Here are my Smackdown Thoughts & Facts & Stats:
The People's Champ is here.
Kevin Owens VS Dominik Mysterio was a fun match. I love R-Truth. By the way, if Mysterio would have won, he would have joined his dad, Rey Mysterio as the only Father & Son to both wrestle in an Elimination Chamber Match. FACTS: This was Kevin Owens' 1st Smackdown match & opener since February 2 & the 1st time he wrestled a Mysterio in his Career in a 1-on-1 Match. This was Dominik Mysterio's 1st Smackdown since he defeated Butch on July 21, 2023 & the 1st time he wrestled a Canadian since he defeated Sami Zayn on Raw on July 24, 2023.
Good exchange between Drew McIntyre & LA Knight.
The Tribal Chief has arrived.
Good promo by Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne & their interaction with Dominik Mysterio. Looking forward to both of their matches against The Judgment Day next week on Smackdown & at Elimination Chamber.
Zelina Vega VS Tiffany Stratton was pretty good. I like the interaction between The LWO & Legado Del Fantasma. I think Tiffany will do great in her Chamber debut.
FACTS: This was Zelina Vega's 1st Smackdown of 2024, her 1st Smackdown since she, Bianca Belair, Michin, & Shotzi defeated Damage CTRL on December 22, 2023, & her 1st 1-on-1 Match since she lost to Bayley on Smackdown on October 13, 2023. This was Tiffany Stratton's 1st Smackdown since February 2.
Wow, AJ Styles & Karl Anderson are having issues.
Good promo by Damage CTRL.
Javier Bernal & Beau Morris VS AOP was a squash, which I expected it to be. I'm glad they used NXT wrestlers instead of local wrestlers as at least Bernal & Morris will wrestle again on NXT. FACTS: This was Javier Bernal & Beau Morris' Smackdown debut, Bernal's 1st match on the main roster since he lost to Bronson Reed on Main Event on January 11, 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since he & Luca Crusifino defeated Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe on Level Up on October 6, 2023, & 1st on the main roster since he & Kevin Ventura-Cortes lost to Indus Sher on Raw on May 29, 2023. This was Beau Morris' Smackdown & main roster debut. This was AOP's 1st Smackdown match in their career & their 1st match since they, Murphy, & Seth Rollins defeated The Street Profits & The Viking Raiders on Raw on March 9, 2020, & their 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since they defeated Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder on Raw on November 25, 2019.
OK promo by Logan Paul.
Good recap of Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes on Raw.
It's interesting they're showing the WWE 2K24 Ratings though most people don't really care about them. Even when I played the game, I didn't care about the ratings.
The Miz VS Logan Paul was a great match. I don't mind Paul in the Chamber. He's the US Champ. FACTS: This was The Miz's 1st Smackdown match of 2024 & 1st Smackdown since he lost to LA Knight on September 15, 2023. This was Logan Paul's 1st Smackdown match in his Career, making him the 1st wrestler to make his Smackdown debut after wrestling 9 matches on PPV & the 1st celebrity to wrestle on Smackdown in WWE History. This was the 2nd 1-on-1 Match between them after SummerSlam on July 30, 2022, which was won by Paul.
OK stuff backstage with Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Bron Breakker, & Nick Aldis.
Good use of Grayson Waller in his home country next week as the host of The Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins, to get them on Elimination Chamber without wrestling.
Naomi VS Alba Fyre was a great match. I'm happy that they let Alba wrestle. She deserves to be used more. FACTS: This was Naomi's 1st Smackdown match & main event of 2024, her 1st Smackdown since she & Sasha Banks defeated Shayna Baszler & Natalya on May 13, 2022, & 1st 1-on-1 Match in WWE & on Smackdown since she defeated Shayna Baszler on April 22, 2022, & the 1st time she wrestled a Scottish wrestler since she lost to Piper Niven on Raw on June 14, 2021. This was Alba Fyre's 1st Smackdown since January 19, 1st Smackdown main event of 2024, 1st 1-on-1 Match since she defeated Ivy Nile on NXT on February 21, 2023, 1st on the main roster since she defeated Tamina on Main Event on November 24, 2022, & 1st on Smackdown in her Career.
Interesting comments by Bayley & Dakota Kai.
Awesome signing by Nick Aldis. Bron Breakker is officially on Smackdown, making him the 1st Steiner to wrestle on Smackdown. But where's his NXT Tag Team Championship?
Next week's Smackdown will be a good one. I can't wait to read the spoilers later.
Excellent promo by Roman Reigns. Despite everything, I still get goosebumps when The Rock's music hits. And of course they cut to commercial. Heel Rock is the Best Rock. I loved his promo & the crowd still cheering for him despite being insulted by him.
Here's my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) The Miz VS Logan Paul
2) Kevin Owens VS Dominik Mysterio
3) Naomi VS Alba Fyre
4) Zelina Vega VS Tiffany Stratton
5) Javier Bernal & Beau Morris VS AOP
EXIT 6 Smackdown in Salt Lake City, UT was excellent. All of the Chamber Qualifiers were great. The AOP squash was a good way to reintroduce them. Everything else was solid setting up next week.
NEXT STOP: EXIT 7 Raw in Anaheim, CA (Exit 8 will be a U-Turn back to Salt Lake City)
Blue Bloods is back tonight, so starting tonight, I will not be watching Level Up live. I will watch it tomorrow on Hulu. So there won't be any Level Up Thoughts, Facts or Stats.
Ends Smackdown Thoughts, Facts, & Stats. For W/L Records, Facts, & Stats, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com, which will be updated this weekend.
For the Complete History of the Elimination Chamber PPV, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/chamber For the Complete History of the Elimination Chamber Match, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/elimchamber/ And for the Complete History of WrestleMania, visit darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wm