Here are my Smackdown Thoughts:
I want to take this time to wish luck to Kevin Patrick. He will be great in any company that he works for. I maybe in the minority, but I will miss him on Commentary.
Good segment with Randy Orton, AJ Styles, & LA Knight. The 4-Way will be incredible tomorrow.
Carlito VS Santos Escobar was an excellent match. I was not expecting Elektra Lopez to be there to take out Zelina Vega. FACTS: This was Carlito's 2nd week in a row on Smackdown & 1st 1-on-1 Match since he lost to Bobby Lashley on November 10, 2023. It was the 1st time Carlito wrestled 2 weeks in a row on Smackdown since he, Primo, & R-Truth lost to Brian Kendrick, The Miz, & John Morrison on February 6 & he & Primo lost to Miz & Morrison on February 13, 2009. This was Santos Escobar's 2nd week in a row on Smackdown & 1st 1-on-1 Match since he lost to Kevin Owens on January 5. It would have been Carlito's 1st 1-on-1 win since he defeated Primo on Raw on August 3, 2009 & 1st on Smackdown since he defeated Brian Kendrick on December 26, 2008.
What a newsworthy week for WWE, with their deal with Raw on Netflix, The Rock joining the board of TKO, & WWE 2K24, but I guess they won't be talking about the news that happened on Thursday.
Interesting conversation with AJ Styles & Jimmy Uso & then The OC.
Awesome. They have the Royal Rumble Tumbler. And it's official Santos Escobar is in the Rumble. Sorry to those people who wanted surprises. It was good to see Ava too with Nick Aldis.
Good video on Bayley.
Yes, R-Truth is in the Royal Rumble. He's hilarious with Aldis & Ava.
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Kabuki Warriors
was incredible. I was expecting the Titles to change hands. I hope Kairi is OK. The belt got stuck on her head. FACTS: This was the 3rd Women’s Tag Team Championship Match of 2024, making it the Championship with the Most Defenses in 2024, & the 2nd week in a row on Smackdown, making it the 1st time it was ever defended 2 weeks in a row on Smackdown. This was Kayden Carter & Katana Chance’s 2nd week in a row on Smackdown. This was Kayden Carter & Katana Chance’s 3rd Women’s Tag Team Championship Defense, so since they lost, they are the 1st since Natalya & Tamina who lost to Nikki ASH & Rhea Ripley on Raw on September 20, 2021 to lose in their 3rd Defense. As of Smackdown, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance’s Women’s Tag Team Championship Reign lasted 39 Days, so they are the 2nd to lose in 39 Days after Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez's 1st Reign (4/10/23-5/19/23), which is tied for the 5th 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's 2nd Reign (7/1/23 – 7/17/23, 16 Days). This was Asuka & Kairi Sane's 1st Smackdown of 2024, their 1st match since Damage CTRL lost to Bianca Belair, Michin, Shotzi, & Zelina Vega on December 22, 2023, & their 1st 2-on-2 Match since they defeated Michin & Vega on December 15, 2023. Since they won, they are the 6th 2-time Champions after Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross, Sasha Banks & Bayley, Damage CTRL, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, & 1st since Morgan & Rodriguez in 2023, Asuka is the 1st 4-time Women's Tag Team Champion, which is the most in History, & Kairi Sane is the 11th woman to be a 2-time Women's Champion. This was the 1st Women’s Tag Team Title Change of 2024, with the last title change taking place on Raw on December 18, 2023, when Carter & Chance defeated Chelsea Green & Piper Niven. It was the 24th in History.
Wow, what does Solo Sikoa have planned for LA Knight. Good promo by Paul Heyman. I guess Jimmy Uso is officially in the Rumble.
Another Hulk Hogan promo. I think they might be serious & he's going to be in the Royal Rumble.
No surprise Royal Rumble Participants there as we already know that Bianca Belair & Bayley are in it.
