Ups & Downs: WWE SmackDown Review (Mar 22)

Our WWE Smackdown review as Simon Miller recaps Santos Escobar vs. Rey Mysterio, Austin Theory & Grayson Waller vs. The O.C., IYO SKY vs. Naomi, LA Knight getting arrested at AJ Styles house, The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain, Cody Rhodes and Roman going face to face and much more.
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[@ampbains]

I totally lost it when Kevin Owens went, "RANDY!!! I DID IT!!!!" I feel like that deserved an up of its own. 🤣🤣🤣

[@MadRaiiden]

That was absolutely hilarious haha I know they'll probably use that match to build some tension between Randy and Kevin ahead of the triple threat, but man do I wish they'd keep them together for a while longer, amazing duo hahaha

[@psychorabbitt]

When that happened, I was still laughing from Owens calling out to Orton, and Orton was literally shoulder to shoulder with Pretty Deadly.

[@adamdwyer776]

That and hey Randy want to hang out on your bus!

[@LaMessi22]

LA and AJ segment was funny af😂 Heat is real.

[@darrelladams4188]

LA AJ segment Golden Up.

[@kamenriderovant9676]

AJ Styles is working from home. 😅

[@talemwakaheru5831]

​@@kamenriderovant9676 😂😂😂 he is sending his promos via correspondence

[@tomseville2345]

"This is Gainesville!! You don't know nuthin' 'bout it!!" 🤣🤣 Most redneck thing I've ever heard...

[@QAZ-OMEN]

I loved that 😂😂great stuff

[@zodi9783]

That home invasion was great. I was sports entertained highly by it

[@scxiao]

First Riddle and now Owens, I love this new "Randy Orton just chilling out making friends with the babyfaces" phase he is in

[@andrewhamilton328]

I love that Nick Aldis warned pretty deadly not to stand close together

[@KedarOthort]

Cody did specifically say, "If you came alone, then I came alone," so technically he didn't lie.

[@seanblake7554]

Thank you, came here to say that exact same thing

[@gershomtan5879]

Semantics tbh. I wouldn't see Cody as any less of a good guy if he told a small lie. All's fair in love and war.

[@yomamasofat77]

Lol why is this so controversial?

[@KedarOthort]

@@gershomtan5879 it is semantics, but that's the kind of word play I love. Sure if he did lie to Roman I wouldn't think less of him, but the fact he technically didn't lie just makes it better because it means he beat Roman at the mind games.

[@KedarOthort]

@@yomamasofat77 I wouldn't call it controversial, I just appreciate a carefully worded statement that is technically true.

[@aaronhurst4379]

That Styles and Knight segment was reminiscent of an Impact (now TNA) bit. Wouldn't surprise me if Jeremy Borash was involved in producing it

[@mikea1785]

Simon you are an international treasure and we must protect you at all costs amazing video!

[@aegisd77]

Cody didn't lie. He said he was alone if Roman was alone. Phrasing is everything lol

[@sujiks9517]

Exactly, as soon as Cody said that I knew both of them were not alone

[@dan7291able]

Lol AJ starting to look like Macho Man out here holy shit lol getting JACKED,

[@SankalpSaraf]

Love how its so abundantly obvious that someone in Creative watches Simon, and his jokes about wrestlers being late to work, to add that clock in subsequent episodes!

[@SamiSolo5]

I just deeped Simon basically cuttin promos every ups n downs. Props man

[@unholyperiodza5442]

Dom vs Rey round 2? Nah its Dom and Santos vs Rey and Andrade because they were foreshadowing Andrade mocking Dom on Raw.

[@TheTony024]

Thats a good match to get all 4 on one of the Mania cards. Perhaps pre show but it feels illegal to put those talented dudes on a pre show.

[@jchinnjr]

I love that the episode didn’t end with a brawl. Roman showed that he could have jumped Cody if he wanted, and Cody showed he wasn’t dumb enough to let that happen.

