I usually don’t recap or post WWE Friday Night SmackDown results. However, tonight I did it for the first time that I can remember.
The crowd was hot and for some matches and segments, it appeared there was piped in crowd noise and for others you could tell there was not.
Below is a review of Friday’s WWE SmackDown from myself and my daughter Gabby. The show featured an Intercontinental Championship Match, and began the build up to WrestleMania Backlash, which is Sunday, May 8.
The opening segment of the show featured RK-Bro and the Usos with the challenge from the Usos to have a match to unify the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
Jerome’s thoughts: This was a great opening segment to hype up this match. I am still not a fan of Riddle and have always thought Randy Orton as overrated. This is one match I am looking forward to where I think it could go either way for a winner.
Gabby’s thoughts: Riddle is boring and I don’t understand why he barefoot anyway. I don’t care about this match. The segment was boring.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley
Jerome’s thoughts: The near falls were great, but I didn’t expect Naomi to win.
Gabby’s thoughts: Liv Morgan (who came) out with Ripley is much better as a babyface. This match for me was good for a bathroom break.
Madcap Moss vs. Humberto
Jerome’s thoughts: Didn’t care who won. Madcap Moss is boring and so is Humberto.
Gabby’s thoughts: Who?
In ring interview segment with Drew Gulak and Charlotte Flair, as Gulak is attempting to be a backstage and in-ring interviewer.
Jerome’s thoughts: For me this was the highlight of a show I thought would never end. Charlotte plays a great heel, and she really got great heel heat with this segment by putting Gulak in the figure four and then figure eight after a chop block. It really makes the fans want to see Charlotte lose to Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania Backlash – although I have a feeling Charlotte will retain with the feud going even further out with Rousey finally getting the belt at SummerSlam.
Gabby’s thoughts: Charlotte is a great heel, but I still found the segment to be boring.
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
Jerome’s thoughts: I didn’t see a purpose in Sami losing by count out other than to get heel heat. They put the IC Title on him for a short run, then put him in a pointless match.
Gabby’s thoughts: Another bathroom break match for me.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Ricochet defends against Jinder Mahal
Jerome’s thoughts: I didn’t expect a title change. I am honestly surprised Jinder is still in the company. He went from WWE Champion years ago, to now a mid-carder. It seems the IC TItle is being treated like a mid-card championship. The match was short and Ricochet, despite being the current IC Champion, still hasn’t been booked like he should.
Gabby’s thoughts: Predicable Outcome
Raw Tag Team Champion Riddle vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champion Jimmy Uso
Jerome’s thoughts: By the time this match came on, I was more than ready for this overall boring episode to end. I don’t know why this match was even a match, other than to hype the Winner Take All Match at Backlash. Riddle won this match. I suspect either on Raw or SmackDown, there will be a match with Jey vs. Orton, and Jey will win.
Gabby’s thoughts: I don’t care for Riddle. This match was boring.
Be sure to tell us your thoughts of Friday night’s SmackDown if you watched the show. In case you missed it, a link to our recap is below: