Here are my Smackdown Thoughts, Facts, & Stats, along with more WrestleMania Facts:
Rey Mysterio VS Santos Escobar was an incredible match. Rey hasn't missed a beat. He looked better now than before his injury. I was not expecting Dominik Mysterio getting involved. Maybe we'll get Rey VS Dom II: Mask VS Hair at WrestleMania. FACTS: This was Rey Mysterio's 1st Smackdown of 2024, 1st match overall since he lost the United States Championship to Logan Paul at Crown Jewel on November 4, 2023, & 1st match on Smackdown since he lost to Bobby Lashley on October 6, 2023. This was Santos Escobar's 2nd week in a row on Smackdown & 1st Smackdown opener since 1/26. This was the 3rd 1-on-1 Match between them after Smackdown on July 28, 2023 (won by Escobar) & September 29, 2023 (won by Mysterio), so Mysterio won 1 match & Escobar won 2.
Wow. Heated conversation with Bayley & Bianca Belair with Naomi caught in the middle.
I like Naomi & Bianca walking by Cody Rhodes while he's signing autographs, as they continue their conversation.
The O.C. VS Austin Theory & Grayson Waller was a great match. I guess The OC won't be the 1st team in history to wrestle at an NXT Stand & Deliver & WrestleMania in the same weekend. FACTS: This was Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows' 1st Smackdown of 2024, Anderson's 1st Smackdown since he lost to Jimmy Uso on September 29, 2023, Gallows' 1st Smackdown since The OC defeated The Street Profits on August 18, 2023, & they were the 2nd week in a row that someone wrestled on NXT & Smackdown in the same week. This was Austin Theory's 1st Smackdown since March 8, Grayson Waller's 3rd week in a row on Smackdown, & their 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match since they lost to Randy Orton & Kevin Owens on March 8. This was Theory & Waller's 1st 2-on-2 win since they defeated Cameron Grimes & Dragon Lee on Smackdown on October 20, 2023.
Awesome video on Bron Breakker.
I love that they brought back The Slammys. That will be fun. I will vote this weekend.
Wow, what a sneak attack on Bayley by IYO SKY before SKY's match with Naomi. BTW, I'm glad that Asuka's OK as there were rumors that she was hurt on Monday.
Naomi VS IYO SKY was a great match. IYO needed a clean win going into WrestleMania. The attack on Naomi by Damage CTRL was OK with Bianca Belair making the save, only for her to be taken out by Damage CTRL. FACTS: This was Naomi's 1st Smackdown since March 1 & the 1st time she wrestled a Japanese wrestler since she lost to Asuka on Smackdown on December 18, 2018. This was IYO SKY's 1st Smackdown match & match overall since she defeated Michin on January 5. ***WM FACT: Bayley is the only woman in WrestleMania History to defend a Women's Championship in a Fatal 4-Way, a Fatal 5-Way, & then challenge for the Women's Championship.***
Did everyone notice Paul Heyman in the background while Cody Rhodes was talking to Nick Aldis. BTW, Aldis is amazing to be on Smackdown after having bicep surgery.
Cool, Jade Cargill is officially on Smackdown. Can't wait to see her in action.
I can't wait for the Bray Wyatt Documentary. OK segment with Naomi, Bianca Belair, & Tiffany Stratton.
Fun segment with Kevin Owens, Nick Aldis, Pretty Deadly, & Randy Orton to set-up Orton & Owens VS Pretty Deadly next week. ***WM FACTS:
Randy Orton VS Kevin Owens VS Logan Paul will be the 1st Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship in WrestleMania History, Kevin Owens will be the 1st wrestler in History to wrestle in a Tag Team Championship & US Championship Match in back-to-back WrestleMania, Randy Orton will be the 1st wrestler in History to wrestle in a Triple Threat Match for a World, Tag Team, & United States Championship, & will be his 6th Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania which is the most of All-Time, & Logan Paul is the 1st Celebrity to defend a Championship at WrestleMania & the 1st Celebrity to wrestle in 3 WrestleMania Matches.***
I love "real" footage like this with LA Knight & AJ Styles. It makes it more personal. ***WM FACTS: This will be LA Knight’s WrestleMania debut, making it the 1st time since he wrestled Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34 that AJ Styles wrestled someone making their WrestleMania debut.***
The Street Profits VS AOP was great. I love that every match has been getting a lot of time tonight though we only had 4 matches. FACTS: This was Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford's 1st Smackdown since February 23 & 1st Smackdown main event of 2024. This was Akam & Rezar's 1st Smackdown since February 23 & 1st Smackdown main event of 2024. This was the 4th 2-on-2 Tag Team Match between them after NXT on January 17, 2018 & March 28, 2018, & Smackdown on February 23, which were all won by AOP.
