Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (5/29/20)

SmackDown has the Final Four!

Published

4 years ago

May 29, 2020

Steven Mitchell

The WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament reaches the semifinals!

SmackDown may once again be the House that AJ Styles Built, but will he be forced to Walk With Elias? And will Daniel Bryan derail Jeff Hardy’s comeback?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

SmackDown Battle Royal: Sheamus wins and will face Daniel Bryan in tonight’s main event.
Lacey Evans VS Sonya Deville; Double Count-Out.
Sasha Banks w/ Bayley VS Alexa Bliss w/ Nikki Cross; Banks wins.
Cesaro w/ Shinsuke Nakamura VS Chad Gable; Gable wins.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinals: Daniel Bryan VS Sheamus; Bryan wins and will face AJ Styles for the vacant WWE Intercontinental Championship in two weeks.

PLAY BY PLAY

SmackDown opens with shocking news!

A car accident occurred just outside the Performance Center! Elias is the main victim and it was a hit and run! Medics tend to Elias and police investigate the car in question. A paper is found and it has Jeff Hardy’s name on it?! It’s a rental under his name. WWE cuts to an eye witness in Braun Strowman. What did he saw? He just got here, a car came flying in and it crashed, and then someone ran away. Elias is hopefully okay, but someone needs to find the SOB that did this to Elias. Police spot someone in the back and hurry with referees and WWE security. It’s Jeff Hardy! And he’s in just as bad of shape as Elias.

The police try to ask him questions but he says his head is spinning. Has Jeff been drinking? Jeff says he isn’t but the police say he smells like what’s in the car. Jeff can barely walk, even as Jamie Noble and Jason Jordan help. The police cuff Jeff?! They want to question him down at the station, even as the WWE staff try to reason with him. Jeff doesn’t understand, but swears he hasn’t had a drink. He sees his rental car on the curb and Elias in a stretcher. Noble keeps Jeff calm as he is helped into the police car. Just what happened here? Will we get the truth before the show is over?

The SmackDown locker room gathers backstage.

Adam Pierce gets everyone to settle down. Yes, Elias was hit by a car and Jeff Hardy was found. Elias is unable to compete tonight in the Intercontinental Championship tournament. And with Hardy’s arrest, he is also out. Sheamus sarcastically says, “What a shock!” Of course Jeff Hardy has been arrested. Is this his fifth strike? There will be no comment on that. Sheamus bad mouths Jeff but with Jeff and Elias out, that’s the news. Styles says he and Bryan are just automatically in the finals, then. Well he is entitled to that opinion. Bryan suggests there should be two substitutes for Bryan and Styles to compete, to give them a chance at the championship, too, Styles says that’s the dumbest thing Bryan has ever said, and they’ve known each other a long time. Just take the free ride to the awesome match. Well, Bryan isn’t a coward.

Sheamus steps up and agrees with Bryan. Sheamus deserves a second chance! Junkie Jeff had to be high off his rocker, how else do you explain him taking that beating and still winning? But then, Sheamus lost to someone high off his rocker so… Sheamus wants a match with Bryan, but Baron Corbin says Sheamus shouldn’t just get back in. Otherwise, that means Corbin gets his second chance and takes on Styles. Styles says this is NOT what he signed up for. All the guys making the noise lost so they should NOT be in the semifinals. But Styles is taking the free ride right to the title match. Well thanks for coming back, Mr. Team Player. Sheamus says it should be Triple Threats! Sheamus VS Corbin VS Bryan, winner takes on Styles in the finals. That still doesn’t sit right for the others.

Jey Uso repeats that Sheamus and Corbin both lost. Jimmy may be hurt but there’s still one Uce in the building. Jey wants in this one time. Ziggler steps up and says this is not how this work. Whichever Uso this is, this isn’t a tag match. This is the Intercontinental Championship. And Ziggler is a six-time champion, unless everyone’s forgotten. Chad Gable says no one has forgotten, it’s just that Ziggler is also a jackass. Burn! Pierce calms everyone down again. Bryan wants his match, Styles wants his free fried, everyone gets what they want. it will be a Battle Royal to face Bryan in the main event! And then yes, the winner of that goes against Styles in two weeks. BUT, that battle royal is next! The others leave and Bryan likes that idea. Styles says Bryan is such an idiot. What will the finals even look like now that this tournament got turned upside-down?

