WWE Smackdown 2/9/2024

WWE Smackdown 2/9/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/02/wwe-smackdown-222024.html 

We see clips from the Vegas Wrestlemania Press Conference on 2/8/2024. Roman says he chooses The Rock as his opponent. The Rock calls the fans "Cody crybabies". Cody Rhodes comes out. He said it's not Roman's stroke to determine his Mania match and Cody said he is choosing Roman Reigns to fight him at Mania. Roman says he must be stupid and said he's a done deal. He said he is irrelevant like his dad and this is old news. Cody said if Roman and Rock's grandfathers were there, they'd be ashamed at them. Rock says if Cody is talking about Roman's blood, he is talking about his blood. Rock slaps Cody. Rock then tells Triple H that if he won't fix it, they will.

It still needs some explaining, but at least that's a start to explaining their way out of this one. There's been some good suggestions online on how to figure out the rest of this one. 

Triple H comes out into the ring. Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis are already there.

HHH welcomes everyone and said they had an incredible kick off event last night. Cody said they took a hard left turn last night and the road to Wrestlemania is on fire. HHH says there is confusion in the air and some people don't know their role. HHH said some people tried to assert their authority when they don't really have any. HHH said he doesn't care where you sit, the answers come from one place only and that's him. HHH says the main event of Wrestlemania 40 will be Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes in a WWE Undisputed Title match. We then get a graphic for it.

HHH said some people won't like the decision but says, "it doesn't matter if you don't like the decision". He then says, "Welcome to the Road to Wrestlemania". Nick Aldis gets on the mic. He said we must talk about Seth Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship. Nick says him and Adam decided that Seth's challenger will be determined in the Elimination Chamber. He says we will have qualifiers for it tonight. The wrestlers in it are Randy Orton, Bronson Reed, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul, AJ Styles, Miz, Bobby Lashley, Ivar, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Dominik Mysterio and LA Knight.

Adam says there will be 6 matches over 3 events. Adam announces Drew McIntyre vs AJ Styles.

Drew McIntyre comes out. He thanks everyone for showing him they feel the same way he does about Punk. He said his Punk shirt with his Wrestlemania gravestone has shot up the sales charts. Drew promises Punk will not get one penny of the profits. Drew is happy Cody chose Roman and said him hitting Cody lead to him choosing Roman. He said he saved Wrestlemania and said he now needs to save the world title. He said he has to win the elimination chamber and finally have his moment at Wrestlemania. He said he will give us a champion that is best for business, copying HHH's old line and looking in that direction.

Well, we've been wondering who would be in the chamber since so many wrestlers were tied up with other things. Now we know. It's been rumored Gunther couldn't have gone to The Chamber due to his visa situation, but nobody knows if that's the truth or not.

We see Orton and Sami Zayn arrive earlier. 

Elimination Chamber Qualifier - Drew McIntyre vs AJ Styles

LA Knight comes out to do commentary. AJ hits leg kicks on Drew then Drew chops him in the corner. Drew drops him with a punch then takes leg kicks and chops. AJ 2nd rope twisting crossbodies him and is caught and suplexed.

Drew chops AJ. AJ chops back then Drew tilt-a-whirl backbreakers him. Drew pulls on his chin and arm. Drew knees him in the gut then is dropkicked. AJ dives at Drew's knee. AJ sits up top and is chopped down to the floor. Drew is limping and throws AJ into the rails, sending him over.

We go to break and return. Drew chops him then AJ tornado ddt's him. AJ hits a variety of shots and sliding lariats and sliding punches Drew. Drew gets on the 2nd rope with AJ, AJ drops down and sitout powerbombs him for 2. Drew future shock ddt's him then kips up. Drew holds his leg in pain then misses a claymore kick. AJ does a calf crusher and Drew rope breaks.

AJ goes to springboard and is headbutted down to the floor. They go over to the commentary table where LA Knight is. AJ kicks Drew then AJ is thrown over the table at LA Knight. LA pours his water on AJ on purpose and AJ stares at him. LA asks if he wants a drink and Drew pushes AJ into LA. Drew heads in and has the rope kicked into his crotch. LA gets on the apron and the ref is distracted by him. AJ knocks LA off the apron and Drew claymore kicks AJ to win it.

It was a decent match with AJ working the leg some and then basically starting a feud with LA Knight here.

