It will be a face to face, but will it be fair and square?

Cody Rhodes was promised by The Tribal Chief that tonight’s face to face on SmackDown would JUST be the two of them. But can that be trusted?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Rey Mysterio VS Santos Escobar; Santos wins.
• Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: A-Town Down Under VS The Good Brothers; A-Town Down Under wins and advances to the next round.
• Naomi VS Iyo Sky w/ Damage CTRL; Iyo wins.
• Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Street Profits VS The Authors of Pain; The Profits win and advance to the next round.

PLAY BY PLAY

Rey Mysterio VS Santos Escobar!

The King of Lucha is finally back in action, and he is looking to settle things with the Emperor! Will the LWO finally get one over on Legado Del Fantasma? Or will Santos prove he is the future of lucha libre?

Before the match, a video promo from Santos plays. “Rey, I truly hoped that after I broke your leg, that would be enough to keep you away for good. Retired. A clean way out. You betrayed me. You knew what mattered to me, and you took it anyways. But because you once were my hero, I took pity on you. But here you are. You have left me with no other choice. I have to hurt you in ways that will be hard to watch. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.” Rey wanted this fight, now he gets it! The bell rings and the fans rally up. Santos swings but Rey ducks to then fire off fast hands! Rey ROCKS Santos, ROCKS him again, then whips.

Rey ELBOWS Santos, Santos staggers to a corner, and Rey bumps Santos off buckles. Rey bumps Santos off more buckles, then whips. Santos reverses, Rey springboards but only manages to clip Santos. Rey KICKS Santos, shakes his leg out, and he fires more forearms. He KICKS Santos’ leg to a corner, throws hands, then KICKS again! The fans rally, Rey runs up, but santos wants mercy? Rey wrenches the wristlock then goes up and up, but santos shoves Rey down! They keep the knuckle lock, Rey fires forearms, then he goes back up! FLYING RANA! The fans fire up while Santos flounders to a corner.

Rey storms up again, stomps Santos, then runs in to baseball slide dropkick! Rey gets Santos low, and tells him “L! W! O!” Rey whips Santos, Santos reverses but Rey ducks the boot, only for Santos to ELBOW him down! Santos stomps away on Rey, then drags him up. The fans boo but Santos whips then kitchen sink knees Rey down! Then Santos runs to basement DROPKICK! Cover, ONE!! Rey is showing his grit and the fans rally, but Santos tells them to shut up. Santos hauls Rey up, RAMS him into buckles, then waistlocks. But Rey switches and RAMS Santos into buckles! Rey runs to tilt-o-whirl and RANA Santos right outta the ring!

The fans fire up, Rey builds speed, and Rey SLIDES to SPLASH! Santos sputters, Milwaukee fires up with Rey, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Santos has Rey down with a chinlock. The fans rally for Rey but Santos shifts to a motorcycle stretch. Rey fights up, the fans rally more, and Rey mule kicks! And mule kicks again! Rey is free, he throws hands then runs, but into a BOOT! Santos smirks as he watches Rey stagger back up. Santos watches Rey go to a corner, runs in and DOUBLE KNEES! Rey sputters along the ropes and Santos says LWO was all him! The fans rally for Rey but Santos says he is LWO! GAMANGIRI! Then he puts Rey up top, gets space to run up, but Rey BOOTS him! The fans fire up as Rey fires hands!

Rey whips corner to corner, Santos reverses, and Rey hits buckles hard! Rey sputters and falls back, and Santos drags him up. Santos scoops Rey to put him in the Tree of Woe! Fans boo but Santos runs in to BOOT WASH! Santos then goes corner to corner and back again, but Rey sits up! Santos POSTS himself then falls to the floor! Rey adjusts up top, to SUPER CROSSBODY! Direct hit and the fans are thunderous! Rey drags Santos up, puts him in the ring, and then goes up another corner. Rey leaps to SEATED SENTON! Rey keeps moving to LARIAT! And LARIAT! And he drags Santos up to whip.

