The American Nightmare is in Seattle!

Just NINE DAYS before he and John Cena battle at WrestleMania 41, the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, returns to SmackDown!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Gauntlet: Lyra Valkyria & Bayley win and will challenge Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez for the titles.
• Rey Fenix VS Berto w/ Legado del Fantasma; Fenix wins.
• Chelsea Green VS Zelina Vega; Vega wins.
• Tiffany Stratton VS Roxanne Perez; Tiffany wins.
• LA Knight & Randy Orton VS Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga; Knight & Orton win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Nick Aldis is in the ring.

The fans already chant for “RANDY! RANDY!” while the SmackDown General Manager says, “Ladies and gentlemen, last week on SmackDown, we witnessed a number of important moments, a number of memorable moments, a number of viral moments. Well, folks, I’m here to address one moment in particular. I wonder if you can guess which one that is.” The fans cheer, and Aldis says he has been instructed to “maintain my professionalism,” so he will do just that. With that said, Aldis would like to invite out Randy Orton. The fans cheer that, and then here comes The Viper! Seattle sings along with Voices as Orton goes to the ring.

The fans again cheer on “RANDY! RANDY!” while he looks up at the WrestleMania sign. Orton has a mic, and he tells Aldis, “I can tell by the look in your eyes, Nick, that you took last week very, very personally. Now hear me out, you can’t expect me to believe that you didn’t see yourself eating an RKO at some time in your future after last year, a year or so ago, the same thing happened. I paid a fine, and what’d I do, Nick? I paid double on that fine in case something like last week would happen again. It happened again, I paid in advance, and I think that we are even.

“The reason why I really wanted to speak to you, Nick, is because of the fact that there is not a match on the table at WrestleMania 41 for me.” The fans boo that, but Orton tells Aldis, “This is a very important WrestleMania for me. This will be my 20th time competing at WrestleMania. I need this to happen. I need you to do your job, I need you to make me an opponent. And I can guarantee you that I will be in Vegas. I will be all warmed up, ready to go, I will have my gear on, and I need you to give me a match. I don’t care what it takes. Maybe you lose the suit for a night and you gear up, too?” The fans like that idea!

Orton says whatever it is, he needs a match at Mania. Aldis asks if Orton really thinks this is about the money, about that 100 grand. Aldis knows Orton knows that WWE is doing record business, and Orton is a major part of that. Aldis is fortunate to be part of that. He busted his ass for 20 YEARS just to be here in this company. The fans are a bit torn on that, but Aldis says he doesn’t need Orton’s money, he needs Orton’s respect. The fans chant “R K O! R K O!” Orton says Aldis needs his respect, but funny enough, he’s got it. But if Aldis doesn’t deliver on a match for Orton next week, he can’t promise he’ll apologize to Mickie James for what he’s gonna do.

The fans are intrigued, but then Solo Sikoa makes his way out here?! Solo has Tama Tonga by his side, and a mic in hand. Solo tells Mr. Aldis, “Can you please tell Randy to get outta the ring, stop embarrassing himself. Okay? Don’t nobody wanna hear you cry, Randy. ‘Oh, I’m not going to WrestleMania~! I don’t have a match!’ WHO GIVES A CRAP!?” The fans boo but Solo says it is over for Orton! And does he know why? Because he’s the past. And next week, LA Knight is going to end up in the same boat as Orton. Because at WrestleMania, the Samoan Werewolf, Jacob Fatu, is walking out as the NEW United States Champion!

And Orton…? Orton will be sitting at home all alone. Orton says he’ll be “all alone?” That’s funny. What’s funnier is that Solo has the balls, him and “YEYEYEYE” Tama combined, to come out here and interrupt Orton while he’s talking. While Orton is, for the first time in his career, being diplomatic about business. The balls! The voices have been knocking, and the fans know why! He has all this pent up aggression! So what they’re saying now is for Solo & Tama to get in this ring so Orton can show how to whoop two Samoans’ asses! Seattle is all fired up, but Solo & Tama do go to the ring. Orton watches, then he CLOBBERS Tama!

Solo gets in, Orton fires kicks and UPERCUTS! Tama steps in but gets caught! Only for Solo to CLUB Orton! The fans boo as Tama & Solo mug Orton in the corner! But here comes LA KNIGHT! YEAH!! The US Champion fires hands on Tama, but then Solo storms up! Knight gives Solo some shots, too! Orton gets Tama, and now Orton and Knight take it to the rogues! Knight BOOTS Solo out, Orton UPPERCUTS Tama! Solo & Tama regroup outside, but Solo has Tama stand down. Knight grabs a mic to say, “Again, and again, and again, it’s the same damn thing with you guys! But I tell you what, you speakin’ my name? NAH NAH!

“You talking about WrestleMania? I hope your boy, Jacob, is watching, cuz what I just did is I took my name outta your mouth, and I put my fist in it! YEAH!” The fans fire up, and Knight says he knows Orton didn’t get enough. Knight knows Knight didn’t get enough! So if they can’t get it, then if they’ve got a tingle in their loins, it is them two and these two! Aldis, how do you feel about that? He does feel good about that! The fans like it, too! Knight says that’s a YEAH! That means y’all gonna fall to the Viper and the Mega Star, with everybody saying, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!!” Then will there be a BFT and an RKO in Solo’s near future?

Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez are ringside.

The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, aka the leading ladies of Judgment Day, are here to watch as six other teams battle for their one shot at these titles! Who will defy the odds to then go on to WrestleMania?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Gauntlet!

First out, it is WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion, Lyra Valkyria, and her friendly rival, Bayley! But who are The Morrigan & Role Model facing? It’s… Pure Fusion Collective, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark! Will The Queen of Spades & Sin City Superstar have the hot hand?

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley VS Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark!

The teams sort out and Bayley starts against Shayna. They circle, tie up, and each go for the headlock. Bayley shifts her wait, Shayna stifles that to have a rear mount. Shayna grabs an arm, isolates it, but Bayley avoids the stomp! The two reset, tie up, and Shayna wrenches to a wristlock. Tag to Zoey and she CLUBS Bayley’s arm. Zoey YANKS the arm, whips, but Bayley reverses. Zoey runs Bayley over, flexes, then keeps moving. Bayley stays  low, then hurdles over, to arm-drag Zoey down! The fans fire up while Bayley grinds the arm. Zoey fights up, and she short arm LARIATS in return! The fans rally for Bayley but Zoey tags Shayna.

Zoey snapmares Bayley, isolates the arm, and then Shayna STOMPS it! The fans boo, then they rally for Bayley. Shayna hammerlocks the arm, but Bayley storms to the ropes. Bayley steps through, then traps Shayna’s arm in the ropes! Tag to Lyra, she BOOTS Shayna, then slingshots in. Lyra sweeps the legs, then reels Shayna in, NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Lyra stands Shayna up, but Shayna ducks the enzigiri! Shayna CLUBS Lyra, tags Zoey, then brings Lyra around. Lyra wrenches out to ENZIGIRI! Shayna bails out, the fans fire up, and Lyra builds speed, but Zoey SNIPER DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO!

