SmackDown 01.03.2024
Finally, the Radiant Team is come back in Glendale Arizona!
Tonight promises some major events, with several big storylines ready to unfold. First up, we’ll witness Dakota Kai and Bayley reunite to face Damage CTRL in their first match together since coming back as a team. This is bound to be explosive, especially with Damage CTRL being at the height of their momentum. LA Knight will also be in the building, and he’s sure to have plenty of questions for AJ Styles regarding what went down at Elimination Chamber. AJ’s actions left a lot of fans and even fellow wrestlers puzzled, and LA Knight isn’t one to stay quiet when he feels something’s off. The tension continues with Randy Orton, who will have a lot to say after Logan Paul cost him his WrestleMania moment. The current USA Champion, Logan Paul, has quickly made enemies in the locker room, but messing with "The Viper" may turn out to be his biggest mistake yet. Orton won’t let this slide, and tonight might see the beginning of a new personal vendetta. And last but certainly not least, we’re eagerly awaiting the response of The Bloodline to Cody Rhodes’ bold challenge against The Rock. Challenging "The Great One" might not have been the wisest decision on Cody’s part, but it sure was exciting. With Roman Reigns and the rest of The Bloodline looming, things could escalate fast. Will they accept Cody’s challenge, or will Roman have his own plans for "The American Nightmare"? Let’s find out everything as it unfolds tonight in Glendale!
A Huge Announcement from The Bloodline to Cody Rhodes
What better way to open SmackDown than with the undeniable presence of your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns? Acknowledge him! It's incredible how, no matter what people think about Roman—whether they cheer or boo—they still give him the respect he demands. And tonight was no different. Roman demanded acknowledgment from the arena, but after three failed attempts from the crowd, he had enough, dismissing them with, "Well, we’re done here. Disappearance is done. You’re welcome."
But Paul Heyman had other plans. The night wasn’t over yet, because he was here—The Rock. The Tribal Chief seemed far from pleased with this development, and you could feel the tension in the air as these two icons shared the ring. The Rock, as always, lit up the crowd, starting with some of his trademark humor. He even joked about Phoenix being the "cocaine capital" of the U.S., claiming he saw all the junkies in the crowd tonight. Classic Rock.
The Great One then turned his attention to The Bloodline, boasting about their success, saying that every arena they walk into is sold out because they are simply greatness personified. Then, he moved on to Cody Rhodes. “Do you really think, boy, you can go one-on-one with The Great One just because you want to? I say no, Cody!” Rock quipped, adding that every woman in the arena might want to go one-on-one with him, but not Cody.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - People's champion appearances with style as usual.
But The Rock and Roman Reigns are businessmen, and they had a counter-challenge for Cody. Rock laid it out: “Take your clown friend Seth Rollins on Night 1, and we’ll have Roman and The Rock against Cody and Seth. If you two jabronis somehow manage to win, Night 2 will be a fair fight—no Bloodline at ringside, just you and Roman. You have my word on that.”
It’s a huge opportunity for Cody and Seth, but there’s a catch. Should The Bloodline win on Night 1, Night 2 will be fought under Bloodline rules—anything goes, no restrictions, the full might of the family unleashed. The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Rock closed by warning Cody that if he doesn’t accept, The Rock will do everything in his power to make sure Rhodes never wins the WWE Championship.'
Just when you thought things couldn't get any more intense, The Rock went for his signature catchphrase, but Roman stopped him, asking for the mic. "I need one thing—acknowledge me." The crowd erupted. The tension between these two legends was electric, and in a stunning moment, The Rock responded, "Roman Reigns, I acknowledge you as my Tribal Chief."
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Bloodline as strong and united as never before.
The crowd was floored. These two titans of WWE hugged it out, now united and stronger than ever. Together, The Rock and Roman Reigns stand at the top, an unstoppable force ready to crush anyone who dares to oppose them. Cody and Seth are in for the fight of their lives. Next week, we’ll hear Cody’s response. Will he accept the challenge?