[@TWMTV]

Sometimes I miss wwe but I make sure not to miss your review ❤

[@TarekTamo]

Man, I was depressed and I watched this video and I laughed at every joke for no reason. Incredible energy, thank you Simon UP

[@TheTony024]

Im watching this on break from work. I am now in a better mood because Simon does have infectious humor and passion for wrestling.

[@snakuvudu]

AJ looking jacked.

[@PeacefulSubmission]

Roman really should be on the Hater of the Year board. :D

[@ChrisLT]

I was just glad to see Asuka kicking people, hopefully she wasn't injured after all.

[@matthewhostetter8974]

That was the most important thing. She was walking and dancing around like normal. Might have just pulled a muscle.

[@bigchees3850]

Shouldn't actually get f****** hurt.That's all work

[@JustMNY]

if you are watching the "full segment" from the reigns vs cody promo on WWE channel.. skip to 18:50 and listen to that girl in the crowd xD carnage.

[@revsynzac254]

I had to rewind that bit twice to check who said it... I almost didn't believe that she wasn't planted by wwe themselves

[@Jeff.fl0w]

LA Knight getting arrested at AJ styles house was giving me Triple H Randy feud vibes

[@MadRaiiden]

The more weeks go by, the more I love Kevin Owens. And he already was one of my fav wrestlers for a while now haha The whole segment was hilarious, but him running off to Randy after double punching pretty deadly being like "hey randy I did it!" was so funny

[@qui-gonjinn7329]

Cody needs to come out and talk about how hypocritical it is for Roman to call him a politician. “Roman, you seem to forget that it was only a couple of years ago that you were the politician. The big dog, believe that. Hell, and they tried so hard to get these people to love you but they saw right through you and your blue contacts. Deep down, you know that you wanted to be everything that I’ve become. You wanted to be the good guy but you were just another bad actor. Sure Roman, you have the most prestigious prize that my entire existence wagers on, but I have something that you don’t, the love from these people. It hurts you so bad that every time you come out here you beg them to acknowledge you. I don’t need to ask them to acknowledge me Roman. You wanna know why? Because I earned it! That is unfathomable to you, so it’s no wonder why you think I’m just a politician. You are quite good at hiding it, but it’s obvious that veneer of confidence you exude is only decaying more and more as the days go on. You’re insecure, it’s why you NEEDED the rock to acknowledge you because he’s a threat in your spotlight. But don’t let the Rock distract you from the biggest threat to your existence, me! I’ve got the people behind me, I even got the blue eyes to back it up. But unfortunately for you Roman, I can’t put that on the line for you to have the chance to take it from me. You say that I’m the one with everything to lose, my story is gonna end? No, because whether you want to admit it or not, Roman it is you who has everything to lose. So on April 7th, when I say I am going to take everything from you, I am talking about this title because it is the ONLY thing that you have intangible or not! And when I take it from you not only will I finish my story but I’ll finish yours too. I will have the fairytale ending that you wanted so bad, I will be the blue eyed hero who hoists his prize high in the air and have the entire world cheer with joy that I have stayed the dragon. ROMAN REIGNS! I AM YOUR NIGHTMARE AND I AM COMING TO TAKE YOUR DREAMS AWAY FROM YOU!”

[@everythingship8226]

Wonderful Promo....you should Dm this tomcody, he'll read it

[@cartertalkshoops]

Nah this incredible WWE should hire you

[@mattTHEEgreat]

Paul Hayman was awesome as usual in that final segment. Just how he reacts in the background adds just a little touch

[@user-mh6mw6jn4h]

I think Kabukis vs Fresh Glow of Belair would be a great WM Addition. Good for the title and potentially a fantastic match

[@OhSoNasty]

Pls never come up w a stable name again 🔥🔥

[@Deathcatclub]

That was gay 😂

[@MaxwellYeboah-ef3lk]

I had to wait for your review 😅 I love Simon miller

[@tomseville2345]

Really thought Rey had re-injured his knee on his two springboard slip-ups... Made the match very awkward afterwards, like Rey was walking on eggshells...

[@0PhillMC0]

An issue I have is some of the teams that are trying to qualify for the wrestlemania ladder match are also trying to go for the NXT tag titles. Makes the outcome a little more predictable. LWO, The OC, etc.

[@Dr_1212]

Didn't see it but sounds like the Rock upstaged both Roman & Cody

[@tomseville2345]

Weird they went back to Rey vs Dom two weeks before this year's Mania; everyone assumed it was all LWO vs LDF at Mania, if at all. We assumed they would do a Mask vs Hair Match last year at Mania 39, or wait a year until 40, but not on two weeks notice...

[@TheTony024]

I love Smackdowns announce team. Cory is pretty good on play by play and Barrett is awesome in color. They can be the next great duo for Smackdown. Pretty funny sometimes too, even mid matches.

[@teriquelloyd8403]

Dom Dom needs to be on that haters list

[@joshhorne4225]

If you were mad at the ending then you don’t know wrestling because WWE is doing everything they can to not make either Roman or Cody look weak

[@MrMajesticMajesty]

I'm kinda sad Solo has gotten lost in the shuffle of all this where he doesn't even have a match for Wrestlemania.

[@VitorSalvan]

dom and santos vs rey and dragon lee at wrestlemania

[@ourladyofguadalupebotanica6732]

Goofy Wrestling for Life - good stuff

[@blaze5412]

I just love the Phoenix down comment 😂😂

[@RaghavanN]

WrestleMania season peaking at right time.Smackdown was 🔥, particularly the ending!

[@kennyhall9117]

SIMON IS THE BEST, SIMON NUMBER ONE 👏👏

[@SithScribe21]

13:50 we don’t talk about Brunoooo 🎵

[@HeelSection3825]

I read "Pain." It was a surprisingly uplifting book.

[@GrymmJymm]

I died laughing at LA Knight. Between him beating a tv with a chair, then getting arrested for a home invasion cuz “its mania baby, totally worth going to jail”…..his character is now like the five year old who is mad cuz his brother got juice and he got milk. “Stoopid AJ hogging my juice, totally worth getting put in time out for hitting him with a choo-choo!”

[@quanmfsanchez411]

14:35 that fan should get hired she better on the mic than half the women on the roster without a mic in her hand😂🤣🤷🏾‍♂️

[@michaelstankowski835]

It's great to see Milwaukee on the background.

[@user-cz2nh4eq8q]

I like how they just cut Roman’s song to put Cody’s lol

[@lordtao5617]

I am gonna love hearing all the "the Rocks a bit past it" and " The Rocks matches were OK?" reviews for WM cause it really isn't gonna go down the way people think it will.

[@MannanGoel]

This Tag team tournament is taking a lot of match slots and they aren't integral storyline pieces at all. Could've had a tag team battle royale on Raw and Smackdown each and get over with it.

[@HighHeelKnight]

I still find it ridiculous that WWE has become obsessed about showing us when the superstars "clock-in for work." 🤦

[@Morganj27]

Is that a new thing? Or have they always done that?

[@user-mh6mw6jn4h]

Strangely, the Main Event was the weakest Part of Smackdown this week.

[@frankhoward6645]

Smackdown was crazy I love how Dom continues his feud with his father it's awesome

[@banealexander7973]

We're not gonna acknowledge the Bullet Club ref?? I freaked when I heard it lol

[@benjaminfreeburg3190]

Anderson, Waller and Theory are massively underrated

[@azrael_ao1]

The first team that beat the shield was Team Hell No and Randy orton. I remember it because they announced it when they got beat

[@NamiMononoke]

And it was Seth that took the L too lol

[@zerofudou5689]

@@NamiMononoke Yep, Seth tapped to the Yes lock.

[@brandonnewby178]

Recurring Up for Timmy! 😂😂

[@brandonnewby178]

You know what it actually that means. It was a solid analogy

[@philipbickham7551]

I was looking for this last Saturday morning 😂

[@phillipmiller8560]

"You have to forgive me, my brain has just stopped."

