WWE SmackDown live results: Jade Cargill arrives

After having her WWE in-ring debut at the Royal Rumble, Jade Cargill is set to make her first appearance as a member of the SmackDown roster tonight.

During her Rumble appearance, Cargill eliminated Nia Jax and Becky Lynch, in addition to having a memorable staredown with Bianca Belair. Cargill had been a free agent in storyline until a video package last week revealed that she’s signed with SmackDown.

Belair is taking on Damage CTRL’s Dakota Kai in singles action tonight.

Also on tap for tonight’s show, the last two teams for the Undisputed Tag Team title ladder match at WrestleMania 40 will be determined. The Street Profits vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller and Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate vs. Angel & Humberto will decide the final participants for the ladder match.

Kevin Owens & Randy Orton vs. Pretty Deadly is also set. Owens and Orton are challenging for Logan Paul’s United States title in a triple threat match at WrestleMania.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– The show opened with a shot of Philadelphia and Corey Graves hyping up WrestleMania. Graves then set up a video package recapping what happened between The Rock and Cody Rhodes on Raw. 

– The Bloodline was shown walking backstage. Bianca Belair and Damage CTRL were shown arriving to the building earlier in the day as well. Randy Orton then made his entrance for the first match. 

Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) defeated Kevin Owens & Randy Orton [7:02]

This had angle alert written all over it, but good for Pretty Deadly being the ones to get the rub as a result of the shenanigans. I keep wondering about how they initially seemed to get a push once they got to the main roster, but then the injury happened, and they just kind of/sort of went away. Perhaps they’ll get some love coming out of WrestleMania. Anyway, the match wasn’t much. Seven minutes and two of those were lost to commercial. Does Orton or Owens turn at ‘Mania? It feels like Paul retains the U.S. title, doesn’t it? I’m looking forward to the match, but here’s hoping they find a way to heat this program up beyond “Logan Paul is a chicken-s%@ heel against two badasses” on next week’s go-home episode. 

Owens and Wilson started the match, but Orton tagged in quickly. Prince tagged in as well. Orton handled Prince with ease. Before long, Orton hit Wilson off the apron, but that led to the Pretty Deadly guys gaining control. Prince then suplexed Orton onto the commentary table and the show went to a commercial break. When the show returned, Orton was firing up and before long, Owens got the hot tag. Owens worked over Prince with a fury of moves before going to the top rope. Owens went for a Swanton, but Prince got his knees up. 

Meanwhile, on the outside, Wilson and Orton brawled. Orton cleaned off the commentary table, but Prince made the save for Wilson. As that happened, Logan Paul ran in and hit Owens with brass knuckles as the referee wasn’t looking. Prince ran in the ring as Owens was laid out and pinned him for the win. After the match, Orton saw the replay on the big screen and Orton looked for Paul, who apparently disappeared underneath the ring. 

Orton found Paul and pulled Paul out from under the ring. From there, Orton set up Paul on the commentary table, but Pretty Deadly ran back down for the save. That save didn’t last long as Orton and Owens hit a Stunner and RKO on Pretty Deadly respectively. Orton and Owens then chased Paul to the back and all the way out of the building. 

**********

– A video package featuring IYO SKY aired. She talked in Japanese about Bayley as subtitles ran. SKY called Bayley a narcissist and a hypocrite. SKY said she made Bayley relevant and Damage CTRL felt obligated to keep Bayley around until they outgrew Bayley. SKY said she did what needed to be done. SKY called Bayley an “embarrassment and a tragedy to this company.” Yikes. The SKY package wrapped and then Bayley appeared out of nowhere and the two brawled on the interview set until they were pulled apart by cameramen. 

The Jade Cargill segment

Not much to this at all. I wonder if even WWE is getting to the point where they’re like, “Hey, we signed this person. We made a big deal out of that. She worked the Rumble and looked good, but nothing else has happened. We need to make something happen.” So they threw her out there to cut a 45 second promo and on, the world goes. It feels more bizarre (and/or lazy, and/or confusing) by the minute. 

GM Nick Aldis stood in the ring, which was carpeted, and said he had only one goal – to make SmackDown the No. 1 show in all of pro wrestling and sports entertainment. Aldis said the acquisition of Jade Cargill has helped him do that. He then introduced Cargill, who came out smiling, slapping hands and signing autographs. Wade Barrett called Cargill “the best human being I have ever seen.” Aldis gave Cargill a microphone. Cargill said, “It’s about damn time.” She went on by saying WWE has the best female roster in the world, but the other women aren’t Jade Cargill or a “once in a lifetime superstar.” Cargill then said, “the storm has arrived” and that was the end of that. 

**********

– Kayla Braxton interviewed Damage CTRL backstage. Dakota Kai said Bayley will be embarrassed at WrestleMania. Kai mocked Bianca Belair for calling herself the EST of WWE. Kai left annoyed and the show went to a commercial break. 

