be the one smiling after a SmackDown Women’s Championship dream match!?

 

Randy Orton appears!

The Viper is now the United States and Grand Slam Champion after hitting an RKO #outtanowhere on the GLORIOUS Bobby Roode. He also wants to keep an eye on Roode and the Modern Day Maharaja in their match up next. But before that, Orton says that “I’ve been called many different things throughout the course of my career. Some good, some not so good, but the one thing that I have never been called until now, is United States Champion.” Winning the title puts Orton on a short list of elite superstars, and that’s a list he cares about. Roode proved himself a tough competitor and has Orton’s respect. But, the title is Orton’s now, and he’s taking it to Wrestlemania, and no one will stop him. That’s when Bobby Roode makes his entrance!

Roode congratulates Orton, but counters with talks of a rematch. That rematch is going to happen on the Grandest Stage of Them All, Wrestlemania! And when Roode regains his United States Championship, it will be “Absolutely GLORIOUS!” That’s when Jinder Mahal appears to say, “I would like to also congratulate Randy Orton.” The fans cheer but Mahal continues to say that Orton has been here for an eternity, yet finally did it. But Roode has been here for less than a cup of coffee, yet got it before him. That’s the truth. Forget Wrestlemania and rematches, Mahal vows to beat Roode just like he did Orton. Orton, please sit and watch as Mahal “inflicts carnage” on Roode.

Bobby Roode VS Jinder Mahal w/ Sunil Singh!

Roode’s goal of becoming the greatest United States Champion in WWE History may be delayed, but he won’t let Mahal interfere in his mission to get the title back. Can Roode once again be GLORIOUS and roll on towards a championship rematch?

The bell rings, Orton takes a seat and Roode circles with Mahal. Mahal kicks and punches Roode to a corner then whips corner to corner. Roode goes up and ever, goes for the DDT but Mahal narrowly escapes. Orton smirks at Mahal while we go picture in picture. Mahal takes his time returning into the ring, but then drags Roode out. Roode punches back then bounces Mahal off the apron before putting him back in the ring. Roode keeps on Mahal with punches and kicks, then a chop. He chops Mahal more, then whips, but Mahla reverses. Roode kicks Mahal away, but Mahal responds with the kitchen sink knee and a dropkick to the back. Mahal covers, TWO, and Roode gets to a corner.

Mahal stomps a mudhole into Roode, then grinds in his knee. He backs off at the ref’s count, but then drags Roode up to choke him on the ropes. He backs off again to stomp and give springboard knee drops over and over. The referee reprimands Mahal, but Mahal sits Roode up to drive in a knee to the back. Mahal puts on a half-nelson chinbar while we go back to single picture. He wrenches and twists Roode, but fans rally and Roode stands up. Roode fights out of the hold, then throws haymakers. Mahal puts the headlock on, Roode powers out and things speed up, but Mahal runs into Roode and their heads collide! Both men go down, dazed from the impact.

The fans rally for Roode while he and Mahal stand up, and Roode blocks to counter with punches and chops. Roode whips Mahal, Mahal reverses, but Roode still rallies with forearms and lariats. He runs and clotheslines Mahal in a corner, then hits the neckbreaker. Roode climbs up to the top rope, takes aim, and flies for the clothesline! Then he fires up and winds it up, GLORIOUS Pose, to GLORIOUS– No, Mahal powers him back. Roode boots him away, then hits the GLORIOUS Blockbuster!

TWO! Mahal gets to ropes, Roode walks over, and Mahal sends Roode to the outside. Roode comes back, but Mahal boots him right down! Cover, TWO, and Mahal can’t believe it.

Even so, he grins as he stalks Roode, preparing for his finish. He drags Roode up, but Roode slips out to try his DDT. Mahal body drops Roode but Roode sunset flips and high stacks, TWO! Roode runs but into a back elbow, to then SPINEBUSTER Mahal! Cover, TWO, and even Orton is a bit surprised by that. Roode gets up to climb up but Sunil Singh distracts. Roode shoves Singh into a post, then climbs over him. Mahal hits the ropes to trip Roode up! KHALLAS! Mahal wins, just as he said!

But then Orton slides in, to RKO Mahal!

The Viper stands tall with his championship, will he keep his word to keep that title?

 

Backstage interview with Kevin Owens.

What is his response to Sami Zayn saying Kevin is to blame for why Sami isn’t champion? Kevin’s to blame?! Why can’t Sami see this is is all Shane’s fault. Sami is being selfish, because Kevin got screwed over, too, and first! Kevin would be WWE Champion right now, and Sami wouldn’t have been screwed at all. And what about his stunt, pretending to let Kevin win to then get a cheap victory? Kevin is sick of it all. Sami is a liar, manipulator and passing blame.

Kevin is the rightful champion, but he’s not because of Shane! Like all McMahons, Shane insists on having the spotlight! Why did we need Shane at ringside? If Sami can’t see Shane for who he really is, then Kevin will “open his eyes up to the truth.” What will happen when/if Kevin and Sami meet in person?

 

Naomi VS Carmella!

Ms. Money in the Bank got the pin on Lady Glow in a tag match she and the Queen of Harts won over Naomi and Becky Lynch. Can Naomi even things up with only weeks left before Wrestlemania and the inaugural Fabulous Moolah Memorial Battle Royal?

The bell rings and they tie up, Naomi puts Carmella in a corner. They pull hair then break, but Carmella kicks low. She throws Naomi into the corner, then out of the corner, all via the hair. Carmella grinds Naomi’s face into the mat, and calls her “a nobody!” She bounces Naomi off the mat, then covers, TWO, so she stands on Naomi’s hair and pulls! Carmella toys with Naomi as she brags about being Ms. MITB. She puts Naomi in a corner to bump her off her boot then stretches Naomi back before shoving her into a buckle. Carmella even wraps Naomi’s hair around the rope to pull on it! Naomi protests but Carmella keeps going until the count of 4.

Carmella embraces the heat then moonwalks, but Naomi runs out for a Thesz Press and fast hands! Naomi gets her back for all the hair pulling and face smearing, but then Carmella slaps her! Naomi slaps back, and again and again and again! Carmella screams, Naomi backs off, to then run Carmella over with clotheslines. Naomi blocks a kick, Carmella ducks kicks, but not that knee! The fans fire up with Naomi, and Naomi springboards, but Carmella trips her up to then hit a draping neckbreaker! High stack cover, Carmella wins! The #ModernDayMoolah rolls on towards the battle royal, can she cash in big with two history making moments at Wrestlemania?

