On tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes finally gets his shot at Drew McIntyre and the undisputed WWE Championship, two months after he lost the title in the Three Stages of Hell match.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis put this into motion after McIntyre once again got involved in Rhodes’ business inside last weekend’s men’s Elimination Chamber match. McIntyre’s interference allowed Randy Orton to pin Rhodes to earn a shot at the undisputed WWE Title at WrestleMania 42. The winner of tonight’s title match will face Orton in Las Vegas.
After Rhea Ripley won the women’s Elimination Chamber, she will challenge Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s title at WrestleMania 42. After a notable war of words on social media, Ripley will appear on tonight’s show.
WWE United States Champion Carmelo Hayes will host another open challenge in hopes of yet another successful title defense.
Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.
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– Our night kicked off with a recap of everything that went down in Chicago last Saturday at Elimination Chamber, from Rhea Ripley’s victory, to Danhausen’s debut, Randy Orton’s victory, and finally Nick Aldis’s decision to put Drew McIntyre in a big title match tonight.
– After the recap, the voice of Joe Tessitore set the stage for tonight’s show, which will be main evented by Rhodes vs. McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Randy Orton opens SmackDown
The winner of the men’s Elimination Chamber match, and the man who will face either McIntyre or Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 made his way to the ring to a huge ovation from the Portland crowd. Once Orton was done taking in the cheers of the crowd, he took a mic.
Orton welcomed the Portland crowd to the show before he talked about how he got to the venue early in the morning and he saw that the WrestleMania sign was already up in the arena. Orton said that he started thinking about each individual WrestleMania he had performed in — about twenty of them. He said that he realized that he only main evented two of those Mania shows. It doesn’t matter how many records set or titles won, as there was no guarantee anyone was going to WrestleMania, let alone main event one. But now, here we are and Orton can officially say that he’s going back to the main event of WrestleMania.
Orton said that he’s not the kind of guy who stands in the ring and tells everyone he’s the best. He does let his peers do the talking and they say that he’s the best. Orton called out The Undertaker, Ric Flair, JBL as individuals who put him over, as he then turned his attention to the locker room filled of the amazing talent that he shared it with. He said he’s proud that he’s still in the spot that he’s in to this day. Orton tallked about how he earned his spot, nobody handed it to him.
As for who Orton will face at WrestleMania, he said that we’ll know in a couple of hours. If it’s either Cody Rhodes or Drew McIntyre, Orton said that he wouldn’t be leaving Vegas without the Undisputed WWE Championship around his waist. Orton said that he planned on accomplishing that in one way, with the most dangerous letters in sports entertainment.
However, before Orton could finish that statement, he was interrupted by the music of Trick Williams. The man himself emerged from the back amidst the loud “WHOOP THAT TRICK!” chants before he spoke. Williams introduced himself as the “sexiest and most entertaining superstar alive”, as he talked about the voices in his head, which told him that he had a bone to pick with Orton. Williams said that we all know he should be in the main event of WrestleMania getting that title shot. However, there was a bigger problem than that. Williams said that on Saturday, Orton came to his Chamber pod and said he wasn’t 6’5″. As Williams entered the ring to talk smack to Orton, he got hit with an RKO out of nowhere.
Standard opening segment with Orton outlining his Mania plans, and Williams managing to be entertaining as ever, even if he was just there to eat an RKO. I imagine things will shift towards something for the WrestleMania title match once we get our winner in the McIntyre/Rhodes main event.
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– Earlier today, Carmelo Hayes met with Nick Aldis in his office. Aldis said that the U.S. Title Open Challenge has been catching the eyes of everyone across the world, including one person in particular. Hayes said that he’d see this person out in the ring, setting the stage for our opener.
U.S. Title Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Hijo Del Dr. Wagner Jr.
The AAA Latin American Champion was revealed to be Hayes’ opponent for this Open Challenge. A short primer on Dr. Wagner Jr. was shown prior to this match.
Wagner immediately hit Hayes with a shotgun dropkick, followed by a cannonball into the corner. As Hayes went on the apron, Wagner hit him with a kick, as he then leapt at him to take the U.S. Champion down at ringside. Back in the ring, Hayes was still on the backfoot as Wagner hit a missile dropkick from the top rope for an early pin attempt.
