The Celtic Connection continues to break down!

Last week, Sheamus and McIntyre BOTH won the Fatal 5! But tonight, there can only be ONE #1 contender to Gunther’s Intercontinental Championship! Who will head for Der Ring General at WrestleMania?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Mixed Tag Match: Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega VS Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley; Dom & Rhea win.
• WrestleMania Women’s Tag Team Showcase Qualifier: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Emma & Tegan Nox; Liv & Raquel win and advance to WrestleMania.
• Xavier Woods VS LA Knight; Woods wins.
• WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Drew McIntyre VS Sheamus; Double Disqualification, both men will challenge Gunther for the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Cody Rhodes is here!

Kansas City fires up as the American Nightmare once again visits SmackDown! Fans cheer and chant his name as Cody gets the mic. “So… Kansas City, whaddya wanna talk about? We could talk about WrestleMania. In the last few weeks on the Road to WrestleMania, tempers have been what they’ve been, the stakes are incredibly high. But I do wanna take a moment, I do wanna point out that I have the utmost respect for our current champion, Roman Reigns.” Fans boo, but Cody says Roman is the greatest champion in sports and sports entertainment alike. Cody looks forward to seeing Roman in this ring on Monday Night Raw, and forward to beating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.

Fans cheer and chant Cody’s name again, and Cody continues with, “But I don’t wanna talk about somebody, I wanna talk to somebody. I know he’s back there, I know he’s watching, so please, Kevin Owens, come on out.” Fans cheer and Cody waits, but there’s no music yet. Cody says there’s a lot of respect between them, so he’s asking nicely. So here comes Kevin! Kevin makes his way to the ring, sore as he is from what happened on Monday against Solo Sikoa & The Usos in that Street Fight screw job. Fans chant for “KO! KO!” as Kevin gets a mic. Kevin says, “Thank you, Cody. But I’m pretty sure I know what this is about.”

Cody has Kevin stop there. He wants Kevin to hear him out. This isn’t just a conversation between the two of them. Kevin and the fans know where this is going as Cody says this involves a third party: Sami Zayn! Sami makes his way out a lot faster than Kevin did and fans fire up. Cody already gets another mic to pass it to Sami as he enters the ring. Kevin is reluctant to be there now but he stays put. Cody literally stands between the two as mediator and says in the spirit of WrestleMania, he’ll do this again. Cody is peeling back the curtain, and this is the perfect place for the world to find out. Cody has incredible respect and love for Kevin.

It’s true, because six or seven years ago when Cody was bold enough to say to the WWE, “Good luck in your future endeavors,” he said it with a confidence that was false. He needed help, context, structure. He needed someone who knew the system out there, and Kevin introduced him to some friends and made that easy for Cody, and bettered his livelihood. Fans cheer and Cody says that was a favor he could never repay, but he wants to try it here. They’re all here, let’s have that conversation. Fans chant, “Hug It Out! Hug It Out!” Kevin says he’s heard everything Sami has to say.

But Sami says he hasn’t heard everything Kevin had to say. That’s why Sami doesn’t know what to say. Sami feels like throughout the years, whether as friends or enemies, they’ve done some awful stuff to each other. They’ve turned on each other, hurt each other many, many times, and yet they’ve always found a way to come back, forgive each other and get on the same page. So Sami can’t, for the life of him, figure out why this time is so different. He doesn’t understand. So if there’s something Kevin has to say, has to get off his chest, then just tell him! If he needs to scream at him, punch him, do whatever you have to do so they can get back together!

Fans cheer, and Kevin sighs. Kevin tells Cody, “Look man, I came out here like you asked, I listened, I heard him out. Are we good? Did you get what you want? Can I go now?” Cody says, “Did I get what I wanted? Did I get what I wanted?” They both know that this is the service industry, the people pleasing business! It doesn’t matter what Cody wants. Yes, this is what Cody wants, it’s what Michael Cole and what all the fans want! This guy, that guy, that lady, every single person here wants to see these two back on the same page! Fans again chant, “Hug It Out! Hug It Out!”