 

Shane McMahon heads to the ring!

The SmackDown Commissioner promised a major announcement for Wrestlemania, and speculation has been running wild. Shane O’Mac says hey to Indianapolis before saying “it’s no secret that over the last several months”, he’s had trouble with both Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn. He isn’t apologizing, because Kevin started this when he attacked Shane’s father, Vince McMahon. Vince may not be the nicest guy, but imagine if it was your father. What would anyone else do? That’s what led to Shane VS Kevin at Hell in a Cell, but then Sami Zayn got involved. That led to more trouble with him going after Sami & Kevin with “conduct unbecoming of SmackDown’s Commissioner.” Shane has talked things over, such as with Daniel Bryan-who will return next week, not tonight-because after tonight, Shane is taking an indefinite leave of absence.

But before that, Shane has one more announcement. Leading up to Fastlane and from events tonight, it will be Kevin Owens VS Sami Zayn at Wrestlemania! Simple as that, Shane washes his hands of this mess. However, Kevin Owens appears to respond! Finally something Kevin agrees with. He wishes Shane the best of luck. And as for that ‘Mania match, he can just beat up Sami whenever he wants. Speaking of, Sami comes out to respond, as well!

Sami gets in Kevin’s face, then turns to Shane and says, “You are just doing this because it made you so happy to hear fans” cheering for two friends beating each other up. If he’s basing things off what the fans think, then thank GOD Shane is leaving.

This is baffling. Shane gave them the chance to face each other, on the Grandest Stage of Them All, but they’re upset. Oh they appreciate it, but they know he’ll also appreciate this beat down! They go after him 2v1, but Shane fights them off! Only for a moment, though, as Kevin drags Shane off Sami for Sami to mug Shane. The Best Frenemies put Shane in a corner, and Sami hits the HELLUVA KICK! But that’s not all, Sami feeds Shane to the Pop-Up Powerbomb!

Kevin & Sami see the referees coming in and they go after them now! #Kami are reunited as they rip into officials and the Commissioner, and Sami gets a chair! They set it up and put Shane through it, to then ram his throat into the post!!

Shane’s eyes are glazed over and he wheezes for air, but #Kami drags him up the ramp and to the stage, then to the back. They drag him all around, to give him a send-off. Sami drags Shane up for Kevin, and together they powerbomb Shane on spare frames!!

Shane crumples and groans in pain and #Kami leave him to the medics. Forget the match for ‘Mania, will Kevin & Sami even be employed after this!?

 

My Thoughts:

This was not the episode of SmackDown to follow a great Fastlane with. Styles’ interaction with Nakamura was good, and Styles’ match with Rusev was also pretty good, as was Nakamura bailing Styles out to emphasize their friendly rivalry. I wonder if Nakamura’s promise to keep Styles safe until Wrestlemania will result in one or two tag team matches of Styles & Nakamura VS Rusev Day or some other team. And I liked that Big E and Jimmy Uso teamed up in an attempt to get back at Harper & Rowan, but it was more or less obvious that it wasn’t going to work in their favor. If kayfabe says Big E is too hurt for ‘Mania and Jey is still sidelined, I wonder if the titles would be vacated and then The Bludgeon Brothers could just demolish all the other SmackDown teams to win hands down.

Charlotte and Asuka had a good promo showdown, and Asuka was smoother tonight than she’s been on Raw. Rumor has it they hold her English vocabulary back, but whether that’s true or not, maybe being on SmackDown where there isn’t a Mean Girl style Heel will benefit Asuka’s promos. Orton had a decent promo in his own right, as did Roode and Mahal when they came out to stake their claims to the US Title. The Mahal-Roode match was alright, but once again, a Singh is the key to Mahal winning. Orton gets payback, though, and stands tall. I would’ve instead hoped someone in management just skipped ahead and announced a triple threat, to give us a US Championship round robin to fill out the last few weeks.

No offense to Carmella and Naomi, but how were they the last match of the night? I would’ve put this as the opener and made either the tag team or Styles segment in its place. Good for Carmella to be on a roll like this, but I wonder if it’s just setting her up to fail. Then closing with Shane, hooray~ (sarcasm). He said he’s stepping down, but now he might be hospitalized given that semi-surprising beat down. I’d think instead of Kevin VS Sami, this will now shift into Kevin & Sami VS Shane & ???. Shane might choose someone rumored for a return, and that could be anyone from Lashley to Jericho. Given everyone’s history, Jericho seems like a great choice to take on Kevin & Sami in a grudge match.

My Score: 7.5/10


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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/19/24)

Prepare for Backlash!

Published

10 hours ago

on

April 19, 2024

By

Did you know that challenger in French is still “challenger?”

In a WrestleMania rematch, AJ Styles takes on LA Knight in a #1 contender’s match, to challenge WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Backlash in France!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight; Styles wins and will challenge Cody Rhodes for the title at Backlash.
  • SmackDown/WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma; The Profits win and will challenge A-Town Down Under for the titles.
  • Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez; Santos wins.
  • WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi; Bayley wins, by disqualification, and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s match: AJ Styles VS LA Knight!

After fighting their way through Triple Threats, the Phenomenal One and the Mega Star meet again, YEAH! It’s a WrestleMania Rematch, the winner moving on to Backlash, YEAH! Will AJ Styles avenge his loss at the biggest WrestleMania ever? Or will everyone from here to France know whose game it is?

The bell rings and the two step to each other. The fans in Pittsburgh “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” and Knight lets Styles know it. Styles snarls, they tie up, and they go around. Knight puts Styles in a corner, the ref counts, but Knight lets off slowly. Styles kicks low! The fans boo but Styles headlocks. Knight pulls hair, throws body shots, then headlocks in return. Styles pushes Knight to ropes, powers up and out, then hurdles, drops and DROP- NO, Knight avoids the dropkick to BOOT, and LARIAT! Knight then TOSSES Styles out of the ring, storms out after him, and brings him to commentary. Knight SMACKS Styles off the desk! And again! And again!

