Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Alexa Bliss battling Lash Legend, Tomasso Ciampa challenging Ilja Dragunov for the United States Championship, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes addressing his upcoming match with NXT Champion Oba Femi, Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley clashing with Aleister Black and Zelina Vega, and a celebration of the career of John Cena! Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs. Aleister Black and Zelina Vega
- United States Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tomasso Ciampa
- Alexa Bliss vs. Lash Legend
- Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes addresses his upcoming match with NXT Champion Oba Femi
WWE SmackDown Results:
A video from earlier today shows SmackDown GM Nick Aldis stating he has been trying to get in contact with Drew McIntyre to reinstate him. McIntyre has been ignoring Aldis’ calls, but Aldis wants to personally invite McIntyre to SmackDown so they can resolve this.
Backstage, Aldis runs into Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Rhodes asks Aldis if McIntyre is here. Aldis says no, and they have received a legal letter from McIntyre’s attorney. The letter states McIntyre will not return because this is an unsafe work environment. Rhodes crumples up the letter and storms to the ring.
Undisputed
Rhodes asks the crowd what they want to talk about. He wants to talk about McIntyre. McIntyre is only half in, and that’s why he doesn’t sweat McIntyre. If Rhodes were McIntyre’s boss, Rhodes would fire him. Since Rhodes isn’t, he’ll settle for just beating McIntyre’s @$$. The lights go out, and NXT Champion Oba Femi‘s music hits. Femi struts to the ring to “Oba!” chants. Femi gets in the ring and steps right in Rhodes’ face. Rhodes backs away and gets a mic for Femi. Femi says he sees that Rhodes is all fired up, but he’s fired up about the wrong man. McIntyre isn’t here, but Femi is. Femi formally introduces himself to Rhodes. SNME is being pitched as the present vs. the future.
Everyone acts as if the future is so far away. No, Femi declares the future is now. The Future is Oba Femi. In the spirit of hustle, loyalty, and respect, Rhodes’ time is up, and Femi’s time is NOW. Rhodes says that’s a John Cena quote, and it’s good that he’s someone that Femi looks up to; Rhodes does as well. But Rhodes is the man who beat Cena for the championship. Rhodes holds up the title and attempts to walk away. Femi grabs Rhodes by the arm and pulls him back. Femi holds up the NXT championship.
Grade: A
The Ruler has arrived, and one day, one made an emphatic statement. Those who follow NXT know what Femi is capable of, and if WWE has any sense, Femi will beat Rhodes at SNME and be fast-tracked to holding one or both of the world titles. Yes, BOTH. Give him ALL OF THE TITLES.
United States Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Tomasso Ciampa
As soon as the bell rings, Ciampa lights Dragunov up with chops. Dragunov fires back, leading to a slap fight. Dragunov drops Ciampa with a thrust kick. The fight spills out of the ring. Dragunov crashes into the ring steps. Ciampa suplexes Dragunov’s knees into the steps and gives himself a round of applause. After the break, Ciampa is working over Dragunov’s knee. Dragunov fires up and hits a series of suplexes. Ciampa kicks out. Dragunov goes up top. Ciampa cuts Dragunov off by kicking his injured knee out from under him. Dragunov falls to the apron. Ciampa blasts Dragunov with an air raid crash on the apron.
Dragunov responds with a dropkick off the top. Dragunov’s nose is busted as he trades slaps with Ciampa. Dragunov tries a kick and gets a dragon screw for his trouble. Suplex by Ciampa. Dragunov bounces back with a Torpedo Moskau. Johnny Gargano appears and hops on the apron. While the referee is distracted, Candice LeRae stuns Dragunov on the top rope. Ciampa lands a running knee. Dragunov kicks out! Ciampa is livid. Dragunov rolls Ciampa up for a quick three count!
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Ilja Dragunov!
After the match, Gargano and Ciampa attack Dragunov. Carmelo Hayes hits the ring and makes the save.
Grade: B
Hard-hitting match with these two grizzled veterans. This needs to lead to more matches between Ciampa, Dragunov, and Hayes. The chemistry here is off the charts.
Sick
The Wyatt Sicks are in the ring. Uncle Howdy runs down Solo Sikoa. Howdy notes that Sikoa’s real family has turned their back on him. The MFTs run nothing, while Wyatt Sicks has the tag team championships. Lumus and Gacy lay the championships down in the ring. Howdy proclaims that if they want the championships, come and get them. Sikoa and the MFTs appear on the ‘Tron. Sikoa says Howdy doesn’t call the shots, Sikoa does. If Howdy wants to keep his family safe, they need to just hand over the tag titles.
Grade: C+
Nothing special here. This may have been Howdy’s worst promo since Wyatt Sicks’ debut. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to care about this feud. If this is a war, they need to get to it already.
Alexa Bliss w/Charlotte Flair vs. Lash Legend w/Nia Jax
Legend sends Bliss flying across the ring. Bliss responds with a rana that sends Legend flying out of the ring. Bliss gets plucked off the apron and slammed on the barricade by Legend. Legend works over Bliss’ arm. Bliss lands a DDT followed by strikes/ Bliss runs into an elbow strike from Legend. Jax trips Bliss on the apron. Flair superkicks Jax. Legend floors Flair with a big boot. Bliss tries another DDT, but Legend reverses it into the Lash Extension for the win.
Winner- Lash Legend
Grade: C
A bit slow, but at least the right person won. We’ll take it.
Je’Von Evans vs. The Miz
After a bit of back and forth, Evans sends Miz flying with the bounce rana. Miz counters a dive by Evans. Miz sends Evans into the apron, but Evans pops up and lands on the ropes for a springboard splash. Miz manages to boot Evans off the apron.
After the break, Miz hits the five knuckle shuffle on Evans. Miz calls for the AA. Evans counters and sends Miz out of the ring. Dive by Evans. Evans hits the OG Cutter for the win!
Winner- Je’von Evans
Grade: B
Great win for Evans. Miz did his best to make Evans look like a million bucks. Mission accomplished.
She’s That…
After stomping a mudhole in Michin, WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill grabs a mic and says the locker room needs to look at what she just did to Michin. Cargill is that b*tch. Michin runs to the ring with a kendo stick. Cargill chokeslams Michin.
Grade: B
Solid segment. If they aren’t going to give Cargill a legit feud, having her beat up folks who aren’t attached to any other angle, screw it. Have her destroy everyone until it’s time for her to feud with a bigger name.
Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs. Aleister Black and Zelina
Priest sends Black over the top. Zelina hops on Priest’s back. Ripley tags in and chases Zelina. Zelina tries a DDT. Ripley counters with a facebuster and a mat slam. After the break, Zelina works over Ripley. Ripley manages to tag in Priest. Priest beats down Black. Zelina distracts Priest. Priest eats a German from Black.
Priest manages to kick out. Zelina and Ripley struggle and tip over as they attempt a code red. Black breaks up Ripley’s pin on Zelina. Ripley and Black have a staredown. Ripley headbutts Black off the apron. Ripley and Black hit stereo Razor’s Edges. Riptide by Ripley. Ripley pins Zelina.
Winners- Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley
Grade: C
For the buildup for this, it was a bit of a letdown. Unexciting and altogether uninspiring.
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