Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include LA Knight taking on Tama Tonga, Motor City Machine Guns battling Pretty Deadly, and the final hype for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Moody Centre in Austin, Texas.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- LA Knight vs. Tama Tonga
- Motor City Machine Guns vs. Pretty Deadly
WWE SmackDown Results:
Joe Tessitore announces that the undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes is here.
The American Nightmare Speaks
Tessitore notes that Rhodes will have to turn the championship over to Shawn Michaels tomorrow night in preparation for the ladder match at Royal Rumble. Tessitore asks how Rhodes feels about handing the title over. Rhodes says he has no issues turning over the championship Rhodes puts Kevin Owens over but notes that the issue with Owens is that he chooses the easy way out. Rhodes only has one thing to say to Owens: good luck.
Grade: B
Good promo by Rhodes. Rhodes did a phenomenal job putting Owens over as a threat and selling the match as more important than just the championship.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Pretty Deadly
Wilson and Prince are aggressive early, sending Sabin into the ring post and beating him down outside the ring. Sabin and Shelley eventually land Skul and Bones for the win.
Winners- Moter City Machine Guns
Grade: B-
Standard TV tag match. Odd that it wasn’t used to further the story between #DIY and MCMG. Will this lead to Pretty Deadly turning on #DIY?
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Kevin Owens Crashes the Party
Owens hopes the barricade and yells at the commentary team. Owens is upset Rhodes got an interview, and he didn’t. Matthew McConaughey is in the crowd, booing Owens. Owens gets in McConaughey’s face. Jimmy Uso‘s music hits. Uso tells Owens he talks too much and slugs Owens. Owens rolls out of the ring before Uso can splash him. Jimmy grabs a mic and challenges Owens to a match tonight.
Grade: B
Effective segment. Owens continues to play crazy person while Jimmy gets another chance to get reps as a singles competitor. Alright, alright, alright.
Michin and B-Fab vs. Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
B-Fab and Michin are in control early. Niven takes control after Michin mesmerizes with the long back attack. Michin eventually gets a blind tag and surprises Green with Eat’ d’Feet for the win.
Winners- B-Fab and Michin
Grade: C+
This match felt weirdly rushed. This is supposed to be a chapter in a feud, but they sped through this affair. Michin didn’t need to pin the champion to line up her next title shot. That’s old-school WWE logic that needs to go away.
It’s Tiffy Time… Again
Tiffany Stratton says everyone in the Royal Rumble is fighting for a chance to challenge her. It doesn’t matter because she will come out on top. Rhea Ripley‘s music hits. Ripley joins Stratton in the ring. Ripley tells Stratton she respects what she did to Nia Jax. That doesn’t compare to what Ripley promises to do to Jax at SNME. Jax and Candice LeRae interrupt. Jax announces she is entering the Royal Rumble.
Before the Rumble, Jax promises to beat Ripley for the Women’s World title so that she can hold both championships. The Women’s Tag Team Champions Naomi and Bianca Belair walk down to the ring, announcing they enter the Royal Rumble. One of them is going to win. Liv Morgan is out next. Morgan says she’s going to win because of her bodyguard. Ripley completely destroys Morgan with a headbutt. A brawl breaks out. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis power walks to the ring as we cut to break.
Grade: C-
We are a week away from the Royal Rumble, and they are JUST starting to build the Women’s Royal Rumble match. And, of course, this leads to a massive tag match. This was terrible. The women deserve better. Why is it impossible for the women to have a proper build to their Royal Rumble match?
Bianca Belair, Naomi and Rhea Ripley vs. Nia Jax, Liv Morgan, and Candice LeRae
Belair and Naomi are in control early, working over Morgan. Jax gets a blind tag and runs over Belair. Naomi gets worked over by Jax, LeRae, and Morgan. Naomi manages to tag in Ripley, who clears the ring. After a distraction from Morgan’s bodyguard, Morgan surprises Ripley with a backstabber.
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Belair gets the tag and cuts Morgna in half with a spear. Ripley tries to Riptide Jax. Morgan hops on Ripley’s back. Ripley Riptides Morgan on top of Jax. Belair tags in and KODs LeRae, but Morgan is the legal woman. Morgan surprises Belair with a roll up for the win.
Winners- Nia Jax, Liv Morgan, and Candice LeRae
Grade: B
Even though how we got here stunk, this was a good match with a nice surprise ending.
Johnny Gargano w/Tomasso Ciampa vs. Apolloa Crews
Gargano is in control early. Crews fire up and get a near fall after a press slam into a standing moonsault. Gargano sends Crews out of the ring and distracts the referee. Ciampa levels Crews with a knee trembler. Ciampa throws Crews back into the ring. MCMG walks down the ramp. In the confusion, Crews rolls up Gargano for the win.
Winners- Apollo Crews
Grade: B-
This was a good, quick match that nicely furthered the angle between the tag champs and MCMG. Crews getting a win on TV is a cherry on top. A tag champion losing a singles match to further a feud works. What they did with the Women’s United States Champion does NOT.
Tama Tonga w/Jacob Fatu vs/ LA Knight
Knight cuts a promo about beating both Tonga and Fatu’s @$$ tonight. Knight and Tonga trade punches as soon as the bell rings. Tonga controls most of the match. Knight escapes a superplex attempt and lands the LA elbow. Knight sets up the BFT. Jacob Fatu gets up on the apron. Knight boots Fatu off the apron. Tonga rolls up Knight. Knight kicks out. Knight lands the BFT for the win.
Winner- LA Knight
After the match, Fatu drops Knight on the commentary desk with a Samoan drop. Braun Strowman runs down and makes the save. Tonga pulls Fatu away before they can brawl.
Grade: B
Good match, with a great finish. Knight may be a bit lost in the shuffle here, but he will be fine. Fatu vs. Strowman is what matters here, and finish set that up well. They have had such little physical interaction that the anticipation is palpable.
Damian Preist vs. Carmelo Hayes
Hayes can’t get out of the gate, with Priest countering him at every turn. After a leaping lariat, Priest lands a few punches in the corner. Hayes rolls out of the ring after a near fall. Priest gets hung up on the apron. Hayes chop blocks Priest and pushes him into the ring post. After the break, Preist fires up and lands South of Heaven for the win.
Winner- Damian Priest
Grade: B
This was the match of the night so far. Hayes keeps turning in star making performances in the ring. At some point, he has to win a match without their being any screwiness. Obviously, Priest wasn’t losing his debut match, but this was still a positive putting for Hayes.
Kevin Owens vs. Jimmy Uso
Hayes attacks Jimmy on his way to the ring. Officials and security separate both men. Kevin Owens comes to the ring wearing a Naomi shirt. Jimmy lands a few punches. Owens takes over with a cheapshot and a senton. Owens works over Jimmy. Jimmy fires up and lands a hip attack in the corner. After a series of reversals, Jimmy floors Owens with a superkick. Owens kicks out. Jimmy escapes a Stunner and lands a Spear. Jimmu goes up top. Owens cuts Jimmy off and lands a Pop-Up Powerbomb for the win.
Winner- Kevin Owens
After the match, Owens sets up a piledriver on the commentary desk. Cody Rhodes makes the save.
Grade: B-
Standard SmackDown main event. The brawl after wasn’t anything to write home about.
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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