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Hey there people, it’s Friday so it’s time for WWE Smackdown. Full disclosure, they’re still in Europe so this already happened and it’s being broadcast via tape delay here in the States. Full spoilers are right HERE if you want them. Last week Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes for the WWE championship, so they’ll both doubtless do a lot of talking to fill the 3 hour run time. Jacob Fatu also returned last week and contributed to Drew’s title win, so expect our resident Samoan Werewolf to be around and causing glorious havoc. We’ve also got four matches to determine participants in a Fatal 4-Way at SNME which determines who gets the WWE title shot at the Royal Rumble. Those bouts are Randy Orton vs. Miz, Sami Zayn vs. Ilja Dragunov, Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa, and Trick Williams vs. Matt Cardona. On the women’s side of things Jordynne Grace is here and seems to be on a collision course with women’s champion Jade Cargill, which is good because Jade has been doing nothing ever since winning the belt. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss are still at odds with Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Carmelo Hayes is still doing the US open challenge, so expect another decent match if nothing else, and Solo’s Misappropriated Familial Trait and the Wyatt Sicks are still going at it. Also that gives away the Priest and Solo finish pretty hard but here we are. Oh also, in case you didn’t know, the Royal Rumble is just 2 weeks away. I’m sure the Saudi Slave Labor Force is well aware of that deadline, and now so are you. But it means a lot of people are going to start declaring for the Rumble and whatnot. Anyway that’s the preamble so let’s get to the action.

Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves are on commentary for this and welcome us to Wembley Arena in London, England. We also do the usual bit of seeing wrestlers arrive at the venue.

Then a recap of the 3 Stages of Hell match from last week, a good match largely messed up by a nonsensical finish.

After that WWE champion Drew McIntyre heads to the ring to a very favorable reaction and some bagpipers playing him down. He takes a moment to celebrate with some fans in the front row, he’ll be heeling it up soon so I wont begrudge him but man taking almost 15 minutes before the first word from a wrestler on a show is a choice that I do not agree with. Eventually Drew says he prayed for this and it happened. That gets a “you deserve it” chant and he says it’s been a rough few years in the UK but he’s the first and only British WWE champion and wants to go into politics I guess? He says the love he’s been getting the last week has been great but he wants to say to each and everyone of you, “screw you”. He’s not doing the bad guy wrestler bit, seriously screw you. When he got fired they weren’t there, now they just want to be on a bandwagon. When the Bloodline screwed him over there was no uprising or support, nor when CM Punk made his life hell. The fans were just cheering Roman and Jey Uso on. The only person he has to thank is himself. If the fans want to chant something they can chant “thank you Drew” which several of them do. But Drew does want to address Cody Rhodes, the former champion. He says there was a clause in their contract that Cody does not get an immediate rematch, the era of the dangerous and unpredictable Drew begins. That brings out a dangerous and unpredictable man, one Randy Orton. Randy gets a mic and Drew says Randy is here to congratulate him, but Randy doesn’t like him and he’s not here for congratulations. He’s here to remind Drew that he could have kicked his head through the announce table a few months ago, but presented with that same opportunity Randy will do it. Randy’s beaten Drew for that title before and he’ll do it again. Drew goes to rebut but the music of Jacob Fatu hits. Fortunately Fatu isn’t here to talk, he stalks to the ring and immediately attacks Drew. They fight to the ringside area, Drew rams Fatu into the ring post but Fatu wont be stopped and chases him to the back. Randy is amused but here’s Miz for a Skull Crushing Finale from behind to remind us that he exists. Miz and Randy will wrestle after this break.

Match #1: Randy Orton vs. Miz

Match joined in progress as we come back to Miz hitting his kneeling DDT for a 2 count. Randy powders and finally takes off his shirt then he thumbs Miz in the eye. Miz flips out of the release back suplex on the announce table then hits one of his own. Back in the ring they start trading punches and Randy gets the best of things then fires up with clotheslines and the snap powerslam. Miz rolls to the apron then out of the ring but Randy heads him off and hits the release back suplex on the announce table. Another one from Randy for good measure, now the crowd as for one more and Randy obliges them. Back into the ring Miz tries to crawl away but gets caught with the draping DDT. Randy lines up an RKO, Miz counters into a Skull Crushing Finale but Randy kicks at 2. Miz tires a roll up but Randy escapes and hits an RKO to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Randy Orton won in 4:37 shown

Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Miz hasn’t won a match on TV since like February of 2024 so Randy basically squashing him was correct. That said, it wasn’t a full on squash so I can’t rate it as such.