Santos sunset flips, Rey rolls through, basement dropkick! The fans fire up as Rey goes to ropes, LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Rey sighs as Santos stays in this. Santos stands, Rey DROPKICKS him onto ropes! The fans fire up as Rey dials it up, SUPERKICK from Santos! Santos vows to end this, and he scoops Rey for an atomic FACEBUSTER! Santos flips Rey over to cover, TWO! Rey is tougher than that but Santos says Rey should’ve never come back. Rey is a pathetic excuse of an old man! Rey KICKS Santos, KICKS him again, and DROPKICKS him out of the ring! Rey pursues to SMACK Santos off the desk!

Rey clears the desk, and uses the hood to RAM Santos down! The fans fire up and Rey gets up on the desk now! Rey runs to SEATED SENTON Santos over barriers!! The fans are thunderous as the ref hurries to check on Santos. Santos is somehow still in this, and the fans fire up behind Rey. The ring count starts, Rey asks where Santos’ smug smile is now. Rey hauls Santos up, brings him around, SMACKS him off the desk, and then POSTS him! We’re past 5 of 10, going to 7. Rey puts Santos in, then aims from the apron. Santos runs up but Rey ROCKS him! Santos distracts the ref, someone from the crowd runs in!

This masked fan trips Rey up! OH NO, it’s DOM!! The fans boo because the Prodigal Son just has to screw over his dad! 619 from Santos!! PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Santos wins!!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

The Emperor wins because of the joker in the deck! Will Dom ever stop being a thorn in his dad’s side?

Bayley finds Naomi backstage.

The Role Model says hey, sister and Naomi says hey! Bayley thanks Naomi for helping her out last week. It has been hard finding friends after all that happened so Bayley appreciates Naomi being there. Naomi says Bayley doesn’t have to thank her, she knows Naomi’s got her back. And Naomi is just trying to do the right thing. But her anger is towards Iyo after what she did. She’ll feel all this glow tonight. Good! Bayley didn’t wanna drag anyone else into this but- Bianca Belair interrupts with, “Seriously? Seriously? So, you didn’t mean it when it was Naomi, but I bet you meant it every single time I got attacked, by you and Damage Control, for the past two years.”

See, Bayley isn’t sorry, she’s just sorry that it’s all catching up to her. Bianca will tell Bayley this: everything that’s coming her way, she deserves. And maybe this time, Bayley will realize that her actions have consequences. Does Bianca think Bayley doesn’t know all that? Bayley was there. She has lived through this, is still living through it, is dealing with it- Yeah and you’re getting Naomi involved in it! They argue, Naomi stops them and has Bianca leave so the two of them can talk. Bianca is the maddEST right now, but can Naomi get her to see things in a different light?

Cody Rhodes signs autographs.

The American Nightmare is meeting fans and killing time before his encounter with The Tribal Chief, but we see Naomi and Bianca arguing while on the move. Bianca says she told Naomi not to get caught up in the DMG CTRL stuff, she’s about to go through what Bianca did for two YEARS. Naomi wasn’t here, she doesn’t get it! Naomi tells Bianca to listen. Bianca’s feelings are valid, and so are all the things she’s saying. But Naomi can’t do anything about the past. If she could fix it, she would. Bianca knows Naomi has her back, but Naomi doesn’t back down and will do what needs to be done. And she can’t do it alone, DMG CTRL will pick them off one by one.

Just like Bianca couldn’t do it alone. Naomi heads out, will Bianca be by her side when it’s time to take on DMG CTRL?

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: A-Town Down Under VS The Good Brothers!

Milwaukee is getting Grayson Waller & Austin Theory Live, and they’re taking on Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson. Will the Aussie Icon and 150 Million Hit Man win against former tag team champions to get one step closer to their own shot? Or will Big LG & The Machinegun look to double down on title opportunities in Philadelphia?

