WWE SmackDown live results: Cody Rhodes vs. Ludwig Kaiser
With the road to WrestleMania nearing its destination, tonight’s SmackDown takes place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Dominik Mysterio promises to confront the entire Mysterio family to provoke his father Rey into accepting his WrestleMania 39 challenge. Dominik has tried different approaches to goad his father into a fight, including mocking Rey’s upcoming WWE Hall of Fame induction. However, Rey refuses to wrestle Dominik under any circumstance.
Rey Mysterio is also set for action when he takes on LA Knight tonight.
Ahead of challenging for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes goes one-on-one with Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser. Rhodes challenged Kaiser on The SmackDown LowDown after Kaiser claimed Gunther should have won the Royal Rumble.
Gunther will appear tonight for a contract signing. Gunther, Drew McIntyre, and Sheamus will make their triple threat Intercontinental title match official for WrestleMania.
We’ll also get a KO Show segment with the reunited Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn tonight. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– A video package recapped last week’s Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens reuniting angle. On Raw, Owens, and Zayn challenged The Usos for a title shot.
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“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes defeated Ludwig Kaiser (w/Giovanni Vinci) (16:27)
Rhodes beat Kaiser in a terrific opener. They built the match around Rhodes risking an injury before WrestleMania. They had a lot of time to tell a good story and work at a fast pace with a hot crowd.
The fans broke into a loud “Cody” chant at the bell. After a lock-up, Kaiser backed Rhodes into the corner. Rhodes recovered and picked up Kaiser into a delayed vertical suplex. He held him up for a while before dropping Kaiser face-first. That’s when Paul Heyman walked to ringside as they went to a break.
During the break, Rhodes hit a superplex. Kaiser recovered, targeting Rhodes’s leg. Rhodes fired up and beat Kaiser against the commentary table. Kaiser regained control, choking Rhodes on the middle rope. Vinci caught Rhodes with a cheap shot, allowing Kaiser to score a two-count.
Kaiser caught Rhodes with a sliding uppercut. Rhodes took back over with a disaster kick. Rhodes set up for the pedigree when Solo Sikoa walked out, distracting Rhodes. Kaiser took advantage with a chop block.
Rhodes and Kaiser collided in the middle of the ring. They struggled to their feet and traded shots. Rhodes got the better of Kaiser with a power slam for a near fall. Vinci threw in his jacket, distracting the referee, allowing Imperium to work together. The commentators completely missed the spot.
Rhodes went for the crossroads, but Kaiser countered with a roll-up for a near fall. Rhodes fought back with a Cody cutter and the crossroads for the win.
After the match, Heyman and Sikoa jumped on the apron. Heyman got into the ring, apologizing to Rhodes for Samantha Irvin’s announcement of his win. Heyman made the announcement again but praised Roman Reigns.
Heyman noted Rhodes as one bump in the road before taking on Reigns, Solo Sikoa. If he can somehow get passed Sikoa on Monday’s Raw, Rhodes takes on Reigns at WrestleMania. Heyman announced that Reigns would be on SmackDown next week to meet Rhodes face-to-face.
Rhodes was mad that Heyman interrupted the fans singing his song. He reminded Sikoa that he’s not ready for Cody. The fans broke into a loud “He’s not ready” chant. Rhodes promised that Reigns is going to learn that he’s not ready for Cody, either.
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Michael Cole announced John Cena vs. Austin Theory is the first match of WrestleMania weekend on Saturday, April 1st.
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The Match Flo of the Week recapped the Charlotte Flair-Rhea Ripley angle from last week.
Charlotte Flair Segment
Flair came to the ring to discuss her match with Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania next weekend. Flair mentions she’s a 14-time world champion. She didn’t build her career on fear, insecurities, or nepotism. She’s heard that line many times, but the business isn’t built on fear. It’s built on respect.
Flair admitted that she has insecurities. However, she doesn’t fear Ripley, but she respects her. She respected Nikki, Brie, Sasha, Bayley, Trish, Asuka, and Ronda, but she didn’t fear them.
The fans started chanting “What?” at Flair. It’s safe to say that Flair didn’t appreciate that chant. She was furious and noted this was important to her. Flair mentioned nepotism and her father. Flair will never apologize for continuing her family’s great legacy. It doesn’t matter if you like it or don’t, because you’ll learn to love it. She ended by saying diamonds are forever, and so is Charlotte Flair.
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LA Knight defeated Rey Mysterio (11:01)
Knight beat Rey in a short, fun match. The real story was the hot angle after the match. Dominik pushed Rey over the edge when he yelled at his mother and sister at ringside. The fans gave the angle a giant reaction, especially when Rey finally hit Dominik. Rey accepted Dominik’s WrestleMania challenge, making the match official.
Rey Mysterio hugged his wife and daughter, Aalyah, at ringside during his entrance.
They showed the popular Las Vegas act Piff the Magic Dragon at ringside.
Knight got another good reaction. Mysterio used his speed early to avoid Knight. He caught Knight with a drop kick and ten punches in the corner. Knight tossed Mysterio in the air, slamming him down to gain control. He followed with a jumping neck breaker for a near fall.
The fans broke into a “Rey Mysterio” chant. That morphed into dueling “Rey Mysterio” and “LA Knight” chants. Mysterio recovered and hit Knight with a sliding dropkick. He then hit a baseball slide into a splash on the floor.
In the ring, Mysterio set up for a moonsault when Dominik Mysterio’s music hit. Dominik walked to ringside, distracting Rey. Knight took advantage and knocked Rey off the top rope as they went to a break. They repeated the exact same spot from the Cody-Kaiser match when Solo Sikoa distracted Rhodes earlier.
Knight was firmly in control as he rocked Rey with a boot to the face. Knight missed an elbow, allowing Rey to hit a springboard bulldog. He followed with a seated senton and a springboard crossbody for a near fall. Knight hit a running power slam but dropped Mysterio behind him. The fans broke into a loud “619” chant.
Rey hit a DDT and set up for the 619. Knight countered. Rey went for the 619 on the other side of the ring. Dominik tripped up Rey, allowing Knight to schoolboy him for the win.
After the match, Dominik got into the ring and demanded Rey accept his WrestleMania challenge. Rey refused again and left the ring. walking up the aisle. Dominik turned his attention to his mother and sister at ringside. He got in his mother’s face and blamed her for Rey being a deadbeat dad. Dominik added that his mother’s a deadbeat mother.
Aalyah heard enough and got in Dominik’s face. He called his sister stupid, angering his mother. Dominik got in his mother’s face again and shouted at her to shut up. Rey marched back to ringside and hit Dominik to a gigantic pop. Rey yelled at Dominik that he made him hit him. He didn’t want to hit him, but Dominik should never yell at his mother. The fans popped again. Rey finally accepted Dominik’s challenge to another massive pop. Awesome angle. The fans even broke into a “Yes” chant.
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Cole and Wade Barrett discussed Andy Kaufman’s Hall of Fame induction.
WrestleMania Showcase Qualifying Match: Natalya & Shotzi defeated Lacey Evans & Xia Li (3:37)
Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan watched the match from ringside.
Evans and Li isolated Shotzi on their side of the ring. Evans knocked Natalya off the apron. Of course, Shotzi made a comeback but had nobody to tag. The heels quickly regained control.
Shotzi made her own comeback against both heels. Evans accidentally hit the woman’s right on her own partner Li. Shotzi took Evans out with a suicide dive. Natalya and Shotzi hit the Hart Attack on Li. Natalya then locked the sharpshooter for the win. Natalya and Shotzi qualify for the women’s four-way at WrestleMania.
After the match, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler came to ringside. Baszler mocked both teams and offered to fight them right now. Rousey stopped Baszler and feels they did enough in Vegas. Vegas doesn’t deserve anything else from them. Baszler announced they’re in the four-way showcase match at WrestleMania 39.
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WrestleMania 39 Intercontinental Title Match Contract Signing
Drew McIntyre made his entrance before the break. Back from the break, Adam Pearce introduced the participants. Sheamus didn’t wait and entered with Ridge Holland and Butch. Sheamus discussed how McIntyre betrayed him and challenged Gunther for a title shot.
