WWE SmackDown Review – March 24, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with a video recapping the events leading up to the reunion of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn on last week’s show as well as what occurred on this past Monday’s Raw.
2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes vs. Ludwig Kaiser
The match starts off with a lock up then Ludwig Kaiser delivers a right hand to Rhodes’ midsection but Rhodes fires back with a delayed vertical suplex. Paul Heyman appears on the ramp to watch on as Rhodes delivers a running knee that sends Kaiser to the outside that sends us to a break.
After the break Rhodes delivers a superplex to Kaiser. Kaiser then looks to send Rhodes’ leg colliding with the ring post but Rhodes prevents such from happening, then fires off right hands and tosses Kaiser back in the ring. Kaiser delivers a kick, then sends him crashing into the mat. He rains down right hands then delivers a stomp to Rhodes’ face and follows it up with an uppercut and a running knee.
He then hits a right hand, but Rhodes fires back with some of his own. Kaiser responds with a stomp and whips Rhodes into the corner, then charges at him. Rhodes ducks out of the way and delivers a kick to his midsection then sets up for Cross Rhodes. Solo Sikoa appears next to Heyman allowing Kaiser to execute a chop block. Heyman & Sikoa inch their way closer to the ring as Kaiser sends Rhodes colliding with the ring steps that sends us to a break.
After a another break Rhodes & Kaiser level one another with clotheslines before Rhodes delivers a shoulder tackle and a scoop powerslam. Kaiser fires back with a clothesline but Rhodes manages to hit the Cody Cutter then he follows it up with Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: 2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes
After the match Heyman grabs a mic and hops up on the apron alongside Sikoa. Heyman says Rhodes is owed an apology then rags on Samantha Irvin for her performance as ring announcer. He then re declares Rhodes as the winner in a more extravagant manner then says Rhodes’ Road 2 WrestleMania has a major pothole in it when he takes on Sikoa next Monday on Raw. He tells Rhodes that if he survives, then all roads lead to Roman Reigns, who will be on Smackdown next Friday to come face 2 face with him 1 more time before WrestleMania.
Rhodes asks Heyman if he’s moving the goalpost, then asks if he’s expected to say no to The Bloodline. He says he still managed to beat Seth Rollins with a torn pec and says Reigns isn’t ready for him before adding that Sikoa will find that out the hard way too on Monday.
Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair points to the WrestleMania sign and says it’s only 8 days away. She says she didn’t become a 14x Champion due to her fears or insecurities. She says fear is a lack of understanding and ignorance, then says the wrestling business was built on respect. She tells Rhea Ripley she respects her then says she respects all the women in the division. She says while she has insecurities, she has managed to overcome them. She then says she loves her father and intends to continue his legacy, then adds that diamonds are forever and so is she.
Rey Mysterio vs. LA Knight
LA Knight charges at Rey Mysterio then Rey ducks out of the way and delivers a dropkick and a double underhook suplex. He rains down right hands in the corner before Knight plants him face first. He then fires off several stomps and sends him crashing into the top turnbuckle, then delivers a right hand and follows it up with a neckbreaker.
Rey hits a hurricanrana that sends Knight to the outside, then delivers a dropkick through the middle rope and follows it up with a splash under the bottom rope. He tosses him back in the ring, then delivers a shoulder to his midsection and ascends to the top. Dominik Mysterio’s music hits and Rey becomes distracted allowing Knight to execute a chop block. Dominik strolls down to the ring to watch on that sends us to a break.
After the break Knight delivers a knee to Rey’s midsection, then follows it up with a running knee. He delivers a knee to his spine, then lands a back suplex and a powerslam. He looks for an elbow drop but Rey rolls out of the way and delivers a bulldog then ascends to the top and hits a senton.
He follows it up with a crossbody off the ropes and goes for a pin but Knight kicks out. Knight gets Rey up on his shoulders, but Rey reverses it into a swinging DDT and dropkicks him into the ropes. He looks for the 619 but Knight catches him and looks for a move. Rey counters with a hurricanrana that sends him into the ropes and looks for a 619 but Dominik trips him as he runs the ropes allowing for Knight to roll him up for the win.
