WWE SmackDown live results: The Rock & Roman Reigns return

For the first time since they appeared at the WrestleMania 40 press conference, The Rock and Roman Reigns are set to return to SmackDown, live from Salt Lake City, Utah tonight.

At last Thursday’s press conference, The Rock slapped Cody Rhodes after Rhodes chose Reigns as his opponent at WrestleMania and spoke about the Bloodline’s family history. The Rock then told Triple H to “fix it” as he walked out of the building alongside Reigns. 

Four Elimination Chamber qualifying matches are also on tap for tonight, including Logan Paul making his SmackDown in-ring debut against The Miz. Joining them on the men’s side, Kevin Owens will battle Dominik Mysterio.

On the women’s side, Zelina Vega goes one-on-one with Tiffany Stratton. Naomi will wrestle Alba Fyre in a Chamber qualifying bout as well.

Fyre is replacing Shotzi in the match after Shotzi was injured Tuesday night during an NXT taping.

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

**********

– Corey Graves welcomed everyone into the show. Footage of The Rock arriving to the arena from earlier today aired. The crowd responded with more of a babyface response than I anticipated. Back in the arena. Kevin Owens’s music hit and we went to the first match. 

Kevin Owens defeated Dominik Mysterio to qualify for the Elimination Chamber [14:12]

Man, Dom has improved so much since coming into WWE as Rey’s scrawny kid who “had a long way to go.” Owens clearly said he wanted to give the kid a match and the kid held up his end of the bargain. This was one of the better SmackDown in-ring matches in recent weeks. The only thing that these qualifying matches suffer from is predictability. It would have been hard to think of Dom getting in the Chamber instead of Owens, but that didn’t mean these guys didn’t work hard and it was refreshing to see. Plus, hey that must be it for good, right: R-Truth is definitely not in Judgment Day.

Dominik walked to the ring with a microphone in hand and received his typical heat. Dom started talking and the crowed drowned him out with boos each time he tried to talk. Eventually, Dom got it out that his Judgment Day mates will all win at Elimination Chamber and slammed the microphone down. When the match actually started, the two traded head-locks. Dom eventually hit the ropes and Owens hit a shoulder-block to take Dom down. 

Owens landed another shoulder-block and a deep arm-drag and Dom rolled to the outside. Dom returned to the ring and hit an arm-drag of his own, but Owens responded by clotheslining Dom over the top rope. Owens set up for a dive, but Dom moved and Owens gave up the attempt. With the two on the outside, Owens punched Dom to the ground before rolling him back inside the ring. Out of nowhere, R-Truth showed up and talked to Owens. Dom took advantage of that and beat Owens down before rolling Owens back inside the ring to hit a dive as the show went to its first commercial break. 

The show returned and Dom was working a chin-lock on Owens inside the ring. The two eventually traded elbows until Owens landed a kick to the midsection and a strong clothesline to get the upper hand. Owens stomped a mudhole on Dom and Dom rolled to the outside. Owens followed Dom and landed a running Senton. Back inside the ring, Owens hit a Cannonball at about the 10-minute mark. Owens followed it up with a frog splash and got a fine near-fall out of it. Owens tried a pop-up powerbomb, but Dom countered into an X-Factor for a two-count. 

Dom then went for the Three Amigos, but Owens blocked the third suplex and suplexed Dom himself … which almost turned into a Three Amigos for Owens, but Dom blocked it and hit a DDT for a two-count. Dom went for a frog splash, but Owens moved and went to the top to hit a Swanton for a two-count. Dom kicked Owens and Owens landed on the second rope, so Dom went for the 619, but Owens kicked out of a cover attempt. Dom yelled at R-Truth to give Dom a chair. Dom told Truth he was in Judgment Day and Truth walked over to grab a chair. Truth set up the chair and sat in it instead of giving it to Dom and that led to a super-kick and a pop-up powerbomb for the win. Truth looked happy that Owens won the match. Truth hopped into the ring and raised Owens’s hand. 

