Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Alexa Bliss clashing with Nia Jax, Carmelo Hayes battling Kit Wilson, WWE US Title Open Challenge continuing when Ilja Dragunov defends against a mystery opponet, Jade Cargill addressing the WWE Universe, and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre face off. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre face off
- Jade Cargill to address the WWE Universe before title match against Tiffany Stratton
- Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
- Carmelo Hayes vs. Kit Wilson
- WWE US Title Open Challenge Continues: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. TBA
WWE SmackDown Results:
As the show kicks off, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton rushes the ring and says she isn’t waiting. Stratton wants Jade Cargill right here, right now. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis walks down to the ring and says Stratton isn’t cleared. No physical contact until their match at SNME, Stratton says she doesn’t care. Cagrill storms down to the ring. Aldis calls for security. Cargill says it’s not even that serious. She tasted her own blood a few weeks back, and now she knows what she wants. Stratton’s title. Stratton tries to attack Cargill, but security holds her back.
Grade: C
Not sure what this was supposed to be. If they can’t get physical, there is no point in even having this segment, unless they have someone compelling on deck; we are just wasting time.
WWE US Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs….
Fraxiom walks out on the ramp. Nathan Frazer wants the match. Tommaso Ciampa power walks past Frazer. Ciampa wants the shot. Dragunov notes that Frazer got here first. Ciampa storms off.
WWE US Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Nathan Frazer
Frazer starts off hot, landing a big running knee and a few dives. Frazer controls most of the action until Dragunov lands a German suplex off the second rope. Dragunov gets the win after the H-Bomb.
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Ilja Dragunov!
After the match, Ciampa attacks Frazer from behind.
Grade: B
Heck of a match. Frazer manages to out underdog one of the better underdogs in WWE.
Backstage, #DIY and Fraxiom brawl. Dragunov breaks it up. When Dragunov turns around, Tama Tonga is holding the United States Championship.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Kit Wilson
Wilson is in control early. Spinning DDT by Wilson. Hayes kicks out. Wilson continues his assault. Hayes fires back with a springboard clothesline, followed by La Mistica. Suplex stunner by Hayes. Wilson kicks out. Hayes lands a dive. Miz hops the barricade and tosses Hayes into the ring post. Wilson hits a diving elbow drop. Hayes kicks out. Wilson runs into the First 48 from Hayes. Hayes pins Wilson.
Winner- Carmelo Hayes
Miz surprises Hayes with a Skull Crushing Finale.
Grade: C+
This was a weird reverse squash match. Wilson had the majority of the offense here. Losing this match would have been bad for Hayes, so it’s a good thing that Miz’s interference didn’t cost him the match. That would have been… woof..
Alexa Bliss w/Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax
Jax runs over Bliss as soon as the bell rings. Bliss fires up, but runs into a body block from Jax. Jax works over Bliss. Jax and Flair get into it outside the ring. As Jax is setting up her finish, Flair gets on the apron. In the confusion, Bliss trips Jax on the ropes and pins her.
Winner- Alexa Bliss
Grade: B-
These two have good chemistry, so it’s not surprising that this match didn’t suck. The surprise pin on Jax looked like crap, though.
MFTs w/Solo Sikoa vs. Motor City Machine Guns
Tama pins Sabin after the Cut Throat.
Winners- MFTs
After the match, MFTs beat down the MCMG. Rey Fenix tries to make the save, but is eventually beaten down by Talla. Shinsuke Nakamura also attempts to make the save, but ends up getting chokeslamed by Talla.
Grade: C+
Standard TV match. Having Fenix and Nakamura try to make the save and get taken out was a choice.
Contract Signing
GM Aldis introduces WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and the number one contender, Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says he can’t sign the contract. Rhodes signs it. McIntyre says the contract is too lopsided. McIntyre wants a stipulation that says if Rhodes gets DQ’d, he keeps the championship. Aldis says he’s had enough of this. If McIntyre doesn’t want the shot, there are tons of guys in the back who would want this title shot. McIntyre says fine, Aldis can get one of them. McIntyre starts to leave.
Rhodes stops McIntyre and says he can have his stupilation. McIntyre says Rhodes is neglecting his children on Halloween. McIntyre asks Rhodes what their names are. Rhodes decks McIntyre. McIntyre avoids a belt shot from Rhodes. As Rhodes talks with Aldis, Rhodes pushes Aldis out of the way as McIntyre flies in with a Claymore. McIntyre powerbombs Rhodes through the table in the ring.
Grade: B
Solid final segment to lead to a PLE. McIntyre standing tall at the end of this doesn’t bode well for his title aspirations.
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