SMACKDOWN 3/8/24 REVIEW

SmackDown opens with a video package from The Rock's promo from last weeks which sees The Great One laying the challenge out to Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Cut to The Rock arriving at the American Airlines Center in a vintage Ford pick-up. Nick Aldis beefed up security for tonight's episode since Cody and Seth are both in the arena tonight to confront The Bloodline. They will finally give them an answer to The Rock's challenge from last week. 

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I want to take this moment and acknowledge the security detail at tonight's SmackDown. In the last year, I've discovered and learned about a lot of indie talent and often Indie talent are used as security guards at WWE events. Texas has some amazing Indie talent and last night they were in the security detail. Let take a few moments and recognize Casey Blackrose (San Antonio, Tx), one half of The Flocking Brawlers, Beau Amir (Dallas, Tx), Max Castellanos (San Antonio, Tx) and Anthony Andrews (NWA). If you would like to take a few minutes and listen to our very own Rob sit down and interview Casey Blackrose and Brandon Vice who make up The Flocking Brawlers, you can see that interview here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzNI2e9jjis. 

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The U.S. Champion, Logan Paul decided to grace SmackDown with his presence and to announce Prime is now a sponsor of the WWE PLE's starting with WrestleMania. The best part about this segment is KSI catching a RKO from the Legend Killer and then being dragged to the Prime logo and having Prime poured over him. 

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During a video package, HHH announced that WWE has reached 100 million followers on YouTube and is only the tenth content creator on the platform to have accomplished this feat and earned the Red Diamond Award. Also, the WWE has over 81 billion lifetime views and is the largest sport channel on YouTube.

 

Match 1 

Kevin Owens/Randy Orton vs. Austin Theory/Grayson Waller 

These four superstars gave us a very entertaining match and the finish to this match showed great teamwork between Randy Orton and KO. Right when it looked like the team of Austin and Grayson were going to put away Randy Orton, KO recovered and delivered a stunner to Grayson. When Austin went to attack KO he was popped up into a RKO from Randy Orton and the KO/RKO finisher became the pop-up RKO. 

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After the match Logan Paul attacked the two winners from behind and he brought the brass knuckles to the party. Logan went after Randy with the brass knuckles and he avoided them and took the knuckles off of Logan. Randy attempted to use them on Logan Paul but he moved at the last minute and almost KO'd KO but was able to pull back. 

Winner: Kevin Owens/Randy Orton 

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Backstage Segment 

Kayla Braxton sits down with Bayley and discusses Damage Ctrl's betrayal. Bayley says she did a lot of the things she did for attention and to help Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai. She says she built Damage Ctrl and will do everything in her soul to break them. Everybody seems to be rooting for Bayley to end Damage Ctrl. Evn Naomi, who is seen watching the interview from a monitor until Bianca Belair shows up and mentions how Bayley brought it upon herself. 

 

Match 2 

Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett

This was two heavyweights trying to assert their dominance over each other and they tossed each other beatings reminiscent of Godzilla vs. Mecha Godzilla. There was even interference from two other behemoths knows as AOP who were intercepted by the Street Profits. We won't leave out B-Fab slapping some blonde off of Scarlett. This one ended with the referee throwing the match out and we'll see these two behemoths again soon. 

Winner: Referee Throw Out 

 

Backstage Segment 

Earlier in the LWO locker room, they were celebrating the return of Rey Mysterio with Dragon Lee before cutting to Dragon Lee on the phone. LdF approached and said the LWO and Rey are dead, and the LdF is the future. 

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Match 3 

Tiffany Stratton vs. MiChin 

There is a reason they call her the Buff Barbie Doll and there's also a reason she has a rocket strapped to her back. She is just that damn good. She also has the charisma and in-ring to back it all up. MiChin went for the win early but it was Tiffy Time and MiChin just never got out of the starting gate. Stratton was all over her and ended it with The Prettiest Moonsault. Tiffany Stratton may very well be a WWE Champion on the main roster before the year closes out. 

Winner: Tiffany Stratton

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Backstage Segment 

AJ Styles sent a message to LA Knight and answered the question we have all been asking: Why did AJ fly to Perth to attack LA Knight? He said LA stole his momentum and he is a phenomenal choice to humble LA Knight who he says is overachieving and underwhelming in the ring. 

