WWE SmackDown Results (02/24) - Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley Face Off, Firefly Fun House Returns, Karrion Kross Vs. Rey Mysterio
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results of "WWE SmackDown" on February 24, 2023, coming to you live from the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana!
"SmackDown" Women's Champion Charlotte Flair and "The Eradicator" Rhea Ripley will be facing off with one another in the ring ahead of their title match at "WrestleMania 39". Ripley secured her spot in the bout after winning the 2023 Women's Royal Rumble and declaring that she would face Flair three years after the pair initially met at "The Grandest Stage of Them All."
Karrion Kross has been playing mind games with Rey Mysterio following his loss to him on the January 27 episode of "SmackDown", questioning his parenting abilities and having some choice words about his mask exchange with Santos Escobar a couple of weeks ago. Tonight, the pair will collide in the ring as they look to settle their differences once and for all.
A huge six-man tag team match is set for tonight, as Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER and his Imperium teammates Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci go head-to-head with Braun Strowman, Ricochet, and Madcap Moss. Moss squared off with GUNTHER for the Intercontinental title during last week's show, but was ultimately unsuccessful in putting an end to the 258 day reign of "The Ring General".
The Firefly Fun House will be making its highly anticipated return for the first time since the end of last month. An unprovoked Uncle Howdy and Bray Wyatt attacked Hit Row during the debut of their latest song last week. Wyatt then put the winner of the match between Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley at last Saturday's "Elimination Chamber" Premium Live Event on notice.
Additionally, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos, Sami Zayn, Solo Sikoa, and former "SmackDown" Women's Champion Ronda Rousey are all advertised to appear on tonight's show.
We are live! The show begins with a video recapping the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn this past Saturday at "Elimination Chamber", as well as the encounter between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens on Monday's "Raw". We then head backstage to Kayla Braxton waiting for Jimmy Uso to arrive to the arena. Jimmy walks in and Braxton asks him if he's spoken to Jey Uso. Jimmy says he hasn't spoken to his brother, but says he's called him and texted him to let him know that he wants to meet him in the ring so they can work out all their issues.
Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet audiences at home as Braun Strowman, Ricochet, and Madcap Moss head to the ring. Imperium follows.
Imperium vs. Braun Strowman, Ricochet and Madcap Moss
Vinci and Moss begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. They go back and forth with submission holds before Moss delivers a shoulder tackle and tags in Ricochet. Ricochet delivers a cannonball-head butt combo as he gets in the ring, then follows it up with a standing shooting star press. Strowman calls for the tag, but Vinci prevents this from happening by delivering a vicious clothesline to Ricochet. Kaiser tags in and delivers a right hand, then hits a boot to Ricochet's midsection and takes a shot at his throat. He takes a cheap shot at Strowman, allowing himself, GUNTHER and Vinci to triple team on Ricochet.
Back from the break, Ricochet delivers a boot to Kaiser's midsection. The pair exchange elbows before Ricochet delivers a knee. Kaiser fires back with a clothesline, then tags in GUNTHER. GUNTHER beats down Ricochet as Drew McIntyre appears on the ramp and watches on. GUNTHER delivers a stomp, then tags in Vinci. Vinci then hits a clothesline.
Ricochet makes the hot tag to Strowman. Strowman levels Vinci and Kaiser, but GUNTHER manages to overpower him and hits him with a dropkick. Moss tags in and delivers a series of shoulders to GUNTHER's midsection. GUNTHER fires back with a release German suplex, then follows it up with a clothesline and a powerbomb for the win.
Winners: Imperium
After the match, The Viking Raiders come out of nowhere and blindside McIntyre with an attack from behind. Sheamus runs down to help out McIntyre, but The Raiders level him. Strowman and Ricochet provide some back-up to Sheamus and McIntyre, allowing the two men to recover and deliver a pair of kicks to Erik and Ivar over the barricade.
We head backstage to Kayla Braxton and Rey Mysterio. Rey says he will make sure he puts an end to Karrion Kross for good, but Santos Escobar walks in and interrupts him before he can continue. Escobar says he and his family value respect more than anything, then says he wants to show the WWE Universe he respects Rey. Rey says the feeling is mutual and the two look to shake hands, but Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley waltz in. Dominik rags on his father and says Kross will put Rey to sleep. Escobar cuts him off and says he needs to learn some respect for his father. Dominik sarcastically wishes his father luck, and he and Ripley leave. Escobar tells Rey not to let their words bother him.
