This week’s episode of SmackDown was ok. The matches were fine but there was some good storytelling. The highlight of the night was the development in the Rey/Dominik Mysterio feud. Dom finally pushed his father over the edge and they will face each other at Wrestlemania. The lowlight of the evening was the women’s tag match. The action was ok but a few more teams were added to the fatal four-way tag match at Mania.
The matches were fine but the overall score was helped by the storyline between the Mysterios. None of the other matches rose to the level of great. The show structure was hurt by the lack of a true main event. The final segment didn't feel like a main event. The atmosphere was pretty good but the crowd noise wasn't great during every segment. The only reason storytelling’s score isn't higher is that some stories held ground but didn't advance. Usual good production but a regular SmackDown so no theme.
On tonight’s Friday Night SmackDown: Cody Rhodes takes on Ludvig Kaiser in one on one action. Will the American Nightmare keep his momentum going? Sami Zayn is the guest on the Kevin Owens Show. the contract is signed for the Intercontinental Championship match. What chaos will ensue in this signing? And Rey Mysterio faces LA Knight in a match. Will Mysterio be able to block out distractions and achieve victory?
GOOD Cody Rhodes vs Ludvig Kaiser:
After Kaiser was caught on the receiving end of a suplex, Paul Heyman approached the ring, distracting Rhodes. Later, Cody Rhodes went for a Cody Cutter but Kaiser countered by disrupting Rhodes’ balance on the middle rope. Another distraction came for Rhodes when Solo Sikoa also approached the ring, allowing Ludvig Kaiser to chop-block him. Despite the distractions, Rhodes won the match with a Cody Cutter followed up with a Cross Rhodes. After the match, Heyman changed the deal and issued a challenge for Rhodes to face Solo Sikoa on Raw. Rhodes was stuck between a rock and a hard place: say yes and wear himself down ahead of mania. Or say no and look like a coward. Thankfully for the fans, Cody Rhodes accepted.
Results: Cody Rhodes by Pinfall via Cross Rhodes
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
It was announced that John Cena and Austin Theory would be the opening match of Wrestlemania.
GOOD Charlotte Flair:
In her brief address, Flair told us she does not fear Rhea Ripley. Instead, she respects her and the many other women who have built the women’s division in WWE. She ended with a tribute to her father and his impact on the business.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
GREAT Rey Mysterio vs LA Knight:
Mysterio controlled this one early on, but LA Knight battled back and hit Mysterio with a neck breaker. Knight later seized on a distraction caused by Dominik Mysterio entering the arena. The defining moment came when Dominik grabbed Rey’s legs to disrupt a 619 attempt. This allowed LA Knight to win the match by rolling up Musterio. Postmatch, Dom again demands his father face him at Wrestlemania. He pushed his father over the edge after telling his mother, and Rey’s wife, to shut up. This finally made Rey agree to a match with Dominik at Mania.
Results: LA Knight by Pinfall via Rollup
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE Xia Li and Lacey Evans vs Shotzi and Natalya:
The team of Li and Evans was in control early on. Things turned around after Lacey Evans accidentally hit Li with a Women’s Right. Shotzi and Natalya landed the Hart Attack before Natalya submitted Li with a Sharpshooter. Then Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler showed up to announce their entry in the tag match at Wrestlemania.
Results: Shotzi and Natalya by Submission via Sharpshooter
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
GOOD Contract Signing for the Intercontinental Championship match at Wrestlemania:
Sheamus tells off Drew McIntyre for getting in the way of him winning the IC. McIntyre responded that Sheamus is too emotional about the situation plus he has proven unable to defeat Gunther. The Ring General demanded why Adam Pearce made this a triple-threat match. Gunther and Butch started jawing, leading to a match between them.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
GOOD Gunther vs Butch:
Gunther chopped Butch and put him into a Boston Crab but Butch wouldn’t budge. The Ring General cranked things up a notch by using the turnbuckle to hold Butch in a different hold. Just when Butch got some momentum, Drew McIntyre started fighting with the rest of the Brawling Brutes. This distracted Butch and allowed Gunther to pick up the win. After the match, McIntyre hit Gunther with a Claymore which may have been meant for Sheamus.
Results: Gunther by Pinfall via Last Symphony
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will take place on next week’s SmackDown.
GOOD The Kevin Owens Show featuring Sami Zayn:
Owens gave Zayn a hard time for wanting his own pop from the crowd, which Zayn denied. KO then said Sami Zayn had been the MVP of WWE for the past twelve months. KO then unveiled a new shirt that says KO-Mania on the back and WrestleZaynia on the front. As the two embraced, the Usos attacked.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Overall…
This week’s episode of SmackDown was ok. The matches were fine but there was some good storytelling. The highlight of the night was the development in the Rey/Dominik Mysterio feud. Dom finally pushed his father over the edge and they will face each other at Wrestlemania. The lowlight of the evening was the women’s tag match. The action was ok but a few more teams were added to the fatal four-way tag match at Mania.
The matches were fine but the overall score was helped by the storyline between the Mysterios. None of the other matches rose to the level of great. The show structure was hurt by the lack of a true main event. The final segment didn’t feel like a main event. The atmosphere was pretty good but the crowd noise wasn’t great during every segment. The only reason storytelling’s score isn’t higher is that some stories held ground but didn’t advance. Usual good production but a regular SmackDown so no theme.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.5/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 3/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
