Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Michin seeking vengeance against Piper Niven, besties going one-on-one when Bayley clashes with Naomi for a shot Nia Jax’s WWE Women’s Championship, The “Tribal Chief” Solo Sikoa returns, Carmelo Hayes and Andrade battle in match six of their hotly contested series. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from Oklahoma City, OK, at Paycom Center.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Solo Sikoa returns
- Michin vs. Piper Niven
- Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes
- WWE Women’s Championship Number One Contender’s Match: Naomi vs. Bayley
WWE SmackDown Results:
The Viper Speaks!
Randy Orton walks to the ring while being serenaded by the crowd. The entire Paycom Center is apparently hearing voices in their heads. Orton notes that he had some business to take care of on Raw, but he’s happy to be back on SmackDown. The crowd chants Orton’s name as he welcomes them to the show. Orton notes that he can count the people he can trust in this business on one hand. Cody Rhodes is one of those people. Seeing Rhodes agree to team with Roman Reigns doesn’t sit well with Orton. Orton asks Rhodes to come to the ring and help him understand.
Kevin Owens‘ music hits. Owens power walks to the ring, but before Owens can speak, Solo Sikoa‘s music hits. The “Outlaw” Bloodline walks to ringside. Sikoa tells the crowd to acknowledge him. The crowd boos. Sikoa points out that the three men in the ring have tried to defeat The Bloodline they have failed. The real reason Rhodes is teaming up with Reigns is because Orton and Owens always let him down. Owens tells Sikoa that no one ever wants to hear him speak.
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Owens challenges Sikoa, and Jacob Fatu to a tag team match against Owens and Orton tonight. Rhodes chimes in and says it doesn’t have to be a tag match. Before Rhodes can suggest a six-man match, Owens cuts him off. Owens tells Rhodes that Rhodes has his tag team match at Bad Blood he needs to worry about. Let Owens and Orton take care of this.
Grade: B+
This segment was extremely effective. In the first 20 minutes of the show, WWE managed to do the following: add intrigue to the Bad Blood tag team match (can Rhodes trust Reigns?), sets up the SmackDown Main event (the Bloodline vs. Orton and Owens), and further teased tension between Rhodes, Owens, and Orton. That’s impressive stuff.
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At first glance, it seems far-fetched that Reigns would double-cross Rhodes, but I submit the following: Rhodes loves playing the hits and mirroring his father Dusty Rhodes‘ past angles… No, I do not think Rhodes will pick a sassy woman out of the crowd and make her his manager (give it a few years, though). Just look up how many times Dusty Rhodes booked himself to get turned on. Please go on, look it up… if you will!
*Note: The turn likely comes with Orton or Owens, but you NEVER know.
Number One Contender’s Match: Naomi vs. Bayley
Both women trade holds. Instead of taking an advantage, Bayley backs off. Naomi tells Bayley to bring it. Both women start pushing each other. After a whip exchange, Bayley narrowly avoids the Rear View. Naomi lands a slingshot bulldog and a corkscrew plauncha out on the floor. After dominating the match during the break, Naomi falls victim to a springboard elbow drop. Suicide dive by Bayley. Bayley walks right into the Read View! Bayley kicks out.
Read More: New Number One Contender Crowned!
Naomi and Bayley have a strike exchange, Naomi lands a nasty head scissors DDT. Bayley manages to kick out! Top rope Blockbuster by Naomi. Bayley kicks at two but Namoi transitions into a suplex, but Bayley reverses it into a gordbuster. Bayley tries her sunset flip powerbomb into the corner, but they both land awkwardly on the bottom turnbuckle. Naomi misses a dive. Bayley lands the Bayley-to-Belly. Diving Elbow drop by Bayley. Bayley pins Naomi
Winner and NEW Number One Contender, Bayley!
Grade: B
Bayley and Naomi work quite well together in the ring, so it’s no surprise that this match was fun to watch. Naomi and Bayley know each other well, as they manage to counter each other’s standard offense effortlessly… or maybe they both watch the show regularly; either way, we need more reasons to see them both in the ring together. They managed to build to Naomi hitting the Rear View so much so the move got a huge pop, and everyone (including this writer) bit on the near fall. The only thing that took away from this contest was the winner. Nothing against Bayley, but we have seen this movie before. Naomi hasn’t held gold in 6+ years in WWE. That needs to change.
Carmelo Hayes (2) vs. Andrade (3)
As soon as the bell rings, Andrade dropkicks Hayes. Hayes avoids Andrade’s corner meteora. Andrade gets hung up on the second rope. Hayes charges in and eats a powerslam on the apron. After the break, both men miss springboards, which leads to everyone being down. Andrade tries a leaping clothesline and gets caught in the first 48. Hayes’ lip is busted. Hayes misses a meteora in the corner. Andrade lands a divng elbow.
Corner meteroa by Andrade. Hayes kicks out. After the break, Andrade lands his feint double jump moonsault. Hayes kicks out. Hayes surprises Andrade with a head-scissor facebuster. Before Andrade can breathe, Hayes hits a suplex cutter. Hayes goes up top. Andrade cuts Hayes off and attempts a superplex. Hayes counters the suplex in mid-air with a cutter! Andrade kicks out! Andrade surprises Hayes with the feint elbow strike.
