Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include the Last Time is Now Tournament continuing with first-round action when Carmelo Hayes clashes with The Vision’s Bronson Reed, Penta takes on The Judgement Day’s Finn Balor, and Fraxiom battles Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed
- Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Penta vs. Finn Balor
- Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa)
WWE SmackDown Results:
Highlights from Monday’s episode of Raw are shown. The brawl featured the men’s WarGames competitors.
The Vision
Paul Heyman is in the ring with Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, and Bronson Reed. Heyman states that all five main eventers facing his team will be destroyed at Survivor Series WarGames. Heyman gives Paul the mic, and he is booed mercilessly. Before Paul can get his thoughts out, The Usos interrupt. Jey reminds Heyman that they dropped his whole crew on Raw. Heyman, while taking credit for creating the Bloodline, says one of the main things he taught the Usos was the importance of the numbers game.
There are four of them and only two of the Usos. Jimmy tells Heyman that they did learn from him; does he think they would actually show up alone? “Kingdom” blares through the PA system, but Cody Rhodes never makes it out onto he stage. The camera cuts to the parking lot and Rhodes’ bus. The door flings open, and Drew McIntyre walks out with a sinister look on his face. As McIntyre walks away, Rhodes is lying there, knocked out and busted open. The Usos run to the back to check on Rhodes.
Grade: B
Heyman opening the show is usually the way to go if you have to open with a promo. As always, “The Oracle” was on point, spitting flaming darts at his team’s WarGames opponents like only Heyman can. The Usos did the lord’s work tonight, cutting Paul off. Less is more with that guy. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see McIntyre destroy Rhodes, but in this case, seeing the aftermath was almost as effective.
United States Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. JD McDonagh
McDonagh and Dragunov trade strikes. Big boot by Dragunov. McDonagh launches Dragunov into the bottom rope, face-first. After the break, McDonagh works over Dragunov. A suplex sends both men out to the floor. After the break, McDonagh creams Dragunov with a sheer drop brainbuster! Dragunov kicks out! McDonagh misses a moonsault. Running boot by Dragunov.
Dragunov lands a suplex uranage. Dragunov attempts his finish, but McDonagh counters with a sick kick. Moonsault by McDonaugh! Dragunov kicks out! McDonagh sets up the Devil inside. Dragunov counters. Headbutt by McDonagh. Dragunov bounces off the ropes and hits his flying headbutt. Powerbomb by Dragunov! Dragunov lands a thunderous H-Bomb for the win.
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Ilja Dragunov!
Grade: B+
Hell of a match. McDonagh and Dragunov have a long-standing rivalry that has led to several memorable matches between the two. Tonight was no different. Dragunov and McDonagh tried to murder each other in the ring tonight. So many big moves and insane nearfalls. This writer was quite sports-entertained.
Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Carmelo Hayes vs. Bronson Reed w/Paul Heyman
Hayes lands a few strikes. Reed runs over Hayes. Reed works over Hayes. Hayes counters a powerbomb with a DDT. Reed kicks out. Springboard DDT by Hayes. Reed kicks again. Reed rolls out to the apron. Hayes sends Reed flying with a dropkick. Breakker and Paul run down to ringside and check on Reed. After the break, Reed continues to work on Hayes. Breakker and Reed circle the ring. Hayes flips out of a suplex and lands a superkick. Paul trips Hayes while the referee is distracted. Reed crushes Hayes and gets another near fall. Hayes avoids senton and gets a quick two count with a roll up.
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Running knee by Hayes. Springboard clothesline by Hayes. Fadeaway by Hayes. Reed falls out to the apron. Slingshot apron DDT by Hayes! Reed is out of it! Frog splash by Hayes! Reed somehow kicks out! Reed counters the first 48 with a World’s Strongest Slam, followed by a Senton. Hayes rolls out of the way of a Tsunami. Hayes sends Reed out of the ring. Reed and the rest of the Vision get crushed by a dive from Hayes. Hayes sends Reed back into the ring and hits a Jay Lethal-style top rope diving DDT!
