Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Drew McIntyre battling Randy Orton, Tiffany Stratton defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill, and Brock Lesnar’s return to SmackDown. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
- WWE Women’s Title Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
- Brock Lesnar Returns
WWE SmackDown Results:
The BEAST
Before Lesnar can speak, R-Truth‘s music hits. Truth gets in the ring and tells Lesnar welcome back. Lesnar says he has no idea who Truth is. Truth says he is tired of Lesnar disrespecting his older brother, his childhood hero, John Cena. Lesnar asks Truth how old he is and asks what Truth’s name is. Lesnar is confused. Truth says his name is Ron Cena.
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Lesnar says the only thing he cares about is finding John Cena. Lesnar asks if Truth knows where Cena is. Truth does not. Truth says Super Cena is coming for Lesnar. Lesnar asks Truth if he knows he’s missing a tooth. Truth says huh? Lesnar F5’s Truth so hard Lesnar splits his pants. Lesnar moons the crowd.
Grade: C
Lesnar very clearly forgot what he was supposed to say here. We all love Truth, but this segment was way too long. If this was going to end with Truth getting killed, get to it quicker.
United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Rey Fenix
Zayn and Fenix trade hip tosses and submission attempts. Rope walk rana by Fenix. Zayn cuts off a dive from Fenix, but gets sent back out of the ring. Fenix fients a dive as Zayn scurries away. After the break, Fenix sends Zayn careening off the apron with a springboard kick. Corkscrew plancha by Fenix. Fenix counters the blue thunder bomb with a rana. Superkick by Fenix. Zayn kicks out. Fenix misses a moonsault. Zayn misses the Helluva Kick. Front roll DDT by Fenix! Zayn kicks out!
After the break, Zayn sets up a DVD up top. Fenix escapes and lands a double stomp! Fenix follows that with a double jump moonsault. Zayn kicks out! Fenix does a handspring, but Zayn catches Fenix in mid-air and hits a blue thunder bomb! Kick out by Fenix! Fenix walks into an exploder from Zayn. Zayn tries another Helluva Kick. Fenix counters with a rana hold for a 2.9 count! Goodbye, Amigo by Fenix. Fenix misses his corner kick. Zayn sends Fenix into the corner with an exploder. Helluva Kick by Zayn! Zayn pins Fenix!
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Sami Zayn!
Grade: B+
Hell of a match. Zayn’s run as United States Champion features banger after banger of open challenge matches. SmackDown viewers are going to be eating GOOD for the next few months. We all knew Fenix wasn’t going to win, but Zayn and Fenix managed to make us all believe with impressive near falls. The pace here was a bit fast, but it has to be with Fenix in there. Despite the faster pace, Zayn and Fenix still allowed the big moves to register, and that’s key if you want anyone watching to buy into the match.
Women’s United States Champion Guilia w/Kiana James vs. B-Fab
Before the match starts, James and B-Fab argue. Guilia boots B-Fab off the apron. Guilia tosses B-Fab into the barricade repeatedly. After being thrown into the ring, James stomps B-Fab. Guilia destroys B-Fab with Arrividaci. Michin hits the ring with a kendo stick and takes out James. Guilia narrowly avoids a kendo stick shot and runs away.
No Contest
Grade: B-
Ok, hear this writer out: if Guilia is supposedly known for being a vicious demon in the ring, she needs to have more segments like this. No need for a match. Just destroy someone. It being B-Fab is less than ideal, but all TV time is good TV time when it comes to WWE.
WWE Women’s Title Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
Cargill powers Stratton around the ring. Cargill tries a flapjack, but Stratton turns it into a dropkick. Stratton tries a corner splash. Cargill catches Stratton and lands a slam. Stratton kicks out. Cargill tries a suplex, but Stratton knees her way out of it. Stratton sends Cargill out of the ring. Plancha by Stratton. After the break, Stratton misses the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Cargill lands a nasty pump kick. Both women are down. After a strike exchange, the fight spills out to the apron. Stratton and Cargill trade strikes. Superkick by Cargill. Cargill misses a spear and eats the ring post. Double stomp by Stratton. Stratton misses a moonsault and hits the floor with a sickening thud. Cargill picks Stratton up and drives her through the barricade. The referee counts both women out.
No Contest
After the match, Nia Jax attacks Cargill and Stratton.
Grade: B
This was Cargill’s best match to date since arriving in WWE. Both Stratton and Cargill killed it… and each other tonight. It’s a shame we didn’t get a winner, but it’s encouraging that WWE avoided the urge to have Jax ruin the finish here, which has been her M.O. since losing the championship. This writer is a fan of Jax, but this is getting tired.
Backstage, Carmelo Hayes walks up to Sami Zayn and calls his shot. Hayes tells Zayn that he’s got next. Zayn tells Hayes, “ok, don’t miss.” The Miz walks in and makes a fuss because Hayes is getting a United States title match instead of a tag title match. Hayes convinces Miz that he will win the United States title, and then they can win the tag titles.
Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
McIntyre is all over Orton. Orton turns the tide and traps McIntyre in the corner. Orton lights McIntyre up with punches. After the break, Orton Gavin stomps McIntyre. Orton hurts his knee delivering a Ric Flair-esque running knee drop. McIntyre chop blocks Orton and focuses his assault on Orton’s injured knee. The fight spills out of the ring. Orton attempts a suplex on the commentary desk. McIntyre rakes Orton’s eyes and suplexes Orton on the desk. McIntyre continues his assault.
Orton surprises McIntyre with a powerslam. McIntyre rolls out to the apron. McIntyre avoids the hangman’s DDT by rolling out to the floor. Orton suplexes McIntyre on the desk. The crowd chants one more time. Orton obliges. Orton sends McIntyre back into the ring. Orton rolls in and eats a Claymore! Orton rolls out of the ring. McIntyre sends Orton back in. As McIntyre is getting back into the ring, Orton lands an RKO! McIntyre rolls out ot avoid getting pinned. Hangman’s DDT by Orton. Orton sets up the Punt. The refer steps in the way… for reasons? Orton is livid. McIntyre drops Orton with a Claymore for the win!
Winner- Drew McIntyre
After the match, McIntyre attacks Orton and sets up a Claymore through the desk. Cody Rhodes makes the save and challenges McIntyre to a match at Wrestlepalooza.
Grade: B
Solid old school match. Seeing McIntyre get a big win is always welcome, especially if McIntyre is getting a title shot at the next PLE.
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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