Posted on 3/29/125 by Bob Magee
– Joe Tessitore welcomed everyone into the show as footage
of London was shown. Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Michin, Seth
Rollins, Charlotte Flair and Braun Strowman were shown
walking backstage. Rhodes was the final person shown and the
camera followed him through the curtain as he made his
entrance.
The Cody Rhodes/Randy Orton/Drew McIntyre segment
This was longer than it needed to be, but pretty good, all
things considered. It felt less like another beat in the
road to WrestleMania and more like a, “Let’s throw the two
biggest babyfaces we can out there and hope that carries the
first half-hour of the show” situation. It worked in its own
way, albeit even if that way happened to veer into being
boring occasionally. Drew showing up injected some life into
things, but he wasn’t out there long enough to really make a
difference. These European crowds have been great for
SmackDown because SmackDown is the worst WWE TV show these
days, but I can’t say I’m not looking forward to wrestlers
not having to soak in random cheers all the time before they
talk whenever they grab a microphone. It feels so self-
aggrandizing at this point, it’s lost its novelty. Perhaps
I’m just grumpy. Perhaps both.
The crowd sang Cody’s song once it ended and then showered
him with their own sing-song Cody Rhodes chant. Cody soaked
it in and stood in the middle of the ring. Cody then asked
London what they wanted to talk about. The crowd broke into
a bunch of different chants. Cody said at WrestleMania, he
will face John Cena as he goes to break the record and win
his 17th world title. Cody said in a few nights he will
stand face-to-face with Cena at the same arena. Randy
Orton’s music then hit out of nowhere (get it?). Orton made
his entrance.
Orton grabbed a microphone and said he wasn’t the
sentimental type, but for London, he said, “Screw it.” Orton
paused as the crowd chanted “RKO!” Orton turned his
attention to Cody and asked him to look at the man he is now
along with where he came from. Cue the Cody Rhodes Singalong
European Chant (trademark that). Orton talked about how Cody
used to “bust his ass” harder than anyone else. Orton said
Cody wasn’t treated fairly in a WWE locker room and because
of that, Cody left and changed the business singlehandedly
when he left. Cody teared up a bunch. The crowd went back to
the singalong.
Orton asked the crowd if they remembered Cody facing Seth
Rollins a Hell In A Cell. Orton noted how the color purple
on Cody’s body that night was a color he’s never seen
before. From there, Orton talked about how Cody finished his
story against Roman Reigns. Orton said Cody is in charge of
his legacy and it’s a privilege to watch it and he
essentially said the wrestling business as a whole is
thriving 99.9 percent only because of Cody. Orton put his
arm around Cody and said he’s “very, very proud of him.”
Orton brought up WrestleMania and said he was going to kick
Kevin Owens so hard in the head, he can feel it already.
Orton said Cody will beat the hell out of John Cena all up
and down the Las Vegas Strip. Orton said after all the dust
settles, he’ll want to go after his 15th world title reign.
Orton said he wouldn’t kick Cody in the balls, “like some
coward,” and instead, Orton will look Cody in the eye and
tell Cody that he’s coming for Cody’s title. Drew McIntyre’s
music then hit and McIntyre walked out with a microphone.
The crowd cheered heavily for Drew.
Drew stood in the entrance way and called Orton and Cody
Nepo Babies and it made him sick to see them standing in the
ring. Drew asked Orton what he’s done to deserve a title
shot. Drew told Orton to get to the back of the line. Drew
told Cody he should have listened to Drew, but instead, Cody
attacked Drew, and from there, Drew harped on the fact that
he warned everybody about John Cena. Drew brought up Damian
Priest and walked into the ring. The crowd gave Drew his own
singalong chant. Drew said he’d take the belt from Cody if
Cody gets through and instead, Drew will take it from Cody.
Drew told Orton that Owens might actually have a point and
Orton’s voices know Drew very well. Drew said Orton looks
great – absolutely jacked, even. Drew said that was on the
outside, but on the inside, he knows Orton’s back is hanging
by a thread. Drew walked towards Cody and Cody kicked Drew.
