Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include both United States Championships being on the line when LA Knight challenges United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, Chelsea Green defends against Michin in a Street Fight, Braun Stroman battling Solo Sikoa, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes addresses John Cena’s heinous attack at Elimination Chamber. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Women’s United States Championship Street Fight: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Michin
- WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to address John Cena
- Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa
- United States Championship Match: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. LA Knight
WWE SmackDown Results:
Drew McIntyre walks through the backstage area and sees Damian Priest. McIntyre attacks Priest from behind. After leaving Priest lying, McIntyre screams at Presit, “What did you think would happen?”
The Viper Returns
The crowd showers Orton with adulation. Orton soaks it all in before noting all the crazy things that have happened over the last week. Orton notes that Cena is the Rock‘s bottom. Enough about that; Orton wants to talk about his other former friend, Kevin Owens. Orton notes that he admires Kevin Owens, the wrestler, but he has a problem with Kevin Owens, the man. A quote comes to mind: never underestimate a jealous man’s ability to destroy another man.
That quote embodies Kevin Owens. Orton notes all the terrible things Owens has done. Owens has nothing to be jealous about. Enough is never enough. Owens has managed to piss Orton off. After dropping Owens with an RKO, he looked down at Owens and felt a feeling he hadn’t felt in a decade. The voices started talking to Orton again, and he was going to Punt Owens so hard his family wouldn’t recognize him. Orton will prove that Pat McAfee is only the second-best Punter in the world.
Grade: B
Great promo by Orton. Orton got so mad that he almost let a four-letter word slip through the process. After that promo, how could you not want to see Orton Punt Owen’s head like the love spawn of Kane and Lita?
WWE Women’s Champion: Tiffany Stratton vs. Piper Niven
Niven sends Stratton out of the ring. Diving Senton by Niven. After the break, Stratton lands a swanton. Niven kicks out. Blackhole Slam by Niven. Stratton kicks out. Stratton lands the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the win.
Winner- Tiffany Stratton
After the match, Charlotte Flair appears and chopblocks Stratton. Flair locks Stratton in the Figure Eight.
Grade: C+
Good TV match. The attack after was much needed, as there has been little to no interaction between Flair and Stratton. They need to start getting physical to make this about more than just the title.
Number One Contender’s Triple Threat Match: Moter City Machine Guns vs. Los Garza vs. Pretty Deadly
A huge brawl breaks out. After the break, Sabin lands a huge tornado DDT. Shelley holds open the ropes while Sabin lands a dive. Shelley and Sabin set up their finish on Prince. Wilson dumps Shelley off the top while Prince rolls up Sabin for the win.
Winners- Pretty Deadly
Grade: C
Standard stuff here, literally nothing special. Interestingly, Pretty Deadly won here; unexpected is good most of the time. This writer can’t help but wonder what this means for the tag title match next week.
She’s One her Own…
Bianca Belair says she should be on top of the world, but she can’t because her two friends are fighting. Neither of them are returning her calls. Belair says she is now being accused of stuff, too. She needs answers. Naomi walks to the ring. Belair asks Naomi if she attacked Jade Cargill. Naomi dances around it. Belair asks more directly; Naomi says she feels like Cargill has been living off Belair’s shine. Naomi was pushed to the side while Belair and Cargill got their flowers. Naomi starts to cry. Both women argue. Belair says the answer is either yes or no. If Naomi doesn’t answer, Belair will walk out of this ring, and she’ll never speak to Naomi again.
Naomi finally admits that she did it. She did it for Belair. She did it for them. Belair says she can’t even look at Naomi anymore. Belair says they are done. Belair leaves. Naomi cries and screams for Belair to come back. Naomi says the truth is she should have pushed Cargill hard and sooner. Whenever Naomi stands up for herself everyone turns on her. Naomi calls Belair an ungrateful bitch. Cagill pulls up backstage. Cargill power walks into the arena. Belair and Cargill stare each other down. Belair walks to the back while Cargill stomps to the ring. Naomi tries to run away. Cargill beats the hell out of Naomi.
