WWE SmackDown aired live from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 22. The show featured the anticipated face-off between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes. Rey Mysterio was in action after returning from injury. Street Profits battled AOP and much more. Let’s take a look at everything that happened on the SmackDown show.
Singles Match
Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar
The show kicked off with the Master of 619, Rey Mysterio, in action. LWO and Legado Del Fantasma were barred from ringside to make it a fair fight.
Rey took on Santos from the get-go, but there were a couple of botches from Mysterio indicating ring rust. Mysterio delivered a hurricanrana from the top rope.
Escobar fought back with a knee to the midsection and a basement dropkick. Mysterio sent Escobar out of the ring and landed a splash, sliding under the bottom rope.
At ringside, Escobar delivered a powerbomb into the ring post. Santos delivered the double knee strike in the corner.
Later, Mysterio ducked, and Escobar fell to the outside. Rey landed a cross-body block from the top. Back in the ring, Mysterio delivered a senton and Lionsault for a nearfall.
Escobar countered the 619 and delivered a slinginging facebuster for a two-count. Outside, Rey hit Escobar with a flying seated senton to send him into the timekeeper’s area.
Rey sent Santos back into the ring and was looking for a springboard. A person in Rey’s mask pulled his ankle.
It was revealed to be Dominik Mysterio. Escobar took advantage of the distraction. He delivered a 619 and a Phantom Driver for the win.
Winner: Santos Escobar
Grades: B+
Analysis: This was a good match to open the show! Rey looked a bit off in the beginning, but he recovered well. It looks like we are back in the Father vs. Son story.
Tag Team Match
Austin Theory and Grayson Waller vs. The OC
All four superstars exchanged frequent tags in the beginning. Karl Anderson laid out both Theory and Waller with a somersault senton.
Gallows super-kicked Waller and hit a chokeslam on Theory. Waller attempted a cheap attack on Anderson at ringside, but Michin laid him out.
Anderson got the tag and delivered a flipping neckbreaker followed by a Spinebuster on both Waller and Theory.
Anderson landed a flying neckbreaker on Theory from the second rope for a two-count. In the end, Theory rolled Gallows and pinned him with his feet on the ropes and an assist from Grayson.
Winners: Austin Theory and Grayson Waller
Grades: C
Analysis: It looked good to see The OC on TV after some time. We get good quality tag team matches every week to qualify for the six-pack WrestleMania ladder match.
Non Title Match
Iyo Sky vs. Naomi
Earlier, we saw Bayley thank Naomi for having her back last week. Before making her entrance, Iyo attacked Bayley backstage.
In the match, Sky landed a hurricanrana and a running dropkick. Naomi soon returned the favor with a dropkick of her own. She hit Sky with a bulldog for a two-count.
Naomi bounced back with a flying cross-body block and a snap kick. She followed it up with a split-legged moonsault for a two-count.
The WWE Women’s Champion landed a missile dropkick and a running Meteora in the corner.
Naomi caught Sky on the top rope and delivered a superplex for a near fall. Naomi delivered a DDT on the apron.
The Kabuki Warriors distracted Naomi. Sky delivered an Over-the-Moonsault for the victory. Damage CTRL continued the beatdown on Naomi after the match.
Bianca Belair came out to make the save, but she was just another victim of Damage CTRL.
Winner: Iyo Sky
Grades: B
Analysis: It was obvious that Iyo Sky won’t lose before WrestleMania XL. The post-match angle was awesome.
Backstage: Kevin Owens was with Nick Aldis. Pretty Deadly came out and angered Owens by saying that he’s the past.
Kevin challenged them to a match with his partner, Randy Orton next week. Before leaving, Owens dropped both of the Pretty Deadly members with one punch.
LA Knight invades AJ Styles’ home
We saw a video clip of LA Knight invading AJ Styles’ home. Knight was arrested after the attack. But Styles dropped the charges, and Knight was released.
Tag Team Match
The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
Akam and Rezar dominated Angelo Dawkins in the beginning, following instructions from Paul Ellering.
Street Profits looked for an opening, and they sent AOP to the outside. Akam and Rezar caught a flying Montez Ford and power-bombed him onto Dawkins.
AOP then dominated Ford in the ring with some sneaky cheap shots.
Finally, Dawkins got the tag, and he was on fire. He delivered a corkscrew elbow and Akam and laid out Rezar at ringside with a shoulder tackle.
AOP delivered the Final Chapter on Ford in the ring, but Dawkins saved the match. Ford earned the victory for Profits with a cradle pin.
Winners: Street Profits
Grades: B-
Analysis: It was a fun match to watch. Akam and Rezar look smooth with their powerhouse moves. Street Profits have advanced in their quest to enter the six-pack ladder match at WrestleMania for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships.
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes Face-to-Face
Roman Reigns made his entrance alongside Paul Heyman. He said he kept his word and was here alone with no Bloodline except the wise man.
Cody Rhodes made his entrance to a loud crowd ovation. Reigns questioned Cody if he came alone.
Rhodes said that he is a man of his word, too. Roman called Cody a fool and an idiot. Reigns also brought up the point of how Rollins stabbed him in the back several years ago.
Cody asked the fans if he could trust Rollins, and the crowd cheered.
Rhodes began to question The Rock’s loyalty. He said that Roman should be eyeing his partner.
Cody asked about the incharge of Bloodline. Is it the Tribal Chief or the Final Boss? Roman said that it was old stuff, and Cody only got that.
Reigns called Cody the greatest number two, but he said that he is number one forever.
Cody made it clear that when it comes to beating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania and taking that title from him, he is not number two but the only one.
Rhodes extended his hand, but Reigns declined to shake hands. Reigns and Heyman slowly began to walk off. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa walked through the crowd.
Jey Uso and Seth Rollins came out through the crowd to back The American Nightmare. The Bloodline stayed away, and the show went off air.
Grades: B+
Analysis: It was a brilliant segment to close out Friday Night SmackDown. However, there was still more to expect in Roman and Cody’s promo war. They said nothing new and were more focused on getting inside each other’s heads.
Overall, this was a decent SmackDown show with a lot of WrestleMania buzz. AJ Styles and LA Knight’s story had a great invasion angle.
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes talked face-to-face, and we had a cold stare down to close the show.
