Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Sami Zayn’s United States Open Challenge, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes returns to address his Crown Jewel defeat, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against NXT’s Zaria and the Women’s Speed and NXT Women’s North American Champion, Sol Ruca, and Drew McIntyre battles Jacob Fatu. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Returns
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Zaria and Sol Ruca
- Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu
WWE SmackDown Results:
As the show kicks off, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis is in the ring. Aldis announces that the winner of the Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu match is now a number one contender’s match. That match will be against this man. Aldis points to the stage, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes‘ music hits.
The Champion Returns
The crowd sings for Rhodes as he stands in the ring and takes it all in. Rhodes notes that Seth Rollins beat him for the Crown Jewel Championship. After all of this, Rhodes doesn’t think he ever needs to be in the ring with Rollins ever again. Rhodes knows it doesn’t work like that, but Rollins has the Brons and an Oracle to deal with. While Rollins deals with that, Rhodes is going to handle his business. Will it be McIntyre or will it be Fatu? The battle at Saturday Night’s Main Event runs through San Jose!
Grade: B
Solid and quick promo. It’s always best when these things don’t run too long. It’s interesting that we got so many reports today that the main event would be changed to Rhodes vs. McIntyre due to Fatu being injured. So far, it seems that was a crock of you know what. Let’s see how it plays out.
Backstage, Solo Sikoa has his MFTs beat up Rey Fenix.
NXT’s Blake Monroe is in the crowd to watch the next match.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Zaria and Sol Ruca
Flair and Ruca trade submission attempts. Ruca flips out of an armbar, which leads to a stalemate. Flair flips over the turnbuckle, boots Zaria in the face, and ties Ruca up with a rollup for a near fall. Bliss tags in and sends Ruca flying with a rana. Zaria tags in. Bliss grabs a sleep. Zaria slams Bliss to the mat. Zaria almost eats a Sister Abigail DDT, but manages to counter with a sky-high spinebuster. After the break, Zaria and Ruca miss a Keg Stand. Bliss manages to tag in Flair. Flair takes out Ruca and Zaria with a top rope crossbody. Flair clears the ring. Zaria tags in Ruca. Ruca floors Flair with a springboard clothesline.
German suplex by Ruca. Ruca dies off the top and gets caught by Flair. Flair traps Ruca in a Boston Crab. Ruca escapes. Flair tries her finish. Ruca kicks Flair into the corner. Ruca lands the Sol Snatcher! Bliss breaks up the pin. Bliss dives off the apron but gets caught by Zaria. Zaira stumbles, but still manages to slam Bliss into the barricade. Ruca takes out everyone with a triangle moonsault. Ruca gets into it with Monroe at ringside. Flair chopblocks Ruca and eventually gets Ruca to submit to the Figure Eight.
Winners and STILL WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss!
Grade: C+
Nothing particularly stood out with this one. It was a fine TV match. Monroe playing into the finish was obvious, but the way they went about it made Ruca look like a total idjit. When Zaria finally turns on Ruca, it will be 10000% justified.
Backstage, United States Champion Sami Zayn makes an impassioned plea to Aldis to have the open challenge tonight. Zayn marches to the ring.
The Miz answers Zayn’s open challenge, but Carmelo Hayes attacks Miz from behind. Ilja Dragunov answers the challenge.
United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
Dragunov and Zayn shake hands and tear into each other with strikes. Dragunov floors Zayn with a series of kicks, ending with a running big boot. After the break, Zayn lands a tornado DDT. Zayn tries the Helluva Kick. Dragunov explodes out of the corner with a boot. German suplex by Dragunov. Dragunov holds on, but Zayn turns it into a pin. Dragunov kicks out. Zayn lands a German suplex of his own. Suplex slam by Dragunov. Dragunov goes up top. Zayn avoids the senton. Michinoku Driker by Zayn. Dragunov kicks at two. Zayn tries a brainbuster on the apron. Dragunov’s arm gets caught in the ropes, leading to a nasty landing.