The fans chant “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” with every SMACK, then Knight tops it off with one last SMACK! Knight drags Styles up and into the ring, storms in, but Styles KICKS Knight in the ropes! Styles reels Knight in, but Knight back drops Styles up and out! Styles flounders on the floor, Knight runs to WRECK him with a dropkick! Styles hits desk again and Steel City is loving “L! A! KNIGHT, YEAH!” as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Styles soaks up the heat as he taunts Knight. Styles brings Knight up, but Knight fires haymakers! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight backs Styles down, whips, but Styles ducks ‘n dodges! Knight ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Both men are down and the fans fire up. Both men slowly sit up, crawl around, and then stand. Styles fires a shot, but Knight gives it back! The haymakers go back and forth, “YEAH! BOO! YEAH!” Styles staggers but he still ROCKS Knight! Knight ROCKS Styles again and again, but Styles throat chops! Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz, but Knight ducks the lariat!

Knight JABS, JABS, JABS, and DECKS Styles! Knight stomps a mudhole in at the corner, “YEAH!” Knight then runs corner to corner to KNEE Styles down! The fans fire up, Knight puts Styles up, and Knight ROCKS Styles. Knight climbs, but Styles ROCKS him back! Knight staggers away, but returns to spring right up! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives that crash but both men are down again. The fans rally as Knight rises, and he brings Styles around. Knight reels Styles in, suplexes, but Styles slips free! Styles goes to a corner, ELBOWS Knight away, then goes up to QUEBRADA DDT! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Knight stays in this and Styles starts losing his cool. The fans rally for Knight but Styles looms over him. Styles brings Knight up and in, but Knight RAMS him into a corner! Knight then scoops Styles, but Styles slips free to roll up, TWO!! Knight escapes, swings, but Styles dodges to PELE! Knight ends up in a corner, Styles runs in, but Knight puts Styles on the apron! Styles ROCKS Knight, springboards, but Knight gets under! Styles comes back, into a scoop and POWERSLAM! Then JUMP ELBOW DROP! The fans fire up with with Knight as he storms around. Styles rises, Knight winds up, B F- NO, Styles bails out!

The fans boo but Knight storms over. Knight drags Styles up but Styles HOTSHOTS him! And pokes him in the eyes! Then ROCKS him! And springboards, to PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!

Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the Undisputed WWE Championship)

Styles bent the rules, but a win is a win! He will get his shot at the American Nightmare in Lyon, France, will this year’s Backlash be phenomenal?

 

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

The car pulls up, Solo Sikoa steps out in a suit, and Paul Heyman is there to greet him. Nice threads, Solo. Tama Tonga walks over and Solo says meet the newest member of The Bloodline, Solo’s MFT. The Wise Man is stunned. But Solo cuts him off to ask if Kevin Owens is here. Heyman hesitates and Solo asks again, is Kevin here? If he is, he’s probably already in the locker room. Then take them to him. Heyman obeys and leads on. There have already been changes to the chain of command, is there about to be a change to the landscape of SmackDown, too?

 

Nick Aldis is in the ring.

In a familiar scene to Monday Night Raw, there is a podium with something under a satin sheet. The SmackDown General Manager welcomes to Pittsburgh the Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque! The fans fire up as The Game makes his way to the ring! HHH joins Aldis in the ring, gets a mic, looks around at the crowd as he revels in the cheers, then says, “On the heels of the biggest, most epic, history making, record breaking, epic, unbelievable WrestleMania of all time, we are here tonight, sold out, 15 thousand strong, Pittsburgh, PA! So let me say, welcome to SmackDown!” The fans cheer that!

HHH wants to take a moment to say that he thinks Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are both doing great jobs at leading their respective brands into the future. Thank you to both of them. And when we talk about the future, we have to talk about the history made coming into the future. So when history is made, HHH wants it to be represented here befitting of those that make it. So Aldis, if we could, let us bring the… champions out here. Aldis says without further ado, the NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. The fans boo as A-Town Down Under make their way, blue belts in hand.

Theory & Waller join Aldis and HHH in the ring, mics already in hand, and they soak up the heat from Steel City. Waller says this is huge. Monday, we saw the second place champions get new belts. And now A-Town Down Under will be presented new titles! Theory says speaking of truth, didn’t Truth think HHH was a magician? Well, who knows what magic trick HHH has to make these guys look better than they already do, but hey, give it a try. HHH says congratulations on becoming tag team champions, so he will show them what they will wear going forward. From now on, they will be the WWE Tag Team Champions.

Reveal! In the style of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era belts, the solid gold shines. HHH offers a handshake, but Waller leaves him hanging to shake Theory’s hand! Aldis makes it clear to them. They ever pop off and disrespect HHH like that, here’s a real magic trick: A-Clown Down Under will disappear, permanently! The fans like the sound of that! Aldis snatches the blue belts away since they won’t need them, and speaking of disappearing, there’s a chance one of the following four teams will make their title reign disappear. That #1 contenders match starts right now! The fans fire up, but which team defies the odds to get some golden tickets to France?

 

Backstage interview with Naomi.

Kayla Braxton is with The Glow and says last week, she beat Tiffany Stratton to get this title opportunity tonight. Will the friendship with Bayley get in the way of this match? Naomi says no, of course not. Bayley’s her sister, and she needed help against Damage CTRL, so Naomi was more than happy to help. But in no way will friendship get in the way of this opportunity. It has been over two YEARS since Naomi’s last WWE singles championship match, and there is nothing that will get in the way of making the most of this moment. Now last week, Tiffy Time felt the glow, so that same energy keeps going tonight.

Naomi is also looking forward to next week’s WWE Draft, where she will walk in the NEW WWE Women’s Champion. Naomi is ready, but will she be able to best Bayley in Bayley’s first title defense?

 

WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: The Street Profits VS New Catch Republic VS The Authors of Pain VS Legado Del Fantasma!

SmackDown returns as Legado makes their entrance, followed by Akam & Rezar with the Final Testament. Waller & Theory are on commentary, Waller admitting he wants any team but AOP, and Theory saying these teams are fortunate to have real superstars leading their division. In this form of Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are active, so the Big Strong Boi, Tyler Bate, starts against Montez Ford. They circle, tie up, and Ford headlocks. Bate powers up to pry at the hold but Ford clamps on tighter. Bate powers up and out, drops, but Ford leaps over! The fans cheer, things keep moving, Bate feints high to drop low!

