WWE SmackDown live results: Saturday Night’s Main Event go-home show
Tonight’s SmackDown from Montreal, QC, will see the WWE Tag Titles on the line, as well as a new set of challengers for the Women’s Tag Titles to be determined.
The Wyatt Sicks will defend the WWE Tag Team Championships against The MFTS. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, Giulia and Kiana James, and Lash Legend and Nia Jax will meet in a three-way to determine the next challengers for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Four singles matches are also booked: Carmelo Hayes defending the US title in an open challenge, Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams, Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green, and Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano.
Additionally, Cody Rhodes will be interviewed, and AJ Styles will appear in a segment with GM Nick Aldis.
Tonight’s show is the final WWE event before tomorrow’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, which will also take place at Montreal’s Bell Centre.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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– Over a shot of Montreal’s Bell Centre, Michael Cole set the stage for tonight’s show, as the prerequisite shots of wrestlers arriving to the venue greeted us.
Sami Zayn’s Heroes’ Welcome
The hometown boy Sami Zayn received massive cheers as he arrived to a massive reaction from the Montreal crowd. Once he got into the ring, Zayn addressed the crowd in French before he said that he felt like he had all the momentum heading into tomorrow night, because he had a chance to become the Number One Contender. However, before Zayn could continue, the music of Trick Williams (and the chants of “Whoop That Trick”) interrupted.
With mic in hand, Williams said that he and Zayn were not on the same level. He called Zayn “Mr. Too Many Chances” and “Mr. Street Corner” as he said that he knew how to get the job done. Once Williams got into the ring, he said Zayn didn’t know how to get the job done, as he then reminded Zayn of his loss for the Undisputed WWE Title at Elimination Chamber 2023. Williams said that he was here to be the WWE Champion.
Zayn acknowledged that Williams was right about his loss and that the young upstart would be a future star. Zayn then went on to say that he and Williams were not alike, and that Williams would be lucky to be half as good as he was five years down the line. And if Williams didn’t like that, he could do something about it right now, according to Zayn.
Williams refused Zayn’s challenge as he had a lot of things on his mind, like facing Damian Priest in the main event later tonight. He told Zayn that they could take care of business tomorrow. At that point, Damian Priest’s theme interrupted, which brought out Williams’ aforementioned main event foe.
Priest said that he told Williams that he was the guy who did a lot of talking, just like what he was doing to Zayn right now. He then claimed Williams was afraid of Priest because of the way he didn’t talk to his face last week because of what he’d do to him. Priest said that if Williams didn’t want to say something, he could always “do something”.
Williams rebutted by asking if Priest thought he was afraid to pop off. He then told Priest to “watch this”, as he hit Zayn with the microphone. Priest punched away at Williams in the corner as Zayn approached and went after the mouthy Williams in the corner, much to Priest’s dismay. In the chaos, Williams shoved Priest into Zayn and skulked away.
Trick Williams continues to fit like a glove as part of SmackDown’s roster, and he helped make this segment entertaining, despite how long it was starting to feel. He just has that “it” factor and giving him the SNME spot tomorrow night is a huge test to see if he can excel in this high midcard/main event spot.
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– Randy Orton was seen watching what just transpired last night as he was interviewed by Cathy Kelley. Orton said that this year was the Year of the Viper and that tomorrow, he’d beat Zayn, Williams, and Priest, then fly halfway across the world to fight Drew McIntyre and beat him the only way he knew how… with the three most dangerous words in sports entertainment.
– On commentary, Michael Cole and Wade Barrett talked about what we’d see tonight, as we saw Earlier Today footage of Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov agreeing to an open challenge match for tonight. The Miz complained to Hayes that nobody truly hated each other. Hayes told Miz that Dragunov gave him more of an opportunity than he ever did.
U.S. Open Challenge Match: Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
We got underway as Dragunov countered an early First 48 attempt from Hayes, but the U.S. Champ eventually got the upper hand with chops to the chest of his challenger. Dragunov avoided the last chop and connected with the German suplex and kept the pressure on Hayes. Dragunov chopped down his foe and kept the hold on Hayes’ waist on strong. Hayes muscled his way out of Dragunov’s grip and avoided the Constantine Special before he tried for the springboard clothesline, but that was dodged. A double down between Hayes and Dragunov brought us a picture-in-picture interruption.
