It’s time for a big SmackDown in a Nutshell, and we have to wonder…what will The Rock and Roman Reigns cook up this week in the desert?
We have been hearing about The Rock’s appearance for a bit. In fact, he will be on the next few blue brand shows at a minimum.
The Road To WrestleMania indeed.
Read More: 10 Worst WrestleMania Matches, Including Michael Cole Vs Jerry Lawler
Of course, the newest board member has been a thorn in Cody Rhodes‘ side for a few weeks now.
And then Cody went down to the Land Down Under…and dropped a massive challenge to The Great One.
So, on the heels of that, and the rest of the Elimination Chamber fun, what might the Bloodline be cooking up in Arizona?
And is there anything else even happening this week? Does it really matter?
There probably is, but it probably won’t much matter.
So…let’s get to the meat and potatoes of the week, shall we?
SmackDown In A Nutshell: What Will The Rock And Roman Reigns Cook Up
Let’s crack this one open and see what gets cooked up!
Best Match of the night:
I have to go with the main event here, if I am just choosing matches.
But from open to close this was a great show.
Worst match of the night:
If only because it was over before it started, Xyon Quinn versus Bron Breakker.
Seriously, if you blinked you missed it.
Crowd Chants of the Night:
Cody
You Sold Out
Let’s go Bayley.
Crowd was pretty good, and was just quiet enough to drive Roman nuts.
Star of the Night
The Bloodline was awesome. Lead by The Rock, of course.
Orton and Theory and Owens and Waller too, for that matter.
Spot of the Night:
The finishing RKO as Theory went for his rolling through the ropes spot was sweet.
Big credit to Theory for selling crazy, on that and on a subsequent stunner.
Jobber of the Night:
Xyon Quinn
Lots to Bron Breakker in like…4 seconds. Maybe five.
Sad thing here, Xyon actually impressed me in NXT.
Upset of the Night:
Bayley was only mildly shocked when Dakota Kai completed her turn.
I said it when she swung the chair a lot and never got close…it was just a delayed turn.
So…with Bayley outnumbered at the moment…who, if anyone, gives her some backup?
Possibly Jade Cargill?
And I have to think that the final splinter is what pushes Bayley back to….HUG LIFE!
Holy Sh** Moment of the Night:
Well, it was sitting there for weeks, but now we are starting to see the plan take shape for real.
Cody challenged The Rock over the weekend.
The Rock can’t do a one on one match (probably). So he countered with “let’s have that big tag match”.
Night one in Philadelphia? The Rock and Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
If the heels win, Sunday’s Rhodes/Reigns match becomes “Bloodline Rules”…anything goes.
But if the faces win, no Bloodline interference. Specifically, Rock mentioned Heyman, Solo and Jimmy.
Kind of leaves the door open for a new addition, doesn’t it? Or perhaps a stunning reunion?
WWE gave the segment a lot of time, for good reason.
Rock said no one in the back can stop him, which makes you wonder if we won’t see some Triple H in some capacity, or someone by proxy.
I also think there was just enough done to lay some groundwork to Roman turning on Rock, or vice versa.
One funny item…weeks after wanting to take on the Head of the Table (which got a huge pop)…now Rock acknowledges Reigns.
Fans chanted “you sold out” at that. (Which was not until Roman stopped Rock from finishing his closing line, to the shock of Paul Heyman).
Based on what’s been laid out? I can see Rollins and Rhodes winning, then having Tama Tonga interfere Sunday.
I truly do not expect Rhodes to finish his story this year, or at least not in April…not unless we get a major swerve.
But I also do not think there is a chance in Hell that Rollins leaves my hometown with his title. Two matches in one weekend with a bad knee?
And a briefcase looming?
No chance.
And…on ANY OTHER NIGHT…a return of Rey Mysterio might have been my sole entry here.
Go figure.
Botch of the night:
Whatever or whomever was messing up the FOX broadcast for the opening segment, the constant plague of blackout screens was too much.
Commentary of the night:
Kevin Owens: “He called me special! My mom always told me I was special!”
Wade actually brought up the horrifically bad Glasgow Willy Wonka “Experience”.
LOL Moment of the night:
Rock saying that, with Bloodline Rules, perhaps Solo will sing the Star Spangled Banner.
Solo was not amused, but the crowd was.
Also, Rock telling the fans that the ice cold stoic face on Sikoa was actually the man’s happy face.
Even as a heel, sometimes he can be funny (though a few later lines were a little off, like when he wanted to say cactus crack heads and it came out crack head Karens).
Noteworthy Moment:
We were 45 minutes into the show before anything close to a wrestling match was spotted.
And yet…I doubt anyone cared.
Aldis indicated that he and Pearce have an announcement coming about the men’s tag titles. I have to think this is going to finally be a needed split.
Overall lowlights:
The glitches, or whatever was happening, during such an important segment? Sucked.
Overall highlights:
Long as it was, the opening segment was gold.
The Dakota turn was sort of anti-climactic, in that we all knew it was coming, but now we can finally get babyface Bayley 100%.
After the final bell:
While I am sure Cody and Seth will have answers on RAW…they are also expected to be in Dallas next week to provide an answer to Rock and Roman Reigns.
As if we actually need that answer.