The segment with Lashley & The Street Profits & The Final Testament going face-to-face was pretty good. I'm looking forward to more between them. Oh, Lashley forgot to mention that he's a former ECW Champion.
Wow, Jimmy Uso didn't look too happy with his number for the Royal Rumble. I think it would be awesome if Jey & Jimmy were #1 & #2.
Carmelo Hayes VS Austin Theory was a great match. I love Trick Williams making the save for Melo against Theory & Grayson Waller. Nice plug for NXT. FACTS: This was both Carmelo Hayes & Austin Theory's 1st Smackdown since they wrestled each other to a No Contest on January 12, making this the 3rd match of 2024 to take place 2 times in 2024.
So, we are up to 11 Men & still only 4 Women in the Royal Rumble.
Even after seeing him at the top of the show, I still don't know who that guy was.
LA Knight VS Solo Sikoa was really good & I figured it would end in a DQ. I like what happened afterwards with Styles & Jimmy Uso and then Randy Orton laying everyone out, followed by Knight with a BFT outta nowhwere. FACTS: This was LA Knight's 4th week in a row on Smackdown, making him the only wrestler to wrestle on every Smackdown of 2024 & his 1st main event since January 12. This was Solo Sikoa's 3rd week in a row on Smackdown & the 3rd week in a row in the Smackdown main event. This was the 2nd 1-on-1 Match between them after Smackdown on October 13, 2023, which was also won by Knight. This was the 3rd DQ of 2024, 1st since Raw on January 15, & 1st on Smackdown in 2024.
Here are my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Kabuki Warriors
2) Carlito VS Santos Escobar
3) LA Knight VS Solo Sikoa
4) Carmelo Hayes VS Austin Theory
Here are the Level Up Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
Von Wagner VS Keanu Carver was OK. FACTS: This was Von Wagner's 1st Level Up & match of 2024 & 1st Level Up & 1st match overall since he defeated Javier Bernal on December 22, 2023. This was Keanu Carver's 1st Level Up of 2024 & in his Career & 1st match overall since he lost to Riley Osborne on NXT on December 12, 2023.
Good promo by Luca Crusifino.
Kelani Jordan & Brinley Reese VS Izzi Dame & Kiana James was a pretty good match. FACTS: This was Kelani Jordan's 1st Level Up of 2024, 1st Level Up since she & Valentina Feroz lost to Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley on October 6, 2023, & 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since she & Roxanne Perez defeated Elektra Lopez & Lola Vice on NXT on November 7, 2023. This was Brinley Reece's 1st Level Up & 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since she & Kiyah Saint lost to Izzi Dame & Kiana James on January 5. This was Izzi Dame & Kiana James' 1st Level Up & 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since January 5.
Riley Osborne VS Luca Crusifino was an excellent match. FACTS: This was Riley Osborne's 1st Level Up of 2024 & 1st Level Up since he defeated Tavion Heights on November 17, 2023. This was Luca Crusifino's 1st Level Up since January 5 & 1st Level Up main event of 2024.
Here are my Level Up Match Rankings:
1) Riley Osborne VS Luca Crusifino
2) Von Wagner VS Keanu Carver
3) Kelani Jordan & Brinley Reece VS Izzi Dame & Kian James
Overall a pretty good Smackdown for the Royal Rumble Go-Home Show. The matches were solid. All of the matches for Royal Rumble were promoted. I wasn't bored at all. Level Up was good.
Ends Smackdown & Level Up Thoughts, Facts & Stats. Visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com, which will be updated later this weekend with all of this week's results.
Visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wwerr for the Complete History of the Royal Rumble PPV which will be updated on Sunday with tomorrow's results.
Visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wwerr2 for the Complete History of the Royal Rumble Match, which will also be updated on Sunday with tomorrow's results.
And visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/2k24rr/ for the Complete W/L Records, Facts, & Stats for all of the matches tomorrow, the Rumble Histories for all of the announced Participants, as well as every other member of the WWE Roster that could be in the match.