SmackDown 22.03.2024
Finally, the Radiant Team has come back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin!
Tonight, we’ll witness who the last teams are for the massive tag team match at WrestleMania. Damage CTRL is definitely in for a fight with Bayley and Naomi, and hopefully, Bianca Belair finally makes her presence felt. I suspect Randy Orton and Kevin Owens will continue their rivalry with Logan Paul and his associates. Of course, the most anticipated event of the night is the confrontation between the Head of the Table, Roman Reigns, and the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes. This meeting won’t be easy for Cody—I fear he may be punished for his naivety. Let’s find out for ourselves
Latino Wars Continue
What better way to kick off SmackDown than with Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar? Two Latino families are battling for supremacy on the blue brand. Nick Aldis, showing smart management, banned both groups from ringside. But even with that precaution, I don’t think we’ll get a definitive winner tonight. The only way to settle this rivalry for good might be a massive match at WrestleMania. An elimination match, perhaps? Sounds perfect.
SmackDown 22.04.2024 - Santos is trying once again caused trauma on his Ex Idol.
This match is personal. Santos idolized Rey—he was his mentor, motivator, and someone Santos aspired to be. On the other hand, Rey welcomed Santos into the LWO family, and together, they were supposed to dominate the division. But Carlito spoiled things for both men. Honestly, both Legado del Fantasma and LWO should ditch the useless Carlito, join forces, and take over SmackDown—maybe even dethrone The Bloodline. A dream, perhaps, but Rey does have unfinished business with Roman Reigns, stemming from their steel cage match years ago.
In the ring, Santos struggled to overpower his mentor and spent most of the match on the defensive. After the first break, though, he smashed Rey into the ring post and focused on Rey’s previously injured leg. Santos began to gain momentum, landing a few solid shots on WWE's Biggest Little Man. This match was a masterclass in lucha libre. Rey’s still got it, no doubt about that.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - Damn Dirty Dominik ruining his father's moment once again.
Things spiraled out of control when the fight spilled out to the timekeeper’s area. Rey seemed to have an answer for every move Santos threw at him, but the match took a turn when Dominik Mysterio distracted his father. This allowed Escobar to hit Rey with a 619 followed by the Phantom Driver for the win. Another painful loss for the LWO, with a post-match handshake between Mysterio and Santos. Now, the LWO faces two major threats: Legado del Fantasma and, even more dangerously, Judgment Day.
SmackDown 22.04.2024 - Santos stunning Mysterio with his own 619!
Bianca Still Has Doubts
Backstage, Naomi and Bayley had a great conversation. Bayley, always quick to latch on to opportunities, is happy to have Naomi in her corner, offering to cover her back in their fight against Damage CTRL. However, Bianca Belair is still here, and she absolutely hates Bayley, believing she deserves everything that’s happening to her.
This almost escalated into a physical altercation, but Naomi wisely pulled her friend out of the situation. Whether Bianca helps Naomi tonight is still a mystery. Bianca tried to convince Naomi that siding with Bayley is a mistake, but she also suggested a better idea: someone needs to handle Damage CTRL, and it can’t be done alone. Bianca already defeated Damage CTRL in a steel cage once, but her team fell apart afterward. Now, she’s considering forming a new alliance to stop Iyo Sky and her crew for good. Bianca is likely pondering this reasonable proposition as we speak.
WrestleMania Tag Team Championship Qualifier Match: Grayson Waller & Austin Theory vs. The O.C.
These two boys, Waller and Theory, have been teaming up for a while now, but still don’t have a proper name for their team—which is odd. Regardless, they should be the favorites to win tonight, especially since The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows) haven’t been on SmackDown for nearly half a year. I’m convinced Grayson and Austin will pull out a victory.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - Just look at the height old good Luke lifts Theory above the ground!
Surprisingly, Anderson and Gallows had a strong start, showing early dominance. The match could’ve ended after a huge chokeslam from Gallows, but he accidentally injured his leg. Meanwhile, Michin took out Waller on the outside, leaving a fresh Karl Anderson to carry the match for The O.C. Anderson was on fire, taking down both men. But the sneaky, dirty duo of Waller and Theory found a way to steal the win. Austin rolled up Gallows while Waller held his leg on the ropes for the dirty pinfall. A win is a win, and now, another team is confirmed for WrestleMania. I called it—yet another accurate prediction for the qualifier matches!