Winner: LA Knight
After the match Dominik grabs a mic and asks him if he’ll give him what he wants. He asks Rey if he’ll run away or be a man, then shoves him. Rey tells him no once again and looks to head to the back as Dominik asks Angie how it feels to be married to a pathetic loser and a coward. He approaches his family in the crowd and tells his mom she married a deadbeat because she watched Rey abandon him. He says because she did that, it makes her a deadbeat mom. Aliyah gets in her brother’s face in defense of their mother and Dominik calls her stupid.
Angie grabs the mic but Dominik steals it back and tells her to shut up. Rey has had enough and knocks Dominik to the floor, then grabs a mic and says Dominik pushed him to do this. He says Dominik made him do what he just did, then tells him he doesn’t just get to disrespect his mother. Rey tells Dominik if he wants a match at WrestleMania, he’s on.
WrestleMania Qualifying Match
Natalya & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Lacey Evans & Xia Li
Shotzi Blackheart & Lacey Evans lock up to start this match off then Xia Li tags in and delivers a chop then hits a running knee and a suplex. She sends Blackheart into the middle turnbuckle then tags Evans in. Evans sends Blackheart’s head bouncing off the mat, but Blackheart fires back with an enziguri. Evans hits a back elbow, then tags in Li.
They double team on Blackheart before Evans looks to hit Blackheart with a Women’s Right but she accidentally hits Li before Natalya tags in and she & Blackheart hit the Hart Attack. Natalya then locks in the Sharpshooter for the win.
Winners By Submission & Gets Into The Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match At WrestleMania 39: Natalya & Shotzi Blackheart
After the match Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez stare down Blackheart & Natalya. Ronda Rousey’s music hits, and she and Shayna Baszler head to the ring. Baszler says all the women currently in the ring want to get their hands on them then makes fun of them being injured by her & Rousey time and time again. She says they should all put an end to this tonight, and she heads down looking to get in the ring alongside Rousey. Rousey stops Baszler and says they have given Las Vegas so much, but they’ve gotten nothing in return. Baszler then informs the 4 women that her & Rousey have been added to the match.
Sheamus says he’s been asked why he’s so angry at Drew McIntyre, then poses a hypothetical. He says imagine sharing a dream with someone only to have them go behind their back and steal it from you. He says imagine you let them sleep on your couch and then you get the chance to hurt them after all they’ve done to hurt you.
McIntyre cuts him off and says Sheamus has been running his mouth on social media and it’s embarrassing. He says they should be laughing about what happened, then says Sheamus has become too sensitive and is unable to separate personal from business. He says he knows he can beat Sheamus & Gunther but Sheamus has been unable to defeat the Intercontinental Champion as history has proven.
McIntyre & Sheamus are about to brawl but Pearce stops them from going at it and says he needs their signatures. Both men do as they’re told before Intercontienetal Champion Gunther’s music hits and he heads to the ring.
Gunther stares down Pearce, then says he needs Pearce to justify his decision to make him defend his title against both Sheamus and McIntyre. Pearce begs Gunther to sign the contract, and he does so, then asks Pearce if he’s happy. He says he will do what he needs to defend his Intercontienetal Title as long as it’s justified. He says he will beat McIntyre, Sheamus and even Butch & Ridge Holland if he has to.
Butch pounces at Gunther and begins beating him down before Holland peels him off. Gunther then gets in Pearce’s face and tells him to give him a match with Butch right now.
Non Title Match
Intercontienetal Champion Gunther vs. Butch
Gunther delivers a big boot then he sends Butch crashing into the mat but Butch catches him with a kick and a pair of right hands. Gunther delivers a double underhook suplex, then delivers a kick and a stomp. He follows it up with a chop and locks in a Boston Crab, then releases the hold and floats over into a Crossface. He releases it and sends Butch crashing into the mat but Butch manages to hit a pair of step up enziguiri. Gunther then sends Butch to the outside that takes us to a break.