In the back Drew runs into Ilja Dragunov. Ilja says he’s coming for the title and warns him that he doesn’t fight like a sane man. Drew doesn’t care and says he didn’t knock out Fatu’s teeth but he’ll happily knock out Ilja’s.

After this break we’ll get videos from the Wyatt Sicks and Solo’s Bloodline B-Team.

Post break we get a recap of the Wyatts and Islanders match from last week, you know in case you missed it. That dovetails into a Wyatts video. Bo Dallas says the lantern isn’t just their light, it’s not a weapon, they carry it in the dark so the dark doesn’t carry them. It doesn’t belong in the hands of someone like Solo and it will come back to them, like a moth to a flame.

Next a recap of Giulia defeating Alexa Bliss last week then we head to the back where Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair are. Bliss says last week sucked and asks if Charlotte was actually sick last week. Charlotte says she was sick and they bicker a bit about having each others backs but seem to make up. Bliss heads out and Nia Jax and Lash Legend come over but Charlotte tells Lash she’s changed and heads out.

To the ring and here come Giulia and Kiana James, they’ll be in tag team action after this break.

After the break Charlotte comes down followed by Bliss.

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

James and Bliss start off, Bliss lands a slap then a flurry of strikes. Knee to the body from James then a suplex and Bliss tags out. Charlotte and James trade a few strikes then James avoids her in the corner and lands a super kick but Charlotte returns it and tags Bliss back in. Giulia tags in and whacks Charlotte, things break down a bit and Giulia dropkicks Bliss to take over as we go picture in picture.

Giulia throws Bliss around then starts stomping her in the heel corner. James tags back in and retains control. Giulia tags back in and ties up Bliss in the ropes then dropkicks her and James adds a cheap shot. Headbutt from Giulia then James tags back in. James with a cheap shot to Charlotte then another suplex to Bliss. Bliss tries a Sunset Flip but James overpowers her and begins unloading on her with corner work. Giulia tags back in and hits a top rope dropkick. That’s the state of things as we come back to broadcast. James tags back in but Bliss avoids both James and Giulia then reaches for a tag, eventually she makes it. Charlotte gets to run roughshod over James then hit chops to both James and Giulia. Walk over clothesline to James then Charlotte with the usual kicks from the apron. Charlotte up top and hits a crossbody to James for a 2 count. Boots go back and forth then Charlotte tries to climb for the moonsault but Giulia distracts her so James can yank Charlotte down. Spinebuster from James then she tags in Giulia. Arrivederci knee from Giulia but Bliss breaks up the pin. Giulia kicks away at Charlotte for a bit but Charlotte fights back and they trade running strikes for a bit. James tags in and intercepts Charlotte but Bliss with the blind tag and drills James with Sister Abigail’s DDT to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss won in 8:27

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Decent match but fairly paint by numbers. James was clearly here to take the pin but she’s slowly starting to get more expose and experience, which is good. Bliss and Charlotte do feel a little stuck in the mud creatively, they spent a long time getting to the friendly space and teasing dissention so soon after losing the tag team belts feels too similar to all that prior stuff.

Post match Nia Jax and Lash Legend show up to make things worse, they beat up Charlotte but Giulia gets in Jax’s face and James has to pull her away.

We’ll hear from Cody Rhodes after this break.

Solo video as we come back. He can see the firefly’s in it, the legacy is in his hands. If the Wyatts want this back they need to put the tag team belts on the line. Until then he’ll take care of the lantern and eventually bring back the WWE title to his family. I still can’t get over how hard they have to work to make him serious, the man is meant to be comedic, not this. Please let him free, when they finally let Solo be Solo we’ll all look back on this time with utter confusion.

Back to the ring and here comes a suited Cody Rhodes. Pretty mixed reaction for Cody as he gets a mic. Eventually Cody says things sound a bit different, but that’s OK and he admits things had become a bit episodic with the same routine. He says he opens promos with “what do you want to talk about” because he wasn’t just the company champion, he was the fans champion. Well he might have gotten predictable, and it didn’t help that Drew is just that good. He brings up that he, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and Stone Cold Steve Austin are the only ones to win back to back Rumbles. But only one of them won three of them. He says believing in yourself is key and talks about his history wrestling at the London indy scene, and that London deserves a WrestleMania, and here he’s announcing that he’s in the Royal Rumble again. So let’s talk about Jacob Fatu. He met Fatu years ago on the indy scene and knew what Fatu would do in this business. He also knows that Fatu knows what a receipt is, and Cody has a big one for Fatu. So he can find Fatu or Fatu can bring his all gas no brakes car down here and Cody will beat the brakes off of his ass. OK then.

