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Hello people, it’s Friday so it’s time for WWE Smackdown. Elimination Chamber happened last week, and since both RAW champions are clearly more important the Rumble winners went after them. That means the Chamber winners get stuck in this bracket. Most notably Randy Orton won the Chamber, but only after Drew McIntyre showed up to attack Cody Rhodes after Seth Rollins caused Logan Paul to be eliminated. For some reason Triple H can’t book a Chamber without interference, and I’m begging him to stop that for at least 2 years. But because Drew stuck his stupid Scottish nose into things yet again Smackdown GM Nick Aldis announced that Drew will defend the WWE title tonight against Cody. Bear in mind these two have been feuding for something like 7 months and had a 3 Stages of Hell match not too long ago. So tonight really will be what sets the Smackdown main event for Mania in place, be it a normal one on one match or something else. Let’s face it, the chances of Jacob Fatu getting involved after Drew pulls something are pretty high and we could wind up with Drew vs. Cody vs. Randy vs. Fatu at Mania. On the women’s side of things Rhea Ripley won and will take on Jade Cargill, so there’s that at least. No real build or interaction between them thus far, and Jade’s been kind of a wet blanket as champion for a lot of reasons. The tag team scene is still bad as those belts have been an afterthought in the interminable feud between the Wyatt Sicks and Solo Sikoa’s Midcard Forever Team, but allegedly we’ll get new number one contenders tonight. Speaking of tag teams, Nia Jax and Lash Legend took the women’s tag belts last week and now we’ll see who’s around to be their foils. It’s Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, they’re pretty much the only other team. Tiffany Stratton needs something to do, Sami Zayn is frustrated and likely turning heel soon, Trick Williams has over music and a chant which matters more than anything he actually does in the ring, Oba Femi is moving between brands so we’ll see if he shows up on Smackdown again. Let’s see if there’s been any movement on the investigations into the Fatu attack or the one last week on Samoan Yeet Jey Uso. Ilja Dragunov might have lost a bit of confidence lately with his losing streak, but Carmelo Hayes will likely have another open challenge match and at this point and Tama Tonga has been eyeing that belt for a while now. Sad Johnny Gargano moped around last week, he’s consistently funny at least but let’s see where this goes for him. Danhausen showed up at the Chamber to negative reaction, then showed up on RAW to a more positive reception and cursed unwashed Dominick Mysterio into losing his IC title to Penta. Let’s see if the very evil little gremlin shows up on Smackdown or not. Still no real direction for Shinsuke Nakamura, or Rey Fenix, and no sign of the Street Profits either. But with Roadd Dogg allegedly leaving we’ll see if things improve for the blue brand. Now let’s get to the action.

First is a recap of Elimination Chamber, which was a pretty pedestrian event overall. Oh they’re including Danhausen’s debut, that’s bold. I’m still a little worried for Je’von Evans after Logan Paul dropped him on his head, which they also include in the men’s Chamber recap. This recap also includes Aldis going off on Drew and making our main event tonight.

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett welcome us to Portland, Oregon for Smackdown. We see wrestlers arriving at the venue, then head to the ring and here’s Randy Orton for promo time. Randy gets a mic, eventually, and plays with the crowd a bit then says the WrestleMania sign was already up when he arrived on time here. He knows how many Mania’s he’s been in but got thinking about all 20 Mania matches he’s had, but he’s only main evented twice in all that time. Just goes to show you that no matter what you’ve done, there’s no guarantee you’ll be at Mania much less main eventing it. But here we are today and he can say he’s going back to the main event of Mania. At this point how many main events does Mania have per night? Randy’s never been the guy to stand here and say he’s the best, his peers will do all the talking for him in that respect. Men he admired growing up like Ric Flair, Undertaker, Harley Race, they put him in that category. JBL used to say, week in and week out, that Randy is what you’d get if you could build a pro wrestler from the ground up. That makes Randy feel great, and now all the men back there it makes him proud to still be thought of as one of the greatest and to be in the spot that he’s in. This opportunity wasn’t handed to him, he earned this son of a bitch. As for the main event of Mania 42 he doesn’t know who his opponent is, but we’ll know in a few hours. He feels very differently about Drew McIntyre or Cody Rhodes, but it doesn’t matter in the end because at Vegas he’s not leaving empty handed. Come Mania he’s leaving with the WWE title, and he’ll do that via the RK- the lights go out and Trick Williams interrupts him. People still love his chant. Trick has a mic and talks from the entrance stage. He puts himself over then says he’s got voices in his head too, telling him that he’s got a bone to pick with Randy. Trick walks to the ring and says he should be in the Mania main event, but his other problem with Randy is that Randy made fun of his height in the Chamber. That’s true, Randy did mention Trick isn’t 6’5. Well here’s Trick in his ring, man to man, and Randy keeps offering to go back to back and they can see if he’s taller. Randy with an RKO to interrupt Trick talking about his shoes. OK, Randy looked like he was having way too much fun at Trick’s expense at the end there. Everything before that was good to OK.

