Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include NXT’s Joe Hendry battling the Miz, Ilja Dragunov defending in a United States Championship Open Challenge, and Drew McIntyre returning to address Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Joe Hendry vs. The Miz
- Ilja Dragunov U.S. Open Challenge
- Drew McIntyre returns
WWE SmackDown Results:
After a highlight package, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes runs into SmackDown GM Nick Aldis. Rhodes asks for Drew McIntyre. Aldis says McIntyre isn’t here yet, but as soon as McIntyre pays his fine and apologizes, Rhodes can’t lay a finger on McIntyre. If Rhodes does, he’ll be stripped of the championship. Rhodes walks off. Aldis runs into The Miz. Miz doesn’t want Aldis to say you know who’s name and doesn’t want to hear you know who’s music. Aldis says Joe Hendry, and Hendry’s music plays in the arena. Hendry is in the ring with Alpha Academy.
Joe Hendry Holiday Concert
Say his name, and he’ll appear. Joe Hendry is here to spread holiday cheer. Hendry sings a Jingle Bell, but it’s about Miz tiny balls. Miz storms out on the stage, Hendry and the crowd sing the song to Miz. Miz goes on a rant. Aldis walks out on the ramp and tells Miz that his match against Hendry is a Miracle on 34th Street Fight. Miz goes nuts.
Miracle on 34th Street Fight: The Miz vs. Joe Hendry
Hendry is in control early. Miz narrowly escapes getting put through a table. Otis hands Hendry a Christmas tree. Hendry wacks Miz with it. Hendry sends Miz flying with a fallaway slam. Miz gets to his feet. Hendry fallaway slams the tree into Miz. Miz gets into it with Alpha Academy. Hendry hit Miz below the belt with a kendo stick. Tozawa slides cookies into the ring. Miz is surrounded by Otis, Tozawa, and… the Easter Bunny (that has to be R-Truth).
Otis crushes Miz with the Catapillar while eating cookies. Tozawa crushes Miz with a senton. The Easter Bunny takes off his mask, and it’s R-Truth (duuuuh). Truth yells out, “Happy Easter,” before a five knuckle shuffle. Miz eats a guitar shot from Hendry. Hendry puts Miz through a table with the Standing Ovation. Hendry pins Miz.
Winner- Joe Hendry
Grade: C+
This writer likes Joe Hendry, but this was entirely too long and entirely too stupid.
Backstage, United States Champion Ilja Dragunov tells Carmelo Hayes he doesn’t like how their title match ended. Dragunov officially suspends the Open Challenge and tells Hayes they will battle for the championship tonight.
Backstage, Jade Cargill delivers a message for Michin: Cargill doesn’t need weapons. In another part of the arena, B-Fab tells Michin to be smart. Michin isn’t hearing it. Michin says Cargill needs to be humbled.
Lash Legend w/Nia Jax vs. Charlotte Flair w/Alexa Bliss
Legend lands a few strikes. Flair fires back and gets destroyed by a clothesline. Legend tosses Flair all over the place. Flair charges in and eats a powerbomb. After the break, Legend dribbles Flair’s head between the ropes. Flair fires up and lights Legend up with chops. Flair tries her front cartwheel lariat. Legend counters with a big boot. Flair kicks out. Flair manages to land a moonsault. Legend kicks out. Flair works over Legend’s leg. Jax tries to get involved. Bliss hops on Jax’s back. In the confusion, Flair sunset flips Legend for the three count.
Winner- Charlotte Flair
Grade: B-
This was a stiff one. Flair did her best to make Legend look like a killer. It worked. Legend still has a way to go, but if the Flairs of the world are going to continue to sell like this for Legend, she is going to do big things on the main roster.
United States Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes
Dragunov and Hayes trade chops from corner to corner. Dragunov lights Hayes up with knee strikes. Leaping head kick by Dragunov. German suplex by Dragunov. Hayes tries to fight out of it as Dragunov keeps his grip and lands another suplex. Dragunov elbows Hayes in the head and hits a deadlift suplex. A big boot by Dragunov sends Hayes careening out of the ring. After the break, Dragunov is working over Hayes in the corner. Hayes catches a boot from Dragunov and lands a nasty slap. A Lariat from Hayes floors Dragunov. Springboard clothesline by Hayes. Dragunov counters La Mistica and lands a running knee.
