Winfree’s WWE Smackdown Review 4.29.22

Hey there people, welcome to the latest episode of WWE Smackdown. This episode was taped last week as the roster is currently touring through Europe. Drew McIntyre will be taking on Sami “Red Rooster” Zayn in a steel cage match because that dastardly chicken keeps running away from Drew. Logically this should set up Drew vs. Roman Reigns, because we still don’t have confirmation of what the Undisputed WWE Universal champion will be doing going forward. Elsewhere on the card Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair will engage in a Beat the Clock challenge (probably with I Quit stipulations) because who doesn’t love those. Ricochet will be defending the Intercontinental title against Shanky, and I expect a ton of recaps and other filler material. Well with that out of the way, let’s get to the action.

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee run down the card for us. We’re starting with the steel cage match, I guess Charlotte just had go on last despite no one caring.

Match #1 – Steel Cage Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn

Sami tries to prevent the cage being shut but Drew tosses him aside and closes the door. Sami immediately tries to escape, but Drew pulls him down. Now Sami tries to hype himself up, then again tries to climb fee but again Drew pulls him down and this time tosses him into a corner and starts laying in strikes. Drew starts bouncing Sami off of the cage walls, then Sami tries to climb again and again Drew halts the attempt. This time they wind up in the corner and Sami starts fighting back with some cage blows then a Sunset Bomb sends us to break.

We come back with Sami working some stomps. Drew fights to his feet, he’s on the apron and Sami bounces him off the cage but now Drew is done playing. Drew bounces Sami off of the cage but when he charges Sami Sami’s able to side step. Sami hits a Helluva kick then starts to climb the cage. Sami gets to the top of the cage but here’s Drew to pull him back into the ring by the hair. Drew sends Sami into the cage a few more times then tosses him across the ring with a belly to belly suplex. Neckbreaker from Drew, then he sets for the Claymore. Sami avoids the Claymore by trying to climb out again, Drew heads up top with him and Sami kicks Drew down onto the top rope. Now Sami heads up to the top of the cage, he’s out and looking to drop but Drew grabs his hair again and pulls him back onto the cage then hits a superplex from the top rope. Drew is fired up now, he sets for the Claymore again and hits it then pins Sami to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Drew McIntyre won via pinfall

Rating: 3 stars

Slightly generous 3, but the big superplex spot helped eek it above average. Drew should finally be able to move on from this feud.

Up next, a recap of the contract signing between Ronda and Charlotte from last week. Man, that was a painful segment to sit through and the recap version isn’t much better.

In the back Kayla interviews Charlotte, Charlotte says she’s never humiliated or embarrassed, she’s worshipped by all. Tonight she’s going to beat Ronda in the Beat the Clock challenge, and Ronda will realize that Charlotte is better than her at everything. Even by Charlotte standards that was a poor promo, the only saving grace was it being so short.

Back to the ring, here’s Happy Corbin for Happy Talk which will be up after the break.

Post break Corbin welcomes us to Happy Talk. The fake boos are annoying, because you can see the crowd being pretty normal. Corbin runs down Madcap Moss, who gets a big fake pop for his name. Corbin says the only thing Moss did that was funny was thinking he could beat Corbin. He claims Moss owes his Andre the Giant Battle Royal victory to him, he made Moss and he’s going to destroy him. Not tonight though, tonight he’s going to destroy the Andre the Giant trophy. The crowd is giving Corbin the “What?” treatment, which must have been bad live if they can’t get it out in post. Corbin sets up his own recap, the evil heel, and we recap Moss winning the Battle Royal and the resulting falling out with Corbin. Now Corbin requests a sledge hammer so he can destroy the trophy, but of course one of the guys in coveralls was Moss. Moss has a sledge hammer and chases Corbin with it. They wind up trading fists, Corbin gets the worst of this, and the fake noise is painfully obvious as the crowd is visibly not matching. Moss posts Corbin and sends him scurrying away then poses with the trophy.

We get a recap of last week when Shanky got his IC title shot by upstaging Jinder Mahal in a confrontation with Ricochet. Up after this break Ricochet will defend the title against Shanky.

The match gets going as we return to action.