SmackDown returns as The OC makes their entrance, Michin by her Good Brothers’ side, but no AJ Styles. The teams sort out and Gallows starts against Theory. Theory talks trash and pie faces Gallows, then says, “All Day!” Gallows UPPERCUTS Theory down, then brings him up to bump off buckles. Tag to Anderson and the OC mugs ATL. Anderson CHOPS Theory, tags Gallows, and the mugging continues. Gallows TOSSES Theory to the open corner, fires body shots, then UPPERCUTS again! Theory flounders, Gallows gets him up, but Theory throat chops! Tag to Waller, but Gallows UPPERCUTS him!

Tag to Anderson, the Good Brothers whip Waller to kick and BOOT! Waller falls out of the ring, Theory runs back in, but Anderson dodges and Gallows clotheslines Theory out of the ring! Anderson aims to PLANCHA them both! The fans fire up and the Good Brothers throw up the Too Sweet! Milwaukee joins in and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again Waller has Gallows’ leg. Gallows kicks Waller away with the free leg, then gets to a corner. Waller runs in but into a BOOT! Waller staggers, tags in Theory, and Theory runs in, but into another BOOT! Gallows snarls, choke grips, and CHOKE SLAMS Theory! The fans fire up while Gallows clutches the bad leg. Waller goes fort he OC corner but Mia Yim intercepts with an arm-drag! The fans fire up as Michin talks smack on Waller, hot tag to Anderson! Anderson SENTONS Theory, then BLASTS Waller off the apron! Anderson rallies on Theory, dodges a lariat and mule kicks!

Anderson runs to ROLLING NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Anderson runs up, into an ELBOW! Theory runs, but Anderson hits a SPINEBUSTER! Then a SPINEBUSTER for Waller! The fans fire up more as Theory staggers up. Theory fireman’s carries, Anderson slips free then BOOTS! Anderson goes up to FLYING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Tag to Gallows and Gallows brings Theory up. MAGIC- NO, Waller makes the save! JAB for Anderson, but then Gallows SHOVES Waller up and out! Theory rolls Gallows, Waller helps Theory get his feet on the ropes!! Theory & Waller win!!

Winners: A-Town Down Under, by pinfall (advance to the next round)

Theory & Waller steal one right out from under The OC’s noses! But they’re going to be up against stiff competition next round either way. Street Profits or Authors of Pain, who will be part of the next chapter in this tag title story?

Naomi VS Iyo Sky w/ Damage CTRL!

The Role Model is grateful while The EST is skeptical, but Naomi herself knows she’s gotta handle business. Will she make the Evil Genius #FeelTheGlow? Or will the WWE Women’s Champion be rolling into her WrestleMania match with Bayley?

DMG CTRL makes their entrance, but where is Iyo? Asuka and Kairi are dancing all around, and wait! Iyo is beating up on Bayley!? Iyo stomps her, throws her into walls, but refs and producers rush up to shout at Iyo to go to gorilla! Iyo storms off and Naomi is even angrier than she was before! Now Iyo makes her entrance, all of DMG CTRL cheering but all of Milwaukee booing. The bell rings and Naomi runs up to fire off forearms! Iyo throws body shots but Naomi RAMS Iyo into a corner! Naomi RAMS into Iyo again and again, then SCORPION KICKS! Naomi runs Iyo side to side to bump her off buckles, then digs her boot in!

The ref counts, Naomi lets off at 4, then stomps a mudhole! Naomi brings Iyo to another corner but Iyo stops the bump to fire haymakers and forearms! The fans boo but Iyo whips, only for Naomi to reverse. Iyo BOOTS Naomi, goes up the corner and leaps, FLYING RANA! Naomi goes to a corner, Iyo runs in, and Iyo DROPKICKS Naomi down! Iyo digs her knee into Naomi, lets off as the ref counts, then stalks Naomi along ropes. Iyo facelocks then headlocks, then she CHOKES Naomi on the ropes! The ref counts, Iyo lets off, and she grins while Naomi sputters. Iyo scuffs Naomi, kicks her again, but Naomi throws body shots!