Hayes recovered with a rolling dodge over Wagner, followed by a dropkick of his own. As Hayes tried to go for a suplex, Wagner used his size to block it, but got rolled up for a pin attempt for a count of two. Hayes targeted Wagner’s leg as he then hit his backward springboard leg drop on the challenger, which took us to commercial.
When we returned from commercial, Wagner had just hit a superplex on Hayes for a near-fall. As both men recovered to their feet, they exchanged strikes and chops. Hayes hit an enzuigiri on Wagner, who immediately responded with a hard clothesline. One, two… NO! Wagner Jr. remained on the offensive, but Hayes stopped that with his trademark springboard clothesline. Hayes kipped up and chopped at Wagner’s chest, followed by La Mistica (referred to by Tessitore as a “Dirty Diana”).
Wagner countered Hayes’ First 48 attempt with a deadlift powerbomb for a close near-fall. Wagner exposed his right arm, as he hit a discus elbow strike. Hayes escaped a Wagner Driver attempt, as he then intercepted a middle turnbuckle dive with a First 48, One, two… 2.99999999!!!!!! Hayes headed to the top and missed with Nothin’ But Net. Wagner got ahead of this and put Hayes on his shoulders before he hit yet another powerbomb. Again, Hayes refused to lose.
Hayes dodged a Wagner piledriver and made no mistake with Nothin’ But Net this time for the pin and win in this Open Challenge match.
After the match, Hayes and Wagner showed respect to one another for a heck of a match.
Carmelo Hayes def. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. via pinfall to retain the U.S. Championship
Probably not one of the stronger Open Challenge matches, but still a solid little match to kick off SmackDown’s in-ring action. Wagner Jr. had a good showing in this one and kept up well with Hayes in this contest. I enjoyed it.
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– Ilja Dragunov was interviewed about his refusal to answer Carmelo Hayes’ offer to face him for the U.S. Title. He said that he learned this warrior mindset from his mother, stating that he was fighting like how she would. The Miz interrupted to talk some trash to Dragunov, before Kit Wilson showed up to call him “toxic”. Dragunov said that maybe fighting was the answer to get it all out of his system as he left.
– Balloons were being set up around the ring for The Irresistable Forces’ WWE Women’s Tag Title celebration which was coming up next.
– Damian Priest was talking with Nick Aldis about a match he had tonight, as R-Truth joined in on the conversation. Aldis decided to put Truth and Priest as a team for Tag Team Turmoil later tonight as the two left. Drew McIntyre confronted Aldis, and stated that he had time to calm down after Elimination Chamber. McIntyre said that Cody Rhodes didn’t earn tonight’s title shot, but Aldis saw it differently. Aldis said that McIntyre went back on his word and told him it was put up or shut up time. Put the title on the line or forfeit it. McIntyre concluded that the only way taht Rhodes would get the Undisputed WWE Title was from his cold, dead hands.
The Irresistable Forces’ Championship Celebration
Nia Jax and Lash Legend, our new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, made their way down to the ring, which was suitably decorated for their big celebration. As Jax and Legend entered the ring, the two told the Portland crowd to soak it all in, as they were getting a good look at two six-foot-two thoroughbred stallions. Jax said that with the Women’s Tag Titles, they had the entire women’s tag division on lock as the two most dominant women in WWE.
Jax said that any and all challengers were welcome, but it wouldn’t make any difference. Legend added that if anyone was brave enough to challenge them, that if they ran up, they’d get done up. Legend declared that the Irresistable Forces were here and they were not going anywhere. Legend talked about how it was fitting to have a toast to the most grand and dominant WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Jax and Legend toasted as pyro went off on the stage. They were interrupted by the music of Charlotte Flair, who was accompanied by partner Alexa Bliss.
With mics of their own in hand, Bliss said that she was really happy for Nia Jax that she finally found a coattail to ride off her back. She pointed out how they only lost the Women’s Tag Titles to the Kabuki Warriors due to Jax and Legend’s cheating ways. Flair said the two were looking at the next challengers for the Women’s Tag Titles. That was when Giulia and Kiana James made their way.
