WWE SmackDown live results: Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley face-to-face
SmackDown’s road to WrestleMania picks up on tonight’s show from the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair is set to defend her title against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39. Tonight, Flair and Ripley meet face-to-face for the first time since their title match was made official.
Rey Mysterio and Karrion Kross continue their feud when they go one-on-one. Dominik Mysterio announced on Monday’s Raw that he’s joining Ripley on SmackDown tonight since his father has a match.
Bray Wyatt’s Firefly Fun House makes its return tonight. Last week, Wyatt — with Uncle Howdy by his side — challenged the winner of Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar from Elimination Chamber. Lashley defeated Lesnar by disqualification after Lesnar used a low blow while trapped in the Hurt Lock.
Also, Braun Strowman, Ricochet & Madcap Moss team up to take on Imperium in a six-man tag team match. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– A video package recapped Roman Reigns defeating Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber. It highlighted Jey and Jimmy Uso’s involvement and Kevin Owens’s return. It also recapped the Zayn and Owens angle from Monday’s Raw.
– Kayla Braxton spoke with Jimmy Uso when he arrived at the building. He hasn’t heard from Jey but left a message to meet him in the ring later tonight. Jimmy wants Jey to get whatever he needs to off his chest.
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Imperium (Gunther, Giovanni Vinci, & Ludwig Kaiser) defeated Braun Strowman, Ricochet, & Madcap Moss) (10:48)
Solid opener and a fun six-man tag.
On commentary, Wade Barrett and Michael Cole discussed Emma and Moss blaming the fans for his loss last week.
Ricochet had the early advantage for his team with a standing shooting star press. Vinci prevented a tag and rocked Ricochet with a clothesline. The heels isolated Ricochet on their side of the ring. Ricochet tried to fight back. Kaiser caught Ricochet in the throat and slapped Strowman across the face. An enraged Strowman tried to get in the ring, distracting the referee and allowing Imperium to beat down Ricochet.
Back from the break, Kaiser slowed the pace with an arm bar. Ricochet attempted to escape with forearm shots. Ricochet fired back with a knee. Kaiser absorbed the shot and caught Ricochet with a clothesline. Gunther tagged in and backed Ricochet against the ropes.
Drew McIntyre slowly walked up the aisle to a loud reaction. Gunther looked over at McIntyre but refocused on Ricochet. Strowman got the hot tag and ran wild. Strowman absorbed a chop. Gunther went after the knee, but Strowman broke free.
Moss made a blind tag and briefly ran wild. Gunther quickly took over with a hard chop, vicious clothesline, and brutal powerbomb for the win.
After the match, McIntyre slowly took off his jacket and teased jumping into the ring. Instead, The Viking Raiders attacked McIntyre. Sheamus ran out for the save. Strowman ran over the Raiders, and Ricochet wiped out The Raiders with a huge dive.
McIntyre, Sheamus, Ricochet, and Strowman celebrated without Moss after the match.
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– Kayla Braxton spoke with Rey Mysterio. Mysterio promised to put an end to Karrion Kross when Santos Escobar approached. He discussed his respect for Mysterio.
Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley approached. Dominik mocked Escobar for respecting his father. Escobar threatened to teach Dominik to respect his father. Ripley got in Escobar’s face and left. Escobar told Mysterio not to worry about Dominik. Mysterio noted it’s his son, he couldn’t help it. Escobar was a total babyface.
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– Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa discussed Jey Uso’s actions at Elimination Chamber in the locker room. Paul Heyman spoke up and felt Sikoa should stay in the back when Jimmy confronts Jey. Jimmy agreed.
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LA Knight-New Day segment.
They talked about nothing forever to set up the next match. Basically, Knight wants to go to WrestleMania, but he hasn’t earned it yet.
LA Knight mocked everyone wanting to have a WrestleMania moment. He doesn’t want a moment. Knight wants to make money; the only way to do that is to go to WrestleMania. He promised to give WrestleMania a LA Knight moment.
The New Day interrupted and walked down the aisle. Kofi Kingston mocked Knight for being on the main roster for two months and wanting a WrestleMania moment already. Knight called them the Nerd Day. Xavier Woods noted WrestleMania moments are not handed out. Apparently, they’re earned. Woods praised Kingston for winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
Knight mocked Kofimania, upsetting Kingston. Eventually, Kingston challenged Knight to a match.
Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods) defeated LA Knight (16:13)
They got sixteen minutes, so they worked at a slow pace. The match dragged in the middle with a dead crowd. It picked up in the last few minutes.
The match started right as they went to a break. The first three minutes took place during the break.
Kingston fought back and hit a second rope splash to an upright Knight. Kingston and Woods danced at ringside. Kingston caught Knight with a boot to the face and a flying crossbody for a two-count.
Kingston slowed the pace down, working over Knight’s arm. Knight regained control with a slam for a near fall. Kingston blocked a neck breaker and hit a splash in the corner. Knight blocked a third splash, dropping Kingston on the top turnbuckle as they went to a break.
During the break, Knight grabbed Kingston by his head, throwing him into the turnbuckle. Knight got in Woods’s face and dared Woods to hit him. Knight hit a slingshot shoulder tackle for a near fall. Kingston recovered and hit boom drop to take over. He set up for trouble in paradise, but Knight avoided it.
