Smackdown – 10.02.26

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Last week on Smackdown: Trick Williams retained the US title in a cage, while CM Punk and Lash Legend won MITB qualifiers.

Smackdown comes to the USA and Netflix airwaves tonight from the Ball Arena in Denver, CO. The announcing squad is our current usual suspects: Michael Cole and Corey Graves on play-by-play and analysis, Mark Nash on ring introductions, and birthday girl Cathy Kelley on interviews and breaking news. We have the final two MITB qualifiers this evening, and Blake Monroe will supposedly make her main roster in-ring debut. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Arrivals: Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens, and Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae

Money In The Bank Qualifier: Tiffany Stratton vs Candice LeRae vs Tatum Paxley

Your referee is Daffanie LeShaunn. LeRae tosses Paxley into Stratton’s arms and then nails Stratton with a neckbreaker causing her to DDT Paxley. LeRae covers Stratton for two. LeRae smashes Paxley on the apron but runs into a Stratton elbow and back handspring elbow when she charges. Stratton nails LeRae with a spinebuster that gets two. Stratton hits a Hip Attack as Paxley also blasts LeRae with a kick to the head. Stratton wants an Alabama Slam but a returning Paxley hits a sunset flip on Stratton to end that attempt. There’s a series of pinfall attempts that get two and Stratton’s basement dropkick on LeRae gets two to end the flurry. Paxley crushes Stratton in a corner and then wallops her with a facebreaker. Paxley dropkicks Stratton off the apron and then nails her and LeRae with a moonsault. We go to commercials.

Everyone is down when the show returns. Paxley takes control and dumps Stratton to the floor. Paxley nails LeRae with some flying rights and a release German. LeRae and Paxley get caught by a Stratton double stunner and Stratton follows with an Alabama Slam to LeRae. Stratton ascends for a swanton on LeRae but Paxley is right there to nail Stratton with a rolling spin kick that gets two. LeRae fires up with a Codebreaker-Cannonball thing that sends Paxley to a corner while LeRae covers Stratton for two. LeRae wants a springboard move but Paxley prevents it and LeRae tumbles to the floor. Stratton sneaks in and rolls up Paxley for two. Paxley hits Cemetery Drive and LeRae sneaks in and covers Stratton for two with Paxley running back in to break it up. LeRae is up first and tosses Paxley into a turnbuckle before mounting her on a top turnbuckle. LeRae goes up as well and Paxley headbutts her away. Stratton yanks up LeRae for a rolling senton and Paxley follows immediately with a 450 splash on LeRae. While Paxley covers LeRae, Stratton nails Paxley with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and covers LeRae for three.

A clever finish, that. At least it wasn’t “Oh, one person hits their big move and gets tossed immediately so someone else can steal the pin” that they love so much for three-ways. The No DQ rule didn’t play a part here at all, and almost all of this happened in the ring, so I’m pretty good with it overall. LeRae actually had some rustiness to her, it felt like. Paxley is so calm for someone who just got to the main, and she seems to be able to still hit all of her major spots without getting in the way of anyone. Stratton, when motivated, is solid – but the key there is her motivation, because without that, she’s really average. I was good with this one. 3*

Winner – Tiffany Stratton (PME on Paxley, covers LeRae for three)

Here’s Cathy Kelley with WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green. Kelley asks for an MITB winner pick from Green, and Green picks Stratton to win because “she’s the Nikki to my Brie”. Say her name, and she appears…here’s Nikki Bella in as Kelley scurries away. Bella says she’s taking Green’s title, and here’s Paige in to say Bella is going to have to face her first. Paige wants Bella in Sacto in two weeks, and slaps Bella dead in the face as the segment ends.

AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) and Ricky Saints vs AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix, Nathan Frazer, and Axiom

Joey Gonzalez is your referee. Erik blasts Frazer down with a right hand to get things underway. Ivar tags in and he and Erik clubber away on Frazer. Erik tags back in and blasts Frazer with a right. Saints tags in and starts firing rights at Frazer but Erik decides he wants back. Frazer fires up with an enziguri and Axiom grabs a tag. The Raiders get dumped and Frazer and Axiom start hitting topes. Fenix tags in after Saints gets dumped out and he botches a top rope move badly before Ivar catches him and runs him into the barricade. Cole: “That’s why they call it ‘high risk'”. Axiom flies out and starts smashing the Raiders around as we go to commercials.