Orton went for an RKO, but Drew slid out of the ring to
avoid it. Cody’s music hit to end the segment.
**********
– Turns out, Drew McIntyre will now face Randy Orton later
in the show.
The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) defeated
Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) to retain the WWE
Tag Team Championship [7:55]
The Profits seemed to know their role going into this –
nobody was booing Pretty Deadly in their home country and
the Profits looked to be more than happy to lean into
playing the heel role (which they already kind of/sort of do
maybe? Sometimes?). The finish was fun as the crowd really
rallied behind Pretty Deadly and then subsequently showed
their dissatisfaction once it turned into The Profits going
over. It would have meant more if this tag division didn’t
feel like such a throwaway division for so long. They play
hot potato with the titles, too many teams never actually
get wins, and in general … well … it’s a mess. Even so,
these four guys showed up and had a fun TV match that was
made more entertaining because of the love the crowd showed
for Pretty Deadly.
Pretty Deadly got a nice ovation during their entrance.
Dawkins and Wilson started the match. Prince soon tagged in
and Pretty Deadly took care of Dawkins and Ford. Wilson and
Prince posed for the crowd as the Profits rolled outside.
The show went to a commercial break. The show returned and
Prince and Ford were going at it. Dawkins and Wilson tagged
in after a weird moment between Prince and Ford. Dawkins
lifted Wilson for the Profits’ finisher, but Wilson worked
out of it and clotheslined Dawkins. Prince tagged in and the
Pretty Deadly duo did their catapult Codebreaker spot on
Dawkins for a two-count.
Dawkins came back and slammed Prince before he tagged Ford.
Ford hit a frog splash on Wilson, to took the hit and Prince
followed up with a pin attempt, but Ford kicked out. Dawkins
tagged in and back-suplexed Prince, but Wilson broke up the
pin attempt. All four wrestlers were down. “Pretty Deadly!”
chants broke out. Each wrestler was in a corner and all four
met int he middle of the ring. Pretty Deadly hit their
finisher on Dawkins and it looked like they might get the
pin, but Ford broke up the pin attempt. Dawkins lifted Ford
and the crowd booed. The Profits hit the Doomsday
Blockbuster on Wilson and got the win.
**********
– Footage from earlier today aired and it featured Zelina
Vega talking to Katana Chance and Kayden Carter. Chelsea
Green, Piper Niven and Alba Fyre walked in. A tag match was
made between Chance & Carter and Niven & Fyre.
– The WWE Hall Of Fame will now induct the WreslteMania 13
match between Steve Austin and Bret Hart because I guess
inducting matches is now a thing (dubbed an “Immortal
Moment”). Hart and Austin will be at the ceremony now
because of this.
– Paul Heyman and Roman Reigns were shown getting out of a
car and walking into the building.
The Secret Hervice (Piper Niven & Alba Fyre) defeated Kayden
Carter and Katana Chance [7:01]
A fine-enough match that had a tough time finding a groove.
Tessitore noted how we haven’t seen Chance or Carter on
SmackDown in something like over a year, so you knew how
this would end. Still, Chance and Carter got their signature
flashy moves in while Fyre and Niven worked well as a team,
considering this was their first bout. The crowd was super
behind Green and her crew – to the point that I felt bad for
Vega, Chance and Carter by the time all this wound down.
Something tell me this won’t be a problem that simply stays
in Europe even after the circus returns to the States.
Chance and Fyre began the match. Carter tagged in quick
after and the babyfaces worked a series of double-team moves
on Fyre until Fyre got an elbow up and tagged in Niven. With
Carter and Chance on the outside, Niven hit a Cannonball on
Carter and Chance. Niven saluted the crowd and the show went
to a commercial break. The show returned and Carter was
leveling Fyre with a bunch of elbows. Carter landed a big
boot on Fyre and followed that up with a springboard leg-
drop for a two-count.
