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Welcome to my live, ongoing blog for Friday Night Smackdown!
We are live from within the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA!
The taping opened with a video package on last year's Wrestlemania in Hollywood.
The opening match on the taping is Tiffany Stratton vs. Mia Yim aka Michin. Michin got a nice response. Stratton got a nice response. Michin attacked Stratton's leg and then nailed a cannonball in the corner. Philly chanted for Tiffy Time. They went to the floor, where Stratton sent Yim into the barricade and scored a two count. Stratton drilled her against the ropes with a hip attack and scored another two count. The crowd rallied Michin but he was caught with some chops, Michin used a double leg takedown but was booed by Philly. Welcome to Philly!
Michin went to the top but was knocked over the ropes by Stratton. She went for Eat Defeat but it was blocked. Stratton nailed her as the crowd chanted for Tiffany. She went for a moonsault but Michin blocked it. Stratton nailed an Alabama Slam for the pin.
Your winner, Tiffany Stratton!
They introduced Corey Graves and Bad News Barrett as the announce team.
WWE SPEED MATCH: JD McDonaugh vs. Axiom.
With three minutes in the time limit, they immediately went after each other. Axiom hit a moonsault to the floor. He went for a move off the top but was dropkicked on the way down. McDonaugh nailed a discus lariat. Axiom used a pinning combination but JD kicked up and nailed a lariat. They battled until McDonaugh scored the pin.
Johnny Gargano vs. Angel Garza next week.
They aired a video feature running down all the major storylines leading into tonight's Smackdown episode. It's a pretty smart idea. I've never seen it done in all my years attending Smackdown tapings, so it has to be a pretty recent addition to the tapings.
FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN
As they went into the opening package for Smackdown, the crowd chanted "Wrestlemania."
BIG POP when they showed The Philly venues on the screen.
We are opening with The KO Show. Big pop for Kevin Owens' entrance. He introduced his guest, Randy Orton. Massive reaction for Orton's appearance. Owens said the U.S. Title match is going to be a pretty big match. The place BOOED the mere mention of Logan Paul's name. They are united by a hatred of Logan. Philly chanted that Logan sucks.
Logan Paul, at the Wrestlemania entrance stage in Lincoln Financial Field next door, interrupted them. He told Philly to shut up. They started giving him the "What" treatment. He promised to remain the United States title. Owens said that he's talking a lot of trash for someone across the street. Orton and Owens decide to go to the stadium and run out through the crowd.
Time for The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal!
They ran a vignette where Owens and Orton stole a golf cart to drive to Lincoln Financial Field. They stole the cart from Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, who chased after it.
They aired a nice video putting over the legacy of Andre The Giant. Bronson Reed, Ricochet and Omos got their own individual entrances live. Omos was a monster. There were some Tozawa chants. The Creed Brothers looked good a they tried to take out Omos. He used his strength to throttle them over the top but his momentum ended up eliminating Omos himself as well. Philly popped for that! Omos wiped out the Creeds on the floor.
Otis, Ivar and Reed all faced off and battled as the crowd chanted for MEAT. JD McDonaugh knocked Ricochet from the apron as he was valiantly battling off several of the bigger men. All proud of himself when he returned to the ring, JD turned into a clothesline and was sent to the floor. KARMA! The final sequences with Otis, Tozawa, Ivar and Reed were all great. I think Tozawa and Otis collided in scary fashion when Ivar tossed Tozawa at Otis on the floor. Ivar and Reed battled. Ivar missed a moonsault and Reed squashed him and tossed Ivar out. Ivar wins and it's a very worthy and deserving victory.
More on Page 2!
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