In the back Cath talks with Matt Cardona. Cardona says he’s got history with Drew as well as Cody, so finally claiming that title from him works too. He’s not just here to be here, he’s back here to be WWE champion.

Trick Williams heads to the ring, really big reaction for his song here in London. His match with Cardona will be up after this break.

Post break here comes Cardona.

Match #3: Trick Williams vs. Matt Cardona

They tie up but nothing comes of it. Trick shoves Cardona away but Cardona corners him and Trick avoids punches then pie faces Cardona. Rights from Cardona land but Trick hits a knee to the body then a scoop slam. Shoulder block from Trick then he hits the ropes and clubs away at Cardona. Dropkick from Cardona then a Flatliner and he clotheslines Trick out of the ring. Diving dropkick from Cardona then a jumping dropkick off the apron to floor Trick and send us to break.

We come back to a dead quiet crowd while Trick has a headlock on. Cardona fights free but Trick with a side kick for a 2 count. Mounted punches from Trick then he grabs another chin lock. Jawbreaker from Cardona then he avoids a pump kick but Trick with a seated kick. They trade boots then Cardona hits a back suplex and both men are down. Cardona with corner elbows then the running corner boot and a Zig Zag for a 2 count. Roll up from Cardona for 2, Trick then misses a corner splash but he also avoids a corner boot. Cardona with a boot through the ropes to Trick on the floor. Back in the ring Trick yanks Cardona into the ring and hits a Trick Kick for a 2 count. Cardona counters a Uranage with a DDT then tries Radio Silence but Trick avoids it then avoids a flying nothing and hits a Pounce. Trick Shot from Trick and that’ll do it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Trick Williams won in 9:37

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Acceptable match, Trick was the obvious winner here as Cardona doesn’t feel like even adjacent to the main event scene. The match was OK, Trick’s presentation is good but he tends to lose the crowd a bit especially during control segments. It’s not a crippling issue at all but definitely a thing he needs to work on.

Post match here comes Kit Wilson to a good reaction, Trick is unimpressed with him but Wilson just walks by him and attacks Cardona then rams him into the ring steps. Wilson gets in the ring and we head to the back where Cathy talks with Damian Priest. Priest could talk about his history with Drew but wont, tonight is about Solo. He’s not worried about Solo one on one, but knows it wont be that. He became Senor Money in the Bank in London and will get another big win in London tonight, whatever it takes. That sends us to break.

Post break we find Wilson in the ring with a mic. He is the solution to the problem, the people need reassurance and leadership. Jacob Fatu shows up behind him and superkicks Wilson down. The crowd boo as they like Wilson but Fatu cares not and hits a senton then a double jump/Mighty moonsault. Fatu gets a mic and says if Cody’s got something to say about him or to him, then bring your punk ass out here. Cody obliges and the brawl is on in the ring. They hockey fight for a bit before officials run down to try and separate them. Predictably Cody breaks free and resumes the brawl as we get another break.

Post break we get a recap of what just happened, you know. . . in case you missed it. That all means we’ll get Cody vs. Fatu at SNME in 8 days.

Solo Sikoa and his goof troupe head to the ring. Damian Priest isn’t too far behind him, Solo did bring the lantern with him.

Match #4: Solo Sikoa w/ JC Mateo, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Talla Tonga vs. Damian Priest

They tie up, Solo grabs a headlock then tries a shoulder block but Priest wont bump and returns the block. Headbutt from Solo and he looks to brawl a bit with Priest but Priest lands a back elbow then a kick. Superkick from Priest sends Solo out of the ring then Priest looks to follow but the goons obstruct his path. Solo gets back in the ring then kicks Priest down to the floor and distracts the ref so Tama can hit a leaping strike to drop Priest and send us to break.

Solo lands a hip attack as we come back. He tries another hip attack but Priest intercepts with a spinning heel kick and both men are down. Priest looks to fire up and starts trading with Solo, Priest gets the better of things with a box of the ears then a flurry of kicks. Both men trade kicks then Priest hits the ropes for a leaping clothesline. Corner attack from Priest then he avoids a Samoan Drop and hits a lifting Flatliner for a 2 count. Priest goes up top but Talla crotches him behind the refs back, the ref then ejects Talla for being in that vicinity. Solo goes up with Priest but Priest slips free and hits a Razor’s Edge for a 2 count. The straps come down for Priest and he wants South of Heaven but Tama distracts then Loa distracts and Solo hits a Spinning Solo. Solo up top, Splash connects for a 2 count. The lights go out, the Wyatts show up on the announce table and attack Tama, Loa, and JC. The Wyatts get the best of things and Solo has to cut off Howdy to save the lantern. That all does mean Solo turns into South of Heaven in the ring and Priest wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Damian Priest won in 11:01

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Decent match, I’d like to see what these two could do without the shenanigans and chicanery as it just distracts from what they could do.