Dragunov lands a senton off the top. Zayn kicks out. After a battle up top, Dragunov lands a superplex. Zayn blocks the H-Bomb with a boot. Dragunov avoids the Blue Thunder bomb and hits Constintine Special. Zayn avoids the Torpedo with a Helluva Kick! Blue Thunder Bomb by Zayn! Dragunov kicks out! Dragunov stumbles into the corner. Zayn sets up another Helluva Kick. Solo Sikoa appears on the stage and distracts Zayn. Sikoa walks to the back. Dragunov runs into an exploder from Zayn. Zayn sets up the Helluva Kick. Topedo Musku by Dragunov! Dragunov follows that with the H-Bomb for the WIN!
Winner and NEW United States Champion, Ilja Dragunov!
After the match, the MFTs attack Zayn and Dragunov.
Grade: A
Dragunov looks like he put on 10-15 pounds of muscle. He looks great. This match was a masterpiece. More than 50% of the crowd was dead when Dragunov came out, but by the end of this, the crowd was firmly behind the Mad Dragon. Dragunov’s intensity is unmatched, and it’s almost impossible not to love this guy.
In the ring, Sikoa says his MFTs run SmackDown. Uncle Howdy appears on the ‘tron and the MFTs are met with Thw Wyatt Sicks in the ring. Sikoa, once again, pulls his MFTs back.
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Los Garza
The Garzas are in control early. Sabin and Shelly eventually hit Skull and Bones for the win.
Winners- Motor City Machine Guns
Grade: C+
These two teams have had this same match in the past. It’s fun, but predictable. Also, beating the AAA tag champs is a choice.
Number One Contender’s Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu
While Fatu’s music plays, a camera heads to the back. Someone attacked Fatu and trapped him under a metal trellis. There is blood all over the ground, and what looks like teeth. Fatu is struggling to get up as officials and referees attempt to help him up.
After the break, McInytre makes his way to the ring with a huge smile on his face. McInytre grabs a mic and says Bleeding Gums Fatu is all gas and no brakes. While laughing uncontrollably, McInytre tells the referee to raise his hand and declare him the winner. GM Aldis walks on the stage and says, If McInytre had anything to do with this… McInytre claims he had nothing to do with it. Rhodes stomps down the ramp in his street clothes (a suit and overcoat) and says McInytre is full of it, and he knows what he did. These people came for a fight, so Rhodes wants to give them one. If McInytre wants his title match, he can have it right now. Rhodes and McInytre brawl.
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
After the break, Rhodes and McIntyre are brawling outside the ring. Once both men get in the ring, the referee rings the bell. McIntyre suplexes Rhodes clear across the ring. Rhodes tosses his vest at McIntyre and tackles him. Tossing suplex by McIntyre. Rhodes lays in a few punches and a head bite. McIntyre surprises Rhodes with a back elbow for a near fall. Future Shock DDT by McIntyre.
Rhodes kicks out. McIntyre works over Rhodes. Rhodes manages a Cody Cutter. McIntyre rolls out. Rhodes tries a dive, but gets met with an elbow from McIntyre. McIntyre tosses Rhodes into the timekeeper’s area. Rhodes hits McIntyre in the head with the championship. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner- Drew McIntyre
Rhodes clears the commentary desk. McIntyre and Rhodes fight on the deck. Rhodes sets up Crossroads on the desk. Security and officials rush the ringside area and pull McIntyre away. Rhodes rolls back in the ring and lands a dive that takes everyone out. McIntyre is dragged away.
Grade: B
This one started out wild, with a crazy brawl in the crowd and at ringside before the bell even rang. There was no way they were doing a title change here, and having Rhodes get himself DQ’d is an interesting wrinkle.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight’s show continued the upward trend in solid outings. Despite the MFTs stepping on the moment, the Dragunov return and title win were the highlight of the night. The rest of the matches were solid and nothing overstayed its welcome, not even the customary overly verbose promo that usually starts this show. Fatu’s injury is a shame, as all signs pointed to him winning this number one contender’s match to give Rhodes a fresh opponet for SNME. Hopefully, Fatu will get well soon. In the meantime, WWE is attempting to pivot slightly to give us a less terrible product. So far, it’s working. What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: B-
Read More: Jacob Fatu Could Miss Extended Time Due To Injury
WrestleZone features weekly audio and video content on Facebook, YouTube, and your favorite podcast apps like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Subscribe now for hours of exciting wrestling content, including exclusive interviews, previews, reviews, and more!
