Here are my Smackdown Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
Wow, Solo Sikoa will be taking care of business for Roman Reigns & The Bloodline.
Fun Royal Rumble Contract Signing. I love the brawl with AJ Styles & LA Knight. Randy Orton was excellent. And Paul Heyman was great as usual. Awesome, Styles VS Knight later tonight. That will be incredible.
Also, WWE's production team is quick adding in that Seth Rollins will be addressing the World Heavyweight Championship situation with his injury on Raw. It would suck if he has to vacate the title after the work he put in as Champion, but I wouldn't mind either a cash in by Damian Priest or the Royal Rumble deciding the World Heavyweight Champion to make it more unpredictable like 1992. But that might not be necessary if he can be back by Mania. He deserves to take time off after carrying the company over the last year.
The LWO VS Angel & Humberto & Santos Escobar was excellent. I love that they are being called Legado Del Fantasma. FACTS: This was the 2nd 6-Man Person Tag Team Match of 2024 & 1st since NXT on January 2, the 1st 6-Person Tag Team Match on Smackdown since Asuka, Bianca Belair, & Charlotte Flair VS Damage CTRL on November 10, 2023 & 1st 6-Man Tag since The Brawling Brutes VS Pretty Deadly & Austin Theory on June 2, 2023. This was Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde's 2nd week in a row in the Smackdown opener, Carlito's 1st Smackdown since he lost to Bobby Lashley on November 10, their 1st 6-Man Tag Team Match since they defeated No Quarter Catch Crew on NXT on January 2, making them the only team to wrestle in both 6-Man Tag Team Matches of 2024, Carlito's 1st 6-Man Tag Team Match on Smackdown since he, Primo, & R-Truth lost to Brian Kendrick, The Miz, & John Morrison on February 6, 2009, & Del Toro & Wilde's 1st 6-Man Tag Team Match on Smackdown since they & Santos Escobar lost to The Judgment Day on March 10, 2023. Del Toro & Wilde were the 1st wrestlers of 2024 to wrestle on NXT & Smackdown in the same week. This was Angel & Humberto's 2nd week in a row in the Smackdown opener, Angel's 1st 6-Man Tag Team Match since he, Andrade, & Randy Orton defeated The Big Show & The Viking Raiders on Raw on July 6, 2020 & Humberto's 1st 6-Man Tag Team Match since he, Rey Mysterio, & Ricochet lost to The OC on Raw on February 12, 2019. This was Santos Escobar's 1st Smackdown since he lost to Kevin Owens on January 5, 1st 6-Man Tag Team Match since he, Carlito, & Rey Mysterio defeated Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits at Fastlane on October 7, 2023 & his 1st on Smackdown since The LWO lost to The Judgment Day on March 10.
Fun promo by Pretty Deadly.
Cool, for the 2nd time, my Alma Mater, St. John's University was mentioned on Smackdown.
OK promo by Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits.
Butch is officially Pete Dunne. Cool. I could care less. His character never changed & he still wrestled the same. So, everyone that has been complaining can shut the hell up now. Now, I have to move him from B to D in my Records. Names don't bother me. Stone Cold Steve Austin would still have been the same as Chilly McFreeze, The Rock would still have been the same as Rocky Maivia, Triple H would have been the same as Hunter Hearst Helmsley, etc. in their in ring styles and that's all that matters to me.
Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne VS Pretty Deadly was a fun match. And nothing changed because he changed his name. He did all of the same moves. So, who gives a crap about his name? FACTS: This was Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne's 1st Smackdown since January 5, the 1st time that Bate teamed with the same wrestler twice in a 2-on-2 Match since he & Trent Seven defeated Oliver Carter & Ashton Smith on NXT UK on February 24 & April 21, 2022 & the 1st time Butch/Dunne teamed up with the same wrestler twice in a 2-on-2 Match since he & Ridge Holland defeated OTM on NXT on November 14, 2023 & they lost to Pretty Deadly on Smackdown on November 24, 2023. This was Elton Prince & Kit Wilson's 1st Smackdown since January 5. This was the 2nd 2-on-2 Match between them after Smackdown on January 5, which was also won by Bate & Butch/Dunne making this the 2nd match to take place twice in 2024.
Pretty Deadly are hilarious.
Kevin Owens was excellent as always, Logan Paul was awful. He didn't even know his own name. But the match at the Royal Rumble will be a good one.
Solid segment with The Bloodline.
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre was a short match. It took me longer to post my Facts. The finish was obvious with The Kabuki Warriors being next in line for a Women's Tag Title Match. FACTS: This was the 2nd Women’s Tag Team Championship Match of 2024 & 1st since Raw on January 8, making it the 2nd Championship in WWE to be defended twice in 2024. & 1st on Smackdown since Shayna Baszler & Ronda Rousey VS Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre on June 23, 2023. This was Kayden Carter & Katana Chance’s 1st Smackdown of 2024, making them the 1st wrestlers to wrestle on Raw & Smackdown in 2024 & their 1st Smackdown match in their Career. This was Kayden Carter & Katana Chance’s 2nd Women’s Tag Team Championship Defense, so if they would have lost, they would have been the 2nd in a row to lose in their 2nd Defense. As of Raw, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance’s Women’s Tag Team Championship Reign has lasted 32 Days, so if they would have lost, they would have been the 1st to lose in 32 Days, which is the 4th Shortest Reign of All-Time ahead of Asuka & Alexa Bliss (10/31-22 – 11/5/22, 5 Days), Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez (8/29/22 – 9/12/22, 14 Days), & Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (7/1/23 – 7/17/23, 16 Days). This will be Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre's 1st Smackdown of 2024 & 1st match overall since they lost to Shayna Baszler & Ronda Rousey on June 23, 2023. If they would have won, they would have been the 3rd 1st-time Champions in a row & the 6th & 7th to be both NXT & WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions after Kayden Carter, Katana Chance, Dakota Kai, Raquel Rodriguez, & IYO SKY, but 2nd team in a row to hold both Championships. The Women's Tag Team Championship has never changed hands in 2024, with the last title change taking place on Raw on December 18, 2023, when Carter & Chance defeated Chelsea Green & Piper Niven. It has changed hands 23 times in History.
