Friday Night Smackdown – Feb 3rd 2023: Results & Review
Welcome to this review of this past Friday’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown, right here on Nerdly. Let’s see what went down on the show!
Match #1: Braun Strowman & Ricochet def. Imperium
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In a crucial moment of the the SmackDown Tag Team Title Contenders Tournament Final, Ricochet goaded a disruptive Gunther to push him and got the Intercontinental Champion ejected from ringside. With The Ring General gone, Ricochet climbed onto of the shoulders of The Monster of All Monsters and delivered a swanton bomb onto a fallen Ludwig Kaiser to pick up the three-count and earn the right to challenge The Usos for the titles next Friday on SmackDown!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: SmackDown Women’s Title Match – Charlotte Flair def. Sonya Deville
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Poised to face Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania, Charlotte Flair once again retained her SmackDown Women’s Championship against the dangerous Sonya Deville when she made her challenger tap out to the excruciating Figure-Eight Leglock.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: The Viking Raiders def. The Brawling Brutes
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Despite the fact that Ridge Holland & Butch requested this matchup against The Viking Raiders to get retribution for their attack on Drew McIntyre and Sheamus, Erik & Ivar reigned supreme with the devastating Ragnarok on Butch. As The Viking Raiders celebrated after the bell, however, McIntyre and Sheamus suddenly attacked on the ramp and lit the fuse on a huge brawl between the two tandems.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Fatal 4-Way Match – Winner: Natalya
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
In an explosive Fatal 4-Way showdown, Natalya outlasted Shotzi, Shayna Baszler and Zelina Vega to pick up the victory when she knocked The Submission Magician out of the ring and made Vega tap out to the family Sharpshooter. As a result, The B.O.A.T. will enter the Elimination Chamber Match at the Feb. 18 Premium Live Event against Liv Morgan, Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, Nikki Cross and a competitor still to be determined. The winner of that match will challenge the Raw Women’s Champion at The Showcase of the Immortals.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Apart from the opening match this was, honestly, a pretty terrible episode of Smackdown. Mainly because the whole thing felt like it was put together just to get the audience to the final Roman/Sami promo. Which was a GREAT promo, really great, but when you can’t put on a great show to go along with that there’s got to be decisions made. Hey, at least we got an even number of men’s & women’s matches… so that’s something right? Right?!