Bate shows knuckle lock, Ford obliges, but Bate wrenches, baits and double pump handles to FLIP Ford! Cover, TWO! Ford gets up to sweep and cover, TWO! Bate steps over, La Magistrol, TWO! Ford gets up, dropkicks cancel out, and both men kip up! The fans fire up and the two reset. But then Humberto Carrillo sneaks a tag, before he DECKS Bate with a sucker punch! Ford dodges Humberto but Angel Garza holds the ropes open! Ford tumbles out,  Garza tags in, and Humberto sits Ford up. Garza runs in to KNEE Ford down! The fans boo, Garza drags Ford to a cover, TWO! Garza back suplexes, Ford lands out!

Ford tags Dawkins and he dodges Garza to FLYING ELBOW! Garza tags out to Akam, but then the Bruiserweight, Pete Dunne, tags in off Dawkins! Rezar tags, Dunne runs up but Akam LARIATS him down! Rezar DECKS Dawkins, then the AOP start clearing the corners! But Ford goes up to leap, but into an URENAGE! The fans boo but the AOP roar and soak up the heat. Waller’s worst case scenario might end up reality, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the fans rally as Ford endures a facelock. Ford fights up, pries at the hold, but Rezar shoves him to ELBOW him down! Rezar talks trash, Waller taunts the Steelers players sitting in the front row that they don’t really know what championships are, and then Rezar sucker punches Dawkins down! Rezar stands Ford up, Canadian Racks and bends him! Ford endures, the fans rally, but Rezar thrashes Ford around! Ford kicks and flails, he gets free, hot tag to Dunne! Bate sneaks a tag, Dunne GAMANGIRIS Akam and then NCR fire off on Rezar! The fans fire up, Humberto runs in, but Dunne dodges to SNAP GERMAN!

Bate & Dunne STOMP Humberto’s hands! Then BASEMENT DROPKICK! Garza runs up, but into the REBOUNDER GERMAN COMBO!! The fans fire up with NCR, but Rezar runs up! He grabs Dunne, but Bate says Bop up, BANG! Bate fireman’s carries Rezar?! But Rezar ELBOWS right free! Dunne GAMANGIRIS, Ford SUPERKICKS, and Dawkins ENZIGIRIS! Rezar wobbles, and everyone helps Bate gets Rezar up! BIG STRONG AIRPLANE SPINE! But then Legado CLOBBER Bate and Rezar! They BOOT Dunne, whip the Profits but the Profits reverse to TOSS Legado out! Ellering coaches Rezar while the Profits regroup.

Bate gets up, Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins brings Bate to the very top, but Dunne CLUBS Dawkins! NCR mug Dawkins but Ford joins in! They brawl, but AOP add on! Humberto finds Rezar to tag in, before the DOUBLE TOWER OF DOOM!! Bate’s the only one left up top, so Legado mug him! They double trophy lift Bate, to DOUBLE ROCKET LAUNCH him onto everyone!! Humberto then finds Bate, sunset flips and rewinds, Garza jumps, MISSILE DROPKICK DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! “This is Awesome!” as all eight men are down around ringside, and Waller says this is gonna be easy pickings for A-Town Down Under now.

Dunne grabs Garza, Bate has Humberto, STEREO ANKLE LOCKS!! Grapevine for Garza! But Humberto BOOTS Bate onto Dunne! Legado is free, Ellering has AOP regroup, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Rezar CLUBS Dawkins down. Rezar soaks up heat, taunts the other teams, then CLUBS Dawkins again. Rezar brings Dawkins up again, but Dawkins fires off body shots! Rezar KNEES low, reels Dawkins in, talks more trash, and lifts Dawkins up, to POWERBOMB! But then Dunne runs up to ROCK Rezar! Akam gets in to scoop Dunne and SLAM him on Dawkins! Cover, TWO! Rezar looks to Ellering and he coaches AOP. Rezar HAMMERS Dawkins, Akam tags, and AOP get NCR up! The fans boo but NCR RANA free to send AOP into each other! Ford jumps in, as does Garza.

All the teams realize, they gotta do something about AOP. So they all mug AOP! The fans fire up as AOP tumble out, but now who strikes first? Dunne runs up but Garza SUPERKICKS him first! Bate waistlocks Garza and Ford winds up, but Garza ducks so the BACKHAND hits Bate! Garza SUPERKICKS Ford, but Dawkins DECKS Garza! Humberto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Cover, TWO!! Theory says if A-Town Down Under were in this match, he’d knock everyone out and Waller could just sneak in to cover. Humberto and Dawkins rise and go to corners. Humberto runs up, but Dawkins POUNCES him away!

Dawkins gets Humberto up, Ford returns and tags in! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Humberto and Ford climbs! The stars are out for the BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! Cover, DUNNE BREAKS IT! Another save from the Bruiserweight and Ford is frustrated. Dunne drags Dawkins up to CHOP, but Dawkins ROCKS him! Dawkins whips Dunne out of the ring, but Dunne grabs the arm! And he pulls off the glove so he can SNAP fingers! The fans fire up, but Ford ENZIGIRIS Dunne down! Ford brings Humberto up, Humberto JAWBREAKERS! Bate tags in off Ford, BOOTS Garza, then runs up, but into a POP-UP! But Bate RANAS Humberto!!

Bate then DUMPS Garza out, goes to the apron, and Dunne lines up targets. Bate and Dunne climb, Ford runs in, NCR DOUBLE ARIHARA MOONSAULT while Ford FLIES over the corner post!! Down goes Legado and AOP!! The fans are losing their minds as Bate hurries to get Humberto up. Bate puts Humberto in, reels him in, underhooks, but Humberto fights it! Humberto back drops but Bate lands on his feet! Humberto cradles, TWO! Humberto LARIATS Bate, tag to Garza! Legado gets Bate up, feed to the POP-UP KICK!! #FTY! Humberto then DIVES to take out Dunne! Garza goes up the ropes to LIONSAULT!!

But Ford flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! The fans are thunderous as everyone is down again! Bate flounders, Dawkins tags in! Dawkins whips Legado, Ford joins in, THE REVELATION!! Cover, PROFITS WIN!

Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championships)

Waller & Theory are relieved it isn’t AOP, but they still look a bit annoyed that it is Ford & Dawkins. The Profits are Triple Crown Tag Team Champions from Raw to SmackDown to NXT, but will they soon add the WWE Tag Team Championships to make it a grand slam?

 

Backstage interview with Bayley.

Byron Saxton is with The Role Model, and brings up the emotional moment from Monday Night Raw where Rhea Ripley had to relinquish her title. But let us focus on Bayley’s title, as she defends it for the first time against Naomi. Where is her head at ahead of the main event? Bayley says after seeing Rhea vacate the Women’s World Championship on Raw, Bayley appreciates her reign more. She is focused, and she has realized she’s THE Women’s Champion in WWE right now, something she does not take for granted. Because we all know that with the WWE Draft, things are bound to change.

And as excited as Bayley is to face her friend, Naomi, one thing that won’t change is her as THE WWE Women’s Champion. Bayley is just as confident at Naomi, so something’s gotta give! Will The Role Model #FeelTheGlow? Or will she still be shining with gold after tonight?

 

Paul Heyman talks with Solo Sikoa.

The Wise Man apologizes that they haven’t found Kevin Owens, but he has to be here somewhere. Just look at the time. They will find him, somewhere. Solo stops listening and heads to gorilla. Heyman follows after, but Solo gives him a look. Heyman says he isn’t trying to upset Solo. Please believe him. The last person on this planet Heyman wants to piss off is Solo. But respectfully, Solo is making decisions that are not his to make, yet. One day, these will all be Solo’s decisions. But not now, not here! These are decisions that can only be made by one man. Solo asks Heyman if he’s done talking. Heyman asks if MFT is coming with Solo.

Solo just gives a thumbs up, with that taped thumb. The music hits and Solo makes his entrance, Heyman still following all the way into the ring. What does the Enforcer have planned? We’ll find out, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Heyman has the mic to give his usual introduction. And he doesn’t know if there is a list of the most brilliant backstage maneuvering politicians int he history of the WWE, but if there were, Heyman would have to think that he personally is in the top… Well, permit Heyman, with Solo’s permission, to explain what’s going on right now within The Bloodline, “the premier act in the history of WWE.” The fans chant, “We Want Roman!” but Solo shrugs that off. Heyman assures us that as The Wise Man for… Heyman gets emotional, so Solo just snatches the mic! The fans boo but Solo paces.

Solo tries to talk but the fans boo. Solo says last week, he had to lose a brother! He had to! It was in order for him to find a new one! His MFT, Tama Tonga! And with that, a bloodied Kevin Owens is tossed out, by the Good Bad Guy! Tama shoves Kevin down the ramp, stalks behind him, and referees rush out to stop him from doing anything further! Kevin can’t even sit up, but Tama steps over him to go to the ring. The fans boo as Tama joins Solo in the ring while the refs help Kevin to his feet and to the back. Tama raises his finger to the sky, because he acknowledges Solo! Heyman has no choice but to go along, but wait! Kevin is heading back down the ramp!?

The fans fire up as Kevin shows his grit and defiance! He drags Tama out to fire off hands!! The fans cheer but then Solo whips Kevin into steel steps! Solo drags Kevin back up, puts him in the ring, but now security rushes in! Tama storms in after Kevin but Kevin TACKLES Tama! The security gets Kevin away from Tama, but Solo SAMOAN SPIKES Kevin down!! The fans boo but then Tama SPLASHES Kevin! Tama rains down fists on that bloody wound, then he DECKS guard after guard! Producers try but Tama is a madman! Tama shoves everyone away so he can slip out of the ring, to grab a chair!!

The fans boo as Tama storms back in, but now Aldis steps up! Aldis warns The Bloodline here, and Solo has Tama stand down. Solo takes the chair from Tama to show they’re done here. The fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” but the damage is done. Solo & Tama are a dangerous duo, will nothing and no one stop them from taking over SmackDown?

 

Heyman goes to the parking lot.

He’s in shock, but Aldis finds him and pulls him along. Was Heyman aware of this? Aldis shows Heyman the aftermath of one car T-boning another! And in case Heyman can’t guess, the struck car was Kevin’s. The attacking car was Tama’s! Heyman says this wasn’t authorized! No, Heyman, Aldis is speaking now. He gets this is a conflict within The Bloodline, but on his show, things are settle din the ring. Next week is the Draft, a lot of eyeballs on it, and a lot top brass are gonna be here. So Aldis will not tolerate this behavior. So make sure The Bloodline understands. Because, Heyman, if you don’t, the repercussions will be equally savage.

Aldis brings Heyman in close to tell him losing isn’t the only thing that has consequences. Will the Wise Man be able to rein in such an unruly force as Solo and Tama?

 

Carlito w/ Zelina Vega VS Santos Escobar w/ Elektra Lopez!

The LWO still doesn’t believe Legado’s claims that they had nothing to do with Dragon Lee going down before WrestleMania, so they’re going to get to the bottom of this one themselves! Will Caribbean Cool make the Emperor of Lucha confess his crimes? Or will Santos prove he was right all along?

The bell rings and the two talk trash. Then they start throwing hands! Carlito backs Santos down but Santos gets around to whisper something in Carlito’s ear. Carlito ELBOWS Santos away, runs up and hits a THESZ PRESS! Carlito then bumps Santos off buckles, fires hands, then has him in another corner. Carlito whips corner to corner, runs up, but Santos BOOTS him! Santos runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Vega coaches Carlito to stay on Santos and he brings Santos up. Carlito ROCKS Santos, whips, but Santos KICKS him! Santos runs, but into a DROPKICK! Carlito kips up and the fans fire up!

Santos is on the outside, the ref won’t let Carlito go after him, but then Carlito WRECKS Santos with a dropkick! Carlito loads up to PLANCHA! Direct hit on Santos and Carlito hoists Vega up to celebrate! The fans cheer the LWO on as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Santos whips Carlito hard into buckles. Carlito falls over, Santos soaks up the heat, then Santos HEADBUTTS Carlito to a corner. Santos then CHOPS, gets space and runs in, to DOUBLE KNEE! Carlito slumps in the corner but Santos puts him up top! Santos GAMANGIRIS then climbs up! SUPER STEINER! Carlito flounders, Santos pushes him to a cover, TWO! Vega is relieved but Santos huffs and puffs. Santos rains down fists on Carlito, then clamps on a top wristlock. Carlito endures and Vega coaches him while the fans rally. Carlito rises, throws body shots, then LARIATS!

