Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include an exclusive interview with Brock Lesnar ahead of his match with John Cena, Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre to challenge Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, Carmelo Hayes clashes with Sami Zayn for the United States Championship, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and the number one contender Drew McIntyre meet in the ring ahead of WWE Wrestlepalooza for a contract signing. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Wrestlepalooza Undisputed WWE Championship Match Contract Signing
- United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
- Brock Lesnar Exclusive Interview
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre
WWE SmackDown Results:
At the start of the show, Michael Cole tells Corey Graves that he’s being told Brock Lesnar is demanding they do his exclusive interview right now. Cole heads to the back, but Lesnar’s music hits. Lesnar meets Cole on the ramp. Cole is confused. Lesnar picks Cole up and walks him around the ring before eventually dumping him into the ring.
The Beast is Unleashed
Lesnar accosts Cole in the ring. Graves rolls in and tries to reason with Lesnar… yes, you read that correctly. Lesnar destroys Graves with a vicious F5. Lesnar grabs the camera and screams that he’s coming for John (Cena). Officials and medical staff rush down to the ring to check on Graves. Lesnar rips apart the prime station next to the commentary desk before grabbing the top portion of the ring steps. The officials try to pull Graves out of the ring, but they hilariously choose life and leave Graves to the Beast. Lesnar picks up Graves and delivers another F5.
Grade: B+
This is precisely how Lesnar should be used. Not in comedy segments (no shade to R-Truth, but wtf was that last week?). Lesnar walked in and wrecked shop. Lesnar was completely unhinged and attacked someone we haven’t seen get destroyed on WWE TV previously. Rumor has it that Graves has been cleared to compete, and taking two amazing bumps tonight had to be a good sign for a potential in-ring return for the Savior of Misbehavior.
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The Miz joins Cole at the commentary desk.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre
Flair and Bliss are in control early. After a cheap shot on Bliss, Fyre and Green pose for the camera. After the break, Fyre and Green are working over Bliss. Bliss manages to tag in Flair. Flair clears the ring. Flair saves Bliss from a double suplex. Bliss and Flair land stereo Natrual Selections for the win.
Winners and STILL WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss!
Grade: C+
This was an ok TV match. Nothing special, but the lack of any outside interference warmed this writer’s cold, dead heart.
Backstage, B-Fab tells Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins they need to work this thing out. Michin interrupts and tells B-Fab they need to go talk to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis about their match. B-Fab tells Dawkins and Ford to talk it out. Dawkins tries to speak, but Ford tells him that they are brothers and they will always be good. Ford says he’s going to go to talk to Aldis to see how they can get a shot at their tag titles. Ford walks off. Bo Dallas walks in the frame and tells Dawkins that his so-called brother won’t even listen to him, but he will. Ford charges back in the hems Dallas up against the wall. Ford tells Dallas to stay out of their business. Rowan appears and lays out Ford and Dawkins.
Fraxiom vs…
Before their opponents can be announced, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed attack Axiom and Nathan Frazer. Paul Heyman starts to trash-talk The Usos, but Frazer and Axiom surprise Breakker and Reed with missile dropkicks. Axiom and Frazer land several dives. SmackDown GM Aldis walks out on the stage and books a tag match between all four men that starts right now!
Fraxiom vs. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed w/Paul Heyman
Breakker turns Axiom inside out with a Steinerline. Reed flattens Axiom with a senton. Breakker tags back in and eats a dropkick. Frazer gets the tag and lands a flurry of offense. Reed tosses Frazer high in the air after a kick out. Reed avoids a phoenix splash from Frazer and hits the Jagged Edge. Frazer is out on the mat Reed goes up top. Axiom lands a kick to Reed. Reed pushes Axiom into a nasty Spear from Breakker. Reed lands a Tsunami for the win.
Winners- Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
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After the match, The Uso appear on the ‘tron and cut a promo about welcoming Reed and Breakker into the Uso Penitentiary.
Grade: B
This was an excellent extended squash match. Frazer and Axiom got the hell beat out of them, with a few brief, but believable hope spots and near falls. The finish of this one was nasty; Breakker almost ran through Axiom. This was a fun watch.
