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WWE SMACKDOWN TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS REPORT: PUNK SPEAKS, CODY SPEAKS, CODY AND PUNK SPEAK TO EACH OTHER, THE TOURNAMENT BEGINS, DEJA VU . . .KIND OF WITH THE WOMEN, AND MORE

We are back with more photos from previous Tribute to the Troops shows.

CM Punk makes his way to the ring.

Punk says he has good news.  He says he is not at the end of the show so he is not getting his time cut.  He tells the people to chant if they want.

Punk says Adam Pearce is trying to sign him to Raw.  He says he thinks they were a little louder on Raw.  He says people asked him where is he going to sign. He says he is partially going to leave it up to you.  He asks if they want him to be on Raw or on Smackdown.  He asks if they want him to throw 29 other people over the top rope so he can stand on the turnbuckles to point at the Wrestlemania sign.  Punk says the person who welcomed him back with open arms usually asks what do you want to talk about.  Punk says there are some people who don't like the happy go lucky CM Punk who says he likes you guys.  Punk says he would like to be the spicy CM Punk you want to hear.

It isn't what do you want to talk about.  It is who do you want him to talk about?

Punk asks if you want him to talk about Cody Rhodes because he has some stories.  Do you want him to talk about someone who isn't here.  Someone who is never here.  Roman Reigns.  Punk says he acknowledges him and congratulates him on all of his success.  Punk reminds Roman who is Paul Heyman's OG guy.  He says Paul was his wise man.  Punk says he is not familiar with Solo, but he knows his brother Jimmy.  Punk shouts out Jey Uso.  Punk asks if he wants to hang out with Jey on Raw or scrap with Jimmy on Smackdown.  He says Jimmy has a lot of cousins.  If he scraps with Jimmy and he needs back up.

Can he trust a guy he has history with who hears voices in his head.  Can he get along with Randy?  

Another guy who would probably team with him is Randy's partner LA Knight.

Punk says someone mentioned Kevin Owens.   Punk asks if he can tag with Kevin.  Maybe he can fight Kevin.  He says Kevin is a bit prickly and says they are probably too much alike.  He says he doesn't know if he would like to work with someone who randomly punches people in the back.  It is 2023 and you can't be doing that stuff.  He mentions seeing JBL.  Everyone has welcomed him back with open arms, except for that one guy.

Punk says he is not going to give any stock in what he says because of his whiny voice.  He isn't even the man in his own household.  All he has is that song so keep it up, while Punk hears people humming the song.  Punk leads the chorus of humming.  

Punk says we will find out on Monday where he will sign.  He says he will hear from Nick Aldis.  He has a phone call with Shawn Michaels to hear him talk about NXT.  Punk will talk with Adam Pearce in Cleveland on Monday, the city he walked away from WWE almost 10 years ago..

Everyone he has talked about has one glaring thing in their way and that is that he is back and he is in the way of their goals.  Everyone talks about finishing their stories and he is back to start what he began.  He has one goal and that is main eventing Wrestlemania.

CM Punk walks in the back and he sees the door for The Bloodline and he walks past it.

He walks up to Kevin Owens.

Kevin welcomes Punk to Smackdown and walks away.

Match Number Three:  Charlotte Flair versus Asuka (with Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane, and Iyo Sky)

Zelina Vega and Mia Yim stop Iyo and Kairi.

Bianca Belair and Shotzi stop them from leaving and they all brawl.

Flair with a belly-to-back suplex.  Charlotte with a chop in the corner followed by a round off clothesline for a near fall.  Flair with a baseball slide and chops.  Charlotte hits the post on a chop when Asuka moves.  Asuka sends Charlotte into the ring ost and hits a sliding kick.  Charlotte with a back drop driver onto the ringside barrier.  Flair goes up top and goes for a moonsault.

We go to commercial.

We are back and both women are down in the ring and Asuka gets a near fall.  Asuka kicks Flair in the chest a few times.  Asuka with a back heel kick.  Asuka is stopped going into the corner and Charlotte sends Asuka into the turnbuckles.  Charlotte limps to pull Asuka into position for the figure four but she cannot properly apply the hold.  Asuka distracts the referee and Bayley forces Charlotte to release the hold.  Asuka is almost sent into Bayley but she stops short.  Flair with a forearm to Bayley and Asuka with a rollup for the three count.

Winner:  Asuka

Nick gives the papers to Punk for him to think over.

Cody Rhodes enters the office and he says he heard what Punk said.  Cody says that Punk said he needed to win the Royal Rumble to complete his story.  Cody welcomes Punk back and shakes his hand.

We go to commercial.

We are back with more Tribute to the Troops photos.

We take a look back at Logan Paul's appearance last week on Smackdown.

Randy Orton is in the back and LA Knight stops by and so does CM Punk.

Punk wishes them luck and he walks away.

Randy asks Knight if he is ready and Knight says yeah.

We go to commercial.

Next week, Roman Reigns will be on Smackdown.  Grayson Waller will face an NXT Superstar in the tournament.  Kevin Owens faces Austin Theory in the tournament as well.  

Match Number Four;  Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso versus Randy Orton and LA Knight

Orton and Jimmy start things off.  Randy blocks a punch and punches Jimmy a few times.  He punches Jimmy some more and then kicks Jimmy and chokes him in the corner.  Jimmy runs Randy into the corner and Knight tags in and he hits a back elbow.  Orton tags in and Knight has some words for Randy.  Solo is tagged in and Solo prepares the thumb and Jimmy hits Randy from behind.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Jimmy with a reverse chin lock on Orton.  Randy with a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down.  Solo tags in and so does Knight.  Knight with jabs and a swinging neck breaker.  Knight with kicks to Solo in the corner and he hits a running hip on Solo.  Knight with a kick and then Knight knocks Jimmy off the apron.  Solo with a belly-to-belly suplex.  Solo with a punch and he chokes Knight in the ropes.  Jimmy punches Knight and Solo with a suplex for a near fall.  Solo stomps on the hand and gives him a head butt. Knight with punches but Solo stops him with a punch.  Solo sets for a running hip into the corner and hits it.  Jimmy tags in and he waits for Knight to get up.  Knight with a chop.  Solo tags in and they give Knight a hard Irish whip.  Solo sets for the running hip but Knight  moves and Solo hits the ring post.  Solo stops Knight from making the tag but Knight with a bulldog off the turnbuckles.

Orton and Jimmy tag in and Orton with two clotheslines.  He punches Solo and avoids a clothesline from Jimmy and hits a power slam.  Orton is pulled to the floor by Jimmy but Randy avoids being sent into the announce table.  Randy sends Jimmy into the announce table and Orton with a back drop driver onto the announce table.  Orton with an IEDDT to Jimmy.  Orton punches the mat and sets for the RKO but Solo hits Randy from behind.  Solo with a punch to Orton and he looks at his thumb.  Knight with a DDT to Solo.  Randy pulls Jimmy out of a BFT and hits an RKO for the three count.

Winners:  Randy Orton and LA Knight

We go to credits.

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