Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Women’s United States Champion Giulia battling IYO SKY in a non-title bout, “The Ruler” Oba Femi taking on Kit Wilson, Ilja Dragunov clashing with Tama Tonga, and the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches continue when Nia Jax locks up with Charlotte Flair and Kiana James, and Trick Williams takes on Carmelo Hayes and Damian Priest. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match | Nia Jax vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Kiana James
- Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match | Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Damian Priest
- Oba Femi vs. Kit Wilson
- Ilja Dragunov vs. Tama Tonga
- Giulia vs. Rhea Ripley
WWE SmackDown Results:
The Son of a Son of a Plumber
The former Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Whoas his way to the ring. Rhodes asks the crowd what they want to talk about. While the crowd cheers, Jacob Fatu‘s music hits. Fatu stomps his way to the ring. Fatu says he wants to keep it 100; Rhodes wouldn’t be out here speaking about Elimination Chamber if it wasn’t for Drew McIntyre. He had Rhodes and Sami Zayn beat. Fatu says he isn’t even worried about Rhodes at this point; he’s worried about McIntyre.
Read More: Oba Femi Defeats Raw Star on WWE Main Event Ahead of Brand Contract Signing
With the crowd behind him, Fatu demands McIntyre come out here and get these hands. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis walks out on the ramp and announces that he gave McIntyre the night off because he saw this coming. This is Rhodes’ mic time, so Aldis wants Fatu to come back to his office, and they can discuss Fatu getting his hands on McIntyre. Fatu goes nuts. McIntyre appears in the crowd, in a suite, with a mic. Aldis can’t tell McIntyre what to do. McIntyre says Fatu isn’t all gas and no brakes, he’s all bark and no bite.
Fatu goes nuts again and makes a beeline for the crowd but is cut off by security. Fatu knocks out most of the security guards. Aldis steps in and tells Fatu to calm down, and they can talk about what’s going to happen at the Chamber. Aldis tells security to go get McIntyre out of the building. Fatu and Aldis walk to the back. McIntyre says everyone wants the champ. Rhdoes calls McIntyre an a-hole.
Grade: B
Fun opening segment. This must mean we are getting Fatu and McIntyre at the Chamber, which has banger written all over it.
Backstage, Aldis tells Fatu he’s going to give him McIntyre. Fatu just has to wait. Fatu says he won’t wait for long.
Ilja Dragunov vs. Tama Tonga
Tama walks to the ring with the MFTs. Solo Sikoa is still carrying the Wyatt Sicks lantern. Dragunov unloads on Tama with chops. Tama explodes out of the corner with an elbow strike. Tama beats down Dragunov in the corner. Dragunov and Tama trade strikes. Dragunov sends Tama flying with a German suplex.
After the break, Tama is working over Dragunov. Dragunov fires up and lands multiple German suplexes. Constantine Special by Dragunov. Tama kicks at 2.9. Tama surprises Dragunov with a complete shot. Dragunov kicks out. Top rope senton by Dragunov. Dragunov sets up his finish. JC Mateo causes a distraction, leading to a rollup by Tama. Dragunov kicks out. After a distraction from Tonga Loa, Tama catches Dragunov with Cut Throat for the win.
Winner- Tama Tonga
After the match, Sikoa grabs a mic and asks if we thought he was playing. They have the tag titles and they are coming for… Dragunov attacks Sikoa from behind. The MFTs beat down Dragunov. Matt Cardona and Apollo Crews try to make the save, but are quickly beaten down. The lights go out, and Uncle Howdy appears on the ‘Tron. Howdy wants to face Sikoa in the ring alone. He’ll expose all the insecurities he’s hidden. The only question is, will Sikoa show up? Howdy laughs as the screen fades to black.
Grade: B-
Solid match. Annoying amount of outside interference.
Backstage, Aleister Black and Zelina interrupt Randy Orton‘s interview. Black thinks Orton isn’t the man he once was. Orton tells Black to ditch the suit, put on his gear, and meet him in the ring.
Backstage, the Iresistible Forces (Lash Legend and Nia Jax) say they run the women’s division, and if anyone doubts that, they will find out at WrestleMania.