**********

– Drew McIntyre was interviewed backstage and McIntyre said he was the only one who needs to win the Chamber, but LA Knight walked in and told Drew his moment will be stolen one more time at the Chamber. McIntyre told Knight he was good, but Drew said he sees through Knight. McIntyre said Knight is insecure. Knight said McIntyre hasn’t a champion of anything since Knight has been in WWE. Knight brought up the CM Punk/McIntyre shirt and said McIntyre’s aspirations will end up the same as Punk’s – six feet under. Officials broke them up before things came to blows. 

– Footage of Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman arriving to the building from earlier today aired. Roman looked happy to run into Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. 

– Logan Paul was shown walking in the arena in footage from earlier today. 

– Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate were interviewed backstage. Dunne said things were going great and last week was proof of that. Dunne said all that’s left to do is win the tag team titles at the Chamber. Bate named them “New Catch Republic” as a tag team. Dom showed up out of nowhere and said they won’t beat anyone in Judgment Day. Bate and Dunne challenged Dom and R-Truth to a match next week, but Dom stormed off. 

Tiffany Stratton defeated Zelina Vega to qualify for the Elimination Chamber [8:18]

Yiiiiiikkkkesssss. Stratton’s knees came right the hell down onto Vega’s midsection during her moonsault to end the match and it did not look fun for Vega. That’s twice in two weeks Stratton has missed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Not a great start on the main roster for a talent who will certainly be one of the biggest stars the company has for years to come. The match, meanwhile, exceeded my expectations. Vega showed good fire and they gave her an out with LDF sitting in the front row. Stratton was just bigger than Vega, which the commentary team could have played up more, but I digress. Anyway, I’m not sure if Stratton is suffering from some nerves getting the call up – she looked fine in the Royal Rumble match – but hopefully she gets things ironed out soon.

Stratton flexed to begin the match, but Vega fought back briefly. Stratton went for a stomp, but Vega moved and eventually the action spilled outside. Vega slammed Stratton on the apron and flipped Stratton the ground before hitting a moonsault from the middle rope onto Stratton on the outside. Legado Del Fantasma was shown watching the match in the front row and Vega jawed at them. The show then went to a commercial break. 

Back from break, Stratton and Vega were trading blows in the ring. The LWO walked down to the ring to even things out with Fantasmo. Vega set up for a 619, but Stratton moved and essentially ran into a DDT from Vega, which earned Vega a two-count. Stratton fought back and landed her Cartwheel Alabama Slam for a two-count. Stratton began a moonsault, but Vega cut her off and hit a Meteora for a good near-fall. Stratton rolled to the outside and eventually threw Vega into the crowd barricade. Vega pulled Elektra Lopez over the rail and then got back into the ring, where she ran into a spinebuster and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, which earned Stratton the win. 

**********

– AJ Styles was shown sitting backstage and The OC walked in. Styles piefaced Anderson and those two traded jabs until they breathed heavily at each other. Styles walked away and Anderson looked mad. 

– A video from IYO SKY, Kairi Sane and Asuka aired. The three spoke in Japanese and SKY said it’s IYO’s era. Asuka called out Dakota Kai and Sane did the same. Asuka ended it by saying, “No one is ready for Damage CTRL.”

Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) defeated Javier Bernal & Beau Morris [1:01]

Hey. It was fun to see some NXT talent on SmackDown … right?

Akam beat the stuffing out of Bernal to start the match. Rezar tagged in and the two manhandled Morris. AOP hit a Super Collider and their finisher on Bernal for the win. 

**********

– Logan Paul was interviewed backstage and Paul said all the fans are welcome because he’s going to knock out The Miz later. Paul said he’s going to win the Chamber and will challenge Seth Rollins at WrestleMania to become a double champion.

– A video recapping the Cody/Roman/Rock/Seth drama aired. 

