WWE SmackDown after WrestleMania 41 was presented from the Dickies Arena in Texas. The show opened to one of the most exciting segments of the year that saw iconic rivals, John Cena and Randy Orton, come face-to-face after RAW, where Orton nailed him with an RKO.
Furthermore, SmackDown also marked the return of a former star, the crowning of a new champion, captivating matches, and a huge TLC title match that stole the show.
Quick Results
- Nathan Frazer & Axiom defeated Angel & Berto in a tag team match.
- Tiffany Stratton vs Jade Cargill ended in a no-contest.
- Zelina Vega defeated Chelsea Green to win the WWE Women’s United States Championship.
- Drew McIntyre defeated LA Knight via Disqualification in a No.1 contender’s match for the WWE United States Championship.
- The Street Profits defeated DIY & Motor City Machine Guns in a triple-threat TLC match to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Best Match
Undoubtedly, the best match of WWE SmackDown this week was the main event. It featured a triple-threat TLC match in which The Street Profits defended their WWE Tag Team Championships against DIY and the Motor City Machine Guns. The match was one of the greatest bouts produced in the blue brand’s history and garnered massive reactions from the fans.
From insane ladder spots and table-dropping instances, all teams used every foreign object to inflict maximum damage. Other notable moments were the use of a prosthetic leg as a weapon, jaw-dropping spots and captivating match that led to fans erupting in ‘Holy Sh*t’ and ‘This is Awesome’ chants. In the end, Montez Ford climbed from the side of the ladder and pushed Chris Sabin and Johnny Gargano to retrieve the titles and win the match for his team.
Worst Match
For the third week in a row, the worst match of the night goes to Chelsea Green vs. Zelina Vega. The match only garnered reactions for Chelsea when she came out, and the crowd was not into it despite Vega fighting the numbers game. Even when Vega picked up the win, it drew no reaction from the crowd, which was a bummer for the night she won her first singles WWE title.
Noteworthy Moments
The biggest noteworthy moment from WWE SmackDown came in the opening segment of the show featuring iconic rivals, John Cena and Randy Orton. Orton berated Cena for becoming a heel and not having kids, but Cena fired back,, saying he was busy raising the fans’ children. Things got heated between them, and Cena tried to attack him, but Orton countered with an RKO to stand tall. Following the segment, a match between John Cena and Randy Orton was made official for WWE Backlash next month.
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Another highlight of the night was the impromptu dream match between Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton in a non-title match. The bout was a stellar showdown that had the fans on the edge of their seats and led them to chant ‘This is Awesome.’ Both women displayed an excellent showing until the match ended in a No-contest when Naomi attacked Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax made her return to take down her rival, Tiffany Stratton.
The major highlight of WWE SmackDown was the official debut of Nathan Frazer and Axiom on the blue brand. They were called up to the main roster to battle Los Garza and saw them emerge victorious in their first match in the big leagues.
Holy Sh!@ Moments
Although the TLC triple threat tag team match was a complete package of Holy Sh!@ Moments, the biggest one was Angelo Dawkins climbing the ladder and spearing Tomasso Ciampa, who was hanging in the air to the table set below. It was a nod to the classic spear that Edge delivered to Jeff Hardy years ago in a TLC match.
Another jaw-dropping moment was the return of former NXT Champion Aleister Black to WWE. He was revealed to be the man behind the cryptic vignettes who came down to the ring to confront The Miz. He took down the Awesome One with the Black Mass and put everyone on notice.
Lowlights
The only lowlight was the hard-hitting match between Drew McIntyre and LA Knight, with the opportunity to face Jacob Fatu for the WWE United States Championship. The match was a good showdown, except for the ending being spoiled by Solo Sikoa and Damian Priest. Although fans chanted when Priest put McIntyre through a table, the entire focus was taken from the match to Jacob Fatu destroying everyone ringside.
What’s in store for WWE SmackDown next week
Only one match was announced for next week’s WWE SmackDown. After Aleister Black made his return to WWE and took out The Miz, it was announced that the duo will collide in a singles match next week. This will also be Black’s first match in the Stamford-based promotion after four years.
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