We get something from Carmelo Hayes and Aldis earlier today, Aldis appreciates everything Hayes has done with the US title. Aldis found a request for the open challenge tonight and Hayes says he’ll see whoever it is out there.

Back to the ring and here comes Hayes, we’ll find out who he’s defending against after this break.

We come back and Hayes waits for his challenger. It’s El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. I’ve always wondered why he wasn’t just Dr. Wagner the third.

Match #1 – US Title Match: (c) Carmelo Hayes vs. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.

Wagner opens with a shotgun dropkick then cannonball senton in the corner. Hayes rolls to the apron, and Wagner kicks him to the floor. Wagner now from the apron with a dive onto Hayes. Back in the ring Wagner finds a 1 count then hits a scoop slam, he heads up top for a top rope dropkick and a 2 count. Hayes hits the ropes then lands a dropkick. Small Package from Hayes gets 2 then Wagner kind of pancakes him, they seem a little off and Hayes with some leg kicks then sits him on the second rope and hits the fade away leg drop. That sends us to break but I’ve got a Netflix feed going so I’ve still got you.

Wagner rolls outside but Hayes climbs up top and leaps onto him. Back in the ring Hayes finds a 2 count but then runs into a pancake and Wagner boots him down for a 2 count. Corner chops from Wagner then a back chop and a senton. Hayes is able to fight back and lays in a chops of his own. Wagner with a chop to drop Hayes then some corner work. Hayes heads up top, Wagner climbs up with him then falls to the apron and chops Hayes then follows with a headbutt before hopping up and hitting a superplex as we come back to broadcast. They start trading elbows then chops, Hayes with an enziguri but Wager bounces off the ropes and clotheslines him down for a 2 count. Springboard clothesline from Hayes and both men are down before Hayes kips up. Chops from Hayes then La Mistica, commentary calls it a Dirty Diana which would be a wild rename of the move for Hayes. Wagner stalls a First 48 then rolls through for 2 and hoists Hayes up for a powerbomb which gets a near fall. Now Wagner exposes his elbow, eats a superkick but then hits a discus elbow. Hayes avoids a Wagner Driver then catches a jumping Wagner with a First 48 for a near fall as Wagner with one of the weakest kick outs possible. Now Hayes goes up top, misses a flying nothing then Wagner with a corner knee and a sit out powerbomb for his own near fall. Wagner goes up top for a Moonsault but Hayes avoids it so Wagner eats mat, Nothing But Net follows for Hayes and he wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Carmelo Hayes retained the title in 10:11

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: Pretty good stuff, the lack of drama hurt it a bit and there was that slightly odd spot early but after that they really started clicking. Wagner is a solid hand and Hayes did a good job selling being taken by surprise but getting more and more used to him as the match went on.

Post match Hayes and Wagner share respect.

In the back Cathy talks with Ilja Dragunov who was watching that match. Ilja says he hasn’t quite earned his title shot yet, other people might take that but he wont. He developed that mindset from his mother, the greatest warrior he’s ever known. He puts over his mom, and says he carries the burden of being her son and until he can become that warrior again he’ll wait. Miz comes over to complain, then Kit Wilson comes over to talk and Ilja says he should step into the ring since fighting is the answer. Wilson and Miz then argue about who will face Ilja, and it’s going to be Wilson of course.