Knight hit a back suplex into a uranage for a near fall. Knight took out Woods, who kept playing his trombone. Kingston wiped out Knight with a dive. Knight leaped onto the top turnbuckle; Woods played the trombone in Knight’s face. The distraction allowed Kingston to trip up Knight and hit trouble in paradise for the win.
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The match Flo of the Week recapped the Rhea Ripley-Charlotte Flair feud.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley Face-to-Face
The segment was actually between Charlotte Flair and Dominik Mysterio. They played off each other well in an effective segment.
Charlotte Flair entered the ring and pointed at the WrestleMania sign. Flair called out Ripley, but she didn’t respond. Flair assumes Ripley remembers what happened three years ago.
Dominik Mysterio interrupted instead. He thinks Flair is jealous and notes Ripley’s on fire. Dominik praised Ripley for being so strong. She even hurts his back when they hug. Flair mentioned she has a real Latino man with a thicker accent sitting at home.
Dominik mentioned they both have famous fathers. He claimed his father messed him up. When Ripley beats Flair at WrestleMania, Flair will prove to her father that she’s not good enough. Flair noted she loves her father, unlike Dominik. Flair said he’d kick Dominik’s butt if her father were there. Instead, Charlotte will do it herself.
Ripley finally came out and entered the ring. She got in Flair’s face, but Ripley and Dominik walked away.
Barrett was hilarious, assuming that Dominik and Charlotte were flirting with each other.
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Shayna Baszler (w/Ronda Rousey) defeated Natalya (w/Tegan Nox) (2:54)
The crowd was dead and didn’t seem to care. It was fine for 2:54.
Earlier today, Adam Pearce cleared Natalya when Tegan Nox agreed to have her back.
Baszler teased the running knee that broke Natalya’s nose a few months ago. Natalya avoided with a roll-up and set up for the sharpshooter. Baszler rolled out of the ring, but Natalya caught her with a sliding dropkick.
Rousey caused a distraction, allowing Baszler to hit a running knee. She followed up with the arm bar for the win.
After the match, Rousey and Baszler jumped Natalya until Nox made the save. Rousey challenged Nox to a match next week.
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The Firefly Funhouse
The opening music started but cut off quickly. Wyatt watched himself challenging the winner to Lashley vs. Lesnar. Wyatt did a fake news segment, Uncle Howdy did the weather, and Wyatt hosted a fake game show.
Coming up next on Firefly Funhouse: can you keep a secret? Wyatt appeared wearing a scary mask and asked if you could keep a secret.
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-In the locker room, Jimmy Uso and Sola Sikoa continued to talk about their brother. Paul Heyman got a text from Roman Reigns. He’s showing up on SmackDown next week to take care of Jey Uso if Jimmy doesn’t handle it tonight.
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Karrion Kross (w/Scarlet) defeated Rey Mysterio (8:48)
There wasn’t much to the match. Mysterio was good, but Kross’ offense died with the crowd. The real story was the angle between Rey and Dominik after the match.
Mysterio was on fire early, sending Kross to ringside. He followed with a huge dive as they went to break.
Kross took over during the break. He tried to powerbomb Mysterio. Instead, Mysterio reversed with a hurricanrana. Kross quickly regained control when he tossed Mysterio to ringside. Kross slowed the pace, dropping Mysterio on his knee.
Mysterio and Kross fought on the top rope. Mysterio got the better of Kross and hit a hurricanrana for a close near fall. Mysterio set up for the 619 when Scarlet climbed on the ropes. Mysterio hit the ropes, and Scarlet fell into the ring. With the referee distracted, Dominik Mysterio ran out and blocked the 619 on Kross. Mysterio questioned his son but walked away from Dominik, allowing Kross to blindside him. Kross locked on the Kross jacket for the win.
After the match, Dominik taunted Rey, daring his father to hit him. Rey tried to walk away, but Dominik pushed him. Rey got in Dominik’s face to a huge pop. The fans broke into a loud “Do it” chant. Rey chose not to hit his son and walked away to boos.
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Jimmy Uso Calls Out Jey Uso/Sami Zayn Segment
Another great Usos-Sami Zayn angle. Zayn and Jimmy were outstanding in their roles, arguing. They added more mystery to the angle.
Jimmy Uso made his way to the ring. He spoke directly to the camera addressing his brother, Jey and assumed he was watching somewhere. Jimmy noted he’s always there for his brother but needs him now. Jimmy knows there are cracks in the Bloodline, but he needs to talk to him.
Sami Zayn showed up to a big response. Zayn wants to talk to Jey too. But Zayn’s here to talk to Jimmy. He pointed out that Jimmy always had his back. Zayn was devastated when Jimmy attacked him at the Royal Rumble without hesitation.
The fans broke into a loud “Sami” chant. Jimmy called Sami selfish and blamed Zayn for turning on The Bloodline. Jimmy noted that family doesn’t betray each other. Sami noted Roman Reigns made him prove himself every week. He pointed out that Reigns manipulates The Usos.
Jey Uso appeared in the crowd to a big reaction. Jimmy took advantage and attacked Sami. Zayn fought back and hit the helluva kick when Jimmy glanced at Jey. The fans broke into a loud “Sami” chant. Jey walked towards the ring, but Solo Sikoa ran out. Zayn ran off into the crowd in the opposite direction. Jey and Sami shared a look.
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Next week: Roman Reigns Returns. Rhea Ripley goes one-on-one with Liv Morgan. Plus, Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler take on Natalya & Tegan Nox.
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