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Courtesy of WWE

SMACKDOWN 2/2/24 REVIEW

-Jeffrey T. Fountain, Contributor 

Smackdown comes to us live from the Magic City, Birmingham, Alabama, and it really feels like the road to WrestleMania has truly begun! Smackdown opens with the arrival of the Bloodline followed by a Royal Rumble video package, as they take us to the ring with the arrival of Logan Paul and an introduction to the new commentary team on Smackdown, Corey Graves and Wade Barrett. I'm looking forward to this duo on commentary! 

Logan Paul immediately opens the show insulting the crowd, and the crowd immediately started booing. Logan said he underestimated his Royal Rumble challenger for the U.S. Championship, Kevin Owens. Logan said, "Kevin Owens did more damage to him than Floyd Mayweather". Logan pokes fun at the "brittle" roster, specifically CM Punk who tore his tri-cep. As fast and as good as Logan Paul has become in the ring, the same can't be said about his mic skills as he still needs some time on the mic to improve. Maybe if he wasn't a part-time champion and a full time superstar he would be improving on the mic.

 

Well you know how the saying goes in Smackdown, if you say Kevin Owens name, he will show up. 

Kevin Owens' music hits and he come out and says Birmingham seems like a pretty great place to him. I'll agree with him on that. Logan tries to interrupt and Kevin cuts him off and says he isn't finished. Kevin said that Logan forgot to add "unbearable idiot" to the list of adjectives that Logan Paul just used to describle himself. Kevin admitted that even though he didn't walk out with the U.S. Championship, it was a moral victory because it felt good to knock the hell out of him. Kevin said now that he was knocked the hell out of Logan a few times, he was ready to restore some prestige and honor to the U.S. Championship and to do that he will have to take it off of Logan Paul and have it sanitized.

Logan said that it's too bad you didn't take advantage at his one and only shot at the title. He goes on to say the brass knuckles were a set-up and that Kevin took the bait and while he was playing Chess, Kevin was playing Go Fish. 

 

Kevin said he didn't know who you're talking about because these people know that KO will do anything to win a match including using the brass knuckles. He praised the referee for doing his job and disqualifying him for using the brass knuckles. KO says the next time they are in the ring together for the title he will realize that he didn't need brass knuckles to beat his dumbass. 

KO in the ring and standing in front of Logan and Logan said KO smells horrible to KO's reply of he bathed in prime before coming to the arena. Logan told KO its over he won't get a rematch and to focus on his match while he talks smack about KO on commentary. 

Match 1 

Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller 

What a text book Kevin Owens match and he talked smack to Logan Paul on commentary the entire match. Cannonballs, Swanton Bombs and Sentons, KO threw it all at Austin Theory and Theory kicked out of everything. Theory looked like a vet out there tonight and showed why is a future world champion in WWE. However, as things looked to go south for Theory, Waller jumped on the ring apron to provide the distraction for Logan Paul to pass Austin Theory the brass knuckles. KO intercepted the brass knuckles and laid out Grayson Waller and Austin Theory attempted a small package roll-up to put him away but KO rolled out of it and hammered Theory with the brass knuckles while the referee was distracted by Logan Paul. KO pinned Austin Theory and looked at Logan Paul for the three count. 

 

After the match, KO chased Logan Paul from the ring side and into the audience before stopping and climbing on some equipment and screaming this is his show with the Wrestlemania sign in the background. 

Winner: Kevin Owens

 

Backstage Segment 

After that banger of a first match, we see Rhea Ripley arrive at the arena and video package of Naomi, who was a surprise entrant into the Royal Rumble and fresh off her contract with TNA. 

The camera crew is outside of Nick Aldis' office, where Michin, Bianca Belair and Shotzi are waiting when Naomi comes out with her signed contract, making her the newest woman to join the Smackdown womens roster. The three ladies are chanting "welcome back" when Tiffany Stratton comes out of the office and declares herself the center of the universe and that she had also signed a Smackdown contract. She asked where her applause were before stepping up to the baddest women in WWE, Bianca Belair, the EST and said your going to remember me and slaps the hell out of Michin before running off. 

Nick Aldis came out just in time to catch the four ladies before they went after Stratton. Michin pushes her way to the front and said to Nick, let me stand on business and when the camera cut away she was taking her earrings out. 

 

Before the Fatal Four Way gets underway, we see Bianca Belair discussing the womens title picture with Nick Aldis when Logan Paul burst into his office and demanding a match because they are calling him a part timer and he doesn't care who it is as long as it't not Kevin Owens. Binca interrupts him and says he was rude and Logan said congrats on the reality show and that he's a fan of her husband before telling Nick Aldis he needed to treat his top stars better and then walks off. Nick said he was talking to a top star and Bianca agreed. 

 

I hope that segment sets up Logan Paul vs. Montez Ford since Logan insulted Bianca. 

 

Again another segment before the Fatal Four Way, this time LdF members and Santos is welcoming back Elektra Lopez, who says she never left. Santos said they are entrusted with the legacy of their families and luchalibre and they must eliminate Rey Mysterio and the LWO.

 

Match 2 Fatal Four Way Tag Team Championship Qualifier Pretty Deadly vs. LWO vs. Pete Dunn/Tyler Bate vs. LdF (Angel/Humberto w/ Electra Lopez) 

It didn't take long for this match to break down into a free for all. The highlight of the match was Pete Dunn, Tyler Bate and Cruz del Torro using the ropes to launch Joaquin Wilde into the other competitors of the match from a good ten feet away. The LWO and Zelina took out LdF, and that left the Bruiserweight and Tyler to put away Pretty Deadly to advance in the qualifier. 