Iyo whips Naomi to a corner, Naomi goes up and up and FLYING ENZIGIRIS! The fans fire up for Naomi while she catches her breath. Naomi runs up to DROPKICK! Iyo staggers back up, Naomi feels the fans’ energy, and she runs to slingshot and BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Iyo stays tough but Naomi stays cool as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Iyo runs in at the corner, but is put on the apron! Iyo grabs hair but Naomi ROUNDHOUSES then HOTSHOTS! Iyo sputters as she drops back and Naomi brings her up. Naomi runs side to side to BULLDOG in the corner! Naomi then climbs up and leaps, CROSSBODY! The fans fire up while Iyo tumbles away! Naomi gets them going for “GLOW! GLOW! GLOW!” Naomi runs corner to corner to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Naomi adds an ELBOW, a SLIDING KICK, then a BASEMENT BOOT! Naomi goes up and up and twerks a little, before the SUPER HIP DROP! Cover, ROPEBREAK!

Iyo survives and goes to the apron but Naomi drags her up again. Iyo HOTSHOTS this time! Naomi staggers back, Iyo springboards in, MISSILE DROPKICK! Naomi ends up in a corner, Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN! Iyo says iku zo, and she climbs up top! But Naomi rises first! ENZIGIRI! Iyo wobbles, Naomi goes up after her! SUPERPLEX! Roll to the cover, TWO!! Iyo survives again but Naomi keeps her cool. The fans rally, Naomi storms up on Iyo but Iyo fires a forearm! Naomi gives it back, they go back and forth and the fans fire up! Iyo KICKS, Naomi KICKS! Iyo flops over, Naomi drags her up to waistlock!

Iyo fights the lift with elbows, then runs, but into a FOREARM! Naomi runs, but Iyo follows to wheelbarrow and victory roll, STOMP 182! The fans boo but Iyo stands tall. Iyo fires up while Naomi goes to ropes. Iyo runs side to side but Naomi TOSSES her to the apron! Naomi KICKS Iyo in the ropes, then gives her a HEATSEEKER! Naomi hurries to the corner, but then DMG CTRL rushes up! The ref stops them but that distraction lets Iyo YANK Naomi down! The Evil Genius steps on Naomi, goes up and up and OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Iyo wins!

Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall

They kept it clean until they were afraid Iyo would lose, and DMG CTRL takes this win away from Naomi! Then they swarm and stomp away on Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi fights back, even though it’s 4v1! BLUE MIST from Asuka!! Naomi falls, clutching her eyes! She swings blindly in hopes of hitting anyone but then here comes Bianca! The EST is fighting to help Naomi, not Bayley, as she ROCKS and RAMS Dakota! Bianca DECKS Iyo, DECKS Asuka, and SPINEBUSTERS Kairi! Bianca rains fists on Asuka but Kairi drags her back by her ponytail! Bianca reels Kairi in for the chicken wings! GlamEST Slam!!

The fans are thunderous as Bianca is all fired up! Bianca torture racks Kairi but Dakota CHOP BLOCKS her! The numbers are still in DMG CTRL’s favor, and Iyo SHOTGUNS Bianca down! The fans rally for Bayley but is she in any shape to fight after Iyo got her? Seems not, as DMG CTRL stomps away on Bianca & Naomi 4v2. Iyo holds up her title, the Kabuki Warriors show off theirs, will nothing stop DMG CTRL from having control of the Women’s Division?

Cody Rhodes talks with Nick Aldis backstage.

We can’t hear what they’re saying but it surely has to do with the face to face tonight. And we can see that Paul Heyman is lurking in the background, reporting things back to his Tribal Chief. Will the promise really be kept? Will it really just be Cody, Roman and Heyman meeting in the ring tonight?

Jade Cargill speaks.

“Let’s make things clear. I didn’t come here to be the next anyone. Jade Cargill is a once in a lifetime, generational talent. The type of presence that makes everyone stand up straight when I enter. I don’t even have to speak, and yet I’m the trending topic. I am the headline. They’re gonna build statues of me, and you don’t have to like it. But you damn sure can’t deny it. And that’s why I’m taking my talents to SmackDown.” The storm is coming, and her first official appearance as a blue brand superstar is next week!

Bianca and Naomi regroup backstage.