SmackDown Battle Royal!

SmackDown returns and the bell rings, and all hell breaks loose! Sheamus goes after Lince Dorado while Gran Metalik fights off Cesaro. Ziggler goes after Cesaro, Drew Gulak has Shinsuke Nakamura, and Baron Corbin is after Jey Uso. The NXT superstars in the crowd are loving the Lucha House Party combo on Cesaro! Sheamus has Ziggler over but Ziggler holds on. Cesaro gut wrenches Lince but Lince slides in and jawbreakers back. Corbin goes around while Lince avoids elimination again. Cesaro saves Nakamura to go after Gulak while Gable goes after Sheamus. Sheamus drags Shorty G up to climb up while Ziggler avoids elimination! Corbin and Jey still scrap in the corner but Cesaro goes after Jey. Gulak goes after Cesaro while LHP works on Nakamura.

Corbin helps Nakamura and Cesaro trophy lifts Ziggler! Cesaro tosses Ziggler but Ziggler grabs the ropes! Ziggler saves himself but Sheamus tries to do the same to Lince. Lince boots back while Nakamura goes after Metalik. Lince goes after Nakamura and Sheamus throws Gulak. Gulak holds on so Sheamus goes after Jey. Nakamura gives Lince Bad Vibrations while Cesaro resists Metalik’s attempts. Sheamus talks trash to Michael Cole but Gable is after Sheamus! Lince kicks Corbin but Corbin tosses him to a corner! Lince dodges Corbin and LHP go after the Wolf King together! Sheamus stomps Gable down while Metalik runs into a boot. Corbin puts Lince on the apron but Lince enziguris! Only for Corbin to DECK him! Corbin ELIMINATES Lince!

Gulak goes after Corbin! Gulak dumps Corbin out but Corbin clamps on a choke grip. Gulak breaks free to throw hands, but Corbin hotshots Gulak away. Corbin hip tosses and ELIMINATES Gulak! The crowd boos while Corbin grins his way back into the ring. Sheamus CLUBS Metalik while Corbin clobbers Jey. Cesaro helps Corbin out and Nakamura puts Gable up top. Gable avoids the Top Shelf Knee and tries to dump Nakamura out! Jey survives as Cesaro goes after him but Corbin and Ziggler work together on Metalik. Metalik double handspring elbows them back! Metalik clotheslines Corbin in a corner then walks the ropes, and leaps into a SUPERKICK! Corbin throws Metalik out and ELIMINATES him!

Ziggler and Corbin high five but then Ziggler tries to turn on Corbin! It doesn’t work and Ziggler says he was making a joke. Corbin shakes hands, but whips Ziggler out! Corbin ELIMINATES Ziggler, but Jey SUPERKICKS and ELIMINATES Corbin!! The crowd loves the karma, and we have our final five! It’s Jey, Nakamura, Cesaro, Sheamus and Gable! We’ll see who is left after the break.

SmackDown returns and Nakamura gives Jey the Top Shelf Knee! The Bar unofficially reunites as they beat up on Gable. Gable fights back but gets mugged 2v1. The Bar Lariat returns as they clobber Gable! Cesaro then helps Nakamura stomp Jey while Sheamus drags Gable up. Gable fights back with fast hands, but Sheamus puts him up top. Sheamus clubs but Gable hits a hanging armbar! No ropebreaks means Gable can do this forever! But he lets up to boot back and hit a tornado DDT! Jey SUPERKICKS Cesaro away, then SUPERKICKS Nakamura! Gable gives Cesaro a rolling Liger Kick! Uso Hip Attack for Cesaro! Jey aims and kicks at Nakamura. Nakamura blocks, spins, ducks the dragon whip to spin and kick back! Gable fireman’s carries Nakamura but Nakamura grabs ropes. Cesaro CLUBS Gable and ROCKS him with a European Uppercut!