– Nick Aldis was walking backstage and he ran into Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, who quickly went away. AJ Styles then ran into him asking Aldis if he was sure LA Knight wasn’t going to be there tonight. Aldis said he asked Knight not to be there and Styles said, “You should have told him.”

Austin Theory & Grayson Waller defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) to advance to the six-pack challenge at WrestleMania [6:21]

The Profits had all the shine here, but you had to know The Final Testament would somehow cost them their ticket to WrestleMania. That said, maybe this will lead to a six-man at ‘Mania between the factions, but something tells me that match might be relegated to the SmackDown before ‘Mania next week. Still, I can’t help but be reminded of how stupid WWE was to try and force-turn the Profits heels. It felt like almost immediately, everyone knew nobody was booing Lashley or the Profits and the booking minds rightfully changed pace. Here’s hoping something different is in store for both factions coming out of next weekend. 

Waller and Ford began the match and Waller gained the upper hand before tagging in Theory. The action spilled outside and Dawkins essentially shoulder-blocked Waller over the commentary table. The show then took a commercial break. Back from that break, the heels had control and worked over Dawkins inside the ring, until Dawkins caught Waller and hit a T-Bone Suplex. Ford received the hot tag while Theory tagged in and Ford cleaned house. 

Ford landed a standing moonsault for a two-count on Theory. Ford hit a Blockbuster on an elevated Theory, but Waller broke a pin attempt up. Theory tried a rolling move on Dawkins, but Dawkins caught him and hit a powerbomb. On the big screen, it showed that Karrion Kross beat up Bobby Lashley and B-Fab backstage and the Profits were distracted. Dawkins left ringside and Ford went for the frog-splash, but Theory got the knees up, rolled up Ford and got the win. 

After the match, AOP ran out and attacked the Profits. The rest of The Final Testament came out and helped. Lashley walked to the ring, but Lashley was ultimately outnumbered by the heels. Kross took Lashley down and yelled at Lashley, saying Lashley failed the Profits. 

**********

The Legado Del Fantasma/LWO segment

This was a nice, if not unexpected, segment and development. I can’t say I think they’re getting the full potential out of everyone involved, having them work a tag match, but I also think the match has potential to have some of the most heat of the night when it comes to singular matches (hey, Dom’s boos travel well, you know). That in mind, as I’ve said a few other times tonight, my curiosity is aimed at what happens to both factions after ‘Mania. It’s time for them both to move in different directions. 

Santos Escobar began by telling everyone he told them so. Escobar pointed to kids wearing Rey Mysterio masks in the crowd and mocked them. Escobar gloated for putting Rey on the shelf for months. The crowd gave him the “What?” treatment. Escobar said Mysterio used to be the greatest luchador of all time, but he isn’t anymore. Escobar said he outsmarted Rey because of one phone call – a phone call to Dirty Dom. On cue, Dom’s music hit and the crowd launched into their requisite boos. 

Dom got a microphone and the crowd booed the hell out of him. Escobar apologized for the crowd booing him. Escobar then said Dom was always right and the two hugged. Dom tried to talk, but the boos drowned him out. Dom yelled through them and said he will do everything in his power to make Rey’s life a living hell. Escobar started to talk and Rey’s music hit. The LWO walked out with Rey. 

The LWO and Legado had a stare down in the ring. Rey said it was a shame while speaking to Dominik. Rey said he believed he was done fighting Dom. The crowd broke out an LWO chant. Rey said the two men he despises the most is a divine intervention. Rey challenged Escobar and Dom to a tag match with a partner of Rey’s choosing at WrestleMania. Rey then introduced Dragon Lee as the newest member of the LWO and as his mystery partner for ‘Mania. Dragon Lee then made his entrance. Zelina Vega slapped Elektra Lopez and that started a brawl between the factions. The babyfaces stood tall to end the segment. 

**********

– Naomi and Belair were shown talking backstage. Naomi said she has Belair’s back tonight. Belair said she can’t be mad at Naomi. They hyped each other up and Naomi had “EST” in her hair. 

– The Judgment Day were shown talking backstage. The group seemed angry that Dom went out to the ring. Finn Balor asked Dom if there’s anything he needs to tell them and Finn seemed annoyed. Priest and Rhea seemed to be on different pages from each other and the show went back to the ring, where the tag match was joined in progress.

New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne) defeated Legado Del Fantasma (Berto & Angel) to advance to the six-pack challenge at WrestleMania [7:17 of TV time]

The right team went over in my opinion, but that’s just one guy’s opinion. In fact, I could be convinced that Bate and Dunne have a legit shot at walking out of ‘Mania with those tag team titles. And good on them (and WWE) for that. They’ve come up through the system and been involved with the company for more years than most probably even realize by now. In the meantime, Fantasma has an out for the brawl that happened before the match, which I think is smart. WWE needs credible tag teams and it feels like the company is building toward that very idea. The match, in terms of TV presentation, was discombobulated, considering how it was joined in progress and then a commercial break happened in the middle of it. So it goes. 

