Brock Lesnar is the new WWE Champion (WWE)
WWE SmackDown results, winners, and grades: Brock Lesnar invades Roman Reigns’ locker room.
WrestleMania is around the corner and rivalries are heating up as we witnessed some interesting promos and a few enjoyable matches and Xavier Woods’ surprise comeback.
There was a lot to cover on WWE SmackDown as we saw the comeback of King Woods and Sasha Banks winning an important match ahead of WrestleMania. Nakamura squared off against Jimmy Uso while Ronda Rousey cut a short but sizzling promo.
And, we start off this WWE SmackDown results, winners, and grades piece with Lesnar taking center stage.
The penultimate SmackDown before WrestleMania 38 started with a replay of last week’s segment when Brock Lesnar almost got his hands on the Bloodline.
Brock Lesnar was shown outside Reigns’ locker room as he was interviewed by Kayla Braxton and asked about the consequences of his actions from last week. Lesnar said that the management had told him to not have any contact with Roman Reigns unless he is provoked. So he would wait for some provoking by the Universal champion. He then went inside Reigns’ locker room and waited for him to arrive.
The first match of the night saw one-half of the SmackDown Tag Team champions take on one-half of the no.1 contenders, Shinsuke Nakamura in a one-on-one match with Rick Boogs and Jey Uso at ringside.
Boogs and Nakamura entered first and the Usos came and attacked before the match but were sent packing by the no. 1 contenders for their titles at WrestleMania 38. The SmackDown tag team champions exited the ring to regroup on the outside.
The match finally got underway with Jimmy and Nakamura feeling each other out to start. Uso pushed Nakamura and got him in an arm lock but Nakamura used his athleticism to escape.
Nakamura used his experience as a singles competitor as he delivered the good vibrations and followed it with a running knee on the apron.
Uso however got back in the match with a thunderous clothesline. He delivered a modified sidewalk slam and took control of the proceedings. He kicked Nakamura from the apron to the outside and looked for the Suicide Dive but ran into a knee from the king of strong style.
Nakamura delivered an enziguri and delivered a high knee to Uso after placing him on the top rope. The former Intercontinental Champion delivered a vicious knee from the middle rope.
Nakamura was looking to close things out when Jey attacked Boogs on the outside which helped Jimmy to hit a superkick on a distracted Nakamura. Nakamura kicked out at 2 however. Jey took Boogs’ guitar from ringside and looked to hand it to Jimmy but Boogs recovered to stop him in his tracks and drop him. This time Jimmy got distracted as Nakamura took advantage of a Kinshasha to win the match.
Result – Shinsuke Nakamura beat Jimmy Uso
Grade – B
KO pulled off an impressive and appreciated impersonation of The Texas Rattlesnake this week on RAW. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee discussed it as the video was shown. Stone Cold Steve Austin returns to WrestleMania after 6 years as a special guest on the Kevin Owens Show.
Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar was shown once again, throwing a bottle of champagne and destroying The Tribal Chief’s locker room in the process.
Michael Cole reiterated that next Friday, the Undertaker would be inducted into the Hall of Fame following SmackDown along with other inductees.
It was also announced once again that Shad Gaspard would be honored with the Warrior Award on April 1.
Drew McIntyre was interviewed backstage. He was asked about his match at The Show of Shows with Happy Corbin. McIntyre said he enjoys the fact that Corbin runs away from him in fear. He mentioned that he can take him out anytime but he will wait for the biggest stage to wipe the “stupid grin” off of Corbin’s face.
Then we saw how Corbin transformed from a troubled and sad person last year at ‘Mania to the Happy Corbin persona. It was shown how Corbin took out McIntyre at the Day 1 pay-per-view. Corbin would be watching the video backstage on a screen with Madcap Moss. Corbin said his life could be made into a movie. But once again like last week, Moss shared a joke which made fun of Corbin. The former United States champion walked away disappointed.
The match was scheduled to feature Kofi Kingston taking on Ridge Holland like last week’s SmackDown. The former WWE champion Kofi, however, came out and said Ridge would face a different member of the New Day. Woods’ music hit as the 2021 King of the Ring returned after almost two months.
Woods got off the blocks quickly but he was stopped in his tracks by Holland. The 22nd man to win the King of the Ring tournament, however, would recover and roll up Holland for a victory as the match ended in a jiffy. Butch and Sheamus looked to attack Kofi and Woods but they left the latter duo left the ring in a hurry with a big W.
Result – King Woods beat Ridge Holland
Grade – C
Roman Reigns cut a promo from inside his car and warned Brock to vacate his locker room before he arrived on SmackDown, otherwise it won’t be a pleasant outcome for the 44-year-old.
Ronda Rousey came to the ring. A video compilation of Charlotte’s vicious attacks on Rousey over the past couple of weeks was shown before her promo.
