Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Bayley teaming up against Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green holding a Women’s United States Championship Celebration, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis addresses Kevin Owens’ heinous attack on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Chelsea Green’s Women’s United States Championship Celebration
- Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Bayley vs. Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae
- GM Nick Aldis addresses Kevin Owens’ attack on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes
WWE SmackDown Results:
During a statement at the start of the show, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis notes that Kevin Owens has no claim to the Winged Eagle Championship belt. Owens lost at Saturday Night’s Main Event, so Owens has until the end of the night to return the championship. If Owens doesn’t, he will face severe consequences.
Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Bayley vs. Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae
On the way to the ring, Jax says she has nothing to do with what happened to Jade Cargill. Jax quips that Belair is doing just fine without Cargill. Jax says it was Belair who attacked Cargill because she’s jealous of her. If Belair doesn’t own up to it, Jax will make her. The action starts with Belair slamming Stratton. Statton avoids a superstar press. Belair, Bayley, and Naomi all land dives. After the break, Naomi stink faces Jax. Naomi hits the ropes and runs into a pop-up headbutt by Jax.
LeRae tags in and gets double-teamed by Belair and Naomi. Belair gets a near fall after a superstar press. After a distraction from Stratton, LeRae yanks Belair off the top. Jax tags in and crushes Belair with a leg drop. Belair kicks out. Jax and LeRae avoid tagging in Stratton. Stratton almost takes LeRae out with a crossbody off the top. Bayley gets the tag and clears the ring. Bayley tries her patented corner dropkick.
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LeRae catches Bayley’s feet and swings her into the ring post, head first. Jax and Co work over Bayley. After the break, Naomi lands a split-legged moonsault. Stratton breaks up the pin. Everyone is down but Stratton. Stratton grabs the MITB briefcase and is about to cash in. LeRae grabs the briefcase. Stratton and LeRae argue. Stratton says she wants to be champion. In the confusion, Naomi rolls up Lerae for the win.
Winners- Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Bayley
Grade: B-
The promo from Jax at the start of this thing was abysmal. Thankfully, this match was given a ton of time and was more than solid. They teased us with another failed cash-in attempt from Stratton. At least at this point, she flat-out said she wants to be champion, so if anything, this is coming close to an end.
Braun Strowman vs. Austin Theory w/Grayson Waller
Theory manages to land a flurry of offense. Strowman kicks out and tosses Theory clear out of the ring. The referee checks on Theory. Strowman hits the ropes, and Waller tries to grab his foot. Strowman stomps on Waller’s arm. Theory charges in and gets back body dropped over the top onto Waller. Strowman goes up top. Waller distracts Strowman. Theory lifts Strowman off the top to set up A-Town Down. Strowman escapes and lands the running powerslam for the win.
Winner- Braun Strowman
Grade: C+
Weirdly fun TV Match. Theory’s offense made sense; he went low and stuck and moved to avoid the big man. In the end, Strowman’s power won out, which is exactly how a match like this should end. Strowman needs to stop with that “dropkick” he does… he gets all over 2 cm of height on that thing. He’s going to kick out someone’s kneecap…
Women’s United States Championship Celebration
Piper Niven gives the first Women’s United States Champion, Chelsea Green, a rousing introduction. Green comes to the ring wearing a Statue of Liberty headdress. Green says she is turning the Blue Brand into the Green House, and she goes on and on about how great she is. Michin interrupts and says the only reason Green is the champion is because of Niven. Michin rushes the ring with a kendo stick. Niven jumps in the way and gets beat down with the kendo stick. Green escapes.
Grade: C
Not a great promo from Green tonight. It’s odd. Green is usually money on the mic, but this wasn’t very good. Michin appearing and ending this didn’t happen soon enough.
The Street Profits w/B-Fab vs. Los Garza w/Elektra Lopez
Dawkins and Ford are all over Berto. Garza tags in and helps Berto double-team Dawkins. Garza and Berto work over Dawkins. After the break, Garza and Berto are working over Ford. Ford manages to tag in Dawkins. Dawkins clears the ring. Garza breaks up the Street Profits Doomsday Blockbuster. Berto and Garza press slams Ford off the top. Garza takes Dawkins out with a moonsault. Berto lands a moonsault in the ring. Ford kicks out. Lopez gets involved. B-Fab boots Lopez in the face. Ford lands a Superman dive. The Street Profits finally hit the Doomsday Blockbuster for the win.
