Posted on 1/24/126 by Bob Magee
– Over a shot of Montreal’s Bell Centre, Michael Cole set
the stage for tonight’s show, as the prerequisite shots of
wrestlers arriving to the venue greeted us.
Sami Zayn’s Heroes’ Welcome
The hometown boy Sami Zayn received massive cheers as he
arrived to a massive reaction from the Montreal crowd. Once
he got into the ring, Zayn addressed the crowd in French
before he said that he felt like he had all the momentum
heading into tomorrow night, because he had a chance to
become the Number One Contender. However, before Zayn could
continue, the music of Trick Williams (and the chants of
“Whoop That Trick”) interrupted.
With mic in hand, Williams said that he and Zayn were not on
the same level. He called Zayn “Mr. Too Many Chances” and
“Mr. Street Corner” as he said that he knew how to get the
job done. Once Williams got into the ring, he said Zayn
didn’t know how to get the job done, as he then reminded
Zayn of his loss for the Undisputed WWE Title at Elimination
Chamber 2023. Williams said that he was here to be the WWE
Champion.
Zayn acknowledged that Williams was right about his loss and
that the young upstart would be a future star. Zayn then
went on to say that he and Williams were not alike, and that
Williams would be lucky to be half as good as he was five
years down the line. And if Williams didn’t like that, he
could do something about it right now, according to Zayn.
Williams refused Zayn’s challenge as he had a lot of things
on his mind, like facing Damian Priest in the main event
later tonight. He told Zayn that they could take care of
business tomorrow. At that point, Damian Priest’s theme
interrupted, which brought out Williams’ aforementioned main
event foe.
Priest said that he told Williams that he was the guy who
did a lot of talking, just like what he was doing to Zayn
right now. He then claimed Williams was afraid of Priest
because of the way he didn’t talk to his face last week
because of what he’d do to him. Priest said that if Williams
didn’t want to say something, he could always “do
something”.
Williams rebutted by asking if Priest thought he was afraid
to pop off. He then told Priest to “watch this”, as he hit
Zayn with the microphone. Priest punched away at Williams in
the corner as Zayn approached and went after the mouthy
Williams in the corner, much to Priest’s dismay. In the
chaos, Williams shoved Priest into Zayn and skulked away.
Trick Williams continues to fit like a glove as part of
SmackDown’s roster, and he helped make this segment
entertaining, despite how long it was starting to feel. He
just has that “it” factor and giving him the SNME spot
tomorrow night is a huge test to see if he can excel in this
high midcard/main event spot.
*********************************
– Randy Orton was seen watching what just transpired last
night as he was interviewed by Cathy Kelley. Orton said that
this year was the Year of the Viper and that tomorrow, he’d
beat Zayn, Williams, and Priest, then fly halfway across the
world to fight Drew McIntyre and beat him the only way he
knew how… with the three most dangerous words in sports
entertainment.
– On commentary, Michael Cole and Wade Barrett talked about
what we’d see tonight, as we saw Earlier Today footage of
Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov agreeing to an open
challenge match for tonight. The Miz complained to Hayes
that nobody truly hated each other. Hayes told Miz that
Dragunov gave him more of an opportunity than he ever did.
U.S. Open Challenge Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja
Dragunov
We got underway as Dragunov countered an early First 48
attempt from Hayes, but the U.S. Champ eventually got the
upper hand with chops to the chest of his challenger.
Dragunov avoided the last chop and connected with the German
suplex and kept the pressure on Hayes. Dragunov chopped down
his foe and kept the hold on Hayes’ waist on strong. Hayes
muscled his way out of Dragunov’s grip and avoided the
Constantine Special before he tried for the springboard
clothesline, but that was dodged. A double down between
Hayes and Dragunov brought us a picture-in-picture
interruption.
Back to the match and Dragunov floored Hayes in the corner
with a running lariat. With both men on the apron, Dragunov
battered Hayes against the steel ringpost before he went
into the ring and suplexed his opponent into the ring.
Dragunov applied a chinlock on Hayes, but the champ battled
out of it and dropped a back suplex on him. Dragunov slammed
Hayes and hit the senton on him for a near-fall.