Niven tagged in, but Carter realize and pinned Fyre, who was
the recipient of an accidental Senton from Niven after Cater
moved out of the way. Chance tagged in, Carter dropped Niven
and Carter and Chance hit the Keg Stand, but Fyre broke up
the pin attempt. Carter hit a splash on Fyre on the outside
of the ring. Cater tagged in and Green hopped on the apron
to distract the referee. This stifled the momentum of Carter
and Chance. As a result, Niven hit a Piper Drive on Carter
for the win.
After the match, the heels attacked the babyfaces until
Zelina Vega ran out for the save. Vega went for a Destroyer,
but Fyre kicked Vega in the face to break things up. Green,
Niven and Fyre stood tall.
**********
Braun Strowman defeated LA Knight via DQ [7:07]
The expected outcome, considering how it seems inevitable
that we are on one slow march towards a multi-man U.S. title
match at WrestleMania. Knight and Strowman aren’t
necessarily known for their in-ring work, so this going
seven minutes was the right call and in the meantime,
Strowman showcased his strength while Knight showcased his
resilience. Again. The expected outcome. I’m glad to see
Fatu get his heat back, though. Conspicuous by their
absences were Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga. Perhaps time will
explain why they weren’t there.
The two locked up repeatedly and Strowman got the best of it
repeatedly. Knight tried to lift Strowman, but that wasn’t
happening. Strowman ultimately landed a high hip-toss for a
two-count. Strowman ran at Knight in a corner and hit a
splash. Strowman found himself on the outside of the ring
and Knight hit two sliding dropkicks through the ropes.
Knight then turned into a big boot from Strowman. The show
went to a commercial break after that.
Back from the break, the two were back in the ring and
Knight tried to lift Strowman, but Strowman wasn’t having it
again. Knight hit a bulldog off the second rope to slow
things down. Strowman set up for a powerslam, but Knight
fought out of it and countered with a back suplex. Knight
dropped an elbow on Strowman for a two-count. Knight set up
for a BFT, but Strowman pushed Knight away and clotheslined
Knight over the top and to the floor. Strowman ripped his
shirt off and set up for the Strowman Express, but Strowman
instead ran into an elbow from Jacob Fatu to end the match.
After the match, Fatu hit a Samoan Drop on Strowman onto the
commentary desk. The action spilled into the ring and Fatu
worked over Strowman with headbutts. Fatu went for a hip
attack, but Knight re-instered himself into things … but
Fatu hit a pop-up Samoan Drop on Knight. Fatu then
successfully hit a series of hip attacks on Strowman. Fatu
ended the segment by hitting a jump-up moonsault on
Strowman. And then another one.
**********
– Jackie Redmond interviewed Jimmy Uso backstage. Redmond
referenced Jimmy’s slap on Gunther on Raw. Jimmy said
Gunther isn’t unbeatable and he will go Raw and bust
Gunther’s ass and then Jey will go to WrestleMania and bust
Gunther’s ass. Jimmy walked away and ran into The Miz and
Carmelo Hayes. The Miz said Gunther is the main character
and Jimmy and Jey will not beat Gunther. Miz said Jimmy will
never know what it means to carry the industry and made a
threat to Jimmy if Jimmy were to slap Miz. Jimmy faked like
he was going to slap Miz and instead said he was going to
ask Nick Aldis for a match against Miz later in the show.
– Well, this answers my previous question: Fatu ran into
Tonga and Sikoa backstage. Sikoa told Fatu to lower his tone
when he speaks to Sikoa. Fatu told them when it comes to
Strowman, he will be the last man standing and they better
“get in where they fit in.” Fatu said he will bring the U.S.
title home to the family – and he’ll do it with them or
without them.
– A Naomi vignette aired. Naomi said she always wants to do
the right thing. Naomi asked Bianca Belair why her attack on
Jade Cargill wasn’t the right thing. Naomi started crying
and questioned how Cargill took Naomi’s place. Naomi asked
Belair to ask herself who has always had her back. Naomi
said it was her and not Jade. Naomi said what she’s learned
is you teach people how to treat you and she’s done being
pushed to the side and underappreciated. Naomi said moving
forward, her message to Cargill is that if she continues to
be in Naomi’s way, she strongly advises Cargill to proceed
with caution. This was great.
