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This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown saw Cody Rhodes make his big return to television to answer Randy Orton’s recent behavior. Orton once again made clear he can’t be held responsible for what happens to Cody from here on out because the WWE champion endorsed this.
He asked for it.
Orton, by the way, teased giving up who he has been on the phone with in recent times only for Matt Cardona to interrupt him and club him over the head with a microphone while he was once again crushing him verbally. I actually think this was the only way Cardona could respond to save his character but he still looks like a big geek here.
Funny enough, Aleister Black and Zelina outright talked about this to Cardona’s face, laughing at him for picking a fight he knows he can’t win because his ego is bruised over being called a “marky stooge.” This feels like a rib on the artist formerly known as Zack Ryder, at this point.
The match went exactly as you would expect it to. Orton won and then stood over Cardona while getting his hand raised. You know how it goes.
As he was doing that, Rhodes finally showed up on his bus — there was no time for talking, no time for anything other than getting to the ring and duking it out. It was one hell of a pull apart brawl, one that saw Jelly Roll come out to get in between the two and Orton lay his ass out with the RKO as well.
Then he laughed up the aisle while Rhodes tended to Mr. Roll on the mat.
They haven’t played too much into the past personal stuff just yet but what they’ve done up to now has been fantastic. This is pretty clearly the better of the WWE title options for WrestleMania, and we should all be thankful they went this direction.
Now let’s get more personal!
Sami Zayn was making like he was going to square up against Trick Williams on social media, and then he went to SmackDown and asked GM Nick Aldis if he would be making the card at WrestleMania 42.
“Unless something changes, I don’t have a spot for you right now.”
This after Trick Willy was told he will be on the card. So, of course, Sami laid him out with a punch while he was still cutting it up with Aldis before promising he will make the card in Las Vegas.
How would he do so? By winning the United States championship, of course!
Surprise!
He didn’t win it on his own — instead, Trick came out and tried to attack Zayn but ultimately ended up blasting Carmelo Hayes, leading to a Helluva Kick and the three count. It wasn’t long after that Aldis said he would defend his title against Trick at WrestleMania.
I absolutely understand wanting to get a title on Zayn and adding stakes to a match against a hot young upstart like Trick. I do not understand doing this to Hayes.
There should be backlash.
All the rest
- Lash Legend helped The Bella Twins defeat Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, and then got pushed over by them. I say pushed over because Nia Jax literally pushed them, without much force even, and they both collapsed like they’d been shot. Lyra Valkyria & Bayley made the save when the champs tried to take Flair & Bliss out for good, so it does indeed appear as though a 4-Way is coming at WrestleMania.
- Rhea Ripley responded to Michin & B-Fab joining up with Jade Cargill by simply saying she welcomes all comers and will not be stopped on her road back to the title. When the heels hit the scene, Jade said they didn’t join her but rather positioned themselves next to power. Meanwhile, Michin and Fab said Cargill has a plan and they’re tired of the likes of Ripley getting the bigger push. This explanation sucks, of course, but I’m giving credit to them for actually explaining it with something.
- Kit Wilson wrote more poetry, and then clubbed Jelly Roll with his pad to get their match kicked off. I’m going to credit Wilson as big as I can here, considering he had to sell Jelly’s offense while everyone freaked out over the recording artist doing basic stuff like atomic drops. I’ll give Roll credit for staying in there for as long as he did and looking genuinely shocked that he actually won a match.
- Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre’s issues came to a head on this show, with both struggling through being banged up after what they’ve done to each other in recent weeks. McIntyre straight up said “screw your damn kids” and that’s what led to Aldis finally deciding they need to take some time to get better so they can square up at WrestleMania in the only match fitting of the feud they’ve had — UNSANCTIONED! Of all the ways they could go with this, I think this is the best route.
- Giulia defeated Tiffany Stratton on this show with help from Kiana James. It was fine.
A solid show!
Grade: B
Your turn!
