Smacklillision Weekend Round Up The Draft edition 27. 28. 4. 2024

Intro

With WWE's annual Draft, having already started by the time of me writing this intro. The normality of this time of year starts to come into effect, last weekend, and early into this week, with multiple talents being let go from the promotion, including. Jinder Mahal. Sanga. Veer. Xia Li. Xyon Quinn. All being released alongside. Von Wagner, and. Cameron Grimes. Even though i'm fully aware that the industry can be incredibly cruel, and harness awful practices, i feel that this is the nastier side of the sports industry as a whole, taking advantage of hungry talent, by eating them up, and spitting them out. It's an unessciary practice that needs to stop, in our year of 2024, as the argumenet of a company's eyes becoming to big for there belly, doesn't hold up anymore in my opinion. You would hear stories back in the nineties, when. Pro surfers would get dropped by major sponsors, and the aftermath that came with it, would have a heavy price. This whole attitude needs to stop, for all that is fair and right.

Smackdown

Cody Rhodes backstage footage

The Started with the confirmation that. Cody Rhodes, is the new. John Cena, because he was signing a lot of pictures, that get sold at the merch table. It's known that John would have to box loads of these before every show.

Kayla Braxton. Paul Heyman Segment

Paul Heyman told Kayla Braxton, that. Roman Reigns, has taken himself out of the running, to be drafted, this would have bad consequences later on for him, when. Solo and Tama showed up later, a fight would break when KO attacked the pair, leaving refs, and security to come in and break it up.

Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles Contract signing

This. Was. A decent opening segment. From both men going through their history loosely, them shairing their love for Cody's dad Dusty, AJ said that he is refocused, which is why he beat LA Knight last week, to earn a shot at Cody's championship. Cody counteracted this perfectly, and told. AJ that when they meet at Backlash, all the respect that he has for AJ, will be put to one side, because this won't be a dream match, it will be a matter of retention, both men put pen to paper, and that was that, the match was made official for Backlash.

The Draft all 4 rounds

Ok guys this isn't going to be easy, so i'm going to marry all 4 rounds together.

Round 1

Round 1 saw the red brand get. Seth Freakin Rollins, and. Jey Uso, whilst the blue brand got. Bianca Belair, and. Carmelo Hayes. Carmelo would later come out, and challenge Cody Rhodes, Cody accepted, and the main event. I love Carmelo Hayes, and the fact that he has been called from NXT, makes me very happy.

Round 2

Round 2 saw the red brand get. Liv Morgan, and Bron Breakker, whilst the blue brand got. Randy Orton, and. Nia Jax. Before this took place. Bron Breakker, destroyed Cedric Alexander in a squash match.

Round 3

Round 3 saw the brand get. Ricochet, and. Sheamus, whilst the blue brand got. LA Knight, and. The Bloodline. I just want to take some, to talk the abuse that sheamus has been getting online. Just stop it, bodyshaming isn't funny, it's not big, it's not clever. So just don't do it.

Round 4

Round 4 saw. The Alpha Academy, and. NXT call up. Kiana James, go to the red brand, whilst the blue brand got. AJ Styles, and Andrade. All of these picks made a lot of sense, and as for Kiana James being called up. I just hope that the main roster booking can utilise her talents. Plus the guest announcers, that ranged from, the great. Cody Rhodes. HHH. Michelle Mccool. Tori Wilson, and of course Teddy Long, made for nice pieces of nostalgia, whilst appearances from The Dudley Boyz, left me feeling bemused, and a JBL appearance, had me thinking, why have they asked this awful human being to be here on this night. I mean Baron Corbin is nowhere to be seen.

Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee vs Angel and Humberto

Rey Mysterio, and. Dragon Lee, beat. Angel, and Humberto, in a flat tv match, but it was all about the aftermath. Santos Escobar, and. Electra Lopez, came out, and. Santos had some footage that cleared his name, when Rey and his Lwo accused Santos, of attacking. Dragon Lee, and guess what. The Culprit was none other that Carlito, that apple munching bastard.

Bianca Belair segment

Kayla Braxton interviewed Bianca Belair. Bianca put over her confidence, when saying that her tag partner. Jade Cargill will be drafted to Friday Nights, and the fact that they will be tag team champions. The Kabuki Warriors walked on to the stage, and tried to imtimidate Bianca, that was until Jade Cargill came out to even the numbers. All four ladies were rudely interrupted, by a brawling Kevin Owens, and Tama Tonga, both men brawled down to the ring, with kevin taking most of the offence. That was until. Solo Sikoa came out, to put preassure on KO, but just when all hope was gone, out came. Randy Orton to even the numbers.

Tiffany Stratton vs Naomi

This. Was. Pointless, the match was thrown out when newly drafted Nia Jax, came out and wrecked Bayley, who was sitting at ringside, on commentary. Naomi came out to help her friend, and was taken out by Jax. stratton took full advantage, by giving both. Bayley, and. Naomi a pme. Nick Aldis later on informed us, that the Womens Championship will now be contested in a triple threat Match, at Backlash, between Bayley. Tiffany Stratton, and. Naomi. But do you know what was an even bigger treat. Teddy Long entered stage left, and told us that. Kevin Owens, and. Randy Orton, will face. Solo Sikoa, and. Tama Tonga, in a tag Match, with The Undertaker player. I mean just imagine it, if The Deadman just magically turned up during that match at Backlash, it's called the Teddy Long effect. And you love to see it. I love that man.