Back to the match and Dragunov floored Hayes in the corner with a running lariat. With both men on the apron, Dragunov battered Hayes against the steel ringpost before he went into the ring and suplexed his opponent into the ring. Dragunov applied a chinlock on Hayes, but the champ battled out of it and dropped a back suplex on him. Dragunov slammed Hayes and hit the senton on him for a near-fall.
Dragunov tried for a piledriver, but Hayes escaped and delivered the trademark springboard clothesline. One, two… not quite. Both men got back to their feet and gave each other their best shots, despite both being on spaghetti legs. Hayes caught Dragunov with a back elbow to the knose, which staggered his foe. Dragunov blasted back with a set of rattling chops to the chest of Hayes, followed by a boot to the face. Hayes bounced back with a boot, followed by his version of La Mistica for yet another near-fall.
Dragunov blocked a suplex attempt by Hayes and then hit him in the back of the head with hard elbows. Hayes tried for an answer, but he got blasted by the Constantine Special. The U.S. Champion somehow kicked out at two after that shot. With Hayes trapped in the corner, Dragunov looked to go Coast-to-Coast, but Hayes tried to block it with a First 48. Dragunov was on top of that and caught Hayes to slam him down for another near fall, as this match appeared to be going the distance. And so, we went to another break.
We returned from commercial with Hayes stuck on the top rope and Dragunov looking for a high-risk maneuver. The two battered one another with hard shots, but it was Hayes who appeared to have the upper hand. His attempt at an avalanche move was blocked by Dragunov, who struck his chest and then lifted him from the apron for a impressive deadlift superplex. The two foes rolled to the apron and again traded hard-hitting strikes to the chest. Dragunov lifted Hayes on his shoulders, but that got countered by the U.S. Champion. Hayes then hit a swinging suplex cutter right on the apron, which wiped both him and Dragunov out.
Hayes rolled Dragunov in the ring and headed to the top rope, but the challenger recovered and caught his opponent with a Death Valley Driver right into the corner. One, two, Hayes somehow kicked out! With Hayes still down and out, Dragunov headed to the top rope, but Miz tripped him up from behind,. This allowed Hayes to hit Dragunov with First 48 for the win.
Carmelo Hayes def. Ilja Dragunov via pinfall
I was enjoying this match a great deal, but of course, we had to have the interference finish. I get that they wanted to mirror how Dragunov initially beat Hayes for the U.S. Title thanks to unwanted interference, doesn’t necessarily mean I enjoyed things going that way. I was content with Hayes and Dragunov just going at it because those two bring the best out of one another.
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Cody Rhodes interview
As Michael Cole was getting set to interview Rhodes, he was interrupted by Jacob Fatu, who walked into the interview area. Fatu said that he only gave a damn about giving Drew McInytre his receipt for knocking his damn teeth down his throat. Rhodes angrily said that Fatu acting instead of thinking is what got him locked up in the first place. Fatu talked about how he almost got fired before he got to WWE and that the choices he made today got him standing to face Rhodes right now.
Rhodes said this could’ve been a WWE Title match if Fatu didn’t step into the situation last week. Fatu declared that they didn’t make ’em like him anymore, as he told Rhodes that he was very much in control.
I liked this, especially the slight hint of “Homelander” Cody Rhodes when he threw Fatu’s checkered past right in his face. This match should be interesting tomorrow, especially with how either man have a good reason to win.
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– Chelsea Green tried to recruit Jordynne Grace to her Secret Her-vice, to which Green “agreed” with, if Green stepped up to face Jade Cargill, and that would be up next.
– Roman Reigns was advertised to appear at the Royal Rumble next week, having officially declared for the titular match by way of video package.
Chelsea Green (w/ Alba Fyre & Jordynne Grace) vs. Jade Cargill
Green jumped into Cargill outside the ring as the latter was distracted by Grace’s presence, which gave her the early advantage as the bell sounded.
Cargiill powered out of Green’s attack as she slammed her down and stomped away on the former Women’s U.S. Champion on the corner. Cargill dropped Green on the back, followed by a fallaway slam. Cargill then hit another fallaway slam, which sent Green out of the ring. Cargill threw Green into the ring and talked some trash to Grace at ringside. Again, this gave Green an opening with a dropkick from the top, followed by the double knees to the back of Cargill’s neck.
Green tried for the Un-Pretty-Her, but that got reversed. She went for a rope-assisted pin, but Cargill kicked out. Cargill recovered and dropped Green with the powerbomb. After she warded off Fyre from the apron, Cargill told Grace to “watch this”, as she finished off Green with Jaded.
