On April 5, the SmackDown go-home show for WrestleMania40 happened live from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The show featured the traditional Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Randy Orton was the guest on The Kevin Owens Show. Jey Uso faced Solo Sikoa in a one-on-one match. New Catch Republic faced A-Town Down Under and much more. Let’s look at everything that happened on the Friday Night SmackDown.
The Kevin Owens Show
SmackDown started with The Kevin Owens Show with Randy Orton as the special guest. Orton talked about the hatred towards Logan Paul.
He asked the crowd to rate their dislike for Logan out of 10. The crowd said, “ten”. Orton said that it was an eleven for him.
Logan Paul made an appearance via satellite. He was at the Lincoln Financial Field, where WrestleMania will take place.
Owens and Orton jumped the rail and walked towards Paul, who was literally across the street. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller came from under the ring and followed Orton and Owens.
After the break, we saw Randy and Kevin driving a golf cart toward Lincoln Financial Field, Theory and Waller running behind them.
Grades: B-
Analysis: It was a fun way to start the proceedings on SmackDown. The idea of having Logan inside the WrestleManiastadium was good for hype about WrestleMania XL.
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Pretty Deadly tried to eliminate Omos in the beginning. Instead, Omos eliminated Kit Wilson. Prince eliminated himself to escape Omos.
Garza, Carillo, Mahal, Grimes, and Indus Sherwere eliminated before the commercial break. Omos and Creed Brother eliminated each other simultaneously.
Ivar and Bronson Reed displayed their dominance with several eliminations. The final two were Ivar and Reed. Ivar laid out Reed and went for a Doomsault from the top rope.
Reed moved and delivered a rolling thunder. Bronson eliminated Ivar with a clothesline to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Grades: C
Analysis: It was a chaotic match, as you expect from this sort of Battle Royals. It is the annual match done by WWE, paying homage to Andre the Giant.
Good moment for Bronson Reed, but fans couldn’t care less about the winner, as we have seen in the past few years.
Orton and Owens got Logan Paul
Logan Paul was in the Wells Fargo Center now. He entered the ring and started talking trash about Philadelphia. He was referred to as an idiot by those in attendance.
He took shots at Owens and Orton’s intelligence and called himself the strategist. Logan said his associates, Grayson and Austin, are in the Lincoln Financial Field to care for Owens and Orton.
We saw Theory and Waller looking for Randy and Kevin, but they were nowhere to be found. We discovered that Randy and KO tricked Logan as they suddenly came from under the ring. Paul suffered a Stunner and RKO.
Grades: B+
Analysis: Logan Paul has improved his promo skills and is now a good trash talker. Orton and Owens work together weekly, but a twist may await us at WrestleMania.
Singles Match
Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez
Before the match, we saw Carlitochecking on an injured Dragon Lee. Dominik Mysterio and Andrade joined Legado Del Fantasma.
Vega started on fire and delivered kicks and a running knee. Lopez caught a flying Vega and slammed her onto the mat.
There was a brief staredown between Andrade and his former manager. Vega landed the double underhook DDT, but Dom distracted the referee to save the match.
Rey Mysterio took care of Dom. Elektra took advantage of the distraction and delivered the Elektra Shock for the win.
Legado attacked Rey after the match. Andrade turned on them and aligned with Veega and Rey Mysterio.
Winner: Elektra Lopez
Grades: B
Analysis: The match between Vega and Lopez lacked in-ring chemistry. The post-match angle was interesting. It looks like Andrade can replace an injured Dragon Lee at WrestleMania 40.
The Storm for Damage CTRL
Naomi and Bianca Belair were in the ring. Bellair talked about how she was done fighting Damage CTRL alone and how Naomi’s arrival gave her new hope.
Naomi said that they were not enough and were getting outnumbered. Jade Cargill made her entrance and joined Naomi and Bianca in the ring.
She thanked them and discussed how Damage CTRL has allowed her to showcase herself at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Cargill warned Damage CTRL that they were in the eyes of the storm. They all pointed to the WrestleMania sign to close the segment.
Grades: B
Analysis: Jade Cargill brings some energy to her presence, and her entrance is cool, too. It is a key opportunity for her to shine.
Backstage: A medical person told Rey Mysterio that Dragon Lee won’t be cleared to compete tomorrow at WrestleMania.
Andrade said that he will be on Mysterio’s side. Carlito walked in and told Rey about Lee. Vega said they heard about it and informed Carlito about Andrade as the replacement.
Tag Team Match
New Catch Republic vs. A-Town Down Under
All four men exchanged quick tags early on. Bate spun Waller over his shoulders. Later, Tyler reversed a suplex from Grayson into a suplex of his own.
Dunne landed a German Suplex on Theory and a snap suplex on Waller. Ultimately, Bate and Dunne double-teamed Waller and delivered the Birminghammer for the victory.
Judgment Day attacked both teams after the match.
Winner: New Catch Republic
Grades: B
Analysis: It was a fun match to watch. Bate and Dunne always work nicely together. Judgment Day delivered a statement before the six-pack ladder match at WrestleMania for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships.
LA Knight gives a preview of WrestleMania
LA Knight talked about his WrestleMania opponent, AJ Styles. Knight said that Styles is not Phenomenal. He’s just phenomenal at running away and hiding. Knight said that on WrestleManiaSunday, everyone would know whose game this is.
Singles Match
Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa
Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa collided in the main event of Friday Night SmackDown. Jey tried to get the early momentum with a suicide dive, but Solo caught and slammed him into the ring post.
Back after the break, Jey delivered a superkick for a two-count. Sikoa fought back with a Samoan Drop.
Solo attempted the Samoan Spike, but Jey countered it into a superkick. Uso hit a Spear, followed by the Splash.
Jimmy Uso broke the pin, and the match ended in disqualification.
Solo and Jimmy continued the assault on Jey. Cody and Seth made the save. Rhodes took off his weight belt and whipped Jimmy and Solo.
Cody delivered the Cody Cutter to Jimmy. Rollins whipped Jimmy with the weight belt, and Jey delivered the Uso Splash.
Cody took the microphone and said that they would beat Roman and The Rock on WrestleMania Saturday, and then he would go on to win the Undisputed Championship on WrestleMania Sunday. The mic-drop sent SmackDown off the air.
Winner: Jey Uso
Grades: B+
Analysis: A decent match between Jey and Solo. The post-match angle was good, with Cody getting some weight belts whooping on Jimmy and Sikoa.
Overall, it was a fun SmackDown show before WrestleMania. Cody and Seth delivered a final message to Roman Reigns and The Rock, and they will meet inside the ring tomorrow for Night 1 of WrestleMania XL.
