Here are my Smackdown Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
The Tribal Chief has arrived.
They move up to the main roster to join Santos Escobar & Angel & Humberto lost their last names again.
Kevin Owens VS Santos Escobar was an excellent match. Logan Paul was OK on commentary. The result was obvious but still a fun match. I love what KO did to Paul afterwards. FACTS: This was Kevin Owens’ 1st Smackdown of 2024 & 1st match overall since he defeated Carmelo Hayes on December 22, 2023. This was the 1st time that Kevin Owens wrestled a Mexican wrestler since he defeated Angel Garza on Raw on June 15, 2020. This was Santos Escobar’s 1st Smackdown of 2024 & 1st match overall since he defeated Bobby Lashley on December 22, 2023. This was the 1st time that Santos Escobar wrestled a Canadian wrestler since he defeated Tyler Breeze on NXT on March 31, 2021.
Good video on Randy Orton.
Fun weekend in July with Smackdown, Money In The Bank, & NXT Heatwave. I guess there won't be an NXT Great American Bash this year.
OK Segment with Logan Paul, Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, & Cameron Grimes.
OK promo by Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits & Lashley announcing he's entering the Royal Rumble. It's cool that Karrion Kross has back-up with Paul Ellering & AOP, but everyone knows my opinion about them & I said I wasn't going to be negative in 2024. Scarlett is hot with dark hair, by the way.
Good video on AJ Styles.
Michin VS IYO SKY was awesome. It was Michin's best match in her WWE Career. I would love for her to get used more. FACTS: This was the 1st Women’s Championship Match of 2024, the 1st since Bianca Belair VS IYO SKY at Crown Jewel on November 4, 2023, & 1st on Smackdown since Charlotte Flair VS SKY on October 20, 2023. This was Michin’s 1st Smackdown of 2024, her 1st match overall since she, Bianca Belair, Shotzi, & Zelina Vega defeated Damage CTRL on Smackdown on December 22, 2023, & her 1st 1-on-1 Match since she lost to Bayley on Smackdown on June 9, 2023. It was her 1st WWE Women’s Championship Match in her Career. If she would have won, she would have been the 2nd 1st-time Champion in a row, the 1st since Ronda Rousey in 2018 to win the Women’s Championship as her 1st Championship in WWE, & the 1st 1-named Women’s Champion since Asuka. This was IYO SKY’s 1st Smackdown of 2024, her 1st match overall since Damage CTRL lost to Bianca Belair, Michin, Shotzi, & Zelina Vega on Smackdown on December 22, 2023, 1st 1-on-1 Match since she defeated Bianca Belair at Crown Jewel on November 4, 2023, & 1st on Smackdown since she defeated Charlotte Flair on October 20, 2023. This was IYO SKY’s 6th Women’s Championship Defense, so if she would have lost, she would have been the 1st to lose in her 6th Defense, which is the 5th Most Women’s Championship Defenses below Asuka’s 2nd Reign (8), Becky Lynch’s 1st Reign (9), Ronda Rousey’s 1st Reign (11), & Bianca Belair’s 1st Reign (14). As of Smackdown, IYO SKY’s Women’s Championship Reign has lasted 153 Days, so if she would have lost, she would have been the 1st to lose in 153 Days, which is the 7th Longest Reign of All-Time. This was the 4th 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT on October 2 & November 13, 2019 (won by SKY), & Raw on January 16, 2023 (won by Michin) so Yim won 1 match & SKY won 3 matches. The Women’s Championship has never changed hands in 2024, with the last title change taking place at SummerSlam on August 5, 2023 when SKY defeated Bianca Belair. It has change hands 27 times in History.
Another great promo by Paul Heyman.
Decent segment with Damage CTRL & Bianca Belair. I don't mind everyone announcing they are Royal Rumble Participants. I'm over the idea of Qualifying Matches & there's no point in them being surprise entrants.
Tyler Bate & Butch & VS Pretty Deadly was another excellent match tonight. I hope this is just start of Bate on the main roster. Also, I guess they're saving Sheamus' return for Royal Rumble. FACTS: This was Butch’s 1st Smackdown of 2024, 1st match overall since he lost to Dragon Lee on December 22, 2023, his 1st Tag Team Match since he & Ridge Holland lost to Pretty Deadly on Smackdown on November 24, 2023. This was Tyler Bate’s 1st Smackdown of 2024 & in his Career, his 1st match overall since he lost to Dragon Lee on NXT on December 12, 2023 & his 1st match on the main roster since he defeated Damon Kemp on Main Event on October 26, 2023. This was the 1st time he teamed with Butch in a 2-on-2 Match & his 1st 2-on-2 Match since they defeated Gallus on October 3, 2023. This was Pretty Deadly’s 1st Smackdown of 2024 & their 1st match overall since they defeated The Brawling Brutes on Smackdown on November 24, 2023. This was the 1st match between 4 UK Wrestlers in 2024 on Smackdown. This was Butch’s 1st win since he & Ridge Holland defeated OTM on NXT on November 14, 2023 & 1st on Smackdown since he defeated Santos Escobar & LA Knight on June 30, 2022.
Great video on LA Knight.
Cool. Ashante Adonis on Smackdown, the better half of Hit Row.
Next week's Smackdown looks like a good one. They're all re-matches but new to 2024.