After this break Nia Jax and Lash Legend will talk, and probably make everything worse.

Post break we find Damian Priest talking with Aldis in the back. Aldis says Priest has a match tonight. R-Truth comes over, they’re in the tag team turmoil match tonight that will determine the number one contenders for the tag belts. Truth says they’re a team, and Priest says winning tag belts seems good to him. OK, that’s certainly a direction for them. They head out then Drew comes over to stare at Aldis. Drew says he and Aldis should be reasonable, Drew says Cody didn’t win the Chamber or Rumble so he shouldn’t be in this match. Aldis says Drew has lied to him time and again, so now he’s done the same and Drew can defend the belt or forfeit the title. Drew says he beat Cody before and he’ll do it again, because Cody will only take this belt from his cold dead hands. None of that seems to bother Aldis.

Back to the ring and here come the Irresistible Forces of Nia Jax and Lash Legend. I still don’t love their music but it’s miles ahead of Lash’s terrible theme. While they walk we get a recap of how they won the titles last week in case you missed it. Both women get mics and mock the crowd a bit. Jax calls them stallions, which feels like a poor choice of words. They continue putting themselves over then say any and all challengers are welcome. Lash agrees but takes way too long to make the same point Jax just did. They share a toast to themselves then pyro goes off. After that Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss come down in gear, both have mics and talk to the ring. Bliss is happy for Jax, who finally found another coattail to ride to the top. But since those two cost Bliss and Charlotte the belts in the first place they’ve got something for them. Charlotte chimes in that they’re the next challengers. Before too much more can happen Giulia and Kiana James interrupt, James brings up that she won a triple threat with Jax and Charlotte by pinning Charlotte and she pinned Bliss in the Chamber. She and Giulia are going to Mania one way or another. Giulia with some Japanese then English to say they’re taking the belts. James asks Charlotte and Bliss to leave, naturally they don’t but James and Giulia are dressed to wrestle so here’s Aldis to make the obvious match for after this break. Pretty poor segment overall.

Match #2 – Tag Team Match: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia and Kiana James

Joined in progress as Bliss and Charlotte work over Giulia. James tags in but runs into a shoulder block from Charlotte. Charlotte with her usual apron work then a cannonball onto both women on the floor. James rams Charlotte into the ring post then back into the ring. Some stomps from James then an elbow drop. Giulia tags in now and hits a dropkick to the back of Charlotte. James back in with punches then corner work. Charlotte gets knees up to block a standing moonsault then they trade thrust kicks and both women drop to the mat. Both women tag out and Bliss gets to be the house on fire over Giulia. Rolling senton from Bliss then a basement dropkick and Bliss kicks Giulia out of the ring. Bliss jumps but James catches her and drops her onto the apron which lines up a boot from Giulia. That sends us to break.

Giulia sends Bliss back in the ring for a 2 count then tags James back in. Some punches from James as she retains control. James with a cheap shot to Charlotte. Felt like there was some miscommunication there on the follow up section. Giulia tags in and rakes at the face of Bliss in the ropes then hits a running dropkick to the lower back. Next Giulia lines up a Curb Stomp, Bliss sat up at the wrong moment there and basically just got kicked in the back of the head. James tags in and Bliss fights them both off then makes the hot tag to Charlotte. Charlotte comes in with a crossbody to both women then she does the chop spot before dropping James with a walk over clothesline as we come back. Charlotte does one of the worst Flair struts I’ve ever seen then lines up a double moonsault which connects but she only finds a 2 count on James. James with a boot out of the corner, Giulia blind tags in and boots Charlotte then hits a back suplex for a 2 count. Charlotte avoids a Northern Lights Bomb then hits a German suplex. Bliss with a satellite DDT to James and Charlotte with Natural Selection to Giulia and that’ll end things.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss won in 10:08 shown

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Something about this felt just a bit off and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Something about the offense just didn’t quite connect and the outcome was never even remotely in doubt which hurts it as well.

