Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Uncle Howdy battling Solo Sikoa, Candice LeRae clashing with Jordynne Grace, The Miz trying to survive Oba Femi, Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against The Irrestible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend), and the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match participants meet in the ring ahead of Chamber. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Men’s Elimination Chamber Match participants meet ahead of Saturday
- Women’s Tag Team Championship Match | RHIYO (Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY) (c) vs. The Irrestible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend)
- Uncle Howdy vs. Solo Sikoa
- Candice LeRae vs. Jordynne Grace
- Oba Femi vs. The Miz
WWE SmackDown Results:
The show kicks off with a chaotic scene backstage. Jey Uso is being loaded into an ambulance as the SmackDown roster is in an uproar over someone taking out Jey. Jimmy and Jacob Fatu ride with Jey in the ambulance. Trick Williams pops in and makes a crack to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis about there being one less person for him to go through in the Chamber. Je’Von Evans takes exception to Williams making a joke when Jey has been injured.
The Champ has Something to Say
Back in the arena, Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre walks through the crowd, making sure to note that Jey getting taken out is hilarious and he had nothing to do with it. Aldis walks out on the stage with security and tells McIntyre to go to his office, or he’ll let the 20 guys backstage who want to tear him apart do so. Cody Rhodes stomps to the ring.
McIntyre runs into the crowd. Rhodes wants to fight McIntyre right now. McIntyre says that doesn’t benefit him. Rhodes proclaims that McIntyre has spent his entire championship reign running like a b*tch. Rhodes notes that when he wins the Chamber… and he’s interuptted by Randy Orton. Orton says what happened to Jey is a shame, but he’s going to win at the Chamber.
Elimination Chamber Summit
Orton slides in the ring and tries to speak to Rhodes, but Trick Williams music hits. Williams says he’s the hottest thing in the business right now. Before Williams can get his lemon pepper steppers line out, Je’Von Evans music hits. Evans slaps Williams in the back of the head on the way to the ring. Evans says he’s going to win the Chamber and beat Orton’s record of being the youngest champion ever. LA Knight is out next. Knight runs down everyone in the ring and promises to take the title for McIntyre.
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When Knight tries to do his LA Knight bit with the crowd, Williams cuts in and says, “Whoop that Trick!” Which leads to dueling chants from the crowd. Knight asks Williams if he said, “Whoop that Trick?” Williams says, ” Yeah.” Knight responds, “Okay,” and lays Williams out with a right hand. Williams and Knight fight to the back. Orton lays Evans out with an RKO. Rhodes and Orton have a staredown. Orton walks away.
Grade: B
Great start to the show. Having that type of chaos and emotion be the starting point to what was a basic multi-person promo segment made this whole thing feel fresh. You can use the same ideas if you dress them up and add new wrinkles. Sad to see Jey getting written off the show since he wasn’t actually supposed to be in the Chamber. The potential for his attackers to be revealed as The Vision is high and fits in this writer’s prediction that the Usos will defend against Logan Paul and Austin Theory at WrestleMania.
Uncle Howdy vs. Solo Sikoa
Howdy and Sikoa trade strikes. The fight spills out of the ring after Sikoa narrowly avoids a Sister Abigail. Sikoa misses a Samaon Spike and ends up hitting the ring post. Howdy repeatedly slams Sikoa’s hand into the ring post. After the break, Howdy walks into a Spinning Solo. Sikoa is shocked after Howdy kicks out of a Uso Splash. Howdy is down. Sikoa calls for the Samoan Spike. Sikoa mocks Howdy and sets up a Sister Abigail instead. Howdy counters with a mandible claw. Sikoa drives Howdy into the corner and lands a hip attack. Sikoa charges in for another, but Howdy counters with Sister Abigail for the win.
Winner- Uncle Howdy
After the match, Howdy grabs his lantern. Before Howdy can reclaim it fully, The MFTs attack him from behind and take it back.
