WWE SmackDown Results and Grades –
Confrontation Between LA Knight and Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns skipped his usual request for Milwaukee’s acknowledgment as this segment was pre-recorded, and he had already played out that scenario in the same city the previous week.
Reigns echoed the sentiments of others in calling LA Knight an imitation, this time mockingly referring to Knight as playing dress-up “as my cousin.” The taunt didn’t quite hit the mark.
LA Knight delivered a fiery monologue to Reigns, spinning a web of words around the Head of the Table as they geared up for their showdown in Saudi Arabia.
Grade for LA Knight vs. Roman Reigns: B-
Kevin Owens Triumphs Over Austin Theory
Grayson Waller enhanced the commentary with his usual flair, adding depth to the viewing experience on Smackdown
Kevin Owens secured an unexpectedly swift victory against Austin Theory, who, despite his significant wins over established stars like John Cena and Edge, seems to lack the protective booking he might need.
Grade for Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory: C+
Charlotte and Shotzi Overcome Green and Niven
Corey Graves referred to Chelsea Green and Piper Niven as underdogs, despite it being a common scenario for the pair, particularly after Green’s recent first singles match win.
Smackdown Favourite ‘Michael Cole’ suggested that to win, Green and Niven needed to keep Charlotte Flair sidelined on the apron.
With the tag team titles frequently exchanging hands and the current champions appearing vulnerable, Charlotte and Shotzi’s win could foreshadow a title challenge in their future.
Grade for Charlotte and Shotzi vs. Green and Niven: B-
Solo Sikoa and John Cena Exchange Words
Paul Heyman introduced Solo Sikoa with a variety of accolades, each one landing effectively.
In an unexpected move during Heyman’s speech, Solo Sikoa grabbed the microphone to directly challenge John Cena, stirring up the crowd.
The absence of the counter “Cena sucks” chants to the “Let’s go Cena” cheers created an odd atmosphere.
John Cena, despite a hoarse voice (a nod to the effects of the Samoan Spike), retorted with, “I can do this with half a voice, and it’ll only take 90 seconds to cook you,” and proceeded to lay into Solo with sharp jabs of nepotism.
Circling the 90-second mark, Cena continued his assault, dubbing Solo Sikoa a discount version of Taz, following Taz’s recent acknowledgment of Cena.
Grade for John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa Verbal Clash: B+
Pretty Deadly Beat Brawling Brutes In a “good old fashioned donnybrook,”
Both teams came fully decked out, including Pretty Deadly’s eye-catching fuchsia crop tops.
Butch aimed to replicate Sheamus with a Brogue Kick to Kit Wilson, though it lacked the original’s impact.
Despite a worn-out crowd from the previous SmackDown, the action, especially involving tables, reignited their enthusiasm.
Grade for Pretty Deadly vs. Brawling Brutes: C+
Logan Paul and Rey Mysterio’s Weigh-In
The weigh-in segment was produced with polish, set apart from the ring in a press conference style that mirrored authentic sports weigh-ins.
Nick Aldis took his moderating role seriously, adding a layer of professionalism to the proceedings.
The official weigh-in saw Logan Paul at 213 lbs and Rey Mysterio at 175 lbs.
When the inevitable scuffle broke out, Mysterio delivered a sharp slap to Paul and then escalated with a microphone strike reminiscent of Dillon Danis.
Grade for the Weigh-In: A-
A highlight of the match was Bianca Belair executing a seamless backflip off the second rope, followed by a display of sheer power with a superplex on Bayley.
Belair’s use of her ponytail as a weapon against Bayley was a reminder of her similar tactic against Sasha Banks, with the same expected aftermath.
With her triumph, Belair emphatically sent Bayley through a table with a KOD, preempting any need for Bayley to journey to Saudi Arabia.
Grade for Bianca Belair vs. Bayley: B