After the match, Grace said that Cargill’s match had no point other than showing her strength in non-title matches. Grace then declared for the women’s Royal Rumble and that she’d see Cargill on the other side. Grace then challenged Cargill to fight her right here, right now. The WWE Women’s Champion backed down from Grace’s challenge.
Jade Cargill def. Chelsea Green via pinfall
An okay match, just meant to build the Grace/Cargill feud. Not really much more I can say about it.
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WWE Tag Team Championships: The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) (w/ Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross) vs. The M.F.T.s (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) (w/ Tanga Loa, J.C. Mateo)
Sikoa told Talla Tonga to head to the back with the Wyatts’ lantern in tow before the match started.
Tama slammed Gacy with a scoop slam as Sikoa then tagged into the match and teed away on Gacy with a pair of headbutts, followed by a running elbow. Tama tagged back in, but this gave Gacy time to recover as Lumis entered and hit a nice tag move on Tama alongside Gacy. Lumis avoided an early Cutthroat forearm from Tama, as he then monkey flipped his opponent halfway across the ring. The Wyatt Sicks’ championship duo then went on the apron and barreled onto Sikoa and Tama with stereo cannonball sentons, which led to the commercial break.
We returned to our tag title match with Sikoa working over Lumis in the corner with a running hip charge that would make Umaga proud. Sikoa tried again for the hip charge, but Lumis dodged it and grounded Sikoa with a back suplex. As both men crawled to their corners, Gacy got the hot tag and unleashed a flurry of offense on legal man Tama. Gacy connected with the handspring clothesline after hitting a back suplex on Sikoa. Suplex-into-powerbomb by the Wyatt Sicks, but Sikoa broke up the pin in the nick of time.
Outside the ring, Gacy got thrown into the barricade by Sikoa, but paid for it with a cannonball flip by Lumis. In the ring, Tanga Loa tried to get involved, but Erick Rowan took him out and J.C. Mateo with a massive running crossbody. Meanwhile, Talla Tonga emerged from the back, with lantern in hand. Mateo provided some backup as Talla knocked the redwood down with a big boot. He then threw Rowan over the barricade. Uncle Howdy locked the Mandible Claw on Talla,, but Sikoa got him with the Samoan Spike.
With the ref’s back turned, Sikoa hit Lumis with the lantern, which allowed Tama to hit his not-quite-elevated Cutthroat for the pin and win.
The M.F.T.s def. The Wyatt Sicks via pinfall to win the WWE Tag Team Championships
This match was not that good, and this M.F.T.s/Wyatts feud has been a drag to follow since it started. That its consumed the tag titles and it means teams like Fraxiom, the Street Profits and the Motor City Machine Guns don’t get their time to shine as a result of the “M.F.T./Wyatt Vortex”, as some have coined it, just makes this all the more disappointing. There are good teams that could be making the SmackDown tag division a thriving one like how the U.S. Title scene has been aces in recent months, but the fact they’re not around to make that happen is one of the big disappointments for me in the three-hour era of SmackDown. Now that Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black is over and done with, I can safely say that M.F.T.s vs Wyatt Sicks is probably the worst story going on right now on SmackDown, and I don’t think trading titles and fighting over a lantern will generate any interest whatsoever.
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– Nick Aldis met with AJ Styles, as he tried to ask why Styles would put his career on the line against Gunther at the Royal Rumble. However, that wasn’t the only reason Aldis invited him to Montreal, as Shinsuke Nakamura met face to face with Styles. This led to Styles vs. Nakamura being booked for Saturday Night’s Main Event tomorrow.
Nathan Frazer (w/ Axiom) vs. Johnny Gargano (w/ Candice LeRae)
Frazer worked over Gargano’s arm to start off, but the former NXT Champion used a floatover to transition into a front facelock in response. Frazer acrobatically got ahead of it and hit an armdrag on Gargano, again focusing on the arm. Frazer picked up speed and hit a dropkick on Gargano to keep him grounded. In the corner, Frazer chopped at Gargano, as he then kicked him on the top rope. Gargano countered and drove Frazer’s face into the top turnbuckle before he pushed him out of the ring and right into the barricade, which took us to the break.
