SmackDown rolled into into the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza in Pennsylvania (Kurt Angle country) on the eve of John Cena’s last-ever WWE match on Saturday Night’s Main Event.
The Russian stole one with a roll-up after DIY interfered. Carmleo Hayes ran to the ring to make the save after the match.
Je’Von Evans was backstage with Cathy Kelly when The Miz turned up annoyed that the young NXT upstart was on his show. Of course, this led to a match.
The Wyatt Sicks cut a promo on the MFTs claiming if they want the tag belts they hold, they can come and get them.
Solo Sikoa and his family appeared on the big screen and said they are going to do this his way. It’s going to be next week.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were discussing their quest for the tag team titles backstage before Rhea Ripley interjected and insisted she and IYO SKY are next. They respectfully disagreed and parted ways.
Lash Legend beat Alexa Bliss clean as a whistle. That’s quite something.
Rhea had some choice words with Nia Jax and Lash Legend backstage and reminded them she is not a problem they want to have. Nia ushered Lash away seemingly in retreat. Then Jade Cargill, on her way to the ring, came face-to-face with Ripley for a little tease.
Jade Cargill attacked Mia Yim, or Michin, mid-promo backstage just before they were meant to have a match. Cargill then came out to cut a promo and basically said that’s what happens when women don’t know their place in the back.
Equipped with a kendo stick, Michin came stumbling out looking for a fight and she had the upperhand for all of 20 seconds before Cargill beat the brakes off her once more. In heels no less.
Analysis:
Oba Femi made a really strong statement in his appearance opposite Cody. The crowd wasn’t going crazy for him when he spoke, but they did react to the physical things he did. Getting in Cody’s face, grabbing Cody’s arm before he left. That’s a great sign they buy him as a big, monster threat that could be a new Brock to many people. The rest of the character will get there the more they get to know him.
Having Alexa Bliss lose clean is a choice, especially with their tag partners at ringside. WWE clearly has big hopes for Legend – they way the commentary team go on about her attests to that – and rightly so in many ways. She’s got all the potential in the world. Alexa and Charlotte look like they will lose some steam shortly.
The Wyatt Sicks promo was, dare I say, pointless. They accepted a challenge that hadn’t been made yet and just the delivery from Uncle Howdy was a little lacking. For a group that is meant to retain that air of being special, this was really ordinary.
Having Cargill, who is still establishing herself let alone in a position to get others over, spend time opposite Michin and B-Fab is not helping her reign get off to a strong start.
The mixed tag was quite fun. Zelina Vega tried a pretty elaborate move that didn’t work out in the match. She popped back up into a DDT to cover it. Problem was Vega then reversed the Riptide and I’m not totally sure what she was trying to do, but she was on Ripley back and it went wrong as well. She very nearly landed on her neck, but they collapsed on her front instead.
Rhea certainly gave her a lot during their time in the ring together, it’s a shame it didn’t work out a little better – both teams were working very hard.
The stereo moonsaults to the outside from Black and Vega was cool. The stereo Razor’s Edges to set up the riptide and win was also very cool.