Sami says that the fans want it. He wants it. It’s in Kevin’s best interest, it’s in Sami’s best interest, and if they could come back together, they could do something magical! They could do something remarkable! They could be the ones that bring down the ones! It might take years until this is totally repaired, but this isn’t even about friends. They can work together. Kevin knows! He heard Sami say that for weeks. He doesn’t need a friend, doesn’t want to be friends, he just needs someone to fight alongside him. Sami, Kevin and Cody could take down The Bloodline together. That’s what’s best for business and they don’t even have to be friends.

But why would Kevin fight for someone who doesn’t wanna be his friend? Look, Cody, thanks for trying to do this, he appreciates it. But Kevin’s all set. Fans boo as Kevin leaves the ring! Did Kevin sink the friendship once and for all?

Kevin heads for the parking lot.

But Sami chases after! Sami wants Kevin to wait and listen to him. Sami says forget what he just said out there, Bloodline and all that. None of that matters. What Kevin said, he’s wrong. They ARE friends! They always will be friends! Not just that, they’re brothers! If Kevin never wants to talk to Sami ever again, fine. Just know, Sami loves you, Kevin. That’s all. Kevin doesn’t say anything, he just gets in his car and drives away. So then, is that the end of everything?

Mixed Tag Match: Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega VS Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley!

Rey Mysterio continues to get no respect from his son or the Judgment Day, but the Emperor of Lucha and La Muneca have Rey’s back. Will Legado Del Fantasma finally give “Ex-Con Dom” the beating he deserves? Or will Dom and Mami be rolling on the Road to WrestleMania?

The teams sort out and the men start first. Dom rushes in to DROPKICK Escobar! Dom rains down fists while fans boo, but he lets off to soak up the heat. Dom whips, Escobar ducks ‘n’ dodges and CLOBBERS Dom! And then CLOBBERS him again! Escobar rains down fists now but Dom bails out. Rhea gets in, but Escobar blocks the boot! Escobar keeps Rhea at a distance, tags in Vega, and she hops up to leap frog SEATED SENTON! Fans fire up, Vega runs to SPIKE-RANA! Rhea bails out, Dom hurries to check, but Escobar CLOBBERS Dom! Vega goes up top and takes aim, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT! KC fires up for LDF as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns and Dom fires off forearms on Escobar in the corner! “You want me to respect you?!” Dom whips, Escobar reverses, and Escobar runs in but Dom slips out to GAMANGIRI! Dom HOTSHOTS Escobar down, then slingshot sentons! Cover, TWO! Rhea is upset but Dom rains down fists. Dom drags Escobar up, gives some Latino Heat and whips Escobar, but Escobar reverses, drops down to then DROPKICK! And then tilt-o-whirl BACKBRAEKER, some big Latino Heat, LEG DROP! Cover, Rhea breaks it! The ref reprimands but Rhea atomic SLAMS Dom onto Escobar! Cover, but Vega breaks it!

Fans fire up, Vega and Rhea argue, but Dom taunts Vega. Escobar whips Dom to then dodge. Dom dodges, but then heads collide! Fans fire up while both men are down, and they crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Rhea and Vega! Vega dodges, dropkicks legs out, and then runs to KNEE! Vega keeps moving, tilt-o-whirl DDT! Fans fire up more as Rhea staggers, into a roll-up! Dom drags Vega off! Fans boo but Escobar runs in to KNEE Dom down! Escobar puts Dom up top, but Rhea tosses Vega! Escobar GAMANGIRIS Dom, goes up after him, but Rhea adds on! TWOER OF DOOM! Dom still takes the superplex!

Vega goes up top, and she CROSSBODIES Rhea down! Then KNEES her in the face! Vega goes up, but Dom runs in, so Vega FLYING RANAS Dom! But that leaves Vega open, RIPTIDE!! Cover, The Judgment Day win!

