Those: wwe.com
Loading …World Wrestling Entertainment „Friday Night SmackDown #1234“
Ort: T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Date: March 17, 2023
Spectators: Approx. 8,800
Commentators Michael Cole and Wade Barrett welcome us to a new edition of Friday Night SmackDown. They’re hyping today’s main event, the match between Sheamus and Drew McIntyre, which will determine Gunther’s opponent at WrestleMania. Then we hear the music of Cody Rhodes and the winner of this year’s Royal Rumble enters the ring. In his usual smart suit, he proposes to talk about “WrestleMania”. There has been a lot of talk over the past few weeks, but he wants to stress that he has the utmost respect for Roman Reigns. This is the greatest champion in the world of sports and he is looking forward to the confrontation at “Monday Night RAW” as well as the match at “WrestleMania”. But Cody doesn’t want to talk about someone, he wants to talk to someone. He asks for Kevin Owens, but who is initially a long time coming. After another request, we hear the Canadian’s music. Once in the ring, Owens wants to say he knows why he’s here, but Rhodes cuts him off. This is not supposed to be a conversation between just two people and he also asks about Sami Zayn. This one doesn’t take long to come and so he also gets into the rope square. The American Nightmare wants to act as mediator and emphasizes its respect for Kevin Owens. Cody talks about his journey through the indies and thanks Owens for helping him along the way. He demands a settlement from the former friends, but Kevin Owens has already said everything. Zayn replies that while Owens said everything, he didn’t. They’ve had so many fights, but they always make up. You’ve been through thick and thin. Zayn is willing to do whatever it takes to change his mind. If Owens wants to beat him, do it because he doesn’t need a friend, he needs a tag team partner. Rhodes also animates the fans and points out that everyone wants to see how the two get along again. Zayn speaks up again, saying that only the two of them can be the ones who could tear down the pillars of the Bloodline. Again, Owens objects and replies that he’s heard all of this before. He also knows that Zayn isn’t looking for a friend, just a tag team partner, but he doesn’t need anyone who doesn’t want to be his friend too. He is fed up, thanks Rhodes for his efforts and leaves the ring. This concludes the first segment of the evening.
Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio walk the aisles. We’ll probably see the two of them again in a moment, but first there’s some publicity.
After the commercial we see Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn again. The former wants to get into his car, but is stopped by the latter. I want Owens to forget everything Zayn just said. They are friends, even brothers, and always will be. He says he loves him, but Owens wordlessly gets in the car and drives away.
1. Match
Mixed Tag Team Match
Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio defeated Santos Escobar & Zelina Vega via a pinfall by Ripley on Vega after the riptide.
Match time: 07:13
After the win, Dominik Mysterio has a microphone in his hand. He also wants to get rid of the fact that our Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio, was a miserable father and Dominik suffered from many sleepless nights. Rey is shown walking through the arena aisles and we go into a commercial break. After this short break, the segment continues and we hear the music of Rey Mysterio. This comes in the ring and his son again mentions that he was shaped by his bad father. Rey asks Rhea if he wants to speak to his son alone and she steps back two meters (Do you have to understand that?). Dominik can’t help it and calls his father a piece of pig. Rey has had enough and even admits he wasn’t the best dad. He missed many of his son’s great moments, but he always loved him and still does. He had to make sacrifices because this business is so tough and he wanted to give his family the best possible life. Every time Dominik messed up, his last name saved him. All he wants is to have his son by his side when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame. Maybe it’s already too late for that, because he regrets nothing more than what his son has become. Now Rey is also more direct and makes it clear to Dominik that he would like to spank his butt at “WrestleMania”. Unfortunately Dominik is still his son and he refuses to compete against him. This match will never happen, not even at WrestleMania. Rey leaves the ring, but Dominik continues to provoke his father. The only thing he’s ever been taught by Rey is to run away. This segment ends with this statement.
Wade Barrett announces that WrestleMania will feature two Fatal Four Way Tag Team Matches, called Showcase Matches, one for the men and one for the women. There will now be the first qualifying match for this.
2. Match
WrestleMania Showcase Qualifying Tag Team Match
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez defeated Tegan Nox & Candica LeRae via Morgan’s pinfall to Emma after the ObLIVion.
Match time: 03:45
– This makes Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez the first tag team for the WrestleMania Showcase match.