In the back Cody talks with Cathy, he says he wants to point at the Mania sign and now the only thing in his way is Drew. Hopefully the next time they talk he’s WWE champion. Cathy leaves but here’s Sami Zayn. Sami knows things have been a little icy between them, and Sami says all this situation is crazy. Cody asks what’s crazy about it and Sami says Cody lost in the Chamber and now he’s still getting a title shot so everything’s falling into his lap. Meanwhile Sami isn’t getting a second chance. Cody says Sami feels like he’s politicking for a title match and Cody hasn’t even won the damn thing yet. Sami is annoyed that Cody thinks that of him, and Cody asks what’s going on with him and Sami doesn’t know. Sami came here to wish Cody good luck and now it’s turned into a fight, and you might not believe it but Sami is rooting for Cody tonight. So tonight go become WWE champion again. Cody heads out then Sami knocks over water bottles because he’s an angsty boy.

Back to the ring and here come the Motor City Machine Guns, so tag team turmoil is up next after this break.

Match #3 – Tag Team Turmoil Match: Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) vs. Fraxiom (Axiom and Nathan Frazer) vs. Los Garza (Angel and Berto) vs. Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis vs. R-Truth and Damian Priest

As we come back we find Fraxiom in the ring with the Guns. Frazer and Shelley start us off, as a reminder the rules here are elimination style so a new team replaces one that loses. Shelley with a chop then Frazer hits a dropkick, sort of. Sabin blind tags and runs over Frazer. Axiom tags in and he and Sabin trade some pin attempts then Axiom hits the ropes and winds up catching a jumping Sabin then dropping him face first. Blind tag from Frazer and Sabin takes a half nelson suplex then Shelley tags in as well. Quick tags from Frazer and Axiom as they double team Shelley and Sabin, knocking both of them out of the ring which sets up suicide dives in rapid succession. Shelley took an awkward little bump into the barricade as we head to break. Hm, I’m getting commercials for this one even with the Netflix thing.

We come back to the same teams, Frazer gets a hot tag and lands kicks then a springboard double dropkick before hitting a dive onto both Sabin and Shelley on the floor. Back in the ring Frazer misses a leap then knees Sabin, Shelley with a blind tag to set up the Facial for Frazer. Sabin back in and they try Skull and Bones but Axiom attacks Shelley on the floor to break it up. Axiom tags in and kicks Sabin then Sabin takes the Catapulta Infernale but Shelley put Sabin’s foot on the ropes, the ref doesn’t see it so that’s an elimination at around 8 minutes.

Los Garza run down and attack Fraxiom. Berto with a one armed powerbomb to Frazer for a 2 count. Angel tags in and they hit a double throw on Frazer for a 2 count as Axiom breaks up the pin. Pop up knee to Frazer from Angel gets a 2 count. Angel, still wearing his pants, climbs up top but Frazer jumps over, Axiom blind tags and Angel takes a superplex then follow up superkick and brainbuster and Berto has to save the match. The crowd is really quiet for these teams. Axiom goes up with Angel, Berto launches Frazer off the top rope though. Berto tags and MTY to Axiom to eliminate Fraxiom at 10:24.

Gacy and Lumis are next, the whole Wyatt Sicks crew are along with them as we head to break again. I’ve got continuity of broadcast this time though.

Gacy and Lumis run wild early but Berto turns that around and stomps on Lumis in the corner. Lumis fights back with a rolling Monkey Flip then Gacy tags in. Elbow drop from Gacy then some wild strikes. Lumis tags back in and they hit a back suplex and neckbreaker combination then Angel breaks up the pin. Scoop slam to Berto then a leaping leg drop for a 2 count. Gacy tags back in and hammers away at Berto in the corner. Lumis back in and continues to work over Berto. That’s the state of things as the broadcast comes back. Angel blind tags then low bridges Lumis who spills to the floor. Angel, who lost his pants during an earlier commercial break, moves things back to the ring. Berto tags back in and grabs a half Boston crab. Lumis is able to kick free then Berto still blocks the tag and kicks Lumis. Angel tags in and Lumis takes some corner offense then we get a powerbomb and facebuster combination to Lumis leading to Gacy breaking up the pin. Superkick from Lumis and he tags out so Gacy gets to run wild. Pump kicks for Berto and Angel then a discus clothesline to Angel. Deadlift back suplex to Berto for a 2 count. Lumis tags back in, Angel takes a double superkick but Tonga Loa shows up to make everything worse. That leads to Berto getting a dirty pin to eliminate the Wyatts at 18 minutes or so.

