Before getting to Smackdown, I want to post this, which I shared on my page this morning, but I want to share it here with all of you too. 2 years ago, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, I didn't feel good, so my family rushed me to the emergency room. I found out that my Sugar Level was through the roof, which lead to me being diagnosed with Diabetes. Fast forward 2 years later & I have lost nearly 100 pounds feeling healthier than ever. So, I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for allowing me to post everything because you can't take life for granted & you have to appreciate everything & everyone. I appreciate each & every one of you.
Here's my Smackdown Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
Smackdown is going to be a good one with Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, & Seth Rollins all under the same roof. That's an interesting fact that I have to look into if the tag match happens, when was the last time everyone in the match had the same last initial.
It would be awesome if Mike Tyson made an appearance on Smackdown to knock out Logan Paul before Tyson knocks out his brother. Horrible promo, but fun RKO by Randy Orton, on that guy that I don't know. Also, I don't care about Paul's Prime being on the ring.
Randy Orton & Kevin Owens VS Austin Theory & Grayson Waller was an excellent match. I loved the finisher with KO throwing Theory into the RKO. Interesting post-match activities with Logan Paul. I'm intrigued to see what they're setting up for WrestleMania. FACTS: This was Randy Orton's 2nd week in a row on Smackdown & 1st Smackdown opener of 2024. This was his 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & LA Knight defeated The Bloodline on Smackdown on December 8, 2023. This was Kevin Owens' 1st Smackdown match & opener since February 16. This was his 1 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & LA Knight defeated Austin Theory & Grayson Waller on Smackdown on November 24, 2023. This was the 1st time that Orton & Owens teamed up in a 2-on-2 Match in their Career. This was Austin Theory's 2nd week in a row on Smackdown & 1st Smackdown opener since February 2. This was Grayson Waller's 1st Smackdown match & main event of 2024 & 1st Smackdown since he lost to Carmelo Hayes on December 15, 2023. This was their 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since they lost to LA Knight & Kevin Owens on Smackdown on November 24, 2023. Orton & Theory were the 1st wrestlers of 2024 to go from the Smackdown main event to the following week's opener.
Good recap of Bayley's feud with Damage CTRL & good interview with her. Interesting interaction with Naomi & Bianca Belair.
Why did Bobby Lashley get announced from Dallas, Texas? He's from Denver, Colorado.
Bobby Lashley VS Karrion Kross was a pretty good match. But Lashley wasn't bleeding that much. It looked like paint more than blood. I like what happened afterwards to continue their feud. FACTS: This was Bobby Lashley's 1st Smackdown of 2024 & his 1st Smackdown since he lost to Santos Escobar on December 15, 2023. This was Karrion Kross' 1st Smackdown of 2024, 1st match overall since he lost the Royal Rumble on January 27, & 1st on Smackdown since he lost to Bobby Lashley on December 8, 2023. This is the 2nd 1-on-1 Match between them after Smackdown on December 8, 2023, which was also won by Lashley. This was the 8th Disqualification of 2024, the 2nd one this week after Raw, & the 1st on Smackdown since January 26.
Cool, Dragon Lee, back on Smackdown. We haven't seen him since he lost to Oba Femi at Vengeance Day. Good segment with him & Legado Del Fantasma to work him back into the storyline between The LWO & LDF.
I hope we get full Induction videos for the new Hall of Famers, instead of just graphics.
I am happy that The US Express are getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. I didn't start watching wrestling until 1987, so the only match that I have seen of theirs was when they lost the Tag Team Titles at WM 1. It is my favorite match from that show. I never saw their work in the NWA. But, I know their legacy. Real American was written for them before Hulk Hogan took it from them. They are both Hall of Famers for their later careers as The Stalker & Irwin R. Schyster. Windham is now a 2-time Hall of Famer. Hopefully, Rotundo gets inducted alongside his late son, Bray Wyatt, which would be a tearjerker, but they would be the 6th father & son to both be inducted after Fritz & The Von Erichs, Blackjack Mulligan & Barry Windham, Stu & Bret Hart, Angelo Poffo & Randy Savage, & Bob Armstrong & Road Dogg.
