By Wynter@WynterStorm24
We’re a little over 48 hours removed from Fast Lane and are now speeding our way toward WrestleMania! Vehicle references aside, we are indeed about three weeks away from WrestleMania 35 and things are ramping up as get closer and closer to the show of shows. Here’s what happened on the blue brand this week!
Shane’s Address
Shane McMahon opened the show to address his actions at Fast Lane, where he turned on his partner The Miz and choked him out in front of his father. McMahon said he enjoyed beating Miz down in front of his father and that he wants to do it again on the grandest stage so he’s demanding a match at WrestleMania. I figured this is where we’d be going when the two of them got together as a tag team. It should be a fairly entertaining match and I’m sure McMahon will find something to jump off of.
Grade: B
Aleister Black, Ricochet, and the Hardys vs Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, and The Bar
Following last week’s tag team brawl, we got this eight man matchup. The Hardys even brought back the Team Xtreme gear! The match started off well and I do think everyone in the match gelled pretty well. Also this League of Nations 2.0 tag team with Lana as the manager somehow works. The match actually ended in a no contest when the New Day interrupted and started a brawl. While surprising, I think the move really sparks some more life into the tag division. It also showed a more serious side to the New Day, as they are understandably upset about what happened to their teammate on Sunday. After so much time as fun-loving goofballs, it’s nice to see this out of the longest-reigning tag team champions!
Winner: No Contest
Grade: B+
Orton and Styles Roast Fest
Randy Orton made his way to the ring and basically ran down AJ Styles, saying that while Styles was off wrestling in gyms and getting tanned with Dixie Carter (he actually said her name!), he was making history. He talked about his previous accomplishments and said that WWE is the house that he built, not Styles. Styles showed up and countered that Orton wouldn’t have lasted in his world and that he was surrounded by his indie buddies. If you went back in time and told 12-year-old me that one day Randy Orton and AJ Styles were going to roast each other on WWE television, I probably wouldn’t believe you. This segment added some fire to this feud, setting up another Mania match.
Grade: A
Asuka vs Sonya Deville
Deville got her chance at a one-on-one bout. There was some lovely striking in this match. Mandy Rose ended up “accidentally” tripping Deville and she tapped out to the Asuka Lock. The tension is rising between Deville and Rose, but do with the women’s tag belts now in existence, should we be breaking up teams? I would love to see Deville get a proper singles push though, so I’m torn.
Winner: Asuka
Grade: C+
Becky Lynch Can Walk Again
Lynch threw away her crutch and made her way to the ring, noting how good it felt to be able to walk to the ring again. She mentioned that she had won her way to WrestleMania twice while Charlotte had just been given the opportunity by Vince McMahon. Charlotte Flair arrived and said that she had been hot for years, while Lynch had been hot for a few months and that she will make Lynch and Ronda Rousey relevant. Lynch fired back and said the women’s division doesn’t need a queen, they need the man. I’m not a fan of Becky Lynch, but she sure did have to go around the world to get her title match in this convoluted storyline. I’m looking forward to the match though.
Grade: A
Rey Mysterio and R-Truth vs Samoa Joe and Andrade
These four continued to work really well together in this tag match, even if it was rather quick. Carmella stopped Zelina Vega from getting involved. Mysterio hit the 619 to both of their opponents and won the match with an inside cradle to Joe. Afterwards, Joe laid out Truth and Andrade. I kind of want Carmella and Vega to have a feud or get involved in some sort of team angle with her and R-Truth vs Andrade and Vega. Mysterio’s garish ring attire aside, I’m thinking this might set up a feud for the US Title between him and Samoa Joe.
Winner: Rey Mysterio and R-Truth
Grade: B+
Kevin Owens and Mustafa Ali vs Daniel Bryan and Rowan
Owens started off with some shoulder tackles and a senton, which made Bryan tag in Rowan. He did hit a nice butterfly suplex on Ali for a near-fall, following up with the Lebell Lock but Ali managed to grab the ropes. Rowan saved Bryan from a backstabber and utilized his iron claw slam to win. I don’t have any complaints; the match was solid and Rowan looked pretty good.
Winner: Daniel Bryan and Rowan
Grade: B-
KofiMania Gauntlet
The New Day and Kofi Kingston had a meeting with Vince McMahon in the ring. In his usual Mr. McMahon ways, he said he taught us all a lesson because he never specifically stated that Kingston would be in the title match. The New Day then delivered a very passionate promo about how they do everything, they don’t complain, they’ve always been good sports, etc. Mr. McMahon said that people like Kingston don’t deserve to be champion. Kingston asked what he needs to do to prove himself and McMahon set up a gauntlet match for next week. If Kingston makes it through the gauntlet match, he gets the championship match. Mr. McMahon is the worst type of person, but I must admit I’m thoroughly invested in Kofi Kingston’s run toward the title now.
Grade: A+
Final Thoughts
This week’s Smackdown felt more expository than normal; there was definitely a lot of focus on creating and building up matches for WrestleMania. With three more Smackdown episodes before Mania, we’ll have to see what else falls into place. It’s WWE so there’s always the potential for a swerve!
Overall Grade:B
