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Hello everyone, it’s Friday so it’s time for WWE Smackdown. This event already happened and spoilers can be found HERE if you want to avoid the horror of Hikuleo pinning Powerhouse Hobbs. We’re post Clash in Italy, and the fallout from Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther should take up some time tonight, plus various 4 Way matches are going to be in swing as we do qualifying stuff from King and Queen of the Ring. There’s also the ongoing recruitment effort by Solo and his temu Islanders to Royce Keys, because if there’s one thing we need more of in WWE right now it’s rehashing a story that peaked 3 years ago and has now been going longer than the NWO gimmick did. Seriously, we’re close to the Bloodline BS outliving the entire run of Nitro, all for the Rock to beat Roman at Mania in front of the Saudi overlords. Sami Zayn is still sniffing around the main event scene with his drama that includes both Cody and Gunther, Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints are doing the “lets have good matches” thing, Tiffany Stratton has no direction, the tag division is a joke, at least Danhausen is a funny joke as his stuff with Miz and trying to revive a body is ongoing. Still nothing for Jordynne Grace, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ilja Dragunov, or Rey Fenix but Blake Monroe is still showing videos. Alright, that’s the preamble, so let’s hope the episode delivers.

First the usual major event recap. Trips called it WrestleMania worthy and that it changed the landscape of WWE again. How many landscape changes have we gone through allegedly by now? And have any of them actually changed anything?

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett welcome us to Bologna, Italy for the show. We see the usual boring cavalcade of wrestlers walking. Anyone else miss actual intros? Also did we need 2 different clips of the Judgement Day doing generic high school clique things? Just silly.

Gunther shows up as commentary is talking and he throws the predictable tantrum. That goes on until he gets a mic then he says nothing will happen until he gets what he wants. He wants justice for Clash in Italy. Good grief, does every Cody feud have to go this way? Owens, Drew, now Gunther all beating the same drum. Gunther gets interrupted in his tirade by WWE champion Cody Rhodes. Cody gets into the ring and gets a mic, Gunther is standing on an announce table, and says Gunther is right. The crowd sing for Cody for a bit then Cody again says Gunther’s foot was under the ropes but now Gunther is pissed despite being a 20 year veteran who’s had this happen before. Sometimes you’re the hero, sometimes you’re not. But we don’t need to talk, it’s Friday night and the lights are bright and if Gunther wants a rematch for the WWE title Cody will do it right here. That brings out the human wet blanket Sami Zayn to dampen everything. Sami talks his way to the ring and thanks the fans for singing his song as he’s got a lot of ride or die fans in Italy, he appreciates the respect. He really tried to not get involved in this, but at this point Gunther is complaining about being robbed and Sami knows how that feels. Of course Cody’s ready to fight right now, but they’re both ignoring how they did Sami wrong. Gunther says this is champion business and doesn’t involve a pile of garbage like Sami. Sami is in the ring and admits he’s never been world champion, but he has beaten Gunther for a title before. Cody doesn’t know which Sami is here now, he knows Sami is a good guy but Cody’s a little busy with Gunther. Sami says this is why their friendship is like this, Cody always blows Sami off when things get hairy. Sami calls himself the biggest threat to Cody’s title, Cody beat Gunther and now is he going to teach Sami a lesson? Gunther puts Cody in a Sleeper hold, Sami shows up to attack Gunther but Gunther tosses him out of the ring easily. Cody and Gunther brawl a bit, Sami then pulls Gunther out of the ring, Cody with a suicide dive but Gunther shoved Sami into Cody’s way and then scurried away. Cody apologizes and offers a hand to Sami, Sami ignores him and walks off. Decent segment but stretched a bit too long given that we already knew Gunther was getting a rematch.

In the back Miz walks around talking on the phone to Kit Wilson. Miz finds a hijacked electrical cable and follows it to find Danhausen’s workshop. Danhausen warns him not to touch things while in a bathrobe. Miz touches a few things to make a mess but eventually gets electrocuted. Solid overall comedy.

To the ring and here’s Raquel Rodriguez along with Liv Morgan. That sends us to break.

Match #1 – Fatal 4-Way: Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan vs. Bayley vs. Kiana James w/ Giulia vs. Jacy Jayne

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