Cesaro long darts Gable but Gable holds the ropes! Gable shoulders back in but then into a knee! Cesaro drags Gable up but Gable headlocks and drags Cesaro over! Cesaro holds on but lands on the floor! Gable ELIMINATES Cesaro and he is furious! Gable fights Cesaro off, but Nakamura KNEES Gable down! Nakamura kicks Gable against the ropes then drags him up. Nakamura throws forearms and knees against the ropes then whips. Gable reverses but Nakamura holds ropes. Nakamura knees, spins, but into a bearhug! Gable uses an OVERHEAD belly2belly and ELIMINATES Nakamura! But Cesaro TOSSES and ELIMINATES Gable behind the refs’ back! The Artist Collective just screwed Shorty G!!

But now that leaves just Sheamus and just Jey Uso. One man moves on and the brawl is on! Jey fires off, whips but Sheamus reverses. Jey slides to a stop to ROCK Sheamus with uppercuts! Jey runs but into Sheamus’ arms! Sheamus dumps Jey out but Jey lands on the apron! Jey skins the cat enough to get clubbing Bodhrain beats! But Jey hotshots and enziguris! Jey climbs up, leaps, but Sheamus gets under. SUPERKICK! Jey clotheslines Sheamus but Sheamus stays on the apron!! Sheamus and Jey fight at the ropes and Sheamus drags Jey over. Jey hooks onto ropes but Sheamus rakes eyes! Sheamus throws hands but Jey counter punches! Jey ROCKS and CHOPS Sheamus! SUPERK- NO! Sheamus blocks and POSTS Jey! Jey stays up but the BROGUE knocks him down! Sheamus wins!

Winner: Sheamus

The Celtic Warrior used everything he had to in order to be the last man left! And now he has another shot in this tournament! Will Sheamus redeem himself against a rested Daniel Bryan?

Sonya Deville speaks.

“Last week, I wrecked one bleach blonde Barbie doll when I completely dominated Mandy Rose. So Lacey Evans, the same fate awaits you. So put your hair up, and square up.” But little does she know, Lacey Evans has appeared behind her! And Lacey pushes Sonya down! If the nasty wants it, get to the ring. Will the Gladiator Gal have to eat her words?

Gable protests backstage.

Cesaro and Nakamura got away with screwing Shorty G out of that battle royal, but they call him a sore loser. Losing is something Gable can handle. An opportunity being stolen is different. Well these are the big leagues, little guy. Do you really think you can be Intercontinental Champion? Cesaro did Gable a favor. So be the bigger man, and just walk away from this. Or step back into the ring with Cesaro, and we both know that’d be a big mistake. So run along, little buddy. Gable DECKS Cesaro, and accepts the challenge! Will the might mouse make Swiss cheese out of the Swiss Cyborg?

Lacey Evans VS Sonya Deville!

The Sassy Southern Belle is ready to throw down, but the Desire is on fire after trampling the Rose. Who makes a big impact in the SmackDown Women’s Division with the champion in need of a contender?

The bell rings and Lacey shakes out her natural blonde hair. Sonya rushes Lacey and gets the waistlock but Lacey gets away quick. The two circle and Sonya goes for a leg, but Lacey avoids the takedown. Lacey mocks Sonya and says she’s gonna show her what blondes can do. Lacey even gives Sonya “a chance,” by taking a starting position. Sonya hooks on but Lacey gets around. The two go back and forth, Lacey trips Sonya down! Sonya gets up in a huff and Lacey flexes as the crowd fires up. Lacey and Sonya circle again, tie up, and Lacey headlocks. Sonya powers out and runs Lacey over! Sonya isn’t impressed anymore and she puts her hair up. Time to square up! But Lacey kips up, and matches!

The two circle again, and the hands fly! Lacey kicks Sonya down! Sonya gets to a corner and Lacey dabs herself off. Lacey calls Sonya a nasty, so Sonya ROCKS Lacey! Sonya asks Lacey to speak up, before she POSTS her! Sonya wraps Lacey’s hair around the ropes before throwing haymakers! The ref counts and Sonya lets off, but she bumps Lacey off buckles. Sonya wraps Lacey’s hair on the ropes again to throw more hands! The ref reprimands but Sonya stands on Lacey’s hair. Lacey kicks Sonya away but Sonya grabs the leg to slam it! And then Sonya kicks Lacey down! Cover, ONE! Sonya stands on Lacey’s hair again, but Lacey manages to headscissor her away! Lacey kicks low then facelocks, for a fallout DDT! Gator roll to the ropes and Lacey tucks Sonya under the skirt! Lacey clubs away but lets up at 4. To then dump Sonya down inside the skirt!

