WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome and this week was a special Throwback Edition of the show. Seth Rollins faced Cesaro tonight in a WrestleMania 37 rematch. If Cesaro won the match, he would earn a shot at the Universal Championship at WrestleMania Backlash.
SmackDown Results (5/7)
- Cesaro def. Seth Rollins to earn a title shot at WrestleMania Backlash
- Carmella def. Ruby Riott via submission
- Tamina def. Reginald via disqualification
- King Corbin, Alpha Academy, Sami Zayn, Apollo Crews def. Shinsuke Nakamura, Street Profits, Kevin Owens, Big E
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Jimmy Uso Returned
This week’s episode of SmackDown was a throwback edition as part of a promotion for Fox this weekend. Universal Champion Roman Reigns came down to the ring with Paul Heyman and Jey Uso.
Heyman said that Reigns has asked him to eulogize the career of his victim, Daniel Bryan. Paul asked for a ten bell salute and hilariously made “ding” sounds with his mouth instead of ringing the bell.
Reigns noted that he gave Daniel Bryan what he wanted because he didn’t want to be here anymore. Roman claimed that they have replaced Daniel Bryan and introduced Jimmy Uso.
Jimmy shared a hug with everyone in the ring before Cesaro interrupted. Cesaro said that you can never replace Daniel Bryan. Seth Rollins attacked Cesaro from behind before Teddy Long joined the party. Teddy Long said Adam Pearce gave him some authority tonight and announced that if Cesaro beats Rollins he will face Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania Backlash.
Cesaro Will Face Roman Reigns At WrestleMania Backlash
Reigns attacked Cesaro from behind as SmackDown went to a. break. When SmackDown returned, Jimmy and Jey Uso were ringside for the match as Paul Heyman watched Roman Reigns watching the match backstage.
Rollins controlled the action early and kept Cesaro rounded. Seth applied a Headlock and then went for a Suplex but Cesaro blocked it. Cesaro connected with a big Clothesline and went for the cover but Seth kicked out at two.
Cesaro went for the Gotch Neutralizer but Rollins countered with a Back Body Drop for a near fall. Rollins hit a Superplex and quickly followed it up with the Falcon Arrow for another two count.
When SmackDown returned from a commercial break, Cesaro locked in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Rollins reached for the ropes but Cesaro blocked him. Seth eventually broke free and dropped Cesaro with a forearm to the back of the head.
Rollins started arguing with Jey and told him that he didn’t want to interfere. Rollins shoved Jey Uso to the floor and Jimmy hit him with a Superkick while the referee wasn’t paying attention. Cesaro capitalized with a Crossbody and rolled Seth back into the ring. Cesaro connected with the Gotch Neutralizer for the pinfall victory. Cesaro will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania Backlash next Sunday.
After the match, Seth Rollins stormed into Reigns’ locker room and claimed that Jimmy cost him the match. Roman told Rollins that he will handle Jimmy Uso and that Seth’s loss cost him as well because now he has to face Cesaro at the PPV. Reigns vowed to defeat Cesaro and Rollins said that if he will deal with Jimmy Uso if Roman doesn’t.
Roman later confronted Jimmy Uso and scolded him for making a mistake. Jimmy told Reigns that he isn’t going to talk him like he does Jey because he isn’t anyone’s bitch. Jimmy then walked away and Roman told Jey to deal with it.
Carmella def. Ruby Riott
Ruby Riott faced Carmella tonight on SmackDown. Liv Morgan was ringside for the match. Riott slammed Carmella’s face into the middle turnbuckle and connected with some strikes in the middle of the ring. Riott slammed Carmella to the mat for a near fall.
Riott climbed to the top rope but Carmella caught her with a kick to the face. Carmella went for the cover but used the ropes for leverage and Liv Morgan alerted the referee. Riott and Carmella then traded roll-ups until Carmella transitioned into the Code of Silence for the submission victory.
Bayley Sent A Message To Bianca Belair
Bayley came down to the ring and said she was here to pay tribute to some of the women’s champions of the past. Bayley brought up Alundra Blayze, Jacqueline, Lita, Trish Stratus, Ivory, Beth Phoenix, and Molly Holly.
Bayley boasted about herself after bringing up everyone’s name. She then put Bianca Belair’s name on the screen and claimed that she was blind to the world around her. Bayley added that if Belair is not careful, she is going to wind up like all of those other women, not on her level.
She vowed to defeat Bianca Belair at WrestleMania Backlash and show the WWE Universe that she was right about her all along. Bianca Belair interrupted and said it was her confidence that bothers Bayley. Belair told Bayley to worry about herself because she is on her way to becoming the new longEST reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Bayley cackled into the microphone and tried to tackle Bianca but Belair blocked it. Belair sent Bayley to the corner and then launched her across the ring. Belair connected with a Dropkick but Bayley hopped up and ripped away at Bianca’s earring. Bayley then planted Bianca with the Rose Plant to end the segment.
Jimmy Uso Wants To Go For The Tag Titles
Jey Uso confronted Jimmy Uso backstage. Jey told Jimmy that whatever Roman does benefits the family. Jimmy disagreed and said that Jey has become Roman’s bitch and all he is doing is fighting the Universal Champions’ battles. Jimmy said it would be representing the family as well if Roman was the Universal Champion and The Usos were SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
Dominik def. Dolph Ziggler
Rey Mysterio was set to face Dolph Ziggler tonight on SmackDown. Ziggler and Roode will defend the SmackDown Tag Team Championships against Rey and Dominik at WrestleMania Backlash.
Before the match, Ziggler said there is no better throwbacks than the Dirty Dawgs. Dolph told Dominik that he doesn’t really belong here and is nothing besides Rey’s little kid. Ziggler added that Dominik should leave the ring and let the real men handle their business. Dominik told Rey that he wanted the match instead and Rey agreed.
Dominik hit a Dropkick that sent Ziggler out of the ring to begin the action. Dolph tripped Dominik up on the apron and then delivered a Body Slam on the floor outside the ring. Back in the ring, Dominik battled back with some punches but Ziggler halted his momentum with a Neckbreaker for a two count. Ziggler taunted Dominik and it backfired. Dominik rolled up Ziggler for the pinfall victory and celebrated with Rey after the match.
Tamina def. Reginald
Tamina faced Reginald tonight. Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, and Natalya were ringside for the match. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler will defend the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Tamina and Natalya on next week’s show.
Reginald rolled out of the ring until the referee made Tamina go to the corner. Tamina went for a couple Clotheslines but Reginald flipped out of the way. Tamina sent Reginald to the turnbuckle and he climbed to the top rope. Reginald then stood on top of the ring post and flipped to the canvas as Tamina started to climb.
Reginald danced around and turned around into a Superkick. Tamina went for the Superfly Splash but Baszler attacked her to end the match in a disqualification. Nia and Shayna then beat Tamina and Natalya down. Shayna stomped on Tamina’s elbow and Nia delivered a Samoan Drop onto the barricade to end the segment.
King Corbin, Alpha Academy, Apollo Crews, & Sami Zayn Picked Up A Win
Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews, Alpha Academy, King Corbin, and Sami Zayn faced Big E, Street Profits, Kevin Owens, and Shinsuke Nakamura tonight. Sami originally asked Teddy Long for an Intercontinental Championship match but Teddy announced that he will be facing The Undertaker tonight. After Sami informed Teddy that The Undertaker retired, Teddy and Sonya eventually made the 10-man tag match official.
Montez Ford slammed Chad Gable to the mat to start off the action. Gable took control and brought Ford over to the corner. Apollo tagged in and connected with a Body Slam. Sami Zayn tagged himself in and unloaded some kicks to Montez’s midsection. King Corbin tagged in and leveled Big E with a Clothesline. Big E battled back with an elbow to the face for a one count. King Corbin drove Big E to the corner of the ring and Sami got in some cheap shots as referee Charles Robinson was distracted. A brawl broke out and Owens hit Sami with a Splash off the ring apron as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Otis and Kevin Owens were battling in the ring. Otis hit Owens with a Splash in the corner and tagged in Apollo Crews. Apollo lifted Owens up but Kevin escaped. Owens went for the Stunner but Crews blocked it. Owens hit an Atomic Drop and followed it up with an Enziguri.
Otis leveled Big E with a Clothesline outside the ring. Owens tagged in Shinsuke and he hit Sami Zayn with a boot to the face. Nakamura knocked Corbin off the ring apron and delivered another kick to Sami’s face. Sami looked for a tag but nobody was on the apron.
Nakamura hung up Sami in the ropes and connected with the sliding German Suplex. Nakamura followed it up with another kick to the face and went for the cover but King Corbin broke it up. Big E hit Corbin with a Belly to Belly but turned around into a German Suplex from Crews. Owens hit Crews with a Stunner but Gable hit him with a German Suplex on the floor outside the ring. Montez Ford leveled Otis with a Suicide Dive outside the ring.
Nakamura booted Sami in the face and went for the cover but he didn’t realize that King Corbin made a tag. King Corbin planted Shinsuke Nakamura with the End of Days for the pinfall victory.
Cesaro Beat Everyone Down To Close The Show
Roman Reigns had another conversation with Jey Uso backstage. Reigns told Jey that he loves him and loves Jimmy as well. Reigns said he needs to know where Jimmy stands and we are about to find out right now. Reigns and Jey then headed out of the locker room as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
Reigns, Jey, and Paul Heyman were in the ring when SmackDown returned. Roman said that this was not how he envisioned this night going. Jimmy Uso interrupted Reigns and made his way to the ring. Jimmy asked Jey where he stands and brought up the I Quit match between Reigns and Jey. Jimmy noted that Jey wouldn’t quit until Reigns brought him into the ring and choked him out.
Jimmy said that Jey quit because he loved him and didn’t want to see him get hurt. Jimmy then rolled footage from the Universal Championship Hell in a Cell I Quit match and how Roman was about to bash Jey’s face with the steel steps. Jimmy prevented it but Roman locked him in the Guillotine Choke until Jey quit so he would let Jimmy go.
Jimmy added that he would never say “I Quit” to Reigns no matter what. Roman told Jimmy that he was still stuck on the past and that he is not going to go back and forth with him. Reigns told Jimmy Uso to fall in line, acknowledge him or he can take his ass home.
Roman said that Jimmy will have to explain to his kids why he is sitting at home watching the Tribal Chief and The Uso. Jimmy exited the ring and walked to the entrance ramp. Jey went after him and grabbed Jimmy’s arm.
Cesaro attacked Reigns from behind and beat him down in the corner. Jimmy tried to prevent Jey from helping out but he didn’t listen. Cesaro beat Jey down until Jimmy made the save. Cesaro hit Jimmy with an uppercut and then planted Jey with the Neutralizer. Cesaro then delivered a Neutralizer to Roman Reigns to close the show.