Grade: A
The segment between Belair and Naomi was amazingly emotional. Anyone who didn’t feel that way doesn’t understand what it means to be truly betrayed by a friend. This gets Belair away from the Cargill/Naomi thing, and she can focus on the mess she is in with Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY.
Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa
Strowman dumps Sikoa out of the ring and tries to freight train him. Sikoa avoids it and sends Strowman into the ring steps. Hip attack by Sikoa. After the break, Sikoa manages to land a Samoan drop. Sikoa works over Strowman. Strowman counters the Samoan Spike with the powerslam. Tama Tonga appears and attacks Strowman, causing a DQ.
Winner- Braun Strowman
After the match, Strowman beats down Tonga. Jacob Fatu hits the ring, and both men brawl into the crowd. Strowman chokeslams Fatu through a table. Fatu gets to his feet.
Grade: B
Short and to the point. Even when getting put through a table, Fatu still looks like a bad ass.
Women’s United States Championship Street Fight: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Michin
Green comes to the ring dressed like Cactus Jack. Michin brings a ton of weapons to the ring. Green gets back body dropped on a chain. After the break, Michin sprays Green with a fire extinguisher. Niven attacks Michin before she can pull a table from under the ring. Green lands the coast-to-coast. Michin kicks out. B-Fab runs down to the ring and attacks Niven with a Kendo stick. Michin lands a corner sento with a trash can. Green kicks out. Green eats a boot and lands on a table. Michin puts Green through the table with a senton. A hooded figure pulls Green out of the ring. It’s Alba Fyre! Fyre hits a Canadian Destroyer on a chair. Green pins Michin.
Winner- Chelsea Green
After the match, Fyre salutes Green.
Grade: B
Fun match. At some point, Michin needs to actually win a match when it matters. If anything, this helped the crowd connect with Michin; before this, the crowd didn’t care… which is a shame, but it’s nice to see that start to turn. Also, they finally gave Fyre something to do.
The Champ is Here
Cody Rhodes’ face is swollen. Rhodes talks about telling his daughter “a Cody lie” when he asked him what happened to his face. He told her he ran into a wall, which isn’t untrue. Rhodes ran into a wall put in front of him by The Final Boss. Eventually, Rhodes tells his daughter that a man he respects and who says he will never give up gives up. Rhodes says Cena owes it to the people to explain why. As the crowd cheers Rhodes yells that Cena clearly wants some, so he can come get some.
Grade: B+
Great Rhodes promo. Not too theatrical. Rhodes had a point and he made it better than 90% of the roster could have.
Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso
Jimmy lands a flurry, but is quickly stopped by McIntyre. McIntyre takes the fight outside. Jimmy slips off of McIntyre’s shoulders and lands a superkick. McIntyre falls on the commentary desk. Jimmy lands a crossbody that sends both men flying over the commentary desk.
Winner- Drew McIntyre
After the match, Priest attack McIntyre.
Grade: C
For two guys with so much history, this match fell flat. Even the beatdown after from Priest after the fact was lame.
United States Championship Match: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. LA Knight
Nakamura is in control early and lands his sliding German; Knight fires back with a diving bulldog and a clothesline over the top. Diving rope dropkick by Knight. After the break, Knight and Nakamura trade shots. Knight tries a BFT, but Nakamura rolls out of the ring. Nakamura tries to hit Knight with a chair. Knight blocks it. Knight almost hits Nakamura with a chair. The referee tells Knight he’ll get disqualified. Nakamura brings a chair into the ring. The referee pulls the chair away from Nakamura. Nakamura tries the mist, but Knight ducks. The referee catches the mist. Knight hits the BFT on a chair. Another referee runs down to the ring to count the pin.
Winner- LA Knight
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight was a mixed bag. Some of the action (McIntyre/Jimmy/Priest) fell flat, but the promos carried the night. Regardless of how good Orton, Rhodes, Bianca, and Naomi were on the mic tonight, it isn’t enough to elevate tonight’s show beyond the so-so matches. Let us know what you think in the comment below!
Rating: B-
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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