[@numero1superfly393]

WWE Rematch Counter: 47

[@ToonAlphaUnit]

Going to Simon Miller > Going to Wrestlemania

[@tombourne4273]

I'm back watching WWE again after a long long hiatus. I previously watched around 2008-2011. Last time I saw Cody Rhodes he was in a tag team with Ted Dibiase Jr. Kinda crazy to see him as this big star now, but cool nonetheless. What do people mean when they talk about Cody 'finishing the story'? Is it simply him winning the championship?

[@kylerogers7633]

My best friends were in the VIP front seats for this show!

[@aymaanchowdhury81]

Boy did they get scammed for a mid show

[@thomashicks3106]

May be an unpopular opinion but I don't need or want Mysterio vs Mysterio part 2. The first one was built up perfectly with a satisfying close. I'd rather see a five on five mix tag. LdF with Dom and Elektra vs lWo with zelina vega

[@philipbickham7551]

10 ups and a golden up for RAW I'm impressed

[@Niac022]

Naomi's incredible hair design gets an up!

[@Monaayy29]

I’m so not looking forward to what the IWC will be like after Wrestlemania.

[@babyshak98]

No ones talking about the fact roman avoided the hell out of the question just like the politicians he would start to describe. The promo was crazy cant lie

[@Taylorac1111]

Cody said he wore his BULLET cuff links, which mean he knows about nontrust and the like…I good cross reference imo

[@grahamc446]

AOP to cost Street Profits the match next week and that will set up a Philadelphia Street Fight at WrestleMania between The Final Testament vs Lashley & Street Profits Also, Jade to join the team of Bianca & Naomi and, if Asuka is cleared it’ll be Jade, Bianca & Naomi vs Damage CTRL. Could even have a Bianca heel turn soon if she wants to go in that direction. Overall I thought it was a very solid Smackdown

[@I_Am_The_Po-Po69]

I came here to say something similar to your first part. It's very strange that Simon said he didn't think theory and waller would be in the wrestlemania ladder match when is extremely obvious that aop is going to help them win to continue that fued.

[@covtree123]

I kinda wanna see bianca turn heel

[@bbsy1]

Cody didn’t lie, he said he came alone if Roman did.

[@mattlovespeebee]

I just hoping that anything will happen to take the Tribal Queef out FOREVER!!!

[@letclevespeak3099]

What if bayley does the simpl finger poke of doom to beat iyo lol

[@matthewhostetter8974]

All the matches were good last night. The LA Knight breaking into AJ's house angle was one of the better ones. Far better than when Grayson Waller invaded the Gargano home. Looks like we could be doing "Super" Cena...I mean Bianca and Naomi vs Damage CTRL at Mania. Which sadly means Asuka will take another L. I'd rather see Bianca vs TIFFY Time. WWE seems to have big plans for Bron and finally Jade will debut on Smackdown. The Cody/Roman promo was good but went a bit longer than it should have. The show just didn't seem to have as big of an impact as the last couple.

[@DrezzyEFTP]

As of 3/15/24, a new winged eagle heavyweight championship belt is priced at 429.99, you know the same belt cody said he wanted to bring back

[@brettpiper4208]

I kinda hope Kevin and randy don't have a major fallout before wrestlemania. Just because I want them to recreate the HBK vs Triple H vs john cena Triple threat spot when HBK super kicked Triple H at the start of the match. Have Randy RKO Kev at the start just to throw a spanner in the works😅😅

[@kevinmeeks5169]

I wouldn't mind seeing a town down under in the ladder match

[@miqueeli]

I fucking swear if WWE books Kabuki Warriors against Bianca and Naomi…

[@SpiteHook09]

No, they aren't booking that... It will be Dakota/Asuka/Kairi vs Trinity/Bianca/Jade instead

[@justingraham2678]

Iyo Sky always looks drunk when she walks to the ring! Lol

[@terrancetlb]

Orton, Kane & Daniel Bryan was the 1st team to beat the Shield as a team on a episode of Smackdown 🤔

[@alifaisal1291]

Rhodes family beat reigns and Rollins. First team to beat reigns and Rollins when they were tag team champions in a traditional tag match.

