Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include a fatal four-way match between Iyo Sky vs.Bianca Belair vs. Lash Legend vs. Piper Niven, WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax faces off with World Women’s champion Liv Morgan, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton team to face Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, which was taped after last week’s show from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs. Lash Legend vs. Piper Niven
- Nia Jax & Liv Morgan face-off
- Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton vs. Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser
WWE SmackDown Results:
The Queen is here
WWE Women’s Champion and Queen of the Ring Nia Jax walks to the ring. Jax notes that she only cares about the Crown Jewel Championship. What she wants, she gets. Jax promises to end Liv Morgan at Crown Jewel Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan, and Dominik Mysterio inturrupt. Morgan notes all the reasons she’s better than Jax. Morgan puts “daddy” Dominink over as the reason for her success. Jax gets in Morgan’s face as Morgan and co get in the ring. Tiffany Stratton inturupts and reminds everyone that she has the Money in the Bank briefcase. Stratton says she’s cashing in at Crown Jewel. Jax laughs, and Stratton tells her not to get comfortable because Stratton can cash in on Jax, too. Morgan mocks Stratton. Stratton decks Morgan.
Grade: C
Good open segment. Did this writer miss a memo to something? When did Stratton turn on Jax?Anyway, Stratton is being positioned as a good guy here, and it… awkward. She handled herself well in her promo, but every word out of her mouth sounds like nails on a chalkboard, which makes her the perfect heel. No clue where this goes since taking the championship off of Morgan could be the move since Ripley is out of action. What do you all think? Let us know in the comments!
Tiffany Stratton vs. Liv Morgan
Nia Jax is at ringside for the match. Morgan sends Stratton into the barricade. Morgan hugs up on Dominik while Stratton is out on the floor. Stratton fires up. Jax gets on the apron. Stratton tries to hit Morgan with the MITB briefcase, but Morgan avoids it. Morgan rolls up Stratton for the win.
Winner- Liv Morgan
After the match, Jax lays Morgan out and crushes her with the Annihilator.
Grade: D
This match was quick and had little heat. Add a crappy finish on top of that, and you get a match that could have been on the main event. Morgan and Stratton needed and deserved more time.
The Street Profits w/B-Fab vs. Pretty Deadly
Prince and Wilson attack before the bell rings. Wilson and Prince take turns working over Ford. Ford manages to tag in Dawkins. Dawkins clears the ring. Prince sneak attacks Dawkins while the referee is distracted. B-Fab pulls Wilson off the apron and bodyslams him. Ford and Dawkins hit the Doomsday Blockbuster for the win.
Winners- The Street Profits
Gade: C+
It was cool seeing B-Fab get involved in the match. Too many managers just stand at ringside and do nothing these days. It’s a fun finish, but there is not much heat here, unfortunately.
Naomi and Bayley vs. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell
Hartwell and LeRae attack as soon as the bell rings… seems to be a theme tonight… Bayley gets isolated and worked over by LeRae and Hartwell. Naomi eventually gets the tag and hits the Rear View on LeRae for the win.
Read More: Mercedes Moné Reflects On Introduction Of WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles
Winners- Naomi and Bayley
Grade: C+
Hard to watch this match knowing Hartwell is no longer with WWE as of today. What could have been? Anyway, it was a good TV match; nothing groundbreaking here. It never gets old seeing Naomi win matches by hitting people with her @$$. Makes this writer chuckle every time.
Acknowledge the OTC
Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso are in the ring. Yeet chants break out. Jimmy says he needs Reigns to listen to what he has to say. Jimmy needs Reigns to drop the beef he has with Jey Uso. Reigns frowns. Jimmy notes that he squashed his beef with Jey and needs Reigns to do the same. It’s time. They will lose to Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline at Crown Jewel if they aren’t unit. Reigns puts his hand out for the mic. Before Jimmy can hand it off, Jey Uso’s music hits. Jey makes his way to the ring via the crowd. Jey says he wants to make sure one thing clear: he only agreed to be part of this match because he wants to get back at Sikoa.
This thing between them isn’t solved yet. It’s taking all of Jey’s might to stand in the ring with Reigns. Jey reminds Reigns of the physical and emotional damage he caused Jey. Jey is still here because that’s what family does. This time, Jey isn’t going to be Reigns’ lackey. Jey is Reigns’ equal now. All three of them need to be equal, like in the old days. If Jey feels for one second that Reigns is disrespecting him or talking down to him, he’s gone. Jey asks Reigns if they are going to do the damn thing or not. Reigns sticks his hand out for the mic. Jimmy obliges. Reigns says Yeet. The crowd goes nuts. A hug-it-out chant breaks out. Jimmy puts up the one. Jey does the same. Reigns drops the mic and joins in.
Grade: B
Awesome segment. It’s great that they aren’t treating the fans like they are stupid. After everything they have been through, there is no way Jey should just join up with a smile on his face. The Bloodline thing just works. We are four-plus years in, and this stuff never gets old. Credit to everyone involved.
Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs. Lash Legend vs. Piper Niven
Everyone brawls as soon as the bell rings. Legend and Niven clear the ring. Legend tries to lift Niven, but Niven slips out. Niven lifts Legend, but Legend slips out. Double clothesline. Since Legend and Niven are down, Belair hits the superstar press on both women at the same time. Sky breaks up the pin. Belair tries a dive but gets caught by Niven and Legend.
Legend and Niven slam Belair into the ring post. Outside the ring, Jakara Jackson attacks Chelsea Green. While Jackson is celebrating, Cagrill boots her into next week. Niven slams everyone. Before Niven can hit her finish, Legend boots her in the face. Belair hits the KOD on Legend. Sky surprises Belair with the Over the Moonsault. Belair rolls out of the ring. Sky pins Legend
Grade: B
Solid fatal-four way match. These tend to be a bit messy, especially with so many moving parts and each person having a second with them. That said, this was surprisingly cohesive and had a good finish.
Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton vs. Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser
Gunther acts like he will start the match, but he immediately tags out before the lock-up. Kaiser is in, taking Rhodes down and laying in a few strikes. Rhodes hits a gourd buster, followed by a dive. After the break, Gunther and Kaiser are working over Rhodes. Rhodes manages to tag in Orton. Orton clears the ring. Draping DDT by Orton. As Gunther struggles to his feet, Orton calls for the RKO. Gunther pushes Orton away. Rhodes tags in and lands a Cody cutter on Kaiser. Rhodes sets up Crossroads. Gunther tries to break it up with a chop, but Rhodes ducks. Orton drops Gunther with an RKO. Rhodes hits Crossroads on Kaiser for the win.
Winners- Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton
After the match, Kevin Owens appears and this Orton with a chair. Before Rhodes can step in, Gunther traps him in a rear naked choke.
Grade: B
Good match and brief segment after the fact. The right team won, and nothing that happened took anything away from the Gunther/Rhodes, Orton/Owens storylines.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Good show overall that was 100% in-line with the trend of so-so Smackdowns before PLEs. Nothing earth shattering happened here tonight, but there was solid build for the two Crown Jewel championship matches in the men and women’s divisions. The match of the night was Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs. Lash Legend vs. Piper Niven, which was a good time with great action and a solid story for why the match was happening. This week’s episode of “As the Bloodline Turns,” was phenomenal. The interplay between Reigns/Jey/Jimmy has been the strongest par tof this story since it began, so seeing them reunite officially tonight was a movie. What do you think will happen at Crown Jewel? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: C
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