The fans rally as Carlito starts to rally with more clotheslines, and an ELBOW! Carlito kicks, runs, and KNEE LIFTS! Santos wobbles, Carlito LARIATS again! Cover, TWO! Santos is tougher than that but Carlito says he’s going up! Carlito climbs, but then Lopez gets on the apron! Vega storms right over to YANK her down! The fans fire up as Vega goes up, and RANAS, only for Lopez to block! Lopez SWINGS Vega into barriers! Carlito ROCKS Santos, steps in, but the ref is reprimanding Lopez so he misses Santos KICK ropes to jam Carlito low! Santos reels Carlito in to POST him, then brings him back for the fireman’s carry! PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Santos wins!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

La Madrina helps The Emperor steal this victory, them taking down the Caribbean Cool and La Muneca! Whether or not Legado beat down Dragon Lee, will nothing stop them from conquering SmackDown?

 

VIP Skybox interview with Damage CTRL!

Kayla is with Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane & Asuka as they sit way up in the back. What made the former WWE Women’s Champion and crew want a special view of this main event? Dakota takes offense for Iyo with the use of “former” there. Is Kayla trying to disrespect them? Iyo will take that title back when they’re good and ready. But for now, they’re here to watch two people they can’t stand tear each other apart! Does Dakota need to remind everyone here that DMG CTRL is still the most dominant force in the WWE!? The fans boo but Dakota says the Kabuki Warriors are STILL the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and that will not change-

WAID! Jade Cargill is here! She makes her entrance from the other skybox, with Bianca Belair alongside her! The strongEST duo argues with DMG CTRL, their own title intentions clear. But for now, it’s time for the main event! Who shines with gold here in the Steel City? We find out, after the break!

 

Cody Rhodes speaks.

The American Nightmare is in the UK as part of Raw’s tour, but he still took time to say, “What is the task? Run up the score, leave no doubt, right? Formerly, the task was ‘win the big belt, in the big place.’ We’ve done that. Now, it’s a whole new frontier for us, undiscovered country.” There’s an old expression: the title can make the man, or the man makes the title. Which will it be for Cody? He’s in London tonight, the O2, 16 THOUSAND, then it’s on to Belfast, Ireland. Cody is keeping his promise to bring this title all around the world. Back home, AJ Styles has emerged the #1 contender to this championship.

So then, it will be two Georgia boys duking it out in Lyon, France. The first time ever, at that. Styles has an unprecedented reputation in pro-wrestling. The modern day Excellence of Execution, if you will. Styles rarely misses. But the same goes for Cody. So Backlash in France, Cody looks forward to it. The contract signing is next week, even as the WWE Draft is going on! Will things be explosive when American Nightmare and Phenomenal One meet face to face?

 

WWE Women’s Championship: Bayley VS Naomi!

SmackDown returns and Bayley makes her entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and either we shine or we glow!

The bell rings, the fans rally, and the two circle. The two tie up, go around, and Bayley headlocks. Naomi powers up but Bayley wrenches to wristlock. Naomi slips through, rolls Bayley up, ONE!! The fans rally as the two go again. Naomi waistlocks, Bayley headlocks to hit a takeover, and she makes it a cover, TWO! Naomi fights up to her feet, powers up but Bayley wrenches gain. Naomi waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, ONE! Both women get up, Naomi ducks the boot but Bayley arm-drags her around! Bayley has the cording hold, the fans rally up, and Naomi fights to her feet. Naomi whips Bayley away, but Bayley runs her over!

The fans cheer and Bayley tells DMG CTRL she’s watching them, too. Things speed up, Naomi does the splits to duck under, then she comes back to kick from below! She drags Bayley into a cradle, ONE!! Bayley hurries to step over, LA MAGISTROL! ONE!! Naomi and Bayley get up, Naomi trips Bayley to jackknife, ONE!! Ghost pin, TWO! Both women hurry up, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans rally while both women are down, evenly matched in this chess game so far. Both women rise, and Naomi SHOTGUNS first! Then she runs up, uses the ropes to slingshot and BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Naomi is frustrated but keeps her focus.

Naomi drags Bayley up, Bayley shoves her away. Naomi dodges the lariat to hit REAR VIEW! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives but Naomi lets her know it was that close, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Bayley whips Naomi to a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Bayley gets up, Naomi runs up, JAWBREAKER! Bayley ends up in a corner now, Naomi runs in, and she forearm SMASHES! Naomi then runs Bayley corner to corner for a BUCKLE BULLDOG! Naomi slips out to the apron while Bayley flounders, and Naomi climbs. The fans duel as Naomi CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Naomi knows that. Naomi keeps her focus while DMG CTRL, Bianca & Jade all focus on them. Naomi ROCKS Bayley, tries the ropes again, but Bayley stops the bulldog to SMACK Naomi off buckles!

Bayley then reels Naomi in, SAIDO! High stack, TWO! Naomi is still in this and Bayley remembers Naomi’s tougher than that, too. Bayley drags Naomi into a drop zone, then goes up the corner! Bayley aims, to MACHO ELBOW onto knees! Bayley writhes, Naomi goes to the apron. Bayley stands, runs up, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Naomi slingshots, for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Bayley survives and Naomi is stunned! Naomi refocuses, goes to the corner, and goes up to SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT onto knees! Bayley returns the favor and both women are down. Bayley shakes out the leg, stands and runs, to KNEE Naomi down!

Bayley hurries to put Naomi back in a drop zone, and then hobbles her way to a corner. Bayley climbs, to MACHO ELBOW!! Direct hit this time and Bayley covers, TWO!! Naomi survives and Bayley is frustrated. Bayley hobbles on the bad leg, leans on ropes while she catches her breath, and the fans duel even more. Bayley stalks Naomi, hooks her up, but Naomi PELES free! Naomi hurries to a corner, Bayley runs up, but Naomi goes up to sunset flip! TWO!! But into the BUTTERFLY LOCK!! Bayley endures, reaches out with her legs, but then she tucks to a cover, TWO!! Naomi gets up, both women throw forearms!

They both wobble, storm up, and Bayley eggs Naomi on. Naomi wants this, right? So hit her! Naomi fires a forearm, Bayley hits back! Naomi winds up to forearm, Bayley comes back with another! The fans fire up as the forearms go harder and faster! Bayley gets the edge, but Naomi SWATS one, to SCORPION KICK, and then JUMP KNEE! Bayley tumbles out of the ring, Naomi PLANCHAS! Direct hit and a hard one, both women are down on the floor! The ring count starts, Naomi stirs at 3 of 10. Naomi brings Bayley up, but BAYLEY2BELLY onto the desk!! The count is 7! Naomi flounders on the desk, but then TIFFANY ATTACKS BAYLEY!!!