The former RAW Women’s champion said she won’t take Charlotte’s Title for just those two attacks. Ronda said she will make the Queen tap and hand over her title to the Baddest Woman on the Planet. She said she broke her arm for the first time at the age of 14 and kept count until she lost count. Ronda called out to Charlotte.
The SmackDown Women’s Champion came up on the screen and said she wasn’t on SmackDown. She pointed out that she is the champion and Ronda was the contender, so the 13-time Women’s World champion would do things her way. Ronda said if Charlotte beats her it will be the biggest win of the Queen’s career but when she beats Charlotte, she would be another thing she would lose count of.
Kayla interviewed Lesnar inside Reigns’ locker room. He was asked whether he thinks he should leave the locker room before the Universal Champion arrives.
Lesnar said that she should go and ask roman to be here asap as the WWE champion is running out of things to break in Reigns’ locker room. Brock followed this by throwing a lamp on the floor to end the segment.
Humberto Carrillo was supposed to face Ricochet initially, but Michael Cole stated that the Los Lotharios switched the plan during the break.
Angel started with a ruthless attack as the champion was shaken in the early goings.
Ricochet would get back in the match with a huge dropkick and he would take out Garza with a dive from the top rope.
Ricochet climbed the rope once again but he was distracted by Humberto. This helped angel to take advantage and win the match via roll-up.
Result – Angel Garza beat Ricochet
Grade – B
Ricochet, disappointed at the way he lost, took a mic and called back Humberto for a match. Humberto accepted as Ricochet started this match in great style. He took out Humberto twice in quick succession. The intercontinental champion did a high-flying dive from over the ropes to outside the ring taking out Humberto.
This match was also a championship contender’s match. Ricochet performed a jaw-dropping hurricanrana taking Humberto out from the middle rope. He followed it up with a springboard moonsault. Garza tried to distract ricochet but received a lunch to his face for his efforts. Richochet was looking for a 630 but angel pulled Humberto outside the ring.
Ricochet took out Garza on the outside after walking the ropes and delivered a crossbody. Garza went underneath the ring. As ricochet tossed Humberto inside the ring and tried to get back in himself, his leg was held by Garza to stop the Intercontinental champion from entering the ring. As a result, Humberto won the match via count-out.
Later on in the night, it was announced that Ricochet proposed a triple-threat match for next week’s SmackDown, which was made official. He would defend his title in that match against Garza and Carrillo.
Result – Humberto Carrillo beat Ricochet
Grade – B
Sami Zayn was interviewed backstage. He revealed that he has been thinking of how he can inflict pain on Johnny Knoxville. He admitted Knoxville has got under his skin and he is going to inflict punishment in a way that hasn’t been seen in WWE before.
Austin theory came to ringside and slapped a distracted Pat McAfee and ran away. McAfee chased him but Theory entered Vince McMahon’s office and shut the door on the SmackDown commentator, who stood outside, frustrated.
Sasha Banks entered the ring for her match. Michael Cole, meanwhile, announced triple H’s retirement and both McAfee and Cole agreed that they wouldn’t be here without The Game’s continuous support.
Sasha started the match breathing fire as she took out Shayna and Ripley early on. Zelina would wait at ringside looking for an opportune moment to strike. She would pull Sasha outside the ring and forced her into the announce table.
All the four women not participating in the match entered the ring and a slugfest ensued with McAfee saying “everyone despises everyone.”
All four women were sent backstage. Sasha locked both Shayna and zelina in the bank statement together but before they tapped, Ripley broke the hold.
Ripley hit a cannonball on the outside on Baszler. Zelina delivered a Hurricanrana from the apron on Ripley to send the Nightmare crashing into the barricade. Zelina looked to take advantage of a motionless Sasha inside the ring but The Boss would trap her in the Bank Statement as one half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion tapped out. Naomi joined Sasha in the ring to celebrate the victory.
Result – Sasha Banks beat Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler, and Queen Zelina
Grade – B
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman arrived on SmackDown. Heyman said he isn’t feeling well. Roman said they will be fine but Brock won’t be.
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman came to the ring and the former started with “Brooklyn, acknowledge me!”
The former Shield member said if Brock is still there in his locker room, he is gonna come and put his head through the wall.
On the Titantron it was shown that Roman’s room was in a mess but Lesnar was nowhere to be seen.
Later on, the camera caught Lesnar demolishing Roman’s car with a pickaxe. After that, he walked to the ring to confront Reigns.
Lesnar entered through the crowd and stood on the announce table. Security came out and stood between Lesnar and his opponent at The Show of Shows. The former took a steel chair and unleashed it on the six security people. As Lesnar entered the ring, Reigns retreated with the Usos in tow.
An irate Lesnar took out another security member before standing on the announce table with the WWE Championship above his shoulders. Reigns would appear on the Titantron and cut a promo from gorilla saying that Brock Lesnar will acknowledge him at WrestleMania as the new Undisputed World champion with the show drawing to a close.
Overall show grade – B
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