We returned from break as Frazer caught Gargano with an enzuigiri, followed by a springboard reverse DDT. Frazer began to build momentum with strikes to the face, followed by a springboard axe handle. Frazer maintained the attack with an impressive dodge as he then hit a running slingblade. Off the top rope, Frazer dropped down on Gargano with a frogsplash for the two-count. As Gargano rolled out of the ring, Frazer launched himself over the top rope with a splash. He then headed to the top rope and tried for the Phoenix Splash, but Gargano moved out of the way. The two traded kicks to each other’s faces, but Gargano blocked the springboard moonsault with a kick as he hit a modified fisherman’s driver for the near-fall.
Gargano headed to the top rope rather gingerly, which gave Frazer enough time to hit the superplex, followed by the swinging neckbreaker, but not enough to get the three. As Frazer headed to the top, Candice LeRae got on the apron and provided enough of a distraction for him to miss the splash. Outside the ring, Axiom snuck behind LeRae and put the mask on her, which caused her to blindly attack Gargano rather than Frazer. The roll-up and this match was over.
After the match, LeRae got the stolen mask back and ran off, much to Fraxiom’s dismay.
Nathan Frazer def. Johnny Gargano via pinfall
This was a fun little singles match, but considering my take on the SmackDown tag division above, I can’t help but wonder how better off everyone here would be vying for the tag titles. Granted, Gargano would have to find a partner seeing as his #DIY ally Tommaso Ciampa has announced he’s left WWE, but there are ways to work around that. Still, I enjoyted this match for what it was.
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Drew McIntyre speaks
The Undisputed WWE Champion headed to the ring, as proud as ever of his accomplishment.
McIntyre started off by saying “bonjour” to the Montreal crowd, apparenly exhausted his French. He talked about how it’s been a tough time for Montreal since it was 30 years since the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, but now they had a champion they could be proud of in Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre said he saw Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu’s “therapy session”, as he again insisted that he didn’t kick Fatu’s teeth down his throat, because he’d be bragging about it if he did. He then said that if Rhodes survived Fatu tomorrow, he’d still have to go to the back of the line as there’d be no rematch for the title. He then teed up the four men who would face each other tomorrow for a shot at his title. McIntyre talked about how Sami Zayn might have a whole country behind him as the fans chanted “Ole Ole Ole” loudly. McIntyre said that Zayn was so concerned about winning the big one and disappointing his son, as he then said that the aforementioned son was disappointed when he opened his eyes because Sami Zayn was his dad.
He then said whoever wins the fatal four-way tomorrow will need all the luck when they face him next week at the Royal Rumble.
Just McIntyre speaking his mind, not really much else to say here. Hopefully they give him something more to work with in the near future.
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– Kit Wilson was interviewed about his attack on Matt Cardona last week. He said that someone had to clean up the “toxic masculinity” that was permeating the locker room, and Cardona was the head of it. This brought Cardona himself to face down Wilson, who said that Cardona had no accountability and he personified toxic masculinity. Cardona told Wilson that they could settle this in the ring.
Women’s Tag Team #1 Contender’s Match: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Giulia & Kiana James vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend
Legend was getting into it with Giulia as the bell rang, as Flair and Bliss cleared the ring. Once things settled down, James had Legend in the corner with a running shoulder charge. Flair hit her signature clothesline on James as she then sent James out of the ring. The tag to Bliss, who headed up top and flew right into everyone outside the ring, which was the cue for a break in the action.
We returned from break as Legend and Giulia briefly worked together against Flair, but couldn’t get any sort of advantage. Giulia was literally booted out of the ring by Flair, but Legend knocked Flair down with a clothesline. On the apron, Flair recovered and kicked Jax down, as she then hit the crossbody on Legend. Giulia re-entered the fray and took it to both Flair and Legend with kicks for both. James entered the match as Flair hit her and Legend with chops-a-plenty. James knocked down Flair from behind and tried for a suplex, but couldn’t lift her. Legend came in for the assist for the attempted double suplex, but Flair reversed that into a double DDT.
Just as Flair looked like she’d have the tag on Bliss, Giulia pulled down the latter from the apron and threw her einto the barricade. In the ring, Jax was the legal woman for her team as she lifted Flair on her shoulders. James got below Jax and turned the attempted avalanche Samoan Drop into a double powebomb! One, two…. NO!