Logan Paul defeated The Miz to qualify for the Elimination Chamber [12:44]

Goodness, I did not have “Logan Paul and The Miz will head out there and give us 13 minutes of pretty good stuff” on my Feb. 16 SmackDown bingo card. OK, sorry. I hate that cliche, too. Anyway, this far, far exceeded my expectations, but because it’s the second time I’m writing that tonight, I have to start wondering if either the matches are better than good or my expectations going into them are too low. Whatever it is, good for Miz, getting so much crowd love – and booking love, to be fair. It seems like it’s been forever since Miz was given this much offense in a television match. That it came against Logan Paul only made it feel that much more weighty. Paul is still pretty good for his experience level, but the brass knucks gimmick is getting tired for me. I could be the only one feeling that, though.

Graves pointed out that this was Paul’s first-ever match on SmackDown. Wow. The two locked up and Paul toyed with Miz, who quickly fired up, to the delight of the live crowd. Paul hit a cross-body from the top and went for a standing moonsault, but Miz got the knees up and took control of the match. Miz attacked Paul’s knee and kicked Paul in the head. Nick Aldis was shown sitting in a skybox with Bron Breakker, Liv Morgan, Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. In the meantime, Paul found himself with the upper hand and landed a series of elbows to take Miz down. 

Paul hit a split leg-drop and posed on top of Miz for a two-count. Paul chopped Miz repeatedly until Miz moved and chopped Paul. Miz kicked Paul a handful of times, leading to Miz’s “Yes!” kicks. The crowd was behind Miz as Miz landed a clothesline. Miz was on the apron and Paul ran Miz into the ring post. Paul then hit a leaping clothesline and a frog splash onto Miz, who was on the apron. Paul posed with fans and the show went to a break. 

Back to the show and Miz and Paul were down in the middle of the ring. Miz punched Paul a bunch of times. Miz followed that up with some clotheslines. Miz hit a modified Flatliner for a two-count. Miz set up for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Paul worked out of it … until Miz landed a Codebreaker from the second rope for a two-count. Miz hit the “Yes! (or It!)” kicks, much to the delight of everyone in Salt Lake City. Miz went back to Paul’s knee with a series of kicks. Miz went for a figure-four, but Paul raked the eyes and hit the Paul Crushing Finale for a good near-fall. Miz appeared to be bleeding in his mouth. 

Miz worked a figure-four, but Paul got to the ropes for a break. The action spilled outside, where Paul ran Miz into the apron. Paul rolled Miz into the ring and was given brass knuckles. Miz knocked them out of Paul’s hand and picked them up. Miz threw the knucks away and after the two got back into the ring, Paul hit an inverted Skull Crushing Finale after punching him. That was enough for the win, oddly enough. 

**********

– Tiffany Stratton spoke to Morgan and Belair backstage. Jade Cargill broke the conversation up and the ladies jawed at each other. Nick Aldis stepped in and told Tiffany it wasn’t the time or place. Stratton left and Breakker, along with Cargill, walked out of the room with Aldis. 

– Grayson Waller was seen talking to Paul Heyman in the back quickly before the show returned to the ring.

Naomi defeated Alba Fyre to qualify for the Elimination Chamber [9:17]

The least intriguing Chamber qualifying match was, well, the least intriguing Chamber qualifying match. That’s OK, though. I wonder how things would have turned out with Shotzi in the Fyre spot, but injuries can be a drag and here’s hoping Shotzi recovers soon. Good on WWE for giving Fyre more than nothing, but this never felt in doubt. 

Fyre had control early with a series of boots to Naomi’s head. Naomi came back with a knee to Fyre’s head and a double-kick, as well as a smack to Fyre’s mouth. Naomi hit the second split leg drop of the night. The action spilled outside and Fyre gained control briefly until Naomi landed a bulldog on Fyre onto the ring steps. The show then went to a commercial break. 

Back from that break, Naomi kicked Fyre and followed it up with a clothesline and a head-scissors takedown. Naomi landed a dropkick and bulldog for a two-count. Naomi went to the top and executed a cross-body for a two-count. Before long, Fyre face-planted Naomi for a two-count. Fyre launched Naomi into the ropes and Isla Dawn punched Naomi. Fyre got a two-count because of it. Ultimately, Naomi kicked Dawn and sank in her finisher on Fyre until Fyre tapped. 