Sonya flounders about to get free while Lacey catches her breath. Sonya SPEARS Lacey down but the ring count is climbing! The scrapping continues and the count reaches 10!

Double Count-Out

Sonya bounces Lacey off the announce desk! Sonya whips but Lacey reverses to send Sonya into the desk’s corner! Lacey gets back in the ring and dares Sonya to come back for more. Sonya pushes Cole away and grabs a headset. Sonya tells us that she’ll fight “blondie” on her terms. The match is a draw but this may be only the beginning!

SmackDown hears from The Forgotten Sons.

Sgt. Jaxson Ryker, Cpl. Steve Cutler and the one man that truly appreciates all they’ve done for this country in Wesley Blake were all raised to #DoUntoOthers as you would have them do unto you. Blake was “one of you,” the normal civilian. But Blake “corrected” his behavior when he joined Cutler and Ryker. Now, they will no longer turn the other cheek. Their blood was on our hands, so our hands shall be on theirs. But whose blood will it be first?

Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross talk backstage.

Nikki has a surprise for the New Day, but she can’t say because it has to be a surprise for Alexa, too. But then Big E and Kofi Kingston surprise them first! SmackDown will have both pairs of tag team champions in the ring after the break!

SmackDown presents A Moment of Bliss!

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions head to the ring to co-host their show and welcome us back. Nikki is so excited for their guests tonight, and so is Alexa. Please welcome the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, the New Day! AWWWW~ people at hooome~! Clap for your EIGHT-TIME champs, and feel~ the power~! We have a Tag Team Champion Summit! Kofi high-fives the crowd through the Plexiglas as he and Big E go to the ring. Alexa welcomes them to the show and this discussion to talk about the competition. But Nikki presents her present to them, and it’s… Scottish style pancakes! She made them by hand, with her grandmother’s special recipe. Wow, that’s so sweet! But they aren’t here empty handed. Here are coffee beans, straight from Djibouti, but out of Big E’s singlet. Sip, sip! Oh, how nice… Alexa saves the coffee for later to talk about the Money in the Bank’s Fatal 4 Way they won. Are there any tag teams standing out now?

Well the Forgotten Sons made a name for themselves in that match. The New Day has their eyes peeled looking out for those guys. “You can say that again.” Well the Forgotten Sons made a name for- No, Kofi, that’s a saying. But anyway, Bliss-Cross has been mixing it up on Raw with the IIconics, but who, who who who, on SmackDown stands out to them? Nikki gets into a Big E mode, but here comes Bayley and Sasha Banks! “Well, well, well.” Bayley can see two great tag team champions in the ring, but what about the best tag team champions? Sasha doesn’t see them at all. But just wait a second here. Sasha and Bayley get in the ring and Sasha throws her jacket at Alexa. Now Sasha sees the best.

To calm things down, Nikki congratulates Bayley on beating Charlotte Flair last week. Yes, thank you. That’s the welcome Bayley loves. She IS the most dominant Women’s Champion on SmackDown. Maybe Nikki needs to tell Alexa that. No, it’s fine, Bayley. It’s just that when Bayley started talking, Alexa stopped listening. The New Day reacts strongly to that BURN! Now, we have five titles in the ring, but oh! Where’s Sasha’s? BURN! Valid question. Oh shut up! Charlotte Jr. has jokes, huh? Alexa doesn’t talk to Da Goat, Da Boss, and da leader of this division! And since Sasha is the conversation, she has some facts to share. The Boss & Bayley put those titles on the map! OOH~! If it wasn’t for them, the titles wouldn’t even exist! O M G!! And so, Alexa, if they wanted to, Banks & Bayley could take the titles back.

Then name when and where. They will! But right now, right here, Sasha is going to beat Alexa 1v1 tonight! Sasha can’t believe Bayley just did that, but too late! Alexa accepts the challenge and Bayley hurries to get Sasha the rest of her gear. But Alexa gives her back her jacket, and DROPKICKS her out! The Goddess just punked out the Boss. Is Bayley writing checks Sasha can’t cash?