Back from the break, we head backstage to Jimmy Uso, Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa in The Bloodline's locker room. Jimmy vents about the recent animosity between him and his brother, and Heyman tells him that Sikoa will stay in the back with him while he handles Jey alone.
Back at ringside, LA Knight heads down.
We Hear From LA Knight
Knight says everyone has been talking about their own WrestleMania moments while all he wants is one of his own. He says he came to WWE to win titles and make money, and the way to do that is at WrestleMania. He says you can't have an LA WrestleMania without LA Knight, then says he will give WrestleMania an LA Knight moment.
New Day's music hits, and Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston head to the ring. Kingston mocks Knight, then says he doesn't realize how this works. He asks who he is to be demanding anything given his limited time on the main roster. Knight says he doesn't recall inviting them to the ring, then says they would realize they are looking at a perpetual mega machine if they weren't busy playing video games. Woods makes fun of Knight's vest, then says WrestleMania moments are earned. He says Kingston fought for 11 years to get his, and Knight says New Day needs to understand he is a creator of circumstance and not a creature of circumstance. He asks Kingston how Kofi Mania turned out for him, and Kingston says it was successful. He says he wasn't waiting for a WrestleMania moment, but he was fighting for one. He challenges Knight to a match, and Woods calls for Adam Pearce to send a referee to the ring.
Kofi Kingston (w/ Xavier Woods) vs. LA Knight
Back from the break, the bell has rung and Kingston delivers a hurricanrana to Knight. Knight fires back with a shoulder tackle, but Kingston fires back with a standing Tornado. He ascends to the middle rope and delivers a splash to Knight's spine, then ascends to the top rope and hits a crossbody. He begins manipulating Knight's arm, but Knight fires back with an elbow and a few right hands. He delivers a right hand to Kingston's midsection, but Kingston fires back with a couple of right hands of his own. Knight sends him face first into the top turnbuckle, then whips him into the corner.
Back from another break, Kingston delivers a dropkick off the middle rope. Knight sends Kingston's face bouncing off the bottom rope, then delivers a right hand to his spine and a flying shoulder tackle over the top rope. Kingston delivers a jumping knee strike, then follows it up with a pair of shoulder tackles and a dropkick. He delivers the Boom Drop and looks for Trouble In Paradise, but Knight ducks it and plants Kingston with a modified spinebuster. Knight levels Woods on the outside, but Kingston goes flying and takes him down. He tosses him back in the ring and ascends to the top, but Knight meets him there. Woods distracts Knight with his trombone, allowing Kingston to take advantage by sending him crashing off the top rope and delivering Trouble In Paradise for the win.
Winner: Kofi Kingston
Back from the break, Charlotte Flair heads to the ring.
Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley Face Off
Flair calls Ripley to the ring, but when Ripley doesn't appear, she asks her if she's afraid. Dominik Mysterio says Flair can't talk to Ripley that way, and Flair tells Dominik to tell Ripley to come out and face her like a woman. Dominik says Flair sounds jealous of Ripley because of her rising popularity He says Ripley is the exception and is strong, and says they're both second generation stars who know what it's like to be better than their fathers. He calls Rey Mysterio a deadbeat father and says he messed him up, which put a big chip on his shoulder. He tells Flair when Ripley beats her, she'll know her father was right in knowing that she isn't good enough.
Flair says that she actually loves her father and he can still go, and says if he was here, he would kick his ass. She says since he isn't here, she will. Flair looks to attack Dominik, but before she can, Ripley's music hits and she heads to the ring.
Ripley and Flair stare one another down, but Dominik pulls Ripley out of the ring as Flair holds up her title before anything else can happen.
Natalya and Tegan Nox head to the ring, followed by Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey.
Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya
The bell rings and Natalya wastes no time. She fires off right hands and sends Baszler crashing into the corner, but Baszler delivers a modified DDT and removes her kneepad. She looks for a running knee, but Natalya rolls her up. Baszler kicks out and Natalya delivers a Side Russian Leg Sweep. She follows it up with a discus lariat and looks for a Sharpshooter, but Baszler escapes and rolls to the outside. Natalya delivers a kick through the middle rope, then tosses her back in the ring. Baszler delivers a knee to Natalya's jaw, then locks in an arm submission for the win.
Winner: Shayna Baszler
After the match, Baszler and Rousey look to continue to beat down Natalya, but Nox gets in the ring and helps out Natalya. Rousey tells Nox she's finished next week as her and Baszler leave ringside.
The Firefly Fun House Returns
A television on the Fun House set starts flipping through channels until it lands on Bray Wyatt watching his promo through last week. We then head to Ramblin' Rabbit and Wyatt on Fun House News, and Wyatt asks who opened the door. He sends it over to Uncle Howdy on weather before we head over to the Can You Keep A Secret game show. Wyatt asks if you can, and a montage then begins to play as the words "can you keep a secret" are repeated. Uncle Howdy then appears and asks if the viewer could keep a secret after he told a story.
We then head backstage to Jimmy Uso, Paul Heyman, and Solo Sikoa. Heyman shows Jimmy a text from Roman Reigns that says he will be on "SmackDown" next week. He tells Jimmy that if he doesn't deal with Jey tonight, then Reigns will next week.
Back from the break, Rey Mysterio heads down. Karrion Kross and Scarlett follow.
Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett) vs. Rey Mysterio
The bell rings and Rey wastes no time. He fires off right hands, left hands, and kicks. He sends Kross out of the ring, then delivers a tope suicida.
Back from the break, Kross delivers an elbow to Rey. He delivers a boot to Rey's midsection, then sets up for a hurricanrana. Kross powerbombs him into the corner before Rey hits a senton over the top. Kross sends Rey to the outside, then delivers a gutbuster. He tosses him back in the ring, then gets Rey up on his shoulders and ascends to the top. Rey escapes and delivers a hurricanrana, then goes for a pin. Kross kicks out and Rey sends him into the middle rope. He dials up the 619, but Dominik Mysterio appears out of nowhere and grabs his legs, pulling him out of the ring. He eggs Rey on, but Rey decides to do nothing and gets in the ring. Kross takes advantage and delivers a vicious right hand, then locks in the Kross Jacket. Rey fades.
Winner: Karrion Kross
After the match, Dominik tells Rey to get up and be a man. He shoves his father multiple times and Rey becomes increasingly angered. Rey gets in Dominik's face and clenches his fist as Dominik tells Rey to hit him. Rey looks conflicted, but ultimately decides against it and heads to the back.
Back from the break, Jimmy Uso heads to the ring.
Jimmy Uso Calls Jey Uso To The Ring
Jimmy tells Jey if he isn't at the arena, he knows he's watching. He says he knows Jey is torn and hurting, and says when he's hurting, then he is too. Jimmy says he is always there for Jey and says he needs to be here tonight. Jimmy says people have been saying there's cracks in The Bloodline, then says they have a Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn problem.
A hooded Sami Zayn then appears in the ring and stares down Jimmy. He grabs a mic and tells Jimmy he isn't here to fight. He tells Jimmy he needs to talk to him and says every time he uses the word "brother", it breaks his heart because that's what he was to him. Zayn says Jimmy had his back from day one and saw the value in him. He says without him, there would be no Sami Uso but he was hurt when Jimmy attacked him at "Royal Rumble" with no hesitation.
Jimmy calls Zayn selfish and says he was the one who made the choice to hit Roman Reigns with a chair. He says Zayn stepped on him and Jey, then says he did what he had to do for family. Zayn cuts him off and says family doesn't make you test your loyalty, jump hoops, or manipulate Jey. He says Reigns did that to Jey. Jey appears in the crowd as Zayn says he will ensure The Bloodline comes crumbling down, and says Jimmy and Jey don't have to go down with the ship.
Jimmy loses his temper and fires off right hands as Jey heads down to the ring. Jimmy calls for Jey to get in the ring, allowing Zayn to deliver a Helluva Kick. Zayn and Jey then stare one another down before Solo Sikoa runs down to the ring, forcing Zayn to retreat.