Post match Howdy gets the lantern but only for a moment as Talla shows back up to boot him so he and Solo can leave with the lantern. Can we be done with the Talla experiment yet? He’s not good and not over.

In the back Sami Zayn walks and finds Drew, Drew heard Sami last week and mocks his losing ways. Sami is kind of happy Drew won though, now Sami can beat Ilja, then win the Fatal 4-Way in his hometown and then beat Drew finally at the Rumble for the title. Drew is totally inspired, but brings up that he’s 11-0 against Sami, and even if Sami gets to the Rumble nothing will change. Sami just smiles and says “we’ll see”.

Carmelo Hayes heads to the ring for the open challenge. That’ll be up after this break.

Post break they want you to listen to Unreal season 2 try and humanize Road Dogg, who we all know should be fired.

Back to the ring here’s TNA X-Division champion Leon Slater to answer the challenge, this will be very athletic if nothing else.

Match #5 – US Title Match: (c) Carmelo Hayes vs. Leon Slater

They tie up and trade headlock takeovers and escapes then Slater gives a clean break. Some more athletic covers but neither man finds an edge. They both avoid kicks then Hayes lands a springboard clothesline. Slater with strikes now but Hayes is happy to strike with him. They hit the ropes but Hayes tweaks his left knee, the same one that Shinsuke Nakamura worked over last week. Slater with a rebound kick then a handspring off the ropes to land a gorgeous kick. Hayes powders but Slater with a lovely plancha, then back in the ring he hits a high elevation crossbody for a 2 count. That sends us picture in picture.

Hayes tries a takedown but Slater gets the back and tries a modified Alligator Clutch for a 2 count. Suplex from Hayes then he goes for the meme version of the 10 punch. Slater fights back with a chop but Hayes lands a shoulder block through the ropes. Both men avoid rope related attacks then Hayes lands a dropkick but his left knee is still bothering him. Slater blocks a suplex and hits a corner kick to take over. Again both men avoid springboard attacks and we wind up with the double moonsault/Spanish Fly spot off the second rope just before we come back to broadcast. Both men slowly fight upright and start trading chops again. Slater with a boot but Hayes with La Mistica then a Black Crush for a 2 count. Slater blocks a First 48 and tries a leg submission but gets caught with a Small Package for 2 then Slater lands a leaping side kick for a 2 count. Now Slater goes up top but Hayes moves to the apron, Slater misses a jumping nothing then Hayes lands a chop. Slater hits a leaping Ax kick through the ropes then misses a flying nothing and they trade roll ups for increasingly short counts before Slater hits a nice hurricanrana for a 2 count. Superkick from Hayes but then Slater sends him to the apron and it messes with the leg of Hayes. That does set up Slater to leap over the ring post to the outside and onto Hayes. Slater goes up top, but misses the Swanton 450 and Hayes follows with the First 48 but his left leg is too hurt to do anything but cover for a 2 count. Hayes pulls himself to the top rope, Slater comes over with him and they fight for position. Eventually Hayes hits an avalanche Black Crush to retain the title.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Carmelo Hayes retained the title in 11:43

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: As expected really good athletic stuff from both men. Hayes selling his leg as an ongoing weakness was a nice little wrinkle and Slater got to showcase what he can do physically if you’ve never seen him before.

In the back Nakamura watches that, then Tama comes over to talk to him. Tama says the US title will be his, not Nakamura’s, once his people take the tag team belts. Because they have history he’s warning Nakamura to stay out of his way. Nakamura responds in Japanese. I don’t speak Japanese but I’ve seen the translation, he says Tama’s changed for the worse and can no longer see who his enemies and allies might be. Even his own family.

Johnny Garagno and Candice LeRae walk, Johnny gives the mask to Candice when Axiom walks up. A second Axiom shows up and attacks Johnny, that’s revealed to be Nathan Frazer and he says they’ve got a match next week. OK then, I really can’t help but feel that Tommaso Ciampa’s exit from WWE really messed up the plans for this angle.

Back to the ring here’s Chelsea Green along with Alba Fyre. Green will take on Jordynne Grace after this break.

Post break we get an Oba Femi hype video, he’s pretty clearly getting the monster segment for the Rumble this year but is unlikely to win it.