Dragunov tried for a piledriver, but Hayes escaped and
delivered the trademark springboard clothesline. One, two…
not quite. Both men got back to their feet and gave each
other their best shots, despite both being on spaghetti
legs. Hayes caught Dragunov with a back elbow to the knose,
which staggered his foe. Dragunov blasted back with a set of
rattling chops to the chest of Hayes, followed by a boot to
the face. Hayes bounced back with a boot, followed by his
version of La Mistica for yet another near-fall.
Dragunov blocked a suplex attempt by Hayes and then hit him
in the back of the head with hard elbows. Hayes tried for an
answer, but he got blasted by the Constantine Special. The
U.S. Champion somehow kicked out at two after that shot.
With Hayes trapped in the corner, Dragunov looked to go
Coast-to-Coast, but Hayes tried to block it with a First 48.
Dragunov was on top of that and caught Hayes to slam him
down for another near fall, as this match appeared to be
going the distance. And so, we went to another break.
We returned from commercial with Hayes stuck on the top rope
and Dragunov looking for a high-risk maneuver. The two
battered one another with hard shots, but it was Hayes who
appeared to have the upper hand. His attempt at an avalanche
move was blocked by Dragunov, who struck his chest and then
lifted him from the apron for a impressive deadlift
superplex. The two foes rolled to the apron and again traded
hard-hitting strikes to the chest. Dragunov lifted Hayes on
his shoulders, but that got countered by the U.S. Champion.
Hayes then hit a swinging suplex cutter right on the apron,
which wiped both him and Dragunov out.
Hayes rolled Dragunov in the ring and headed to the top
rope, but the challenger recovered and caught his opponent
with a Death Valley Driver right into the corner. One, two,
Hayes somehow kicked out! With Hayes still down and out,
Dragunov headed to the top rope, but Miz tripped him up from
behind,. This allowed Hayes to hit Dragunov with First 48
for the win.
Carmelo Hayes def. Ilja Dragunov via pinfall
I was enjoying this match a great deal, but of course, we
had to have the interference finish. I get that they wanted
to mirror how Dragunov initially beat Hayes for the U.S.
Title thanks to unwanted interference, doesn’t necessarily
mean I enjoyed things going that way. I was content with
Hayes and Dragunov just going at it because those two bring
the best out of one another.
*********************************
Cody Rhodes interview
As Michael Cole was getting set to interview Rhodes, he was
interrupted by Jacob Fatu, who walked into the interview
area. Fatu said that he only gave a damn about giving Drew
McInytre his receipt for knocking his damn teeth down his
throat. Rhodes angrily said that Fatu acting instead of
thinking is what got him locked up in the first place. Fatu
talked about how he almost got fired before he got to WWE
and that the choices he made today got him standing to face
Rhodes right now.
Rhodes said this could’ve been a WWE Title match if Fatu
didn’t step into the situation last week. Fatu declared that
they didn’t make ’em like him anymore, as he told Rhodes
that he was very much in control.
I liked this, especially the slight hint of “Homelander”
Cody Rhodes when he threw Fatu’s checkered past right in his
face. This match should be interesting tomorrow, especially
with how either man have a good reason to win.
*********************************
– Chelsea Green tried to recruit Jordynne Grace to her
Secret Her-vice, to which Green “agreed” with, if Green
stepped up to face Jade Cargill, and that would be up next.
– Roman Reigns was advertised to appear at the Royal Rumble
next week, having officially declared for the titular match
by way of video package.
Chelsea Green (w/ Alba Fyre & Jordynne Grace) vs. Jade
Cargill
Green jumped into Cargill outside the ring as the latter was
distracted by Grace’s presence, which gave her the early
advantage as the bell sounded.
Cargiill powered out of Green’s attack as she slammed her
down and stomped away on the former Women’s U.S. Champion on
the corner. Cargill dropped Green on the back, followed by a
fallaway slam. Cargill then hit another fallaway slam, which
sent Green out of the ring. Cargill threw Green into the
ring and talked some trash to Grace at ringside. Again, this
gave Green an opening with a dropkick from the top, followed
by the double knees to the back of Cargill’s neck.
Green tried for the Un-Pretty-Her, but that got reversed.
She went for a rope-assisted pin, but Cargill kicked out.
Cargill recovered and dropped Green with the powerbomb.
After she warded off Fyre from the apron, Cargill told Grace
to “watch this”, as she finished off Green with Jaded.
After the match, Grace said that Cargill’s match had no
point other than showing her strength in non-title matches.