Winners- The Street Profits
Grade: B
Good match. The brawl to lead into the match being booked on the fly was a nice touch. Usually, a brawl happens in the ring, and poof, magically, we have a match after the break. Aldis is the GM, so he should actually book matches. This match had great nearfalls and a hot finish.
Sami Zayn vs. Carmelo Hayes
Zayn and Hayes trade strikes. The fight spills out of the ring. Hayes sends Zayn into the barricade, but Zayn counters with a moonsault off the barricade. After the break, Hayes lands a springboard clothesline. Hayes avoids the blue thunderbomb. Hayes tries a springboard, but Zayn reverses it into a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Zayn tries a splash, but Hayes avoids it and hits the first 48. Zayn kicks out.
Springboard DDT by Hayes. Hayes goes up top and dives right into a clothesline by Zayn. Zayn sets up the Helluva Kick. Hayes rolls out of the ring. Braun Strowman runs down the ramp and picks Hayes up. Hayes slips off Strowman’s shoulder and runs to the back. The Outlaw Bloodline attacks Zayn back in the ring, causing a disqualification.
Winner- Sami Zayn
After the match, Strowman is carrying Hayes back to the ring. Strowman sees the beatdown happening in the ring. Strowman drops Hayes and runs to the ring to try to make the save. Sikoa and the Outlaw Bloodline eventually leave Zayn and Strowman lying. While GM Aldis is trying to restore order, Kevin Owens appears carrying the winged eagle belt.
Grade: B+
Great match with a great angle after the fact. At some point, Hayes has to actually win a match. We get it; he’s a bad guy… but if he never wins anything without it being a screwy finish, it just takes away from his credibility. Not sure having Strowman inserted here is a good thing or not. The idea of Jacob Fatu having to bump around for Strowman is less than appealing. Also, and this could just be a me thing, but does anyone else feel weird about all of this “needing to humble” Hayes talk?
The Champs are… Here?
Nick Aldis tells Owens to give him back the winged eagle championship. Owens says he isn’t giving it back. It’s his bargaining chip. Owens wants another title shot, and he wants a match where a referee can’t rob him of his victory. Aldis says this isn’t a negotiation. If Owens doesn’t comply, Owens will never step foot in a WWE ring again. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes walks to the ring.
Rhodes says Owens wants a match where the referee can’t screw him, and Rhodes wants a match where a referee can stop what he’s going to do to Owens. Rhodes wants a ladder match. Aldis books the ladder match for the Royal Rumble. Owens agrees and offers Rhodes a handshake. Rhodes stalls him out. Owens pushes Aldis into Rhodes. Owens stomps Rhodes’ previously injured neck. Officials hit the ring to break it up.
Grade: A
Awesome segment. At this point, Rhodes and Owens are utterly unhinged. The idea of seeing them go at it in a ladder match is exciting, as there is a strong possibility Rhodes could lose this. If the stipulation equals a loss without being pinned, the bad guy’s odds shoot up at least 60%. Can’t wait to see these two try to end each other’s careers.
WWE SmackDown Review:
The Owens-Rhodes confrontation stole the show. The ladder match announcement for the Royal Rumble elevated the stakes and left this writer wanting more. Owens and Rhodes showcased emotional intensity and storytelling at its best. Sami Zayn vs. Carmelo Hayes was a well-paced match. Hayes and Zayn have strong in-ring chemistry, and the post-match chaos involving Braun Strowman and the Outlaw Bloodline added depth.
Although Hayes’ inability to secure credible wins remains a concern, it’s great just seeing him on TV. This was definitely the one to watch tonight. On the other end of the spectrum, both Jax and Green delivered lackluster promos, which hurt the overall flow of their segments. While Jax’s promo lacked conviction, Green’s usually sharp mic work fell flat. What do you all think will happen next week? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: B
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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