James pointed out how she won the in a match against Lash Legend and Charlotte Flair, and how she pinned Bliss in the Elimination Chamber. James talked about how she and Giulia would get themselves to WrestleMania one way or another. With the two teams in the ring talking trash to one another, NIck Aldis interjected and said that Portland deserved a little action, as we’d get Giulia and James vs. Bliss and Charlotte, and we’d have that match right now… or at least after this commercial break.
Pretty much a standard segment to set up challengers for the Womens’ Tag Titles. Not really much else to point out here. I will say that Jax and Legend are pretty entertaining now at the moment.
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia & Kiana James
This match was joined in progress after the break as Bliss and Giulia were fighting it out in the ring. Bliss tagged in Flair as the two did an unconventional double team move with Bliss being lifted by Flair to kick Giulia to her corner. James tagged in and seemed to hold her own against James and Giulia. On the apron, Flair barreled into both of them with a senton to the two of them. James recovered and threw Flair into the ringpost to regain momentum for her team.
James punched at Flair before she dropped an elbow right across the chest. Giulia re-entered the match and hit a jumping dropkick to the back of a seated Flair for a two-count. James once again joined the match and drove her shoulders to Flair’s midsection in the corner. As James went for a standing moonsault, Flair used her knees to block it as both women were down in out in the middle of the ring. Bliss and Giulia entered the match for their teams after tag as the latter showed a furious offense against the former. Giulia tried to recover, but Bliss countered it with a basement dropkick after an attempted roll-up.
Bliss kicked Giulia to the outside and leapt from the apron. James caught Bliss and dropped her across the apron as Giulia then hit her with a big boot, which took us to a break.
Once we returned from commercial, Bliss fought hard as she tagged in Flair for the hot tag. Flair took Giulia and James out with a double cross body before lighting the two up with chops. She had things in full control with a fallaway slam on Giulia after catching her. Flair went to the top rope and hit the moonsault on both Giulia and James, the latter of whom managed to kick out at two. James hit Flair with a boot as Giulia blind tagged herself in. Back suplex by Giulia on Flair kept the advantage for her team, but she couldn’t get the three. Giulia willed herself back up and grabbed at Flair’s hair to try for a slam. Flair countered that into a German suplex as Bliss hit James with a DDT. Flair connected with Natural Selection on Giulia for the victory.
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Giulia and Kiana James via pinfall
A fun sprint in this tag match. I enjoy all four competitors in this match and it was a treat seeing these teams.
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– We got remarks from Jelly Roll, who congratulated Randy Orton on his Elimination Chamber win as he teased showing up next week.
– Cody Rhodes was interviewed as he got a mixed reaction from the crowd. Rhodes said that one obstacle after another, the one that remained constant was Drew McIntyre. Sami Zayn interrupted things as Rhodes seemed annoyed. Zayn said that he let Rhodes beating him go to qualify for the Elimination Chamber, as he talked about how Rhodes lost at Elimination Chamber, but he still got a chance.
Rhodes saw it differently and thought Zayn was trying to politic his way to a WWE Title match, even though he hadn’t won a damn thing just yet. Zayn backed off again and said that he was actually out here to wish Rhodes luck for his title match later. “Go become WWE Champion, again” Zayn said sarcastically as Rhodes walked off. Zayn once again flipped out afterwards.
– Trick Williams appeared on The Breakfast Club to talk about his recent successes.
Tag Team Turmoil (Winners Become No. 1 Contenders for WWE Tag Team Championships): Motor City Machine Guns vs. Fraxiom vs. The Wyatt Sicks vs. Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. Los Garza
Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley entered first for this match, as they got set to face Fraxiom.
Shelley and Nathan Frazer squared off to start with a bit of chain wrestling. Shelley chopped at Frazer’s chest, but got hit with a jumping kick. Frazer went flying with a forearm strike on Shelley as Axiom entered with a tag. Some fast back and forth action between Sabin and Axiom saw the masked man gain the upper hand with a snap dragon suplex. Frazer and Shelley entered the match as things quickened with Fraxiom showing some nice chemistry against the MCMGs. Frazer and Axiom shelled Shelley and Sabin with repeated suicide dives as we took a break here.
We returned from commercial as Axiom avoided the Machine Guns’ offense to tag in Frazer, who leapt at Sabin and Shelley with springboard double dropkick, followed by a dive through the ropes. Showing great agility, Frazer had the match in hand until a blind tag allowed the Machine Guns’ to respond with their tandem offense. Skull and Bones attempt was stopped by Axiom, as he then tagged in and hit a dropkick on Sabin before he got a pinfall. Shelley put Sabin’s foot on the rope, but that eliminated the Machine Guns from Tag Team Turmoil.
