Queen of the Ring Round 4 Nia vs. Bianca
Mattered: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This match is rated three stars because Nia and Bianca are both incredible wrestlers, but a match between the two of them should be rated much higher. Bianca pulled off an amazing maneuver, power bombing Nia just like Liv did. However, Nia was held back in this match. Nia won the match by taking advantage of Bianca collapsing under Nia's weight as she tried to hit the KOD. Nia is very good. Despite Nia's obvious physical prowess and immense skill, she has been moved along like some fluke winner.
Nia is a bad mama jamma. She doesn't need Jade to disqualify herself, and she doesn't need Bianca to have a leg injury. Nia can give Bianca a leg injury. Between the DQ and Bianca taking out herself, Nia isn't looking as strong as she actually is, and it's a shame for someone who is in the finals. After the match, Nia called out Lyra and said she just buzzed through Bianca, so basically, what do you think will happen to you? I liked the emphasis she put on Bianca, putting her over even in a loss.
La Knight and The Street Profits vs. Carmelo Hayes & A-Town Down Under
Mattered: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This match was worth watching. There weren't any stakes; it was just thrown together. But all six wrestlers took the opportunity to make all their best moves to each other until Montez ended it with his FROM THE HEAVENS splash.
Blair Davenport
Mattered ⭐️⭐️.5
Blair gave a self-righteous speech about not giving excuses, complaining, and making things happen for yourself. I didn't like it because she wasn't a big star in NXT, and she hasn't yet made her mark on the main roster. Why is she lecturing people on how to navigate a roster she still needs to join? It felt out of place. The only thing this segment did positively was remind us that she is still coming.
Logan Paul is Sonned
Mattered: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Logan Paul showed up to talk crap to Cody, but instead, Cody exposed that Logan was hiding brass Knuckles even after he said he would leave them behind. Then Cody went straight up in father mode on Logan and told him that he would never be on his level until he learned some respect in this ring. Logan looked shaken. This is the first time we have seen Logan's confidence waver. You can tell this is the biggest match of Logan's career. Beating Cody means a new kind of legitimacy to Logan. Logan has been telling himself a story about how he is better and more important than Cody, but soon, he will get a chance to make that story true, and you can tell it means a lot to him.
Nia Calls Out Bayley
Mattered: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nia walked right up to Bayley and told her to keep the title clean for her. Nia hasn't even won Queen of the Ring yet. That's crazy! But I love the confidence. Nia is on another level.
DIY Disrespects The Street Profits
Mattered ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
DIY made it known to the street profits that they don't give a damn about friendships. They are here for titles. They poured out the Street Profits drinks and put them on notice. I'm glad WWE is gearing up to make new #1 contenders for the tag titles.
Andrade and Legado
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Andrade did another vignette, which was the best he had done yet. He let us know that wrestling is in his blood. He's a third-generation luchador from Mexico but doesn't want to let that define him. He doesn't want to be tucked away in your neatly wrapped Luchador box. Andrade wants to be bigger than just a high flyer or Lucha guy. He wants to be a main eventer, and that's a story I can get behind. A guy trying to break away from the preconceived notions thrust onto him. A guy who wants to make his own name and define his own destiny. This is the first time I've seen this side of Andrade, and it is very compelling. This is a story worth investing in.
After the Vignette, Legado even argued about getting on the Andrade train.
Solo Makes It Happen
Mattered ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was very good. Paul Heyman is so good at hyping things up. Paul made it sound as if Tonga couldn't get into the country because he was so dangerous that he didn't pass the background check. Paul took that opportunity with the Tongas away to try to talk Solo out of having them around, and Solo gave him the line of the year. Solo said I'm in charge while Roman is gone, which means if you have a problem, you fix it.
Then Tonga popped up and frightened Paul and revealed he was here tonight. This moment also shows how out of touch/control Paul is with Bloodline.
King of the Ring Round 4: Toma Tonga vs. Randy Orton
Mattered: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
King of the Ring Round 4. This match was serviceable. Toma Tonga, as a group member, is excellent. I can believe him as a part of a violent collective that does things Solo's way. However, in the ring, it feels like he isn't ready for a semi-final. It's odd that he was competing instead of Solo. It was reflected in the match. The Bloodline distractions did the heavy lifting in making this match interesting, but at least the right person won. Randy gets one step closer to the crown.
Final Grade 81/100 B
An enthusiastic crowd heightened this SmackDown. The show flowed easily and didn't have any lulls. What SmackDown could have improved on was maximizing its biggest moments, Allowing Nia to truly win her match and giving Orton a better competitor for the main event.
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