Zoey tags Lyra back in, and Shayna drags Lyra up. Zoey climbs a corner, Shayna hits a LEG CAPTURE BACK SUPLEX! Zoey gets Lyra for a BLOCKBUSTER! Shayna BLASTS Bayley off the apron, hurries to cover Lyra, but Bayley breaks it! The fans rally, Zoey gets Bayley out and whips her, only for Bayley to send Zoey into the barriers! Lyra sunset flips Shayna, but Shayna stays up! Shayna isolates in arm, but Lyra rolls and jackknife bridges, LYRA & BAYLEY ELIMINATE PFC! Lyra tumbles out and almost falls onto Liv & Raquel, but Lyra and Bayley are still in this! So who’s next? Maxxine Dupri & Natalya!

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley VS Maxxine Dupri & Natalya!

The Alpha Babe and The Queen of Harts are ready, even wearing matching colors, but will they make it to the end? We will see, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Natty throws hands on Lyra! Natty backs Lyra down, kicks her, but Lyra shoves Natty back. Natty ducks the leg lariat, blocks the sobat, then scoops Lyra. Lyra slips free to waistlock, but Natty elbows free. Lyra reels Natty back in, but Natty booty bumps her away. Lyra trips Natty, tags Bayley, and Bayley catches a kick to KNEE Natty! Bayley runs, but into a DISCUS LARIAT! The fans fire up, Maxxine calls to Natty, so Natty tags her in! The fans fire up as Maxxine goes up and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Maxxine whips Bayley, then LEG LARIATS! The fans fire up and Maxxine hooks Bayley up, FISHERMAN SUPLEX!

Maxxine kips up, the fans fire up, and Maxxine brings down the straps! She runs in and SPLASHES Bayley in the corner! Lyra runs up, Maxxine sends her into Bayley, then SPLASHES them both! The fans fire up as Bayley and Lyra fall over! Maxxine winds it up, and we get that REVERSE CATERPILLAR! DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Cover on Bayley, ROPEBREAK! Maxxine miscalculates but she hears Natty calling. Maxxine says hold on, and she steps through! SHARP- NO, Bayley cradles! BAYLEY & LYRA ELIMINATE NATTY & MAXXINE! Maxxine is sorry for messing up, but Natty didn’t even bother saving Maxxine!

No time for Bayley & Lyra to rest, here comes the party! Is this where KC Squared will have their breakthrough back to the top?

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!

Kayden handsprings and leg scissor cradles Bayley! TWO, Bayley waistlocks, but Kayden switches. O’Conner Roll, TWO! Katana tags in, then ROCKS Bayley! Kayden KICKS, Katana KNEES, and then we get a TABLE TOP TAKEDOWN! Cover, TWO! Katana hurries to reel Bayley in for a CODE BREAKER! Tag to Kayden, wheelbarrow and back suplex SPLASH, onto knees! Bayley saves herself, then she BOOTS Kayden away! Bayley goes up, ELBOW DROP to the back! Cover, TWO! Kayden stays in this, but Bayley drags her over to tag Lyra. They double whip Kayden, Kayden holds the ropes! Kayden SUPERKICKS Bayley, then trips Lyra!

Kayden runs and BOOT WASHES Lyra! Kayden kicks Lyra to center, positions her just right, then tags Katana. Katana goes up, and we get he KEG STAND SPLASH!! Cover, Bayley breaks it just in time! But Kayden TOSSES Bayley, then DIVES! TORNILLO TOPE! Katana victory rolls Lyra, TWO! Lyra stands, Katana RAN- NO! Lyra hoists Katana up, fireman’s carry, NIGHTWING DRIVER! Cover, LYRA & BAYLEY ELIMINATE KC SQUARED! Bayley & Lyra are kicking it up a notch, but here come Michin & B-Fab! The baddies want their shot, but SmackDown takes a break.

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley VS Mia Yim & B-Fab!

SmackDown returns as B-Fab rolls up Lyra, TWO! The fans rally, B-Fab BOOTS Lyra down! Cover, TWO! Lyra stays in this but B-Fab stays on her. B-Fab drags Lyra over, tags Mia, and Mia drags Lyra up to scoop and SLAM! Cover, TWO! Mia drags Lyra up, but Lyra JAWBREAKERS! Lyra crawls, Mia grabs a leg, but Lyra ENZIGIRIS free! Hot tag to Bayley! The fans fire up as Bayley rallies on Mia, runs corner to corner, but Mia dodges! Mia mule kicks, PELES, then she brings Bayley around to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Mia drags Bayley up to the corner, tags B-Fab, then has Bayley in the TARANTULA! The ref counts, B-Fab BOOTS Bayley down!

B-Fab drags Bayley up, TWISTING NECKBREAKER! Cover, Lyra breaks it! Mia SHOTGUNS Lyra! Mia then builds speed and DIVES out onto Lyra! B-Fab hauls Bayley up, wrenches, but Bayley denies the hook kick! ROSE PLANT!! Cover, BAYLEY & LYRA ELIMINATE MICHIN & B-FAB!! The starting team is about to run the gauntlet, but that means running into… The Secret Her-vice! Is the Green Administration about to have another huge victory?

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley VS Piper Niven & Alba Fyre w/ Chelsea Green!

Piper & Alba rush the ring, Bayley brawls with Alba! Bayley gets the edge with forearm after forearm, but Alba shoves her away. Bayley comes back, Alba dodges, so Bayley BLAST Piper! Alba SUPERKICKS Bayley, then salutes! Piper storms in, but Lyra is after her! Piper HEADBUTTS Lyra down! Alba stands Bayley up, DECKS her, and Bayley tumbles out. Alba goes out to bring Bayley around, and whips her hard into barriers! The fans boo, the ref starts a ring count, and Alba puts Bayley in the ring. Alba stomps Bayley, Piper keeps after Lyra, and the fans boo more. Alba drags Bayley up, tags Piper, and they reel Bayley in.

The Secret Her-vice DOUBLE SUPLEX Bayley, then Piper SENTONS! Piper covers, TWO! Bayley survives, which annoys Piper, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Piper scoops Bayley, to then tag Alba. Piper SLAMS Bayley, then she picks Alba up to tilt-o-whirl, salute, and SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives but Alba is furious! Alba stomps Bayley, drags her up, and tag back to Piper. They reel Bayley back in, they taunt Lyra, but Bayley fights the double suplex to DOUBLE DDT! Even Liv & Raquel are impressed! The fans fire up as Bayley crawls, but Alba grabs a foot. Bayley fights up, Alba ducks, the ENZIGIRI hits Piper! Alba panics, Bayley hot tags Lyra! Lyra goes up and CROSSBODIES Piper! ENZIGIRI for Alba! SOBAT, KICK, and HEADBUTT for Piper!