She’s Not Like Most Girls
Jax dumps on the town and proclaims she is the alpha of this division. Jax mocks WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton. Last week, Jax had to put Stratton in a Tiffy time-out. Jax hilariously suggests that Jade Cargill wishes she had Jax’s in-ring ability. Stratton interrupts and asks Jax why she’s so obsessed with her. Stratton says she’s going to take care of Jax and Cargill.
Security and officials teleport out of nowhere and hold Stratton back. Cargill’s music hits, and she power walks to the ring, knocking out security guards on the way. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis peacocks out to the ramp and announces that Stratton will defend her championship next week in a triple threat match.
Grade: C+
This was rough. Jax is better if she is playing off someone in the ring. With a back and forth, Jax can be an ok promo. This was just blah, and an overly convoluted way to announce this triple threat match that should be happening on the PLE and not on SmackDown.
United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
After an exchange, Hayes floors Zayn with a dropkick. Hayes runs into a stiff right hand from Zayn. Zayn tries the corner ten punches, but Hayes dumps Zayn out to the apron. Hayes and Zayn trade punches. Zayn gets hung up on the second rope. Fadeaway by Hayes. After the break, Hayes lights Zayn up with chops. Zayn confuses Hayes with a reverse leapfrog into a lariat. Corner ten punches by Zayn. Blue thunder bomb by Zayn. Hayes kicks out. Hayes lands a running knee. Zayn gets his knees up during a splash from Hayes.
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Zayn charges in for the Helluva Kick. Hayes counters with a superkick. Both men are down. Hayes blocks an exploder and sends Zayn out to the apron. Hayes lands a sling shot DDT on the apron, but Zayn’s wrist gets caught on the ropes. That looked nasty. Zayn may be legitimately hurt. After a series of counters, Hayes lands the first 48! Zayn kicks out! Hayes and Zayn trade suplex attempts. Hayes lands a suplex into a cutter. Zayn kicks out. Hayes misses Nothing But Net. Hayes runs into a big boot from Zayn. Zayn hits the Blue Thunder Bomb for the win.
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Sami Zayn!
Grade: B
This match was good, but this writer has to question the finish. Not the fact that Hayes lost, but the way he lost. Losing to a move that Zayn has only ever pinned one other person with on WWE TV is a choice for sure. Was that punishment for HBK booking Hayes well on NXT? Tell us what you think about this writer’s conspiracy theory in the comments!
Wrestlepalooza Undisputed WWE Championship Match Contract Signing
Drew McIntyre is out first. Before McIntyre can speak, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes‘ music interrupts. Rhodes says the world doesn’t revolve around them; it’s the WWE Universe’s Story. Rhodes puts over McIntyre’s accomplishments, but notes that lately, the Scottish Warrior has just been the Keyboard Warrior. McIntyre chuckles. Rhodes tells McIntyre to pull out his phone and get one over on him now. McIntyre pulls out his phone and tweets, “Thank you, Cody Rhodes.” Rhodes asks what that’s supposed to mean. McIntyre thanks Rhodes for giving him a shot because he knows Rhodes is a fighting champion, and this will be fair.
Rhodes signs the contract. McIntyre gives Rhodes a Glasgow Kiss. Rhodes rolls out of the ring. McIntyre sets up another table Claymore, but thinks better of it. McIntyre grabs Rhodes and says this match is happening, so he’s not going to kick Rhodes’ head off. The crowd boos. McIntyre starts to leave, but SmackDown GM Aldis cuts him off. While McIntyre and Aldis argue, Rhodes takes McIntyre down with a suicide dive. Both men brawl, but are separated by officials. McIntyre blasts Rhodes with a big boot.
Grade: B
Solid promos here by Rhodes and McIntyre. Of course, this ended in a brawl, but it was a solid clash to lead to a big title match at Wrestlepalooza.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight’s show was a solid build off of the momentum from Raw leading into the Wrestlepalooza PLE. Raw focused more on building to what should be the main event of Wrestlepalooza, CM Punk and AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. SmackDown’s focus is more on the Cena/ Lesnar match and the Undisputed WWE Championship contest between Rhodes and McIntyre. Match of the night was the contest between Hayes and Zayn, despite the odd finish. Moment of the night was Lesnar’s rampage to kick off the show. Are you excited for WWE Wrestlepalooza? Do you need another silly tutorial on how to find it on ESPN? TELL US IN THE COMMENTS!
Rating: B
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