Smackdown: LA Knight is the new US Champ…. Yeah!

Bob Kapur

Smackdown: LA Knight is the new US Champ…. Yeah!

On Friday night, LA Knight beat Shinsuke Nakamura to become the United States Championship for the second time. The fun and exciting match was a strong main event to a show that also included a passionate Cody Rhodes promo about being betrayed and beaten down by John Cena at last weekend’s Elimination Chamber. On any other show, that promo – one of, if not THE best one that Cody has cut since returning to the company – could have ended the show. But with the raucous Philadelphia crowd loving everything about Knight, his win was the perfect way to close the night.

Randy Orton promo

Randy Orton came to the ring to kick off the show. He made a John Cena / Rock gay joke, which the crowd liked (they booed Cena). He then talked about Kevin Owens, saying that while he likes Owens the wrestler, he has a problem with Owens the man. He said that Owens has Piledriven everyone because he’s jealous of them. He said that when he returned at Elimination Chamber and RKOd Owens, he wasn’t satisfied. He said that the voices in his head demanded more, which is why he went for the Punt. He said that he will prove that Pat McAfee is only the second-best punter in WWE. Orton was back to his old boring self during this one, monotoning his way through the segment.

They showed a clip from earlier today when Chelsea Green and Piper Niven barged into a meeting between Tiffany Stratton and Nick Aldis. This led to Tiffany and Niven being booked in a match for later tonight.

Match 1: Tiffany Stratton vs. Piper Niven

Chelsea wasn’t in Piper’s corner, as she was preparing for her match later tonight when she defends her title against Michin in a Street Fight.

Early on, Tiffany hit some nice moves, including a Springboard Somersault Senton. But Niven caught her in a Handspring Elbow attempt and dumped her to the floor, where she then squished Tiffany with a Running Somersault Dive from the apron. Niven beat her up for a few minutes with a lot of big shots, but Tiffany eventually fought back – including getting a 2-count after she did hit the Handspring Elbow, and another after a Swanton.

Niven nearly got the pin after a Boss Man Slam, and then she put Tiffany in position for a Vader Bomb. Tiffany rolled out of the way and Niven crashed hard. Tiffany wasted no time, and hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the pin.

Winner: Tiffany Stratton

After the match, Charlotte Flair ran into the ring and clipped Tiffany’s knee from behind. Flair then locked on the Figure Eight, looking to injure the champ and weaken her for their WrestleMania match where Charlotte will challenge her for the title.

In the back, Nick Aldis ran down the current Tag Team Championship situation, using a chart to explain all the recent events and ongoing storylines in the division. That they had to go into this detail only tells you how convoluted this has all been. To address this, Aldis announced that the Street Profits will take on DIY next week for the titles. And the other three teams – Los Garzas, Pretty Deadly, and the Motor City Machine Guns will compete in a Triple Threat Match to determine who will be the new number one contenders.

Match 2: Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) vs. Los Garzas (Angel and Berto) vs. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)

The first half of the match had a lot of quick moves hit by all three teams. The pace slowed down at times, but then kicked back in. Eventually, Sabin was in control. He and Shelley were going to put down Pretty Deadly with Skull and Bones on one of Pretty Deadly. But the other PD member sneaked onto the apron behind the referee’s back and shoved Shelley off the top rope and Shelley went crashing to the floor. Sabin looked to check in on his partner and instead got Schoolboy Rolled up by the other PD member for the pin.

Winners: Pretty Deadly

Bianca Belair speaks / Naomi confesses

They showed the moment when Jade Cargill returned at Elimination Chamber and beat up Naomi while Bianca Belair could only watch on in horror from her chamber pod.

Bianca came to the ring with a serious look on her face, not doing her usual skipping in delight on her wayto the ring. She said that she should be focused on facing Iyo sky at WrestleMania, but said it’s hard to focus when two of her friends – Jade Cargill and Naomi – are fighting. Bianca said she is confused by what has happened, because neither Naomi nor Jade are talking with her right now. She implored Naomi to come to the ring.

Naomi – wearing a neck brace – made her way to the ring. Bianca asked her what was going on, and Naomi said that nothing is what it appears to be. Bianca asked Naomi outright if she was the one who attacked Jade, and Naomi deflected the question, saying that she was the one who helped Bianca keep hold of the titles when Jade was injured, and saying that they should focus on regaining the titles.

Bianca asked her once again, and Naomi said that the truth is that she felt that Jade was taking advantage of Bianca. Naomi then laid out all her feelings about Jade, and they started speaking over each other.

Bianca laid down an ultimatum, telling Naomi to answer the question straight up or else she would never talk to Naomi again. Naomi then admitted that she was indeed the one who attacked Jade, saying “I did it for you” – a great Easter Egg to the time when her father-in-law Rikishi said those words to the Rock in his admission of having run down “Stone Cold” Steve Austin with a car.

The truth shocked and disturbed Bianca, who broke out in tears. She said that this truly hurt her, because she loved Naomi. Naomi said that she only did it because she loves Bianca and didn’t want Jade to take advantage of her. A tearful Bianca walked away, whlie Naomi pleaded her case, trying to defend her actions. Naomi got hysterical and delusional and called Bianca an ungrateful b—-.

As Bianca turned around in disbelief, the Titan Tron behind her showed Jade Cargill pulling into the venue. She got out of her ride and immediately beelined it to the arena and down the ramp to the ring. Jade and Bianca acknowledged each other in understanding before Jade continued to storm to the ring. She caught Naomi, who was trying to head for ze hills, and then beat her up, planting her in the middle of the ring with Jaded.

Everything about this segment was entertainment gold. Randy Orton should take notes.

They showed the clip of Drew McIntyre being eliminated from the Elimination Chamber match thanks to Damian Priest. Then they showed a clip from earlier today when McIntyre attacked Priest in the back.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviewed Drew about his attack on Priest, calling it unprovoked. McIntyre said that Priest deserved it, and that he is going to make everyone pay. Starting with Jey Uso tonight.

They showed the video that was released online today, where Cody Rhodes informed Lex Luger that he is to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

In the back, Byron Saxton interviewed Charlotte Flair about her attack on Tiffany Stratton earlier tonight. Charlotte said that she had to remind everyone of how good she is compared to everyone else, and that the division has gone soft since she’s been away. B-Fab walked up to her and said that nobody is interested in bowing down to Charlotte. Charlotte challenged B-Fab to a match next week and said that she would teach B-Fab how to bow down to the queen.

Match 3: Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa

Strowman out-heftied Solo early on, but Solo dodged Strowman Express and the big man hit the ring steps hard, and then ate a huge Hip Attack agaisnt the ringside barrier. Solo continued to beat down Strowman in the ring with plenty of big strikes – including, impressively picking up and dropping Strowman with a Samoan Drop. Solo hit another Hip Attack, but took too long in the follow-up and when he went for a second, he ate a Strowman boot. Strowman then gave Solo these hands and ran him over with a Strowman Express.

Back in the ring, Strowman had Solo down after a Scoop Powerslam, but Tama Tonga ran in and attacked Strowman before the ref could finish the three-count. But it still led to a disqualification.

Winner, by Disqualification: Braun Strowman

Strowman then beat up Tama and threw him in to the timekeeper’s area. And cue the music for Jacob Fatu, who made his way to the ring, where he and Strowman squared off in a slugfest. Fatu blasted him with a pair of Superkicks, sending Strowman to the floor. Fatu got tripped up on the ropes in trying for a Flying Dive, and Strowman picked him up and Chokeslammed Fatu onto the announce table. In celebrating that, Strowman didn’t see Fatu pop back up, and then Fatu went on the attack.

He blasted Strowman with some hard shots, and sent Strowman tumbling over the ringside barrier and they fought in the crowd and all the way to the technical equipment area and onto some equipment stands. Strowman blocked and reversed an attack, and he Chokeslammed Fatu off the cas and through a table below. Fatu stood back up, which surprised/spooked Strowman, and headed to the back, glaring at Strowman the entire time.

In the back, Byron Saxton interviewed LA Knight, who said a lot of things quickly. He said he would be winning the US Championship tonight. Yeah.

In a hallway, Chelsea Green was trying to rally Piper Niven, who was still hurting from her match earlier, so she could have backup in her title match. Zelina Vega walked up and let Green know that no matter who was champion after tonight – her or Michin – Zelina would be coming for the title. Green was cosplaying Cactus Jack, which was fantastic.

Match 4: Chelsea Green (c) (w/ Piper Niven) vs. Michin – Street Fight for the Women’s United States Championship

Michin came to the ring with a garbage can full of plunder and she pulled out a cookie tray and blasted Green with it, repelling Green’s pre-bell attack. Once the match got underway, the weapons were used, with Green eating a chair and Michin taking a garbage can shot.

Michin went to get a table from under the ring, but fell prey to a Side Russian Leg Sweep on the floor. A Netflix glitch skipped a few minutes of action, returning to see Michin blast Green with a fire extinguisher spray to the face. Michin went for a table, but Niven smashed her from behind. Niven then held Michin down and in place for Green to hit a garbage-can-assisted Van Terminator (perfect for Philadelphia).

Niven and Green were going to deliver more punishment when B-Fab ran to the ring and smashed Niven with repeated hits with a Singapore cane. In the ring, Michin did the same to Green. Michin then dumped Green in the corner and placed a garbage can on her and then hit a Cannonball on her.

Michin then lay some chairs down in the ring and then finally did get that table she’d been looking for earlier. They fought some more, and Green ended up lying on the table that had been set up in the ring. Michin hit a Tabletop Senton and was going for the pin, when a hooded figure pulled Green out of the ring. They unhooded and it was Alba Fyre. Fyre hit a shocked Michin with a Canadian Destroyer, and Green scrambled back in the ring to cover a knocked out Michin for the pin.

After the match, the new alliance of Green and Fyre celebrated the tainted win.

Winner, and still Women’s United States Champion: Chelsea Green

In the back, Santos Escobar was berating Los Garzas for not winning the Triple Threat match earlier. He said that things had to change for their faction, and demanded they do better. Escobar and Hector left. Andrade then approached Berto and said that Berto shouldn’t let himself be yelled at by those guys.