Grade: C+
This match was a bit. plodding, but it furthered this angle, which means we are getting closer to the end. Yay. Also… Where the heck were the Wyatt Sicks? Did Howdy think Sikoa would follow the rules? Odd, nonsensical stuff.
Backstage, Paul Heyman tries to convince Aldis to put Logan Paul in the Elimination Chamber. Later, Jacob Fatu makes a pitch to Aldis to be added to the Chamber.
Chelsea Green is rolled to the ring by Alba Fyre.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Asuka w/Kairi Sane
On the way to the ring, Asuka pulls out a mic and says she’s taking a break before the Chamber. So Stratton can face, KAIRI!
Tiffany Stratton vs. Kairi Sane w/Asuka
Stratton is in control early. Sane gets control after cutting Stratton off up top. Diving double stomp by Sane. The fight spills out to the apron. Stratton sets up a suplex. Sane reverses it into a DDT on the apron. Sane goes up top. Stratton pushes Sane off the top. Sane lands on Alba Fyre. Stratton and Green get into a screaming match. Sane dives out of the ring, but Stratton moves out of the way. Sane crashes into Green. Stratton sends Sane back into the ring and hits the World’s Prettiest Moonsault for the win.
Winner- Tiffany Stratton
Grade: C+
Solid TV match. Nothing of note here, other than we need more Sane singles matches.
Oba Femi vs. The Miz
The Miz looks terrified. Before the match starts, Miz tries to talk to the referee to stop him from ringing the bell. As soon as the bell rings, Miz rolls out and grabs a mic. As Miz tries to roll in, Femi steps on his hand and takes the mic. Femi tells Miz to get his own mic since he likes to talk so much. Miz does and makes an impassioned plea to take Femi under his wing and guide him. Miz wants to be Femi’s Undertaker. Femi says Miz doesn’t resemble Taker, but he does look like a deadman to him. Miz goes on and on trying to avoid getting murder, death, killed by Femi. Miz promises to get the crowd to chant Femi’s name.
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Femi says he doesn’t need Miz for that. Femi says he’ll ask the crowd what they think. Shockingly, they don’t think Femi should join Miz. Femi tells Miz that he’s dying tonight. Miz says he’s going to be the bigger man and walk away. Femi grabs Miz’s hand. Miz punches Femi. Oba Femi doesn’t like that. Femi destroys Miz with a lariat. Femi misses a corner splash. Miz tries the Skull Crushing Finale. Femi puts on the brakes and sends Miz halfway across the ring with a tossing slam. Femi crushes Miz with a Fall from Grace for the win.
Winner- Oba Femi
Grade: B
This one ran a little long, but was effective. This is the second week they put a mic in Femi’s hand, and he has delivered. That man is scary, and Miz did an exemplary job making Femi look like Godzilla.
Backsage, Ilja Dragunov isn’t dressed to wrestle. Carmelo Hayes wants to know why Dragunov isn’t ready for their match. Dragunov says he doesn’t deserve a title shot right now, but he’ll work back to it. Hayes doesn’t get it. These open challenges won’t be available forever.
United States Championship Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Matt Cardona
Cardona and Hayes trade shots. The fight spills out of the ring. Hayes misses a dive and crashes into the commentary desk. After the break, Cardona manages to hit the Rough Ryder. Hayes kicks out. Hayes hits the First 48 for the win.
Winner and STILL United States Champion, Carmelo Hayes!
After the match, Hayes helps Cardona up, and they shake hands.
Fun TV title defense. Cardona has looked good since returning, despite the losses. Hayes using the First 48 as a finish is a good choice. Doing Nothing but Net every night must be murder on his spine. Switch it up to avoid needing a backitomy.
Candice LeRae vs. Jordynne Grace
A despondent Johnny Gargano lies face-first on the commentary desk. Midway through, Gargano gets up and starts walking to the back. While LeRae is distracted, Grace hits her finish for the win.
Winner- Jordynne Grace
Grade: C+
The Gargano stuff isn’t funny, but if we have to suffer through “Sad Panda” Gargano to get LeRae in the ring, this writer may be willing to put up with it.
Women’s Tag Team Championship Match | RHIYO (Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY) (c) vs. The Irrestible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend)
Ripley and SKY clear the ring. SKY and Ripley both dive off the apron and are caught by Jax and Legend. Jax and Legned swing Ripley and SKY into the barricade simultaneously. After the break, SKY runs into a vicious big boot from Legend. Ripley gets the hot tag and sends Jax flying with a rana. After dumping Legend over the top, Ripley lands a missile dropkick. Ripley eats a Samoan drop from Jax. Jax goes up top. Ripley cuts Jax off and powerbombs her off the top. Jax rolls out, and Ripley lands a diving senton off the apron.
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After the break, Jax Samoan drops Ripley on the commentary desk. Diving leg drop by Jax. SKY breaks up the pin. SKY tags in and catches Legend with a missile dropkick. Jax lurks outside the ring, SKY lands a suicide dive, followed by the bullet train attack. SKY lands the Over the Moonsault. Jax breaks up the pin and crushes SKY with the Annihilator. Ripley breaks up that pin. Ripley drops Jax with Riptide. Before Ripley can make the pin, Legend spins her around and hits the Lash Extension for the win!
Winners and NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, The Irritable Forces!
Grade: B
This match was so much fun. So many crazy nearfalls and big moves. Ripley put Legend over huge her. Totally expected Jax and Legend to win here, but fully expected SKY to eat the pin.
Backstage, Randy Orton runs into Aleister Black and Zelina. Black wonders aloud if the Black Mass woke something up in Orton. Orton rants about his voices. He has a switch he can flip at anytime. After the Chamber, Orton promises to find Black. Orton stomps off. Black says, of course, Orton will; that’s how they planned it.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Jacob Fatu vs. Logan Paul w/The Vision
Theory causes a distraction at the start, allowing Paul to take control early. Fatu walks through a kick from Paul and almost decapitates him with a lariat. Senton by Fatu. Fatu lands a dive. Paul takes control during the break with help from Theory. Paul misses a senton. Superstar press by Fatu. Paul kicks out. Paul lands a Blockbuster followed by a springboard moonsault (that Paul almost overshot. Crazy stuff). Fatu flips out of the Paulverize. Superkick by Fatu.
Theory and Heyman hop on the apron. While the referee is distracted, Paul low blows Fatu. Paul decks Fatu and hits the splash. Fatu kicks out. The Masked Man appears and attacks Theory. Before the Masked Man can hit the Stomp, Paul attacks him. Paul rips off the Masked Man’s mask. Its… some random guy. Okay. That’s interesting. Back in the ring, Paul runs into a pop-up Samoan drop. Fatu goes up for the Mighty Moonsault, but Drew McIntyre spawns into the ringside area and hits Fatu with the Undisputed WWE Championship. Paul pins Fatu.
Winner- Logan Paul
Grade: B
Good match that could have used a bit more time. McIntyre is going to win the Hater of the Year award for the second year in a row if he keeps this up. Fatu being in the Chamber complicates things, unless the plan is for him to win it. If Fatu isn’t in the Chamber, he has even more of a grip to get himself added to the title match at WrestleMania. The Masked Man reveal is most likely a misdirection. There will be a series of Masked Men attacks that lead to reveals of people we don’t know until we find out who is really behind all of this.
WWE SmackDown Review:
Tonight’s show was leaps and bounds better than the trainwreck we were forced to watch on Monday night. Historically, PLE go-home shows are always bad. They generally show a lack of effort and are overloaded with promo segments and video packages. The show tonight featured (for the most part) highly competitive matches, interesting promos, and big title changes. You can’t ask for much more than that.
Rating: B
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