Hayes rolls out of the ring to avoid getting pinned. As Hayes is being counted out. LA Knight’s music hits, and Knight runs down to ringside. Hayes rolls back into the ring. Andrade cuts Knight off. Hayes pushes Andrade into Knight. Hayes rolls up Andrade with a handful of tights for the win! After the match, Knight tries to offer a handshake to Andrade, visibly upset. Andrade storms off.
Winner- Carmelo Hayes
Grade: A-
That apron powerslam was gnarly. The viciousness of that move encapsulates the venom these two competitors have for each other. This feud is one of the more entertaining ones currently on SmackDown, which is an achievement in itself since it initially seemed like just one throwaway match. After this series, no one can slander either man. They put together (so far) six matches that felt unique and never lost any momentum.
WWE continued the streak of compelling storytelling with the inclusion of Hayes’ attack on LA Knight before the game, leading to Knight accidentally costing Andrade the match. As impressive as Andrade is, if this doesn’t end with Hayes getting a solo title shot against LA Knight, this writer will pen a strongly worded letter to… to… someone. IDK. I didn’t think that one through.
Michin vs. Piper Niven w/Chelsea Green
Green comes to the ring carrying a trash can to hype her upcoming dumpster match against Michin. Niven runs over Michin. Michin sends Niven flying with a rana. Niven counters a splash with ‘sit down. After the break, Niven sends Michin flying with a pounce. Cannonball by Niven. Michin kicks out. Michin avoids a low crossbody and hits an insane crucifix driver for a near fall.
Niven channels Abyss and hits a Blackhole Slam. Michin kicks out. Niven sets up a Vader Bomb. Michin avoids it and tries Eat d’Feat. Niven reverses it into a Michinoku Driver. Michin kicks out. Green distracts the referee while Niven tries a cannonball into a trash can. Michin avoids it, and Niven crashes into the barricade. Michin hits her finish for Niven for the win.
Winner- Michin
Grade: C
After getting a title shot against Bayley a few months ago, Niven hasn’t been given much to do. When you think about it, it is odd since she delivers every time she is given the opportunity in the ring. This match was designed to build to the dumpster match between Michin and Green next week, but it seems like a poor use of Niven. Niven is supposed to be Green’s heavy, but she spends too much time looking up at the lights.
Also, Michael Cole screeching on commentary about the trash can Green brought to the ring for the entire match was extremely distracting, further proving the lack of investment WWE had in this match. Protecting Niven as a monster should be obvious, as it will only help Niven and Green become more established. Michin has been getting a lot of in-ring TV time, which is new, but this match and angle with Green shows significantly more investment in the women’s mid-card division. Are they actually building to a women’s mid-card title? What do you all think? Let us know in the comments!
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WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are going to host WWE Bad Blood.
The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu) vs. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens
Owens lands a flurry of offense. Owens crotch chops Sikoa, which leads to Sikoa demanding a tag. Sikoa knows Owens into his corner. Orton asks for a tag. Owens obliges. Sikoa laughs and tags in Fatu. The fight spills out of the ring. Orton suplexes Fatu on the commentary desk. Fatu gets back up and fires up. Orton proceeds to suplex Fatu on the table two more times. Sikoa charges in and gets suplexes on the table as well.
After the break, Owens tries a swanton by Sikoa gets his knees up. Sikoa flattens Owens with a hip attack. Owens manages to tag in Orton. Orton clears the ring and hits his draping DDT on Sikoa. After a distraction from Fatu, Sikoa lands a Samoan drop. Orton tags in Owens. Owens crushes everyone with sentons, and an apron frog splash for Fatu. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa walk to ringside. Cody Rhodes makes the save.
Rhodes sends Tonga into the ring. Orton RKOs Tonga. Rhodes ends up getting thrown into the ring as Owens hits the Stunner. The referee is distracted. Owens yells at Rhodes. Owens walks into superkick from Fatu. Sikoa pins Owens. After the match, Owens gets in Rhodes’ face. Orton tries to hold Owens back as he runs down Rhodes for costing him the match.
Winners- The Bloodline
Grade: B
This was a standard SmackDown main event. There wasn’t anything wrong with the match, but Jacob Fatu continues to be a highlight of these matches. Fatu is a phenomenal superstar who plays his role as Enforcer quite well. Fatu’s Every move is to protect Sikoa, primarily by being as violet as humanly possible when dealing with anyone who may be a threat. Orton looks terrific since returning from a surgery that took him out of action for over a year. Despite that, Orton worked hard to make Fatu shine, as he had to up his intensity to damage the Samoan Werewolf. The angle after the match served its purpose, teasing a potential split between the three amigos (Orton, Owens, and Rhodes).
Review:
This was another solid episode of SmackDown. Carmelo Hayes battling Andrade takes ‘match of the night’ honors, as both men are working overtime to make an impression on a shockingly crowded SmackDown roster. WWE left no stones unturned tonight as they put together a solid build as they march towards WWE Bad Blood, which may be the most fitting PLE title of the year. Each match features an intense rivalry built on personal issues, not just the graps, as the kids say. This focus on personal issues adds depth to the storylines and makes the in-ring action 100 times more enthralling.
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Even with the positives, Roman Reigns’ absence was felt tonight. The newly dubbed ‘Outlaw Bloodline’ is a force, but Solo Sikoa is more enjoyable when interacting with Reigns. Also, SmackDown needs to move away from the multi-man match main event formula. Stacked roster or not, the repetitive nature of some of the match placements takes away from the overall unpredictability of the show.
Grade: B
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