– Cargill was shown talking to Nick Aldis backstage. Aldis
told Cargill Naomi wasn’t there and Cargill then ran into
Michin and B-Fab, the latter of whom said what Naomi did was
trash. B-Fab said Naomi deserves everything that’s coming to
her.
– Michin made her entrance for her match with Charlotte, but
Naomi popped up out of nowhere and attacked Michin and B-Fab
before Charlotte could make her entrance. Naomi ran B-Fab
into the crowd barrier. Naomi slammed B-Fab into the
announce desk. Jade Cargill’s music hit and Cargill ran out
to chase Naomi away. Cargill helped B-Fab to the back. As
she was doing so, Charlotte’s music hit and Charlotte and
Cargill engaged in a stare down.
Charlotte Flair defeated Michin [8:17]
I’m glad Charlotte gave Michin as much as she gave her here
because I was under the impression we were getting a squash
after that pre-match attack. Good on Charlotte for allowing
Michin to get everything in – including her finisher, which
didn’t receive the response the live crowd should have given
it … which was, really, just any response at all. I wonder
if they did a pre-tape with Tiffy because of how odd the
split-screen segment came across last week, what with
Charlotte constantly cutting her off and making things feel
a bit too real. After the last few weeks, I’m a little
surprised Tiffy and Charlotte didn’t have a physical
confrontation because that could have made up for last
week’s disaster. Onward and upward, I suppose.
Charlotte started the match with a big boot to the
recovering Michin and went for a pin, but Michin kicked out.
The show then went to a commercial break. The show returned
and Michin tried to fire up via a tornado DDT, which was
good enough for a two count. Michin ran at Charlotte, but
Charlotte got her boot up. Michin came right back with a
boot, but missed a Cannonball. Charlotte hit a super-kick
and stepped over Michin. Charlotte went to the top, but
Michin cut her off and landed a powerbomb for a two-count.
Michin hit a Pele Kick and a running knee for a two-count.
Michin tried to suplex Charlotte, but Charlotte elbowed and
chopped her way out of it. Michin came back with a back
suplex. Michin followed up with a Cannonball that connected
and set up for Eat Defeat, ultimately getting it, but
Charlotte got her foot on the bottom rope to break up the
pin attempt. Michin went for a running knee on the outside,
but Charlotte moved and Michin kicked the steel steps. Back
inside the ring, Charlotte went to work on Michin’s leg and
locked in the Figure Eight for the win.
**********
– Redmond interviewed Tiffany Stratton backstage and brought
up how hard Charlotte came at Tiffy last week. Tiffy said
Charlotte is still so insecure, she wouldn’t let a rookie
get a word out last week. Tiffy said if she loses at Mania,
she loses to Charlotte, a legend. But if Charlotte loses,
she loses to a little girl rookie. Tiffy said she’ll make
damn sure that what stays in Vegas is her massive ego. Tiffy
said she will walk out of Vegas as the WWE Women’s Champion.
Drew McIntyre defeated Kevin Owens [7:58]
The weirdest thing about this was the fact that it clearly
could have been a PLE match with some build behind it – and,
to be even more frank, this could have packed more of a
punch than whatever McIntyre and Priest are trying to build.
And yet, it lasted less than eight minutes on a SmackDown
and the finish wasn’t entirely clean, but it’s not like
Owens interfered. Orton just took a Claymore Kick and that
was that. Interesting. It was fun while it lasted, I guess.
One of the things about having no buffer between an early
Elimination Chamber and a late WrestleMania is that some of
these programs are struggling to stay interesting on a week
to week basis. Orton and Owens are getting dangerously close
to that line of demarcation.
The two locked up to begin the match and Drew got the best
of Orton early on. Orton came back with a series of punches
in a corner. Orton then threw Drew into the ring post. The
action spilled outside and … wouldn’t you know it … Orton
suplexed Drew onto the top of the commentary table to
complete Track One of Randy Orton’s Greatest Hits. The show
then went to a commercial break.
