WWE – At this week’s episode of SmackDown from Birmingham’s Legacy Arena, Roman Reigns made an impressive cameo as WWE Universal Champion – Cody Rhodes (winner of Men’s Royal Rumble 2024); Tribal Chief and The Rock also made cameo appearances.
Kevin Owens and Austin Theory got into an on-air brawl on SmackDown Live’s most recent episode. Meanwhile, Bayley won this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble tournament; she then appeared on RAW, publicly announcing whether or not she will face Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley or Women’s Champion IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40.
This week’s SmackDown started with Owens and Logan Paul – currently United States Champion – wrestling against each other.
Kevin Owens versus Austin
Kevin Owens battled Austin Theory in an entertaining about to open the evening’s proceedings. However, it could have impressed viewers more to win them over.
Additionally, Owens had to deal with interference from Grayson Waller and Logan Paul before emerging victorious and asserting his dominance over Austin Theory.
Matches between LWO and Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, Legado del Fantasmo and Pretty Deadly were all featured prominently.
Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro of LWO, Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate from Legado del Fantasmo’s Angel and Humberto, as well as Pretty Deadly teammates Elton Prince and Kit Wilson competed in a fierce four-way championship qualifying match for SmackDown Live tournament round two, before Dunne & Bate emerged victorious and earned themselves one step closer to competing at Elimination Chamber on Judgment Day for The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship matchup.
Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits have taken up arms against The Final Testament in this fight for power.
Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits went head-to-head in a tag team battle that featured six competitors. Unfortunately, however, it did not start as planned due to an altercation between them before the bell rang.
Tiffany Stratton will serve instead of Michigan.
After Michin and Tiffany Stratton squared off against each other in their initial match on SmackDown, Stratton entered her inaugural competition on SmackDown ringside against Michin – making an immediate, impactful debut and dominating Michin to claim victory with one of the most beautiful moonsaults ever performed by Tiffany.
Cody Rhodes announced that he would no longer compete against Reigns at WrestleMania in the final moments of the SmackDown program after consulting a council and speaking to someone familiar with Reigns.
When The Rock entered, his music started playing as his guitar was unplugged for playback. He hugged Cody before engaging Reigns in an intense staredown as the SmackDown broadcast took a break from broadcasting.
Cody Rhodes made a promotional appearance alongside Reigns, Paul Heyman and The Bloodline during the last segment of the Smackdown broadcast. Heyman approached Reigns privately after asking whether the two could talk more privately during a match; as a result of this request, Reigns removed Bloodline members from the ring for the game itself.
In later parts of the program, Cody voiced his discontent with Seth Rollin’s declaration that the Universal Championship should be called Hollywood Title, the same championship that Brazilian wrestling icon Bruno Sammartino and Dusty Rhodes held before.
Dusty was quickly disqualified from his title when it was taken from him at Madison Square Garden. Cody then clarified that he desired the Universal Championship regardless of what Rollins said, yet he chose not to make his desire known at WrestleMania.
On a recent episode of Monday Night RAW held in San Diego, The Rock unexpectedly returned to WWE. Within seconds of entering, he began an aggressive verbal and physical confrontation with Jinder Mahal – and didn’t spare any time doing it!
As a result of his return ignited tremendous excitement among fans all around the globe and opened up new matches in the future. At one point during his speech to the audience during that program, The Rock informed WWE fans that he was feeling somewhat hungry and would soon find something to eat.
Subsequently, he inquired whether “Should The Rock take a seat at the booth or bar”? Others offered alternative suggestions, including whether “The Rock should take control of his table instead?”
The WWE has uploaded to YouTube a digital exclusive that shows what happened after the SmackDown television program was taken off-air on February 2.
Reigns is seen removing the title from The Rock before leaving the ring, prompting Reigns to make this statement: “Well, it has become quite clear to The Rock that when it comes to creating something iconic and magical – you come here!”