Winners: Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley, by pinfall

Dom distracts and Mami puts it away, the story of Judgment Day in a nutshell! But Dom gets the mic to call out “Jefe” Rey! Fans boo but Dom says, “I just wanted to come out here and say…” Fans boo and say “DOM, YOU SUCK!” But Dom says Rey the Hall of Famer is a disrespectful deadbeat! Rey was never there for all those sleepless nights! But wait! Cameras catch Rey backstage! Rhea tells Dom it’s alright, they’ll get what they want. Rey is headed to gorilla, will he accept that WrestleMania challenge? We’ll see, after the break.

Rey heads to the ring!

KC fires up and Rhea and Dom are waiting as the King of Lucha Libre walks down the ramp. Dom says, “Look at that, Mami. he actually decided to show up. Do you know how many nights I went without a father? I went a lot of nights.” Rey has them stop now. He wants a moment with Dom alone, so Rhea shrugs and says the ring is theirs. She moves aside, and Dom says, “So now that we’re in the middle of a ring, you have time for me? Is that how this is gonna go? Where were you when I needed you? All those late nights. But you’re so selfish that you took away MY WrestleMania moment. Because at the end of the day, you’re just a scared, pathetic excuse for a father.”

Fans boo, but Dom says he has something to get off his chest. Rey is a piece of- HEY! Watch your mouth. If Dom wants the truth, yeah, Rey hasn’t been the best father in the world. He missed birthdays, Christmases, graduations, football games. He knows he hasn’t been there for Dom all the time! But that doesn’t take away his love for Dom. Rey still loves his son. Whether Dom believes Rey or not, Dom is his world. But soon, Dom will find out that this business is selfish, and that Rey made sacrifices so that Dom, his mom and his sister could have a life that Rey only dreamed of! Fans applaud that!

All those cars, the brand names, Gucci, Prada, et cetera! All Dom’s! And what’d happen every time he got into trouble? Oh, yeah, the Mysterio name would bail him out. But hear Rey out. He’s really having a hard time coping with all of this. Rey is choked up as he says he’s being inducted into the Hall of Fame. This hurts, but Rey would love nothing more than have Dom standing by his side on that stage. Fans chant “You Deserve It!” for Rey, and Rey says maybe it’s too late. But his biggest regret is what Dom has become. If someone like Dom, “some ungrateful, disrespectful, pathetic, punk ass kid called me out at WrestleMania, I would gladly whoop their ass!!”

Fans fire up hearing that! Fans even chant “BEAT HIS ASS! BEAT HIS ASS” But Rey tells Dom, “Unfortunately, you’re my son. And fighting you would be the biggest disgrace as a father.” Dom’s not worth it, Rey won’t fight him now or ever. And not at WrestleMania, either. Rey leaves and fans are disappointed, but Dom asks why. Is this just what Rey does? Run away? Mr. Future Hall of Famer running away from his own son? That’s what Dom thought. Like he said before, Rey is doing the only thing he ever taught Dom to do: what not to be, and that is a scared little man. Rey ignores all the taunting, but then how will he get Dom to stop?

BREAKING NEWS!

WrestleMania is going big for Hollywood with two Fatal 4 Way Tag showcase matches, one for the men’s division and one for the women’s! Qualifiers for those matches start… NOW!

WrestleMania Women’s Tag Team Showcase Qualifier: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Emma & Tegan Nox!

Morgan & Rodriguez are living large, but they’re up against the Aussie with Attitude and the Welsh Firecracker! Who wins big to then have their WrestleMania Moment?

SmackDown returns Nox & Emma are already in the ring. The teams sort out, Nox starts against Raquel and the two tie up. Raquel throws Nox down, then gut wrenches her up to a Canadian Rack! Nox fights free and SLAPS Raquel, but Raquel just grins. Raquel grabs Nox with both hands to pick her up! Nox panics but Raquel throws her to the corner! Tag to Liv, they taunt Emma and whip Liv in to back body block! Liv sends Raquel in to SPLASH! Snapmare and ENZIGURI! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, Liv drags Nox up and whips, but Nox breaks free to UPPERCUT! And PENALTY KICK! Nox HAMMERS away on Liv, then bumps her off buckles.