Motor City Machine Guns have been eliminated
Los Garza stormed into the ring and went right on the offensive against Frazier with a double team assaut. Angel hit a a knee to the face of Frazer, who kicked out at two. Frazer recovered and hit a superplex on Angel, as Axiom then hit a kick on him as well. Berto broke up the pinfall as he attacked Axiom. Angel found himself stunned in the corner, while Berto pushed Frazer from the other corner. This left Fraxiom alone to fall victim to the MTY and the pin.
Fraxiom has been eliminated
The Wyatt Sicks were the next to enter the Tag Team Turmoil fray, with Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis representing the team as usual. The Wyatts’ stinger took us into commercial on the USA Network, while the action kept going on the Netflix feed.
Once the match returned from commercial, Lumis was sent barrelling out of the ring after Angel pulled down the middle rope. Berto tagged in and hit Lumis with a dropkick, but couldn’t get the pin. Berto then had Lumis in a single-leg crab submission, but he couldn’t keep the hold. Gacy was knocked out of the apron as Los Garza kept Lumis isolated with a Doomsday Device. As Angel made the pin, Gacy stepped in to break the count. Lumis kicked Angel away, which gave him an opening to tag Gacy in.
Gacy hit Angel with a pump kick as he then powered into a back suplex on Berto. Lumis tagged in and as Tonga Loa pulled out Gacy, followed by Tama Tonga causing a distraction. This led to Berto rolling up Lumis for the shock pin thanks to the M.F.T.s’ involvement.
The Wyatt Sicks have been eliminated
Damian Priest and R-Truth entered the ring as the final competitors of Tag Team Turmoil while Gacy and Lumis brawled with the M.F.T.s up the ramp. We got another break in the action following this.
As we returned from commercial, Priest was on fire and taking it to both Angel and Berto quite easily. Berto rolled out of the ring just as Priest was going to hit his rolling elbow. Outside the ring, Priest sent Angel flying over the announce table, as Berto took advantage with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Berto countered South of Heaven and hit a springboard enzuigiri. Berto headed up top and hit an amazing moonsault for the near-fall. Truth entered the match and then went into John Cena’s Five Moves of Doom against Berto. Five-Knuckle Shuffle hit its mark, as he then locked in the STF after an unsuccessful AA attempt. Angel broke up the submission, as Priest blind tagged into the match. All four men were in the ring as Priest hit South of Heaven while Truth hit the AA for the victory.
R-Truth & Damian Priest def. Los Garza, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, & The Wyatt Sicks to win Tag Team Turmoil
This was a decent match for the most part, but the fact that a lot of it was interrupted by commercials and a thrown-together tag team got the win in this match really does put a damper on things, I’m sorry to say. The SmackDown tag division is already facing an uphill battle in terms of getting TV time, so them essentially playing second fiddle to this Priest and Truth odd couple just won’t cut it.
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– Randy Orton was confronted by Sami Zayn, who again was apoplectic about how Orton took advantage of Cody Rhodes getting distracted at Elimination Chamber, wondering how he did it. Orton said that sometimes, you had to be selfish, as it made me a 14-time world champion. Orton told Zayn that he believed in his ability of becoming a world champion, stating that he maybe needed to listen the voices in his head.
As Orton left, Aleister Black told Zayn to not worry about it, as it was just the “nature of the beast.”
Rhea Ripley & Jade Cargill face off
The winner of the women’s Elimination Chamber match walked to the ring as the crowd cheered loudly for Rhea Ripley.
Ripley said she was going to come to SmackDown, and here she was. She then told Jade Cargill to come face her at this moment, since she clearly had a lot to say. This prompted the WWE Women’s Champion to make her way down to the ring, as confident as ever.
Once Cargill got into the ring, she sized up Ripley before offering a handshake. Ripley reluctantly accepted as Cargill said that she gave the handshake because she respected Ripley. Cargill respected all of Ripley’s accomplishments and how the people loved her. She respected how Ripley how hard she worked to earn the opportunities… but Cargill was not impressed. Cargill then boasted about her physical beauty as being more powerful than Ripley’s own physique. Cargill declared that she was going to beat the hell out of Ripley at WrestleMania and that there was nothing she could do about it, because she was “that bitch”.