SmackDown 22.04.2024 - If you can't with your muscles use your brain.
Naomi Sets a New Level of Confrontation with Damage CTRL
Tonight, after suffering a brutal assault from Iyo Sky and Damage CTRL, Naomi is determined to make the Women's Champion pay. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Iyo in action, and this confrontation promises to be intense. A quick backstage glimpse revealed Kairi Sane, looking striking as always, though she hasn’t had much screen time yet—hopefully, that changes soon. Before the match, an interesting turn of events took place as Iyo ambushed Bayley backstage, smashing her into every wall she could find. Bayley, caught completely off guard, was left incapacitated. With Bayley out of commission, Naomi was left to fend for herself without any backup.
SmackDown 22.04.2024 - Naomi shows us that she knows how to fly too.
The match started with Iyo Sky dominating from the get-go, completely overwhelming Naomi with her quick, aggressive offense. Naomi struggled to find her footing, and for a moment, it seemed like the champion was untouchable. That is, until Naomi used her secret weapon—her powerful rear view. This helped her shift the momentum, but it became clear that Naomi was dealing with a nagging leg injury, which opened a window for Iyo to counterattack.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - Aska's secret weapon seems very painful tool if it landed into the eyes.
Strangely, Damage CTRL was nowhere to be seen at ringside. Were they banned from ringside? There was no official announcement, but their absence was felt throughout the match. Naomi came close to victory after delivering a breathtaking superplex from the top rope. However, Iyo is not easily beaten. Just as it seemed Naomi might have the match in hand, Damage CTRL finally got involved, causing a distraction that allowed Iyo to secure the win. After the bell, the group began to gang up on Naomi, while Asuka spitting her signature poison mist into the eyes of Naomi.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - Bianca is finally comes to help her friend Naomi.
Just when it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse for Naomi, Bianca Belair finally made her presence felt! The EST of WWE charged down to the ring, clearing out everyone in her path with her monstrous strength. But as Bianca gained momentum, Dakota Kai chop-blocked her, bringing her down. With Bayley still nursing her injury and unable to help, Damage CTRL’s numbers game proved too much. Perhaps next week, we’ll see a shift in the balance.
Pretty Deadly are Pretty Stupid
Backstage, Kevin Owens was dealing with WrestleMania worries, but Pretty Deadly, still bitter after their loss on last week's SmackDown, decided to stir the pot. They had the audacity to tell Kevin that he knows nothing about tag team wrestling—a laughable claim, especially considering Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn won one of the biggest tag team matches in WWE history last year.
As if that wasn’t enough, Pretty Deadly went on to claim that Owens has no friends and would struggle to find a partner for next week. Just as they were running their mouths, Randy Orton appeared like a silent predator, casually agreeing to team with Owens next week. Owens couldn’t resist delivering a well-deserved double punch to both of Pretty Deadly's faces. Looks like the arrogant duo is in for a beating they won’t forget anytime soon.
LA Knight Shows Up at AJ Styles' House
Earlier this week, AJ Styles was being interviewed at his home, discussing his preparation for WrestleMania. But the interview was abruptly interrupted when LA Knight arrived unannounced, pulling up in a car and making good on his promise to find Styles no matter where he was.
A heated brawl erupted on AJ's property, forcing the police to step in and drag LA Knight off to the station. Knight, undeterred and even more fired up after the incident, seems more determined than ever to take on Styles at WrestleMania. This match is shaping up to be a fiery showdown!
WrestleMania Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match: Street Profits vs. Final Testament
This feud has been brewing for the last month, and tonight’s match feels like the decisive battle in their war. Whoever wins tonight will punch their ticket to the massive tag team match at WrestleMania. With recent struggles for the All Mighty Era, I have a hunch that AOP might be the ones to secure their spot in the qualifying round. These two are literal tanks, and it's hard to imagine how anyone can stop them.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - This match goes pretty rough for All Mighty Era members.