The show went to a commercial break and Drew had control,
complete with some chops. Drew threw Orton into a corner and
Orton came out with a clothesline. Orton followed that up
with a snap powerslam. With Drew on the apron, Orton hit his
draping DDT. Orton got the crowd all types of pumped up for
an RKO. Sadly, that didn’t happen because Kevin Owens walked
out, sans music or anything. Orton gave Owens his attention
and Drew hit a Claymore Kick on Orton to get the win.
After the match, Owens put Orton on the commentary desk and
set up for a piledriver, but Orton fought out of it. Orton
set up for a punt kick on Owens, but Owens ran through the
crowd and got away. Security kept Orton from chasing Owens.
Orton’s music hit to end the segment.
**********
– A Rey Fenix teaser aired and they actually called him “Rey
Fenix.” He’ll be on the show next week. Also next week, B-
Fab will face Naomi.
Jimmy Uso defeated The Miz [8:37]
What if I told you Jimmy Uso vs. The Miz went 39 seconds
longer than Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton on a television
show that aires during WrestleMania season in the year 2025?
This probably serves as this week’s Exhibit A for SmackDown
being in the absolute lowest end of pro wrestling television
these days. It seems like each week has one of these Exhibit
A’s anymore. I digress. Anyway, the guys worked hard, so
good for them. Meanwhile, Andrade sits on the bench. Carmelo
Hayes sits on the bench. Give it four weeks and Rey Fenix
will be sitting on the bench, too. But The Miz gets nine
minutes. Make it make sense and I’ll stop whining.
The two locked up to begin things and Miz went for a chop,
but Jimmy ducked and chopped Miz. Jimmy then worked a
ground-and-pound before hitting a clothesline. Jimmy chopped
Miz, but Miz came back with a boot to the face. Miz went to
work on Jimmy’s back and put a knee to the back of Jimmy’s
head. Miz went for a knee, but Jimmy moved and clotheslined
Miz over the top to the outside. Jimmy set up for a dive,
but Miz moved, so Jimmy rolled outside and punched Miz into
the timekeeper’s area. The show then went to a commercial
break.
The show returned and Jimmy clotheslined Miz. Jimmy followed
that up with a Samoan Drop. Miz came back with a short-arm
clothesline. Miz set up for his finisher, but Jimmy rolled
Miz up for a two-count. Miz came back with a kneeling DDT
for a two-count. The Miz then hit his Miz Kicks. Miz landed
a running boot and got a nice near-fall out of it. Miz
connected with a splash in the corner and went for a
springboard move, but Miz ran into a super-kick. Jimmy
followed that up with an Uso Splash for the win.
After the match, Jimmy took a commentary headset and said
he’s coming for Gunther’s ass on Monday. Jimmy said Gunther
will salute Big Jim by the end of it all.
**********
– Drew McIntyre ran into Lewis Capaldi backstage and they
exchanged pleasantries. Redmond showed up and congratulated
Drew on his win. Drew said he didn’t care about other
people’s business and when nobody gets involved with his
business, he wins. McIntyre said he’s going out on the town
and opened the door to leave, but Damian Priest was waiting
and Priest brawled with Drew on a car. Everything ended with
Priest giving Drew a South Of Heaven to Drew on top of the
windshield. Real glass? I kid.
– CM Punk was shown walking backstage and stopped to look at
McIntyre reeling on top of the car. Punk smirked and kept
walking to the ring.
– A video recapping John Cena’s diatribes on Raw aired.
The Roman Reigns/CM Punk/Seth Rollins contract signing
I loved the last bit with Punk telling Roman this still
isn’t the favor he was owed. In fact, I’d probably venture
to say that’s the only thing that could save this program
between these three wrestlers on their way to WrestleMania.
I spent too many words writing a column on another website
earlier this week about how WWE has a Roman Reigns problem,
and part of that argument dealt with the idea that I don’t
think this triple threat will be viewed as anything more
than a “chapter in the longer story we are trying to tell
between CM Punk and Roman Reigns,” per WWE speak, and that
bugs me. Now that this mere “chapter” will officially main
event a night of WrestleMania, I can only say that I’m more
annoyed by this story, this triple threat, the whole thing.