Sasha Banks w/ Bayley VS Alexa Bliss w/ Nikki Cross!

SmackDown returns and Sasha at least has sneakers on. Nikki is on commentary as Sasha takes her time lacing her shoes up. Bayley is also on commentary and tells Nikki to shut up already. Alexa rushes Sasha but Sasha sends her into buckles! Sasha kicks but Alexa blocks, rolls Sasha up, TWO! Alexa Oklahoma Rolls, TWO! Cradle counter, TWO! Sasha knees low and whips Alexa. Alexa counters the hip toss to a takedown, TWO! Sasha ghost pins, TOW! Sasha blocks the kick and Bayley cheers, but Alexa blocks the knee to ROCK Sasha with a right! Alexa poses and Nikki squeals, and then Alexa hits a takedown to an arm wringer! Knee drop, Insult2Injury! Cover, TWO! Nikki rallies with the fans and Bayley grows annoyed.

Alexa runs corner to corner to slap, but Sasha blocks and sends her into buckles again! Sasha hits swinging METEORA! Cover, TWO! Sasha is shocked but Bayley says she’s da best! Sasha rains down rights and covers, TWO! Alexa gets to the ropes while Bayley threatens Cole and Nikki threatens Bayley in defense of Cole. Nikki pats Cole’s head while Sasha ROCKS Alexa! Sasha slaps Alexa and stomps her down in the corner. The ref counts, Sasha lets up at 4, but Sasha comes back to KNEE Alexa in the corner. Sasha snapmares and runs to basement METEORA! Cover, TWO! Sasha grows frustrated, especially with Nikki rallying the fans. Sasha clamps onto Alexa with double chicken wings but the rallying grows stronger.

Bayley tells Nikki to get off the desk but Nikki shouts, “YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” Alexa fights her way up out of the hole but Sasha wrangles her down to an arm surfboard. Alexa still gets to her feet and knees Sasha back! Sasha blocks a knee to hit a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Sasha and Bayley are frustrated but Nikki feels excellent. Sasha throws forearms on Alexa in the corner, but lets up at 4. Sasha and Bayley tell the crowd to shut up but Nikki and the crowd boo instead. Sasha says Alexa has no chance in hell of beating her, but then Alexa ROCKS her! Alexa keeps throwing hands and then whips. Sasha goes up but gets caught and SLAMMED down! Both women are down and Nikki fires up even more. Bayley is losing her cool as Alexa and Sasha stir.

Bayley and Nikki duel but Alexa rallies! Alexa blocks and ROCKS Sasha again. Sasha blocks the next one but Alexa avoids the crossface! Alexa dropkicks Sasha, but runs into headscissors! Sasha sends Alexa into buckles then runs corner to corner, MERTOERA, and the STOCK DROP! Cover, TWO!! Alexa survives and Sasha grows frustrated, but Bayley is still confident. The crowd is on Alexa’s side and she counters Sasha to a victory roll! TWO, and Alexa ducks to tilt-o-whirl to headscissor! Alexa runs into the corner to ROCK Sasha with that right! Sasha is in the drop zone and Alexa climbs. Nikki is fired up and Bayley panics. Bayley gets on the apron and Nikki goes after her! They brawl and Bayley shoves Nikki into Alexa! Alexa goes down, to get METEORA! Slingshot sunset flip, Sasha wins!

Winner: Sasha Banks, by pinfall

The “role models” work together again to make sure they win! Does this ensure they can and will take those tag team titles back?

SmackDown has an update on both Elias and Jeff Hardy.

The Drifter is in stable condition, but there is still little known about Hardy’s situation while in police custody. SmackDown will give us more as the reports come in.

Cesaro w/ Shinsuke Nakamura VS Chad Gable!

The Artist Collective may not have won the battle royal, but they also made sure Shorty G wouldn’t either! The Swiss Cyborg poked fun at Gable until Gable lost his cool, and now things will be settled in the ring!

The bell rings and Gable hits Cesaro with a rolling kick right away! And then another! Gable fires off forearms and whips Cesaro, but Cesaro reverses. Gable goes up and over and sunset flips, TWO! Cesaro runs into a back elbow and Gable goes up. Gable QUEBRADA, cover, TWO! Gable has a leg and drops knees on the knee! Cesaro kicks Gable away and then dodges him to LARIAT! Cesaro runs to drop a leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Cesaro keeps his cool as he drags Gable up. He ROCKS Gable with a EuroUpper, but then dead lifts and gut wrenches. Gable blocks for just a moment before Cesaro TOSSES him! Cover, TWO!