Bianca helps flush out the blue mist from Naomi’s eyes, trainers hurry to get towels, and Tiffany Stratton has to walk in and mockingly saw, “Aww… Y’know, this is actually a good look for you, Naomi. Tootles.” Bianca wants to rip into Tiff but she has to help Naomi first. Will The EST make some time for Tiffy Time soon enough?

Kevin Owens talks with Nick Aldis.

The Prizefighter is a bit upset how Randy Orton was on Logan Paul’s podcast of all things. Why couldn’t Aldis have told him sooner? Aldis was trying to figure out a time, but there’s nothing they can do, Logan Paul is now a sponsor of WrestleMania. But then Pretty Deadly walk in and they want to talk with Aldis about one word: Conspiracy! Con-spi-racy~! They feel someone is against them making it to WrestleMania! Kevin says hey, hey, guys, they were talking. Oh blah blah blah. This isn’t about the match Kevin has, it’s about the one they don’t! A great tag team, by the way, that Kevin knows nothing about!

What? Kevin doesn’t know tag teams? He won the Undisputed Tag Titles last year, at WrestleMania! And the last time he was in this arena, he punched two people at the same time! So if there’s anyone who knows something about tag teams, it’s him! Pretty Deadly don’t care, that’s Kevin living in the past. Get over it! Oh, living in the past? Then how about the future? Next week on SmackDown, Pretty Deadly takes on Kevin and his partner. Partner? Who? The friend he doesn’t have? Well, Kevin has an acquaintance, and they made for a really good tag team not too long ago. Y’know what, Kevin will ask that guy to be his partner.

Kevin looks past Pretty Deadly to ask the guy if he wants to team with Kevin next week. It’s Randy Orton! Pretty Deadly is startled and Orton has them calm down. This jacket is nice, his dad used to sport the exact same kind. Oh, okay, so maybe they’ll be friends? Orton looks to Kevin and says tag match next week? Yeah, Orton would love to team with him! Yes! Perfect! See you next week, boys! Wanna hang out with The Bucks? Yeah, sure, let’s go check with them. Pretty Deadly is upset but Aldis says it’s official. And don’t be that close together. Why? DOUBLE PUNCH! Kevin says he did it again! Will Kit Wilson & Elton Prince survive #RKKO?

WWE Media visited AJ Styles’ home.

The Phenomenal One was preparing for his WrestleMania match with LA Knight. He missed the event last year, so- Wait, who is that honking their car horn outside? Styles goes to look, shouts at the car, but it’s LA Knight! Knight says it would be on sight so here he is! Knight runs up to TACKLE Styles! They brawl on the lawn, the footage gets a bit fuzzy, so WWE borrows some police footage. The officers hurry to break this up, Mrs. Styles shouts for them to haul Knight away, and she helps Styles back into the house. But then Styles runs up to SLAP Knight! The officers tell Styles to back off or he’ll be arrested, too.

Knight says he told Styles he was gonna find him, but Styles says Knight better enjoy his night in jail! Knight promises to find Styles wherever they go, and Styles says he’ll end Knight’s career! Knight was later released as Styles chose not to press charges, but will he bring down the hammer on Knight at WrestleMania?

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: The Street Profits VS The Authors of Pain!

We know Waller & Theory are waiting in the next round, it is time to wrap things up! Will Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins take the pen from the Final Testament? Or will Akam & Rezar be the ones punctuating this tag team tournament?

SmackDown returns as the Final Testament makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Dawkins runs up to ROCK Rezar, DECK Akam, then fire off on Rezar! Rezar CLUBS back, tags Akam, and the AOP mug Dawkins with a running knee! Rezar CLUBS Dawkins, Akam ROCKS Dawkins, then Akam throws body shots and an UPPERCUT! Ellering coaches Akam and he CHOKES Dawkins on ropes! The ref counts, Akam lets off and Dawkins sputters. Akam brings Dawkins around, tags Rezar, and the mugging continues. Rezar talks trash, throws knees, then whips Dawkins. Dawkins holds ropes but Rezar knees low and whips again.