Kayla Braxton interviews Sami Zayn. Sami said nothing is certain in the WWE around Wrestlemania season. He said it's an emotional time for everyone. He said he was in the main event last year and he's watching the window close fast. He said he has to look at what's in front of him and it's a qualifying match with Randy Orton. He said Drew is waiting for him if he gets the win and says he never beat Drew before. He said it's not an easy battle but it's a path. Good promo here with Sami putting over Orton and pushing his history with Drew.

We see Ryan Blaney, a nascar driver, hang out at the show.

Pretty Deadly are on a lake. Elton said he sees a crowd that looks like Queen Elizabeth and then a picture of her is in the crowd. Kit shows his hand and it's all messed up. Elton said "Pete Du-ney" should be ashamed at what he did. He said they have to put this behind them. Kit said he's ready and Elton said let's show what Pretty Deadly is all about on Smackdown. They then yell "yes boy".

We see Bate/Dunne and DIY talk amongst themselves in the back. 

Elimination Chamber Qualifier - Michin vs Bianca Belair

BB goes for a KOD then Michin armdrags her. Michin hits kicks then PK's her. Michin dropkicks her through the ropes then kicks her from the apron. We go to break and return and BB seems to have speared the post.

They trade punches/forearms. Michin lariats her and superkicks her. Michin dropkicks her then flying neckbreakers her. Michin misses a corner cannonball then BB backbreakers her. BB handsprings and goes for a moonsault but BB counters her counter. BB spinebusters her down then hits corner spears.

BB hits corner punches. Michin superplexes her. Michin hits eatdafeet and BB rolls out. Michin sends her back in then is back body dropped inside. BB hits a KOD and wins it.

Bianca was obviously not losing here. It was just average and nothing particular memorable. It got more time than I had expected and Michin got a lot of offense in.

Bayley walks around in the back alone and they say she will address her departure from Damage Ctrl next.

HHH talks to Bron Breakker in the back. He said he's proud of him and impressed by the progress he made. He said he's looking forward to seeing what he can do at this level. Bron asks him for advice on whether to go to Raw or SD. Paul Heyman walks in and shakes Bron's hand. Bron then leaves. Paul said that's a hell of a talent. HHH asks Paul what he wants. Paul says he will give him respect and space and come back next week. He said he will be with his tribal chief when he comes back next week and The Rock. HHH says he looks forward to it.

Bayley talks in the ring and said the crowd made her feel a little better. She said she's been having a tough time figuring out what to say. She said she doesn't want to believe what happened last week. She said some of the crowd maybe thought she had it coming. She said it sounds like the crowd is cool with her. Bayley said the crowd has been on the journey with her and has been with her all these years.

She said Damage Ctrl meant everything to her. She said she put them before herself and all they did was take from her. Bayley said she's been in this situation too many times not to learn her lesson and said Iyo will learn the hard way at Mania. Dakota Kai comes out. She said she's been trying to talk to her all week. Kai asks if they are still friends or not. Kai said she didn't know about all that went down and was with her doctor.

Bayley doesn't buy it and said she knew what was going on. Kai said she was put in a tough spot and said she always believed in Damage Ctrl. She said Iyo did too until Asuka and Sane came along. Kai said the two of them got in Iyo's head and the rest was history. Bayley asks why she didn't tell her. Kai said she didn't know how to tell her. Kai said she misses the three of them - Kai, Bayley and Iyo.

Kai said it felt like they could do no wrong. She said she wouldn't be here if it weren't for Bayley and Bayley is her mentor. Kai said she thought the situation with Asuka and Sane would blow over but it didn't. Bayley asks Kai where she stands now. Iyo Sky, Asuka and Kairi Sane come out. Dakota Kai slides out of the ring and Bayley is surrounded. Kai brings a chair in and swings it at the Japanese girls. Kai holds it up at Bayley and the crowd chants "hug it out". The segment then ends.

This was a good segment and tied up some loose ends here along with giving us a little more to work with leading to the eventual Iyo/Bayley match.

Randy Orton is interviewed in the locker room. He said Sami said it's not a given that everyone makes it to Mania. Orton agrees and said he was injured at home watching Mania on TV last year. Orton said he learned patience. He said The Viper has always known when to strike but now he can sit back and wait for Roman. He said if everything goes his way, he moves on to the Chamber. He said the one constant is the RKO.

Lashley, B-Fab and The Profits say it's Wrestlemania Season. They said they have receipts for The Final Testament but have bigger business. They said Bobby faces Bronson Reed for an Elimination Chamber spot. Bobby says he's winning at the chamber and says Wrestlemania will be almighty.