Cesaro clamps onto Gable with a half camel clutch. The crowd rallies for Gable as he endures. Gable fights his way up, throws body shots back, but Cesaro knees low. Cesaro whips, Gable dodges and dropkicks the legs out! Gable runs corner to corner for another rolling kick, but Cesaro catches him! For a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Gable survives and Cesaro grows frustrated. Cesaro basement EuroUppers Gable, then stalks him to the corner. Cesaro hauls Gable up and hoists him to the top rope backwards. He CLUBS Gable on the back then climbs up to join him. SUPER BACK SUPLEX, but Gable lands on his feet!! Gable has the leg for an ANKLE LOCK! Cesaro flails but rolls and sends Gable into ropes! Cesaro EuroUppers Gable off his feet! Cover, TWO!

Cesaro hauls Gable up and Gotch holds, but Gable back drops out! Cesaro sunset flips through, TWO! Ghost pin, TWO! Gable is up but Cesaro whips and catches the roll, but Gable sunset flips through! Gable wins!!

Winner: Chad Gable, by pinfall

Shorty G pulls off a huge upset! Will Gable finally climb that ladder to head for bigger and better opportunities?

SmackDown checks in with Otis Dozovic and Mandy Rose.

Mr. Money in the Bank and his sweet peach have been having a great time relaxing by the pool. Pop the bottles! Peach champagne for his golden peach. Tall glasses of the bubbly and cheers to some alone time as just the two of them. Oh yeah! Otis asks Mandy, “Care to test the waters, my golden ray of sunshine?” No, thanks, Mandy is getting a little tired. A little sleepy? A kiss good night then. Otis lets Mandy snooze in the sun, and she starts to dream about… Otis going into the pool? She can’t take her eyes off him. Otis tests the wind as Mandy gets hotter. Otis comes out dripping wet. “Hi, Mandy. You know how cute I always thought you were.” Otis walks over as water pours down. Isn’t this from Fast Times at Ridgemont High?

Mandy blows Otis a kiss as he tears off his shirt. She even sees herself with Otis, though she’s still on the chair. The other Mandy makes out with Otis as real Mandy squirts sunscreen everywhere. But back in reality, CANNONBALL!! Otis splashes down big time, and it gets on Mandy. She wakes up and he apologizes to his “precious sea gem.” It’s okay, even though she was having an amazing dream. Mandy does join Otis in the pool for some real kissing. Oh yeah~!

SmackDown hears from Kurt Angle!

The Olympic gold medalist and WWE Hall of Famer is back and remembers how he used to run SmackDown. He and other legends, like Taker, Brock Lesnar, Eddie Guerrero, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Randy Orton, and Edge. Speaking of, the Greatest WRestling Match Ever between Orton and Edge will be amazing! But that’s all the past, this is the future. Angle introduces a superstar who is now joining the SmackDown roster. This is a man who Angle has gotten to know very well over the last few months, and even officiated the Fight Pit Match, this man’s last match on NXT. Tonight, Angle gladly announces SmackDown will be getting… THE ORIGINAL BRO, Matt Riddle! The former NXT Tag Team Champion and all around chill badass is leaving the black ‘n’ yellow to go true blue! Will this become Friday Night Bro-Down?

Backstage interview with Sheamus.

All the talk of Jeff Hardy, and what happens? Jeff isn’t even gone five minutes, and he’s being replaced by Matt Riddle. But that’s okay. While those guys get the hype, Sheamus gets the results. That’s why Sheamus won the battle royal, and will get to Brogue kick Bryan again. Sheamus has yet to have the Intercontinental Championship, and he won’t let the rats get in his way. Sheamus will be the ULTIMATE Grand Slam Champion! He will leave bodies in his wake, because there’s no room for the weak. But Bryan walks over and Sheamus dares him to say something. Or does cat got his tongue? Bryan shin kicks Sheamus instead! Sheamus hobbles as he vows to make Bryan pay for that! Their main event match happens after the break!