Fenix is apparently okay, and Axiom and Saints are slugging it out when the show returns. Saints uses some Erik distraction to gain the advantage and goes for Axiom’s mask before nailing him with a crossface blow. Axiom hits a kaman giri and Erik gets a tag. Erik starts clobbering Axiom with elbows before covering him for two. Erik works a front facelock but Axiom breaks out and dropkicks Erik. Saints flies in to blast Frazer and Axiom finally makes the tag to Fenix. Fenix blasts Ivar with a bunch of kicks and then nails him with a springboard cutter. Fenix hits a roundhouse and a bunch of kicks before going to the opposite corner. Erik springs up and eats the Goodbye, Amigo running kick and Fenix then hoists a charging Saints. Fenix hits a Falcon Arrow on Saints and nips up to tune up the band. Fenix nails Ivar with a superkick and Fenix follows with a frog splash with Erik breaking up the cover at two. Everyone comes back in for moves and the flurry ends with FrAxiom teaming up to dump Erik. Erik catches Frazer tope attempt but can’t stop the subsequent Axiom moonsault. Fenix mounts Ivar in a corner and wants a rana but Ivar holds it off as Saints grabs a blind tag. Saints yanks Fenix into the Rochambeaux and that ends things.

For once, Ricky Saints didn’t look like the Mayor of Goobertown on television, so kudos to him. This was actually pretty decent for what it was, and it was pleasing to see the Raiders actually try to keep up with Axiom and Frazer while maintaining their hoss-itude. I’m fine with this one. 3*

Winners – Saints/War Raiders (Saints Rochambeaux on Fenix)

Here’s Cathy Kelley with Cody Rhodes, and she wants some words from Rhodes about his current thing with Randy Orton. Rhodes mentions his opponents in the MITB qualifier and says they’ll be tough to deal with. Rhodes then tries to tell an anecdote about Denver (DUSTY MENTION – DRINK) that goes nowhere and he’s excited to punch his ticket to MITB. Here’s WWE Men’s US Champion Trick Williams in to tell Rhodes that if he does get in, Trick will be looking like a tall glass of chocolate milk while grabbing the MITB briefcase. Rhodes wishes Trick good luck, and presumably leaves to continue telling everyone in the arena meandering stories about his dad. We go to commercials.

Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair, and AAA GM Rey Mysterio were part of a new health initiative launch along with Paul Levesque. Linda McMahon and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were spearheading the event from the government side.

Here’s Damian Priest cutting a promo while walking the mean streets of New York City. Priest calls it the foundation for EL CAMPEON and he’s going to get back to that person after dealing with R-Truth. Priest warns Truth to not come looking for him again.

Here’s a distraught Tatum Paxley being consoled by Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Bliss and Flair talked to Nick Aldis during Paxley’s match and Paxley and Flair will be facing Fatal Influence next week for the women’s tag titles. Paxley likes the sound of that and Flair gives her her hat as a prize.

Here’s WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Sami Zayn out to make fun of a Flair-robed fan at ringside, before grabbing a mic for some yap. Zayn asks for a “ride or die” show of hands and the response is muted at best. Zayn says no WWE champion in history has had the journey he’s had to get to where he is. Zayn is baffled by the reaction and thinks maybe he’s naive about Justice for Sami. Zayn mentions “inequality” in terms of the respect he’s given currently and thinks the vultures circling him consider it a foregone conclusion that they can beat Zayn. Zayn says the title proves he’s a survivor and someone who finds a way. Zayn tells the crowd to ask Punk, Owens, and Rhodes about it and wants the respect he’s entitled to.

Here’s Je’von Evans out to climb on one of the ladders placed on the ramp, before entering. Evans says he didn’t mean to interrupt Zayn, who’s as a red as an Angry Bird according to Evans. Zayn says he’s fine when questioned, and mentions his title as the reason why. Zayn says he likes Evans and says he’s been where Evans has been, but Evans stops him and says he knows that Zayn would be telling him that his time would be coming. Evans says what if his time is right now because he doesn’t want to spend twenty years chasing the title like Zayn did. Evans directly says he’s coming for Zayn’s title if he wins.

Here’s Penta out (Hey, what are all these Raw clowns doing on my show? I KID, I KID. WE LOVE YOU KAT BOURNE!) as Evans dances to his entrance music. Penta and Evans dap it up and Penta also has a mic. Penta says he respects Evans and tells him that he’s not going to win MITB, despite their friendship. Penta vows to cash in when he wins and doesn’t care if it’s Zayn or Roman Reigns.

