Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include the WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill clashing with B-Fab, the Last Time is Now Tournament continues with first-round action when Jey Uso battles The Miz and La Knight takes on a mystery opponent, and Sami Zayn has words for Solo Sikoa. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Jade Cargill vs. B-Fab
- Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Jey Uso vs. The Miz
- Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): La Knight vs. TBA
- Sami Zayn has a Message for Solo Sikoa
WWE SmackDown Results:
WarGames?
IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley make their way to the ring. Ripley is still rocking her protective facemask. Ripley and SKY talk about ending the Kabuki Warriors, Lash Legend, and Nia Jax. The former Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss join SKY and Bliss in the ring. Bliss is fired up. The Kabuki Warriors started this fight; now they are going to end it.
Flair says she can’t do this; she can’t pretend anymore. Flair steps up to Ripley and says she doesn’t like or trust Ripley. In fact, Flair thinks Ripley is a snake. Having the same enemy doesn’t mean their past goes away. Flair tells Bliss that she is her friend and she trusts Bliss, but she’s out. Flair walks away. Bliss, SKY, and Ripley are left dumbfounded in the ring.
Grade: B
Now this is interesting. It’s rare that we actually have intrigue around the WarGames teams, beyond surprise members being added to a team. The best thing about this is that Flair is acting like a human being, not a typical stupid babyface. There is no logical reason for Flair and Ripley to let their issues go. Why? Flair doesn’t hate the Kabuki Warrior, Legend, or Jax as much as she hates Ripley. Love this. No idea where it’s headed, but this writer is sports entertained so far.
Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): Jey Uso vs. The Miz
Miz is in control early. Jey counters Miz’s corner clothesline into a backslide. Miz kicks out. Miz and Jey trade finisher attempts. Jey sends Miz out to the floor and lands a dive. After the break, Miz does Cena’s five moves of doom. Jey escapes Miz’s AA. Superkick by Jey.
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Miz counters a Samoan drop into the Skull Crushing Finale! Jey kicks out! Miz sets up a Skull Crushing Finale up top. Jey escapes and guillotines Miz on the top rope. Spear by Jey. Jey lands the Uso Splash for the win.
Winner- Jey Uso
Grade: C+
Good TV match. Miz doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Backstage, Ilja Dragunov tells Tomasso Ciampa that he’s only defending the championship against honorable, deserving opponents, so Ciampa is disqualified.
Paul Heyman appears with Bronson Reed to tell SmackDown GM Nick Aldis he has the right to select someone off any roster to join their WarGames team. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes walks in and gets goaded into defending the championship against Bronson Reed tonight.
United States Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Axiom
Dragunov is in control early. Axiom counters the Constintine Special with a flying armbar. Axiom obliterates Dragunov with a modified springboard DDT. Axiom lands a Spanish Fly off the top. Dragunov counters the Golden Ratio with the Torpedo Moskau. H-Bomb by Dragunov. Dragunov pins Axiom.
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Ilja Dragunov!
Grade: B-
Solid match, with a good finish. Axiom’s DDT should be his finish. That was amazing. At some point, Dragunov needs a real feud and not whatever this is with Ciampa. It’s bizarre that Dragunov is ducking Ciampa, and no, this writer doesn’t buy the not deserving excuse. There is more to this, and hopefully, they will explore it.
Last Time is Now Tournament (First Round Match): LA Knight vs. Zack Ryder
Knight and Ryder trade take downs. Knight narrowly avoids the Rough Ryder and rolls out. Ryder celebrates in the ring while Knight contemplates all of the mistakes he’s made that led him to this point outside the ring. After a bit of back and forth, Ryder lands the Rough Ryder after avoiding a diving Knight. Knight kicks out. Ryder tries a Rough Ryder off the top. Knight catches Ryder and counters with a powerbomb. BFT by Knight. Knight pins Ryder.
Winner- LA Knight
Grade: B-
This was a nice surprise. As much as this writer likes Joe Hendry, this being Ryder instead works. Cena and Ryder have a ton of history.
Jade Cargill vs. B-Fab
B-Fab lands a series of dropkick and strikes. Cargill blocks a big boot and floors B-Fab with a nasty elbow strike. Cargrill tosses B-Fab all over the place before landing several powerbombs. Jaded by Jade for the win.
Winner- Jade Cargill
After the match, Michin checks on B-Fab. Cargil pushes Michin. Michin steps up, Cargill walks away.
Grade: C
This wasn’t great, but if Jade is going to go full Wardlow and just powerbomb people 45635354 times to end matches, we’ll take it.
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Bronson Reed
Reed runs over Rhodes and crushes him with a big leaping elbow. Rhodes rolls out. Reed meets him outside the ring with a running body block. After the break, Rhodes lands a disaster kick. Reed responds with the Jagged Edge. Rhodes avoids a Tsunami. Super Cody Cutter by Rhodes. Reed kicks at two. Reed sends Rhodes over the top. Reed charges in and gets tossed into the timekeeper’s area. Rhodes starts to clear the commentary desk. Bron Breakker appears out of nowhere and shoulder blocks Rhodes. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner- Cody Rhodes
After the match, Logan Paul appears and joins in the beatdown. The Usos hit the ring and make the save. Jimmy and Jey drop Paul with the 1D. As the Usos set up a table, Drew McIntyre appears and breaks it up. The Vision and McIntyre leave the Usos and Rhodes laid out. GM Aldis yells at Heyman for pulling a fast one, since McIntyre has been suspended. Heyman hands McIntyre his contract for the WarGames match.
Grade: B
This is what this show was missing. Rhodes vs. Reed just works. Reed is a big bruiser, and Rhodes plays the perfect babyface. The ending of this one was obvious; there is no way this would have a finish if we are working towards a WarGames match. From that standpoint, this was disappointing, but that didn’t take away from the match.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight’s show was a mixed bag. The main event was short and had a screwy finish, but still managed to be the match of the night. Weird pixalation happened during Sikoa’s backstage segment. Was that a Jericho tease? Jade Cargill ran through B-Fab, but seems to be heading towards a feud with Michin, which is fine, but this is giving “AEW TBS Championship” Reigns vibes.
Let’s not do that. Let’s give Cargill things to do and real feuds. The march to WarGames is moving at lightning speed, but at least the WarGames-related content on each show has been interesting. With there being five people on each WarGames team, who do you think will be the surprise partners? Is this a good spot to debut an Oba Femi, or will we maybe see a returning Brock Lesnar? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Rating: B-
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