[@jeffreyhuggins4786]

The LA vs AJ segment is a re-try of the Stone Cold vs (RIP) Brian Pillman storyline but done correctly. I get the tease for Rey vs Dominik but what about Rey vs Escobar? What about Carlito? To me, AOP has the same problem as Indus Sher. Just 2 big impressive "looking" brutes but can't connect with the fans. Didn't like Cody offering a handshake after the beyond extreme insulting that has taken place over time. It was an eh kinda show. Let's hope next week is better.

[@PocketTJ]

I want Cody to win but just think about it. How emotional how big how angry would the WWE Universe be if Roman won. Would that be the biggest heel win in history? Could it match up with the Bret Heart screw over?

[@DrezzyEFTP]

7:30 finally someone actually says something positive about Jade because I keep seeing negative comments on about her

[@MannanGoel]

Santos and Dominic vs Rey Mysterio and Bad Bunny. BIG MATCH

[@QueThaMusic]

I wanna see authors of pain v gates of agony, that would be fire 🔥

[@_Pauper_]

Big Down for the Gallows and Anderson final.

[@Mr_Oggie]

"I want to see this match again" - you probably will. WWE seems to some kind of thing going on the last couple of years where all the Mexican wrestlers just seem to mingle/wrestle/feud with other Mexican wrestlers. Like even the big return of Andrade... he signs with RAW and then immediately starts looking to hang around with Dominik. So once this incarnation of the LWO/Legado feud is over it'll probably just start up again.

[@johnbennett7863]

Smack down was great Simon Miller with be in my home town Philly and make me feel warm and fuzzy in my tum tum it's the same house

[@user-gd4ui1jd4d]

Santos and Dom vs Andrade and Rey. I really Wana see this now

[@Kira-osity]

I thought the most useless move was the Blue Thunder bomb. Because it is the least devastating move in all sports entertainment. Did it work. No. Because it never does

[@mephistro]

Simon, you always proclaim you love long-term storytelling but then you're going to gush over a Rey/Dom match at Wrestlemania that literally had zero build and came out of nowhere? And simply because Creative dropped the ball on setting up something for Dom to do at Wrestlemania 40???

[@danielliens5360]

I love coca cola. But I had a Sprite today. Variety, pal

[@mephistro]

@@danielliens5360 lazy writing isn't variety lmao

[@danielliens5360]

@@mephistro that's the point missed. I'm saying somebody can love long term story telling but also enjoy short/lazy story telling. That was your original point,wasnt it?

[@mephistro]

@@danielliens5360 that's true but Simon has always given lazy out-of-nowhere plot points and matches a down. And he's professed numerous times to love long-term booking. So lately it's really frustrating listening to his feedback and views because he's not consistent.

[@travismcmillen3485]

That fan got an golden up

[@coreylee9342]

Macho Man AJ Savage

[@HorsieWalker]

Cody is a great guy but he's simply not entertaining. WWE needs to go big and get MJF

[@thechamp8162]

Please keep the arrivals coming at the start 😂

[@SpiteHook09]

Man, I hope Iyo loses. Bayley has carried this faction and feud so hard and this is the first time she's had a 1vs1 at Mania. Let her have a W, please.

[@stug5041]

I think Bayley is going to get the Cody at WM39 treatment at mania and beat Iyo in a rematch at summerslam - and I hope I’m right!

[@SpiteHook09]

She needs to win because Iyo can't cut a promo

[@Malacus9000]

I've had the PRIVILEDGE of seeing Jade wrestle live, Disappointed I won't be able to watch SD this week :(

[@itsdanj23]

Santos and Dom v Rey and Dragon Lee?

[@BlackdaPhenomenal1]

Either Lee or El Edolo

[@elpaisadelosangeles1312]

Street profits need a push as solo wrestlers…a lot of talent

[@sakumayb9304]

I love seeing Festus destroying everyone, just like old days

[@natsukisubaru1732]

both roman and cody still lack massive charisma and mic skills. roman gets away with it more due to being the champ and his heel character just giving glares and paul heyman being his mouthpiece. but cody? yikes. just lame. They need The Rock. Cody's Theme music has more charisma than cody himself.