Back to the ring and here comes Momma Pump Jordynne Grace, but we do see Jade Cargill sitting near commentary to observe things.

Match #6: Chelsea Green w/ Alba Fyre vs. Jordynne Grace

Quick tie up but Grace shoves Green away as she’s obviously stronger. Green with some slaps, Grace is unbothered then slaps the lips off of Green’s face. Spinebuster from Grace then a delayed vertical suplex for a 2 count. Green is able to ram Grace into a corner then kicks her into the bottom pad. Cheap shot from Fyre then Green follows with a sliding slam for a 1 count. Her reaction to that being 1 is great. Grace rams Green into the corner and follows with wrist control clotheslines. Corner elbows from Grace then a leg capture suplex. Direct Effect, the rolling Death Valley Driver, gets the win for Grace.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jordynne Grace won in 2:37

Rating: Butternut squash
Thoughts: Again exactly what Grace needed.

Post match Grace gets a mic and addresses Jade, she says it’s important Jade knows exactly what’s coming for her. If watching was enough for Jade that’s fine, but if she’s done babysitting the title she should get into the ring right now. Jade gets on the apron and jaw jacks with Grace, Green charges Grace who moves and Green rams into Jade. Grace picks up the fallen belt and holds it up before tossing it to Jade. Poor Green is gonna die next week.

In the back Cathy talks with Trick. Trick puts himself over but here’s Priest to interrupt. Priest says Trick likes to talk, Priest doesn’t. They’re both free on Friday and Priest will whoop that Trick next week. OK then.

Back to the ring here comes Ilja Dragunov. After this break he and Sami Zayn get the main event spot.

Commentary run down next weeks card including another Solo Squad and Wyatts match plus Priest vs. Trick which is now official.

Back to the ring and here comes Sami for the main event.

Match #7: Ilja Dragunov vs. Sami Zayn

They start trading elbows right away as both men are happy to bring the physicality. Chops and a boot from Ilja but he runs into a clothesline from Sami. More chops from Sami but Ilja just calls him on then he fires back with knees and elbows in the clinch. Leaping boot from Ilja drops Sami. Corner work from Ilja then he hops to the second rope for a knee drop to the ribs of Sami. Ilja goes up top now and misses a flying nothing then Sami hits a Brainbuster for a few near falls but he can’t find a 3 count. More strikes from Sami but Ilja hits a knee then a nice German suplex with the grip retaining. Sami switches and hits his own German suplex with the grip retained, they trade switches until Ilja does snap off a German suplex. Ilja up top again but Sami chops him and heads up top with him. Sami hits a superplex and both men are down and we go picture in picture.

Sami pulls Ilja up but Ilja counters into a Hammer and Anvil elbow spot then hits his overhead throw. Ilja with more elbows to the head of Sami on the mat. Stomps from Ilja but Sami calls him on and they start slapping the crap out of each other with Sami getting the better of things then hitting a suplex for a 2 count. Now it’s Sami stomping away at Ilja and laying in strikes on the mat. Sami heads up top as we rejoin the broadcast. Ilja attacks Sami on the ropes and climbs up with him, Ilja got cut open somehow. They fight for position and Sami eventually hits a Sunset Powerbomb for a 2 count. Ilja with elbows then he avoids a Blue Thunder Bomb and decapitates Sami with a Konstantin Special. Ilja up top and hits a brutal dropkick but only finds a near fall. Now Ilja lines up an H-Bomb but Sami blocks with a boot. That allows Sami to try the corner Exploder, Ilja blocks and hits a leaping enziguri then a charging corner clothesline. Ilja tries again and hits it, but Sami follows him on a third and tries a Helluva Kick but Ilja avoids the kick and they fall to the apron. Sami avoids an apron Death Valley Driver but Ilja hits a Torpedo Moscow on the apron and both men fall to the floor. ILja back in the ring at 7 and Sami barely beats the 10 count himself. Powerbomb from Ilja, then up top for a senton but Sami gets the knees up to block. Corner Exploder suplex from Sami then the Helluva Kick to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sami Zayn won in 12:40

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: Good stuff here, Sami couldn’t get drawn into a battle of attrition with Ilja so he worked to drop bombs as quickly as possible. Ilja is always down for a physical battle but he tends to thrive in prolonged slugfests, Sami avoided a few key moments of Ilja’s usual offense the capitalized nicely. I like what these two did in a short amount of time here, kept things punchy in a good way. Hopefully Ilja gets more chances to work with main event talent instead of just getting shunted back down to the US title picture.

Post match Trick shows up and attacks Sami then lays him out with a Trick Shot to stand tall as the episode ends.