LA Knight VS Randy Orton VS AJ Styles was incredible. It had everything. Orton's RKO to Styles reminded me of his RKO to Rollins at WM 31. BTW, when did Styles start wearing jeans to wrestle? But The Bloodline interference leading to a No Contest was a little stupid & it feels like the investment I made into the match was wasted since we didn't get a winner but I don't mind a 4-Way at the Rumble. FACTS: This was the 1st Triple Threat Match of 2024, the 1st since Joe Coffey VS Dragon Lee VS Charlie Dempsey on NXT on December 19, 2023, the 1st on the main roster & 1st on Smackdown since The Brawling Brutes VS Pretty Deadly VS The Street Profits on November 17, & the 1st Men’s Singles Triple Threat Match on Smackdown since Butch VS LA Knight VS Santos Escobar on June 30, 2023. This was LA Knight’s 1st Smackdown match & main event of 2024 & 1st match overall since he & Randy Orton defeated The Bloodline on Smackdown on December 8, 2023. This was LA Knight’s 3rd Singles Triple Threat Match in his Career & 1st since he lost to Butch along with Santos Escobar on Smackdown on June 30, 2023, giving him a Singles Triple Threat Match Record of 0-2-1. This was Randy Orton’s 1st Smackdown match & main event of 2024 & 1st match overall since he defeated Jimmy Uso on Smackdown on December 15, 2023. This was Randy Orton’s 23rd Singles Triple Threat Match in his Career & 1st since he lost to Drew McIntyre along with Braun Strowman on Raw on April 12, 2021, 1st on Smackdown since he defeated Bobby Roode & Rusev on April 10, 2018, giving him a Singles Triple Threat Match Record of 13-9-1. This was AJ Styles’ 1st Smackdown match & main event of 2024 & his 1st match overall since he defeated Solo Sikoa by Disqualification on December 22, 2023. This was AJ Styles’ 19th Singles Triple Threat Match of his Career & 1st since he defeated Edge & Rey Mysterio on Smackdown on May 12, 2023, giving him a Singles Triple Threat Match Record of 9-9-1.
The only wrestler to wrestle on the 1st Smackdown of 2023 & 2024 is Santos Escobar.
Here are my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) LA Knight VS Randy Orton VS AJ Styles
2) Tyler Bate & Butch & VS Pretty Deadly
3) Michin VS IYO SKY
4) Kevin Owens VS Santos Escobar
Here are my Level Up Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
Brooks Jensen VS Luca Crusifino was a solid match. Jensen is looking good as a Singles wrestler. FACTS: This was Brooks Jensen’s 1st Level Up match & opener of 2024, 1st match overall since he lost to Apollo Crews on Main Event on December 21, 2023, & 1st on Level Up since he defeated Dion Lennox on December 8, 2023. This was Luca Crusifino’s 1st Level Up match & opener of 2024, 1st match overall since he lost to Tavion Heights on NXT on December 19, 2023, & 1st on Level Up since he lost to Von Wagner on December 1, 2023.
Good Dion Lennox promo.
Brinley Reece & Kiyah Saint VS Izzi Dame & Kiana James was a decent match. All 4 women have promising careers. FACTS: This was Brinley Reece & Kiyah Saint’s 1st Level Up of 2024, Reece’s 1st Level Up & match since she lost to Roxanne Perez on December 12, 2023, Kiyah Saint’s 1st Level Up & match since she lost to Ivy Nile on October 13, 2023, & their 1st Tag Team Match in their Career. This was Izzi Dame & Kiana James’ 1st Level Up of 2024, their 1st match since they defeated Thea Hail & Jacy Jayne on NXT on December 19, 2023, Dame’s 1st Level Up since she lost to Jacy Jayne on October 27, 2023, & James’ 1st Level Up since she defeated Kiyah Saint on August 25, 2023.
Dion Lennox VS Oro Mensah was a great match. When he's not being annoying with Noam Dar, Mensah is an awesome wrestler. Lennox showed a lot too. FACTS: This was Dion Lennox’s 1st Level Up match & main event of 2024, his 1st match overall since he lost to Lexis King on NXT on December 19, 2023 & 1st on Level Up since he lost to Brooks Jensen on December 8, 2023. This was Oro Mensah’s 1st Level Up match & main event of 2024, his 1st match overall since The Meta-Four lost to Josh Briggs, Fallon Henley, & Brooks Jensen on NXT on December 12, & 1st on Level Up & 1st 1-on-1 Match since he defeated Dante Chen on November 11, 2023.
No one that wrestled on the 1st Level Up of 2023 wrestled on the 1st Level Up of 2024.
Here are my Level Up Match Rankings:
1) Dion Lennox VS Oro Mensah
2) Brooks Jensen VS Luca Crusifino
3) Brinley Reece & Kiyah Saint VS Izzi Dame & Kiana James
Overall a great night of wrestling with 4 great matches on Smackdown as we get closer to my favorite time of the year & the Royal Rumble. Level Up had 3 good matches as well.
Ends Smackdown & Level Up Thoughts & Facts & Stats, ending Week 1 in WWE & NXT in 2024. I can't wait for Week 2. For W/L Records, Facts, & Stats, check out darrenswinloss.wordpress.com & for the History of Royal Rumble Match, check out
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wwerr2