Grace then declared for the women’s Royal Rumble and that
she’d see Cargill on the other side. Grace then challenged
Cargill to fight her right here, right now. The WWE Women’s
Champion backed down from Grace’s challenge.
Jade Cargill def. Chelsea Green via pinfall
An okay match, just meant to build the Grace/Cargill feud.
Not really much more I can say about it.
*********************************
WWE Tag Team Championships: The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis &
Joe Gacy) (w/ Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross) vs. The
M.F.T.s (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) (w/ Tanga Loa, J.C. Mateo)
Sikoa told Talla Tonga to head to the back with the Wyatts’
lantern in tow before the match started.
Tama slammed Gacy with a scoop slam as Sikoa then tagged
into the match and teed away on Gacy with a pair of
headbutts, followed by a running elbow. Tama tagged back in,
but this gave Gacy time to recover as Lumis entered and hit
a nice tag move on Tama alongside Gacy. Lumis avoided an
early Cutthroat forearm from Tama, as he then monkey flipped
his opponent halfway across the ring. The Wyatt Sicks’
championship duo then went on the apron and barreled onto
Sikoa and Tama with stereo cannonball sentons, which led to
the commercial break.
We returned to our tag title match with Sikoa working over
Lumis in the corner with a running hip charge that would
make Umaga proud. Sikoa tried again for the hip charge, but
Lumis dodged it and grounded Sikoa with a back suplex. As
both men crawled to their corners, Gacy got the hot tag and
unleashed a flurry of offense on legal man Tama. Gacy
connected with the handspring clothesline after hitting a
back suplex on Sikoa. Suplex-into-powerbomb by the Wyatt
Sicks, but Sikoa broke up the pin in the nick of time.
Outside the ring, Gacy got thrown into the barricade by
Sikoa, but paid for it with a cannonball flip by Lumis. In
the ring, Tanga Loa tried to get involved, but Erick Rowan
took him out and J.C. Mateo with a massive running
crossbody. Meanwhile, Talla Tonga emerged from the back,
with lantern in hand. Mateo provided some backup as Talla
knocked the redwood down with a big boot. He then threw
Rowan over the barricade. Uncle Howdy locked the Mandible
Claw on Talla,, but Sikoa got him with the Samoan Spike.
With the ref’s back turned, Sikoa hit Lumis with the
lantern, which allowed Tama to hit his not-quite-elevated
Cutthroat for the pin and win.
The M.F.T.s def. The Wyatt Sicks via pinfall to win the WWE
Tag Team Championships
This match was not that good, and this M.F.T.s/Wyatts feud
has been a drag to follow since it started. That its
consumed the tag titles and it means teams like Fraxiom, the
Street Profits and the Motor City Machine Guns don’t get
their time to shine as a result of the “M.F.T./Wyatt
Vortex”, as some have coined it, just makes this all the
more disappointing. There are good teams that could be
making the SmackDown tag division a thriving one like how
the U.S. Title scene has been aces in recent months, but the
fact they’re not around to make that happen is one of the
big disappointments for me in the three-hour era of
SmackDown. Now that Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black is over
and done with, I can safely say that M.F.T.s vs Wyatt Sicks
is probably the worst story going on right now on SmackDown,
and I don’t think trading titles and fighting over a lantern
will generate any interest whatsoever.
*********************************
– Nick Aldis met with AJ Styles, as he tried to ask why
Styles would put his career on the line against Gunther at
the Royal Rumble. However, that wasn’t the only reason Aldis
invited him to Montreal, as Shinsuke Nakamura met face to
face with Styles. This led to Styles vs. Nakamura being
booked for Saturday Night’s Main Event tomorrow.
Nathan Frazer (w/ Axiom) vs. Johnny Gargano (w/ Candice
LeRae)
Frazer worked over Gargano’s arm to start off, but the
former NXT Champion used a floatover to transition into a
front facelock in response. Frazer acrobatically got ahead
of it and hit an armdrag on Gargano, again focusing on the
arm. Frazer picked up speed and hit a dropkick on Gargano to
keep him grounded. In the corner, Frazer chopped at Gargano,
as he then kicked him on the top rope. Gargano countered and
drove Frazer’s face into the top turnbuckle before he pushed
him out of the ring and right into the barricade, which took
us to the break.