I loved Punk’s emotion here, and I even really liked
Reigns’s audacity. Even so, these promos between these three
feel rushed and nobody ever feels like they get enough time
to talk. It’s a forced situation and one I simply can’t buy
into. I’m probably in the minority – and I honestly hate to
be so down on all of this – but we have a few weeks left and
I’m still not interested in this program. Maybe that will
change. We’ll see.
Reigns was out first. Paul Heyman was alongside him.
Security flanked them. The show went to a commercial break
as Reigns made his way to the ring. When the show returned,
the crowd was chanting “OTC!” Heyman gave Reigns a
microphone and Reigns smirked. The crowd launched into a
Roman Reigns singalong. Reigns smiled and screamed, “London!
Acknowledge me!” The crowd complied and sweetened the deal
with “OTC!” chants. Reigns said the crowd singalong was
beautiful, the way they sang to their Tribal Chief. That
inspired the crowd to keep going. Even Heyman joined in.
Reigns called himself the biggest star on the planet. Reigns
said he was there for two reasons: One, to be acknowledged
and two, to sign the contract. Reigns then signed the
contract and he said he checked his boxes. Reigns tried to
speak more, but Seth Rollins’s music hit and out came
Rollins.
The crowd, naturally, kept singing Rollins’s music after it
stopped playing. Rollins grabbed a microphone and tried to
get Heyman to sing along, too, but Heyman just looked
pissed. Rollins laughed into the microphone and said the
crowd had beautiful singing voices. Rollins noted how he and
Roman have a lot of history in that building they were in.
Rollins said back then, they were ready to remake that
company in their image. Rollins said there’s been a little
bit of love and a whole lot of hate between he and Reigns,
but he dare say that he and Reigns accomplished their
mission. “CM Punk!” chants started.
Reigns said they died a long time ago and they, in fact, did
not accomplish their mission. Reigns said he had done all
the work and made the place what it is today. Reigns said he
took them to where they are today. Reigns said he was the
one who made them desirable to Netflix. Rollins said it’s
Reigns’s mindset that makes Rollins always want to screw
him. Rollins said Reigns lets the biggest snake in the
world, CM Punk, into the garden. Rollins said Reigns
wouldn’t let Rollins finish Punk and now, Rollins has to
clean up Reigns’s mess again. Rollins then signed the
contract. Punk’s music hit and Punk came out.
Punk stood on the top rope and said, “I have come here to
chew bubblegum and sign a contract, and I’m all out of
bubblegum.” God bless you, Roddy Piper. Punk sat down
immediately and actualyl read through the contract before
signing it. Reigns asked Punk if he needed a highlighter.
Reigns pushed Punk to sign it. Reigns told Heyman to smarten
Punk up. Heyman walked over to Punk and told Punk he knew
what he was looking for, and it “was in there – he’s going
to close the show at WreslteMania.” Heyman said Punk he will
get to live his dream of all dreams and CM Punk will be a
WrestleMania main eventer. Punk’s eyes got a litter teary.
Reigns said one man’s dream is another man’s check. Rollins
flipped out and said Punk doesn’t deserve it. Rollins said
main eventing WrestleMania is sacred and it means more to
him than anything. Rollins said Punk doesn’t deserve it and
it’s Reigns’s and Heyman’s fault. Loud “CM Punk!” chants
broke out. Punk wiped tears out of his eyes. Punk thanked
London, Chicago, Louisville and the fans who chanted his
name for 10 long years. Reigns cut Punk off and said Punk
needed to thank his Tribal Chief. The credits rolled and
Reigns said punk needed to thank Reigns “the right way.”
Punk got down on one knee and said, “Thank you, my Tribal
Chief,” for allowing a kid from Chicago to be graced by his
presence. Punk mockingly said “Because of you, I will see
you in the main event of WrestleMania.” The crowd chanted
“You deserve it!” Punk thanked Reigns again, but said that’s
also not the favor he was owed. The show then went dark and
that was it.