Winners And Grades As Sami Zayn Challenges Roman Reigns

WWE SmackDown advertised Roman Reigns addressing the fallout from the highly emotional angle to conclude the WWE Royal Rumble. Reigns and Sami Zayn are projected to main event Elimination Chamber in Zayn’s home country of Montreal.

SmackDown also advertised Charlotte Flair vs. Sonya Deville and the SmackDown tag team tournament finals as IMPERIUM took on Braun Strowman and Ricochet. SmackDown also advertised a Women’s Elimination Chamber qualifying Fatal 4-Way between Zelina Vega, Shotzi, Shayna Bazsler and Natalya.

Last week’s broadcast of SmackDown drew 2.544 million viewers.

WWE SmackDown Results | February 3, 2023

• Braun Strowman and Ricochet def. IMPERIUM
• Charlotte Flair def. Sonya Deville | SmackDown Women’s Championship
• Viking Raiders def. Brawlin’ Brutes

WWE SmackDown Ratings

• January 27, 2023 | 2.544 million
• January 20, 2023 | 2.257 million
• January 13, 2023 | 2.326 million
• January 6, 2023 | 2.257 million
• December 30, 2022 | 2.679 million

• WWE SmackDown Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenvile, S.C.)
• WWE SmackDown Tickets Distributed: 9,604
• Available Tickets: 179

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WWE SmackDown Winners and Grades

Braun Strowman and Ricochet def. IMPERIUM

Wade Barrett, not Pat McAfee, joined Michael Cole on commentary. Much as I love McAfee, based on McAfee’s rusty performance at the Royal Rumble, I consider it an upgrade.

Braun Strowman and Ricochet are developing into one helluva tag team, reminiscent of Team Hell No. I’m also looking forward to when they inevitable split. Once that feud begins, I’m begging for endless “flippy flopper” references.

I’m very much looking forward to Strowman and Ricochet vs. The Usos next week, not necessarily because of this tournament, but because Jey Uso is M.I.A. and I’m intrigued to see how (or if) The Usos work together coming out of the Bloodline storyline at Royal Rumble.

Strowman and Ricochet vs. IMPERIUM Grade: B

Charlotte Flair def. Sonya Deville

Though Sonya Deville noted she would be facing Charlotte Flair, the fact that Rhea Ripley challenged Flair—and not the SmackDown Women’s Championship—was a spoiler for this match.

Charlotte Flair’s endless TV feud against Sonya Deville ended in another clean victory.

Charlotte Flair vs. Sonya Deville Grade: C+

Viking Raiders def. Brawlin’ Brutes

Ridge’s nickname of “Ridge the Fridge” isn’t terrible.

Wade Barrett noted that the Brawlin’ Brutes are “harder than a coffin nail and tougher than a woodpecker’s lips.”

Shouldn’t Sheamus and Drew McIntyre be participating in this feud based on how last week ended?

Shockingly, The Viking Raiders won clean, leading to a brawl with the Banger Bros. Sounds like WWE is building the Viking Raiders up for the Banger Bros afterall.

Brawlin’ Brutes vs. Viking Raiders Grade: B-

Natalya def. Shayna Baszler, Zelina Vega and Shotzi

WWE is allowing the Final Four women in the Royal Rumble to automatically advance to the Elimination Chamber, which I love.

Wade Barrett referred to Shotzi’s offense as “kamikaze offense,” which is such a perfect description based on her proclivity for dangerous dives.

Natalya will be a huge hometown favorite in Montreal.

Women’s Fatal 4-Way Grade: C

Roman Reigns Addresses Future of The Bloodline

Jimmy Uso’s continuous attempts to call Jey went straight to voicemail. Reigns sent The Bloodline back to the bus to enjoy a steak and sushi spread, since he needed to handle this alone.

Reigns walked out with Paul Heyman while wearing a Reigns-Heyman t-shirt, probably so he could sell more merch.

Roman Reigns received a mixed reaction that leaned toward heel as fans chanted for Sami to begin his promo.

Roman Reigns said Cody Rhodes actually deserved a title shot, but the “simple folks” reduced him to talking about the past, so he moved forward talking about Sami Zayn.

Sami Zayn ambushed Roman Reigns to a raucous reaction. He speared Reigns before The Bloodline pounced on him. Then Reigns cut an awesome promo on Zayn (while being drowned out by chants of “we want Jey”), saying he wanted to embarrass Sami Zayn in Montreal in front of his family just like Zayn embarrassed Reigns in front of his. That match will be phenomenal, and the inevitable Usos vs. Zayn and Owens match at WrestleMania should headline Night 1.

Main Event Segment Grade: A