WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - February 3rd, 2023
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Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown on The Road to WrestleMania
In the wake of the catastrophic events at Royal Rumble in which an overwhelmed Sami Zayn hit Roman Reigns with a steel chair and The Bloodline, minus a conflicted Jey Uso, launched a major retaliatory beatdown on The Honorary Uce, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion is set to return to SmackDown.
:smackdown:
Announcers are Michael Cole and Wade Barrett.
We begin with a look back at the end of the Royal Rumble.
Kayla Braxton is in the parking lot and an SUV arrives. Solo, Roman, Jimmy, and Paul emerge.
Kayla asks Roman about Jey and Roman says nothing.
Paul says that was a cold blooded question from a warm blooded person. Paul says he cannot confirm nor deny the status of Jey Uso. Paul thanks Kayla for wearing their colors.
Finals of the Smackdown Tag Title Number One Contender Match
Braun Strowman and Ricochet vs Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser (w/ Gunther)
Vinci and Braun start things off and they lock up. Braun pushes Vinci down and poses. Kaiser tags in and Vinci grabs Braun's leg from behind but Braun tosses both of them aside. Braun punches Kaiser and then Vinci and Kaiser go to talk to Gunther on the floor. Ricochet tags in and he gives Kaiser a side head lock. Ricochet flips over Kaiser's back and hits a drop kick. They exchange punches but Ricochet with a jaw breaker. VInci distracts Ricochet and Kaiser with a running uppercut. Braun with a running shoulder tackle to Vinci and then Gunther tells him to try that with him. Kaiser goes for a suicide dive on Strowman but Braun catches him. Vinci with a splash onto Braun.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Braun gets Vinci up but Vinci escapes and sends Braun into the ring post. Kaiser tags in and they hit the double drop kick in the corner and Kaiser gets a near fall. Kaiser with punches and Vinci tags in. Vinci with kicks and forearms. Braun tries to get to his corner to make the tag and Braun with a back body drop and he makes the tag. Ricochet with a springboard cross body and a head scissors. Ricochet with a shoulder into the corner and a kick to the head. Ricochet with a springboard clothesline. Ricochet with a shooting star press for a near fall. Ricochet gets Vinci up but Vinci rakes the eyes and punches Ricochet. Ricochet is sent into the ring post and they miss the double drop kick. Ricochet with a handspring back elbow.
Braun knocks Vinci off the apron into the announce table. Braun sends Ricochet onto Vinci and Kaiser. Ricochet pushes Gunther and Gunther pushes back. The referee sends Gunther to the back.
Gunther says something to Braun and Braun follows Gunther up the aisle. Ricochet kicks Vinci away but Kaiser with a clothesline while Vinci clips him and Kaiser gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Ricochet with forearms and Kaiser with an uppercut. Ricochet with a jumping knee and punches. The referee warns Ricochet and Vinci tags in. VInci with a springboard cross body followed by a knee from Kaiser. Kaiser and Vinci with a double drop kick to knock Strowman off the apron. Vinci gets a near fall. Kaiser goes to the turnbuckles for an Imperium Bomb but Ricochet with a back body drop and Ricochet kicks Kaiser. Kaiser lands on his feet on a suplex attempt by Ricochet. Vinci tags in and Ricochet with a kick. Kaiser with an enzuigiri and then Kaiser tosses Ricochet to VInci who catches Ricochet and hits a brainbuster. Strowman pulls Vinci out of the ring to break up the cover. Kaiser tags in and so does Braun. Braun with shoulder tackles and a biel to Kaiser. Vinci bounces off Braun on a springboard cross body attempt. Kaiser kicks Braun but Braun with a clothesline. Braun sets for a power bomb and hits it. Ricochet tags in and he gets on Braun's shoulders for a swanton and the three count.
Winners: Braun Strowman and Ricochet
Wade and Cole discuss what might happen next week when Braun and Ricochet face The Usos.
We take a look at Rhea Ripley's performance in the Royal Rumble.
Backstage:
Kayla is with Charlotte Flair in the back. She asks Charlotte about facing Rhea at Wrestlemania. Charlotte says Wrestlemania will be epic. Charlotte says her focus is on Sonya because of her persistence.
Sonya shows up and mocks the Carolinas as Flair Country. She says she is here for one thing and one thing only, the Smackdown Women's Championship. Sonya says Rhea will face her at Wrestlemania. Los Angeles needs a star and it will be her.
We go to commercial.
Wa are back and we go to footage of a confrontation at the LA Coliseum. THE Judgment Day interrupt Rey Mysterio, the New Day, and Michael Waltrip. THE Judgment Day have Ross Chastain with them. Dom asks Rey if he wants a race like when he was a kid. Rey asks Dom if he wants to get spanked. Clint Bowyer suggests they get on the track and race each other. They get in their cars and start the race. Rey pulls out the victory by a half car length. Dom says Rey cheated and he throws his helmet at Rey. They have to be separated by race officials.
We go to commercial.
Smackdown Women's Championship
Sonya Deville versus Charlotte Flair (c)
They lock up and Charlotte with a take down and shoulder tackle. Charlotte taunts Sonya and Charlotte with a waist lock and take down. Charlotte with a rollup. Charlotte with a wrist lock. Sonya pulls the hair and applies a wrist lock. Charlotte with a reversal. Charlotte does the Flair flip in the corner on an Irish whip. Charlotte with a boot on the apron and she goes up top and hits a cross body for a near fall. Sonya avoids a splash in the corner. Sonya is sent to the apron and Charlotte with a punch. Sonya pulls Charlotte down by the hair.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Charlotte with a rollup for a near fall. Sonya gets a near fall. Sonya with a reverse chin lock. Charlotte with a snap mare and punches. Sonya with a knee to the midsection and Charlotte avoids being sent into the turnbuckles. Charlotte sends Sonya into the turnbuckles. Sonya kicks Charlotte in the knee and Charlotte with clotheslines. Charlotte with chops. Charlotte with a belly-to-back suplex. Charlotte runs into boots but Charlotte stops short and connects with a forearm. Charlotte with a knee to the leg in the ropes. Charlotte with a running boot to the chest for a near fall. Charlotte with a waist lock but Sonya avoids a German suplex. Charlotte misses a boot and her leg gets caught on the ropes. Sonya with a kick to Charlotte for a near fall.
Charlotte with a back breaker but she misses a boot. Sonya with a kick and she goes to the turnbuckles. Sonya with a knee off the turnbuckles for a near fall. Charlotte blocks a figure four leg lock and gets a near fall with an inside cradle. Sonya sends Charlotte into the turnbuckles and Charlotte with a clothesline for a near fall. Charlotte pulls Sonya to the corner for a moonsault. Sonya gets her feet up and Sonya with a rollup and her feet on the ropes for a near fall. Sonya goes for a figure four leg lock but Charlotte kicks Sonya away. Charlotte with the figure four and she bridges. Sonya taps out.
Winner: Charlotte Flair (retains championship)
We have a video package for Cody Rhodes, who will be facing Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania.
We go to RomanWorld and everyone is serious.
Roman asks Jimmy where is his brother. Jimmy says he doesn't know. Roman asks Jimmy if he talked to him. Jimmy says he hasn't heard from him. Roman asks if it isn't just him, but isn't that disrespectful. Not only does he walk out, but he doesn't care enough to communicate. To not hear from him for an entire week. Don't you have a tag title match? You don't walk out on your obligations.
Roman asks Jimmy if he has talked to his brother. Jimmy says again he hasn't heard from him. He says Jey is his brother and he will be there. He needs to chill out.
Roman asks if Jey will be there for all of us.
Roman asks Solo if he talked to his brother.
Jimmy says if he hasn't heard from his brother, he hasn't talked to anyone.
Roman says this is urgent and he asks Paul if it is Wrestlemania season. Roman says you aren't going to find him on the couch. Roman wants to know where their brother is.
Ridge Holland and Butch vs Erik and Ivar (w/ Valhalla)
Ivar and Butch start things off and they lock up. Ivar with a clean break and Butch grabs Ivar by the beard and punches him. Ivar with punches in the corner. Ivar with an Irish whip that sends Butch face first into the turnbuckles. Erik tags in and he Irish whips Butch. Butch gets his boot up and he works on the hand. Ridge tags in and hits a flying shoulder tackle. Erik with a forearm and he goes for a suplex but Ridge blocks it and Ridge with a suplex of his own. Butch tags in and Ridge clotheslines Erik to the apron while Ivar is knocked off the apron. Ridge and Butch with forearms to Erik on the apron. Butch with a pescado but Erik moves and Butch lands on his feet. Erik sends Butch into the ringside barrier when Butch focuses too much on Valhalla. Erik with a clothesline.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Butch pulls at Erik's fingers from the apron. Butch flips over Erik and tags in Ridge. Ridge with an exploder to Erik followed by a second one. Ridge traps the arms and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Ridge runs into a knee and Ivar tags in. Ridge with a punch to Erik. Ivar goes for a power bomb but Ridge counters and hits an Alabama Slam for a near fall. Ridge wtih a waist lock and Ivar backs him into the corner. Ivar with elbows and Butch tags in and kicks Ivar. Butch with a running boot and Erik tags in. Butch with an enzuigiri and Erik with a clothesline and a knee for a near fall. Erik gives Butch to Ivar while Ridge sends Erik into the ringside barrier. Butch sets for a Frankensteiner and hits it for a near fall.
Butch goes up top and goes for a moonsault but Ivar catches Butch and gets to his feet. Butch with a sleeper but Erik tags in and Erik with a forearm to Butch. Ivar with a spin kick of doom to Ridge on the floor. Ivar tags in and they look to Valhalla for approval to do Ragnarok for the three count.
Winners: Erik and Ivar
After the match:
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus come out to confront the Viking Raiders on the stage. Drew sends Ivar into the ringside barrier while Sheamus with forearms to Erik and he sends Erik into the scaffold. Drew sends Ivar into the LED board and then he follows with a kick.
We take a look back at the Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match from the Royal Rumble.
We go to Bray in a rocking chair and Uncle Howdy puts his hand on Bray's shoulder and he looks at the camera.
Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match
Shotzi vs Natalya vs Shayna Baszler vs Zelina Vega
Shotzi and Zelina square off and Natalya goes after Shayna but Shayna pulls Natalya aside. Natalya sends Shayna to the floor and Shotzi with a rollup for a near fall. Shotzi with a shoulder tackle to Natalya. Zelina pulls Shotzi to the floor and sends Shotzi into the ringside barrier. Zelina with a rollup to Natalya followed by a round kick.
We see Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan watching in BACK on MONITOR.
Natalya misses a discus clothesline and Zelina with a Code Red for a near fall that is broken up by Shayna. Shayna with a gutwrench gourdbuster. Shayna with a back breaker to Shotzi and she appllies a wrist lock to Shotzi. Natalya hits Shayna from behind. Natalya sends Shayna to the apron and Shayna with a kick. Shayna stops Zelina on the floor. Shayna with a knee to Natalya for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Shotzi and Shayna exchange forearms. Shayna misses a stomp to the arm and Shotzi gets a near fall with a rollup. Shotzi with forearms and kicks followed by a back senton and Shayna goes to the floor. Shotzi with a suicide dive to Shayna. Zelina with a moonsault off the turnbuckles onto Shayna and Shotzi. Natalya sends Shotzi into the ring and Natalya with a Sharpshooter but Zelina with a bulldog to get Natalya to release the hold. Shotzi with a belly-to-back suplex to Zelina. Shayna with a German suplex to Shotzi. Shayna with a Kirifuta Clutch on Zelina and Natalya goes for a discus clothesline but Shayna with a Kirifuta Clutch. Natalya with a Sharpshooter on Zelina and Zelina taps out.
Winner: Natalya
Backstage:
Paul tells Roman that Jey's phone goes straight to voice mail. Roman wants to talk to Solo and Jimmy. Jimmy says he tried to get a hold of Jey but nothing. Roman says he does not understand. Of all the times for this to happen. We didn't need any problems or hiccups. You what is on my plate. Roman says he feels like he is being pulled in two different directions. Roman says he is sorry for speaking to them the way he did. Jimmy tells Roman that is no problem.
Roman says he needs them to be as strong as they ever were. If they are not, there is no more of 'this' (as he holds up his finger). Roman says there is a good dinner on the bus. Roman tells them to go eat while he takes care of things in the ring. Roman says he will get with them later.
We go to commercial.
We are back and next week Braun Strowman and Ricochet face The Usos for the Smackdown Tag Title. Rey Mysterio, Riddick Moss, Karrion Kross, and Santos Escobar battle to see who faces Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.
Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring.with Paul Heyman.
Paul hands Roman the microphone.
Roman lets the crowd get it out of their system and he tells Greenville to Acknowledge him.
The crowd chants for Sami.
Roman says he was going to ask who they wanted him to talk about but it is obvious. Roman says he would rather face Cody Rhodes, the man who won the Royal Rumble and deserves his attention. You simple folks have reduced him to talk about the past. Roman says he will talk about Sami but you are going to hear his side of the story.
Roman says we have to go back to War Games. Roman talks about how he saw everything he needed to see in Sami's eyes. Do you want to know what he saw? He saw greed. He saw the same thing he sees with anyone who interracts with him. Any restaurant he walks into, everyone says I want this instead of what can I do for you. I do the same thng for Sami. I give him the opportunity of a lifetime and he uses his Bloodline and Island of Relevancy. It is no different from each and every one of you. You all want. You can't give back.
Someone in a hoodie attacks Roman from behind and it is Sami Zayn.
Roman punches Sami and connects with knees. Roman kicks Sami. Roman tells Paul to get him a chair. Roman prepares to swing the chair and Sami with a spear. Sami looks at the chair and he picks it up. Roman rolls out of the ring before Sami can use the chair.
Sami tells Roman that he is wrong about him. He says he never wanted anything from Roman . . . until now. Sami says he wants something from Roman now. He says he is coming after Roman and his title.
Jimmy Uso hits Sami with a super kick. Solo holds Sami while Jimmy punches him. Solo kicks Sami and gives him a Samoan Spike.
Jimmy gets the chair and puts it around Sami's neck. Solo sets for the running hip and Roman stops Solo.
Roman stares at Sami and he says if Sami wants something from him . . . Roman says they want Jey but he doesn't have Jey. Jey isn't here because of you. I gave you the key to the kingdom and how do you repay him? You broke up my family. Roman says he wants Sami in Montreal. I will break you in front of your family and friends. I want them to see what happens when you mess with the Bloodline.
We go to credits.