Lyra reels Piper in, goes to the corner, TORNADO DDT! Lyra fires up and the fans are with her! She hooks a leg, but Piper powers out! Suplex into the corner! Both women are down and Lyra clutches a foot. Piper snarls as she rises up, and she stomps Lyra in the drop zone. “This is Awesome!” as Piper goes up, up, and salutes! But Lyra KICKS a leg! Lyra gets under Piper, for a RUNNING POWERBOMB!! Hot tag back to Bayley and she climbs right up! MACHO ELBOW DROP!! Cover, ONE?!?! Piper refuses to let that stop her and Bayley can’t believe it! Bayley drags Piper up, wrenches, then reaches to Lyra. Piper reels Bayley in, SCRAPBUSTER!

Piper drags Bayley up and over, tag to Alba. Alba BLASTS Lyra, then Piper puts Bayley in a straitjacket! Alba goes up while Piper pulls Bayley back, SWANTON BOMB BACKBREAKER COMBO!! Cover, LYRA SHOVES PIPER ONTO IT! The fans are thunderous as all four women are down! Even Raquel & Liv like this! The four slowly rise up, and the fists start flying! The fans cheer Bayley & Lyra, they boo the Secret Her-vice. BAYLEY2BELLY for Alba! Lyra fires a flurry, but Piper HEADBUTTS! Both women wobble, and Lyra falls back. Piper shakes out the stars, then runs up, but Lyra ducks! Piper gets stuck on the ropes, Lyra kicks her to the outside.

Piper grabs at Lyra’s feet, Lyra kicks her away. Lyra then drags Piper up, ROCKS her, and runs to SLIDE and POWER- NO, Piper holds onto the ropes for dear life! But Bayley DROPKICKS her into the POWERBOMB on the floor!! The fans go nuts after that, but Alba rolls Bayley! TWO!! SUPERKICK! Alba covers again, TWO!! Bayley survives, Alba is furious! Alba scoops, Bayley slips free, Lyra tags in! Bayley drop toeholds Alba into buckles! ROSE PLANT! Lyra goes up, TURN OF FORTUNE!! Cover, LYRA & BAYLEY WIN!!!

Winners: Lyra Valkyria & Bayley (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)

Liv & Raquel are no longer happy as the “not a real team” just won this gauntlet by going wire to wire! But Bayley & Lyra aren’t backing down, will they take those titles at WrestleMania?

Charlotte Flair attacked Tiffany Stratton in the parking lot!

Caught on film by a fan, The Queen’s apparent response to last week’s comments is to try and end #TiffyTime before WrestleMania! Charlotte has since been escorted off the property, suspended for the night. How violent is the WWE Women’s Championship match going to get with tensions running this high?

Damian Priest is here!

Seattle fires up for The Archer of Infamy as he makes his way to the ring. The news went out today that Priest and Drew McIntyre will have a WrestleMania match, and it will be a Sin City Street Fight! WAIT, McIntyre attacks Priest from behind! McIntyre throws Priest around, then throws down fists! McIntyre DRIBBLES Priest off the LED board again and again! Producers, referees, and security rush out here, and the one-eyed Scottish Terminator grins as he lets off of Priest. The fans are torn while Priest is helped to his feet. Priest can barely stand but security helps him to the back while McIntyre just watches from the ring.

McIntyre grabs a mic to ask, “Are we starting to see clearly now? Society only moves as fast as its slowest member, and it took a few people awhile to catch up. But everybody can see as plain as day, Drew McIntyre only tells the truth, and every action is justified! Including dropping his stupid ass!” The fans are torn, but McIntyre storms around some more. “That parasite has benefitted every time I was screwed. He would never face me like a man, until this week, when he agreed to face me face to face cuz I’ve got one eye. Then he challenged me to a match at WrestleMania! A Sin City Street Fight, cuz I’ve got one eye!

“And y’know what? I still accepted, cuz that’s the kind of man that Drew McIntyre is!” The fans are torn on that, but McIntyre says this is a match a year in the making. Priest wants to live forever? Well, McIntyre will make it so no one forgets Priest, because he’ll give Priest the beating of a lifetime at WrestleMania! There is more! Seattle, you wanna know a little secret? They do! “Wolverine here’s got some good news.” McIntyre takes off the eye patch, he’s just fine! McIntyre says he’s 100% cleared, and that means at WrestleMania, Priest is 100% screwed! But speaking of, Priest storms his way back out! Security wants him to stop, but he just CLOBBERS them all!

Priest runs to the ring, and he CLOBBERS McIntyre! The fans fire up as Priest throws hands, then he puts McIntyre in the ring for more! McIntyre shoves Priest, Priest dodges and LARIATS! Priest then runs and ELBOWS McIntyre in a corner! Then he LARIATS McIntyre up and out of the ring! Priest goes out, brings McIntyre up, and SMACKS him off the steps! Producers and refs get in there, but Priest tells them to back off! McIntyre CLAWS Priest’s eyes! McIntyre grabs the steel steps and pulls them apart! He CLOBBERS Priest with them! Priest is down, refs and producers step in, but fans are losing their minds over that impact!

McIntyre seethes, and he pushes people aside to get Priest up! McIntyre brings Priest to the steps, underhooks, FULL METAL FUTURE SHOCK!!! Double-edged but McIntyre just feeds off that pain! McIntyre looms over Priest, looks him in his glossy eyes, and yanks away Priest’s necklace! McIntyre holds up the Rosario, is McIntyre going to pray he can do this all again in Sin City?

DIY critique last week’s match.

Johnny Gargano points out when Tommaso Ciampa’s head hits bare steel. That is an illegal use of turnbuckle, back and to the left, DIY got screwed! Gargano blames Charles Robinson the referee, he blames Nick Aldis, he blames everybody else! Ciampa says all those guys are just puppets! DIY is NOBODY’S puppet! This is all a CONSPIRACY!  A conspiracy to screw DIY out of the titles! Pretty Deadly watches this, they whisper, but they “agree” that DIY is absolutely… out of their minds! Since losing the titles, DIY has gone crazy! Ciampa asks if they’re blind! Are they not seeing what they’re seeing!? Back and to the left!

Elton Prince says just look at all this. They’ve stepped in a rabbit hole. Desperation is not a good look on DIY. Kit Wilson says for them, #NoBoy. They head out, and Motor City Machine Guns step in. Chris Sabin asks if they heard the word, “Conspiracy.” DIY is ridiculous. But keep coping, because while DIY is worried about last week, MCMG is focused on next week. MCMG gets their shot on WrestleMania Eve SmackDown against The Street Profits. Alex Shelley says they worked their asses off to get here, they won the tag titles in three weeks, only for DIY to screw MCMG out of them, so no… No conspiracy, this is karma.