SmackDown has big news for next week’s episode!

Not only is Matt Riddle making his SmackDown debut, but The Miz & John Morrison have a “warning” for Braun Strowman ahead of their WWE Universal Championship Handicap match at Backlash! What will the Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century have to say to the Monster Among Men before their unconventional title match? And speaking of title matches, after tonight’s victory for The Boss, Sasha and Bayley are getting their title match against Bliss-Cross! Will we see the rise of #BayleyTwoBelts next week?

WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semifinals: Daniel Bryan VS Sheamus!

The Goat defeated his coach and friend, Drew Gulak, to get here. The Celtic Warrior lost to Jeff Hardy but misfortune took the Charismatic Enigma and Drifter out of the running. Will Sheamus luck out and get back in the title scene?

The bell rings and Sheamus circles with Bryan. They tie up, Sheamus headlocks and throws Bryan down. Cover, ONE, but Sheamus wrangles Bryan again. Bryan fights up, brings Sheamus down to a knee and pops out back to get a hammerlock. Bryan grabs the opposite arm and wrenches the wrist. Sheamus sits up but Bryan chinlocks. Sheamus powers Bryan to a corner and arm-drags him away hard. Sheamus toys with Bryan already as he kicks at him. Bryan gets up as Sheamus reminds him of that WrestleMania defeat. Bryan gets the arm, Sheamus reverses the hammerlock and chinbar, but Bryan endures as Sheamus grinds him down. Sheamus taunts Bryan but Bryan puts him in a corner. Bryan throws fast hands and kicks! And uppercuts! Sheamus hakes it off but Bryan throws more! Sheamus comes back with a LARIAT!

Sheamus stomps Bryan and drags him up for EuroUppers of his own. Sheamus CLUBS Bryan, then hooks Bryan’s face. The ref counts and Sheamus lets up to knock Bryan down. Sheamus clamps onto Bryan with a chinbar and knees him in the corner. Sheamus throws more uppercuts then whips, but Bryan goes up and over. Bryan keeps moving, dodges and flying clotheslines! Sheamus is up fast but Bryan dumps him out. Bryan builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit sends Sheamus into barriers! Bryan is back in control as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Bryan gives Sheamus shoulder breakers! Bryan wrenches again and wants the takedown, but Sheamus whips Bryan away. Sheamus scoops but Bryan slips out to waistlock. Sheamus backs Bryan down into a corner and throws elbows over and over and over and over! Sheamus gets Bryan down and gives even more elbows into Bryan’s face! Sheamus drops knees, too, and shouts, “Are you not entertained?!” The crowd boos, meaning they aren’t. Sheamus just smiles as he brings Bryan back up. Sheamus KNEES Bryan out of the ring! Sheamus fetches Bryan and throws him into barriers! He taunts Cole into starting up the Yes chants. The crowd chants “No! No!” but Bryan gets to the ring. Sheamus climbs up top and leaps to clothesline Bryan down! Cover, TWO!

Sheamus is frustrated with Bryan but he takes credit for the Yes Movement! Those 18 seconds at WrestleMania started it all. Bryan throws body shots and EuroUppers! Bryan kicks and uppercuts, but Sheamus whips. Bryan boots him away! He leaps but into the IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Sheamus has the legs for the Cloverleaf! Sheamus sits deep on the hold but Bryan crawls for ropes! The crowd rallies as Bryan gets the ropebreak! Sheamus lets go in frustration, but admits Bryan was always squirrelly. Sheamus wants the Bodhrain but Bryan fires off forearms! Bryan hotshots Sheamus away then climbs up. But Sheamus kicks the legs out! Sheamus climbs up and clubs Bryan, then brings Bryan up to the very top. Bryan resists, fights Sheamus back, and headbutts him down! Sheamus gets up but Bryan leaps to missile dropkick him down!

