Following on from all the Royal Rumble drama, SmackDown Live looked to address some things that seemed to have only been exacerbated since Sunday. Big word, I know. This is the first time in quite a long while where I’ve been with you for three straight SmackDown Reviews in a row. So strap yourself in, it’s going to be a good one. Welcome to the most must-see Vulture Hound weekly review in history; welcome to… The SmackDown Review.
The opening match of the show was a United States Championship Number One Contender Fatal Four-way. I got your mum to help me with that one as it was such a mouthful. Bobby Roode sat in on commentary to witness handsome Rusev defeat Zack Ryder, Kofi Kingston and Jinder Mahal. Rusev won by crushing Kofi with the Accolade to earn a shot at Roode’s United States Championship next week. After the match, Rusev had a stare down with Roode because he’s a big bloody scary human being and he can do whatever he wants.
Quick Drying Filler:
– The Usos once again cut a promo about how they’re the best tag team in WWE. There was some weird live graphics on screen of a jail cell during their speech. Their exit was cut short by the entrance of the Bludgeon Brothers which infers the two teams could be facing each other soon.
– The Bludgeon Brothers squashed Chris Wylde and Rory Gulak. Yes, he is Drew Gulak’s brother.
– Charlotte Flair was in the process of cutting a WrestleMania promo when she was attacked by the Riott Squad. Carmella attempted to capitalise on this and went to cash-in her Money in the Bank contract while Charlotte was knocked out. However, she accidentally struck the referee so she did her best Ross Kemp impression and got out of there before it could kick off.
– After being taken out of the Royal Rumble by Owens and Zayn, Tye Dillinger was looking for a shot at redemption against Baron Corbin. He lost.
– Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable squashed Breezango to which the crowd were less than happy. Benjamin pinned Tyler Breeze after a double-team powerbomb.
Opportunity Knocks:
Earlier on in the show, Daniel Bryan announced that AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura would be teaming up to take on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the night’s main event. He also agreed to give Owens and Zayn another chance to become number one contenders. However, they would have to take on each other in next week’s main event, with the winner facing AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Fastlane.
Throughout their match with the Phenomenal One and the Artist, Zayn and Owens frequently argued with each other. At one point Sami left the ring and headed up the ramp, shouting that Owens “can handle it” on his own. Then, when Owens was getting pinned Sami rushed back in to make the save at the count of 2.9. The pair continued to squabble by chopping each other when they were making a tag – growing in aggressiveness each time. Eventually, Zayn did walk out which left Nakamura to hit Owens square in the face with a Kin-bloody-shasa to win the match. After the match, Zayn said this isn’t about friendship anymore, it’s about opportunity. He’s tired of being known as “Kevin Owen’s friend” and instead wants to be recognised as the one who beat Kevin Owens.