As Damian Priest and R-Truth head to the ring the Wyatts brawl with the Guerillas of Destiny and we head to break.

Truth casually side steps a running Angel, then finds Angel’s pants on the floor and uses them as a matador cape briefly. Superkick from Angel then he chokes Truth in the ropes. Berto holds Truth for a running knee from Angel. Berto, who tags in, then starts working Truth. Cheap shot from Angel. Cheap shot to Priest then Truth takes a corner double team move for a 2 count. The crowd rallies behind Truth, the most they’ve been into this match, and Truth with the split duck then leaping heel kick and both men are down. Both men tag out and Priest gets to just unload on Berto and Angel with punches then spin kicks. Corner elbow strikes then a leaping Flatiner to Angel as we come back to broadcast. Berto powders with Angel, then Priest just runs around and Pounces Angel over the announce table. Berto is able to kick Priest then follow with a suicide dive. Back in the ring Berto avoids South of Heaven then hits a Disaster Kick. Berto up top, lovely Moonsault and a near fall. Broken Arrow from Priest and he tags in Truth. Truth with the 5 Moves of Doom for his big brother, including a 5 Knuckle Shuffle but Berto avoids an Attitude Adjustment so Truth locks in an STF and Angel has to break that up. Priest tags in and Truth baits Angel into a kick from Priest. Truth and Priest then line up behind the staggered Los Garza and we get stereo finishers, South of Heaven and an Attitude Adjustment, leading to Priest and Truth winning.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Damian Priest and R-Truth won in 25:39

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Decent match but a kind of dead middle segment. Angel and Berto have always had the goods in the ring but continue to struggle mightily to get people to actually care about them. The Guns getting a bad call was an odd choice as well as it deflated things. The Wyatts and Solo Squad will keep feuding but at this point it looks like the Wyatts will cost them the belts, which is probably for the best as they don’t need to keep the tag team division on ice for that interminable bit of mediocrity.

In the back we see Drew warming up for the main event, and after this break we’ll get a face to face between Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill to try and drum up some interest in that match.

Post break we find Randy walking in the back, Sami finds him. Sami is happy for Randy then asks about how Randy did to Cody what Cody did to him to win. He wants to know how Randy can do that to one of his closest friends. Randy says sometimes you’ve got to be selfish. Sami asks if that makes you a bad person. Randy doesn’t know, but it does make him a 14 time world champion. Sami wishes Randy good luck, then Randy says he believes in Sami and everyone knows he’ll have world title gold. Maybe try listening to those voices, then Randy leaves. Sami contemplates and here’s Aleister Black and Zelina. They say Randy can’t help himself, it’s just the nature of the beast. OK then.

Back to the ring and here’s Rhea Ripley. Ripley gets a mic and plays a bit with the crowd then says if Jade has things to say she’s here for the face to face. That does bring out WWE women’s champion Jade Cargill. Jade gets her own mic and circles Ripley before offering a hand. Ripley cautiously accepts and the two shake hands. Jade says she did that because she respects Ripley, all of her accomplishments and even how the people love her. She respects how Ripley earned her Mania title shot, she also respects how hard Ripley has worked in the gym. But despite the respect Jade isn’t impressed. Sure Ripley’s arms are big, but Jade’s are bigger. Ditto legs and everything else. At Mania she’ll beat the hell out of Ripley because she’s that bitch. Mic drop from Jade. Ripley now offers a hand and they shake again before Ripley says she respects Jade’s honesty. Now she might not impress Jade physically, but Jade does impress Ripley physically. Big shoulders on Jade, and maybe even a stronger grip. But if Jade hits Ripley with her best shot does she really thing Ripley’s going to stay down? No, but if Ripley returns that favor there’s no way Jade gets back up. The difference between them is Jade’s body is built for show, Ripley’s is built for fighting. Rhea mines that line of thought for a bit then says Jade can flex all she wants, it wont matter because Ripley is going to fight and win the title from her. And there’s not a damn thing Jade can do about it, because Ripley’s that bitch. I feel like these two arguing over physicality is a Vince style talking point but they had to find something to kick it off at least.