**********

– Bayley was shown walking backstage and she was interrupted by Dakota Kai, who told Bayley Damage CTRL is coming after Kai. Bayley said she didn’t know who she could trust. Bayley said she couldn’t talk and she walked away from Kai. 

– Nick Aldis stood in the entryway with a microphone. Aldis introduced Bron Breakker as the newest member of the SmackDown roster. Breakker came out and shook Aldis’s hand. Breakker signed a contract. 

– The Bloodline was shown walking backstage briefly again.

– Next week, Bate & Dunne will wrestle Dominik & DJ McDonagh. Also, the Street Profits will take on AOP. Breakker will make his SmackDown in-ring debut. And finally, LA Knight will go one-on-one with Drew McIntyre. 

The Bloodline/Rock segment

This was … odd. I could be in the minority – I’m interested to hear what others have to say – but my initial reaction was that they didn’t quite know what to do about this Rock thing. Rock tried – overtly so, to varying degrees of success – to get the people to not like him, with the mean things he said to the live crowd, but it didn’t quite click. He went deep and maybe even said an uncomfortable thing or two, but the people still popped for what they were always going to pop for. It’ll be interesting to see how they walk this tightrope for the next two months. People want Cody. But I don’t know that they ever truly wanted to hate The Rock. Hmmm. Interesting, indeed. 

Paul Heyman presented Roman Reigns with a microphone in the ring. Reigns told Salt Lake City to acknowledge him. The crowd complied. Reigns asked the crowd if he could be honest with the crowd and proceeded to say that the people of Utah are idiots. And just like that, Reigns got his heel heat back. Reigns said he didn’t want the fans to ruin a big night because when The Rock comes out, they might “go dumb.” Reigns said everything they will say has meaning and purpose and it’s information everyone needs to understand. He then said tonight is history. The crowd chanted “Cody!” and Roman stopped talking. 

Reigns got back on track and said tonight is the first night that they can say The Rock is a member of The Bloodline. The crowd booed and then The Rock’s music hit. Wouldn’t you know it – the crowd went bonkers for him initially. Rock had goosebumps again and pointed them out. Rock was wearing a gold vest and sunglasses. The show cut to its final commercial break of the night as The Rock slowly walked to the ring.

The show returned and The Bloodline was standing on a side of the ring while The Rock had a microphone. The Rock soaked in a lot of noise, which felt mixed. Rock said he had good news to share. He said it would make everyone happy and the crowd tonight broke an all-time indoor attendance record for Salt Lake City and all of Utah. Rock said they broke the record for biggest “gathering of trailer park trash,” and everyone booed. 

Rock said “Finally … your life has meaning and you and your 50 wives will have a story to tell.” Rock called the people inbred. Ultimately, Rock hit the he has come back to Salt Lake City line and the crowd cheered. Those cheers switched to boos. Rock yelled at someone in the crowd, called them “Fatty,” and said he’d slap the herpes off the fan’s lips. Rock said the biggest WrestleMania main event was in the fans’ hands and the fans let it go. Rock said they flushed it down the toilet. Rock mocked people saying “We want Cody!” 

Rock asked the fans “What is Cody’s story?” The crowd gave him the “What?” treatment. Rock pointed out that Roman beat Cody at WrestleMania last year. Rock said Cody wants a rematch now, but that’s not how it works. Rock said that logic is stupid. The Rock told everyone to shut their mouths in regards to the “What?” chant. Rock applied the logic to the Super Bowl and asked if the 49ers whined about their story. Rock said the 49ers moved on like men. Rock said it’s personal and referenced how Michael Jordan crushed the dream of the Utah Jazz. 

The Rock said the Jazz worked their asses off to get back to the top. Rock said the real world doesn’t mean people get a shot at a story just because they want it. Rock called the fans, and I quote, “spoiled, entitled little crybaby bitches.” The Rock said he will do everything in his power to make sure Cody walks out of WrestleMania a loser. Rock said Cody’s story is ending and The Bloodline’s is just beginning. Rock then said, “If you smell …” but then stopped himself. Rock then finished it by saying, “If you smell what The Bloodline is cooking.” The show ended almost abruptly.