MCMG heads out, DIY continues to obsess, but will the only truth be that MCMG and The Profits are going to bring the smoke?

Rey Fenix VS Berto w/ Legado del Fantasma!

The Immortal Firebird made his WWE debut last week, but not everyone was impressed by the elite level of lucha libre Fenix put on display. However, if Berto is to impress Santos Escobar, he’ll have to do this alone as Santos y Angel are heading back to the back! Will Berto show his own impressive lucha libre? Or will he learn what it is to #ANIMO?

SmackDown returns as Fenix makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally, the two tie up, and Berto headlocks. Fenix powers  up but Berto holds on tight. Fenix rolls Berto, ONE, but Fenix ghost pins, TWO! Fenix kicks low, fires hands, then runs, but Berto LARIATS! Berto snarls while fans boo, but Berto CHOPS! Berto whips, Fenix reverses, then somersaults, but Berto catches Fenix to a fireman’s carry! Fenix fights free, clinches, HEADBUTTS, and then drags Berto down, rolls him around, ghost pin! TWO! Fenix SOBATS, KICKS, but Berto ducks a roundhouse to ENZIGIRI!

Berto puts Fenix in a corner to ROUNDHOUSE! The fans boo but Berto stomps a mudhole. The ref counts, Berto stops at 4, but then he digs his boots in. The ref counts again, Berto steps off at 4, and he whips corner to corner. Fenix stops himself short, ELBOWS Berto back, then goes u, only for Berto to SHOVE him to the apron! Fenix tumbles, Berto builds speed, and Berto FLIES! Down goes Fenix and Berto is all fired up! Seattle boos but Berto talks trash on Fenix, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Berto drags Fenix up, sends him into the steel steps, and Fenix drops to his knees. Berto soaks up heat, then he stalks Fenix. Berto puts Fenix in the ring, covers, TWO! Fenix stays in this, and he CHIPOS Berto! Fenix eggs Berto on so Berto CHOPS! Fenix CHOPS, Berto fires a flurry of forearms! Berto DECKS Fenix with a haymaker! Berto soaks up heat while Fenix stirs. Berto drags Fenix up and suplexes, but Fenix knees him into a cradle, TWO! Both men stand, Berto BOOTS Fenix down! Berto cools things down but Fenix bails out. Berto pursues, eggs the fans on, then he storms up to GAMANGIRI Fenix against barriers!

Fenix sputters, but Berto looms over him. Berto drags Fenix up, puts him in the ring, then covers, TWO! Berto clamps onto Fenix’s arms for a motorcycle stretch. Fenix endures, fights around, but Berto just powers him back down. Fenix still fights, fires body shots, but Berto ROCKS him! Berto whips, Fenix KICKS, and Fenix runs, only for Berto to scoop and BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fenix stays in this and Berto grows frustrated. Berto paces, then he scuffs Fenix. SmackDown returns to single picture and the fans rally up. Berto whisp Fenix to a corner, runs up, but into a BOOT! Berto comes back, Fenix dodges, Berto hits buckles!

Fenix goes up, up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Berto stirs, but Fenix kips up! The fans fire up as Fenix bobs ‘n’ weaves to CHPO, CHOP, and CHPO! Fenix CHOPS again and again, then fires up! The fans are with him as he whips Berto, but Berto reverses. Fenix goes up and up to FLYING HEADBUTT! Berto tumbles out to the apron, but Fenix RAMS him! Fenix bumps Berto off buckles, goes up and up to then DOUBLE STOMP Berto on the back! Berto falls to the floor and the fans fire up! Fenix feeds off that energy, and he builds speed to TORNILLO! Direct hit and the fans join in with “ANIMO!”

Fenix puts Berto in, somersaults and SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this but Fenix brings Berto up. Fenix fireman’s carries, but Berto powers out! Berto shoves Fenix to a corner, then runs up to LARIAT! Berto puts Fenix on the top rope to then springboard, FLYING CHUCK! Cover, TWO! Fenix survives #Chicharito but Berto just goes to a corner. Fenix rises, Berto runs up, sunset flip, and deadlift, SIT OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Fenix survives and Berto can’t believe it! Berto drags Fenix up top, CHOPS him, then climbs again. Fenix fires elbows and body shots! Then he jumps up to SUPER STEINER!!

The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Fenix crawls his way over, covers Berto, TWO!! Berto barely gets that arm up, but Fenix just fires up again! Seattle is with Fenix as he gets Berto up. Berto kicks, Fenix ducks, but the ENZIGIRI finds him! Fenix staggers, Berto whips, but Fenix goes Spider-Man! Rewind and HEEL KICK! Berto ends up in  corner, Fenix runs up, JUMP- NO, Berto catches Fenix and fireman’s carries! POP-UP SIT-OUT BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Berto is beside himself but the fans rally behind Fenix! Berto puts Fenix in the drop zone, climbs up, “This is Awesome!” MOUNTAINTOP MOONSAULT into boots!!

Berto flounders around, Fenix rises, and the fans fire up again! Fenix goes up the corner, tightrope walk for the GOODBYE AMIGO KICK! Then the JUMP SOBAT in the corner! Fenix hoists Berto up, tucks him in, MEXICAN MUSCLE BUSTER!! Cover, Fenix wins!

Winner: Rey Fenix, by pinfall

Two weeks in a row, two fast ‘n’ furious matches in a row, and Fenix is on a hot streak! Santos returns to help Berto to his feet. Santos says that’s alright, but now he sees what Fenix is all about. Santos shows Fenix respect by helping him to his feet. Fenix is wary about this, but Santos wants Berto to shake Fenix’s hand. Berto does that, though rather reluctantly. Los Garza storms off, Santos shakes Fenix’s hand, but are there strings attached to The Emperor of Lucha showing respect?

Backstage interview with Roxanne Perez.

Byron Saxton is outside Nick Aldis’ office as he talks with The Prodigy. What exactly brings Roxie to SmackDown tonight? She says since Ava Raine won’t give her an answer on Stand & Deliver next Saturday, Roxie is taking things into her own hands. As the runner-up to this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble, Roxie would gladly compete for the WWE Women’s Championship, seeing as how she’s a real professional. Roxie is 23 years old and ready to steal the show, as clearly Tiffany Stratton can’t handle the pressure. But Tiffany storms in and asks if Roxie is seriously talking trash. Roxie should be the last person to do that.

The way Tiff sees it, Roxie could learn something from her. Uh, what could Roxie possibly learn? How to put on a fake little “helpless Tiffy” act? Roxie saw through Tiff before, and she knows Tiff’s true colors. Let’s just hope it doesn’t cost Tiffy the title. Well at least Tiff’s not the one coming to SmackDown begging for a match. Roxie says she’ll gladly watch Charlotte rip Tiff’s little Barbie head off. Aldis steps out of his office and wants them to calm down. Roxie will gladly take Tiffy on before Charlotte does. Tiff says if Roxie wants a fight, then Tiff will gladly share the spotlight Roxie so desperately wants, tonight! Right, Nick!?