James started getting into Flair’s face, but she got sent into the corner by Bliss, which allowed Giulia to blind tag. Meanwhile, Bliss entered the match with the hot tag as she looked strong against both Giulia and Bliss. Samoan Drop by Jax was turned into a DDT by Bliss, but that wasn’t enough to put the match away. Off the top rope, Giulia hit Jax with the missile dropkick as Bliss caught her in Sister Abigail position. Legend broke it up with a pump kick to Bliss to break it up. Jax recovered and hit a pop-up headbutt Giulia, as James tagged in and hit her with the 401K. Legend jettisoned Giulia out of the ring as she caught Bliss and hit the Lash Extension. Legend was speared before pin by Flair, but James snuck into the ring and pinned Bliss to secure the No. 1 Contenders’ spot for her and Giulia.
Giulia & Kiana James def. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax & Lash Legend via pinfall
That was a bit rough, I have to say. It looked like nobody really was able to gel that well, but I will say Giulia & Kiana vs. RHIYO should make for an interesting and fun women’s tag title match if that’s what ends up being the match.
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– Sami Zayn cleared the air that he had no problem with Damian Priest, but Trick Williams was the one he had a problem with. Zayn volunteered to watch Priest’s back, but was rejected as he was told by Priest that he had a bad habit of getting into other people’s business. Zayn’s attention on something we couldn’t see. As Priest left, Zayn walked forward and saw Drew McIntyre. Without saying a word, Zayn slapped McIntyre in the face in response to the words about his son that were said earlier.
– AJ Styles was approached by Cody Rhodes backstage, who wished him the best of luck in his match against unther. He entered his bus, which was defaced with a picture of Drew McIntyre with the WWE Title.
Card for Saturday Night’s Main Event
- Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatu
- AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Randy Orton vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn
- Women’s Tag Team Championship: RHIYO (Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY) vs. The Judgment Day (Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez)
– Giulia and Kiana James were interviewed about their victory and a chance to become the Women’s Tag Champions. James outlined that it was part of a plan that would see Giulia become the triple champion as she’d be the Women’s U.S. Champion, one-half of the Women’s Tag Champ, and a World Champion when she wins the Royal Rumble.
Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams
Williams and Priest locked it up to start this one as Williams found himself in a headlock early on. Clothesline by Priest was followed by an armbar submission hold. Williams got away from it and struck Priest in the corner as he had the upper hand now. Williams struck Priest in the chest with a chop, but couldn’t throw him. After some effort, Williams delivered the vertical suplex on Priest for a near-fall. Williams connected with the leaping neckbreaker on Priest, but he again couldn’t get the three.
Meanwhile, Sami Zayn emerged from the stage and stared down Williams. Priest rose up from the corner and struck Williams repeatedly before he shared some harsh words to Zayn for being here. Priest tried to go Old School, but Williams tripped him up and sent him out of the ring. Williams took over by throwing Priest into the steel steps and the barricade back and forth, as our main event headed to break.
We returned from the commercial break as Priest and Williams traded fists, but it was the former World Heavyweight Champion who had the upper hand in the exchange. Williams hit his patented side heel kick to stop Priest’s momentum, but only got a two-count out of it. Williams lifted Priest on his shoulders, but couldn’t capitalize. Priest looked like he had South of Heaven set up, but Williams escaped. Williams used a capoeira kick, as he and Priest then knocked each other down with simultaenous 360 pump kicks that hit right on the button.
Outside the ring, Williams gained the upper hand with a flapjack onto the announce table as he then threw Priest onto Zayn at ringside. As the action entered the ring, Zayn charged at Williams and attacked him, which caused the referee to call for a DQ.
Zayn attacked Williams and left him stunned in the corner. Priest stepped up to Zayn, upset that he got involved in the match, but he was attacked by Zayn. Priest knocked Zayn with a superkick, as Williams took him out with the Trickshot knee. Williams appeared to stand tall once again, but he didn’t account for Randy Orton hitting him with the RKO out of nowhere.
Orton posed on the turnbuckles, as Zayn recovered and stared him down. The two exchanged words, but Orton dropped Zayn with the RKO to end tonight’s SmackDown.
Trick Williams def. Damian Priest via disqualification
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Not exactly as stellar as the previous week’s SmackDown episodes were, but still a good, fun show from start to finish. I didn’t exactly fall in love with some of the booking choices, like the tag titles situation as I talked about above and the U.S. Title match’s finish, which hurt the show a bit. Of course, the strengths were there, like the aforementioned U.S. Title match being solid up to the interference finish, a fun Gargano vs. Axiom match, Giulia finally getting a big championship opportunity and the Cody/Fatu backstage segment, which helped carry a lot of the show for me.
WWE SmackDown recapper. Former NXT PLE/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/fill-in recapper.