Winner: Pete Dunn/Tyler Bate 

 

Backstage Segment 

After a video package from Monday Night Raw featuring Bayley, we see Damage Ctrl in their locker room discussing Bayley. Iyo said, "Bayley is done, tonight". When Damage Ctrl leaves the locker room, Bayley emerges from behind the door. 

 

Back from a commercial break, Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce are in the ring awaiting Damage Ctrl to make their way to the ring so they can get Bayley's decision on who she will face at Wreslemania. This Birmingham crowd is chanting Bayley's name and she is taking it all in. Once Bayley starts talking its all business and she is talking up Damage Ctrl and Damage Ctrl being family and how she got to where she is with Damage Ctrl. Bayley is discussing her opponent for Wrestlemania and brings up Rhea but quickly changes it to fighting a different fight for personal reason. She looks at Damage Ctrl and asked if they were done laughing behind her back and then speaks Japanese to them and says she's learned something from hearing them talk about her behind her back. Bayley is getting emotional while talking to Iyo Sky but the Kabuki Warriors have circled behind Bayley and Iyo gave them a signal to attack her from behind. Damage Ctrl jump Bayley and are beating her but she planned ahead. As Damage Ctrl drags Bayley out of the corner she has a steel pipe in hand and takes them out. After the action, Bayley grabs a mic and says she'll see Iyo at Wrestlemania.

 

Match 3 

Bobby Lashley/Street Profits vs. The Final Testament 

This match never even got started properly before it broke down into a mele of heavyweights. The Street Profits took AOP to the outside and left Bobby Lashley and Karrion Kross in the ring throwing heavy shots at each other. Bobby went for the Hurt Lock and Scarlett came into the ring and jumped on Bobby's back and raked the eyes. B'Fab out of nowhere with a big boot to Scarlett and Bobby sent Karrion Kross out of the ring and back down the ramp with the rest of the Final Testament. 

Winner: No Winner 

 

Backstage Segment 

Bron Breaker is in Nick Aldis' office looking over a Smackdown contract when Adam Pearce comes in and tells him to hold off signing that contract until he talks to him on Monday. Nick looking pissed asked Adam what he was doing and Adam responded with business. Bron tells the two GM's he'll hang on to the contract and see Adam on Monday. While the two GMs are talking there is a knock on the door and Jade Cargill walks in and asked if it was a good time since Nick invited her to Smackdown tonight. Nick tells Adam to get out of his office and he says no problem "Double O Salesman" and leaves the office but not before warning Jade that Nick has an attitude tonight. 

 

Main Event 

Tiffany Stratton vs. MiChin 

Fresh off her contract signing and Tiffany Stratton is in the main event of Smackdown. Tell me Tiffany is being pushed without telling me she's being pushed. What a way to arrive on Smackdown by main eventing on your first night but she drew the hard hitting OC member, MiChin. MiChin paid her receipt and Tiffany may not be able to taste her food for a few days after the slap MiChin retuned to her. Tiffany looked impressive minus over shooting the prettiest moonsault and she took her debut tonight from MiChin but she's going to feel like she was in a fight tomorrow.

Great main event tonight featuring the Smackdown's stacked women's division. 

Winner: Tiffany Stratton 

 

Just because the Main Event is done, that doesn't mean the show is over. After another Cody Rhodes video package, the Bloodline has their ten minute entrance and join the Raw and Smackdown GM's who are already in the ring. 

The Birmingham crowd isn't feeling the Tribal Chief and start chanting Cody's name. Roman says, "We'll get to him but first, Birmingham, Alabama acknowledge me"! Roman is discussing Monday Night Raw and said there were some things said that he just can't let slide. He said his little brother, Seth Rollins is calling his belt "the title" but everybody competing for that title he's already beat so they should be calling them his number twos or maybe call it the loser bracket title. Roman is joking on Seth Rollins and said, "You can't be walking around in your wife's clothes for two years and calling yourself, the guy". Roman is verbally abusing Seth Rollins and completely burying him, Roman admitted he worked ten times less than him but he also made ten times more than him. Now that Roman is done kicking the dirt on Seth Rollin's grave, he tells Cody he can be the number two or take another crack at being number one, he isn't going to beg, it's his choice.

 

What a pop for the two time Royal Rumble winner, Cody Rhodes. "So, Birmingham, AL what do you want to talk about?"  Cody said, he imagined this conversation a little bit more private and asked for the ring for just the two of them. Cody said, Roman cheated him and he had him more than anyone else had had him. Cody is discussing Seth's points from Monday and the one thing that Cody disagreed with was Roman's title being the Hollywood title. He said to call it what you want but that was the title held by Bruno Samartino and the title that was put into his father's hands in Madison Square Garden before being ripped away. Cody reiterates that he still wants that title. Cody asked, "What is finishing the story"? Cody again states, what is finishing the story? Is it taking the title from you or taking EVERYTHING from you.

Cody said he's coming for Roman and the title but not at Wrestlemania. He spoke of taking council and one of the people he took council from knows Roman very well. 

Cue The Rock's music, If you smellllll what the Rock is cooking. The Rock and Cody Rhodes shook hands and hugged while whispering before Cody made his exit looking disappointed. The Rock and Roman Reigns meet face to face for the first time. As Cody is walking up the ramp he turns toward the camera and has a smirk across his face. Smackdown goes off air with the Rock and the Tribal Chief face to face. 

The road to Wrestlemania just got bumpier and the story continues.

 

Takeaways 

1. Tiffany Stratton and Naomi are now Smackdown superstars

2. Monday Night Raw will have a Fatal Four Way Tag Team Match

3. The Rock vs Roman seems set for Wrestlemania? 

4. Will Cody ever finish his story? Tune in next week to find out...

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