Nox runs in to UPPERCUT, then tags Emma. Nox holds Liv in place and Emma runs in, EMMAMITE SANDWICH! Nox adds the CANNONBALL! Emma drags Liv to the corner, TWO! Liv hangs tough but Emma rains down fists! Emma drags Liv up, underhooks and BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Emma drags Liv over, tags Nox back in, and they mug Liv. Nox brings Liv up to GOURD BUSTER, and then she pie faces Liv. Fans rally, Nox kicks at Liv, but Liv laughs. Nox drags Liv up but Liv slips around to a BACKSTABBER! Both women are down, they crawl, hot tags to Raquel and Emma!

Big Mami Cool rallies on Emma with big lariats! Emma dodges but the SOUTHPAW comes around! Raquel scoops to FALL AWAY SLAM! Raquel then runs to go up and up and TWISTING VADER! Cover, Nox breaks it! Liv runs in to CODE BREAKER Nox! Liv then runs at Emma but is TOSSED out of the ring! Raquel runs in but into a BOOT! Emma tilt-o-whirls, but Raquel blocks it, to hoist her up! Liv tags in, before the TEXANA BOMB! Raquel sets Emma up, Liv hits ObLIVion! Cover, Liv & Raquel win!

Winners: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, by pinfall (advance to WrestleMania)

That’s one team in on the Fatal 4 Way! Who else will live it up in Hollywood with Morgan & Rodriguez?

Charlotte Flair is here!

Kansas City cheers as The Queen struts her way to the ring. The SmackDown Women’s Champion knows Rhea is in the building, what will she have to say to her WrestleMania opponent? We find out, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Charlotte has the mic. “The more things change, the more they stay the same. When I was a baby in my mom’s arms, this business was built on Rhodes as a challenger, Flair as a champion! Now here we are in 2023, two weeks away from WrestleMania, the Road to WrestleMania, and this WrestleMania in LA is built on Rhodes as a challenger, Flair as a champion. I am walking into my seventh WrestleMania. And going into WrestleMania, I was either the challenger, the champion, but I’ve always been the star.” Fans cheer that!

“Now Rhea Ripley, wannabe the champion, wannabe the star, but Rhea can’t be the star until she becomes the champion, and she can’t become the champion until she goes through me!” Fans also cheer that. “Three years ago, Rhea Ripley couldn’t go through me, and today she can’t go through me. Because the more things change, the more they stay the same.” But here comes Rhea! She and Dom make their way back to the ring, but Charlotte stays put. Rhea gets the mic and she has Dom step back. Rhea says Charlotte is 100% right, Rhea chose Charlotte. She didn’t choose Bianca Belair because she had her reasons, but she’ll get back to that some day.

“When I walk through the locker room, men, women, they all turn their back and walk away, because of fear. Because I am dangerous. I am bloody good at what I do, and everyone fears me. Except for you. I mean, look at you right now. You’re staring me down without an ounce of fear in your eyes.” Fans “WOO~!” and Rhea says to be frank, that pisses her off! Charlotte is SmackDown Women’s Champion for a reason. She’s been FOURTEEN-TIME Women’s Champion for a reason. It’s because Charlotte’s a superstar. One of the biggest stars in the WWE, and Rhea can give her all the credit in the world.

“But that right there, your SmackDown Women’s Championship, I want- Hell, I NEED it! Because I don’t want to be a star, I bloody need to be a star. And after WrestleMania, once everything is done and dusted, you’re gonna learn to call me, ‘champion.’ And you’re gonna learn to fear me.” Rhea and Charlotte stare down, and Dom steps up to say Mami is gonna beat Charlotte at WrestleMania and you know it. And then Rhea sucker punches Charlotte down! Fans boo but Charlotte just smirks. Rhea says she’ll see Charlotte at WrestleMania, and fans boo as Dom and Rhea leave again. But Charlotte gets up and takes her shoes off, to storm out after them!

