By: Dave LeClair
SmackDown aired live from the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
Match Results:
- Sheamus and Ridge Holland (with Butch) defeated Kofi and Big E
- Happy Corbin, Madcap Moss, and Jinder Mahal versus Drew Mcintyre and The Viking Raiders never happened
- Sasha Banks and Naomi defeated Shayna Baszler and Naomi
- Rick Boogs defeated Jay Uso to earn a tag team title shot at WrestleMania
- Ricochet defeated Sami Zayn to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Brock Lesnar opened the show, and Paul Heyman eventually interrupted. It was an uneventful segment other than seeing Paul Heyman running for his life, which was entertaining.
The biggest news from the show was Sheamus and Ridge Holland introducing a new member of their squad named Butch, who most fans will recognize as Pete Dunne. This appears to be Dunne’s call-up to the main roster. I want to comment on his new name with a witty joke, but I think the name speaks for itself.
Ultimately, Sheamus and Holland won after Butch distracted Kingston. It looked like Butch cut his hair at first, but thankfully it was just tucked under his hat.
There was a scary moment where Big E. landed on his head after taking a belly-to-belly suplex on the floor from Holland. Off-camera, he was taken to the back on a stretcher and did give a ‘thumbs up’ to the audience as he was taken to the back.
WWE reiterated that Stone Cold Steve Austin would confront Kevin Owens on The KO show, so the company still isn’t promoting it as a match.
A match pitting The Viking Raiders and Drew Mcintyre against Corbin’s crew never happened, but a brawl between all parties broke out, with Mcintyre standing tall.
Sasha Banks and Naomi defeated Shayna Baszler and Naomi while Carmella and Queen Zelina watched at ringside.
Michael Cole promoted the WWE’s video of Roman Reigns at MSG, which the company called the most-watched WWE Instagram post of all time.
Rick Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted a promo from the Usos, challenging them to a tag team title match at WrestleMania. The Usos accepted, as long as Boogs could beat Jay Uso in a singles match. He won, but Jimmy Uso attacked him with his guitar after the match.
Before Sami Zayn and Ricochet could get started, Austin Theory and Pat McAfee had a fun brawl to build hype for their WrestleMania match.
They eventually had a great match, and Ricochet won clean with the 630.
The cameras cut backstage after the main event where Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair were brawling. Flair got the better of Rousey in this brawl, choking her out on a car.