Aldis says hold on. It has been quite a day. He will consider it. But in the meantime, they both need to cool off. Tiff storms off, Roxie mockingly waves tootles. Will we get Princess Tiffy VS Prodigy Roxie this close to WrestleMania Weekend?

WWE takes a look at the friendship of CM Punk and Paul Heyman.

They first met back in 2005, when Punk first walked into OVW. The Wise Man knew that Punk wasn’t the “next [insert name here],” he was the first CM Punk. He knew even then that “This was the guy.” And once the fans saw it, the whole game would change. Punk knows he owes his whole career to Heyman. The Paul Heyman Guy would becoming WWE Champion, prove he was Best in the World, and everything else Heyman predicted. Heyman has been a friend, teacher, mentor, brother even, and Heyman says he admires Punk more than anyone else in this entire industry. But then in 2013, Punk felt he had to leave.

Punk guarded himself from a lot of people he met and became friends with in the WWE, and Heyman was no exception. And after 10 years away (a few of those years in another company), it was the second coming of the Second City Saint. WarGames, the WrestleMania main event Triple Threat, and now the favor… These two are back together again, whether Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins like it or not. But we also saw how Rollins almost ended that all just last Monday Night Raw. How will the Visionary saying Heyman owes him something derail Punk’s WrestleMania moment?

Chelsea Green checks on the Secret Her-vice.

They’re in medical, and she shouts through the door that she needs them to get better right now because she is literally about to wrestle up next. Zelina Vega smiles as she walks by, and mocks the tears. Zelina says the gauntlet match was so hard on Chelsea’s girls. Now she’ll have to do this all on her own like a grown-up! What’s she ever gonna do? Well, time to see what kind of champion Chelsea really is. Bye~! Zelina makes her way to gorilla, Chelsea panics and says she needs Piper & Alba, no matter what condition they’re in! Is The Green Administration about to fall apart at the seams?

Chelsea Green VS Zelina Vega!

SmackDown returns as Chelsea makes her entrance, alone. The bell rings and Chelsea throws her puffy skirt at Zelina! Chelsea TACKLES Zelina, throws down hands, then dribbles Zelina off the mat! Chelsea lets off to shout for Piper & Alba, but they’re not coming. Zelina rolls Chelsea up, TWO! Chelsea DROPKICKS Zelina down! Zelina tumbles out, Chelsea pursues, and THROWS Zelina into the barriers! Chelsea drags Zelina up, fireman’s carries, and SNAKE EYES Off the desk! Chelsea puts Zelina in the ring, shouts for her security detail, but the ring count is climbing! But it’s TEN as Chelsea slides in! Zelina wins!!

Winner: Zelina Vega, by count-out

The fans boo, but Chelsea is angriest of all! She let her anger get the better of her, and now she’s lost! Zelina says next time, it’s for the title! Will we have a change of administrations in the near future?

Legado regroups backstage.

Santos tells Angel that he cannot say this enough! That was the kind of performance he needs out of Legado! But Berto, you said Fenix was a flash in the pan, and a flying lizard? All Santos has to say right now, he’s extremely disappointed in Berto. Santos tells Angel that they’re going to go find Fenix and properly congratulate him on a job well done. Angel pats his cousin on the shoulder, but he follows Santos. But then Andrade steps in and he tells Berto that was a good match. Andrade offers a handshake, but Berto doesn’t take it. Andrade knows Berto is upset. Fenix is a great wrestler, but so is Berto!

Andrade says Berto has heart, so he should keep his head up and be proud. Berto tells Andrade to mind his own business. Berto storms off, but could El Idolo be right about Santos not appreciating his team?

Naomi speaks.

“Leech. Scum. Opportunist. There are so many words that describe you, Jade. But the one word that fits you to the core, is snake. Had I not pushed you off that ledge and onto that windshield, HAHAHAHAHAHA…! I know that it would’ve eventually been me. Once I got you out my way, I took my rightful place as champion. Bianca and I grew an even stronger friendship. But now that you’re back, Bianca won’t even LOOK at me! But it’s okay. Because there’s no more of this fake loyalty. I’m doing what’s best for me, and I’m gonna get mine. At WrestleMania, I strongly advise you to proceed with caution.”

Jade Cargill responds.

“Naomi, you thought that you could weather the storm by ducking ‘n’ dodging me. But now, the moment is here. Time has run out. I’m not just angry. I’m pissed. You came at me because you thought you knew what was best for me? You don’t. You tried to take me out because of your own insecurities. Lemme ask you this: What happens to a star when it starts to fade? They try to steal the shine from someplace else. That is what this is about. The Glow is fading. And Naomi, you’re trying to stay relevant in each and every way. That is what this all is about. You were jealous that I came in with so much star power, so much aura, so much glow.

“And this WrestleMania, I’m not a rookie anymore. I’m your biggest threat. Because a storm is coming.” Jade and Naomi have drawn the battlelines, who will survive when they put it all on the line?

Cody Rhodes is here.

Awaiting him in the ring are various iterations of THE WWE Championship, from the earliest blue leather strap, to the “Winged Eagle,” to the Undisputed WWE Championship of the early 2000s, to even the Spinner Belt that John Cena first created… The fans sing along with Cody’s song, “WHOA~ OH~!” and Cody gets his pyro. Cody continues to the ring, he high-fives the front row, and “WHOA~ OH~!” we get the second pyro. Cody steps into the ring with his Undisputed WWE Championship, then places it on a pedestal in the center. Cody picks up a mic while the fans cheer, and Cody gets the fans to get a bit louder.

The fans sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” and Cody revels in it. Cody then says the fans have him all flustered. He thanks Seattle, they’ve always been good to him. Whether it is the sold out arena here tonight, or when Cody was in Defy. “Now, this is the tangible definition of realized potential. It is the denotation of excellence, the metric that stands. This right here (the current Undisputed WWE Championship) simply says, ‘You are the best wrestler in the world.'” The fans cheer that! Cody says he is blessed to be able to carry this and its mighty weight. But it won’t always be Cody. That is what WrestleMania has become.

This is not just a match between two men. It is about the right to keep this title at home. It is about the next 20 champions. Whether that is one of Shawn Michaels’ NXT kids watching WrestleMania intently, or WWE ID talents! Maybe there’s a young man in Seattle here tonight, wanting to grow up and wear this one day! It is about those champions! Then there is one man trying to take all of that away. The fans boo, because that man is John Cena. The fans duel, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” Cody continues by saying, “John Cena has neglected to make Seattle part of his farewell tour.” The fans boo that!

