Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include #DIY defending the WWE Tag Team Championship against Pretty Deadly, Jimmy Uso battling Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes teaming with Damian Priest & Braun Strowman against Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga, and the Final Boss The Rock returns. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisana.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Jimmy Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
- WWE Tag Team Championship Match: #DIY (Tomasso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) (c) vs. Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince)
- Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest & Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga
- The Rock Returns
WWE SmackDown Results:
Backstage, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis tells Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes that he’s been pulled from the main event. Rhodes asks why. Aldis tells Rhodes that the final boss decreed it. The Rock wants to see Rhodes in the ring tonight.
Jimmy Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
Jimmy is in control early, landing a flurry of strikes. McIntyre takes control after countering a dive with an overhead throw. McIntyre works over Jimmy out on the floor. Jimmy knocks McIntyre off the apron. Suicide Dive by Jimmy. McIntyre blocks a PK and trips Jimmy on the apron. McIntyre destroys Jimmy with an inverted Alabama slam on the ring steps.
After the break, Jimmy surprises McIntyre with a whisper in the wind. Jimmy fires up. Samoan drop by Jimmy. McIntyre kicks out. McIntyre cuts off a hip attack with a flying headbutt. McIntyre and Jimmy trade big moves. McIntyre badmouths Jimmy. After driving Jimmy into the corner, McIntyre sets up another Alabama slam. Jimmy reverses it into a roll up for the win.
Winner- Jimmy Uso
After the match, McIntyre attacks Jimmy. McIntyre places Jimmy’s head in front of the ring post. Before McIntyre can murder Jimmy, referees and officials hit the ring and pull McIntyre away. While McIntyre is being led up the ramp, he breaks away and Claymores Jimmy.
Grade: B
This was a solid TV match. The Alabama Slam spot on the steps was brutal. McIntyre was giving a lot tonight, and Jimmy needed a win.
R-Truth and LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes and The Miz
Truth and his partner… Louisiana Knight… is in control early. Little Jimmy gets a near fall on Hayes as Truth counts the pin. Yes, you read that correctly. Truth forgets he isn’t tagging with Miz tonight and waits in the wrong corner with Miz. Miz is confused, and so is Truth. Hayes runs over Truth. Miz and Hayes work over Truth. During the match, United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura attacks LA Knight outside the ring. Miz and Hayes hit a combination Skull Crushing Finale/First 48 on Truth for the win.
Winners- Carmelo Hayes and The Miz
Grade: C+
Fun match. Hayes in a tag team isn’t something I think anyone wants, but if it has to happen, a frienemie tag team with someone whose ego may actually be bigger than his could be fun TV.
It’s Tiffy Time!
The WWE Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton says she is going to go to Elimination Chamber with Trish Stratus and defeat Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. Stratton turns her focus to her WrestleMania challenger, Charlotte Flair. Stratton isn’t coming for Flair’s legacy; she’s coming for the top spot in the women’s division. Jax and LeRae interrupt. They are going to take out Stratton now. The referee steps in the way.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Candice LeRae w/Nia Jax
Charlotte Flair walks down to ringside to watch the match. Stratton gets the win after hitting her finish.
Winner- Tiffany Stratton
After the match, Nia Jax attacks Stratton. Jax sets up the Annihilator. Trish Stratus tries to make the save but is run over by Jax. Jax flattens Stratton and Stratus with the Annihilator at the same time. Flair just watches.
Grade: C
This thing wasn’t exactly Belair vs. Banks at WrestleMania… And that run-in after by Stratus was just weird. Stratton stumbled around and watched Stratus get attacked from behind. The double Annihilator looked like Jax was trying not to break an egg. Odd stuff. Maybe Jax didn’t want to murder Stratus like she did last week. It is a total overcorrection.
Naomi w/Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan w/Raquel Rodriguez
Before the match starts, Morgan and her bodyguard attack Belair and Naomi from behind. Belair and Naomi are left laid out as referees and officials hit the ring to break this up.
Grade: D
This didn’t need to happen and added nothing to the show or this angle. How many sneak attacks need to happen between these four? It’s just lazy.
The Final Boss
The Rock announces that WrestleMania 42 will be live from the Ceasars Dome in New Orleans. The Rock dumps on the crowd for having STDs and various other diseases. As the crowd boos The Rock notes that he has one last gift for everyone here. The Rock is here to call out a man he respects and admires, Cody Rhodes. Rhodes joins The Rock in the ring. Rhodes and The Rock shake hands and hug. The Rock puts Rhodes over and reminds everyone that they had a good old time the last they saw each other at the Raw Netflix premiere.
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They have become friends. Their mothers have become friends. The Rock says he needs to make sure knows a few things: The Rock notes that he’s the director of the board. He is the most powerful man in WWE. The Rock wants Rhodes to be more than a great champion; he wants Rhodes to be HIS champion. Rhodes says he’s the WWE Universe’s Champion. The Rock meanders about as he tries to get Rhodes to be his champion. The Rock notes that Rhodes f’d up his plan last year to main event WrestleMania against his cousin Roman Reigns.
The Rock promises to elevate Rhodes to new heights. Rhodes looks confused. The Rock tells Rhodes he doesn’t have to answer tonight. The Rock will expect Rhodes to answer at The Elimination Chamber. As he points at Rhodes, The Rock says that is what he wants more than anything. Rhodes asks Rock if this is all about the WWE Championship. Rock says, no. The thing Rock wants more than anything in this world is Cody Rhodes’ soul. The Rock walks away.
Grade: C
This may have just been an off night for Rocky. This promo was long and didn’t make a ton of sense. If you are going to go long, you have to at least make it interesting. The stinger at the end with The Rock saying he wants Rhodes’ soul was interesting but how we got there was dull.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: #DIY (Tomasso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) (c) vs. Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince)
Before the bell rings Prince and Wilson attack #DIY. After a bit of back and forth, The Street Profits attack before Wilson Prince as they set up their finish.
No Contest
After the match, Dawkins and Ford destroy everyone. Motor City Machine Guns try to make the save, but get their clocks cleaned.
Grade: B+
The match was whatever, but the after-brawl here was worth the price of admission. Not only are the Street Profit’s full-fledged heels, but they are DOMINATE heels. This is exactly what they needed to freshen up.
Damian Priest and Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu w/Tama Tonga
Strowman runs over Fatu. Priest dives off the apron to take Sikoa. Strowman tries to freight train Fatu, but Tonga steps in the way. Fatu sends Strowman into the keeper’s area. After the break, Fatu and Sikoa work over Strowman. Strowman manages to tag in Priest. Priest clears the ring. Fatu accidentally superkicks Sikoa. Priest knocks Fatu over the top. Strowman runs over Fatu and Tonga. Priest drops Sikoa with South of Heaven for the win.
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Winners- Damian Priest and Braun Strowman
Grade: B
Fatu looks amazing, as usual. The build to Fatu and Sikoa is a bit on the clunky side. You’d think we would have a smoother way of getting here than professionals accidentally hitting each other, but if this ends with Sikoa vs. Fatu at WrestleMania, then it’s worth it. That match will definitely feed families.
WWE SmakDown Review
What an uneven night. There were a few decent matches (the two tag matches stand out as entertaining), but all of the promos tonight overstayed their welcome. The Rock gets a special shout-out here as he totally derailed the show with a nonsensical promo where he made a claim to the world champion’s soul.
Carmelo Hayes seems to be in the tag division now, which could be a good thing but probably isn’t (gonna have to try to be optimistic on that one). And the women’s tag champs are an afterthought, seemingly only getting TV time to appease the people who were upset Naomi’s singles match was supposedly cut. For an episode that featured an appearance from The Rock, it was by far one of the worst SmackDowns of the year. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: C
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