Match #2 – Intercontinental Title Match: (c) Ricochet vs. Shanky w/ Jinder Mahal

Ricochet goes to kicks right away. We’ve got a few awkward timing issues as Shanky goes on offense and lands a chop. Neck crank from Shanky, who can’t do anything that doesn’t face the hardcam apparently. Elbow drop from Shanky. Ricochet lands an enziguri then heads up top but he’s caught and tossed across the ring by Shanky. Bless Ricochet for bumping like a mad man for this plank of wood. Another neck crank from Shanky, after being sure to turn and face the camera. Ricochet avoids an elbow drop and goes to leg kicks and body blows then hits a springboard cross body. More kicks from Ricochet then he heads up top only for Jinder to trip him up as the ref is distracted by Shanky. Shanky sets for Wasteland, Ricochet rolls through and gets a prawn hold pin to surprise Shanky and win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ricochet retained the title

Rating: 1.5 stars

Ricochet did what he could, but boy Shanky is rough.

Post match Jinder and Shanky trade words then Shanky snaps at him and walks off.

Kayla is at gorilla and welcomes Raquel Rodriguez, Raquel admits to being nervous but she also likes being the center of attention and promises to make an impact in her in ring debut. Said debut will be up after the break.

Match #3: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Cat Cardoza

Cat tries to jump Raquel at the jump, this angers Raquel who levels her with a clothesline. Shoulder block from Raquel then a fall away slam. Another fall away slam from Raquel, then a twisting Vader bomb. Cat heads to the apron and hot shots Raquel over the top rope then lands a knee strike in the corner. Cat works a cravate over the ropes, tries a pump kick but Raquel catches it and hits the Chingona bomb to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Raquel Rodriguez won

Rating: Fig-leaf. . . SQUASH

Delicious squash. Probably could have been squashier.

In the back Ludwig Kaiser hypes up GUNTHER as the embodiment of greatness, a man who destroys anyone who desecrates the sacred ring. GUNTHER says respect will be taken by the ring general.

Here come RKBro, their contract signing against the Usos will be up after this break.

Post break here come the *Goofy yell* Usos. Adam Pearce officiates the signing. The Usos say they have nothing to prove to anyone, Roman disapproves somewhere in the back, and predict they’ll be draped in all the gold. Riddle is glad Pearce is here, and he can’t tell the Usos apart. He notes that he and Orton are very different, and wants Pearce to make the Usos wear name tags or something. Orton says he’s never had a problem telling these two apart. Jey is the right hand man, and the other is a little bitch. Jimmy objects and we get the brawl. When things go the way of RKBro, here comes the music for Roman Reigns. Everything stops as Roman begins walking to the ring along with Paul Heyman. Orton and Riddle both stare him down, but that allows Jimmy and Jey to get them from behind. Double super kick to Orton, then Riddle takes a 1D. About now Roman gets in the ring and picks up the contract, then tears it up and begins beating the crap out of Riddle. This is interrupted by the music of Drew McIntyre. Drew, sans sword, stalks to the ring. The Usos try to intercept him, but Drew lays them out and climbs into the ring. Roman tries to warn him off, then they start brawling. Drew hits a belly to belly suplex and Roman rolls out of the ring. Drew calls for Roman to get back in the ring, reminding Roman of their history. The Bloodline retreat together as Drew and RKBro hang out in the ring. Solid segment, Drew’s been itching for another crack at Roman since Survivor Series a couple of years ago when Roman kind of big brothered him in the build and hinted that Drew wasn’t ready yet. There was no contract signed for the tag team match, so we might just wind up with a trios match with some kind of winner take all stipulation for Backlash.

After the break Naomi will be in action.

Post break Paul Heyman finds Adam Pearce in the back. Heyman says Roman Reigns isn’t happy right now, and he wants to facilitate a good relationship between Pearce and Roman. He’d like to add Roman to the match, making it RKBro and Drew McIntyre vs. The Usos and Roman Reigns. Pearce can’t just ignore the unification match, Heyman admires the guts of Pearce to do this even though it’s against his best interests as now Heyman has tons of ammunition to take Pearce to task against the board of directors. Heyman says Pearce can make the match, and he will.