Dawkins holds ropes to stop hismelf, BOOTS Rezar, then tags Ford! Ford GAMANGIRIS, Dawkins DROPKICKS and Rezar falls out of the ring! Akam runs up but Dawkins dumps himo ut! The fans fire up with The Profits and Ford runs to FLY! But AOP catch him!? Ford freaks out, and The AOP BOMBS Ford into Dawkins! The Profits are down, and SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Rezar knocks Ford down. Cover, TWO, and Rezar hammers away on Ford! The fans boo but Rezar talks trash. Rezar drags Ford up, clinches and whips, and Ford hits buckles hard! Rezar DECKS Dawkins for good measure! Dawkins hurries up but the ref stops him, and that lets AOP mug Ford! Akam lets off in time, and Rezar brings Ford up. Tag to Akam, AOP mugs Ford more, but the fans continue to rally for the Profits. Akam KNEES Ford down, brings him around, and tags Rezar back in. Rezar drops an elbow right on Ford’s ribs! Rezar hauls Ford up, back suplexes, but Ford lands out! ENZIGIRI!

Rezar wobbles but Ford runs up! Rezar catches Ford, keeps him from Dawkins by mere fingertips, then throws him! Ford dodges Rezar to hot tag Dawkins! Akam also tags in, but the fans fire up as the Curse of Greatness rallies on AOP! Dawkins DECKS Rezar, whips Akam, but Akam reverses! Dawkins hurdles, comes back and ELBOWS Akam down! Dawkins goes out to POUNCE Rezar! Then Dawkins gets in, spins Akam and underhooks, for the SILENCER! Dawkins fires up and the fans are with him! Dawkins runs to the corner for the CYCLONE SPLASH! Tag to Ford before the ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up as Dakwins Electric Chair Lifts Akam!

Ford climbs, but Akam slips free! Ford leaps over while Akam POSTS Dawkins! Ford comes back but Akam BOOTS him down! Akam shouts to Rezar, tags him in, and the AOP gets Ford up. FINAL CHAPTER!! Cover, DAWKINS BREAKS IT! Akam hauls Dawkins up but Dawkins UPPERCUTS! Dawkins runs up, is put on the apron, and Akam DECKS Dawkins! Akam hurries to his corner, tags back in, and the AOP get Ford again. Suplex into- NO, Dawkins POUNCES Rezar again! Ford cradle counters, PROFITS WIN!!!

Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (advance to the next round)

The fans are thunderous as The Profits snatch away the victory! The plot twist was in their favor, but will this lead them to Philadelphia and the tag team championships?

Paul Heyman talks on the phone.

He is telling The Tribal Chief that with his very own ears, The Wise Man heard that Cody Rhodes is here by himself. “My Tribal Chief, your public awaits.” The face to face is just moments away, have both sides kept their word? Or does someone have an ace up their sleeve?

The Tribal Chief steps out of the car.

Roman Reigns walks his way over and Paul Heyman directs him to gorilla. The Universal Champion is on his way, and so far, there’s no sign of the Bloodline.

Roman Reigns makes his entrance!

The fans are torn but plenty put up the ones as the Tribal Chief steps on stage. This is day 1,300 as the pyro goes off, and there’s still 16 days until Roman defends the title against The American Nightmare. Roman steps into the ring and raises the belt for the second round of pyro. Heyman then holds onto the belt for Roman while the fans already chant for “CODY! CODY!” Roman paces around the ring, then sighs and takes the mic from Heyman. The fans boo but Roman says, “The Wise Man made a promise. And the Tribal Chief has kept his word. And that’s what I am, I’m a man of my word. I’m here alone, no Bloodline.