Winners face Judgment Day at Elimination Chamber for the Undisputed Tag Titles - Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate vs DIY

JG = Johnny Gargano

Bate and JG shake hands. Bate is flipped and they try pin attempts. They end up doing a stand off. Dunne lariats JG then kimura's JG. Ciampa tags in and hits a running back elbow. Ciampa is sent out. Dunne tries to moonsault off the apron onto him but is forearmed onto the announcer's table. JG topes Bate then Ciampa knees Dunne's head as it hangs off the table.

We go to break and return. Ciamp hits running shots on both opponents then does a flying double clothesline. Bate kneelifts him. Ciampa reverse ddt's him for 2. Dunne takes a poisonrana + pumping knee. Dunne goes out. Bate takes a spinning lariat from JG. Bate airplane spins JG and giant swings Ciampa at the same time. JG is then thrown on Ciampa.

JG takes a double team enzugiri in the corner then does a double hurricanrana off the double tiger driver attempt. Dunne stomps on both of JG's hands then is rolled into a kick. Bate punches JG then takes a knee from Ciampa. JG tope tornado ddt's Dunne outside. Ciampa hits project ciampa on Bate.

Bate and Ciampa slug it out. Ciampa face kicks him and hits a pumping knee. Dunne splits Ciampa's fingers then is pumping knee'd off the apron. Bate rebound double clotheslines his opponents. Bate is superkicked by JG. Bate dives over JG with a suicide dive on Ciampa. Dunne hits bitter end on JG and wins it.

It was a good match as expected. Super fast paced here with "blink and you'll miss it" style action. It's not really surprising considering the people involved. Bate had 2 impressive moments here with the suicide dive and airplane spin + giant swing combo.  

Byron Saxton talks to Dominik Mysterio. Dom says Bate and Dunne will be beat by Finn and Priest. He then says Rhea will wipe the floor with Nia Jax. Dom says he will win elimination chamber and have matching titles with Rhea when he beats Seth. He said he will slap the taste of the mouth of his EC qualifier opponent. Kevin Owens walks in. He says he will give him the beating of a lifetime and dedicates it to Rey Mysterio. R-Truth comes in and calls Kevin Owens "Miz". He said he's supposed to be on Raw and says don't let Nick Aldis catch you. Owens says he will be careful as the crowd chants, "we want Truth".

We get the "One Match To Go" graphic.

Sami is taping up in the back and Orton is getting ready.

Logan Paul walks in on Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce. He said he wanted a US title challenger. He said he's qualified and doesn't need to qualify for the chamber. He says he's a prize fighter and doesn't like having to fight for free in Utah. He said he should get Rock's treatment where he can walk in, smack someone and get back on the jet. Paul says he will do it but he's not happy. He said he will win the elimination chamber, will beat Seth Rollins and will walk out a double champ. He wants to know who he is wrestling and Nick says he is facing the Miz for his qualifier. 

Elimination Chamber Qualifier - Randy Orton vs Sami Zayn

We have 13 minutes left for this tops. Orton side headlocks him and shoulders him over. Orton side headlocks him and Sami throws him out of the ring. Sami teases diving but seated moonsaults in. Orton hits corner punches then euros him. Sami is thrown into the rails and moonsaults off of them onto Orton. Sami goes to dive and catches a forearm.

Sami's head is banged off the commentator's table then Orton is backdropped on the table. We go to break and return. Sami is put on the top rope and he hits punches on Orton. Sami tornado ddt's him for 2. Sami gets stuck up top again and they fight up there. Orton superplexes him and Orton seems to be hurting from it.

Orton hits punches and Sami drives him into the corner, hitting corner spears. Orton hits lariats then powerslams him. Orton goes for a draping ddt but is back body dropped over the top. Sami topes him into the rails. Orton backdrops him on the commentary table. Orton draping ddt's him.

Sami rolls him up as he goes for the RKO. Sami blue thunder bombs him for 2. Orton hits an RKO and gets the win.

It was okay but nothing special or memorable. Orton really did seem to hurt his back here. 

Drew comes in the ring after and stares down Orton since they are both qualified for the chamber. The show ends with them talking face to face.

Overall thoughts: It was a good show with some big matches here, them making the Cody challenging Roman stuff make some sense and Bayley and Damage Ctrl having a good segment.