Depressed Johnny Gargano is laying on a crate in the back. Shelley is here trying to help, Sabin comes over and asks why Shelley’s doing that. Shelley says he broke up the pin, Sabin disagrees and they head off to talk. Candice tries to get Johnny up, she wants Johnny wrestling back. Johnny sits up and wants to go tot he ring, so Candice follows while we head to break.

Post break we get a Wyatt Sicks video. Bo Dallas says Solo keeps putting his family members in compromising positions without understanding consequences. He will not rest until the lantern is returned. Everyone around Solo will just look over their shoulders, until there’s nothing to do but run.

Back to the ring Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae are in the ring. Johnny says in the ring he’s one of the best in the world and it’s time to remind everyone who he is. He needs to be Johnny wrestling again, and that starts tonight so here’s an open invitation to anyone to come out and wrestle him now. Oh boy, the crowd is already chanting for Oba Femi and he does in fact answer that call. The look on Johnny’s face during Femi’s entrance is priceless.

Match #4: Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae vs. Oba Femi

26 minutes between matches, not so good. Johnny jumps at Femi, then tries an elbow but Femi just overpowers him and clotheslines him down. Corner uppercuts from Femi just crush Johnny over and over again in the corner. Tossing back suplex from Femi, then a Fall From Grace to send Johnny back into a depressive funk.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Oba Femi won in 1:03

Rating: Winterhorn SQUASH
Thoughts: Again exactly what it needed to be. Femi is about ready to move beyond these squashes but a few occasionally in this vein are always fun.

In the back Jade walks and finds Michin and B-Fab. They bicker a bit and Jade says she’ll see Michin next week. OK then, that sends us to break.

Post break we find Aldis walking in the back and he finds Danhausen. Danhausen has a list of demands, he wants a Hall of Fame induction and a mentor. Aldis then walks over to find Miz and points him at Danhausen to be a mentor. OK that might be some comedy material. Danhausen knows Miz’s catchphrases, Miz objects to this while Danhausen lists his goals. Danhausen warns Miz that he’ll be cursed if he doesn’t help and tells Miz to remember what happened to Dom on Monday. I can get behind those two having some comedy segments.

Next week we’ll get the contract signing for Randy Orton vs. the WWE champion for Mania. Next we get a hype package for Cody vs. Drew, it starts 2 months ago with 3 Stages of Hell which somehow didn’t actually conclude anything. Others have noted it but they really should have had Drew win at Wrestlepalooza because he could have dropped it pretty much any time around the Rumble and been free to film Highlander without feeling like his reign was an afterthought. Per usual the video package is good.

We head to break seeing Drew and Cody make their final preparations for the main event.

Post break here comes Cody Rhodes. WWE champion Drew McIntyre follows, looks like they’re getting plenty of time. We also get the special in ring introductions then commercials, this will be our last break it looks like so no disruption to the main event.

Match #5 – WWE Title Match: (c) Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes

Technically 27 minutes between matches, not very bueno. The bell rings, Drew powders and looks to just run away and take the count out. Cody chases him and catches him on the stage then brawls with him back to the ringside area. Body blows from Cody then he hits Drew with a fans drink. Back into the ring and Drew hits a cross chop then starts landing his own strikes. Drop down right hand from Cody then a Disaster Kick. Cody with a 10 punch in the corner, he gets all the way to 10 with it. Drew with a kick to counter an up and over spot out of the corner. Belly to belly throws from Drew now and Cody has to powder after the second. Drew follows Cody but Cody rams Drew into the ring steps then rolls into the ring to set up a suicide dive only for Drew to cut him off with a right hand. Now Drew bounces Cody into the ring steps then shoves him into the ring post and follows with a falling side slam onto the ring apron. Back in the ring Cody tries punches but runs into a back elbow. Stomp from Drew and he looks to retain control then a deadlift suplex for a 2 count.