Winner: Bayley, by disqualification (still WWE Women’s Champion)

Tiffany makes herself the center of attention as always as she ruins this main event! She dribbles Naomi off the desk, then RAMS Bayley into steel steps! Then she drags Naomi off the desk to POST her! Tiff storms back over to Bayley, puts her in the ring, then adds Naomi in, too. Tiff says sorry not sorry, but it’s Tiffy Time! Tiffy goes to the corner, for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Tiff flexes over both champion and challenger, having upset Bianca & Jade but having entertained DMG CTRL. But will Wrestling Barbie pay for pissing off the Role Model?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown that also acted as a WWE Draft go-home. Great match from Styles and Knight to open the night but also follow-up their WrestleMania match. Naturally, Styles wins because then he and Knight are 1-1 in 1v1 matches, and also natural Face VS Heel right there. Good promo from Cody Rhodes, that title match is going to be awesome. Awesome new looks for the WWE Tag Team Championships, though maybe too much gold. Nothing really pops when it’s all the same color, so they should’ve had silver on the WWE logo and the words, “Tag Team Champions,” but it’s still a great redesign.

We also got an awesome Fatal 4 Way tag match, with Theory & Waller decent on commentary. And pieces are falling into place for what I was thinking: Profits win the right to face Theory & Waller, we’ll surely get Lashley wanting the US Championship, we’ll get a good faction feud there as we approach those title matches. Also good continuation of the LWO VS Legado feud with Carlito VS Santos, and distractions of course helped Santos win. There’s gotta come a point where Carlito reveals it was him, Dragon Lee, it was him all along! Now, that would make like the third turn since the start of this rivalry (Santos to Heel, Andrade to Face and Carlito to Heel) but hey, the drama is heightened each time, and maybe Dragon Lee will actually get a win in this feud.

Great stuff in Bayley VS Naomi, as well as all the promos. DMG CTRL watching from the skybox, same as Bianca & Jade, was good stuff. The tag title match is definitely coming for Backlash, that will be great stuff. But I should’ve figured Tiffany would “ruin” the main event so that there won’t really be a choice between Bayley and Naomi. The Draft is coming, hopefully they think to keep all three on the same brand, and probably here on SmackDown, so that those three can have it out. I don’t know the chances of a Triple Threat for Backlash but it still feels possible. Though  at the same time, I don’t think they’d take the title off Bayley after only a month, so she’d probably use Tiffany against Naomi to retain.

And what wild stuff with this new, more vicious Bloodline. Solo is in a suit because he certainly thinks he is Tribal Chief already, given Roman Reigns did give him the nod as “Tribal Heir” a few months ago. And while Tama is the MFT, which everyone is already wondering what that even means, it’s clear he’s also the right hand man and a loose cannon at that. Without the Draft, it’d be pretty wild for Jimmy to come back and help Kevin against this new Bloodline. With the Draft, we could get Jey back on the same brand as his family and then he and Jimmy stand against Solo and Tama. But either way, it’ll be a wild ride in this new chapter and I’m all for it.

My Score: 8.9/10


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Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.18.2024

Motor City Machine Guns either go out on their backs, or head to Rebellion as champs! Lets see how they finish their current run in TNA!

Published

1 day ago

on

April 18, 2024

By

No burying the lead here! The Main Event is The System versus Motor City Machine Guns, and it’s the Go Home episode before Rebellion! So we’re guaranteed a damn good tag match, and we should get either new wrinkles, or ways to keep the storylines cooking going into the Pay-per-View.

With all the rumors and innuendo about the Guns being on their way out, I think we all assume that MCMG is losing, but my inner fanboy is still excited.

Ratings:

  • Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone: Hammerstone wins via Torture Rack – SQUASH
  • LSG vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – SQUASH
  • Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno: Ali wins via 450 Splash – ** 3/4
  • Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: Rosemary wins via Spear – ***
  • Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards: System wins via Roster Cut + Knee Party – *** 1/4

 

Results:

So we kick off the match with Josh coming out to commentary again to watch Hammerstone’s match. They really need a new way to try and keep heat without reusing the same tired gimmick of “ring side seat” to a Squash match.

Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone

Guido tries to shoot the half, but Hammerstone shrugs him off, lifts him like a child and runs him into a corner, few short shots and then just tosses him across the ring. Hammer gets a little distracted talking smack to Josh and eats a foot, but then tosses Guido with the ole Sack of Shit move and keeps working over Guido.

Hammer shoves Clayton, and provokes him to push him back right in front of the referee. She ejects them, Guido tries to take advantage but when he goes for the pinfall Hammer kicks out immediately and presses Guido out of thing through the ropes. Continues to dog walk Guido, puts the head gear on the ECW Original and then Torture Racks him while staring directly at Josh, and of course picks up the submission victory.

LSG vs Joe Hendry

Hendry cuts a little promo, mentioning the Fat Uncle Phil joke…something about shopping at the TOP Dollar Store. Solid mic work.

LSG is a damn good local talent, he’s been seen in ROH and AEW in the past (perhaps others, but that’s what comes to mind immediately for me), but we all know this is an enhancement match. A few nice chain wrestling spots early, but Hendry uses his power to stop the smaller wrestler, Sack of Shit into Standing Ovation and the match is over quickly.

Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno

Well okay, having Deaner ask the crowd if they wanted a 3v2 or their third member…RHYNO…is pretty much a no brainer in Philly. But at least the gimmick isn’t quite as cringe as I expected.

Jake starts with Zack Gibson and throws him around. Jake goes for the tag and Deaner asks the crowd who Jake should tag, and the crowd picks Rhyno. Rhyno Whips Gibson into a corner, Drake actually softens the impact, allowing Gibson to fire back, tag out, but Rhyno levels both GYV members and then even knocks Ali off the apron. Rhyno tries to call to the crowd to tag in Deaner and that goes over like a fart in church. He tags him in anyway, and the crowd is kinda dead and doing whatever it wants after the obvious ECW chants when Rhyno tagged in.