Here’s WWE Men’s US Champion Trick Williams out to mention Zayn’s respect talk. Trick tells Evans and Penta that he respects their work on Raw but they have the same problem, and it’s that Trick is the one holding down Friday nights. Trick turns to Zayn and asks him “What’s up Gingerbread?” before saying that Zayn doesn’t respect anyone so why should anyone respect him. Trick insults Zayn’s hair and breath and then tells Penta and Evans that he’s the only one in the match who looks like, smells like, and feels like MONEY. Zayn wants to know if everyone’s gotten all their stuff out and says that nobody can do what he does. Zayn thinks it’s funny how they think it’s easy to cash in and win. Zayn says only one guy can win the match so he’s currently looking at at least two losers. Zayn then talks about his entire path to the title and reminds Trick that he survived being the Gingerbread Man and being pinned after a giant mousetrap spot at WrestleMania. Zayn goes nose to nose with Trick and tells all of them that none of them deserve to share the ring with him. Mic drop, champ out.

As Zayn makes his way to the back, here’s Finn Balor out to eye up Zayn. Balor tells Zayn he’s still coming for the title and Zayn tells Balor to earn it if he wants it. Balor slugs Zayn, and here’s GUNTHER out to attack Balor from behind. GUNTHER blasts Zayn with a lariat and then runs him into a ladder before doing the same to Balor.

Here’s Cathy Kelley with Tiffany Stratton, and Stratton says ladder matches are kind of her thing. Chelsea Green joins things to celebrate with Stratton, and here’s Lash Legend in to says she’ll be the one to dominate the ladder match before coming for Green’s title.

Giulia makes her entrance as we go to commercials.

Here’s Cathy Kelley catching up with GOONER, and they’re immediately accosted by Danhausen and his EVIL DETECTOR. Kelley is shown to be NON-EVIL, as expected, but GOONER snatches the EVIL DETECTOR away and tosses it before pushing Danhausen up against a wall. GOONER tosses Danhausen into a bunch of boxes and angrily leaves the scene.

Blake Monroe vs Giulia

Jason Ayers is your referee. It’s a hockey fight to start and Giulia fires off a right that staggers Monroe. Giulia grabs a side headlock takedown and continues firing rights at Monroe’s head. Giulia misses a charge and Monroe puts the boots to Giulia. Monroe mounts Giulia and sends her flying with a rana. Monroe’s dropkick gets two. Giulia fires up with some kicks to send Monroe to the floor. Giulia goes out and Monroe responds by driving Giulia into the apron before blasting her with a running knee. We go to commercials.

Giulia trucks Monroe a couple of times when the show returns. Giulia fires off some rapid fire punches and crushes Monroe with a running forearm. Giulia ascends for a missile dropkick that gets two. Giulia wants the Arrivederci Knee but Monroe rolls her up for two. Monroe hits a sling blade and yanks Giulia up for a Saito suplex that gets two. Giulia slips out of a Neutralizer attempt and turns Monroe over for a Northern Lights Bomb. Monroe slips out of that and waffles Giulia with a headbutt, but she no-sells it while cackling. Giulia turns and crushes Monroe with the Arrivederci Knee and then yanks Monroe into a stomp that gets two. Monroe goes to the apron and Giulia yanks her up by her hair before ascending. Monroe slips away and trips Giulia face-first onto a top turnbuckle. Monroe realizes that Giulia might be fully out and covers her for three.

I thought Giulia carried this thing to watchability, quite frankly. I don’t know if Monroe had nerves for her main roster in-ring debut but her offense didn’t look like it would break an egg tonight. I thought Giulia was solid here and the Knee into the stomp felt like the finish when it happened. No major issues here but Monroe can be better. 2.5*

Winner – Blake Monroe (Pins Giulia after tripping her into a top turnbuckle)

After commercials, we take a look back at the ongoing 946-Bloodline saga currently happening on Raw. Jaida Parker turned the tide when she ran over Jacob Fatu with a car and joined with 946.

Here’s Johnny Gargano with a sad Candice LeRae, and here’s Sami Zayn in to tell Gargano he can’t go out there with him tonight before giving him a pep talk.

Kevin Owens makes his entrance, and has a “Ben” armband on. We go to commercials.