A Storm is Here
The WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill says it doesn’t matter who Liv Morgan selects, or who wins the Elimination Chamber, she’s that b*tch. As Cargill walks up the ramp, Charlotte Flair makes her entrance for her match. Cargill and Flair have a brief face-off on the ramp. Flair walks away. Cargill gets in Flair’s face again. Flair woos in Cargill’s face. A referee pulls Cargill away.
Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match | Nia Jax vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Kiana James
Jax takes control early, flooring Flair with a shoulder tackle. James tries to convince Jax to work with her. Jax grabs James by the throat. Flair chop blocks Jax. Flair works over James. Jax catches Flair with a pop-up headbutt. Jax hip attacks both women in the corner.
Read More: Royce Keys Says Triple H Delivered Weight Bench to His Room To Keep WWE Royal Rumble Debut Secret
After the break, James manages to Samoan drop Jax. Jax kicks out. Flair lands a Spanish fly off the top on James. James kicks out. Flair traps Jax in the Figure Eight. James rolls Flair into a pin and gets the surprise win!
Winner- Kiana James
Grade: C+
Solid match. James getting the win was refreshing here. Let’s see James cook.
Oba Femi vs. Kit Wilson
Wilson says he wrote Femi a poem, which Wilson reads. Wilson calls Femi a Teddy Bear. Femi says that was good and demands Wilson read another. Wilson says he only has older poems. Femi demands Wilson read it. The poem ends with Wilson hating Femi. Femi tosses Wilson into the ring and utterly destroys him. One Fall from Grace Powerbomb later, Femi wins.
Winner- Oba Femi
Grade: C+
This would have been more effective if it were a bit shorter.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Alba Fyre w/Chelsea Green
Green is pushed to the ring in a wheelchair by Fyre. Stratton gets the win after the World’s Prettiest Moonsault.
Winner- Tiffany Stratton
Grade: C+
Standard stuff here, but it was given way more time than matches like this normally are. One of the few benefits of having a three-hour show.
Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match | Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes vs. Damian Priest
As soon as the bell rings, Williams tries to convince Hayes to work with him. Hayes tells Williams it’s every man for themselves. Priest takes out Williams and Hayes with a double clothesline. Priest tosses Hayes around. Williams charges in and eats a flurry from Priest. Priest slams Hayes on top of Williams. Dirty Deeds by Priest. Hayes kicks out. Priest grabs Williams for a chokeslam. Williams backflips out of it. Hayes flips over Williams’ back and tries a springboard clothesline. Priest ducks. Hayes nails Williams. La Mistica by Hayes to Priest. Hayes sets up a suplex, but Priest counters with a broken arrow. After the break, Hayes drops Williams and Priest with a double springboard DDT. Williams and Priest both roll out.
Hayes lands a dive on Priest and shotgun dropkicks Williams into the barricade. Priest rolls back in and gets crushed by a frog splash from Hayes. Priest kicks out. Hayes sets up another dive, but Williams cuts him off with the Harlem side kick. After a stumble, Williams lands a Book End. Williams trash-talks Hayes. After a strike exchange, Hayes sets up a springboard, but Williams pushes Hayes to the floor. Williams sets up the Trick Shot. Hayes avoids it, but eats a Trick Kick that turns Hayes inside out. Hayes kicks out.
The Finish
Williams sets up a superplex. Priest cuts Williams off and hits the Razor’s Edge. Williams kicks out. Hayes catches Priest with Nothing but Net! Williams breaks up the pin. Hayes and Williams trade strikes. Priest unloads on Williams and Priest with kicks. Williams and Hayes land stereo big boots to Priest. Williams tosses Hayes into a splash on Priest. Hayes goes for a pin. Williams breaks it up. Hayes tries Nothing but Net. Priest blasts Hayes out of the air with a nasty right hand. Priest sets up a Razor’s Edge on Hayes. Williams surprises Priest with a Trick Shot! Hayes falls out of the ring. Williams lands a second Trick Shot for the win.
