Karrion Kross VS Rey Mysterio
We got a recap package of the tribal court from Monday before the Usos and Solo Sikoa pulled up to the building. Jimmy and Solo walked in before Jey was stopped by Sami Zayn who was sort of trying to hide. He said thank you to Jey Uso for what he did on Raw before he told him that if Jey ever needed anything, he just had to ask. Jey then told Sami to leave as he wasn’t meant to be there. Friday Night SmackDown then properly kicked off with a match between Rey Mysterio and Karrion Kross. It’s fair to say that Karrion was on top for the most part, but that makes. Scarlett tried to interfere, but every time she did, Rey just shrugged it off. Mysterio nearly picked up the victory after hitting the 619 and then a splash from the top rope, but Kross was able to kick out. However, the Legendary Luchador was able to pick up the victory with a crucifix pin. I didn’t like this. I thought the match was decent at best and having Rey win makes no sense. I thought we were meant to be pushing Kross and having his first pinfall loss happen like this was pretty lacklustre.
Grade: C-
Brock Lesnar announces his intentions, Lacey Evans returns
After Damage CTRL announced that they would be competing in the Women’s Royal Rumble, Austin Theory came out and told everyone that he is going to win the Royal Rumble. The New Day then came out and laughed this off and I liked the fact that we had three title belts in the ring and not one of them was from SmackDown. The New Day said that when one of them wins, they all win before Theory said that he is the biggest star in the whole company. The Miz then came out and said he is going to win the Rumble before the two heels attacked the New Day. Bobby Lashley’s music then hit and he came and laid out both The Miz and the United States Champion Austin Theory. Xavier Woods then high-fived Lashley before the All Mighty beat both him and Kingston up. Lashley then said that he was going to take his anger out on the competitors in the Royal Rumble match before Brock Lesnar came from behind and delivered an F5 to his rival. The Beast then announced that he will be in the Royal Rumble match. This was basically a segment where they tried to get as many people in it as possible. Also, I kind of already knew Brock was going to be in the match as like Cody Rhodes, he’s been on the poster.
Grade: C
Rhea Ripley was standing in front of a “lake” and she made it crystal clear that she is going to win the Women’s Royal Rumble. I hope she does. Lacey Evans’ music then hit and she came out to make her in-ring return against a local enhancement talent called Jazmin Allure. Lacey dominated Allure as expected and this was done for her to debut her new finishing manoeuvre. After Evans hit the Woman’s Right, she locked Allure in the Cobra Clutch which Allure tapped out of. This annoyed me a bit because her tapping means the Woman’s Right isn’t as strong as it used to be because she really should’ve been knocked out. Evans then cut a promo about how she is going to win the Women’s Royal Rumble. This wasn’t great. I usually like to give new characters a few weeks before I judge it, but Lacey’s had about 17 and only one of them has worked.
Grade: C-
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus VS Hit Row, LA Knight and Bray Wyatt
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus were both get very excited in a backstage interview and they both predict each other will win the Royal Rumble match. I don’t have a problem with either of them winning. We then got a repeat of Cody Rhodes’ “Rhode to recovery” from Monday. I’m starting to get fed up with these for two reasons, one of them being because they keep repeating and the second reason is that they’ve basically shown that he is going to win the Rumble which I really don’t want. Drew McIntyre and Sheamus were then making their entrances for the first semi-final of the SmackDown Tag Team title tournament before they were attacked by the Viking Raiders. The Raiders destroyed them and when we came back from the ad break, Drew and Sheamus had forfeited their spot to go and find Erik and Ivar. Hit Row then came out and fully expected to be put into the final, but Adam Pearce claimed that everyone must earn their spot so he announced that they would have to fight a replacement team. That team was Braun Strowman and Ricochet. All I say about this match is I didn’t like it and Strowman got the win with the Monster Bomb. I have no problem with the Raiders attacking McIntyre and Sheamus because that makes sense. However, them quitting the tournament should’ve given Hit Row a straight bye into the final. Why, because that’s what would happen in other Sports. Also, I totally agree with Wade Barrett’s point about how Strowman and Ricochet have skipped a round. Also, I don’t like the team of Ricochet and Strowman because it means the One and Only is just going to get beaten up so he can make the hot tag to Strowman. Overall, this was all really badly done.
Grade: D
Kevin Owens was being interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton and he made it clear that he has to take out all of the members of the Bloodline if he has any chance against Roman Reigns. The Usos then came over and officials had to stop them from having a fight. Adam Pearce then ordered the Usos to leave the building and this resulted in Jey Uso calling Sami Zayn for that “favour”. Bray Wyatt’s old music then hit and everyone got out their phones. However, it wasn’t Wyatt and it was in fact the Megastar LA Knight. Knight quickly ripped off his Hawaiian shirt and threw away his tiny lamp before he cut the usually great LA Knight promo. Bray Wyatt then appeared on the entranceway and he made it clear that he was going to see just who he really is on Saturday. Uncle Howdy then appeared in a box to remind everyone that he is most likely going to play a part in this match. It’s kind of crazy to think that LA Knight is coming across better than Bray Wyatt. Wyatt is already one of the biggest stars in the whole company, but his promo skills are being matched and maybe even bettered by the former Million Dollar Champion. You know Knight’s doing a good job when the crowd are chanting along with him.
Grade: B
Imperium VS Legado del Fantasma, Charlotte Flair requests a match
Imperium took on Legado del Fantasma in a match that sort of saved this week's episode of Friday Night SmackDown. These are two of the best tag teams that NXT have ever seen (and that’s saying something). Imperium used their excellent technical styles to get ahead, but Legado are so quick so they were able to get back into it. The crowd were also starting to really get behind Legado which is interesting and they came close to winning it after Joaquin Wilde hit his diving splash. In the end though, Giovanni Vinci showed his excellence with a stupid press slam from the top rope before Imperium got the victory with the Imperium Bomb. The only thing that was missing from this match was a Santos Escobar-Gunther stare-off (neither of them were in the arena).
Grade: B
We got a video showing off a bunch of numbers and statistics from previous Royal Rumbles. I’m a fan of stats so I always find these videos interesting. Xia Li then announced that she was in the Royal Rumble before we got a video of Sonya Deville crashing Charlotte Flair’s interview with Ryan Satin. Charlotte then went to Adam Pearce and requested a title match with Sonya Deville so she can get rid of her. Adam Pearce announced that that match will take place next week.
Kevin Owens VS Solo Sikoa
The main event of the final show before the Royal Rumble saw Kevin Owens take on Solo Sikoa. These two are very physical wrestlers so this was a pretty hard-hitting contest. However, both men are also good off the top rope and Kevin Owens particularly had good success from that area. After hitting a Swanton Bomb from the top rope, Sami Zayn pulled Solo Sikoa out of the ring to save the match for the Enforcer. Kevin Owens then rolled out the ring and questioned Zayn before he was “accidentally” met by a kick from Sikoa. Sikoa eventually was able to strike Owens with a chair, but KO got back on top by powerbombing Sikoa onto the table before he smashed him with a chair to send Solo over the barricade. Owens then left Sami Zayn sitting on the floor before he shouted into the camera that he is about to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. I thought the match was alright and the finish made total sense given the fact that neither guy can afford to lose. Also, Sami Zayn listened to Jey Uso, not Roman Reigns which is actually really interesting. A solid end to the show and I cannot wait for the Royal Rumble.
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