Damn, Michin VS Tiffany Stratton was a short match. I was busy typing up my Hall of Fame thoughts. That's not fair that for the 2nd week in a row the women get relegated to a 2-minute match. That's a Vince move, not a Triple H move. FACTS: This was Michin's 1st Smackdown since February 9. This was the 1st time in her Career that Tiffany Stratton wrestled 4 weeks in a row on Smackdown. This was the 2nd 1-on-1 Match between them after Smackdown on February 2, which was won by Stratton.
Good promo by AJ Styles. Nice response by LA Knight, but there's no need to hurt that TV. It didn't do anything to you.
Fun segment with The New Catch Republic. I like that Tyler had Andre the Giant & The Undertaker as a Tag Team in WWE 2K24.
Dragon Lee VS Angel was a great match, but then another post-match attack. That's getting boring. It was the 3rd one tonight. FACTS: This was Dragon Lee's 1st Smackdown match & main event of 2024, his 1st match overall since he lost to Oba Femi at Vengeance Day on February 4, & his 1st Smackdown since he defeated Butch on December 22, 2023. This was Angel's 1st Smackdown since Legado Del Fantasma lost to Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne in a Fatal 4-Way Match on 2/2 & 1st Smackdown main event of 2024. This was his 1st 1-on-1 Match overall & on Smackdown since he lost to Rey Mysterio on December 23, 2022. This was the 1st match between 2 Mexicans on Smackdown since Lee VS Santos Escobar on December 8, 2023.
OK promo by Dakota Kai & Damage CTRL. Bayley VS Dakota should be good next week, but it'll probably end in a DQ. Looking forward to seeing Rey Mysterio next week.
And now we're getting another 30-minute promo segment. For the 2nd week in a row, we get screwed out of wrestling matches, especially the women's match.
Roman Reigns & The Rock's entrances are so damn long. Michin & Tiffany Stratton got screwed out of having a long match. That's BS. The Women's Division needs more respect. I'm not even getting goosebumps any more.
The long entrances & the commercials were worth it. Rock with the burn to Cody. I don't blame Cody for slapping Rock. This segment made the match more heated. I can't wait for WrestleMania & their Historic Tag Team Match.
Here are my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) Randy Orton & Kevin Owens VS Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
2) Dragon Lee VS Angel
3) Bobby Lashley VS Karrion Kross
4) Michin VS Tiffany Stratton
Since Blue Bloods was a rerun, I will be watching NXT Level Up live, so here are my Level Up Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
Dion Lennox VS SCRYPTS was a pretty good match.
FACTS: This was Dion Lennox's 1st Level Up match & match overall since he lost to Oro Mensah on January 5 & 1st Level Up opener of 2024. This was SCRYPTS' 1st Level Up match & opener since he defeated Brooks Jensen on January 19 & his 1st match overall since he lost to Dragon Lee on NXT on January 23.
Solid promo by Karmen Petrovic.
Karmen Petrovic VS Izzi Dame was a good match. Both women have a lot of potential. FACTS: This was Karmen Petrovic's 1st Level Up match & match overall since February 23. This was Izzi Dame's 1st Level Up since February 16.
Dante Chen VS Tavion Heights
FACTS: This was Dante Chen's 1st Level Up since he lost to Brooks Jensen on February 2. This was Tavion Heights' 1st Level Up match & main event since February 9. This was the 3rd 1-on-1 match between them after Level Up on May 12, 2023 & Main Event on January 18, 2024, which were both won by Chen. This was Heights' 1st win since he defeated Luca Crusifino on NXT on December 19, 2023 & 1st on Level Up since he defeated Ikemen Jiro on September 8, 2023.
Here are my Level Up Match Rankings:
1) Tavion Heights VS Dante Chen
2) Karmen Petrovic VS Izzi Dame
3) Dion Lennox VS SCRYPTS
EXIT 13 on the Road to WrestleMania: Smackdown in Dallas, TX was good, but I wanted more wrestling. The Women's Division deserves more than a 2 minute match & quick promo segments. We don't need these long promos every week until WM.
NEXT STOP: EXIT 14: Raw in Houston, TX
Ends Smackdown & Level Up Thoughts, Facts, & Stats, for W/L Records, Facts, & Stats, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com, which will be updated this weekend.
And for your WrestleMania W/L Records, Facts, & Stats, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wm