Wow, next week's Smackdown is a Tag Team heavy show, but still a great one, with Street Profits VS Theory & Waller, New Catch Republic VS Legado Del Fantasma, R-KO VS Pretty Deadly, along with Belair VS Kai.
Though they didn't mention the match, here are Bonus WM Facts about Jey VS Jimmy Uso: Jey Uso VS Jimmy Uso will be the 2nd time that tag team partners teamed up with each other & then wrestled each other the following year after The Big Boss Man & Akeem at WrestleMania 4 & 5.***
Excellent segment with Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, & Paul Heyman. Both Reigns & Rhodes cut incredible promos & no Rock to steal anyone's spotlights. I love the ending with Jimmy & Solo Sikoa & then Jey & Seth Rollins coming out and the music changing from The Bloodline to Cody's. Best ending on the Road to WrestleMania so far. One thing that Cody Rhodes has over Roman & Rock is that his dad, also wrestled at WrestleMania. Sika & Rocky Johnson never wrestled at WrestleMania. ***WM FACTS: Roman Reigns will be the 4th wrestler after John Cena (24-27), Edge (24-27), & Brock Lesnar (33-36) to wrestle in 4 consecutive WWE Championship Matches at WrestleMania, the 1st to wrestle in 4 Universal Championship Matches in a row, & the 1st Champion of any kind to defend the same Championship at 4 consecutive WrestleManias.***
Here are my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) Rey Mysterio VS Santos Escobar
2) The O.C. VS Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
3) The Street Profits VS AOP
4) Naomi VS IYO SKY
Since Blue Bloods isn't on because of the NCAA, I will be watching Level Up live, so follow me for Level Up Thoughts, Facts, & Stats:
FACTS: This was the 1st Level Up since September 1, 2023 when Riley Osborne, Stevie Turner, & Akira Tozawa made their Level Up debuts that all 3 matches had someone wrestling on Level Up for the 1st time.
Tavion Heights VS Saquon Shugars was a great match. Shugars was very impressive. FACTS: This was Saquon Shugars' Level Up & WWE debut. This was Tavion Heights' 1st Level Up since March 8.
Good first promo for Uriah Conners.
Lainey Reed VS Jaida Parker was good. Reed was OK in her debut. FACTS: This was Lainey Reed's Level Up & WWE debut. This was Jaida Parker's 1st Level Up since she defeated Amari Miller on January 12.
Eddy Thorpe VS Uriah Conners was an awesome match. I like that that they acknowledged Conners losing to Shawn Spears & not ignoring it. Also, I like they mentioned their past history. Uriah's brother Hornswoggle should make an appearance one day. FACTS: This was Uriah Conners' Level Up debut & 1st Level Up main event. This was Eddy Thorpe's 1st Level Up match & main event of 2024, his 1st match overall since he defeated Dijak in an NXT Underground Match on NXT on December 26, 2023, & 1st on Level Up since he defeated Kale Dixon on May 19, 2023. This was the 1st time he wrestled a 2nd Generation wrestler since he lost to Bron Breakker on NXT on November 28, 2023.
Here are my Level Up Match Rankings:
1) Eddy Thorpe VS Uriah Conners
2) Tavion Heights VS Saquon Shugars
3) Lainey Reed VS Jaida Parker
EXIT 17 on the Road to WrestleMania: Smackdown in Milwaukee, WI was incredible. All 4 matches were excellent & the closing segment was amazing. Level Up was great.
NEXT STOP: EXIT 18: Raw in Chicago, IL.
Ends Smackdown & Level Up Thoughts, Facts, & Stats, and for your WrestleMania W/L Records, Facts, & Stats, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wm
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