Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley kicking off the show, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes responding to Gunther, Carmelo Hayes has a message for United States Champion Trick Williams and Lil Yachty, Talla Tonga clashing with the legendary Shinsuke Nakamura, Tiffany Stratton continuing the Women’s United States Championship Open Challenge, and the final hype for Saturday Night’s Main Event. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Rhea Ripley to kick off the show
- Cody Rhodes responds to Gunther
- Carmelo Hayes has a message for Trick Williams and Lil Yachty
- Tiffany Stratton US Championship Open Challenge
- Talla Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE SmackDown Results:
Highlights from last week’s show are shown.
Mami is Still on Top
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley welcomes the crowd to Friday Night Mami. Ripley notes that she saw Jade Cargill and her crew tried to send a message. If Cargill wants her rematch, Ripley will happily beat her again. Ripley challenges Cargill to a title match at Clash in Italy. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss interrupt. Flair wants to know where Ripley was when they needed her last week. Ripley notes that she was home with family. Flair gets that, but they need her help. Ripley and Flair argue. Fatal Influence is out next. Jacy Jayne claims they are taking over the women’s division. Flair challenges them to a tag match. Jayne agrees.
Grade: C-
This was a slog to get through. Ripley’s promos have gotten progressively dull. Nothing in this thing worked, and it ended with no punch or heat whatsoever.
Talla Tonga w/Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura tries to focus on Talla’s legs. Talla forces Nakamura into the corner and beats him down. After the break, Nakamura fires up and lands Scorpion Rising. Nakamura calls for the Kinshasa. Sikoa steps onto the apron and creates a distraction. Talla lands a chokeslam for the win.
Winner- Talla Tonga
After the match, Sikoa wants to beat down Nakamura. Tama grabs Sikoa’s hand before he can land the Spike. Sikoa is shocked. Tama levels Nakamura with the Hidden Blade instead. Sikoa laughs. Tama is fully in the fold. Before the MFTs can destroy Nakamura, Damian Priest makes the save with a chair.
Grade: C-
Love Nakamura, but watching him lose here was not it.
Tiffany Stratton US Championship Open Challenge
United States Championship Match | Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Lash Legend
Legend tosses Stratton around the ring. Stratton sends Legend out of the ring. Stratton lands a dive. Legend chokeslams Stratton on the ring apron. After the break, Stratton sorta lands a counter stunner. That was a bit of an awkward mess. Stratton follows that with a handspring stunner. Legend counters Stratton’s cartwheel slam into a powerbomb for a near fall. Chelsea Green runs down to ringside and pushes Nia Jax into the ring post. Legend tries to pull Green into the ring. Stratton rolls up Legend for the win.
Winner and STILL Women’s United States Champion, Tiffany Stratton!
Grade: C+
Solid TV match with a few awkward spots. Not sure where this Stratton and Green thing is going, but it seems quite forced.
Whoop Dat Era
United States Champion Trick Williams is in the ring with Lil Boat. Carmelo Hayes interrupts. Hayes says they go way back, and Williams had to know this day was coming. Williams needs to do what’s right; Williams cost Hayes the championship. Hayes doesn’t want to discredit Williams, but there is a difference between carrying a title and being a champion. Lil Boat gives several reasons as to why Williams is too busy to defend his title. Hayes says the old Trick Williams wouldn’t allow someone to tell him what to do… but maybe Williams was always better at playing second fiddle. Williams agrees to a non-title match.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams w/Lil Yachty
Williams floors Hayes with a shoulder block. Hayes responds with a dropkick and a few chops. After a few reversals, Williams lands a Book End for a near fall. Williams works over Hayes. During the break, Williams and Hayes brawl outside the ring. Ricky Saints makes his way to ringside. Hayes runs into a cyclone boot from Williams. Hayes kicks out.
Williams walks into the first 48 from Hayes. Williams kicks out. Hayes goes up top for his finish. Saints distract Hayes. Williams pushes Saints outside the ring. Saints hops on the apron. Hayes rolls up Williams, but Saints keeps the referee distracted. Williams blasts Hayes with a Trick Shot for the win.
Winner- Trick Williams
Grade: B
Good match. Not sure where the Saints stuff is going, but Williams having several challengers makes sense. Hayes, being one of them right now, is a mistake. They have so much history that having anyone else in the middle of their feud will just be a distraction.
Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley w/Alexa Bliss vs. Fatal Influence
Flair beats down Henley. Ripley tags herself in. Flair and Ripley argue. Ripley dropkicks Reid. Flair accidentally boots Ripley off the apron. Henley and Reid double-team Flair. After the break, Flair manages to tag in Ripley. Ripley lands a Razor’s Edge. Flair tags herself in and hits Natural Selection for the win.
Winners- Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley
After the match, Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab attack Ripley.
Grade: B-
Good tag team matches with a ton of shenanigans.
Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa w/The MFTs
Priest sends Sikoa into the ring steps. After the break, Sikoa and Priest are trading shots up top. Priest boxes Sikoa’s ears and lands a superplex. Sikoa misses a splash. Broken arrow by Priest. After a distraction from Talla, Sikoa drops Priest with Spinning Solo. Priest kicks out. Priest get distracted trying to take out Tama and Talla. Sikoa is down. Priest hits the ropes for a dive. Sikoa cuts Priest off with a Samaon Spike for the win.
Winner- Solo Sikoa
After the match, The MFTs beat down Priest. Royce Keys makes the save. Sikoa and Keys have a face-off but Sikoa rolls out and walks away. Sikoa holds back Talla and Tama. Priest grabs Royce by the neck. Royce pushes Priest away. Royce yells at Priest.
Grade: B
This match was good, even with the outside interference.
Backstage, Priest and Royce argue.
Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn begs off and offers Rhodes a handshake. Rhodes accepts. After an exchange, Zayn shakes Rhodes’ hand again, but Rhodes pushes it away. Zayn lights Rhodes up with chops. Rhodes turns the tables and lands a few chops of his own. Zayn runs into a powerslam. Rhodes tries a Cody Cutter, but Zayn trips Rhodes into the ropes. After the break, Rhodes lands a Cody Cutter off the second rope. Zayn kicks out. Rhodes sets up his finish. Zayn counters Cross Rhodes. Zayn knocks Rhodes off the apron. Rhodes is sent flying over the commentary desk.
Rhodes avoids a Helluva Kick and hits a super Cody Cutter! Zayn kicks out. Zayn surprises Rhodes with a blue thunder bomb! Kick out by Rhodes. Zayn locks Rhodes in a figure four. Rhodes counters the hold. Zayn and Rhodes trade strikes. Disaster kick by Rhodes. While the referee is distracted by Zayn, Gunther hops the barricade and pits Rhodes in a sleeper. Zayn charges in and accidentally knocks Gunther off the apron! Rhodes drops Zayn with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner- Cody Rhodes
After the match, Gunther beats down Rhodes. Zayn acts as if he’s going to make the save, but stops and watches Gunther choke Rhodes out. Zayne just watches and walks away.
Grade: B
This match was great. Zayn playing the reluctant heel just works. Rhodes is the ultimate babyface, and Zayn’s slow turn coming to a head here worked on so many levels. Gunther needed to get another one over on Rhodes, and Zayn being the catalyst is a stroke of genius.
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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