The Finish
Reed kicks out again. Hayes is sent out of the ring. Breakker tries to Spear Hayes through the barricade, but Jey Uso teleports to ringside and cuts him off with a superkick! The Usos brawl with Paul and Breakker. Heyman distracts the referee as Reed tries to attack Hayes outside the ring. Cody Rhodes hops the barricade and sends Reed into the ring post! Rhodes drops Reed with Crossroads out on the floor. Rhodes sends Hayes back into the ring. Reed gets counted out!
Winner- Carmello Hayes
Grade: B
Both Reed and Hayes are stars. Hopefully, after tonight, the rest of the world gets on board with Hayes. Hayes worked well as a heel, but the underdog babyface thing worked like gangbusters tonight. If the field for the Last Time is Now Tournament isn’t going to change, Hayes should win.
Fraxiom vs. #DIY w/Candice LeRae
Axiom and Frazer take control early, getting a series of near falls. Gargano takes over on Frazer. Frazer fires up but eats a Shatter Machine! Ciampa continues #DIY’s assault. Frazer tags in Axiom. Axiom dives off the top into a flying knee from Ciampa. Modified Dragon’s Kiss by #DIY.
Frazer breaks up the pin with a dive. Axiom lands a top rope Spanish Fly. Frazer takes out Ciampa with a dive. While the referee is tied up, LeRae hops on the apron and rips off Axiom’s mask! Gargano rolls up Axiom while he struggles to cover his face.
Winner- #DIY
Grade: C+
Fun quick match. The mask bit with Axiom was a cool way to end this one. Also, giving LeRae something to do is long overdue. If she is going to be out there, she should be way more involved.
Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Penta vs. Finn Balor
Penta lands his headstand dropkick in the corner. Bálor fires back with a series of strikes. Bálor rolls out after a facebuster. Penta flattens Bálor with a dive. After the break, Penta lands a muscle buster for a near fall. Penta snaps Bálor’s arm and sets up the Penta Driver. Bálor counters and lands a double stomp. Penta is out on the mat. Bálor misses his top rope double stomp and eats a Penta Driver. Kick out by Bálor. Bálor pushes Penta into the corner. Penta bounces out and hits a Mexican Destroyer for the win!
Winner- Penta
Grade: B-
Solid match with a fun finish. It’s nice to see a match involving a member of the Judgement Day not have outside interference.
Women’s WarGames?
Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair walk to the rign as a team. Ripley says if she is going to war, she wants to make sure it’s with the right people. Ripley puts over the women in the ring. There are only four of them in the ring, and Ripley wants to introduce their fifth member. AJ Lee. Lee appears on the ramp. Team Asuka hops the barricade and attacks Team Ripley in the ring. Lee runs down to the ring, but gets intercepted by the former Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. Asuka, Kairi Sane, Lash Legend, Nia Jax, and Lynch leave Ripley and Co. laid out.
Grade: B
Loved this segment. At first glance, it seemed as if it was going to be a retread of what already happened with the Men’s WarGames competitors last week. That wasn’t the case at all. The faces didn’t get to stand tall tonight. Lynch stepped all over AJ Lee’s moment and got her pound of flesh as well. Lynch dropping the title and Lee being the reason gives her an actual purpose for wanting to be in this match. Solid storytelling here.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight’s show built on the positive momentum from this week’s stellar episode of Monday Night Raw. SmackDown wasn’t as good, but it was a solid follow up. The individual WarGames matches are coming together nicely after what seemed to be a rushed start. Tons of great in-ring action tonight, with the United States Championship match taking match of the night honors, but the Hayes vs. Reed contest was a close second. We may finally get the Carmelo Hayes push most of us have been waiting for, and this writer thinks it’s long overdue. What do you all think happens next? Can Hayes make it all the way to SNME and beat Cena? Which team will win WarGames? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: B
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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