“WWE Week” on the USA Network concluded with a busy episode of Smackdown on Friday night from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. The stacked card, Smackdown’s return to the TV channel following a lengthy run on FOX, included a steel cage match featuring undisputed champ Cody Rhodes and Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa. Here’s how the event went.
Quick results
- Cody Rhodes def. Solo Sikoa (WWE Championship) (Steel Cage Match) (16:21)
- Michin def. Piper Niven (2:02)
- Kevin Owens & Randy Orton def. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) (9:20)
- Andrade def. Carmelo Hayes (9:52)
Cody Rhodes defeats Solo Sikoa, Roman Reigns makes save after match
A new era, a new look. This week’s Smackdown started with a new intro (“Neva Play” by Megan Thee Stallion and RM) and logo for the show.
After the intro, Paul “Triple H” Levesque came to the ring. He hyped up the show, then informed viewers that the biggest match of the night would kick things off: “Seattle, are you ready?” He asked after unveiling that a steel cage title match Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa would begin soon.
Just moments later, Rhodes and Sikoa hit the ring for their cage match. For anyone that needs a reminder, their bout was given a steel cage stipulation with the hopes of keeping the Bloodline allies of Sikoa from interfering.
Rhodes scored with a running bulldog early in the match, then ran Sikoa into all four cage walls. Sikoa answered back with his own big spot, tossing Rhodes over the ropes and sandwiching him in between the ring and the cage. He then charged into Rhodes, pressing him up against the cage two more times.
Sikoa positioned Rhodes upside down in the corner, then came off the ropes for a flying headbutt. It was at this point that Rhodes started to bleed near his hairline. Another headbutt was dodged by Rhodes, who sat up and then started climbing the cage.
Sikoa tossed Rhodes down to the canvas, then continued to pick him apart. Rhodes was thrown into the cage once again, then again. Rhodes tried to regain some momentum with a Disaster Kick but was caught and tossed into the cage by Sikoa.
Sikoa tried to powerbomb, but Rhodes instead escaped and tried climbing the cage. After Sikoa tried to yank Rhodes off the cage, Rhodes came flying off the wall with a Cody Cutter. Sikoa kicked out from the move, which emerged just under seven minutes into the bout.
Both wrestlers climbed to the top of the cage, meeting for a brawl in the high-risk position. Sikoa grabbed Rhodes for a massive move, hitting a hard suplex down to the canvas. The crowd started to chant “This is awesome” after Rhodes kicked out from a pin attempt.
Sikoa landed a pair of Spinning Solos, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a pinfall victory. Rhodes reversed a Samoan Spike, kicking off a comeback run for him. He landed a forearm, Disaster Kick, and a Cody Cutter, giving him a near fall.
Sikoa went to the top rope after a Samoan Drop, connecting with a frogsplash that provided another kickout at two from Rhodes. Sikoa charged into Rhodes in the corner. Rhodes pushed the cage door open after taking the move and attempted to escape, but was stopped by Rhodes.
Rhodes scored a Cross-Rhodes, but he still couldn’t put away Sikoa. Rhodes climbed to the top of the cage, although it didn’t seem like he intended on leaving the ring just yet. From the top, Rhodes came flying down with a crossbody onto Sikoa. At 15 minutes, this move received another kickout.
Rhodes crawled toward the cage door but was stopped by Sikoa. Rhodes reversed a Samoan Spike into a Cross-Rhodes, giving him the win in 16 minutes and keeping his run as WWE Champion alive.
Roman Reigns makes the save for Cody Rhodes
Despite having a big performance, Rhodes didn’t get much time to celebrate. Right after the match ended, The Bloodline scaled the cage to meet Rhodes in the ring. As Rhodes was distracted by the climbing rivals, Sikoa scored a Samoan Spike.
With the cage still closed, The Bloodline started to target Rhodes. Jacob Fatu came off the top rope with a moonsault. He climbed to the top of the cage in hopes of landing another move but was distracted by Roman Reigns’ theme suddenly playing in the arena.
To a massive reaction from Seattle, Reigns came marching to the ring. He entered the cage and closed the door behind him, kicking off an action scene against The Bloodline. Reigns took out Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga but was blindsided by an attack from Sikoa.
