Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Naomi seeking revenge against Liv Morgan, Jimmy Uso clashing with Carmelo Hayes, Moto City Machine Guns teaming with Loz Garza against #DIY and Pretty Deadly, and Chelsea Green defending the Women’s United States Championship against Michin. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Women’s United States Championship Match: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Michin
- Motor City Machine Guns & Los Garza vs. DIY & Pretty Deadly
- Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes
- Naomi vs. Liv Morgan
WWE SmackDown Results:
Micheal Cole opens the show and introduces Pat McAfee, who will be on commentary tonight. McAfee tells the crowd he pushed for them to get a PLE, and it finally happened. The Royal Rumble is here. McAfee puts over Indy as a host city.
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In the ring, Joe Tessistore announces that after Kevin Owens complained about not getting equal time. Tonight, Tessitore will interview Owens and allow him to speak his piece.
Sour grapes with Kevin Owens!
Owens joins Tessitore in the ring. Owens dumps on Tessitore for only caring about Cody Rhodes’ feelings. Owens complains about being forced to listen to people like CM Punk and Seth Rollins talk about winning the Rumble. He doesn’t care about anything but taking his title back (Owens takes his winged eagle title off the hook). CM Punk interrupts and tells Owens he isn’t looking past him. If Owens makes it through a very angry Cody Rhodes, the main event of WrestleMania will be Punk vs. Owens.
Owens says he loves the idea of being Punk at Mania but would enjoy Punk never reaching his goal of main-eventing WrestleMania. Owens hopes Punk never does. Punk puts Owens over as a talent and for main eventing two WrestleMania. Punk reminds Owens of all the crappy things he’s done. Owens leaves the ring. Punk invites Owens back to get his a$$ kicked. Owens walks away.
Grade: A
Great opening segment. Owens is doing his best work in recent history. Adding Punk to this finally gave us. We have been waiting for confrontation since Punk returned. This writer wants to see Punk vs. Owens now.
Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes
Hayes trash-talks Jimmy and Pacer’s star Tyrese Haliburton, who is at ringside. Hayes is in control of the match early. After getting distracted jawing with Haliburton at ringside, Hayes eats a strike from Jimmy. Hyea surprises Jimmy with the 1st 48 for a near fall. Hayes rolls up Jimmy with his hand on the ropes. Jimmy kicks out and rolls Haywa into a pin of his own, with a handful of tights for the win.
Winner: Jimmy Uso
Grade: B
Hayes NEEDS TO ACTUALLY WIN A MATCH. There are too many amazing performances to always end up staring at the lights.
Women’s United States Championship Match: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Michin
Michin has B-Fab backing her up at ringside to combat Piper Niven. Michin is in control early, landing a dive to cap off her assault. After a distraction from Niven, Green takes control, working over Michin’s neck. Michin fires up, and lands Eat d’Feet. Niven pulls Green out of the ring to avoid her getting pinned. Michin chases Green. Green hits Michin with Michin‘s own kendo stick to cause a DQ.
Winner: Michin
Grade: C+
Good match. Seeing an old-school baddie get DQs intentionally to save their title doesn’t happen often enough at this point.
Backstage, Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Naomi agree that it doesn’t matter which one of them wins the Royal Rumble as long as it’s one of them.
All Rise…
Damian Priest says he wanted to make an impact and wanted to be known when he arrived on Raw, and his journey ended there with a World Championship. He’s not here to live in the past. He‘s focused on championships, and to get his hands on gold, he’s going to win the Royal Rumble. Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga interrupt. Fatu grabs a mic and puts over Priest.
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Fatu says they are a lot alike, but Fatu is legit. He spent time in the box and Priest can braid his hair all he wants, but don’t get it twisted. Fatu tells Priest to get down or lay down. Priest brushes Fatu off and says since they are both from the streets. Why are they talking? Priest decks Tonga. Fatu and Priest circle each other before trading strikes. Tonga attacks Priest from behind. LA Knight makes the save with a chair. Knight challenges Fatu and Tonga to a tag match later tonight.
Motor City Machine Guns & Los Garza vs. DIY & Pretty Deadly
The match swings after Berto and Angel leave Sabin and Shelley after a miscommunication in the corner. Ciampa, Gargano, work over Sabin. Ciampa accidentally boots Prince off the apron. Wilson is fed up and hops off the apron, leaving Ciampa and Gargano alone. Sabin surprises Ciampa with a roll up for the win.
Winners: MCMG and Los Garza
Grade: B
It was a good match overall, but the interplay between all four men furthers the four-way angle, which is currently dominating the WWE Tag Title scene.
Naomi vs. Liv Morgan
Naomi is in control early, getting a near fall after a split splash. Morgan takes control after a distraction from Morgan’s bodyguard. Naomi fires up and sets up her finish. Morgan’s bodyguard tries to cause another distraction. Belair takes out the bodyguard. Naomi misses her moonsault. Morgan tries a roll up, but Naomi reverses it into one of her own for the win.
Winner- Naomi
After the match, the bodyguard and Morgan leave Belair and Naomi laid out.
Grade: B
Fun match, but it was way too quick.
The Miz vs. Andrade
Andrade and Miz trade shots. Miz sends Andrade flying with a head scissors. Yes, you read that correctly. Andrade eventually beheads Miz with his patented feint spinning back elbow.
Winner- Andrade
Grade: B
Miz’s in-ring skills are underrated at this point. Folks should give him way more credit. Tonight was a good example of that. Miz kept up with Andrade. 10 years ago, this writer would have laughed at you if you told him that. Also, props to whoever called the elbow for the finish. Andrade should use that from here on out.
Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga vs. Damian Priest and LA Knight
Knight and Priest are in control early. Fatu tags in and runs over Priest. Fatu and Tonga take turns beating down Priest. After the break, the fight spills out of the ring. Priest flatliners Fatu on the commentary desk. The finish comes when Priest drops Tonga with South of Heaven for the win.
Winners- Damian Priest and LA Knight
After the match, Fatu takes out Priest with a pop up Samoan drop.
Grade: B-
This was a solid main event with a mildly surprising ending. With Fatu and Tonga seemingly charting their path as a team, it’s somewhat odd for them to take a loss here. Fatu looked strong in the loss, which is essential, but how many times can we see a match involving him end in either a DQ or a loss, with Fatu taking out whoever got the pin?
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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