“Well, other than The Wise Man, but he’s no physical threat, you see? So, I say we bring Cody on out here to join you, Milwaukee. That’s right, he’s going to join you, because it’s time to ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans are torn but then we see Cody making his way to gorilla. He will make his entrance, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Cody finally makes his entrance. The fans sing along with Cody’s song, “WHOA~ OH~!” and Cody gets his pyro. Roman and Heyman aren’t impressed, they’ve seen it before. Cody high-fives fans in the front row and makes his way into the ring, “WHOA~ OH~!” for more pyro. The fans chant for “CODY! CODY!” again and he takes a moment to enjoy it while he gets the mic. Cody then stares Roman and Heyman down. Roman says here’s Cody, and they’ve kept their word. Roman is here by himself. How about Cody? Cody says he is as much a man of his word as Roman is, so if Roman came alone, then Cody came alone.

Roman says Heyman said he’d do that, and believed it, too. Then Cody is a fool. Cody is stupid! Hear Roman out. From Roman’s perspective, Cody isn’t fit for this job. Cody isn’t fit to be on top, fit to be the face of this company, because Cody is an idiot! Cody’s out here thinking with his heart, that people have the best intentions for him, but nobody cares. Cody needs to think with his head. Just look what he’s done the past month or so. He’s aligned himself with “little brother” Seth Rollins. There’s all kinds of problems with that, but what happened Monday? Wasn’t Cody in a bit of a jam? Where was Rollins?

Was Rollins in traffic? A plane delay? Snow? What? Because it seemed like Rollins was showing his true colors. And Rollins said something like he was gonna be Cody’s “shield.” Oof. You understand Roman was in The Shield with Rollins, right? They didn’t always do good guy things, but they had a bond. And then over time, Roman thought they were becoming family, that they really were brothers, and then what happened? Rollins stabbed Roman in the back. What does Cody think is gonna happen to him? That’s why Cody is a fool, plain and simple. Cody smirks and asks Roman if he really just asked if Cody remembered The Shield.

Cody’s pretty sure we all remember The Shield. They were unstoppable! They were undefeated! But Cody will ask this: Who was the first team that did beat The Shield? Fans like where Cody’s going because Roman is struggling to remember. Cody gives him a hint: their last name was “Rhodes.” Roman chuckles but Cody says he appreciates the “education” and “venom-laced wisdom” Roman’s dropping on us. Cody isn’t sure, but yes, he has his bullet cufflinks, so he is not unfamiliar with factions, betrayal, all that good stuff while he was off “doing nothing.” Quick jab at Roman’s Pat McAfee Show appearance.

But this isn’t a faction we’re talking about now. The Bloodline is just like Roman’s new merch says: family above all. So can Cody trust Seth Freakin’ Rollins? The fans cheer that he can but Cody didn’t ever think to do that! Milwaukee, can Cody trust Rollins? The fans cheer that yes he can! Cody then says Seth Rollins might hate Cody’s guts, and maybe Roman is right. But Cody knows one thing: Rollins hates Roman even more. And Cody will see Roman’s situation and raise him another: Can Roman his tag team partner at WrestleMania? Can Roman Reigns trust The Rock? Cody thinks we’re all perhaps a little confused.

But in the pantheon that is The Bloodline, who is really in charge? Is it The Tribal Chief? Or is it The Final Boss? Roman smirks and paces while the fans chant, “ROCKY SUCKS! ROCKY SUCKS!” Roman says that’s old news. Didn’t Cody say that to The Rock the other way around? Is that all Cody’s got? This is what Roman’s talking about here. “Spoken and spun like a true politician.” What are we doing? Running for office? Anyone got a baby that needs to be kissed? Cody will pull them up here to make them part of his entrance because he “loves” you! That’s all Cody does, promise this, promise that.

But Cody never delivers! He never keeps the promises! Cody’s told the people all these lies, and nothing ever comes to fruition. Wanna know why? Because Cody’s number two. And that’s with respect! Y’all would be lucky to be number two, but you aren’t even close! This is the greatest number two of all time! But that’s all Cody will ever be: number two. Because Roman is number one, forever. Heyman holds up the title as a banner but the fans rally behind Cody. Roman gets annoyed but Cody smiles. Cody tells Roman, “Let’s get real here. You grew up in this industry, same as I did.