Randy Orton Gets a Great Proposition
Backstage, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory were having a good laugh, watching footage from Elimination Chamber where Logan Paul knocked out Randy Orton. But unfortunately for them, the Viper himself arrived just in time to hear everything. Orton didn’t waste any time confronting them. He wanted to know who was brave enough to step into the ring with him tonight and get torn to pieces.
Waller, ever the quick thinker, immediately found an excuse to back out, shifting the spotlight to Theory. Without missing a beat, he made it clear that Austin Theory would be the one to face Orton. A look of disbelief crossed Theory’s face as he realized he'd been thrown into the fire. "Australia? And now this? Really?" he muttered, clearly frustrated by how fast things had escalated.
It looks like Theory is in for a tough night against a very fired-up Viper!
Tiffany Continues Her Crusade
Two Elimination Chamber opponents squared off tonight to settle their growing issues, with Tiffany Stratton and Naomi meeting once again. Tiffany has been on a roll in recent weeks, and she came into this match as the clear favorite. From the outset, Stratton absorbed less damage and controlled the pace, establishing herself as the dominant force. She crafted several key moments, launching impressive power moves that kept Naomi on the defensive.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Naomi tried to prove that Elimination Chamber was just a sudden accident.
Naomi, determined to bounce back, tried to mount counter-attacks and build momentum, but it wasn't easy. Tiffany’s power and precision shone through, especially as she executed her signature moves. Ultimately, it all came down to a perfectly timed Moonsault that sealed the win for Tiffany. For the second time in a row, she pinned Naomi, further solidifying her dominance.
Although the victory wasn't entirely clean—Tiffany "accidentally" struck Naomi in the eyes during the match—it still counts, and nobody can take it away from her. A rough comeback for Naomi, but Tiffany continues her crusade with another victory under her belt.
Predictable Betrayal
A rivalry that has simmered for quite some time finally reached its boiling point, leading to a split within the group. While I still have my doubts about Dakota's loyalty, I was hoping she wouldn’t betray Bayley. As the match kicked off with Bayley against the Kabuki Warriors, I expected the Royal Rumble winner to struggle, but to my surprise, the Tag Team Champions displayed incredible skill and dominance.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Rough beating by tag team champions.
At one point, Kai tried to tag in, but she was knocked off the apron. There was a strange tension in the match—Bayley was fighting all on her own. It became clear something was wrong, and in the most critical moment when the "Role Model" desperately needed the tag, Dakota Kai did the unthinkable. She jumped off the apron and abandoned her partner, betraying Bayley without a second thought. As expected, the numbers game caught up with Bayley, and with four opponents against her, she was overwhelmed. Dakota has always had this streak, betraying friends and allies when it suits her, and once again, she showed her true colors.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Perfectly created trap for a number one contender Bayley.
Now, the question is: who will come to Bayley’s aid? After years of burning bridges and alienating so many in the women's roster, it’s unlikely anyone will rush to help her. She’s now facing an uphill battle, all on her own, in what’s shaping up to be a one-on-four fight. Good luck, Bayley—you’re going to need it.
Bron Breakker's New Victim
This week, the rising powerhouse Bron Breakker was set to face off against NXT's Xyon Quinn. When Quinn first appeared in NXT, I thought he might be part of the Samoan family and eventually align with The Bloodline, mainly due to his striking tattoo. He had an impressive start but quickly faded from TV, and now he's back, looking like a physical specimen. The question is, could he offer a real challenge to Bron?
The answer came almost immediately. Breakker, in his usual dominant fashion, didn't waste any time. He speared Quinn with such force that the match was over in a mere five seconds. One pinfall, and that was it for Xyon.
Thanks for showing up, Quinn. Better luck next time.
Latino Street Fight: Carlito vs. Santos Escobar
Two leaders of their respective factions finally collided tonight in a Latino Street Fight, putting an exclamation point on this seemingly endless rivalry. For me, the outcome felt obvious—Santos Escobar, with his youth, talent, and endless bag of tricks, seemed primed for victory. If things got tough, he could always rely on Legado del Fantasma, who were lurking nearby, unlike the more hesitant members of the LWO waiting backstage.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Santos is showing his dominance in this match.