Bit of a rest hold from Drew, Cody fights free and they trade some strikes before Cody flips out of a back suplex and resumes landing punches. Chop from Drew but Cody quickens the pace and hits a snap powerslam. Cody Cutter but he doesn’t go for a cover, he sets up a Cross Rhodes but Drew slips free and rolls out of the ring. Cody follows Drew and Drew yanks him shoulder first into the ring post then starts going for the left arm of Cody. Back in the ring Drew starts working the arm of Cody including a Divorce Court for a 2 count. Double wrist lock from Drew, Cody is able to fight off the full Kimura though before Drew hits a double knee slam to the arm and doing the Bryan Danielson stomp to the folded arm. Drew points at the Mania sign, because he’s a jerk, then goes up top but Cody attacks him up there. Cody climbs up with Drew and they trade punches before Cody eventually hits a superplex to put both men down.

Both men start landing rights, Cody then hits a single leg and transitions to the Figure 4 Leg Lock. Drew grabs the ropes pretty quickly and is able to force a break but his left leg definitely got compromised. Drew powders and tries to revive his leg but Cody follows him with a suicide dive in front of the announce table. Cody clears off the announce table then climbs up there with Drew, he wants a Cross Rhodes but Drew fights that off only for the table to collapse under them. Well that’s awkward. Drew pulls himself under the ring briefly, he doesn’t get anything though. Cody instead goes under the ring for a table, big pop for that but Drew attacks him from behind. This table is Slim Jim sponsored so it’s getting air time if nothing else. Drew sets up the table then looks to powerbomb Cody through it, and does so. For some reason the ref doesn’t ring the bell, did this turn No DQ at some point? Back in the ring now Drew hits a Cross Rhodes but as Roman Reigns told us that move doesn’t beat anyone so Cody kicks at 2. Drew kips up and lines up a Claymore but Cody intercepts with a superkick then hits a Claymore of his own for his own near fall. We’ve stolen finishers both ways now at least.

Cody pulls himself up top again but misses a flying nothing then we avoid a ref bump, which is nice. Another fake ref bump as Cody and Drew trade punches then the ref is pulled by Drew into a leaping Cody. Oh joy. Drew with a Future Shock attempt but Cody counters, Drew then back body drops him. Boot from Cody then Drew avoids a Stinger Splash. Drew with punches and chops, Cody with a Cross Rhodes but there’s no ref and Cody doesn’t even try a cover. Cody calls for a new ref, one runs down but Drew then Claymore’s Cody for a great near fall. Drew looks quite pissed and menaces the ref over the count, nothing comes of it and Drew posts Cody a couple of times. Again Drew menaces the ref then headbutts him down. Well that’ll be our DQ in a minute after Cody gets a visual pin. Drew heads to the floor, gets a chair, heads back into the ring but here’s Jacob Fatu to take the chair from Drew. Fatu laughs at Drew then Cody rolls up Drew for 2, Drew with a Future Shock DDT. Drew lines up another Claymore, but Cody dodges then hits a Super Cody Cutter followed by a Cross Rhodes for the 3.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Cody Rhodes won the title in 20:40

Rating: 4 stars
Thoughts: These two developed some real chemistry over their feud, it’s a shame they wound up a bit overexposed as a pairing. Drew’s got his visual out in a few ways, it’s a little bit of a shame the limb work didn’t play into things for both men down the stretch but it feels like that kind of thing is falling out of favor. Next week will fully cement if we get just Cody vs. Randy or if Drew and Fatu will factor into that match, but I imagine it’s just going to be Drew vs. Fatu and Randy vs. Cody. I can’t go higher than 4 because the logic kind of fell apart in a few places but overall that’s still a very very good match.

Post match Cody celebrates with the gold. We get a recap of some of the match then Cody finally points at the Mania sign while pyro goes off behind him to end the episode.