WWE Friday Night SmackDown Review: 03/10

Cody Rhodes Starts the Show, Sami Zayn VS ?: United States Championship Open Challenge

Cody Rhodes’ music hit to start this week’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown, but he didn’t really get to say anything before Paul Heyman and The Vision interrupted! This quickly led to Randy Orton evening the odds, but it was Heyman who tried his best to sow some seeds of descension, saying that the dynamic between Cody and Randy won’t last forever! This was as basic as basic could get, but Paul delivered his lines well!

Grade: C+

After Carmelo Hayes told The Miz that their “partnership” was over, Sami Zayn headed down to the ring to defend his United States Championship in another Open Challenge! Unsurprisingly, the call was answered by Melo, but he got dropped on the stage by The Miz, resulting in Aleister Black being the actual man who challenged Sami for his Title! What we then got was a good little match between two talented competitors, and there were some genuinely good near-falls! As expected, Sami scored the win with his Helluva Kick-Blue Thunder Bomb combo, but that was all thanks to the arrival/distraction of Damian Priest! After the match was over, Priest sent Black crashing through the announce table with a Broken Arrow!

Grade: B (Overall)

ZaRuca VS Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, Women’s Crown Jewel Championship Contract Signing, Rey Fenix and Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza

After Chelsea Green got annoyed with Sol Ruca and Zaria backstage, Green and Alba Fyre teamed up to take on ZaRuca! WWE clearly have plans for Sol Ruca; she’s walking around with two Titles whilst putting on standout performances on SmackDown, and Zaria is also very talented (too)! After Zaria dealt with Alba Fyre, Ruca nailed Chelsea with a Sol Snatcher to score the win, once again impressing Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair in the process!

Grade: C+

After Randy Orton told Cody Rhodes that he shouldn’t listen to Paul Heyman, Nick Aldis brought out Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton for the Women’s Crown Jewel Contract Signing! This was very simple as both Stephanie and Tiffany said that they’re the best Champion before they signed the contract, only for Giulia to attack Stratton as she was walking to the back! Kiana James then pitched for Stephanie Vaquer to join her team, but Tiffany then fought back, resulting in a Tag Team match being set up for next week!

Credit: WWE

Grade: C+

Je’Von Evans was talking to Nick Aldis backstage before Rey Fenix came up to him! Los Garza were clearly annoyed about all of this (for some reason), before Jacob Fatu cut a promo saying he’s going to destroy Drew McIntyre! We then got a tag match between Los Garza, Rey Fenix, and Je’Von Evans, and it was pretty good! Rey Fenix always has good matches; he’s so talented, whilst Je’Von is incredible, I won’t ever stop praising him! Angel and Berto are also pretty good, even though I’m confused as to where Santos Escobar has gone, but anyway, it was the good guys who earned the win following a Mexican Muscle Buster from Fenix!

Grade: B

Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton VS The Vision

Credit: Fightful

After Damian Priest shoved Kit Wilson into a wall, and Solo Sikoa said he had one more person left to bring into his Family Tree, it was Main Event time as Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton teamed up to take on The Vision! This was fine, I enjoy the work that Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed do together, but as usual with SmackDown recently, the Main Event never feels that enjoyable (sadly)! However, Breakker putting Rhodes through the barricade was a great spot, and after Seth “Freakin” Rollins appeared from out of nowhere to nail Orton with a Stomp, Bronson Reed delivered a Tsunami to get the win! After the match was over, however, Seth was adamant about getting back into the ring, and despite Paul Heyman’s warning, Rollins didn’t listen, eventually getting dropped with a Cross Rhodes to close the show! Just a week to go until Crown Jewel!

Grade: C+