Charlotte CLOBBERS Rhea! Fans are thunderous as Charlotte RAMS Rhea into barriers and the hands fly! Dom freaks out, the refs run out and separate the two, but KC wants to “ETL THEM FIGHT!” Charlotte gets loose, so does Rhea, and the brawling continues! Producers rush out, Rhea POSTS Charlotte, but Charlotte RAMS Rhea into barriers! And SPEARS her down! Fans are loving it but the refs, producers and security separate the two again. Only for Charlotte to break free! Charlotte BOOTS a guard down! Rhea DECKS Charlotte with another sucker punch! Rhea stomps Charlotte, drags her up, and TOSSES her over the announce desk!

The security focuses on Rhea but she wants after Charlotte more! Charlotte gets up to CROSSBODY Rhea and the guards down! Fans are loving all of this as the brawling just continues! Charlotte ROCKS Rhea, Rhea RAMS Charlotte, they keep moving around ringside! Reinforcements are brought in but Charlotte DECKS a ref!! Rhea HEADBUTTS a guard! Rhea runs in, and they both fall over the barriers! The fans go wild being even closer to the action! Charlotte and Rhea keep fighting off security and refs, but the fight finally stops! Charlotte raises her hands, showing she does NOT fear Rhea!

Rhea still wants after Charlotte, but even Dom holds her back. Will there be nothing to stop the Queen and the Eradicator once the bell rings at WrestleMania?

Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.

Kayla Braxton says it was a very emotional start tot he night with Sami, Kevin and Cody. Does this affect Sami’s headspace before he gets to formally confront Jey Uso tonight? Sami admits, that was emotional. A man who once considered Sami a brother drove off, the other is waiting to take Sami out the second he’s in the ring. And when enough people that cared about you start saying you’re the problem, you start to believe it. Sami knows Jey wants to meet in the ring, fine. Whatever happens next, fine. if Sami brought all this upon himself, then he will handle it by himself. Jey wants Sami to pull up, fine. Time to pull up.

There is a lot on Sami’s heart, but will he be able to withstand it all? Or does his Road to WrestleMania end here?

Xavier Wood VS LA Knight!

The New Day is beat up but they’re not down yet! Will Woods represent and shut the Mega Star’s mouth? Or will Knight fight his way to his LA WrestleMania moment?

SmackDown returns and Knight makes his entrance while Woods mocks his catchphrase, “YEAH!” The bell rings, Woods and Knight tie up, and Woods headlocks. Knight powers up to a back suplex but Woods lands on his feet. Woods waistlocks but Knight runs to RAM Woods into buckles! Knight stomps away, “YEAH!” and fans echo “YEAH!” Knight drags Woods up, whips him to ropes, but Woods ducks ‘n’ dodges to slide and ROLLING- NO, Knight ROCKS Woods first! Then DDT! Cover, TWO! Knight stalks Woods to a corner, hoists him up top and he throws haymakers.

Knights climbs up, Woods throws hands in return, and he windmills to then HEADBUTT! Knight staggers away, Woods MISSILE DROPKICKS him down! Fans fire up while both men are down. Knight crawls to ropes and drags himself up. Woods stands, Knight runs in but into a mule kick! Woods suplexes Knight and runs for a FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Woods fireman’s carries, but Knight slips off and shoves Woods into buckles! NECKBREAKER on the rebound! And then an Atomic FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Woods hangs tough, but Knight suplexes him up. Woods turns it into a cradle! WOODS WINS!

Winner: Xavier Woods, by pinfall

Knight gets lost in the #BackWoods! If he gets caught like that, how can he make it to WrestleMania?

The second 2023 WWE Hall of Fame inductee is…

THE GREAT MUTA! AKA Keiji Mutoh, a great innovator of moves like the Shining Wizard, Dragon Screw, and of course the use of the mist, Muta finally retired this year in epic battles in both NJPW and Pro-Wrestling Noah. Now he joins Rey Mysterio in this year’s class to be immortalized in the WWE HOF!

Backstage interview with LA Knight.

Kayla asks for a word, and he says, “Lemme talk to ya!” But then he changes his mind when he sees Rey Mysterio signing autographs. Knight tells Rey that he saw what happened out there. If Rey isn’t gonna fight his “goofy son,” Knight will! Knight will give Dom his LA moment. In fact, Knight will make Rey proud and call himself LA Mysterio! He’ll be a deadbeat dad, too! Rey SLAPS Knight! Rey tells Knight off, but in Spanish. Knight asks what Rey said, but it seems pretty clear Knight needs to stay out of family business.

WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Drew McIntyre VS Sheamus!

The Scottish Warrior’s WWE career started all those years ago with the Intercontinental Championship, while the Celtic Warrior has yet to have the Intercontinental Championship. This friendship once again becomes a rivalry, will the Celtic Connection be broken once and for all?

McIntyre points his sword at the WrestleMania sign, but Sheamus puts his shillelagh at it. And then IMPERIUM makes their way to the ring! Der Ring General and his soldiers want to see this with their own eyes, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Sheamus and McIntyre stare down while fans fire up. The two circle, Imperium is ringside, and McIntyre offers a handshake. Sheamus leaves McIntyre hanging so the two tie up. They go around, end up on ropes, then in a corner. Sheamus and McIntyre turn things around back and forth, then Sheamus headlocks. McIntyre powers out but Sheamus runs him over! Things keep moving, McIntyre kitchen sink knees! McIntyre drags Sheamus up to CHOP him! McIntyre snap suplexes, covers, ONE! McIntyre clamps onto Sheamus’ arm, but Sheamus fights up to CLUB him in the chest!

Wade Barrett convinces Gunther to join him and Cole on commentary while Sheamus whips. McIntyre reverses the whip, but Sheamus blocks the hip toss to LARIAT! Cover, ONE!! Sheamus CLUBS McIntyre and clamps onto him with an armlock and chinbar. Wade asks Gunther who he’d prefer to face, and Gunther says if it turns out to be Sheamus, Gunther will fulfill his duty as champion and beat him again. And what of McIntyre? Sheamus whips McIntyre to a corner as Gunther says that is a waste of time to talk about McIntyre. McIntyre elbows Sheamus away, but Sheamus clinches! McIntyre fights free with elbows!

McIntyre kicks low, underhooks, but Sheamus trips McIntyre up! Sheamus ties up the legs, but McIntyre boots him away! Sheamus rebounds but McIntyre scoops, MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Gunther throws the headset away but McIntyre drags Sheamus up. McIntyre CHOPS, Sheamus staggers, but Sheamus ROCKS McIntyre with a haymaker! McIntyre CHOPS, Sheamus UPPERCUTS, McIntyre CHOPS and CHOPS. But Sheamus catches McIntyre for the IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! McIntyre is still in this, but Sheamus CLUBS him  on the back. Sheamus puts McIntyre on the apron, but McIntyre blocks the Beats of the Bodhrain!

McIntyre CLUBS Sheamus, but then Sheamus blocks the Bodhrain! Sheamus ROCKS McIntyre, drags him through ropes to KNEE and fireman’s carry. But McIntyre elbows free to shove Sheamus away. But he runs into a BOOT! McIntyre goes down hard, but Sheamus kicks him from the corner. Sheamus skins the cat, is wary of the sword, and he stands up top. Gunther thinks this is foolish, but McIntyre ROCKS Sheamus first! McIntyre climbs, CLUBS away on Sheamus, then brings Sheamus up, SUPERPLEX! Both men are down and KC is thunderous as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and McIntyre CHOPS! And ROCKS! And CHOPS again! McIntyre whips, Sheamus reverses but McIntyre ducks ‘n’ dodges, only to run into a scoop and POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Imperium is surprised but the fans rally up as McIntyre crawls to ropes. McIntyre drags himself up, Sheamus storms over, but McIntyre puts him on the apron. Sheamus HOTSHOTS McIntyre, and fans fire up as Sheamus hooks McIntyre up. BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN! Sheamus goes to TEN, then roars! Fans fire up more and Sheamus encourages them to get louder. Sheamus aims from the corner as McIntyre stands.