Cody says Cena will be on SmackDown for Las Vegas. It would be cowardice on Cody’s part to rebuttal Cena’s remarks from London. One thing Cena said that stuck with Cody is that Cena referred to the placement of Cody’s tattoo. Cena claimed that Cody’s neck tattoo makes him a “common fan.” The fans boo that, but Cody says, “So what?” Cody has this tattoo for the same reason he wears the suit. It isn’t because Cody thinks he’s somebody, it is because Cody wants to BE somebody! Cody goes down the line with the titles now. “Is that somebody who can sell out the world’s most famous arena 188 times to the rhythmic chants of his own name?

“Is that somebody who can sit up each and every night, even with broken ribs, and become WWE’s Phenom? Is that somebody who can set the world ablaze with Latino Heat?” The fans chant “EDDIE! EDDIE!” but then Cody comes to the Spinner Belt… “Or is that somebody who can carry a company on his back through good times and bad for 10 years? John Cena… John Cena looks at this and considers it a bad thing. I don’t. I see it as a man who was trying to break the wheel. A man who was trying to find himself. Does that sound familiar?” Cody brings up how Cena claims Cody doesn’t know himself, doesn’t present himself authentically.

“Here’s what I do know, John: I’m the WWE Champion and you are not!” The fans cheer that! Cody says Cena is always teaching and preaching. Maybe this is the one time Cody can teach Cena something. Something that Cody saw his father, Dusty, struggle with as a career Babyface, and it is very simple. “John, they are allowed to love somebody else. Hell, I call myself the Captain here, but I’m part of a roster that has CM Punk, Randy Orton, Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, just to name a few! We make each other better!” The fans fire up for that! Cody says he found himself with the unenviable task, but it is in his nature to want that task.

Cody has to halt history with Cena’s record setting title win so that we can have history at all. Cena is a man of his word. Cena says he’s leaving, he means it. He says he’ll take the title into retirement, he means it. So here’s some honesty from Cody. Cody will tell Cena the same things he told Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns: “I do my best work when I’m backed into a corner. I don’t flinch, I fight, I wrestle. That’s right, John, the bell is gonna ring! And when it does, and this is over, I leave you to this ring to have your moment. Your moment to say goodbye.

“It would be clever for me to tell John, ‘Your time is up, my time is now.’ But John, you’ve known your time is up for quite some time, and that’s why you did what you did. And one day, MY time will be up soon. But until then, this is timeless. And THIS stays home. This stays with US!” The fans cheer as Cody holds up the title. Will nothing, not even a desperate and angry John Cena, stop Cody now?

Backstage interview with The Street Profits.

Byron Saxton is with Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins and brings up that next week, WrestleMania Eve SmackDown, they defend their WWE Tag Team Championships against Motor City Machine Guns. How are the Profits feeling about that showdown? Ford says Profits, Motor City, Vegas, WrestleMania Weekend. They like MCMG. But they saw that video where MCMG said they don’t care about the gold jewelry, the checks, the grills, the reality shows. But quite frankly, you can’t care about things that you don’t have. But what else don’t they have? These titles.

Dawkins says MCMG has been all over the world, 20 years, but save the congratulations for the “IWC glazers.” Because the Profits run this division! But then The Miz & Carmelo Hayes step in. Melo says, “Run this division? Y’all run this division into the ground. Yeah, MCMG, they road warriors. Y’all gassing them up. You wanna talk about a real road warrior? Let’s talk about The Miz!” Ford & Dawkins chuckle, but Miz asks if someone said a joke. Because the only joke he sees is the tag division being headed by these two clowns! Melo wants Miz to calm down but Miz says no, let him cook!

As talented as The Profits are, the mere fact those titles aren’t on WrestleMania is a slap in the face to every superstar that has held those titles, including Miz! Miz is a NINE-TIME Tag Team Champion! Time to put The Profits on notice and revive this tag division! Miz wants number ten, and he has the hottest prospect by his side! A true one-of-one, Carmelo Hayes! Together, they are Melo Don’t Miz, and they are AWES-H1M! And they most definitely want the smoke. Ford has Dawkins hold back. The Profits are focused on MCMG next week, but will they be seeing Miz & Melo soon enough?

Tiffany Stratton VS Roxanne Perez!

From words being thrown last week to fists being thrown before the show even began, it has been quite the week for the WWE Women’s Champion. But will she show this is still #TiffyTime? Or will The Prodigy prove she’s ready to do more than just stand and deliver?

SmackDown returns and Roxie makes her entrance. The bell rings, Roxie shoves Tiff, but Tiff shoves back. Tiff blocks the slap, but Roxie pulls hair! Roxie has Tiff in the corner, the ref counts, but Roxie lets off at 4. Tiff shoves Roxie down! Roxie gets up, Tiff headlocks, but Roxie pulls hair again. Roxie powers up and out, but Tiff runs her over! Tiff says it’s still her time, then runs, but she cartwheels over Roxie’s dropdown. Then she goes Matrix to avoid the lariat! Roxie rolls to headscissor and roll-up! TWO, and Roxie headlocks. Tiff powers up and out, but Roxie throws her down by her hair! The ref reprimands but things keep moving.

Tiff drops down but now Roxie cartwheels over. And Roxie SLAPS Tiff! The fans boo, but Roxie takes a bow. Tiff smiles, then SLAPS Roxie! Tiff THROWS Roxie down by her hair, arm-drags her around, then kicks low. Tiff reels Roxie in, the fans duel, and Tiff asks, “What time is it?” Snap suplex time! Tiff stomps Roxie, drags her up, and snap suplexes again! Cover, TWO! Roxie is tougher than that but Tiff stalks her to the ropes. Tiff drags Roxie in, Roxie grabs the apron skirt! The ref reprimands, Roxie lets go, and the ref fixes the skirt, allowing for Roxie to CLAW Tiff’s eyes! Roxie then POSTS Tiff! Tiff falls to the apron but Roxie goes out after her!

Roxie bends Tiff’s arm against a crossbar, then STOMPS! Tiff clutches her elbow and the fans boo, but Roxie says, “That’s how The Prodigy does it!” Roxie grins while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Roxie storms after Tiff, puts her in the ring, then grabs the bad arm. Roxie wrenches the arm, THROWS Tiff down, then drops a KNEE on the elbow! Tiff clutches her arm, Roxie talks trash, and Roxie CLUBS Tiff down. Roxie grabs the bad arm, wrenches it, then UPPERCUTS! Roxie wrenches and whips Tiff to a corner, runs up and UPPERCUTS! Roxie wrenches and wrangles Tiff for a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Roxie keeps on Tiff by twisting the wrist and pulling on the arm! Tiff endures, Roxie mockingly claps using Tiff’s hand, then Roxie YANKS on the arm! Cover, TWO! Tiff toughs it out and goes to ropes.

