WWE presented the second-to-last episode of SmackDown on April 11th from Seattle, WA. Fans saw a mix of segments and matches on the broadcast, some better than others. Let’s dive deep into where WWE went right and where they went wrong.
Hit: Randy Orton Demands WrestleMania Bout
SmackDown kicked off with Randy Orton confronting GM Nick Aldis, stating they were even for the RKO due to his doubled fine and demanding a WrestleMania match, even inviting Aldis to compete. However, Solo Sikoa, accompanied by Tama Tonga, interrupted Orton’s demand, leading to a verbal altercation and subsequent brawl that saw LA Knight even the odds, ultimately resulting in Aldis sanctioning a tag team match for later in the show, leaving Orton’s WrestleMania status still uncertain.
WWE continues to tease Aldis vs. Orton, something that many fans want to see. Whether it will happen at Mania remains to be seen, but it was a memorable segment that added interest to Orton’s match.
Miss: Gauntlet Match
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez watched from commentary as a women’s tag team gauntlet match determined their WrestleMania challengers. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria started against Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark, with Valkyria advancing. Bayley quickly eliminated Natalya and Maxxine Dupri. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance fell to Valkyria. B-Fab and Michin were defeated by Bayley. Finally, Bayley and Valkyria overcame Alba Fyre and Piper Niven, securing their spot against Morgan and Rodriguez at WrestleMania in a predictable yet entertaining contest.
The match didn’t feel important because WWE didn’t make the fans care about who could win. WWE fans also see that no matter who wins, they won’t be walking out of Mania as champions.
Miss: Drew McIntyre-Damian Preist segment
Drew McIntyre ambushed Damian Priest during his entrance, turning their scheduled promo battle into a one-sided assault where a now “100 percent cleared” McIntyre declared Priest “100 percent screwed” at WrestleMania after removing his eyepatch. Priest retaliated by attacking McIntyre after breaking through security, but McIntyre regained control, delivering a DDT on the steel steps and stealing Priest’s necklace.
WWE has tried to make fans care about this feud and while they’re big stars on their own, it hasn’t meshed. This missed.
Miss: Cody Rhodes Promo
With John Cena absent again, Cody Rhodes delivered a concise promo centered around the history of the WWE titles displayed behind him and his intention to retain his own at WrestleMania. Rhodes acknowledged Cena’s absence had made the build lackluster but credited himself for maintaining interest, hoping Cena’s scheduled appearance on the go-home show in Las Vegas would finally ignite their feud.
The build to Rhodes vs. Cena needs Cena part of it and while Rhodes is doing his best to keep things together, fans are looking forward to the final build with Cena’s appearance on next week’s SmackDown.
Hit: The Attack
Following a social media video of Charlotte Flair attacking Tiffany Stratton in the parking lot, Flair continued her aggressive heel turn by interrupting Stratton’s match against Roxanne Perez after Stratton’s victory. Flair assaulted Stratton, throwing her into the barricade and leaving her prone under the announce desk before security intervened, escalating their feud with physical violence after a week of verbal sparring.
WWE’s smart move was to blur the lines between fiction and reality. This brought a storyline into the real world, and it was filmed masterfully.
Hit: Out of Nowhere
The main event saw Randy Orton and LA Knight defeat Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga, with Knight scoring the pin. However, the match’s outcome was overshadowed by a post-match attack from Knight’s WrestleMania opponent for the United States Championship, Jacob Fatu, who appeared unexpectedly and delivered a brutal beating, culminating in him licking the US title in a bizarre display of dominance.
WWE certainly is putting the machine behind Fatu, and with Mania just days away, all the momentum is behind him. This left fans thinking Fatu has a real chance at winning gold.
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