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After the pre-recorded message from AJ Styles, WWE cut to LA Knight who was watching it on a monitor in the back. LA didn't like what AJ had to say and took it out on the monitor while telling AJ to show up next week. Yeah! 

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Before the next match-up, Tyler Bate is seen playing WWE 2K24 (shameless plugs all night) when Pete Dunne walks in and never really says anything as Tyler Bate is talking to him. Pete is just staring at the crisp game play provided by 2K24 and Tyler says he's right, he'll talk to Nick Aldis about the tag team title match-up and hands off the controller to Pete Dunne and walks out of the room. Pete Dunne took it in stride and starts playing 2K24. 

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If you want to read BCP+'s thoughts on WWE 2K24, you can do it here: https://www.bcp-plus.com/wwe2k24review.  

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Match 4 

Angel w/ LdF vs. Dragon Lee 

What a fantastic match-up between these two Superstars with so much history both in the ring and Familia. They were evenly matched up and even with the outside interference of the LdF, Dragon Lee walked away with the victory. After the match, the LdF mean mugged Dragon Lee knowing the LWO wasn't there to have his back. 

Winner: Dragon Lee

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Backstage Segment 

Damage Ctrl are letting Bayley know she was never a part of Damage Ctrl and it was always Iyo's era. They said if she was smart she would've figured it out sooner because she was never a part of their vision. Dakota says, if you want to tear us a part then prove it next week in the ring. 

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Main Event 

I'm calling the face off between The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes/Seth "Freakin" Rollins our main event tonight. Let's face it, we all tuned in for the continuing saga of 'As The Bloodline Turns' and on tonight's episode we get the answer we have waited a week for. Will Cody/Seth accept the challenge laid down by The People's Champ and The Bloodline? Let's find out... 

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The Rock's new entrance theme was amazing but that vest he wore to the ring may have outshined it. After the greatness stands in front of you and the acknowledgements, The American Nightmare theme hits and Cody and Seth came through the crowd. It felt like Dallas, Tx was Rhodes territory and The People may not belong to The People's Champ anymore. 

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Cody starts things off and says things are a little tense and they should take it all in. Cody says he has heard his challenge and questions The Rock's authority to make the match with those stipulations because just last week The Rock acknowledged Roman as his Tribal Chief. Cody goes to give his answer to the challenge and The Rock gave his best impression of an angry dad about to berate his son..."Yea, Yea You shut your mouth right now boy!"

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The Rock or "Diarrhea Dwayne" decided he wanted to drop some gospel on Cody's ass. The Rock says he acknowledged his little cousin as the Tribal Chief because that is what family does and launches into a tirade of reminding everyone of what the stakes are for night one of WrestleMania 40. You gotta love the fans because during his tirade the crowd started chanting "diarrhea" and even The Rock's cousin had a laugh. (Cody did his best to not laugh and almost broke character) Just when you have heard enough of The Rock, here comes Seth from out of left field telling him to shut the hell up.

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Seth has heard enough and says they know the stakes and the future of the industry is on the line. He tells The Rock, "Listen and listen good, Mr. Mid Life Crisis, you've had your time and you damn sure can't have ours." Seth says, "The biggest match of all time, the biggest tag-match of all time, We Accept!"

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After that exchange of electricity, Roman starts laughing and asked Cody, "Are you just going to let him answer for you?" Roman calls Cody an idiot and says he must be from Texas or something. He asked Cody, "Are you going to let this cross dresser make your future decisions for you"? The look on Cody's face is somewhere between perplexed and confusion, I'm not sure which. Roman reiterates when he beats him on Night two of WrestleMania, that's it. The story is over and he'll never get another title shot. 

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Not to let anyone have the last words, The Rock relaunches into his tirade and reminds everyone he's a member of the TKO Board of Directors and will make sure Cody loses and that Seth drops his title while reminding us that he's the boss. He says he and Roman are family and that their grandfathers are looking down and they are proud. The Rock goes into the Rhodes family tree and mentions The American Dream Dusty Rhodes (The Rock's idol) and then mentions Cody's sister being a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. He brought up his brother being a future HoF'er. He says Cody is twenty years younger than them and asked if he knew why. Cody still looking like a deer in the headlights until The Rock says, "You were a mistake". Cody instead of saying anything, returned the receipt for the slap in the face during the WrestleMania XL Kick-Off.  As they say, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and tonight Cody Rhodes had the last word.