After the break Gunther looks for a right hand but Butch snaps his fingers and delivers a step up enziguri. He sends Gunther to the outside and looks for a moonsault but Gunther sends him toppling over the announce desk. He then stares down McIntyre & Sheamus as Butch sets up to hit him from behind. Butch accidentally hits McIntyre before they get in the ring and Butch steps on Gunther’s fingers.
He hits an enziguri and sets up for a move but McIntyre hops up on the apron and gets into his face. Sheamus pulls him off and McIntyre hits him with a Glasgow Kiss. Holland goes after McIntyre but McIntyre sends him colliding into the ring post. Sheamus then attacks him. Amongst all the chaos Gunther hits Butch with The Last Symphony for the win.
Winner: Intercontienetal Champion Gunther
After the match Sheamus gets in the ring and stares Gunther down. McIntyre then hits him with a Claymore Kick and stares down Sheamus.
We go backstage to Street Profits discussing their Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match at WrestleMania then Braun Strowman & Ricochet walk in and say Street Profits will fool around and find out. Strowman then tells Street Profits that he & Ricochet want all the smoke.
Owens welcomes fans to The KO Show then introduces Sami Zayn & his music hits and he heads to the ring.
Owens asks if he did everything like he wanted with the big entrance and introduction, and Zayn says he didn’t want any of that. Owens says Zayn told him he wanted separate entrances backstage so he could get his own pop, and says he totally understands. Owens takes a seat before Zayn asks if they can talk about WrestleMania instead of that. Owens agrees and Zayn says he’s been the one talking non stop about conquering The Bloodline and asks if he realizes what they’re on the verge of. He says this year’s WrestleMania will be different.
Owens says that’s why he brought him out here. He says he got him something and reminds him of what he told him a few months ago about getting him a new shirt to wear instead of The Bloodline’s shirt. He pulls out a shirt unfolds it to reveals the KO Mania shirt of the year. Zayn says it looks awesome, and Owens says that’s actually the back. He says Zayn has been the MVP over the last 12 months and says this year’s shirt is about the front. He tosses the shirt over to Zayn, and Zayn turns it over to reveal the front Wrestle Zayn ia. Zayn flips out and says he loves it, then puts the shirt on as Owens unzips his hoodie to reveal the same shirt. Zayn extends his arms and asks for a hug. Owens says Zayn only gets 1 hug a year but Zayn insists and the pair embrace.
The Usos then come in out of nowhere and attack Zayn & Owens as they deliver a double superkick to both men before hitting Zayn with 1D. Owens grabs a chair and The Usos are forced to retreat.
Next Week’s Smackdown
Tag Team Match
Imperium (Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser) vs. Drew McIntyre & Sheamus
28 Man Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Cruz Del Toro vs. Joaquin Wilde vs. Mace vs. Mansoor vs. Karl Anderson vs. Luke Gallows vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Angel Garza vs. Humberto Carrillo vs. Ashante Thee Adonis vs. Top Dolla vs. Santos Escobar vs. Dexter Lumis vs. Butch vs. Ridge Holland vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Rick Boogs vs. Elias vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Xavier Woods vs. LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross vs. Baron Corbin vs. Bronson Reed vs. Madcap Moss
WrestleMania 39 Card (April 1st & 2nd)
Night 1 (April 1st)
United States Title Match
Austin Theory (c) vs. John Cena
Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
Night 2 (April 2nd)
Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs. 2023 Royal Rumble Winner Cody Rhodes
Nights TBD
Smackdown Women’s Title Match
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble Winner Rhea Ripley
Brock Lensar vs. Omos
Intercontienetal Title Triple Threat Match
Gunther (c) vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus
6 Woman Tag Team Match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Becky Lynch & Lita & Trish Stratus vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley,Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai)
Hell In A Cell Match
Finn Balor vs. Edge
Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match
Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & Otis) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar) vs. Braun Strowman & Ricochet
Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Match
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler vs. TBD
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles Match
The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) (c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio
