WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens cause mayhem once again
Rhodes and Owens cannot wait for their ladder match at the Royal Rumble
SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis is losing control as the bad blood between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens boils over. Another brawl broke out between Rhodes and Owens on WWE SmackDown.
Rhodes and Owens cannot wait for the Royal Rumble. The rivals will compete in a ladder match for both the undisputed WWE championship and the retired Winged eagle belts. Until then, it seems they'll settle for unsanctioned fights.
SmackDown also featured Tiffany Stratton's first WWE women's championship title defense. Stratton had a tough first test in former champion Bayley. Other highlights include the Motor City Machine Guns in action, and Solo Sikoa's return after losing to Roman Reigns in Tribal Combat.
CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.
Rhodes, Owens drama continues
Hometown hero Rey Mysterio kicked off SmackDown by announcing his entry into this year's Royal Rumble match. Queue Kevin Owens. "KO" apologized for the interruption, explaining how much idolizes Mysterio. Owens implored Mysterio to win the Royal Rumble so that Owens could face his idol for the WWE championship around his shoulder. Mysterio pointed out that the Winged Eagle belt Owens carried was a symbolic title, and that Cody Rhodes was the real champion. An enraged Owens got in Mysterio's face and started yelling at him. Mysterio set Owens up for a 619 but Owens rolled away in time.
Later, SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis granted Mysterio a match against Owens. Rhodes apologized to Mysterio for not supporting him, claiming he was being examined by medical staff. Mysterio told Rhodes to let him handle Owens tonight.
Aldis informed Rhodes and Owens they must sign an addendum to their one-on-one match at the Royal Rumble. Both superstars refused to sign it until their opponent did.
Owens def. Mysterio via pinfall after landing a pop-up powerbomb. Owens tried to hit Mysterio with a package piledriver, but Rhodes rescued him. A brawl ensued between Owens and Rhodes. Aldis was furious with Rhodes for starting another brawl. Aldis said that Rhodes and Owens will relinquish their title belts at Saturday Night's Main Event during a contract signing mediated by Shawn Michaels.
There's a compelling story about loyalty at the center of Rhodes vs. Owens but the weekly brawls are getting cumbersome. With so much backstory to lean into, it's a shame the promotion is taking such a cookie cutter approach. Rhodes' friction with Aldis is interesting and the match between Owens and Mysterio was great. Grade: B
What else happened on WWE SmackDown?
- Bianca Belair and Naomi def. Candice LeRae via pinfall after Naomi hit a full nelson bomb on LeRae.
- Jimmy Uso def. Carmelo Hayes via disqualification after being attacked by Tama Tonga.
- LA Knight and Braun Strowman drove off The Bloodline.
- Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) def. Los Garza (Angel and Berto) via pinfall after hitting Skull & Bones on Berto.
- Piper Niven def. B-Fab via pinfall with the Piper Driver.
- Johnny Gargano attacked Apollo Crews backstage.
- WWE Women's Championship -- Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Bayley via pinfall with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to retain the title.
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