Before getting to Smackdown, tonight marks an important night in my life. Tonight is my 37th Anniversary of being a wrestling fan. As a 5-year-old boy, I got dragged to Nassau Community College to watch WrestleMania 3 on Closed-Circuit TV. I really didn't want to go but I had no choice. I cried as Aretha Franklin sang America The Beautiful, not because I was patriotic, but because it was too loud. I was bored for almost 2 hours, until Ricky Steamboat & Randy Savage stepped into the ring. Then, from the minute the bell rang, their moves and athleticism drew me in. I was enthralled by their match, with near fall after near fall. From that point on, I was a wrestling fan. I didn't care about that guy in the yellow tights slamming the 900 pound stinky giant, but I was hooked. And I haven't looked back since. I was a wrestling fan through the good times of the 80s, through the bad times of the early 90s, to the awesome times of the Monday Night War & the Attitude Era, to the OK times of the Brand Extension & the Ruthless Aggression Era, to today, the Triple H Era (or whatever it is called). Yes, the build to Mania has been incredible & so far I am excited for every match on the card for a change. But no matter what, I will be glued to my screen watching WrestleMania 40 on Peacock next weekend. And hopefully, there will be some 5-year-old kid either in Lincoln Financial Field or somewhere around the world watching on the WWE Network or Peacock like me that will be hooked for life because of what those Superstars will do inside that ring. In 8 days, I will be that 5-year-old kid again, not caring about storylines, angles, W/L Records, facts, & stats and just focusing on the wrestling & what made me a wrestling fan.
Now, here's my Smackdown Thoughts, Facts, & Stats (a few WrestleMania Facts):
For the record since Wade Barrett mentioned how many times he wrestled Randy Orton, they wrestled 48 times in a 1-on-1 Match on TV & in live events, with Orton winning 40, Barrett winning 5 matches, & 3 matches ending in No Contests.
Randy Orton & Kevin Owens VS Pretty Deadly was a fun match even with Logan Paul's interference. I love what happened afterwards.
FACTS: This was Randy Orton's 1st Smackdown since March 15, Kevin Owens' 1st Smackdown since March 8, & their 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match & Smackdown opener since they defeated Austin Theory & Grayson Waller on March 8. This was the 1st time that Orton teamed up with the same wrestler 2 Tag Matches in a row since he & Matt Riddle teamed on Raw in 2022, the 1st time Owens teamed with the same wrestler 2 Tag Matches in a row since he & Sami Zayn in 2023, & the 1st time they wrestled British wrestlers. This was Elton Prince & Kit Wilson's 1st Smackdown since March 15 & 1st Smackdown opener & the 1st time they wrestled another team that didn't include Tyler Bate or a member of The Brawling Brutes since they lost to Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn on Smackdown on June 30, 2023. This was Pretty Deadly's 1st win since they defeated The Brawling Brutes on Smackdown on November 24, 2023. ****WM FACT: If Randy Orton wins, he will be the 1st wrestler to lose the United States Championship in a Fatal 4-Way & win in it in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania. If Kevin Owens wins, he will be the 1st wrestler since John Cena (WM 20 & 31) to win the US Title twice at WrestleMania. If Logan Paul wins, he will be the 1st Celebrity to defend a Championship at WrestleMania.****
Awesome, Raw will be Commercial Free for the 1st Hour on Monday.
Cool, so they're doing a Press Conference on Friday before Smackdown but they're calling it the WrestleMania Kick Off & instead of the Kick Off Show before Mania, they're calling it the WrestleMania Countdown, so I guess no matches again.
Good promo by IYO SKY. I love Bayley attacking her & their brawl. That was different. ****WM FACTS: Bayley & IYO SKY will be the 2nd year in a row after Dominik & Rey Mysterio & Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn to be both opponents & partners at WrestleMania & the 20th, 21st, 22nd, or 23rd time in WrestleMania History, joining The Miz & R-Truth, Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins, & The Usos, but the 9th or 10th time that they were partners & then opponents at back-to-back WrestleManias along with The Usos.****
OK promo by Jade Cargill
Decent promo by Dakota Kai.
Wow, OTM in a Snickers Commercial with The Street Profits.
Weird cameo by Isla Dawn & Alba Fyre. Good interaction with Nick Aldis & AJ Styles. ***WM FACTS: LA Knight VS AJ Styles will be LA Knightās WrestleMania debut, making him the 1st wrestler since Elias at WrestleMania 36 to make his WrestleMania debut in a Non-Title 1-on-1 Match at WrestleMania.****
Good pep talk from Bobby Lashley to The Street Profits.