GYV take a couple lumps but they of course start to work over Deaner and capture some momentum. Solid tandem work from GYV, they cut off Deaner from making a tag and goad Jake a little to cause the ref to block off the babyfaces so the heels can take a few shortcuts. Cody eventually makes the tag to Rhyno, hot tag, he tries to set up the Gore but the GYV manage to stop him in his tracks and hit an Enzuigiri to daze the Man Beast, he falls to his corner and Jake tags himself in. Jake literally runs them all over, tags in Cody and Launches him from the Top Rope into Zack Gibson. Ali makes the save and Jake tries to get his hands on Ali, but the GYV keep throwing themselves at him, literally. The triple team finally gets the best of Jake, they hit 3 Dives and then post Jake, so they gather around Cody like hyenas.

They forgot about Rhyno, he’s set up for a Gore, he Gores Drake, Gibson and Ali take out Rhyno, but then Cody starts to fight back. Ali stops Deaner’s offense with an Avalanche Sunset Bomb, then hits his 450 Splash. Jake barely misses being able to break up the pin.

Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna

Jody tries to start quickly with Shoulder Tackles, Lariats and Scoop Slams, and it does seem somewhat effective. Rosemary is having trouble finding offense against the intensity, but she keeps kicking out. Shotgun Dropkick finally gives Rosemary an opening, she goes into full mount and rains down strikes. Rosemary shoves Jody into a corner and Bites her in the corner. Jody tries to fight out, they go across and Rosemary catches her with the legs and puts her in the Upside Down. Splash in the corner from Rosemary, Exploder Suplex and Jody is eating a lot of offense.

Rosemary looks like she’s caught after she gets tripped up into the ropes and Jody goes for her Rope Knee into the German, but Rosemary dodges. Rosemary hits her own suplex and pulls out a beautiful Last Chancery! I haven’t seen her do that in a long time. Jody manages to fight to the ropes, Rosemary is a little slow to capitalize and eats a Pump Kick. Rosemary goes flying into the ropes, Jody hits the Double Knees into the German this time for 2, and they trade a few haymakers after that. Jody folds Rosemary with a low Lariat, Zombie rise spot a few times, Jody goes for a pinfall and Rosemary kicks out.

Havok jumps up on the apron, Dani meets her and they decide to step down, but the distraction was enough. Jody turns around and eats a Spear. Rosemary wins!

Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards

Eddie and Shelley start off, and its a very simple slow start. Mostly an early stalemate, the typical Japanese style the TNA seem to love to employ. Starters tag out, but then Shelley with the blind tag, Sabin Baseball Slides out, picks Eddie’s ankle and sends his face bouncing off the apron, while Shelley sneaks up being Myers and they hit a tandem move before we cut to commercial. Off of the commercial it looks like Eddie and Myers regained control. But a nice Jawbreaker from Shelley sends Eddie falling back into the MCMG corner. Dragon Screws to both legs from Sabin and Shelley, and we get the Dragon Screw dissection spot for the Guns.

Myers gets sick of things, tries to get involved, but Simultaneous Figure Fours from the MCMG makes The System look silly. Alisha does the classic “push the rope forward” gimmick to assist Eddie in breaking the hold. She keeps chirping at Shelley until she finally grabs his foot. Shelley doesn’t take kindly, tries to grab her by the hair but she gets away, Shelley eats a strike and falls back to the ropes so Lish can just throttle him with the rope, Sabin walks over and acts like he’s going to PK her and the look of disgust on her face is hilarious, like “how dare he threaten to kick her”. Would I be mad is Masha decides to team with Lish and they win the Knockouts Tag titles? No, because the Knockouts Tags are trash. But I still prefer Lish as valet/manager.

Shelley starts fighting back after another commercial break, Eddie tries to cut him off, but Sabin clocks Eddie and Shelley manages to make the tag and Sabin comes in. Lights up both System members, Kick off Tornado DDT, into a Running Gamengiri. Eddie tries to counter but Shelley assists, tandem strikes, Double Baseball Slide into the classic MCMG spot 5 Hole Dive! Keeping up with the classics Shelley stacks the System members on each other and hit the Missile Dropkick/Flatliner spot. As the Guns are rolling, Sabin accidentally catches Sabin with his foot and The System take control! They hit their pieces of the System Overload spot, but Sabin kicks out. Roster Cut attempt from Myers, but Shelley is back. High Speed Dirt, Machine Gun Sandwich, but Lish grabs Shelley’s foot when they’re setting up Skull and Bones. Shelley gets dropped on the turnbuckle and thrown out, Sabin eats the Roster Cut followed up with Boston Knee Party and System retains!

Its a little weird to have had the two commercial cuts and the fact there’s still Nic Nemeth to follow. So it feels a little flat, I hope this wasn’t their swan song match, because it was nice to see some classic spots, but it was entirely too abbreviated. 

Nemeth comes out, goes into the crowd and finds a kid with a kendo stick and borrows a beer from someone, so he does a bit of a Sandman tribute. Moose cuts off his promo basically immediately. He throws out the “can’t beat the system” line again, and Nic rolls with the punches well. Moose uses a few cute analogies about Nic having a failure laden past, but Nemeth bites back and its really damn good. He says he can see it in Moose’s eyes that he thinks he’s getting in the ring with Dolph Ziggler, but no, there is no more old Dolph Ziggler, just the new Nic Nemeth. And Moose’s cool seems to be slightly shaken after those words. Good promo.

Overall Score: 6.5/10

So this was okay, if it didn’t end as strongly as it did, I would’ve rated this much lower. Two squash matches in the beginning, reusing the Josh comes out to the announce table to watch trope is boring, hell even Clayton’s shove to Hammerstone was super lame looking. The Deaner match was luke warm at best, but things picked up around the Rosemary match.

Lets also not overlook the segments with ASH & Xia, Jonathan Gresham’s whole deal and EY having to return to the violence/sickness/world class maniac, whatever you want to call it, were all great building blocks. This definitely wasn’t what I would call a strong Go Home, but it didn’t hurt things for Rebellion. The whole injury of Cardona was addressed, which honestly sounded weird since Jordynne basically said she was expecting them to have a backup plan so she has a backup plan. I don’t really like how that video package came across.

But who knows, all I know is, this wasn’t an awful episode, it just wasn’t really strong either.  Here’s to hoping Rebellion Saturday is still strong.


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