Roxie storms up on Tiff, CHOKES her on the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Roxie drags Tiff around, pushes her onto the ropes, then CHOKES her again! The ref counts, Roxie jumps to STOMP Tiff down! Roxie stalks Tiff, drags her around and wrenches the arm. Roxie hammerlocks then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Cover, TWO! Tiff stays in this but Roxie stays on her, and she YANKS the arm again! Roxie pulls on the arm but Tiff still endures. Tiff fights up, stacks Roxie, TWO! And it’s back to the straight armbar! Tiff fights up again, stacks, and deadlifts Roxie for a POWERBOMB! Both women are down, but Tiff crawls to the far side.

Tiff shakes out the bad arm while SmackDown returns to single picture. Tiff runs up to LARIAT Roxie! And LARIAT again! The fans fire up as Tiff handsprings corner to corner for a BACK ELBOW! Roxie sputters, Tiff whips, and SPINEBSUTER! High stack, TWO! Roxie stays in this but Tiff stays focused. Tiff drags Roxie up, reels her in, band manages a Canadian Rack! Roxie arm-drags free, then grabs the bad arm! Tiff rolls Roxie up first, TWO! Roxie runs, but into a SKY HIGH! Cover, TWO! Roxie survives again and Tiff grows frustrated. Tiff drags Roxie onto ropes, then runs, but Roxie avoids the hip attack to UPPERCUT!

Roxie THROWS Tiff down, steps on her as she goes to the corner, then she makes sure Tiff is in the right spot. Roxie goes up, LIONSAULT, but onto knees! Tiff saves herself, then goes up, up, and- NO, Roxie anchors a foot! Tiff kicks free, but Roxie climbs up to SUPER RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Roxie runs, HANDSPRING KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO!! Tiff survives and Roxie is furious! Roxie drags Tiff up, talks trash, then SOBATS! Roxie hops on, but Tiff pops free! Tiff then cartwheels to Alabama Lift, and she swings Roxie around, but Roxie victory rolls it! TWO, and Tiff has it, TWO! Roxie runs, tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! CROSSFACE!!

Tiffy endures, fights around, reaches out, but Roxie kicks off the ropes to turn things! But Tiff uses that to fireman’s carry! ROLLING SENTON! Tiff goes up, PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, Tiff wins!

Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall

Roxie tried to swoop in and ruin things for Tiffany, but Tiff- WAIT! CHARLOTTE FLAIR IS STILL HERE?! She drags Tiff out of the ring and THROWS her into barriers! The fans boo but Charlotte POSTS Tiff! Charlotte SLAPS Tiff, drags her up, and TOSSES her over the desk! Security rushes out here but Charlotte jumps over the desk! She shoves Wade Barrett, Wade tries to tell her this is going to get her fired! Charlotte doesn’t care, but Wade keeps her from getting after Tiff again. Charlotte instead stands on the desk again, soaking up the heat from Seattle. Will The Queen be a witch in her attempt to take back the throne?

WWE reveals the WrestleMania 41 card!

On Saturday, April 19th, it will be:

• Jade Cargill VS Naomi!
• WWE World Tag Team Championships: The War Raiders VS The New Day!
• Rey Mysterio VS El Grande Americano!
• WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Jacob Fatu!
• WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton VS Charlotte Flair!
• WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther VS Jey Uso!
• Main Event – Triple Threat: CM Punk w/ Paul Heyman VS Seth Rollins VS Roman Reigns!

Meaning on Sunday, April 20th, it will be:

• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Lyra Valkyria & Bayley!
• Sin City Street Fight: Damian Priest VS Drew McIntyre!
• WWE Intercontinental Championship Fatal 4 Way: Bron Breakker VS Penta VS Finn Balor VS Dominik Mysterio!
• AJ Styles VS Logan Paul!
• WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat: Iyo Sky VS Bianca Belair VS Rhea Ripley!
• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS John Cena!

That’s 13 matches in all, but whose luck will run out when we roll the dice in Las Vegas?

LA Knight & Randy Orton VS Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga!

The Mega Star & The Apex Predator got just a taste earlier tonight, and now they want to have the full course! Will Knight & Orton use the BFT and RKO to serve up an L? Or will the would-be Tribal Chief and his Good Bad Guy make the WWE United States Champion easy pickings for The Samoan Werewolf?

SmackDown returns and Knight makes his entrance to join Orton in the ring. Solo & Tama then make their entrance, and the teams sort out. Knight starts against Tama and the fans rally up. Solo distracts, Tama attacks! The fans boo as Tama fires hands, but the ref counts. Tama RAMS into Knight again and again, then backs up to taunt Orton, “YEYEYEYEYE!” Tama runs in and SPLASHES! Tag to Solo, he smirks at Orton, and Tama feeds Orton to an ELBOW! Solo drags Knight up, bumps him off buckles, then fires hands. The fans let out the Maui “CHIII-HOO~!” while Solo taunts Orton, but then Knight fires hands in return!

The fans rally as Knight ELBOWS Tama, ROCKS Solo, and repeat! Solo runs up, Knight TOSSES him out! Knight hurries for his corner, but Solo runs in! Hot tag to Orton! Solo stops cold, but then storms up anyway, only for Orton to throw hands! Orton ROCKS Solo, Solo shoves Orton, but Orton comes back to LARIAT! Solo staggers up, Orton dodge shim, and then SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up, Tama returns, but he gets a SNAP POWERSLAM! Orton has Solo in the ropes, drags him out, DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up and Orton already hears the voices! Solo rises, but Tama gets in! Orton RK- NO, Tama shoves Orton into Solo’s SAMOAN DROP!

Tama BLASTS Knight, then he storms out while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Orton tumbles out of the ring, and Solo waits inside. Tama CLOBBERS Orton, the ref reprimands, but Tama tags in. Tama drags Orton up, to LARIAT him down! Tama paces, then he drags Orton back into the ring. Tama runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Orton stays in this but Tama grabs a leg. Tama drags Orton over, tags Solo, and they split the wishbone! Orton writhes, but Solo smirks as he paces between Orton and Knight. Solo puts Orton on the ropes to CHOKE him! Solo stops to taunt Knight, and this distracts the ref so Tama can BOOT Orton down! Orton sputters, but Solo taunts him to go tag Knight.

Orton crawls, Solo SLAMS Orton’s arm off the mat, then stands him up to HEADBUTT! Orton goes to a corner, Solo fires body shots and haymakers, but Orton eggs him on! Solo rains down fists, but Orton just gets up. Orton kicks low, fires hands, then HEADBUTTS! That wasn’t smart… Orton wobbles, and Solo HEADBUTTS Orton down! Solo says that’s why you don’t headbutt a Samoan. Solo drags Orton over, tags Tama, and Tama slingshots to SENTON! “YEYEYEYE!” Tama paces around, then DIVING HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! Tama has Orton on the ropes, CLUBS him down, then tags Solo in.