Money In The Bank Qualifier: Kevin Owens vs Cody Rhodes vs Johnny Gargano

Charles Robinson is your referee. Rhodes pounds away on Owens just after the bell but Owens fires up with some rights. Owens kicks Rhodes in the ribs and Rhodes responds with a knee. Rhodes rolls up a charging Gargano for two, and Owens then slips out of a Rhodes backslide attempt. Owens blasts Rhodes with a lariat and then runs him hard into a corner. Owens sends Gargano to the floor and pulls Rhodes into another lariat. Owens goes to the apron and Rhodes sends him to the floor. There’s a flurry along the apron, and Gargano’s awkward tope takes Owens down as we go to commercials. (There’s something weird with the television-left ropes tonight, they’ve now messed up Fenix and Gargano.)

Owens is setting up a SLIM JIM table when the show returns. (Gotta love the No DQ stip!). Gargano gets driven into the steps and here’s Candice LeRae out to yank her husband off Owens shoulders. Rhodes starts smashing Gargano around when he comes back into the ring, and Rhodes hits a Disaster Kick to end the flurry. Rhodes fires off some jabs and a Bionic Elbow on Owens, but Gargano sneaks in to slap the Gargano Escape on Rhodes. Owens breaks it up and dumps Gargano with a release German that Graves calls “Neville-esque”. Gargano gets the Gargano Escape on Owens who promptly rolls Gargano over for two. Rhodes yanks Gargano up and dumps him on Owens. Rhodes wants the Cross Rhodes and Gargano breaks out of it. LeRae holds Rhodes along the ropes but Rhodes slips away as Gargano almost blasts his wife with a superkick. Rhodes kicks Gargano into LeRae who sort of breaks the table. Rhodes puts Gargano on the apron and drives him straight through the previously-cracked table. Rhodes and Owens crash together and we take another commercial break. (Three segments for this? OKAY SURE.)

Gargano and Owens are in a corner and Owens drops Gargano with a giant second-rope suplex that gets two. Owens ascends again and Rhodes flies over to headbutt Owens. Gargano joins them to start pounding away on Rhodes. Gargano powerbombs Rhodes and Owens follows with a swanton. Gargano superkicks Owens and covers Rhodes for two. All three guys are down as we reset. Rhodes fires up with a top rope Cody Cutter but walks right into an Owens superkick. Owens nails Gargano with a stunner and Rhodes breaks up the cover at two. Owens stomps on Rhodes and barks at Charles Robinson before going back to Rhodes. Owens and Rhodes start slugging it out and a hockey fight breaks out. Owens slaps Rhodes dead in the face and wants a stunner, but Rhodes pulls him into a Cross Rhodes. Here’s Randy Orton out to pull Charles Robinson out of the ring. An irate Rhodes goes out to fight with Orton and gets driven into the ring steps. Orton gets driven into the apron and off the announce table. Rhodes sends Orton into a ring post and has Orton lined up but Gargano takes out Rhodes before he can deliver a kick. Gargano hits a springboard DDT and covers Owens for two. Gargano eats a superkick when he charges and Owens subsequent pop-up powerbomb ends things, as Orton holds Rhodes back from breaking up the cover.

There was a lot going on here at the end with LeRae and Orton’s various interferences, but they got there in the end. I cannot believe that Owens wants to do another ladder match with his neck being what it is, but here we are. I fully expected Gargano to go over so that Smackdown could have a representative in the “will take stupid ladder bumps” club along with our pal Je’von Evans, but it was not to be. Gargano can still get it done in these kinds of chaos matches, and he was decent tonight trying to sneak stuff in here and there. Owens just doesn’t seem the same to me anymore but age and injuries come for everyone in this game at some point. I guess we’ll see how the ladder match goes, I just hope everyone comes out of it in okay shape. 3.5*

Winner – Kevin Owens (Pop-up powerbomb on Gargano)

Post-match sees Orton escape into the crowd as a stunned Rhodes tries to process what just happened. Graves yells a bunch and talks about MITB as the credits roll and we’re out.

Not a bad episode tonight, overall. The qualifiers were different and I liked that, the six man was decent enough, and the Monroe-Giulia thing finally kicked off with some in-ring. My only complaint was the endless yap sesh between Zayn and a bunch of his challengers and potential challengers. It went way too long for my patience. Regardless, they can nail these two hour shows but we’re now less than three months away from going back to three, so enjoy these while you can.

Thanks for reading. Have a good and safe weekend, tell your loved ones how you feel.