McIntyre noted they beat the hell out of each other last week. They should have gone to the bar after, but Sheamus is too sensitive. McIntyre noted he knows he can beat Gunther. He also knows that Sheamus can’t beat Gunther.
Before they could fight, Pearce convinced them to sign the contract. That’s when Gunther’s music hit. He marched to the ring and got in Pearce’s face. He wanted Pearce to justify making him defend his title against McIntyre and Sheamus. Gunther signed the contract. He promised to beat McIntyre, Sheamus, Holland, and even Butch. Butch was fired up the moment he came to ringside. He lost his cool and jumped over the table onto Gunther. Sheamus and Holland pulled Butch off, as Gunther yelled at Pearce.
Intercontinental Champion Gunther defeated Butch (w/Sheamus & Ridge Holland) (9:33)
Gunther beat Butch in an excellent hard-hitting TV match, although It as wasn’t good as their previous encounters.
The match started during the break. Gunther took Butch’s head off with a brutal kick. Gunther followed with a rough slam and a sickening chop. Butch tried fighting back, but Gunther hit a suplex. Butch rocked Gunther with forearm shots. Gunther absorbed the shots and destroyed Butch with a hard chop.
Butch went for an arm bar. Gunther reversed into a Boston crab, transitioning into the cross-face. Butch tried to attack Gunther’s fingers. Gunther responded with a chop. Butch fought back with an enziguri. Gunther recovered and destroyed Butch with another chop. He placed Butch on the corner and stepped on his head. Butch fell to ringside, hitting the stairs.
Back from the break, Gunther went for the ten beats of the bodhran, but Butch fought back. Gunther locked on a sleeper. Butch broke free with a kick to the back. The fans broke into a brief and faint “Bruiserweight” chant.
Butch missed a moonsault, landing on his feet. Gunther rocked Butch with a chop, sending him to the announce table. McIntyre, Sheamus, and Gunther faced off at ringside. Gunther avoided Butch, who collided with McIntyre.
A brawl broke out a ringside. McIntyre and Sheamus traded shots. Gunther took advantage of the distraction to hit the last symphony on Butch for the win.
After the match, Gunther and Sheamus faced off. McIntyre flew in and hit the claymore on Gunther. Cole wondered if the claymore was meant for Sheamus.
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– In the back, The Street Profits discussed the four-way showcase match at WrestleMania. They made fun of Ricochet and Braun Strowman for being bald. Ricochet and Strowman approched. Both teams promised to win at WrestleMania.
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The KO Show with Sami Zayn
Another hot angle to end SmackDown featuring Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn heading into WrestleMania next week.
Kevin Owens entered first to a big pop. He then introduced his friend and brother, Sami Zayn. Zayn got a giant reaction with a loud “Sami” chant. Owens asked Zayn if he did the introduction the way he wanted. Owens claimed Zayn wanted his own entrance so he could get a separate pop.
Zayn didn’t want to talk about the backstage stuff. Instead, Zayn wants to talk about their friendship and knowing each other all these years. Zayn’s excited because they have the chance to beat The Usos at WrestleMania for the titles. Owens has a present for Zayn and pulled out this year’s “KO-Mania” t-shirt. Owens called Zayn the MVP of the WWE, noting he carried the company.
However, this year isn’t about “KO-Mania.” Owens revealed that “KO-Mania” is on the back of the shirt. Instead, the front of the t-shirt has “Wrestle-Zayn-ia.” The t-shirt overjoyed Zayn. Zayn wanted another hug. Owens claimed Zayn only gets one hug a year. Owens finally gave in when The Usos jumped Zayn and Owens. The Usos beat down Owens and Zayn to a ton of heat to end SmackDown.
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Next Week: WrestleMania SmackDown features Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes meeting face-to-face. Also, Drew McIntyre & Sheamus take on Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci.
Plus, The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal returns with participants: Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Xavier Woods, Baron Corbin, Karrion Kross, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, Madcap Moss, Elias, Rick Boogs, Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler, The Brawling Brutes, Dexter Lumis, Santos Escobar, Hit Row, Los Lotharios, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Maximum Male Models, and Legado Del Fantasma.
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