Drew McIntyre was so pissed that Nick Aldis had to arrange the title match, so he could lose to Cody Rhodes just in time for WrestleMania season, and Jacob Fatu intervened as payback. Nothing was done right, according to Drew, despite the fact that he also added on by headbutting the referee. Fatu was the one who screwed this for Drew, so the Scottish Warrior chose to quit.
The brawl that followed added to the intensity of earlier. Talla Tonga and Solo Sikoa were in a match versus Uncle Howdy and Erik Rowan, things were getting out of control outside between JC Mateo, Tonga Loa, Tama Tonga, Joe Gacy, and Dexter Lumis. A big spike from Solo to Lumis and Gacy may have thwarted their asses right then and there, but he was distracted by the fact that Nikki Cross had the lantern… for a short while. While Howdy was celebrating, Tama knocked him out from behind and stole back the lantern.
Michin vs. Jade Cargill
Well, Michin wanted a fight with Cargill, and she got it as she fell victim to Jade’s fall away slam on the main floor after being kicked herself in the shoulder earlier. As the champ was looking Jaded, Michin did her best to scramble out of there by planting Cargill’s chin against her shoulder. Michin followed that up with a tornado DDT, albeit, not as impressively effective.
Michin was looking for Eat the Feet, Jade countered momentarily until she was caught again and endured a Sliced Bread. Eat the Feet was successfully initiated, but Jade rolled out of the ring in time. She had Jade in her sights, prepared to go after her with a rolling Senton, Cargill saw it coming and dodged it as Michin crashed on the floor. Jade made her pay by slamming Michin against the barricade with a powerbomb.
At some point, Jade was playing nasty as she licked Michin’s face before choke slamming her prior to a conclusive Jaded. Girl, ew. Anyway, Rhea Ripley vowed to make Cargill her b*tch.
Winner: Jade Cargill
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss challenged the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, the Irresistable Forces Nia Jax and Lash Legend, for their titles. I was surprised to see that the Bella Twins were at ringside. Surprised, not mad, mind you. They’re not the same. Seeing Brie for the first time in a while just reminded me how I haven’t seen them wrestle live yet. Ever. Tickets ain’t cheap. As we move on from my personals, because Nia used Nikki as a shield to Flair’s big boot, and Alexa was close to hitting Twisted Bliss to finish things, Nikki got involved in the match, which concluded prematurely. Things might have blown up, but they did in favor of Legend and Jax.
Backstage, Candice Le Rae still doesn’t know how to help Johnny Gargano until Alex Shelley suggested he get back to basics, to which Le Rae quickly jumped into actions. Chris Sabin didn’t understand Shelley’s leniency towards a betrayer. Sabin managed to get them a match against Fraxiom next week, and he wants Shelley to prove that he’s still committed to the Motor City Machine Guns.
As we return to the ring for Miz TV, Jelly Roll came to get some mentorship, which I think is a terrible idea. Not because of his criminal background, the face tattoos, nor the mocking that Kit Wilson brought up, no, it’s the fact that he isn’t a wrestler. He’s a musician. Why don’t people understand that you can’t be bringing whoever you want just because their name are flshing neon signs outside your house? LP ISN’T an execption. Nevertheless, Wilson dropped a lot of words that he might not be able to take back, like “Jelly Roll, you’re fat phobic.” as an attachment to him losing 250 pounds. Don’t know what the hell happened, but Miz ended up on the mat. He might blame Danhausen for cursing him.
I don’t have much to say during the match where Los Garza were fighting against R-Truth and Damian Priest. It felt like a game, a bad one, especially towards the end. Yeah, Priest and Truth won, but at what cost?
Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James
James avoided a hip attack from Stratton, with help from Giulia on the outside, Tiffy collapsed to the floor. As the battle raged on, Chelsea Green was being rolled in a wheel-chair by Alba Fyre. Stratton had James cornered and slugged into a cutter to regain control. Green watched on in the meantime. Kiana managed to allude the cartwheel Alabama Slam from Tiffany by connecting with a Falcon Arrow. Later on, just as Stratton was about to end this, I pressume, with the Prettiest Moonsault, Giulia dragged Kiana out. So, Tiffy followed suit.
Since we seem to be playing games tonight, while the referee was distracted by Kiana, Giulia impeded Stratton, only for Tiffy to move out of the way as James accidently kicked the Women’s US Champion to fall on top of Fyre and Green. If you could see me sigh, I’m tired. Stratton won with a second triumphant Prettiest Moonsault.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Mcintyre said he quit, but he wasn’t done yet when he came back to further ruin things for Jacob Fatu during his match with Trick Williams. He shoved Fatu into the post. This was the most shocking moment of the night to witness Jacob getting pinned by the Trick Shot for maybe the second time since arriving on SmackDown. It was weird. We all know that Williams wouldn’t have won if McIntyre hadn’t assisted. Just a reminder. Aldis believed that since this took place, that meant Drew didn’t quit. And as a welcome back gift, Drew and Jacob will engage in a fight next Friday.
I’ve always said that these contract sighings were theatrical for no reason, as if none of this can take place somewhere in the back. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate these long ass speeches, tag teaming with signing your initals on paper, then ending it with a brawl. However, there’s no harm in changing that over-used formula from time to time. We all know how these things say: “the end”, right? First, Rhodes didn’t let Orton finish talking about how much he needs this 15-time World Championship addition to his resume. Now, I’m not saying that’s the reason why Randy slapped Cody’s face against the table, but I think that’s just one of the many reasons.
Second, I don’t get the shock that people felt here as if they didn’t think this was going to happen. Really?? I won’t lie, I laughed when I noticed that Rhodes’ left shoe came off. Even Jelly Roll got involved, which was amazingly strange. Wade Barrett said that this is appalling behaviour for Randy, but I hightly doubt that. This is the Viper we all know, no execptions, and that means Cody, too. If after reading this, you think I love seeing Cody getting battered, then you missed the point.
TOP PHOTO: Orton and Rhodes contract signing. Courtesy of WWE
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