Here comes Naomi along with Sasha Banks. A reminder that Drew Gulak is the guest time keeper tonight, I imagine this will play into the Charlotte and Ronda drama in some incredibly stupid way.

Match #4: Naomi w/ Sasha Banks vs. Shayna Baszler w/ Natalya

They tie up and Baszler starts out wrestling Naomi. Naomi fights back and hits a split leg drop for a 2 count. Naomi avoids Baszler but gets caught in a wheelbarrow suplex. Baszler starts working a kimura, more of a Z-bar given the wrist positioning, then she forces Naomi into the corner and lays in strikes. Naomi avoids a knee strike and lands an enziguri. Baszler counters a Bubba Bomb into the Kirifuda Clutch but Naomi rolls through. They trade counters then Naomi gets a prawn hold roll up for the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Naomi won

Rating: 2 stars

Too short, and frankly poorly edited, but Naomi and Baszler executed everything well enough.

Immediately post match Natalya jumps Naomi, here’s Banks to make the save though before she gets caught on a baseball slide and Natalya locks in a Sharpshooter through the ropes as Baszler drops Naomi with a gutwrench. Banks has to watch as Baszler stomps on the arm of Naomi and the heels then saunter away.

We get a recap of Butch abandoning Ridge Holland and Sheamus last week, apparently there’s a social media thing about him. Ridge and Sheamus are at gorilla and Sheamus wants to find Butch, it turns out he and Sheamus put their missing posters in the same place. Ridge says he put Big E down and he wont be back for a long time, incredibly awkward transition there that made no sense. Sheamus and Ridge head to the ring for a match, which will be up after the break.

Post break we confirm the Trios match between RKBro and Drew McIntyre vs. The Usos and Roman Reigns. No title unification I guess.

Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston mock the instability of the Eastie Boys, then Woods calls Sheamus the WWE thot given all the groups he’s been shaking it for. They get a “Shake it Sheamus” chant going. Woods promises to destroy Ridge in their match, Kofi adding a shrieking “Get up in them guts”.

Match #5: Ridge Holland w/ Sheamus vs. Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston

Ridge backs Woods into the corner right away and unloads strikes then a clothesline. Another “Shake it Sheamus” chant, which completely ignores everyone in the ring. Ridge lays in stomps to some fake boos. Woods tries to fight back with chops but Ridge overpowers him, then gets overzealous and posts himself then rolls to the outside. Woods hits a diving tornado DDT to the floor and sends us to break.

We come back as Ridge hits that low angle chop block, something I’m not sure he’s qualified to do safely. Woods starts fighting back, Ridge misses a knee drop and Woods lays in more chops. Ridge hits a headbutt to drop Woods, then he grabs a chin lock. Woods fights back to his feet, hits a jawbreaker and lays in more strikes. They hit the ropes and Woods runs into a spinebuster for a 2 count. Ridge wants a powerbomb, after turning to face the hard cam of course, but Woods counters into a sloppy as hell Backwoods as Ridge can’t do anything right, but he gets the pin.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Xavier Woods won

Rating: 1.5 stars

Ridge Holland is just not good, his offense is stiff and clunky, his control segments are boring, he’s not a terribly safe worker, and he doesn’t know how to take offense from his opponent.

Post match Sheamus gets a mic, he’s done playing and wants to show Ridge how it’s done then challenges Kofi Kingston. Kofi accepts, so that match will be up after the break.

Match #6: Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods vs. Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland

We join the match in progress as Kofi hits a cross body that sends both men out of the ring. Kofi lands a kick from the apron then hits a trust fall from the top rope. Back in the ring Sheamus lands a body blow then some clubbing blows to the chest but Kofi cuts him off with a Stunner over the ropes. School boy from Kofi gets 2, then Sheamus posts himself trying to attack Kofi. Kofi lays in more strikes, Sheamus counters an SOS and hits an Irish Curse backbreaker. Another Irish Curse from Sheamus, he wants a third and hits it. Kofi fights back to his feet and lands elbows but runs into a tilt a whirl powerslam. Sheamus wants the Brogue Kick, Kofi avoids him and hits the SOS for a near fall. Kofi heads up top but Sheamus meets him on the ropes. Headbutts from Kofi but he flies into a knee strike, then a Brogue Kick connects and Sheamus wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Sheamus won

Rating: 2.5 stars

With more time this would have gotten more, because to the shock of no one Kofi Kingston and Sheamus are good professional wrestlers.