They aired a video trumpeting the announcement that Dana White and TKO were starting a new boxing promotion in Saudi Arabia. Maybe it will go as well as Slap Fight.

Before the next segment, they showed the clip of John Cena’s heel turn at Elimination Chamber.

Cody Rhodes speaks

Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring, sporting a black eye from the beating he took at Elimination Chamber.

Rhodes knew what Philadelphia wanted to talk about. He said that he had to tell a lie to his daughter who asked him about his eye. Cody said he told her that he’d run into a wall. And he did. A wall that was put up by the Final Boss and consisted of the Rock, Travis Scott, and John Cena. Cody said that Cena used to be a hero of his.

He said that he would one day tell his daughter that what really happened is that a man whose catchphrase is to Never Give Up gave up. Cody said that Cena owes everyone an explanation for what he did. Cody said that, no matter how eloquently Cena responds, there is no justification for what he did.

Rhodes said that Philadelphia was the only city in which his father was afraid to perform. But Cody never did, because he has always been loved by Philadelphia crowds. Including at WrestleMania 40.

He said, at that event, Cena celebrated with him in the ring after Rhodes won the Championship, and told him that the Championship gets heavier every day. Cody said that he is holding the title high above his head. He said that he knows Cena wants some. So he should Come Get Some.

This was a fiery performance by Rhodes – just stellar. Randy Orton should take notes.

In the back, the Miz and Carmelo Hayes were in Nick Aldis’ office. Miz was petitioning to bring their new talk show Melodome Miz TV to Smackdown. Hayes said something about Randy Orton playing video games, and speak of the devil, Orton showed up. Aldis booked a match between Hayes and Orton for next week. The best part about this segment was a poster hanging on the back wall – the event card for the Showdown at Shea where Muhammad Ali fought Antonio Inoki, wth the main event of Bruno Sammartino vs. Stan Hansen.

Match 5: Drew McIntyre vs. Jimmy Uso

I always confuse the Usos, so originally wrote about how the Uso appeal may be lessening based on the lack of Yeet chants during Uso’s introduction. Oops.

Uso hit the first big move, hitting a Running Body Block on McIntyre who was set up on the announce table. Back in the ring, Uso took control, getting a 2-count after a Samoan Drop, and another one after a Superkick. Drew rolled out of the way of a Superfly Splash, and then hit a Claymore for the definitive pin.

Winner: Drew McIntyre

After the match, McIntyre was going to deliver more damage, but Damian Priest ran in from out of nowhere and attacked Drew. A bunch of agents and refs tried to pull him away, but Priest kept going after Drew. He vowed to come after Drew at every opportunity.

A Shinsuke Nakamura video aired. He said he would retain the US Championship against LA Knight tonight. He said that Knight would beg for mercy… and would find none.

In the back, Byron Saxton interviewed DIY, who are defending their Tag Team Championship against the Street Profits next week. They said they were the number one team, and everyone else is competing to be number two. They said the Street Profits’ dream of winning the titles is already dead, and they called for a moment of silence for its death.

Match 6: LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (c) – for the United States Championship

They exchanged striking moves early on, with Nakamura getting the early edge. But Knight was able to catch Nakamura with a surprise Boot and followed that up with a Baseball Slide attack that sent Nakamura to the floor, where Knight dropped him with a big Clothesline.

Back in the ring, Nakamura went back on the attack with a big Double Knees, and the fight spilled ringside yet again. Knight bounced Nakamura’s head off the entrance table repeatedly, but when he celebrated, Nakamura recovered and whipped Knight hard into the ring steps.

Nakamura continued the assault with kicks and strikes, bu the support of the crowd gave Knight some added energy, and he fought back with a Standing Neckbreaker, a Powerslam, and a High Elbow Smash for a close count.

A series of counters and reversals on the ropes led to Nakamura hitting a Sheik Superplex, but when he tried to follow up with the Kinshasa Kick, Knight turned the tables, blasting Nakamura with a huge Clothesline.

The action went back-and-forth until Knight caught Nakamura going up top, scrambled up, and hit a Superplex and a Savage Elbow Smash for two. Nakamura bailed to the floor to avoid a BFT, and they had a tug of war with a chair; Knight got it, but the referee warned him not to use it lest he be disqualified and cost himself a chance at winning the title.

The chair shenanigans continued when Nakamura tried to use it and deliberately get himself DQd, but referee Charles Robinson confiscated it first. This led to a sequence that saw Knight avoid the poisonous mist by Nakamura and instead it went right into the eyes of Robinson. Knight rolled up Nakamura, but of course the ref didn’t see it to make the count.

Nakamura hit Knight with a Scorpio Rising that stunned Knight, and then Nakamura again grabbed the chair. But Knight knocked it out of his hands and onto the mat. Knight hit a BFT, driving Nakamura face-first onto the chair. A second referee ran into the ring from the back and with a 1-2-3, LA Knight became the new US Champ. Yeah!

Knight celebrated the win as the show came to a close. This was really good and the crowd loved the finish.

Winner, and new United States Champion: LA Knight

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