The Street Profits VS Austin Theory & Grayson Waller was a fun match.
Poor @wwegraves. (Love the camera). The finish was a little stupid with the distraction, but the attack by The Final Testament was pretty good. #Smackdown #DBWL
FACTS: This was Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford's 2nd week in a row on Smackdown. This was the 1st time they teamed up 2 weeks in a row on Smackdown since they defeated Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde (9/15/23) & lost to Santos Escobar & Rey Mysterio (9/22/23). This was Austin Theory's 2nd week in a row on Smackdown & the 1st time since 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, & 12/1/23 that Grayson Waller wrestled 4 weeks in a row on Smackdown. This was the 1st time they teamed up 2 weeks in a row on Smackdown since they lost to Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso (10/13/23) & defeated Cameron Grimes & Dragon Lee (10/20/23).***WM FACTS: Grayson Waller will be the 1st Male Australian wrestler to make their WM debut since Buddy Murphy (WM 35) & 1st ever to make his debut in a Tag Team Match.
So, it's official, Bray Wyatt will not be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year. I guess it's too soon for his family. Also, it will give Mike Rotundo the spotlight so he doesn't have to share it with his son. I guess also that means Lia Maivia won't be inducted. Also, since the HOF is airing next week, what's going to happen with Level Up.
Great promo by Santos Escobar & confrontation with The LWO. I love the idea of Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee VS Dominik & Escobar. The brawl was fun. ***WM FACTS: Rey & Dominik Mysterio will be the only father & son to team up, wrestle each other in a 1-on-1 Match & then a Tag Match at WrestleMania, & Dragon Lee & Santos Escobar will be the 1st Mexican wrestlers to make their WrestleMania debut since Angel Garza at WrestleMania 36.***
OK segment with Bianca Belair & Naomi.
Wow, Issues with The Judgment Day going into WrestleMania.
New Catch Republic VS Legado Del Fantasma was an excellent match. FACTS: This was Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne's 1st Smackdown since March 15 & was the 1st time they wrestled someone other than The Judgment Day or Pretty Deadly since they defeated #DIY on Smackdown on February 9 & the 1st time they wrestled 2 Mexicans in their Career. This was Angel & Berto's 1st Smackdown since March 15, the 1st time they wrestled someone other The LWO on Smackdown since they lost to Hit Row on January 20, 2023, & the 1st time they wrestled 2 British wrestlers in their Career. This was the 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match on Smackdown between 2 British Wrestlers & 2 Mexican Wrestlers. ***WM FACTS: New Catch Republic will be the 1st All-English team to debut at WrestleMania since The British Bulldogs at WM 2 & 1st English wrestlers since Ridge Holland at WrestleMania 38 to debut.***
I can't believe they didn't censor Cody Rhodes' blood when they replayed The Rock's attack. I like they showed what happened after Raw went off the air. ***WM FACTS: Roman Reigns & The Rock will be the 4th pair of Cousins to team up at WrestleMania after The British Bulldogs (WM 2 & 3), The Headshrinkers (WM 9), & Epico & Primo/Los Matadores (WM 28 & 30).***
Good promo by Paul Heyman, Jimmy Uso, & Solo Sikoa. I like the idea of Solo VS Jey before he wrestles Jimmy.***WM FACTS: Jey VS Jimmy Uso will be the 10th Match at WrestleMania between 2 2nd Generation Wrestlers after Randy Savage VS Ted DiBiase (WM 4), The Blue Blazer VS Mr. Perfect (WM 5), Jake Roberts VS Ted DiBiase (WM 6), Bret VS Owen Hart (WM 10), Ted DiBiase VS Randy Orton VS Cody Rhodes (WM 26), Randy Orton VS Bray Wyatt (WM 33 & 37), & Cody Rhodes VS Roman Reigns (WM 39 & 40).****
I hope they tell us what matches will be on what night before Friday so I can finalize my Mania Preview.
Good promo by AJ Styles. I like his paranoia thinking everyone was LA Knight. Knight attacking him was fun. I already did my WrestleMania Fact for the match earlier.
Good promo by Tiffany Stratton.
This was the 1st Smackdown since November 24, 2023 to have no Men's Singles Matches.
Next week's Smackdown will be on fire as the Mania Go-Home Show. The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal (hope they announce the participants), Zelina Vega VS Elektra Lopez, New Catch Republic VS Theory & Waller, & Jey VS Solo.