The Final Testement segment

From a continuous camera shot. The Final testement showed that you've acted like a bunch of naughty school children, by attacking The New Catch Republic. Oh that Final Testement, what are they like.

Carmelo Hayes vs Cody Rhodes

This. Was. A great look in differant contrasts of styles. Carmelo, and. Cody had a lofi banger, that made me think. The future of wrestling is bright. I have known for at least 3 years now, that. Carmelo Hayes has a bright future in front of him, even though I have gone cold a bit on the NXT product of late. I have always been a fan of Carmelo, his partnership with Trick williams was a treat to watch, and his match with Cody was a perfect balance, even though he came up short here, It should make us as fans feel safe in the knowledge that good talent is coming WWE's developmental system.

Aew Collision

Swerve Strickland Segment

The show started with, the first promo of Swerve Stricklands Championship reign. The emotion of the moment was written all over his face, and it was a sight to see. The chant of thank you Swerve, rung around Aew's spiritual home, he put over. Willow Nightingale, whilst slating The Elite, for putting their hands on Tony Khan, calling them bitches, forshadowing something that could come in the future, and giving. Danielson, and. Osperay their flowers. He then opened the floor for an open challenge, for his Aew World Heavyweight Championship. Claudio Castagnoli answered the call. Both men stared each other down. Swerve tried to cut his catchphrase, but. Claudio stopped him, and told him, that he accepted the challenge. Swerve said, that he's on, and the main event was then set. I liked all of this.

Tony Khan Update

Tony Schiavone gave us an update, on. Tony Khans health, after what happened to him on Wednesday night, at the hands of The Elite. He put over his disgust, whilst I pissed myself laughing, at the thought of Tony Khan, and that ridiculous neckbrace, that he wore in the Jacksonville Jaguars war room, during the NFL Draft. Oh well, at Shad had a great time.

The Bang Bang Gang vs Top Flight and Action Andretti

I wasn't a big fan of this match. I just think that something was missing from this. As time has gone by. I have grown tiresome of. The Bang Bang Gang. The ass boys, just don't gel to me. Jay White is a great worker, and deserves better than this. The Match had some good action, but it didn't hook me in. The Bang Bang Gang got the win.

The House Of Black Segment

The House Of Black said that one of them, will answer. Adam Copelands Cope Ope challenge, for his TNT Championship. This Wednesday on Dynamite.

Rey Fenix vs The Beast Mortos

This. Was. A physical war, that was a perfect look at two Mexican styles of wrestling, meshing together perfectly. This. Was. A lofi burner, that grew in time, to become a solid outing for both men. Mortos took the majority of the offence. Both men put in a shift, in order to create their art. The in ring work was great, and their chemistry was great. Fenix got the win, in his first match back in six months. I liked all of this.

Orange Cassidy Segment

Orange Cassidy. Was interviewed backstage. He sold his confliction, over the situation with. Chuck, and. Trent. Am I the only person, who's thinking of Sue in all of this. Oh well. RIP Sues mini van then. No more rides from mummy.

Rush vs Martin Stone

Rush, beat. Martin Stone. In a sustained tv squash match. Martin Stone looks familiar, and I can't quite put my finger on where I have seen him?

Timeless Toni Storm vs Ana Jay

Timeless Toni Storm, beat. Ana Jay, in decent tv Womens match. I liked this.

The Acclaimed vs The Grizzled Young Veterans

I liked this. The Match was decent, from the moment that Max Castors, scripted rap came out from the mic, to ( insert Scouse accent here ) THE GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS, SOON TO BE RECOGNISED AS. Jurgen Klopp fan boys. Their entrance gear is heavily inspired by LFC. ( lord Kows why, their s*** ) The match was great, and a solid reminder of what WWE tried to ruin. The Acclaimed got the win. In what was a fun match.

Shibata segment

Katsuyori Shibata, gave his thoughts on Chris Jericho, ahead of their match on Dynamite this wednesday. He said that he is going to take his FTW Championship. He also said that he will deal Shane Taylor Promotions, this prompted. Daniel Garcia to come in, and offer his help. Shibata agreed. So Tony Khan put them in a tag match on Rampage, against STP members Shane Taylor, and. Lee Moriarty.

 World Heavyweight Championship Swerve Strickland vs Claudio Castagnoli

The main event saw. Claudio Castagnoli, challenge. Swerve strickland for his newly won. Aew World Heavyweight Championship. This. Was. Another great clash of styles, moulding together. Both men exampled, a great back and forth, The surrounding staging would get used as a weapon, on two occasions, The near falls helped create a strong sense of drama, thankfully to the match having plenty time to breathe. Swerve retained, with the aid of his house call finisher. Now. This is how you kick start a World Championship reign.

Overview Of The Weekend

With one show, laying out its cards before a major PLE, and the other feeling like they have a point to prove. This weekends wrestling, has been an interesting study in contrast, that rarely gets seen on tv, and I feel that's important to remember, when looking at shows through a lens.

This Weeks Smackdown is a solid 7/10. ( just for Teddy Long ) 

And Aew Collision is a solid 8/10.