Fresh off a Survivor Series show with plenty questions still to answer, WWE SmackDown rolled into Louisville, Kentucky just eight days before John Cena’s last-ever performance.
Let’s get into the results:
United States Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) def. Carmelo Hayes
Alexa Bliss def. Kairi Sane
The Last Time is Now tournament final: Gunther def. LA Knight
Notes:
The show opened with Nick Aldis turning Drew McIntyre away from the building claiming he is still suspended. As the Scot scolded Aldis for his decision, Rhodes sneaked into the car and assaulted McIntyre.
After McIntyre drove off, Rhodes paced to the ring. A quick, intense promo ended with a demand to Aldis: reinstate McIntyre so I can take him out.
Damien Priest reveals Rhea Ripley is going to join his side for the fight with Aleister Black and Zelina Vega. There will be a tag match next week.
Tommaso Ciampa cost Hayes the US title when it looked like he had it won. Dragunov unknowingly took advantage and was absolutely livid when he saw what happened on the big screen.
Nia Jax and Lash Legend beat down both Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss as well as Kairi Sane and Asuka.
Dragunov tells Aldis he wants Ciampa for sullying his open challenge and the GM makes it for next week.
Cody Rhodes tells Oba Femi and Ricky Starks that whoever wins at Deadline will face him next week at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Solo Sikoa and the MFTs hit the ring to talk to the Wyatt Sicks who confronted him to close the show last week. Solo made reference to Bray Wyatt in the promo and said Uncle Howdy didn’t deserve the Wyatt name. Of course, the two groups ended up coming to blows. The highlight of the scrap saw Talla Tonga and Erick Rowan face-off with the latter standing tall.
Alexa Bliss vs Lash Legend made for next week. Also, Bayley will face Sol Ruca at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Gunther defeated Knight after a valiant effort from the latter. More masterful work from the Austrian and more despair for Knight.
Analysis:
Just when you might be tempted to say Gunther winning was boring and predictable, and so will be his inevitable defeat of Cena, you just got to stop and look at the work he has done in this tournament.
We all knew he was winning. Just looking at the talent involved, it seemed pretty clear. And that’s before you dive into who would benefit the most and all that jibberish.
But in this tournament run, he faced J’von Evans and helped make him on his debut. Reinvigorated Carmelo Hayes with a very giving performance helping make Hayes a credible threat. Gave Solo Sikoa his best match in months with a fantastic home straight.
And then, tonight, he had a banger of a TV match with LA Knight. Made it plausible that Knight would pull out all the stops to get the job done. Gunther made himself vulnerable enough to that, while also winning in a way that reminding you of his capabilities and dominance. A damn near perfect tournament run.
Elsewhere, Charlotte and Bliss is an interesting angle to watch. I imagine that relationship declines sooner rather than later as opposed to dragging it out to WrestleMania, if that was an idea. The tag picture looks so stacked, it’s hard to see them overcoming it all and just remaining pals.
The feuds of Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes as well as inserting Rhea Ripley into the Priest/Black situation is just a way of keeping two big stars busy heading into WrestleMania season where they’ll get into the feuds the company really wants.
A decent SmackDown overall. Not amazing, but the main event made it well worth tuning in.