We see a recap of last week’s confrontation between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley. The music of the SmackDown Women’s Champion starts and she strides to the ring. After another commercial break, Charlotte armed herself with a microphone. The more things change, the more likely everything stays the same. She explains that this business was built on her father’s shoulders while Rhodes was the challenger and now once again Flair is the champion and Rhodes the challenger. She has had a few matches at “WrestleMania” over the past few years, has always been champion or challenger, but always the big star. Three years ago Ripley couldn’t win against them and it will be again. The more things change, the more likely everything stays the same. Ripley comes into the ring and explains why she chose Charlotte. In the locker room, every man and woman turns away from her because they’re scared. Everyone is afraid of her, except for Charlotte Flair, and that really gets on her nerves. She cites Charlotte’s accomplishments and she deserves every praise, but she wants and needs the SmackDown Women’s Championship. She must be a star. After WrestleMania, Charlotte will call her “Champion” and be afraid of her. Dominik is now in the ring and talking to Charlotte. Ripley can use this to smack her opponent. The heels leave the ring and it appears the segment is over, but Charlotte also leaves the ring and starts a brawl. Some officials try to keep the women apart, but only partially succeed. Again and again one of the ladies can bring an action to the finish. Ripley throws Charlotte over the announcer’s desk, but she gets up and jumps off that desk onto her rival. The brawl continues and some officials also have to take punches and headbutts. Eventually the fight moves to the stands before Charlotte gets back in the ring. This segment ends with a staredown.
Sami Zayn stands with Kayla Braxton and talks about the fact that if necessary he will take everything into his own hands. He will confront Jey Uso today and deal with the consequences of his actions over the past few months.
3. Match
Singles Match
Xavier Woods defeated LA Knight via pinfall after back woods.
Match time: 02:19
– During the moves in, the origin of the match is shown. LA Knight poked fun at Woods for playing on a console with Madcap Moss.
We see confirmation that The Great Muta is the second person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.
After another commercial break, LA Knight walks the hallways and is intercepted by Kayla Braxton. But he would rather talk to Rey Mysterio, who signs autographs. Knight is apparently annoyed with Dominik and says he will take care of him if Rey doesn’t. After a few more comments, Rey bursts out and pushes Knight away. He throws a few more words at him in Spanish and storms off.
In the Progressive Match Flo, we see how last week’s Main Event came about. Sheamus and Drew McIntyre simultaneously won a fatal 5-way match that would determine Gunther’s WrestleMania opponent.
4. Match
WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contendership – Singles Match
Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre ended in a no contest after Imperium attacked both opponents.
Match time: 11:39
– When the match was supposed to start, Imperium’s music played. Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci come to the ring and watch the match up close.
– The match started with a fair handshake.
– The match would actually have ended with a double ten count because both of them couldn’t get up in time. Gunther interrupted the referee and wanted a clear winner. The two opponents got up and approached Gunther. His partners then attacked the British.
The attack continues after the match. After Imperium is done with the two, they head towards the stage when Adam Pierce cuts in on the Titantron. This is not enthusiastic about the actions of Imperium and announces a triple threat match for the Intercontinental Championship at “WrestleMania”. Gunther will face Sheamus and Drew McIntyre!
A match between Rey Mysterio and LA Knight is announced for next week.
Jey Uso is in the ring, but we immediately hear the music of Sami Zayn, who marches into the ring with a microphone. Jey should say what exactly he wants from Zayn. He says he has a job to finish today. He goes into the history of the Bloodline and emphasizes that he never trusted Zayn. He hated him, but the fans loved him. The rest of the Bloodline started to trust him and so did Jey eventually. But Zayn betrayed the Bloodline and Jey was sure again that Sami is just a “Fake Ass Uce”. But Zayn loudly disagrees. Jey isn’t mad that Zayn hit Roman Reigns with a chair, just that he didn’t do it himself. Zayn reiterates that Jey still has a chance and doesn’t have to remain part of the Bloodline. Jey appears torn but then attacks his former brother. Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa arrive and beat down the Canadian. When a ring staircase is brought into play, the music is played by Kevin Owens. He storms into the ring and knocks out the entire Bloodline, causing Jimmy to take a stunner and Jey to take a pop-up powerbomb. When Owens empties the ring, Zayn crawls back into the ring. With loud “Hug it out!” chants, the two old and new friends embrace. It fades in that Cody Rhodes has been watching the segment on a screen, smiling like a proud father. With the two Canadians cheering in the ring, this edition of Friday Night SmackDown concludes.
Fallout:
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