Berto and Angel had control once the match got on the screen. It wasn’t long until Bate and Dunne took control. Bate hit a splash on Berto and Angel on the outside and the show went back to a quick commercial. Back from that commercial, Bate got the hot tag to Dunne. Bate and Dunne landed stereo kicks on Berto. Angel got a blind tag and kicked Bate. The heels took control, complete with a power-bomb and a second-rope moonsault from Angel onto Bate for a two-count. 

With Bate on the top, Berto and Angel hit a double press slam, but Dunne broke up a pin attempt. Dunne then DDT’d Berto. Angel tried to slam Bate, but Bate got out of it, tagged Dunne and then New Catch Republic landed their finisher for the win. 

**********

– Paul Heyman spoke backstage. Heyman said Rock took out Cody on Monday by orders of the Tribal Chief. Jimmy Uso chimed in and said Jey won’t make it to WrestleMania. Solo Sikoa said, “Jey, I’ll see you next week,” and followed that up by saying by orders of the Tribal Chief, Sikoa will take out Jey. 

The AJ Styles/LA Knight segment

Despite WWE’s best efforts, it doesn’t appear that LA Knight has cooled off all that much since being drawn into this program with Styles. It’s a weird one. Styles has all the respect in the world as a great wrestler. Knight organically made himself one of the hottest names in all of pro wrestling. Something between the two feels secondary to everything else happening. I hope they overachieve at ‘Mania because I pull for both guys. At the very least, it should be fun to see how Knight’s Big Stage entrance goes. 

Styles started out by saying it’s been a little over a week … but then stopped talking. Styles blamed the crowd for Knight coming to his house and assaulting him. Styles said he will expose Knight for the “overachieving under-talented piece of trash that he is.” Styles said he knew Knight was in the building. Styles asked if Knight would walk down the aisle. Styles speculated that the cameraman was Knight and hit the cameraman. The cameraman was, in fact, not LA Knight. 

The crowd began an “LA Knight!” chant. Someone ran out of the crowd, but security stopped him. Turned out, the guy also was not LA Knight. Styles asked if everyone was done with the games. As Styles stood on the outside of the ring, Knight was dressed in a WWE security outfit, complete with wig, and Knight took it off to attack Styles. Knight grabbed a chair and went after Styles, but Styles retreated through the crowd. Knight grabbed a microphone and stood on the commentary table. Knight said Styles was trash and eventually did the catchphrase, which the crowd helped him complete. 

**********

– A Tiffany Stratton vignette aired. She said she vowed to always look hot and spare viewers “from the uggos,” which, let’s be honest, was a great line. 

– Next week, The KO Show will feature Randy Orton. Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez will happen. Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa is also on tap. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory will wrestle New Catch Republic. And, of course, the Andre The Giant battle royal will go down. 

Bianca Belair defeated Dakota Kai [9:12]

I can’t be the only one who looks at Dakota and hold my breath each time I see any part of any of her legs hit anything hard. That aside, this was a fine match and main event worthy, especially when it comes to establishing Jade Cargill as a major player in the women’s division. In fact, I’ll take that a step further and say even though this SmackDown didn’t look important on paper, it was a very nice change of pace. Cargill was featured in two segments, we tied up some loose ends for WrestleMania and the women worked the main event slot. Lots of good here, even if the episode wasn’t as flashy as other episodes have been in recent memory. I’m all about a Naomi/Jade/Bianca faction, but time will tell if WWE sticks with it. Here’s hoping.

Belair had control early. That control included a series of suplexes. The action spilled outside and Kai landed a knee to Belair’s head. The show then went to its final commercial break. The show returned and Belair suplexed Kai. Belair punched Kai until Kai grabbed Belair’s braid. It didn’t much matter because Belair hit a gut-buster and repeatedly threw Kai to the mat. Kai went for the braid again, but Belair landed a modified version of Jaded followed by a moonsault for a two-count. 

Belair lifted Kai in a Jaded manner again, but Kai rolled out of it and slammed Belair into the second turnbuckle. Kai toyed with Belair until Belair caught Kai. From there, the two traded elbow shots. Kai went for a running knee on the apron, but Belair moved and Kai’s knee ran into the ring post. The two brawled a little and Belair went to the second rope to hit a deadlift super-plex. Belair followed it up with a spear and KOD for the win. 

Instantly after the match, the Kabuki Warriors ran out and attacked Belair. Naomi’s music hit and Naomi ran to the ring and evened things out. It was an ugly brawl between everybody with the heels getting the upper hand … until Jade Cargill’s music hit and out walked Cargill. Cargill hit Jaded on Kairi Sane and pinned her as the crowd counted. Cargill stared at Asuka as Belair and Naomi flanked Cargill to end the show.