Carlito kicked things off nicely, showing flashes of his old self, but the momentum shifted quickly. Escobar wasted no time taking control, using a trash can to beat down Carlito, keeping him at bay. However, Carlito found an opportunity, arming himself with a steel chair, and unleashed a vicious attack that ended with a beautiful modified Crossroads onto that same chair.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Old School move - Apple mist!
The crowd, as always, demanded tables, and Carlito, being the crowd-pleaser, was ready to deliver. But before he could, Escobar's crew ambushed him. Legado del Fantasma jumped in, and as expected, the LWO was late to the party. Their slow response cost them, as Humberto and Angel wiped out the LWO members with ease. It looked like Carlito was doomed, but then the music hit—Rey Mysterio made his return!
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Legend is back and LWO is stronger as ever.
Despite still being injured, Rey played it smart, feigning weakness to lure in Santos' goons. Armed with a crutch, Rey took out Humberto and Angel, leveling the playing field. Santos, enraged, charged at Rey, but missed wildly, only to be met with Carlito's signature Apple Mist! A spinebuster through the table followed, and Carlito sealed the victory. Once again, the smallest big man in WWE saved the day. Welcome back, Rey!
Nick Aldis' Busy Day
Backstage, New Catch Republic were seen approaching Nick Aldis, asking for another opportunity to face Judgment Day. They’re clearly eager to settle unfinished business. Meanwhile, LA Knight was on a rampage, still armed with a steel chair and hunting for AJ Styles after the Elimination Chamber incident, where Styles cost him a crucial moment. Knight has vowed that no one will stop him from getting his hands on Styles.
Viper Strikes Theory
The night kicked off with an added element of intrigue as Kevin Owens joined commentary as a special guest. KO, knowing how close Grayson Waller and Austin Theory are, made it clear that he had Randy Orton’s back, at least in spirit. He mentioned that he still considers Randy a friend, despite the RKO he suffered at Elimination Chamber, and he’s confident Orton can handle the challenge.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Future star generation Austin Theory.
Randy started the match strong, but as expected, Waller was there to distract him, giving Theory a chance to take control, slamming Orton onto the commentary table. However, it didn't take long for Orton to regain his dominance, delivering all his classic moves that the fans love, while simultaneously sending both Waller and Theory crashing onto the commentary table.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Perfectly execute RKO to counter Austin's move.
Theory soon realized he needed a new game plan. He began targeting Randy’s vulnerable spots—his legs, shoulders, and knees—knowing full well the toll Orton’s long career and past injuries have taken on him. For a moment, Theory looked like he might have the Viper in trouble, but it all came crashing down when his rolling cutter attempt was countered with a perfectly timed RKO.
SmackDown 01.03.2024 - Possible future alliance battling Paul, Waller and Theory.
After the match, chaos ensued as a brawl broke out between Kevin Owens and Orton on one side, and Waller and Theory on the other. Owens dropped Theory with a stunning Stunner, while Waller found himself eating an RKO. The show closed with a tense but respectful fist bump between Owens and Orton—ending the night with a great main event and a memorable finish!
Final Thoughts and Ranking
Tonight's SmackDown had its highs and lows. The opening segment was undeniably powerful, with The Rock acknowledging Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief, which solidified Roman’s place at the top of the family. That moment alone carried significant weight, marking a major shift in their dynamic.
However, the rest of the show didn’t quite match the same energy. The absence of big names like AJ Styles and Logan Paul took away from the overall excitement. While Dakota Kai’s betrayal of Bayley was somewhat shocking, it felt like a moment that had been building for quite some time, so the impact wasn’t as explosive as it could have been.
All things considered, it was a fairly standard episode. I’ll give it a 6/10 and look forward to the next episode of Raw, which promises to be a more fired-up show!
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