We returned from break as Frazer caught Gargano with an
enzuigiri, followed by a springboard reverse DDT. Frazer
began to build momentum with strikes to the face, followed
by a springboard axe handle. Frazer maintained the attack
with an impressive dodge as he then hit a running
slingblade. Off the top rope, Frazer dropped down on Gargano
with a frogsplash for the two-count. As Gargano rolled out
of the ring, Frazer launched himself over the top rope with
a splash. He then headed to the top rope and tried for the
Phoenix Splash, but Gargano moved out of the way. The two
traded kicks to each other’s faces, but Gargano blocked the
springboard moonsault with a kick as he hit a modified
fisherman’s driver for the near-fall.
Gargano headed to the top rope rather gingerly, which gave
Frazer enough time to hit the superplex, followed by the
swinging neckbreaker, but not enough to get the three. As
Frazer headed to the top, Candice LeRae got on the apron and
provided enough of a distraction for him to miss the splash.
Outside the ring, Axiom snuck behind LeRae and put the mask
on her, which caused her to blindly attack Gargano rather
than Frazer. The roll-up and this match was over.
After the match, LeRae got the stolen mask back and ran off,
much to Fraxiom’s dismay.
Nathan Frazer def. Johnny Gargano via pinfall
This was a fun little singles match, but considering my take
on the SmackDown tag division above, I can’t help but wonder
how better off everyone here would be vying for the tag
titles. Granted, Gargano would have to find a partner seeing
as his #DIY ally Tommaso Ciampa has announced he’s left WWE,
but there are ways to work around that. Still, I enjoyted
this match for what it was.
*********************************
Drew McIntyre speaks
The Undisputed WWE Champion headed to the ring, as proud as
ever of his accomplishment.
McIntyre started off by saying “bonjour” to the Montreal
crowd, apparenly exhausted his French. He talked about how
it’s been a tough time for Montreal since it was 30 years
since the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, but now they had a
champion they could be proud of in Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre said he saw Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu’s “therapy
session”, as he again insisted that he didn’t kick Fatu’s
teeth down his throat, because he’d be bragging about it if
he did. He then said that if Rhodes survived Fatu tomorrow,
he’d still have to go to the back of the line as there’d be
no rematch for the title. He then teed up the four men who
would face each other tomorrow for a shot at his title.
McIntyre talked about how Sami Zayn might have a whole
country behind him as the fans chanted “Ole Ole Ole” loudly.
McIntyre said that Zayn was so concerned about winning the
big one and disappointing his son, as he then said that the
aforementioned son was disappointed when he opened his eyes
because Sami Zayn was his dad.
He then said whoever wins the fatal four-way tomorrow will
need all the luck when they face him next week at the Royal
Rumble.
Just McIntyre speaking his mind, not really much else to say
here. Hopefully they give him something more to work with in
the near future.
*********************************
– Kit Wilson was interviewed about his attack on Matt
Cardona last week. He said that someone had to clean up the
“toxic masculinity” that was permeating the locker room, and
Cardona was the head of it. This brought Cardona himself to
face down Wilson, who said that Cardona had no
accountability and he personified toxic masculinity. Cardona
told Wilson that they could settle this in the ring.
Women’s Tag Team #1 Contender’s Match: Alexa Bliss &
Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Nia Jax & Lash
Legend
Legend was getting into it with Giulia as the bell rang, as
Flair and Bliss cleared the ring. Once things settled down,
James had Legend in the corner with a running shoulder
charge. Flair hit her signature clothesline on James as she
then sent James out of the ring. The tag to Bliss, who
headed up top and flew right into everyone outside the ring,
which was the cue for a break in the action.
We returned from break as Legend and Giulia briefly worked
together against Flair, but couldn’t get any sort of
advantage. Giulia was literally booted out of the ring by
Flair, but Legend knocked Flair down with a clothesline. On
the apron, Flair recovered and kicked Jax down, as she then
hit the crossbody on Legend. Giulia re-entered the fray and
took it to both Flair and Legend with kicks for both. James
entered the match as Flair hit her and Legend with chops-a-
plenty. James knocked down Flair from behind and tried for a
suplex, but couldn’t lift her. Legend came in for the assist
for the attempted double suplex, but Flair reversed that
into a double DDT.
Just as Flair looked like she’d have the tag on Bliss,
Giulia pulled down the latter from the apron and threw her
einto the barricade. In the ring, Jax was the legal woman
for her team as she lifted Flair on her shoulders. James got
below Jax and turned the attempted avalanche Samoan Drop
into a double powebomb! One, two…. NO!