Sikoa came running out of the corner for a move but ate a Superman Punch from Reigns. The former champ looked for a spear, but Sikoa was taken out of the ring by Fatu before Reigns could hit the move.
Reigns motioned for Fatu to enter the ring, and the Bloodline member followed his request. It looked like the two were about to face off, but then Fatu was dragged out of the ring by Sikoa.
Tonga and Loa picked on Reigns, but a recovered Rhodes sprung to his feet and took out the tag team. Rhodes hit a Cross-Rhodes, and Reigns landed a spear. In an intense scene, Wrestlemania 40 headliners Rhodes and Reigns locked eyes in the ring for a moment just before the segment wrapped up.
Backstage, Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis was asked about how he would handle the post-match brawl. He mentioned that all of the wrestlers involved in the match had been sequestered backstage. He said that Sikoa provided an offer “that can’t be refused” for a match, but didn’t specify what that was.
Michin gets quick win over Piper Niven, but suffers beatdown after
Back in the ring, Michin was booked to face Piper Niven in a singles match. Michin turned her focus on Niven teammate Chelsea Green early in the match, hitting her with a kendo stick at ringside. However, this distraction allowed Niven to come off the ring apron for a cannonball onto Michin.
Michin suplexed Piper off the ropes, then hit Eat Defeat to win in just two minutes. Green attached Michin after the match, then ordered Niven to keep beating her up. Green tossed a trash can into the ring then hit an Unpretty-her onto Michin to end the segment.
Kevin Owens teams with Randy Orton against A-Town Down Under
The next bout saw the duo of Grayson Waller and Austin Theory (A-Town Down Under) face Kevin Owens and a teammate of his choice.
When Owens’ teammate came out, it was an unrecognizable wrestler named “Ricky.” Owens noted that his intended teammate couldn’t make it, and Ricky was a fill-in. Just seconds later, a producer came to ringside and told Owens that his original teammate was in the building and ready to wrestle.
“No offense Ricky,” Owens says, before giving his intended teammate a stunner. Then the real tag partner for Owens, Randy Orton, came to the ring.
Owens started the match against Waller, immediately stomping him into a corner of the ring. He was set to do a cannonball, but stopped after Waller pulled out of the ring by Theory.
All four members of the match started brawling at ringside. Waller tossed Owens onto the announce team’s table and then mocked Orton’s famous pose before the match went to a commercial break.
The match was building to a hot tag for Owens as the show returned from the break. Waller got brought into the match, delaying Owens’ eventual tag.
Owens prevented a superplex on the top rope. He pushed Waller off the top, but Theory immediately climbed to the top right after. Owens pushed Theory off then hit a Swanton Bomb. Owens tried again for a tag but had the move prevented by Waller pushing Orton off the apron.
The Seattle crowd started to chant “We want Randy.” Owens eventually got his tag, leaving the ring and re-entering near his corner to get Orton into the match. Orton gave both Waller and Theory a powerslam. Theory saved Waller from a draping DDT, taking him out of the ring. Orton met them at ringside, slamming each wrestler onto the commentary table.
Back in the ring, Orton scored his draping DDT onto Waller upon the second attempt, with Owens giving Theory the move as well. Orton hit an RKO and Owens landed a stunner, ending the match.
Backstage, we checked in with Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis again. He mentioned that Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu vs. Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns were proposed for WWE Bad Blood, which is early next month. He said that a contract was signed by Fatu and Sikoa and that he just needed signatures from Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.
Just after Aldis said this, Rhodes entered the room. He quickly deflated hopes of the tag match: “I’m done with The Bloodline … I’m sorry, I have no intention of signing that.”
The road to Nia Jax’s next title match begins
Before the next segment, a clip from earlier in the afternoon showed Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Pretty Deadly catching fish at the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle.
Nia Jax appeared in the ring for a promo. She mentioned that Nick Aldis informed her that her title would be defended at Bad Blood next month. While she had no clue who she would face, Jax asserted that she was going to annihilate them.
Bayley, a former champ, appeared. “I am happy that you’re feeling confident because I want my rematch.”
Jax said that Bayley is in no position to defend anything from her, mentioning that she doesn’t have the help of Damage CTRL behind her anymore. “I don’t need a posse,” Jax said. Bayley pushed back on this idea, stating that Tiffany Stratton has helped her win in the past.