Cool tribute to Pat Patterson, but where's the tribute to the other birthday boy, R-Truth.
I wonder what The OC was talking about.
Cool promo by The Final Testament. Looking forward to next week.
Great promo by Carmelo Hayes & fun exchange with Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. They should make Hayes VS Theory a Royal Rumble Qualifying Match next week.
Wow, they're not waiting for Carter & Chance VS Asuka & Sane. It's next week. Next week's Smackdown as the final show before Royal Rumble will be a good one.
Damn, LA Knight VS AJ Styles was getting good until the No Contest with Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa's interference. FACTS: This was LA Knight's 3rd Smackdown in a row in 2024 & the 1st time he was not in the main event in 2024. This was AJ Styles' 3rd Smackdown in a row in 2024 & the 1st time he was not in the main event in 2024. This was the 1st match in WWE History between 2 wrestlers with Initials as their 1st names. It's the 2nd week in a row that Smackdown had a No Contest & the 4th No Contest of 2024.
Randy Orton VS Solo Sikoa was a great match. I liked all of the craziness afterwards with Orton giving everyone an RKO until Roman Reigns stopped it and signed the contract. It's official. The 1st ever 4-Way for a World Championship at the Royal Rumble & the 1st time Reigns will defend a Championship in a 4-Way Match. And then the RKO Outta nowhere was great. FACTS: This was Randy Orton's 3rd week in a row in the Smackdown main event, making him the only wrestler to wrestle on every Smackdown main event in 2024. He has now wrestled Jey Uso (7/26/10 RAW), Jimmy Uso (12/15/23 Smackdown) & Solo Sikoa (1/19/24 SD), making him the 8th wrestler to wrestle both Usos & Sikoa in a 1-on-1 Match after Angelo Dawkins, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes, Matt Riddle, AJ Styles, & Sami Zayn. And for the record Orton never wrestled Rikishi or Umaga in a 1-on-1 Match. This is Solo Sikoa's 2nd week in a row in the Smackdown main event & 1st 1-on-1 Match since he lost to AJ Styles by Disqualification on December 22, 2023.
Here are my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne VS Pretty Deadly
2) Randy Orton VS Solo Sikoa
3) The LWO VS Legado Del Fantasma
4) LA Knight VS AJ Styles
5) Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS Unholy Union
Here are my Level Up Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
Brooks Jensen VS SCRYPTS was a great match. I was shocked that SCRYPTS won & I read the spoilers. I like that they plugged his match with Dragon Lee on Tuesday's NXT even though Level Up was taped before NXT. FACTS: This was Brooks Jensen's 1st Level Up match & opener since January 2. This was SCRYPTS' 1st Level Up match & opener of 2024 & 1st Level Up match since he defeated Javier Bernal on December 15, 2023.
Crazy promo by Hank & Tank.
Jacy Jayne VS Carlee Bright was OK. Bright looked good in her debut but needs some more experience. FACTS: This was Jacy Jayne's 1st Level Up of 2024, her 1st match overall since she & Thea Hail lost to Izzi Dame & Kiana James on NXT on December 13, 2023, & her 1st Level Up & 1st 1-on-1 Match since she defeated Izzi Dame on October 27, 2023. This was Carlee Bright's NXT & Level Up debut.
I'm so glad that Level Up was taped and I know which 2 members of the No Quarter Catch Crew will be wrestling.
Hank & Tank VS No Quarter Catch Crew was an awesome match. I didn't think it would be good with the clash of styles but they all worked together. Also, I love that they mentioned Dempsey's matches in All-Japan. FACTS: This was Tank Ledger & Hank Walker's 1st Level Up match & main event of 2024 & their 1st Level Up since they defeated Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe on August 25, 2023. This was Charlie Dempsey's 1st Level Up match & main event of 2024, his 1st match overall since he lost to Dragon Lee along with Joe Coffey on NXT on December 13, 2023, 1st Level Up & 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & Drew Gulak lost to The Family on Level Up on December 15, 2023 & the 1st time he teamed with someone other than Drew Gulak in NXT. This was Damon Kemp's 1st Level Up match & main event of 2024, his 1st Level Up since he lost to Axiom on December 22, 2023, & 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & Tavion Heights lost to Malik Blade & Edris Enofe on Level Up on March 24, 2023. This was Kemp's 1st win since he, Dempsey, & Gulak defeated Josh Briggs, Myles Borne, & Brooks Jensen on NXT on September 12, 2023.
Here are my Level Up Match Rankings:
1) Hank & Tank VS No Quarter Catch Crew
2) Brooks Jensen VS SCRYPTS
3) Jacy Jayne VS Carlee Bright
Overall another great night of wrestling. Smackdown was great with nothing that I didn't like. The build to the Royal Rumble has been great though we only have 6 Men & 4 Women announced so far. Hopefully, they will announce more Participants next week.
Celebrate the birthday of the Creator of the Royal Rumble & the 32nd Anniversary of the Greatest Royal Rumble of All-Time by visiting
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wwerr2 for the Complete History of the Royal Rumble Match.