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WWE SmackDown Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before WrestleMania 42
Welcome to Bleacher Report's live coverage of the go-home episode of SmackDown before this weekend's WrestleMania PLE.
Saturday and Sunday will be the two biggest days of the year for WWE, so all eyes were on the blue brand to see how it wrapped up the build for the event.
Here's a look at what was advertised for Friday's show:
Let's take a look at everything that happened on Friday's show.
The Voices Are Loud
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SmackDown opened with a video package highlighting the history of WrestleMania. Randy Orton and Pat McAfee arrived backstage and Nick Aldis handed McAfee a contract of some kind while The Viper made his way to the ring.
The 46-year-old took his time getting to the ring. He said he will be the first to admit he doesn't need McAfee, but he wants him in his corner because he is a straight shooter who reminded him who he is.
When he mentioned Cody Rhodes, the crowd let out a chorus of boos. He said all Rhodes has ever done in their friendship is take. He ended the promo without being interrupted or attacked.
This was nothing we haven't heard already, but it wasn't bad. It was a pretty standard segment designed to build a match. Orton got in McAfee's truck and they drove away.
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
The Wyatt Sicks vs. MFTs
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Last time in action: The Wyatt Sicks defeated the MFTs (SD, March 13)
The first match of the night was a huge eight-man Street Fight, but all five members of the MFTs were introduced by the announcer, so it was obvious this was not going to be kept to the eight men involved.
Tama Tonga was still showing clear signs of issues with Solo Sikoa before the match began. As soon as the bell rang, everyone started brawling. There were no tags and no rules, so this was all over the place immediately.
We're not going to beat around the bush with this one. This feud overstayed its welcome a long time ago and has been on life support for several weeks. If this is not the end of it, then it's clear WWE doesn't know how to end the story.
The match had a couple of memorable moments, but it was more of a mess than the controlled chaos you would hope for with a bout like this. Sikoa pinned Uncle Howdy to get the win, and hopefully, to end this story once and for all.
Result: The MFTs defeated The Wyatt Sicks
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
All Gas, No Brakes
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After a few video packages and breaks, a police car was driven into the arena. Jacob Fatu emerged from the back seat and stood on top of the car.
He gave a promo directed at his WrestleMania opponent, Drew McIntyre. He made it clear that he has changed a lot since his legal troubles and intends to put McIntyre in his past just like his criminal record.
This was pretty simple, but it was effective. Fatu didn't need 10 minutes, or even a full five. He said everything he needed to say, and then it was over. It was refreshingly succinct.
Grade: B-
Notable Moments and Observations
Damian Priest and R-Truth vs.
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Last time in action: Damian Priest and R-Truth defeated Miz and Kit Wilson (SD, April 3), Penta defeated Kofi Kingston (Raw, March 30), Dragon Lee defeated Grayson Waller (Main Event, March 27)
The next match saw Damian Priest and R-Truth defend their Tag Team Championships against Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller.
The Archer of Infamy and Waller got the match going with a fast-paced exchange before Truth tagged in to take over. He spent a long time on defense while Waller and Kingston took turns beating him down.
While the match felt a little paint-by-numbers, it didn't have any botches or moments that stood out as especially bad. All four men are great athletes, so even if they aren't doing something exciting, what they do always looks good.
Priest got the pin for his team to retain the titles.
Result: Priest and Truth defeated Waller and Kingston
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
Mami and The Storm
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After the commercial break, Jade Cargill came out flanked by Michin and B-Fab. Before she could even say two words, Rhea Ripley's music hit.
She said she isn't usually a patient person and wants to take Jade out after everything she had done, but she is willing to wait for this weekend because she doesn't want Cargill to have an excuse if she loses.
This exchange ended without any violence, which was a nice change for these two. They didn't do much to make their upcoming match more interesting, but they addressed it well enough for this not to feel like a waste of time.
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
Jordynne Grace vs. Tiffany Stratton
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Last time in action: Jordynne Grace defeated Zelina (Main Event, April 10), Tiffany Stratton lost to Giulia (SD, March 27)
This was originally announced on social media as a U.S. title match between Tiffany Stratton and Giulia, but it was changed to Stratton against Jordynne Grace for a future title shot.