Ripley responded with another handshake as she then had her turn on the mic. Ripley said that she respected the honesty Cargill was showing and what she really thinks about her. Ripley told Cargill that she respected her physically. Ripley said that even if Cargill gave her best shot at her, she would not stay down. But, if Ripley delivered a shot of her own, there was no way Cargill would get back up. Ripley declared that Cargill’s body was built for show, while her own body was built for fighting. When that bell rings, Cargill could flex all she wants, but Ripley was going to fight and take the WWE Women’s Title from her with force, and there was nothing Cargill could do about it. Ripley then threw Cargill’s own catchphrase back at her before doing a mic drop.
Well, if you were wondering if they were going to lean in on Cargill’s apparent shoot comments about Ripley that got the SmackDown women’s locker room all upset, they didn’t seem to go that route. Meanwhile the route they chose instead was a bit baffling, and it led to kind of a disappointing promo segment between Cargill and Ripley as a result. Not really a promising start to the build for their WrestleMania 42 showdown. Hopefully they can get it together as the feud progresses.
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– Backstage, Johnny Gargano was still lying down on a crate, as Alex Shelley was showing sympathy to his plight. Chris Sabin seemed upset at Shelley showing more care for Gargano’s situation as the two argued. When the Motor City Machine Guns left, Candice LeRae wanted for Gargano to show that old “Johnny Wrestling” fire, which seemed to get through to Gargano.
– We got a video from the Wyatt Sicks that once again addressed the M.F.T.s. Uncle Howdy said that Solo Sikoa would have no choice but to run when all was said and done.
– Inside the ring, Gargano said that he was one of the best professional wrestlers in the world, and that he needed to be Johnny Wrestling once again, and it starts tonight. He issued an open challenge for anyone to face him right here, right now. On cue, Oba Femi made his way down to the ring.
Oba Femi vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano went after Femi right away as he tried to go for a strike. A chop from Femi sent Gargano for a loop as he then unleashed his barrage of running forearms to the corner. Femi then tossed Gargano across the ring before he put an end to him with a Fall From Grace and the three. That’s all she wrote.
Oba Femi def. Johnny Gargano via pinfall
I dunno how to feel about Gargano, who used to feel like a big deal in his NXT days, being used as essentially enhancement talent, but I will say I do enjoy Oba Femi hitting his high-octane offense like he did here. Letting Oba be Oba is doing him a world of wonders, and it’s getting him over quite well with the fans.
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– Jade Cargill was once again confronted by Michin and B-Fab. We found out that Cargill would defend her WWE Women’s Title against Michin next week.
– Nick Aldis was walking backstage and met by Danhausen, who had a list of demands, which included giving him a mentor. As Aldis walked forward, Danhausen was seen stalking behind him while The Miz was talking on his phone. Aldis said that Miz was in need of someone to mentor, and he found that someone in the form of Danhausen. Miz didn’t want to listen, as Danhausen warned that if he didn’t listen to his demands, he would be cursed. “Remember what happened to Dom on Monday,” threatened Danhausen before he left Miz alone.
Next Week on SmackDown
- WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Michin
- We’ll Hear from Jelly Roll
- WrestleMania Contract Signing: Randy Orton and Winner of Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes
Undisputed WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Cody Rhodes
This match got underway with McIntyre trying to make a quick exit, but Rhodes ran after him and threw him into the video board. McIntyre was pummeled by Rhodes outside the ring, as he then was thrown over the crowd barricade at ringside. Rhodes took a cup of water from a fan and hit McIntyre across the face with it. As the action got back into the ring, McIntyre got the momentary advantage before he got hit with the drop-down uppercut from Rhodes, followed by a Disaster Kick.
In the corner, Rhodes teed off on McIntyre with bunches of punches. McIntyre found a way to gain momentum by kicking at Rhodes’ chest, as he then connected with an overhead suplex, followed by one more. As Rhodes headed out of the ring, he planted McIntyre into the steel steps and looked like he was going to hit a suicide dive. McIntyre rocked him with an elbow as he then pushed him into the ringpost. McIntyre had Rhodes in position for a drop onto the hardest part of the ring.
