WWE SmackDown aired from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. It was the final episode of SmackDown before WrestleMania 36 this weekend.
SmackDown Results (4/3)
- Tamina def. Lacey Evans & Naomi
- Tucker def. Dolph Ziggler via DQ
- Daniel Bryan def. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ
- John Cena accepted Bray Wyatt’s challenge
Here are 6 takeaways from this week’s show:
Miz & Morrison Sent A Message To The Usos & New Day
The Miz and John Morrison were set to host an episode Miz TV but The Usos immediately interrupted. They said they aren’t going to wait for Miz and Morrison to invite them on their show.
New Day joined The Usos in the ring and said that The Usos weren’t going to be the team to win the Ladder match at WrestleMania. SmackDown Tag Team Champions Miz and Morrison came down to the entrance ramp and climbed up the ladders. They climbed to the top and vowed to do the same at WrestleMania and retain the titles.
The Usos and New Day ran up the ramp and a brawl broke out. The Miz and Morrison came out on top and posed on the ladders to end the segment. There was no acknowledgement of this match reportedly not happening this weekend.
Tamina Picked Up Some Momentum Heading Into WrestleMania
Naomi, Lacey Evans, and Tamina competed in a Triple Threat match tonight on SmackDown. Bayley and Sasha Banks joined Michael Cole on commentary.
Match Recap: Naomi and Evans went after Tamina to start things off and beat her down in the corner. Evans hit Tamina with a Dropkick but Tamina battled back and sent Lacey to the apron. Tamina knocked Naomi and Evans to the floor as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Michael Cole tried to get Sasha Banks to admit that she is excited to be in the title match at WrestleMania. Banks kept ignoring the question as Evans connected with a Clothesline and followed it up with a Bronco Buster on Tamina.
Lacey hit an Elbow Drop and was going to go for the cover but Naomi dragged her to the outside. Sasha Banks left the commentary table and launched Lacey into the steel steps. Naomi rolled up Tamina for a two count and then hit an Enziguri. Tamina planted Naomi with a Samoan Drop and went for the cover but Naomi kicked out at two.
Bayley got sick of Cole and left the announce table. Bayley attacked Naomi and Tamina capitalized with a Superkick for the victory. Bayley then got in the ring with a smile on her face. Bayley tried to shake Tamina’s hand but she got a Superkick to the face instead. Tamina then planted Sasha Banks with a Samoan Drop.
The Truth Was Revealed To Mandy Rose
Tucker and Otis had a conversation backstage. Tucker told Otis that Mandy asked about him but seemed to be heading to Dolph’s dressing room. Otis got a text and ran off. Tucker then battled Dolph Ziggler.
Match Recap: Tucker started off the match in control and connected with a Clothesline. Ziggler battled back and applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Tucker escaped and launched Dolph into the corner. Ziggler once again applied a Headlock and Tucker quickly broke free with a couple punches to the ribs.
Tucker sent Dolph out of the ring and launched him into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Tucker connected with a Side Slam for a near fall. Ziggler brought Tucker to the outside and hit a Zig Zag onto the steel steps to end the match in a DQ. Ziggler was about to bash Tucker’s head with the steel steps but Mandy and Sonya prevented him. Otis then rushed the ring as the glitch showed up saying “the truth will be heard”.
A masked man appeared and said that the truth will be heard and showed a video of Mandy Rose saying that Otis is cute and sweet. Mandy then went to meet Otis but left her phone behind. It showed Sonya texting Otis a time change. Otis responded “sounds great ;)”. Sonya deleted the message and told Ziggler that he is going to get what he wants. Rose stormed off as Otis chased Dolph away.
Opinion: I thought this was well done and it will be interesting to find out who was under the mask. This is one of the only interesting storylines heading into WrestleMania.
Sami, Cesaro, Nakamura Beat Daniel Bryan Down
Daniel Bryan faced Shinsuke Nakamura tonight on SmackDown. Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn joined Michael Cole on commentary for the match. Cesaro and Drew Gulak were ringside.
Match Recap: Bryan and Nakamura traded submission holds to start off the match. Daniel connected with a Dropkick and then sent Nakamura out of the ring. Bryan hit a knee to the face off the ring apron and taunted Sami before rolling Shinsuke back into the ring. Bryan hit another Dropkick off the top rope and continued to taunt Sami.
Daniel perched Nakamura up on the top turnbuckle and went for a Hurricanrana but Shinsuke held onto the ropes. Bryan battled back as Sami complained about having to defend his title against him at WrestleMania.
Nakamura connected with a boot to the face and followed it up with a Reverse Suplex. Shinsuke went for the Kinshasa but Bryan countered into a Half Crab. Nakamura battled through the pain and reached the bottom rope to break the hold. Bryan then got Nakamura in the Yes Lock but Cesaro broke it up to end the match in a DQ.
Cesaro dumped Gulak over the barricade and then somehow caught Daniel Bryan as he went for a Suicide Dive. Cesaro slammed Bryan on the announce table before launching Gulak into the steel steps. Shinsuke hit Bryan with a Kinshasa and Sami followed it up with the Helluva Kick.
WWE Didn’t Explain Why Braun Strowman Is Replacing Roman Reigns At WrestleMania
Ariel Helwani interviewed Triple H on ESPN MMA this week. Triple H hyped up WrestleMania 36 and said the following about how WWE was going to explain Strowman replacing Reigns in the Universal Championship match:
“It will unfold in a unique way and I think it will be meaningful for everybody.”
Reigns released a video on Instagram explaining the reasons why he backed out of the match. He noted that he made the trip to the Performance Center and planned to compete but had to make a decision for himself and his family.
It was advertised that Reigns and Goldberg will have a face-to-face meeting on tonight’s show. They already had a contract signing on a recent episode of SmackDown for the Universal Championship match at WrestleMania.
WWE’s “unique” way of explaining why Braun Strowman is replacing Roman Reigns was to simply announce it. I don’t understand why WWE couldn’t create some kind of storyline or maybe they filmed something and decided not to air it. Either way, not explaining it at all is an odd decision.
John Cena Vowed To Squash Bray Wyatt At WrestleMania
John Cena came down to the ring and thanked the audience for watching at home. Cena said that this was the final minutes of the final broadcast before an unprecedented WrestleMania.
Cena claimed that this year’s WrestleMania will be the most viewed and talked about WrestleMania in history because nobody knows what is going to happen. John added that he has no idea what a Firefly Fun House match is and that The Fiend loves uncertainty because it can lead to fear and panic.
John looked directly into the camera and said that he will not panic and will squash Bray Wyatt. Cena claimed that Bray Wyatt is not even on the level below him and referred to him as a bootleg Mr. Rogers. John vowed to expose The Fiend as embarrassment at WrestleMania.
Cena added that The Fiend is still going to get his ass kicked in his own match and accepted the match. The Firefly Fun House puppets appeared on the barricade and said that Cena is going to play with them forever after the match. The lights went out and The Fiend appeared on the podium Baron Corbin threw Elias off of. Cena and The Fiend stared at each other before Bray Wyatt appeared behind John and said “let me in” to close the show.
Opinion: I’m looking forward to finding out what a Firefly Fun House match is this weekend. Cena cut an excellent promo tonight and the entire segment was excellent. Overall, the build to this year’s WrestleMania was bizarre for obvious reasons and I just hope the show is entertaining this weekend.