I do love the ol’ “you gotta read the fine print” in pro wrestling contracts. On Friday’s “SmackDown,” Paul Heyman stressed to general manager Nick Aldis, with War Games contract in hand, that the agreement states he could choose any member of the WWE roster across all brands to fill out Team Vision. (The brand part was really a red herring for the big reveal at the end of the show.)
• Jey Uso def. The Miz • Ilja Dragunov def. Axiom to retain the United States Championship • LA Knight def. Zack Ryder in the “Last Time Is Now” Tournament • Jade Cargill def. B-Fab in a non-title match • Cody Rhodes def. Bronson Reed by DQ to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship
• Welcome back, Zack Ryder (aka Matt Cardona). He had a great showing against LA Knight in the “Last Time Is Now” Tournament — something to be expected since he’s a talented veteran and current king of the independent scene. Ryder looked great. Only time will tell if this is parlayed into a full-time return to WWE for Ryder, but either way, he’s not hard to find because he’s … “Alwayz Ready.”
• Sami Zayn is medically cleared to compete, and his promo in the ring, which was interrupted by Solo Sikoa and the MFTs, is leading to a traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match on “SmackDown” on Nov. 28, as Rey Fenix, AJ Styles and the Motor City Machine Guns also got in on the action.
• Jade Cargill destroyed B-Fab in the exact type of match you want to see a heel Jade Cargill in. Total destruction, dominant and powerful, cocky pin, exuding confidence. That’s what will further vault Cargill into megastardom.
The match between Rhodes and Reed for the Undisputed WWE Championship seemed hastily put together, both in the segment (Rhodes demanded the match to Aldis after Reed and Heyman got on his nerves backstage) and also in plot point. It felt like a match that didn’t need to be for the championship, but ultimately, the title was secondary to all the pandemonium that followed. The Vision fought the Usos and Rhodes until McIntyre, who was suspended last week, returned and caused carnage. It looks like Reed, Bron Breakker, Logan Paul and McIntyre are the foursome with one left to fill, while Rhodes, Jimmy and Jey Uso and CM Punk line up on the other side. The next two weeks will reveal the fifth member on each side, leading into the Survivor Series: War Games match. Right now, I’m leaning toward the villains standing tall, because the titles won’t be on the line. Let them get an important win heading into future title matches.
• I’m not a fan of Tommaso Ciampa not getting a United States title match because he’s “a jackass,” which seemed to be the singular reason champion Ilja Dragunov doesn’t want to face him. Other wrestlers in the same situation as Ciampa would have punched Dragunov in the face, leading to a match, and not taken it and left. What might be a likely outcome is this back-and-forth being dragged out for a few more weeks before it becomes a throwaway title match on “SmackDown,” never to be brought up again. I wouldn’t mind Ciampa getting a United States title run, but Dragunov is too hot right now.
.@HeymanHustle does have a point…@RealNickAldis did say ANYBODY 🤷@DMcIntyreWWE pic.twitter.com/1DGijysDz0
Is it @RealLAKnight’s time? 🤔@RealLAKnight just advanced in the Last Time is Now Tournament!! pic.twitter.com/e8oF2pngwA
SHE’S OUT?! 😳@MsCharlotteWWE just left @RheaRipley_WWE, and @Iyo_SkyWWE high and dry ahead of WarGames… pic.twitter.com/wOvf1uIq4z
.@Axiom_WWE was pulling out all the stops 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/VspATbScgm
LET’S GO!!!@SamiZayn is medically cleared AND he has backup 👊 pic.twitter.com/7xRV0oVtb5
WHO’S NEXT?! @Jade_Cargill is putting everyone on notice 😤 pic.twitter.com/1zMz4x7SPo