‘Friday Night Smackdown’ Review (Mar 1st 2024)
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 this week’s show!
Match #1: Tiffany Stratton def. Naomi
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Just days following their brutal Elimination Chamber Match, Tiffany Stratton and Naomi went toe-to-toe. Naomi looked to gain payback after Stratton eliminated her in Perth. Stratton was able to deftly rake the eyes before hitting the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, extending Tiffy Time for another week.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Dakota Kai & Bayley vs. The Kabuki Warriors
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Bayley and Dakota Kai were set to take on WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Kairi Sane to get retribution after being kicked out of Damage CTRL. However, just as Bayley was about to tag in Kai, her tag team partner dropped from the apron, allowing Asuka and Sane to brutalize the 2024 Royal Rumble Winner. Kai then aligned back with Damage CTRL, helping her comrades beat down her former friend.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Bron Breakker def. Xyon Quinn
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
At the sound of the bell, Bron Breakker hit a massive Spear on Xyon Quinn for an immediate victory.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: Carlito def. Santos Escobar
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After months of animosity, Carlito and Santos Esocbar squared off in a Street Fight. In front of a sold out Glendale, Arizona crowd, Carlito went for the weapons, including an apple, much to the delight of the WWE Universe. However, Escobar was soon able to gain the upper hand, using a trash can to inflict punishment onto Carlito. Carlito turned the tables, or rather, the trash can, onto Escobar, attacking him with a steel chair while Escobar was enveloped inside the trash can. Soon enough, mayhem erupted as Angel and Humberto of Legado del Fantasma and Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde of The LWO emerged from the backstage area to engage in a huge brawl. Just as Legado del Fantasma seemed to gain the upper hand, Rey Mysterio made a thunderous return! Mysterio landed a 619 on Escobar, and Carlito hit Escobar with a huge spinebuster through a table to win the Street Fight.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Randy Orton def. Austin Theory
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Logan Paul blasted him with brass knuckles during the Elimination Chamber Match, Randy Orton took on Paul’s associate Austin Theory, while Kevin Owens provided guest commentary. Despite Grayson Waller trying to interfere multiple times, The Viper combated the attempted cheating. Orton sent Waller and Theory tumbling onto the announce table with back suplexes. After an exciting back-and-forth, Orton stunned Theory with a huge RKO out of nowhere to win the match. Following the match, KO and Orton were left standing after a wild brawl with Waller and Theory.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Well this week’s Smackdown was good but not great, but better than last week’s episode at least. It’s nice to see the Rock/Bloodline stuff opening the show rather than taking up space where the main event should be – I guess we’ll get more and more of this stuff until the big blow-off at Wrestlemania. As for the rest of the show, I think the Bayley/Dakota split should’ve been on a bigger stage (aka actually at Wrestlemania) but seeing it happen here did at least provide some surprise. Plus, it was great to see Rey Mysterio return in this episode too!
