The Viking Raiders VS The New Day: Viking Rules Match
SmackDown kicked off with The Viking Raiders taking on the New Day in a Viking Rules Match (anything goes basically). The New Day were dressed as Thor and Loki which was cool, and this was a really fun match. There was a lot of crazy spots, dropping one another on the long boat that was attached to the ring. Shields were used as weapons as well as Thor’s hammer, which Kofi used to take down Erik the Bald as Pat McAfee called him. The New Day did a tag team manoeuvre on Erik which ended up breaking the chair completely which was cool. The ending came when the Viking Raiders hit the “Ragnarok” onto Xavier through two tables which looked really nasty. A massive win for Raiders and it feels like they are potentially in line for a tag team title opportunity. The New Day are great, but it feels like they have been in the same place for a long time now. A feud between them and Gunther + Ludwig is their best option.
Grade: B+
Backstage Segments, Kross VS Gulak
Part 1 of Roman’s celebration videos came and this one was about the beginning of his reign. After this, Sami Zayn was seen sorting out Roman’s celebration stuff and then The Usos checked to make sure that everything was going well. Shayna Baszler and Liv Morgan then had a promo exchange. I’m looking forward to this match because I can see either of them walking out as the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Part 2 then aired for Reigns, this time about how many main event matches The Tribal Chief has had in the last 2 years. After this, Karrion Kross made his in-ring return against Drew Gulak. Kross’ entrance is awesome, one of the best in the entire company and some of the moves he pulls out are truly brutal. Kross won with the Kross-jacket, and he refused to let go after the match. Hopefully, they keep putting Kross in these roles, so he builds himself up for a match against either Roman Reigns or Drew McIntyre in the future.
Grade: B for Kross
Ronda Rousey and Adam Pearce, Hit Row VS Maximum Male Models
Ronda Rousey came out to the ring with a letter from WWE Management about her suspension. She forced Adam Pearce to read it out loud and the letter said that Rousey’s suspension is no more. Adam Pearce was not happy, and he gave some personality for like the first time ever. Him saying that he would have fired Rousey if it was his choice and that he works so hard to make this show work and yet he never gets a thankyou and superstars like Ronda Rousey walk around like they own everything. After some more comments from Pearce, Rousey attacked him and walked off. Let’s see if she gets suspended again.
Grade: B-
Sami Zayn was backstage when he was given flowers that where for the tribal chief. They were fully black, and the note said tick tock, a little message from Kross to the Tribal Chief before part three of Roman’s reign. After this, Hit Row took on the in-ring debut of Maximum Male Models. This match wasn’t great but the Models acting was brilliant. Los Lotharios were ringside to continue their storyline with Maxxine Dupri and the match ended with Hit Row hitting their really weak finishing manoeuvre. After the match, Los Lotharios got involved in a brawl before the Street Profits evened the odds for the singers. 8-man tag looks to be coming soon.
Grade: C
Happy Corbin’s open challenge, Butch VS Ludwig Kaiser
Happy Corbin cut a backstage promo saying that he is going to get back to winning ways tonight in an open challenge. Part 4 was about the match types that Roman Reigns has been in and then Corbin’s challenge was accepted by Shinsuke Nakamura too Pat McAfee’s delight. This was pretty short and Shinsuke won with the Kinshasa. This was done to keep Corbin’s downward spiral going and it was an important win to give Shinsuke some momentum back.
Grade: C+
Former NXT UK Stars Butch and Ludwig Kaiser had a really good matchup. The former Bruiserweight was back to wrestling like his NXT days and looked really good. Ludwig is also an excellent wrestler and there was a lot of physicality in this match, almost a preview of what their leaders are going to do later on today. Butch won the match with the bitter end before Ludwig Kaiser stopped Gunther getting into a scrap with the Celtic Warrior Sheamus. This was very good.
Grade: B+
Drew McIntyre ruins the two-year celebration of Roman Reigns
The final part of Roman’s videos came with an overall montage of everything he has done. These packages where well done and he has definitely earnt them. After this, Sami Zayn and The Usos praise the Tribal Chief in a very funny exchange as Jey Uso was getting very angry with the so-called Locker Room Leader. Roman Reigns then arrived but as soon as he got out of the car, Roman was met by a massive claymore kick from Drew McIntyre. Drew then came to the ring and beat up the Tag Team Champions and claymored Zayn whilst a chair was in his face. McIntyre even speared Jey Uso through the barricade which was really cool. McIntyre told Reigns that he will take the Championship off him in Cardiff. This was a really effective segment and Reigns VS McIntyre is going to be awesome. If McIntyre wins, they crowd will go mental but if Reigns wins, he really is in GOD Mode.
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