by WWE SmackDown results in a Kansas City Showdown with Jey Uso and Sami Zayn.
WWE SmackDown promoted a Kansas City Showdown between Sami Zayn and Jey Uso, as Zayn continues to beg for Kevin Owens’ services. The night ended with Owens saving Sami Zayn from another Bloodline beatdown, answering loud chants of “hug it out” by hugging to a giant bang. If this isn’t the main event of WrestleMania, Night 1, then I don’t know what is.
Cody Rhodes returned to SmackDown and also promoted Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre for the right to challenge GUNTHER for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Last week’s SmackDown broadcast drew 2.320 million viewers.
WWE SmackDown Results | March 17, 2023
- The Day of Judgment def. Legado Del Fantasma
- Beat Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Emma and Tegan Nox
- Xavier Woods defeats. LA Knight
- Drew McIntyre and Sheamus battle to a no contest
WWE SmackDown Ratings
- March 10, 2023 | 2,320 million
- March 3, 2023 | 2.451 million
- February 24, 2023 | 2.408 million
- February 17, 2023 | 2.383 million
- February 10, 2023 | 2.438 million
- WWE SmackDown Venue: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
- WWE SmackDown tickets distributed: 8,788
- Available tickets: 378
WWE SmackDown Winners and Numbers
Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens appear live
Cody Rhodes is still universally embraced as a top babyface in a way that Roman Reigns never was. For those keeping score at home, we’re going three weeks now and counting “resting Reigns”, who stays at home.
Sami Zayn kept begging Kevin Owens. In another slow-building WrestleMania program, Owens remained stubborn and said no despite Sami’s (and Cody’s) best efforts.
Opening segment class: A
Beat Dominik and Rhea Ripley. Legado Del Fantasma
Although this was quite a good crowd all the time, it was very quiet for the entry of Legado Del Fantasma. Hopefully one day Legado will be pushed to the point where fans sing along to their theme song like they did in NXT
XT
Rhea Ripley destroyed Zelina Vega with the Riptide. By the way, Zelina looked very good in this match.
Judgment Day vs. Legado Del Fantasma Grade: B-
Dominik Mysterio and Rey Mysterio face each other
This was another segment where Dominik kept attacking Rey, but Rey Mysterio keeps refusing to fight his son.
This was the closest Rey Mysterio came to accepting Dominik’s WrestleMania challenge. When he teased it, fans chanted “kick his ass.” Fans remain excited for Rey Mysterio to get his hands on Dominik, and when he does it will be such a glorious moment.
Dominik-Rey Class: B-
Morgan and Rodriguez def. Tegan Nox and Emma
WWE will feature two WrestleMania showcase matches, in the form of Men’s and Women’s Fatal 4-Way tag team matches. It’s an obvious attempt to get everyone on the map, which tells me there might not be WrestleMania Battle Royals, which is WWE’s typical tactic for getting everyone on the show.
I’m surprised WWE even has enough women to hold tag team Fatal 4-Way qualifiers let alone the match itself.
Women’s Tag Team Qualification Rank: C+
Charlotte Flair battles Rhea Ripley
Charlotte got a babyfaced reaction from this crowd, who surprisingly seemed universally opposed to Rhea. Whether that holds up at WrestleMania is anyone’s guess.
Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley actually had a really good promo exchange, so I was shocked to see them fight the way they did. WWE’s unwritten “no-touch” policy came to an end between Ripley and Charlotte, and it was awesome.
Flair-Ripley Brawl Class: B
Xavier Woods defeats. LA Knight
Backstage, L.A. Knight was on the wrong side of a physical confrontation with Rey Mysterio. This set up a match between Knight and Mysterio the following week. This wouldn’t be the worst place for Knight to get a quality win due to interference from Dominik.
LA Knight is quietly – and organically – rising as a major player in WWE, but he won’t get there with frivolous losses to people who didn’t need the win.
Xavier Woods vs LA Knight Grade: B-
Drew McIntyre to Sheamus
As is always the case with their matches, Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus in short order “this is great” chants.
Once Sheamus and Drew McIntyre hit a double Claymore-Brogue Kick, the predictable “tie” became inevitable. Gunther was in no mood as he intervened before the referee could register a count of 10 and attacked both men. Adam Pearce made the Triple Threat official for WrestleMania.
When Pearce made the announcement of the WrestleMania Triple Threat match, Michael Cole said “that’s going to be a blast!” making it sound like less than a firecracker.
Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus Grade: B+
Sami Zayn and Jey Uso face each other
The only downside to this segment was that it opened with the T-Mobile Arena shouting “what!” Ever the pro, Jey Uso rolled with it.
This storyline continues to be layered, especially with Sami Zayn bringing up that Jey Uso isn’t mad at Sami Zayn, he’s mad at himself. Because Sami did what Jey wanted to do.
Sami Zayn told Kevin Owens “I love you” in the parking lot, but Owens just drove off. Owens reappeared during this segment – in a hoodie, of course – and battled with The Usos. The two responded to loud “hug it out” chants by hugging it out. This should be the main event of WrestleMania Night 1.