Solo stays between Orton and Knight, drags Orton around and clamps on a chinlock. Orton endures, fights up, and he reaches out for Knight. Solo keeps Orton back, but Orton throws a haymaker! Orton reaches out, Solo keeps him back, but Orton throws another haymaker! And another! SmackDown returns to single picture as Solo desperately anchors Orton! Orton and Knight are fingertips away, but Solo UPPERCUTS Orton down! The fans rally, but Solo sucker punches Knight! The fans boo but solo mocks spelling it out. Solo clamps on a chinlock and grinds Orton down again. The fans rally and Orton rises up!

Orton stands, but Solo HEADBUTTS him in the back again and again! Solo squeezes tight, but Orton still reaches out! Knight reaches out, but Solo pulls Orton back! The fans rally even harder, but Solo HEADBUTTS Orton again! Solo holds onto the chinlock, but Orton powers up to hit a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Orton and Solo crawl, hot tags to Tama and Knight! The fans fire up as Knight rallies on Tam with LARIATS and ELBOWS, and then a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Tama flounders to a corner but Knight stomps a mudhole! The ref counts, Knight stops at 4, then he runs corner to corner, KNEE WASH!

Solo is back in, but Knight dodges! Solo hits buckles, then gets a JUMP NECKBREAKER! Tama is up, but Knight scoops him for a POWERSLAM! The fans fire up as Knight spells it out! “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! Cover, Solo breaks it! SAMOAN SPIKE!! But Orton is back and he fires hands on Solo! Orton UPPERCUTS Solo outta the ring! Tama spins Orton around, but Orton RKOS first!! Orton then goes for Solo but Solo drags him out of the ring! They brawl on the outside, then into the crowd! The fans fire up as Orton CLUBS away on Solo! Solo hits back, the fight moves towards the stage!

Tama and Knight are still in the ring, the fans rally up, and both men rise up. Tama staggers into Knight, and a B F T!! Cover, Knight & Orton win!

Winners: LA Knight & Randy Orton, by pinfall

It indeed was an RKO and a BFT that served up an L to Tama & Solo, but wait! JACOB FATU slides in outta nowhere! SUPERKICK for Knight!! The fans are torn but Jacob runs to SENTON! Jacob HEADBUTTS away on Knight, then looks at the US Championship. Knight flounders to a corner, Jacob runs in and HIP ATTACKS! Jacob is geeked up and the fans fire up! Jacob has Knight down at center, and he goes to a corner! BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! The fans fire up as Jacob holds up the championship! But then he goes back up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! And then, as credits roll, ANOTHER BEST MOONSAULT EVER!!

Jacob Fatu brings out his usual viciousness, and Knight is sputtering for air. Will this be the scene on WrestleMania Saturday? Or can the Mega Star somehow survive the Samoan Werewolf?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown here, especially this close to WrestleMania. It also acts as a partial go-home with WrestleMania Eve SmackDown kicking off the huge weekend in Las Vegas. I believe the Andre the Giant Battle Royal will be that night, as has become the tradition. I really hope they actually use that to make someone into a big deal, it’s becoming more a formality than anything at this point. Good promos from the male tag teams tonight, such as DIY claiming conspiracy and Melo Don’t Miz claiming The Profits aren’t good enough as champions. Profits VS MCMG will be a great match, I just hope there isn’t interference that decides it.

The Women’s Tag Gauntlet was awesome stuff, and I’m actually surprised Lyra & Bayley won. Not only that, but that they ran the table. But at the same time, I did sense the Women’s Intercontinental Championship could be dragged into this. Liv & Raquel wanna go for the Two Woman Power Trip, I feel like a shot at Lyra’s title could be made through this story, too. The gauntlet also did a good job of plugging other stories, like Natty being upset with Maxxine and the Secret Her-vice being unable to help Chelsea. The count-out loss seems like they were trying to fit the match within the time constraints, but at least Zelina has her win.

Great promos from Naomi and Jade to hype up their grudge match, and great stuff with McIntyre turning the face-to-face into a blindside attack. Good promo from McIntyre, and I’m a bit surprised he played his hand here with the eyepatch reveal. Even so, that “Sin City Street Fight” is going to be great stuff, and it’s hard to say who wins that. Awesome match from Fenix and Berto, and that was probably Berto’s best showing in a long time. Santos praising Fenix and belittling Berto, then Andrade there to encourage Berto, this Legado story could take some intriguing turns, but I don’t see Fenix joining Legado.

They did a good job turning around last week’s awkward and even controversial worked shoot from Charlotte and Tiffany into something here tonight. Good promo and great match from Roxie and Tiffany, and a good win for Tiffany. Charlotte showing up was a given, though, even if they hadn’t played the “she was suspended” card. Charlotte gets some good Heel heat here, and presuming this is the final segment, this has to indicate that Tiffany retains at WrestleMania. And with Roxie showing up tonight, that also signals she is joining SmackDown per her call up. She’ll make a great addition to refresh the division, and maybe even go right for the top title to feud with Tiff.

Great promo segment from Cody. I really liked them putting the classic belt designs out there for Cody to use as visual aides, especially Cena’s spinner belt. Cena being here for the WrestleMania Eve SmackDown, who knows what’ll happen. Maybe we even get The Rock to really pour on the star power. Still hard to say what’ll happen in the title match, but I feel like Cena should win so that the story for the rest of the year is everyone desperately trying to get the title off Cena, even when Cena has The Rock’s backing. “Fighting against authority” has always been a strong, effective theme for WWE stories, so why not keep that going?

And of course, great stuff in both the US Championship story and the developing Orton WrestleMania match story. Good opening promo segment with Orton and Aldis to reference back to Orton paying $100,000 on a $50,000 fine. Solo & Tama coming out to confront Orton while also hyping up Knight VS Jacob was good stuff. Knight showing up to make the save was fitting, and we got a great main event tag match. Given how Orton and Solo brawled away to the back, that’s gotta be a frontrunner for the Mania match now. That’s a good match of multi-generation superstars, honestly.

Jacob having the last word with his trio of moonsaults on Knight, this might’ve been them giving away that Knight retains, but I kinda hope they go the other way. Not that Knight isn’t popular or a isn’t a good superstar, but Jacob might be on his way to equal popularity, and it’s clear he’s a better wrestler from everything he’s been doing in the ring. Plus, then there can be more tension between Jacob and Solo over who brought this title to the family and who is the alpha in the group.

My Score: 8.8/10

The Ace’s Final Road passes through Chicago!

NJPW returns to Chicago for another Windy City Riot! But will Hiroshi Tanahashi be ready for a battle with Konosuke Takeshita?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NJPW Strong Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Mina Shirakawa VS AZM; wins and will challenge Mercedes Mone for the title.
• NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: West Coast Wrecking Crew VS Intergalactic Jet Setters; win(s) and
• NJPW Strong Openweight Championship Ironman Match: Gabe Kidd VS Tomohiro Ishii; wins and
• Tetsuya Naito & Titan VS El Phantasmo & Rocky Romero; win.
• David Finlay VS Zack Sabre Jr; wins.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Konosuke Takeshita; wins.
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Shota Umino; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]