Sheamus runs in, but McIntyre dodges the Brogue to NECKBREAKER! McIntyre kips up and fans fire up! Now McIntyre aims from the corner, “THREE! TWO! ONE!” KNEE FROM SHEAMUS!!! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre survives but fans say “This is Awesome!” Gunther says the end is coming, and he’s eager to have a challenger. Sheamus and McIntyre sit up, and Sheamus throws a haymaker. McIntyre gives it back! They go punch for punch, forearm for forearm, then stand up to go LARIAT for LARIAT! Neither falls so the big swings keep going! Sheamus, McIntyre, and back again! Sheamus dodges but the HEADBUTT hits!

Sheamus KNEES McIntyre again! McIntyre and Sheamus end up in opposite corners! Gunther mockingly asks what’s wrong, and both men slowly rise. They turn, run, DOUBLE BOOTS take both men down!! A standing count start, the fans count along, and we reach 5 of 10 before either sits up. Gunther gets annoyed, but now the count is 7! Gunther gets on the apron to stop the count! Gunther wants a clear winner, not another draw! Fans boo, the ref reprimands, and Gunther tells the warriors, “Who’s it gonna be? HUH!? Who’s it gonna be for this at WrestleMania?” But now he finds himself cornered by the Celtic Connection!

But then Vinci & Ludwig CLOBBER Sheamus & McIntyre, at the same time!! The ref rings the bell!

Double Disqualification Draw

Fans boo as Imperium mugs the Celtic Connection, but McIntyre TOSSES Vinci! Gunther SHOTGUNS McIntyre down! Sheamus TOSSES Ludwig, but then Gunther LARIATS Sheamus! Fans boo as Gunther drags Sheamus up, brings him around, and GENERAL BOMBS him onto McIntyre! He wanted a challenger but just wiped out both men! Is Gunther a liar or a coward?

But wait! Adam Pearce is on the tron! He says Gunther made it clear that he wants to face a single challenger at Mania, but his actions tonight tell a different story. So Pearce is left with no choice. It is officially now Gunther VS McIntyre VS Sheamus, in a TRIPLE THREAT!! Fans love this but Imperium is freaking out! Will nothing stop someone from taking the Intercontinental Championship away from Der Ring General?

Jey Uso is in the ring!

SmackDown returns with one half of the Undisputed Tag Team Champions already waiting, so here comes Sami Zayn! Sami tells Jey that this is what he wanted. “Right, Uce? Right, my dawg?” Jey wants Sami to pull up, so here he is. How does Jey wanna do this? Jey steps closer, and fans chant “UCEY! UCEY!” Jey says he has a job to do tonight, but Sami’s gonna hear this. “From day one, I didn’t like you. From day one, I didn’t trust you. They know that. I didn’t want you around my family at all. But then, week after week, Sami, they started liking you. Jimmy liked you. Solo liked you. Wise Man liked you. Hell, even the Tribal Chief liked you, but not me. Not me, Sami.

“As a boy, I always thought it was my job to protect my family, and I will today. Tell me where to aim, I’m shooting. So the one time I put my guard down to somebody who I thought loved me, and what you do?! You betrayed me! You embarrassed me! You made me look stupid in front of the whole damn world, Sami! Hey, hey! I called you my brother! You know what that mean to me?! Hey, somebody said I second guessed myself all the time. She might be right. But I know one thing, that from day one, you have always been a fake-ass Uce! So what happens next, Sami? What happens next, I ain’t got a choice, Sami!”

Sami speaks up here to say that’s wrong! Jey DOES have a choice! He has had a choice since day one, and he chooses to take Roman’s abuse over and over and over! That is Jey’s choice! Sami loved Jey, he loved this family, but he wasn’t gonna take that every week the way Jey did! Jey took it, he keeps taking it, and he isn’t mad at Sami. He’s mad at himself! Jey isn’t mad Sami hit Roman with the chair, Jey is just mad he didn’t get to do it first! Jey is stunned and the fans are thunderous! Sami says Jey has always had a choice, fans chant, “You’re not Ucey!” Jey says he IS! And then he fires off forearms on Sami!