Hayes kicks out. Dragunov misses a senton off the top. La Mistica by Hayes. Dragunov kicks out! Hayes counters the H-Bomb with an enziguri. Springboard DDT by Hayes! Dragunov kicks out! After a series of reversals, Dragunov destroys Hayes with the Constine Special. Top rope senton by Dragunov! Kick out by Hayes! Dragunov is stunned! Dragunov counters the First 48 by placing Hayes on the top rope. Hayes slaps Dragunov off the top. Dragunov counters Nothing but Net with a leaping kick! Both men are down.
The Finish
The fight spills out to the apron. Deadlift superplex by Dragunov. Hayes counters the H-Bomb with his knee. Dragunov bounces off the ropes and stomps Hayes’ face. Modified suplex by Dragunov. Hayes kicks out at 2.9! Dragunov sets up another superplex. Hayes turns Dragunov’s superplex into a cutter in mid-air! Dragunov kicks out! Dragunov kicks out! The fight spills out to the apron. After a strike exchange, Dragunov DVDs Hayes on the apron. Dragunov tries to go coast-to-coast, but Hayes counter with the first 48! Hayes hussles up to the top rope and hits Nothing but Net for the win!
Winner and NEW United States Champion, Carmelo Hayes!
After the match, Dragunov puts the championship around Hayes’ waist.
Grade: A
This was the definition of a war. These two pulled out all the stops. As both men made their entrance for this match, the crowd was completely dead. By the end, the entire arena was standing. Hayes and Dragunov turned a throwaway match into a contest that will live on as one of the best bell-to-bell matches in SmackDown history.
Read More: Former NXT Champion Backstage At WWE SmackDown/RAW Tapings
Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre vs. Giulia and Kiana James
Green spends the first part of the match avoiding Giulia. Fyre takes control after a distraction from Green. Green tags in and works over James. James manages to tag in Giulia. Giulia sends Green flying with a missile dropkick. Giulia drops Green with a Northen lights bomb for the win.
Winners- Giulia and Kiana James
Grade: C+
Everyone in this thing is good in their own right, but this entire angle is confusing. Who are we supposed to cheer for? Giulia gets little to no reaction, and it’s only because she hasn’t been given anything to do. Even with this “angle” with Green, they aren’t committed to it. Green should be in the arena in disguise, trying to avoid Giulia. The lack of substance here is just bizarre at this point.
Backstage, Aldis tells Kit Wilson he’ll have something new for him next week. Cody Rhodes burst in and asked if McIntyre had apologized to the referee yet. Aldis says no. McIntyre’s music hits, and we see McIntyre making his way to the ring.
McIntyre…
After the break, McIntyre is in the ring with the referee. McIntyre attacked a few weeks back and GM Aldis. McIntyre pays his fine and gives Referee Dan a “heartfelt” apology. McIntyre then rips Referee Dan a new one. Referee Dan bows up at McIntyre. McIntyre tries to goad Referee Dan into hitting. The champion’s music hits. Cody Rhodes powerwalks to the ring. Aldis tells Rhodes to back off. McIntyre tries to goad Rhodes into hitting him.
McIntyre brings up Rhodes’ wife. Aldis holds Rhodes back. McIntyre tells Rhodes that their match with be a “Three Stages of Hell” match. Rhodes is all in. McIntyre tells Rhodes that when he’s down with Rhodes he’ll send him to hell. McIntyre tells Rhodes, while he’s there, to say hello to daddy for him. Rhodes lunges at McIntyre and crushes Aldis in the corner in the process. McIntyre drops Rhodes with a Claymore.
Grade: B
This was a solid piece of business. McIntyre is just nasty on the mic; this writer wanted to punch McIntyre for Referee Dan. Consider how many times McIntyre has been screwed over, a three stages of hell match is a brilliant choice. Also, that happens to be one of this writer’s favorite match types. It’s the best, most underused gimmick match. It’s like a Taco Bell with a Pizza Hut inside, that’s attached to a Game Stop. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
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