James started getting into Flair’s face, but she got sent
into the corner by Bliss, which allowed Giulia to blind tag.
Meanwhile, Bliss entered the match with the hot tag as she
looked strong against both Giulia and Bliss. Samoan Drop by
Jax was turned into a DDT by Bliss, but that wasn’t enough
to put the match away. Off the top rope, Giulia hit Jax with
the missile dropkick as Bliss caught her in Sister Abigail
position. Legend broke it up with a pump kick to Bliss to
break it up. Jax recovered and hit a pop-up headbutt Giulia,
as James tagged in and hit her with the 401K. Legend
jettisoned Giulia out of the ring as she caught Bliss and
hit the Lash Extension. Legend was speared before pin by
Flair, but James snuck into the ring and pinned Bliss to
secure the No. 1 Contenders’ spot for her and Giulia.
Giulia & Kiana James def. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair and
Nia Jax & Lash Legend via pinfall
That was a bit rough, I have to say. It looked like nobody
really was able to gel that well, but I will say Giulia &
Kiana vs. RHIYO should make for an interesting and fun
women’s tag title match if that’s what ends up being the
match.
*********************************
– Sami Zayn cleared the air that he had no problem with
Damian Priest, but Trick Williams was the one he had a
problem with. Zayn volunteered to watch Priest’s back, but
was rejected as he was told by Priest that he had a bad
habit of getting into other people’s business. Zayn’s
attention on something we couldn’t see. As Priest left, Zayn
walked forward and saw Drew McIntyre. Without saying a word,
Zayn slapped McIntyre in the face in response to the words
about his son that were said earlier.
– AJ Styles was approached by Cody Rhodes backstage, who
wished him the best of luck in his match against unther. He
entered his bus, which was defaced with a picture of Drew
McIntyre with the WWE Title.
Card for Saturday Night’s Main Event
Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu
AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Randy
Orton vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn
Women’s Tag Team Championship: RHIYO (Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY)
vs. The Judgment Day (Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez)
– Giulia and Kiana James were interviewed about their
victory and a chance to become the Women’s Tag Champions.
James outlined that it was part of a plan that would see
Giulia become the triple champion as she’d be the Women’s
U.S. Champion, one-half of the Women’s Tag Champ, and a
World Champion when she wins the Royal Rumble.
Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams
Williams and Priest locked it up to start this one as
Williams found himself in a headlock early on. Clothesline
by Priest was followed by an armbar submission hold.
Williams got away from it and struck Priest in the corner as
he had the upper hand now. Williams struck Priest in the
chest with a chop, but couldn’t throw him. After some
effort, Williams delivered the vertical suplex on Priest for
a near-fall. Williams connected with the leaping neckbreaker
on Priest, but he again couldn’t get the three.
Meanwhile, Sami Zayn emerged from the stage and stared down
Williams. Priest rose up from the corner and struck Williams
repeatedly before he shared some harsh words to Zayn for
being here. Priest tried to go Old School, but Williams
tripped him up and sent him out of the ring. Williams took
over by throwing Priest into the steel steps and the
barricade back and forth, as our main event headed to break.
We returned from the commercial break as Priest and Williams
traded fists, but it was the former World Heavyweight
Champion who had the upper hand in the exchange. Williams
hit his patented side heel kick to stop Priest’s momentum,
but only got a two-count out of it. Williams lifted Priest
on his shoulders, but couldn’t capitalize. Priest looked
like he had South of Heaven set up, but Williams escaped.
Williams used a capoeira kick, as he and Priest then knocked
each other down with simultaenous 360 pump kicks that hit
right on the button.
Outside the ring, Williams gained the upper hand with a
flapjack onto the announce table as he then threw Priest
onto Zayn at ringside. As the action entered the ring, Zayn
charged at Williams and attacked him, which caused the
referee to call for a DQ.
Zayn attacked Williams and left him stunned in the corner.
Priest stepped up to Zayn, upset that he got involved in the
match, but he was attacked by Zayn. Priest knocked Zayn with
a superkick, as Williams took him out with the Trickshot
knee. Williams appeared to stand tall once again, but he
didn’t account for Randy Orton hitting him with the RKO out
of nowhere.
Orton posed on the turnbuckles, as Zayn recovered and stared
him down. The two exchanged words, but Orton dropped Zayn
with the RKO to end tonight’s SmackDown.
Trick Williams def. Damian Priest via disqualification