Jey has Sami on the ropes but Sami hits back! Jey shoves Sami but Sami comes back with a THESZ PRESS! But now Jimmy jumps in! Sami brawls with Jimmy, but Jey SUPERKICKS! The Usos go out after Sami, they pull the steel steps apart, and they SMASH Sami with them! Then they drag Sami into the ring, Jimmy rains down fists, but HERE COMES KEVIN!! Kevin came back!! The Usos stand their ground, but where’s the Prizefighter? He comes in from behind!! The Usos turn around, and Kevin CLOBBBERS Jey! And he CLOBBERS Jimmy! Kevin fires off on Jey as KC loses their mind! Jimmy gets in but Kevin fires off on him, too!

Kevin TOSSES Jimmy out, stomps Jey around, but Jimmy gets back in. STUNNER for Jimmy! Jey runs up, POP-UP POWERBOMB for Jey! Fans cheer as Sami realizes Kevin is here! Kevin roars, then he looks back at Sami. Fans chant “HUG IT OUT!” like earlier tonight. And y’know what? THEY DO!! Kevin and Sami hug because they’re friends again! Cody is watching backstage and he is happy to see the reunion. Is it only a matter of time now before the brothers in arms take down the blood brothers of the Bloodline?

My Thoughts:

Just an awesome episode of SmackDown with so much great development towards WrestleMania. The Bloodline story is again the strongest stuff of the night, and it was again good stuff to bookend the night with their segments. Obviously Cody has been the American Mediator between the two Canadians, and we got a great exchange out of them. I do have to say, though, Cody’s entrance has too much smoke because the cameraman didn’t know where to look. And even though I knew Kevin was gonna return after driving off, that was still awesome how he showed up from the crowd side to surprise the Usos. Sami and Kevin are definitely and should definitely take those tag titles off the Usos at Mania.

Good Mixed Tag match tonight, and of course Dom and Rhea win big there. Great promo stuff from Dom and Rey, and from Rhea and Charlotte that gave us a great brawl from Rhea and Charlotte, but I do think they should’ve done the segments back to back somehow. Why waste time when Charlotte could be the one to confront Rhea while she and Dom are still in the ring after Dom talked with Rey? If they want to establish Charlotte has no fear of Rhea, just tweak the promos so you can get to that right away. I feel like no one in Western wrestling does that and they really should, because it’s just logical.

Another mixed reaction comes in this news of tag team showcase matches for Mania. It is a great opportunity for the many superstars, and could be a way to show that HHH is hoping to hold onto many of the names he’s brought back, but it also shows that they didn’t really have anything for the tag titles. Well, the women’s tag titles, at least, since we’re getting a huge story for the men’s tag titles. DMG CTRL VS Becky, Lita & Trish is great stuff, but did that story need the tag titles? Granted, I think this is partly because Ronda Rousey can’t compete right now, and was even reluctant to get into the tag title story. I suppose that in the end, we’ll get a couple great “Just for fun” matches either way.

Woods VS Knight was a good match, and the Backwoods cradle is unstoppable. Knight mouthing off to Rey was a great touch, too, as that is just his gimmick now. He talks trash, starts trouble, gets in trouble, and more often than not gets beat because of it. Fans still really like Knight, YEAH, and maybe after Mania he goes Face to some degree. And great news about the Great Muta, Keiji Mutoh. I think part of this shows HHH’s respect for wrestling around the world, and that as World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE honors Muta’s Japanese career and WCW career with this induction.

And of course, great stuff out of the Intercontinental Championship story. Great match from McIntyre and Sheamus, even with Imperium loitering ringside the entire time. Good bit of promo from Gunther on commentary, where he definitely sounded more willing to take on Sheamus than McIntyre since he’s already beaten Sheamus. I figured there was gonna be some kind of draw, but a double count was gonna be a bit disappointing, so good way of getting the draw and putting the heat on Gunther with that double DQ. Now we get the Triple Threat, and honestly, even if Gunther loses, he won’t look weak because it is a Triple Threat.

Now, my heart says Sheamus wins to finally have his Ultimate never-before-done Grand Slam, but my brain says McIntyre to bring his story full circle from the days as The Chosen One. That isn’t to say Gunther will be left with nothing. Gunther can move up and feud for the Universal title (or whatever it’ll be after Mania) because that is how good Gunther is.

My Score: 8.9/10