Post match Ridge jumps Woods on the outside, Sheamus sets up a table then tells Ridge to get his revenge. Ridge then powerbombs Woods through the table. Ridge must have some physical issue, either his timing is perpetually off or he’s not nearly as strong as he looks because that was awkward getting Woods up.

Another entry in the story of Lacey Evans. She talks about getting kicked out of her home at 17, still being the first in her family to graduate high school, then joined the Marines. She runs down some of her Marine Corps accomplishments, and notes her parents didn’t show up to her boot camp graduation. Despite trying to make him proud, her father never showed up to support her in anything. She tried to show her family that depression and addiction aren’t the only things in their future but they never heard her. Despite all of it she’s here and ready to take on anyone. Her usual outro follows. These had been getting a little repetitive, thankfully this one moved the chronology forward and felt more successful.

Ronda Rousey heads to the ring, her Beat the Clock challenge will be up after the break.

Shotzi is in the ring as we come back, but before the match starts here comes Charlotte Flair. The fake crowd noise and terribly put together edits would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Charlotte waddles over to the commentary desk.

Match #7 – Beat the Clock I Quit Challenge: Ronda Rousey vs. Shotzi

Shotzi bails and runs away from Ronda, Ronda chases her around before eventually catching her. Head kick from Ronda, Shotzi rolls out of the ring but Ronda chases her and slams her into the ring apron. Back in the ring Ronda hits an awkward slam, then a weird exploder suplex. Rolling Ankle Lock from Ronda, she grapevines the leg and Shotzi quits.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Ronda Rousey won in 1:41

Rating: DUD

Well that happened.

Post match Charlotte gets in the ring and mocks Ronda then calls down Aliyah for her 10 seconds of fame. Aliyah does head to the ring, Ronda remains ringside.

Match #8 – Beat the Clock I Quit Challenge: Charlotte Flair vs. Aliyah

They tie up and Charlotte snaps Aliyah down. Charlotte misses a big boot then Aliyah lands an enziguri before Charlotte clotheslines her down. Now Charlotte demands Aliyah quit, Aliyah wont. Wheelbarrow bulldog from Aliyah connects then she heads up top but misses a cross body. Charlotte lands a big boot and trash talks Ronda. Aliyah kicks Charlotte out of the ring to counter a Figure 8. Back in the ring Charlotte grabs a Figure 8, but Aliyah holds on until the clock winds down despite Aliyah tapping out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Charlotte Flair won in 1:43

Rating: DUD

Ronda smirks and walks up the ramp as Charlotte tries to emote. They’re seriously going to end the episode with Charlotte? Who in the world thinks this is a good idea? Charlotte blames Drew Gulak for the loss since he’s the time keeper, then boots him down. Charlotte badly rings the ring bell, seriously, she did a terrible job. Back in the ring Charlotte cracks Gulak with the ring bell and is showered in fake boos to end the episode. What a dreadful main event segment.

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

Despite being a bit all over the place in terms of pacing, this episode was trending somewhat positively before the main event challenge. That just pulled the whole thing down, I don't know who thought that should have been the closing segment but they should be fired. The creating of the 6-Man tag team match for Backlash came a bit out of nowhere, I'm guessing they were waiting on something with Roman's health because that's the only excuse, but they teased it well enough and there's definitely chemistry between all the relevant parties. This episode showcased some very green talent that is getting featured for reasons I don't understand, but Sami Zayn and Drew McIntyre had a good match, the narrative through line about setting up Backlash actually worked, Lacey Evans had her first effective vignette since the first one, and they did a decent job of highlight Naomi and Banks vs. Natalya and Baszler. It had about the predictable amount of filler, poor editing, and obviously fake noise that any taped WWE show has, but on the whole I think it crawled to Average despite a terrible main event segment.