Both men are down and the crowd rallies. Bryan gets up and gives Yes Kicks over and over! He kicks and kicks but Sheamus ducks the Buzzsaw! Sheamus wants another backbreaker but Bryan crucifix pins! Cover, TWO! Bryan throws elbows but Sheamus power sup, to the WHITE NOISE! Cover, TWO! Bryan survives Sheamus’ take on the Air Raid, but Sheamus won’t stop there. Sheamus drags Bryan up for stiff body shots and EuroUppers. The crowd rallies as Sheamus whips Bryan out then in. Bryan drop toeholds and sends Sheamus into buckles! And he kicks the rope to jam Sheamus! Bryan hits a corner to corner dropkick! Bryan goes again, but Sheamus CLOBBERS him! Sheamus fires up and aims from the corner. Wait, is that Jeff Hardy!? He’s free from county jail?! SHOTGUN KNEE from Bryan! Cover, Bryan wins!!

Winner: Daniel Bryan, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

And now Hardy is after Sheamus! Hardy chases Sheamus around the ring but Sheamus gets away! Sheamus runs away from Hardy, but just what is going on here?

My Thoughts:

What a wild SmackDown tonight! Because the tournament as it was meant to go was what the WWE advertised, everything tonight was a surprise and to great effect. Clearly there is a frame job of Jeff Hardy as the one who hit Elias after having a relapse into his alcoholism. The battle royal was great, and I was surprised Jey Uso got to be one of the last two. While the Usos are basically never breaking up as a tag team, using Jey while Jimmy is injured is actually a good move. Sheamus wins the battle royal but loses his match with Bryan because Hardy returns from being “arrested.” Hardy assumes Sheamus did him in but I think a better route would to give us a twist culprit. It’s also of note that Elias was taken out, and Styles chose to take the easy route and just go into the finals automatically. How do we know it wasn’t Styles who ran Elias over and framed Hardy? Two birds with one car, because then he can have another match with Bryan, seeking payback for both their world title feud and their MITB interactions.

Cesaro VS Gable was a really good match to come out of the battle royal story. I can’t be sure how far that story goes, but maybe Gable gets a tag team partner to help him against Cesaro and Nakamura. Just don’t have Corbin pal around with them again, because we had Corbin VS Gable already when this Shorty G stuff started. We got great developments in the Women’s Tag Team Championship story. The Moment of Bliss segment was a lot of fun with the New Day reacting to the burns from Alexa to Bayley and Sasha. Sasha VS Alexa was a good match, but the best part was Bayley and Nikki on commentary. There was a part where Michael Cole came so close to laughing, you could tell. Next week’s tag title match will be incredible, I’m sure of it. And it seems all but official that The Forgotten Sons are next for The New Day. I appreciate Blake’s promo was about him not being a soldier but a supporter, but this feud would be better if Xavier Woods was back so that it’d be all six of them involved.

Sonya VS Lacey was a really good match, and a count-out finish was good because we can get more of these two. I can’t be sure where either goes after a feud, because Bayley and Sonya are Heels and WWE doesn’t do that kind of title story. Or even non-title stories, really. Matt Riddle coming to SmackDown is great for SmackDown! Having Kurt Angle announcing Matt Riddle coming to SmackDown spoils the fun but is good for ratings. But surprises don’t happen anymore when people leak and spoil things. Yes, fans are needed to give genuine reactions to a debut, but I would’ve been genuinely surprised hearing “Bro…” at any point on SmackDown next week.

And then, there’s the little skit with Mandy Rose and Otis. I loved that they reversed the pool dream sequence from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it was hilarious. Even though Mandy lost to Sonya, she is just fine because she has her Otis. And this kind of investment into Otis surely means that somehow in the next year, Otis is going to find a way to cash in and take the Universal Championship. The question will be about who he takes it off of, and I’m not picturing Miz & Morrison in that. Strowman, Bray Wyatt, but probably not Miz or Morrison. For one, the SmackDown hacker still needs to pick their targeted duo and start that story, and it could very well be Miz and Morrison after their stumblings as tag champions.

My Score: 8.4/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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

Prepare for Backlash!

Published

14 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Steven Mitchell

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

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

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

April 18, 2024

Andrew Balaz

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.

Part Three: Acceptance @TheJonGresham #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/NE9FPzCCz2

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

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.

.@XiaBrookside and @Ashamae_Sebera face off NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/Q0S3wSRpeu

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

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.

.@TheEricYoung channels "The Sickness" as he prepares for FULL METAL MAYHEM with @FrankieKazarian at #Rebellion! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/tm1TqxZBLo

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024

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.

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!