Winner- Trick Williams
Grade: B+
Beyond a brief stumble between Hayes and Williams, this match was near perfection. Triple threat matches generally stink when it comes to telling a story or being more than just spot fest. This match was so much fun. Priest looked strong but worked hard to shine Hayes and Williams. The writing was on the wall here for Williams to get the win. Priest is in a weird spot right now with not much to do, and Hayes has the United States Championship. Williams needs to be in the Chamber to continue building him into what is supposed to be one of the main heels on SmackDown.
Backstage, a returning B-Fab and Michin threaten her with death and dismemberment for injuring both of them.
Giulia vs. Rhea Ripley
Ripley and Giulia trade strikes. A missile dropkick from Giulia sends Ripley clear across the ring. Ripley misses a spear in the corner and eats the post. Giulia dropkicks Ripley into the steel ring steps. After the break, Ripley and Giulia fight up top. Head trapped superkick by Giulia. Giulia kicks out. Giulia escapes the Riptide and lands the Arivadarchi knee. Ripley counters the Northern Lights Bomb and sets up Riptide. Nia Jax appears and hops on the apron. In the confusion, Lash Legend boots Ripley’s head off her shoulders, causing a disqualification.
Winner- Rhea Ripley
After the match, IYO SKY makes the save.
Grade: C+
We are finally getting to Giulia in competitive singles matches. This writer isn’t fully versed on her work in Japan, so it’s been hard to be impressed by what we have seen on the main roster so far. Over the last few weeks, Giulia has been way more aggressive and expressive, which has led to the crowd caring a bit more when she’s out there. Baby steps, but we will get there. The non-finish here was eyeroll-inducing. Ripley can lose a match and be ok at this point. No need to protect her.
Backstage, The Miz offers to mentor Oba Femi. Femi tells Miz they can start next week. Miz agrees. Femi says he’s going to talk to Aldis right now. Femi walks off. It dawns on Miz that Femi is going to ask for a match. A terrified Miz screams that he didn’t mean a match!
Backstage, Shinsuke Nakamura tells Tama Tonga to leave his family tree in the forest. Nakamura wants to find out what Tama is really capable of.
Aleister Black w/Zelina vs. Randy Orton
After an exchange, neither man can get the advantage. Black drops to his seated pose while Orton coils into the RKO-ready pose. Both men stare each other down. Orton forces Black into the corner for 10 punches. Orton sends Black out to the floor. After the break, Orton stomps out Black. After a distraction from Zelina, Black knees Orton in the back, sending him out of the ring. PK by Black. Black sends Orton into the ring post.
Read More: WWE’s Booker T On Worst Commentator Award: Dave Meltzer Is Sucking The Life Out Of Wrestling
After another PK, Black nets another close nearfall. Black works over Orton. Orton fires up. Black fights out of an Orton DDT. Head kick by Black. Orton stumbles. Black works over Orton’s neck. Powerslam by Orton. Hangman’s DDT by Orton (Orton hilariously yells “whoop day Trick!” while hitting the DDT). The fight spills out of the ring. Black counters Orton’s Suplex by standing up on the desk.
The Finish
Orton trips Black on the desk, causing him to faceplant. Orton hits a Hangman’s DDT off the commentary desk. As Orton tosses Black back into the ring, Drew McIntyre hops the barricade and hits Orton with the Undisputed WWE Championship. Cody Rhodes chases McIntyre through the crowd. Orton stumbles back into the ring. Black catches Orton with a nasty Black Mass. Black falls on top of Orton and gets the win.
Winner- Aleister Black
Grade: B-
This one didn’t have nearly enough time to develop, but the mission here was accomplished: Aleister Black got the biggest win of his main roster career, and the issues between Drew McIntyre and all of his potential challengers deepen. If one match tonight’s finish was determined by outside interference, it should have been this one.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight’s show featured several quality matches, but almost all were marred by outside interference. The more you do something, the less impact it has. The only match tonight that should have had an outsider cause an issue was the main event. This is the laziest way to extend feuds, and guess what? It’s ok to lose a match clean. Or how about this: maybe the bad guys can cheat to win? This troupe needs to die in a fire. It kills any and all momentum when you see it five times a night.
Rating: C+
WrestleZone features weekly audio and video content on Facebook, YouTube, and your favorite podcast apps like Apple, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Subscribe now for hours of exciting wrestling content, including exclusive interviews, previews, reviews, and more!