Rezar single-handedly dismantled both Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins early on, making the Profits look like amateurs. Somehow, Ford managed to escape the onslaught and tag in Dawkins, who came in like a tornado, briefly leveling AOP. However, the Profits’ dominance didn’t last long, and it seemed inevitable that AOP would win. But in a brilliant sacrifice, Dawkins allowed Ford to roll up Akam, pulling off an upset victory.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - I am still wondering how Ford was able to live through this punishment.
The Profits may have secured this win, but their journey is far from over. Next week, they face a daunting challenge against Austin Theory and Grayson Waller for the final spot in the WrestleMania tag team match.
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes Finally Face to Face
The Tribal Chief has arrived in Milwaukee, as promised, with only his Wise Man, Paul Heyman, by his side. Tonight marks a highly anticipated confrontation with the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes—Cody's last shot to finish his story. Roman, the undisputed ruler of WWE, radiates a different energy these days. He sits on his throne like a king who conquered all but now feels a bit rusty after such a long reign without consistent challenges. In contrast, Cody is as hungry as ever, constantly battling in the ring, night after night.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - Acknowledge most reigning champion of modern era - Roman Reigns!
Roman, as always, demanded that Milwaukee acknowledge him before the meeting could begin. The tension in the arena was palpable. Cody appeared slightly nervous, while Roman, calm and composed, was ready to speak first.The Tribal Chief didn't hold back, mocking Cody for being unfit for the top spot. He questioned Cody’s ability to be the face of WWE and brought up his doubts about Seth Rollins—yes, the same Seth Rollins who betrayed Roman during their days in The Shield. Roman implied that Cody was foolish for trusting Rollins.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 - Second year in a row these two facing each other before WrestleMania.
But Cody delivered a hard-hitting counterpunch, reminding Roman that it was the Rhodes family who first stopped The Shield's dominance. He admitted that while Seth might harbor bad blood, he despises Roman even more. Cody’s words seemed to plant seeds of doubt in Roman’s mind—can he trust his own “Final Boss”? Despite the mind games, Roman doubled down on his stance. He admitted that Cody is indeed great, but only as the number two. And as long as Roman is around, there will never be any question about who holds the top spot.
SmackDown 22.03.2024 -I almost believed that this historical move could be done. Heyman is also concerned as you may see.
Cody, undeterred, responded with wisdom, saying that every generation has its own number one, and that his destiny is to be the one who ends Roman's reign. He promised that the greatest number two in WWE history will be the one to dethrone Roman. In a surprising show of sportsmanship, Cody extended his hand, offering Roman a handshake. Roman nearly accepted, but at the last moment, he pulled back with an arrogant smirk.
Before things could escalate, Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso entered the ring. Would this be the end of the American Nightmare? But no, Cody wouldn’t go down without backup. Despite telling them to stay out of it, Jey Uso and Seth Rollins rushed to Cody’s side, preventing the Bloodline from launching a full assault. Tonight, the Bloodline's attempt to dominate was thwarted, but the battle is far from over.
Final Thoughts and Ranking
This show did a good job of moving several key storylines forward. The father-son saga between Dominik and Rey Mysterio has been reignited, as Dominik once again inserts himself into his father’s business. Meanwhile, the growing conflict surrounding Damage CTRL has evolved into a full-on wildfire, with Bianca Belair and Naomi stepping up to challenge Dakota Kai’s crew. We also saw more teams inch closer to earning their spots in the WrestleMania tag team match, adding another layer of intrigue to the event.
As for the main event, while it was somewhat predictable—featuring verbal exchanges, Cody's attempt at a handshake, and the Bloodline’s expected interference—it still delivered. Cody’s psychological warfare and Roman’s unwavering confidence made for a compelling showdown. With The Rock reportedly set to appear on Raw next week, it seems like Cody might have another major nemesis before even facing Roman at WrestleMania. Something big is definitely brewing for Monday’s show.
Rating: 7/10. A solid episode with plenty of character moments, but nothing groundbreaking. Still, the setup for what’s to come makes this show worth the watch. See you on Raw!
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