Wrestleview reader Andrew Elder attended Friday night’s WWE SmackDown at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Below is Andrew’s report:
Most over was Jey Uso. He had 40 or more Yeet sessions…thought we’d get a decibel warning. The arena was definitely rocking. If doubtful, Jey deserves the Mania Main Event. Please go to a live event and listen to the crowd.
Cody was second most over. Honestly though Cody was even drowned out with how over Jey is over.
Charlotte’s promo was bad live. The fans were happy to see her, but after that is was like how are we supposed to act. Got boos only because she mentioned them. Crowd was dead for that. Neither Nia nor Tiffany could save the segment. It’s cool to see Charlotte, but after that she doesn’t make you feel anything for her.
Folks were happy to see Alexa but her match with Candice was dead in the reaction department, as Charlotte’s segment probably had a lot to do with it.
The other match that was dead was the Carmelo and Akira Tozawa match. Other than Carmelo mentioning Ja Morant, the crowd was dead.
R-Truth was funny as always.
Was surprised to see Solo…saw hooded person go over the barrier into to the ring.
Solo was leaving with Jey and Cody down. In the entrance way, Solo turned and did the one finger Acknowledge me. Jacob and Tama came back in and attacked both Jey and Cody. Brought in a table to put Cody through it, set it up in the corner. Tama ended going through it instead.
Cody and Jey celebrated afterwards with the crowd. They signed a piece of the table and gave it to a disabled fan. One final Yeet session to send crowd home
Other things:
Usual in between cam segments. Sign cam (they tape this to show later on the broadcast, so what you see is taped during the break time when announcers talk about the signs). Had the Rest In Peace cam (Recreate the Undertaker fearsome looks). DX cam, Signs cam, and Universe cam . One fan on the DX cam – not sure what they were attempting in the crotch job but it was very bad and awkward. Also had to find the title in the MITB briefcase (they make it sound like a contest but there’s no prize or anything). Also the best of Instagram for the week, Blair Davenport’s Instagram pic was in there (ouch after hearing she was let go on Friday, that’s awkward moment)
Little hiccup to the start was the Speed match was supposed to start but then they changed it to the live look in, the had the Speed match
Would have been nice to hear Joe and Wade, as they never had them over the PA at any point (usually do that for some segments).
Jerry Lawler was only there for that moment showing him setting in the crowd, as he wasn’t there before the segment and then left after.
Spoiler: #1 Contender Speed Women’s Semi-Final: Shotzi beat Isla Dawn (originally was supposed to b Alba Fyre) with 19 seconds left.
Overall was a good show with only two matches that the crowd didn’t care for. Well attended without having a name like the Rock being here from last April.