McIntyre re-entered the ring as he hit Rhodes with a back elbow for a near-fall. The Undisputed WWE Champion hit a suplex on Rhodes to keep his control of this match. McIntyre’s arm hold was broken up by Rhodes, who began to fight back with strikes to the face. The pace quickened as Rhodes connected with a Randy Orton-style snap powerslam. This was the opening for Rhodes to connect with a Cody Cutter on McIntyre. Rhodes stalked his foe and looked like he was going to hit Cross Rhodes, but McIntyre rolled out of the ring. McIntyre drove Rhodes’ shoulder into the ring post outside the ring as he then targeted that damaged left arm with ruthless intent.
Rhodes tried to fight back, but McIntyre again went for the hurt arm with knees across it, followed by a stomp. McIntyre pointed at the WrestleMania time as he headed for the top rope. Unfortunately for the champ, this gave Rhodes time to recover to intercept him at the pass. McIntyre and Rhodes duked it out on the top rope, as the latter won out and connected with a massive superplex. Both men struggled to their feet and traded strikes until Rhodes locked in the figure-four leg lock on McIntyre. The champion escaped the hold by going after Rhodes’ hurt arm as he rolled out of the ring. Rhodes recovered and hit a suicide dive to knock McIntyre down.
Rhodes took a look at the commentary table and cleared it aside, as he looked for a big risk maneuver. Rhodes took McIntyre on top of the table and was about to hit Cross Rhodes. McIntyre broke out of it as the table collapsed under the sheer weight of both men. Rhodes got up and pulled a table from underneath the ring. McIntyre attacked from behind and set up the table. He put Rhodes trhrough the table with a powerbomb, somehow not being disqualified for it.
In the ring, McIntyre put Rhodes in position to be hit with a Cross Rhodes of his own. One, two…. NOT YET! McIntyre set Rhodes up for a Claymore, but was blocked at the last second. Rhodes decided to pull a page from McIntyre’s playbook and hit the Claymore kick for a very close near-fall. The referee twice avoided calamity, but couldn’t avoid it a third time as McIntyre pulled him in the way of Rhodes’ Disaster Kick. With the ref down and out, the fight still continued as McIntyre avoided a running splash and chopped at Rhodes’ chest. The challenger pulled an amazing counter of McIntyre’s attempted slam for Cross Rhodes. But, the referee was out cold. As a second referee was coming down, McIntyre hit the Claymore on Rhodes in the process. One, two…. 2.999999999!!!!!
McIntyre threw Rhodes shoulder-first into the ring post twice as he then turned his attention to the referee and hit him with a headbutt out of frustration. McIntyre went out of the ring to grab a chair and looked like he had evil intentions for Rhodes. However, before he could do anything, Jacob Fatu appeared out of nowhere and ripped the chair away from him. Rhodes rolled up McIntyre, but there was a kickout at two. McIntyre hit the Future Shock DDT and had Rhodes in position for the Claymore. Rhodes moved out of the away and hit a super Cody Cutter before one final Cross Rhodes and that’s it, over. Cody Rhodes is your Undisputed WWE Champion once again and will face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42.
Cody Rhodes def. Drew McIntyre to win the Undisputed WWE Championship
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I’d assume that this sudden title change was likely to set up a more tantalizing (in WWE’s eyes) Orton vs. Rhodes title match, as well as McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu for WrestleMania 42. I’m just going to get out and front and say that I’m kind of not of a fan of this title change. The whole story of McIntyre “fooling around and finding out” by antagonizing everyone leading to a potential multi-man title match seemed like the better play for WrestleMania.
As for this match itself, it was a decent TV main event and both men looked pretty good in the process, so I can’t complain about the actual match, even if the finish was a bit off for me.
This week’s SmackDown was again a decent show, with the main event, Giulia/James vs. Bliss/Flair, and Hayes vs. Dr. Wagner Jr. being my favorites of the night. I wasn’t a fan of Tag Team Turmoil at all and the main event finish did leave me a bit cold as it seemed to throw away the possibilities teased in prior weeks.
All in all, we’re set up for what seems to be a “safe” Road to WrestleMania, and I don’t know if the safe, predictable route will be one that gets fans flocking to Vegas next month.