“You were probably a little kid, looking in the mirror, wanting to be the next. The face of a generation! The biggest superstar to ever come along. The biggest pro-wrestling star. We’re talking Bruno, we’re talking Flair, we’re talking Hogan, we’re talking Rock, we’re talking Cena. I have conceded to the idea that the generation that follows us, our kids, will probably grow up wanting to be the next Roman Reigns.” Fans are torn but Roman says of course. Cody says that is Roman’s destiny, but he feels Roman is unfamiliar with Cody’s. Greatest number two? Huh. The greatest number two.

“Well, when it comes to WrestleMania, when it comes to who defeats you for this championship that you’ve held for all this time… I’m not number two. I’m the one.” Fans cheer that! Cody wishes Roman luck at Mania, and offers a handshake. Roman hesitates, but then steps back. The fans boo but Cody figured Roman would do that. Roman talks a bit more smack, mocks some Cody Crybabies, then shakes Heyman’s hand before they both step out of the ring. The fans continue to boo and that gets on Roman’s nerves, but he and Heyman still walk away. Roman says Cody is so stupid, and then he snaps his finger.

Roman grins as the music hits, because here comes The Bloodline! The face to face was kept clean, but that’s over now! Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa storm out from the crowd and Cody sees he fell for the Tribal Chief’s trap. Big Jim grins but Solo is stoic as always as they flank the ring. Cody takes off his suit jacket, ready to throw hands, but then Jimmy & Solo step away to join Roman at the ramp. Wait, Cody grins because JEY is here after all! AND Seth Rollins! The American Nightmare had Main Event Jey and The Visionary waiting in the wings, too! Just when The Tribal Chief thinks he’s clever, he looks the fool. Will The Bloodline be out of luck when all the cards are played?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown here as we keep moving closer to WrestleMania weekend. Rey was rather rusty in his match with Santos but he got through it to get back to form. But oddly, I did not think Dom would even bother messing with Rey at this point with his story on Raw being his scouting of Andrade for Judgment Day. Although, LWO is not in on the tag titles, and I would think Legado is about to lose to New Catch Republic next week. We could be getting a 10 Man Tag match for WrestleMania, LWO having Rey, Carlito, Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde, so Santos, Angel & Humberto could team with Dom & Andrade for one night to face them.

Really good promo from Jade Cargill to hype up how she is now part of SmackDown. And there’s half a chance she still gets in on the DMG CTRL story with how there are still plenty of opponents to go around. Good promos from Bayley, Naomi & Bianca ahead of the great match of Naomi VS Iyo. Of course Iyo wins and with some help, and of course DMG CTRL beats Naomi and Bianca down. Jade can be the third for Naomi & Bianca in a Six Woman Tag against Dakota, Asuka & Kairi to help clear them out so Bayley and Iyo can have a fair 1v1 match for the title. Tiffany getting her insult in also makes me think Bianca will have a match with her in at least a post-Mania feud.

Great on location promo from AJ Styles and LA Knight, keeping up the tradition of grudge matches having borderline home invasion incidents. Great tag team matches in the SmackDown side of the WrestleMania ladder match build. Now sadly, Good Brothers being part of the NXT Tag Team Championship story, I knew they were losing to A-Town Down Under, and of course it had to be by cheating. Profits VS AOP was really good stuff, but with Theory & Waller through to the next round, Profits being Faces had to win so that all worked out. I would hope Profits win that, but there probably does need to be another Heel team other than Judgment Day in the tag title match, and there’s still the story of Final Testament VS Lashley & Profits that needs to be settled anyway.

Great little promo from Kevin, Orton and Pretty Deadly to set up a tag match that will help Kevin and Orton build momentum for their match with Logan Paul, but also maybe lose some as Kevin and Orton will inevitably be divided by how only one can win the US Championship. Plus, Logan can totally show up to mess with them and help Pretty Deadly win. And then, really good stuff in the Bloodline story as always. Good promos from Roman and Cody, but camera direction could’ve been better when it came time for both sides to reveal they still brought back-up. The moment itself was still very clever, as I had a feeling Cody never truly trusted Roman anyway. Two more weeks, four more nights for build, this is gonna keep getting better.

My Score: 8.7/10