Giulia and Kiana James watched from ringside as the two babyfaces squared up. Stratton had a slight power advantage, but not by much.
Due to a heavy storm and tornadoes in the area, I lost power and was unable to see most of this match, so it would be unfair to offer a grade for something we can't review honestly. Tiffy scored the win to earn a future title shot.
Result: Stratton defeated Grace
Grade: N/A
Notable Moments and Observations
What's Wrong, Gingerbread Man?
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Trick Williams came out to talk about Sami Zayn taking out Lil Yachty last week with a Helluva Kick.
It seemed like Zayn was going to come out to respond, but it was just someone in a gingerbread man costume.
Zayn eventually did come out to respond to Trick's mocking comments. He said he still has no idea why fans are booing him, but his real fans will stick with him.
Even though the joke about Zayn being the gingerbread man was barely funny the first time, this segment was decent because Zayn was selling the crowd's reaction perfectly.
Zayn sent Williams out of the ring after a brief fight before turning his sights to the gingerbread man and hitting a Helluva Kick that turned its head all the way around. Williams came back in and hit the Trick Shot to end the segment.
They did the best they had with the material they were given, but it's hard for all of these feuds to keep finding ways to stretch time before the PPV.
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
Card Subject to Change
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Before both teams fight for the tag titles this weekend, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss battled Bayley and Lyra Valkyria.
They got into a fight before the ref could call for the bell, and then Nia Jax and Lash Legend ran to the ring to join the fray.
In the end, there was no match. The champions took out both sets of challengers, and the segment was over in just a couple of minutes.
This might have helped hype the match if more had happened, but this wasn't even close to the most physical these six women have been together, so it felt kind of lazy in how it was booked and executed.
Grade: C
Notable Moments and Observations
Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
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The ring was already full of Superstars for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal when we returned from a break.
Royce Keys and Joe Hendry were the final two men to head to the ring, so they were the only entrances we saw. Kit Wilson was the first man to be eliminated from the ring.
The match included stars from AAA like Psycho Clown and NXT stars like Shiloh Hill along with several wrestlers from Raw and SmackDown. A few members of the MFTs were pulling double duty after their Street Fight earlier in the show.
It wasn't a high bar to clear, but this was easily the most entertaining thing on the entire show. We got some fun spots, entertaining eliminations, and a few people who haven't had much screen time recently got to perform for the crowd.
It came down to Otis, Keys and Talla Tonga. After eliminating Otis, Keys took out Tonga to win the match and the Andre trophy.
Result: Royce Keys won the Andre Memorial Battle Royal
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
The American Nightmare Speaks
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The final segment of the evening was set aside for Cody Rhodes to talk about his upcoming match against Orton.
The WWE champion seemed pumped up as he asked the crowd what they wanted to talk about. He said they aren't going to talk about the conspiracy theory that someone has been messing with him at WrestleMania every year.
He mentioned The Rock and Travis Scott as being part of the problem. CM Punk showed up, much to the surprise of Rhodes and everyone in the crowd who didn't expect to see him until 'Mania.
Punk and Rhodes shared some cordial remarks about their history and talked about coming a long way from Teddy Long's wedding to being the two top champions in WWE heading into 'Mania.
Out of all of the non-wrestling segments on the show, this was easily the best. Punk and Rhodes are both good at controlling a crowd, and their shared history and similar paths made it all work even better. It wasn't groundbreaking, but it was a decent way to end the episode.
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
The Final Word
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The final show before any PPV has to make sure it hypes all of the big matches, but that should not come at the expense of that episode of SmackDown.
Fans still paid to attend a three-hour TV taping, and those fans had to sit through several videos and non-wrestling segments that felt repetitive and uninspired.
Ever since SmackDown went back to three hours, it has typically included six or seven matches. This week's show only had four. It would have been five, but one never started.
The Andre Battle Royal was the only thing on the show that brought some level of excitement, and it felt like the right man won in the end, too.
To be clear, the fault does not fall on the WWE Superstars. They all tried their hardest with the material they were given, but sometimes you can only do so much without creative input from management.
Even though none of the segments were too terrible, the show as a whole was so mismanaged that it ended up deserving a grade lower than any individual segment from the episode.
Grade: D
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