Damn, WWE Speed is debuting at Noon on Wednesday. Normally, I would be home to watch it live, but next week, I have a Doctor's Appointment. So, I will watch it when I get home.
Bianca Belair VS Dakota Kai was great. I'm glad that The Kabuki Warriors didn't attack Belair until after the match. Good save by Naomi. I guess we have a Women's Tag Title Match at WrestleMania. Nevermind, I guess it will be a 6-Woman Tag with Jade Cargill, which is a good way to use Cargill, as she's not ready for a Mania Singles Match. FACTS: This was Bianca Belair's 1st Smackdown since she defeated Michin on February 9, 1st Smackdown main event of 2024, & her 1st match overall since she lost the Elimination Chamber Match at Elimination Chamber on February 24. This was Dakota Kai's 1st Smackdown since March 15 & 1st Smackdown main event of 2024. This was the 4th 1-on-1 Match between them after NXT on June 20, 2018 & October 9, 2019 & Raw on April 17, 2023, which were all also won by Belair. ***WM FACTS: It's official. This will be the 2nd year in a row that the Women's Tag Team Champions will be in a 6-Woman Tag Team Match at WrestleMania & the 1st time in her Career Bianca will not be in a Women's Title Match at WM, besides her debut match in the Women's Battle Royal & Jade Cargill will be the 2nd year in a row after IYO SKY that someone will make their Mania debut in a 6-Woman Tag.***
Here are my Smackdown Match Rankings:
1) New Catch Republic VS Legado Del Fantasma
2) Randy Orton & Kevin Owens VS Pretty Deadly
3) The Street Profits VS Austin Theory & Grayson Waller
4) Bianca Belair VS Dakota Kai
Since Blue Bloods is off again, I will be watching Level Up live, so follow me for NXT Level Up Thoughts, Facts, & Stats:
Carlee Bright & Kendal Grey VS The Meta Four was OK. Bright & Grey are fun. I hope to see more of them in the future. FACTS: This was Carlee Bright's 1st Level Up match & opener since March 15 & her 1st 2-on-2 Tag Team Match in her Career. This was Kendal Grey's WWE & Level Up debut, making it the 2nd week in a row that someone made their debut on Level Up. This was Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend's 1st Level Up match & opener of 2024, Jackson's 1st match overall since she lost to Roxanne Perez on NXT on February 27 & 1st on Level Up since she & Legend defeated Dani Palmer & Tatum Paxley on September 15, 2023. This was Lash Legend's 1st match overall since she defeated Kelani Jordan on February 20 & her 1st Level Up since she lost to Fallon Henley on October 20, 2023. This was their 1st 2-on-2 win since they defeated Fallon Henley & Wren Sinclair on NXT on February 6.
OK promo by Hank & Tank & Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe. But tonight will be their 4th match against each other, not 3. They wrestled each other last year too.
Je'Von Evans VS SCRYPTS was a fun match. I would love to see them wrestle each other again. FACTS: This was Je'Von Evans' 1st Level Up since March 1. This was SCRYPTS' 1st Level Up since March 8.
Hank & Tank VS Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe was a great hard-hitting match. FACTS: This was Tank Ledger & Hank Walker's 1st Level Up match & main event since they lost to Dupont & Igwe on February 23. They are the 1st since themselves on February 22 & February 23 to wrestle on Main Event & Level Up in the same week. This was Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe's 1st Level Up match & main event since they defeated Hank & Tank on February 23. This was the 4th 2-on-2 Match between them since Level Up on August 25, 2023 & February 2, 2024 (won by Hank & Tank) & Level Up on February 23, 2024 (won by Dupont & Igwe) so now Hank & Tank won 3 & Dupont & Igwe won 1.
Here are my Level Up Rankings:
1) Je'Von Evans VS SCRYPTS
2) Hank & Tank VS Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe
3) Carlee Bright & Kendal Grey VS The Meta Four
EXIT 19 on the Road to WrestleMania: Smackdown in Uncasville, CT was great. I'm glad that the The Bloodline took a break & we got a focus on the other Smackdown Mania Storylines. Level Up was good.
NEXT STOP (2 STOPS TO GO): EXIT 20: Raw in Brooklyn, NY
Ends Smackdown & Level Up Thoughts, Facts, & Stats, and for your WrestleMania W/L Records, Facts, & Stats, visit
darrenswinloss.wordpress.com/wm