It was at this point that Stratton came out. “Bayley, this is just so pathetic,” she said. Bayley reminded Stratton that she beat her last week. “Only because Nia got involved,” Stratton said.
“So is it Nia’s fault that you lost?” Bayley said. Jax seemed bothered by this for a moment, then threatened to beat her up. Naomi then came out. “If y’all want a fight, we can fight!” she said, defending Bayley. She then made her own pitch for a title shot.
Jax threw out the idea of Bayley and Naomi fighting for a number-one contenders spot, but had a unique pitch: Jax and Stratton will face Naomi and Bayley next week, and the winner gets a shot at her belt. Also, whoever loses will leave Smackdown “permanently.”
A comment from Bayley annoyed Stratton, causing her to try and attack Naomi. However, when she charged at Naomi, she was hit with a Rear View.
Backstage, Nick Aldis said that Roman Reigns will address fans in the final segment of the night.
Andrade wins feud with Carmelo Hayes, earns U.S. title shot
In the final match of the night, Carmelo Hayes and Andrade faced off. The duo have collided in four different matches over the past few months, with Friday’s bout serving as a tiebreaker. It had also been implied before that the match had title implications, with the winner having a stronger case to fight United States Champion LA Knight.
Hayes got a jump on Andrade, attacking him before the match officially started. Hayes climbed onto the ropes early in the match but was shoved out of the ring by Andrade.
Andrade came off the ropes to the outside with a moonsault. After a series of reversals at ringside, Andrade scored with a big boot to the head. Andrade climbed onto the top of a barricade, but Hayes met him up at the top for a Spanish Fly as the match went to a break.
Returning from the break, the match was back in the ring. Hayes reversed an attempt at The Message, then the duo traded a series of roll-up pins. Hayes scored a First 48 Codebreaker, but Andrade replied with a spinning elbow to the head for a near fall.
Andrade tried for a moonsault. Hayes attempted to roll away, but Andrade chased him with another flip. However, Andrade was met with a pair of knees from Hayes.
A few moments later, Hayes climbed to the top and tried for Nothing But Net. Andrade avoided the move. Andrade looked for The Message. Hayes stopped the move, but Andrade hit a Canadian Destroyer.
Andrade landed a double knees in the corner, but a pin attempt that followed was stopped by a rope grab from Hayes.
Hayes avoided a split-legged moonsault from Andrade. He brought Andrade up to the top rope and tried for a hurricanrana but was thrown off the top instead. Hayes scored a kick then climbed back to the top. Andrade then hit The Message out of the corner, giving him the tiebreaking win.
LA Knight appeared on the ramp afterward. “Congratulations Andrade, you’re the next contestant for the U.S. Championship.” Knight then said that he was going to beat Andrade on next week’s episode of Smackdown.
Backstage, women’s tag champs Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill appeared for an interview. They offered an “anytime, anyplace” challenge for tag teams. Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton appeared in the shot. “Don’t forget, I beat both of you to win the Queen of the Ring tournament,” Jax said. “While you are the tag team champs, Smackdown is my kingdom.”
Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes agree to team up
Roman Reigns returned to the ring for Friday night’s final segment with general manager Nick Aldis appearing alongside him.
Aldis started talking to open the segment, but eventually cut himself off as Reigns motioned to be handed the mic.
Reigns said he didn’t need Aldis or a contract, Cody Rhodes or a tag match. “Whether I have my family’s Ula Fala or not, I am the Tribal Chief,” he said. Right after he mentioned “This is my ring, this is my WWE,” Cody Rhodes came to the ring.
“Your ring? Your WWE? Well, it was,” Rhodes replied. “But it hasn’t been since Wrestlemania.”
That was all either wanted to say, dropping their mics. However, the tension between them was put on hold, as Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu made their entrance.
As Rhodes and Reigns had their focus on the ramp, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa appeared from behind to attack them. The champ and former champ fought back, taking out the duo. Reigns then signed the contract for a match against Sikoa and Fatu at next month’s Premium Live Event. He handed then handed the contract to Rhodes, who signed it as well. Rhodes and Reigns have a shared enemy, and that will make them put their differences aside for one match,
