The Rock made a surprise return on Friday Night SmackDown this week, and the crowd went wild. The electrifying superstar received a thunderous pop from the audience in Denver, reminding us of what a true star looks like. The Rock’s appearance was a great reminder of why a match between him and Roman Reigns should happen sooner rather than later. It’s a dream match that would undoubtedly be a license to print money.
But The Rock wasn’t the only surprise of the night. Former NFL player and current WWE commentator Pat McAfee made an appearance on the show, adding to the excitement. However, the segment featuring Austin Theory being clowned on by the stars didn’t translate as well for viewers watching at home due to the obnoxious muting by FOX. Nevertheless, it was still an incredibly fun opening segment.
During The Rock’s backstage encounter with John Cena, the two hugged it out, thankfully putting to rest any rumors of a Thrice in a Lifetime match. The main event segment of the night featured Cena as the special guest on “The Grayson Waller Effect.” Waller took shots at Cena for not wanting to wrestle anymore, and before Cena could respond, Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa attacked him. AJ Styles came to Cena’s rescue, highlighting the ongoing tension between Styles and The Bloodline.
LA Knight continued his program with The Miz, and once again, Knight came out on top, defeating Miz clean after hitting the Blunt Force Trauma. Knight grabbed a microphone and made it clear that he’s coming after a title, mentioning Roman Reigns to a thunderous pop. Backstage, Solo Sikoa watched this and expressed his concern about Knight becoming a problem, but Paul Heyman dismissed it until Reigns gives the order.
In other matches and segments, Finn Balor defeated AJ Styles with interference from Jimmy Uso, Santos Escobar challenged Rey Mysterio for a championship opportunity, The Suit Profits mocked the LWO while Bobby Lashley made it clear they’re filling the power vacuum, and Pretty Deadly had a brief appearance, teasing their return to action soon.
The show ended with a match between Asuka and Bayley, with Dakota Kai trying to help Bayley focus. However, Shotzi interfered, assisting Bayley in the win. The show was filled with excitement and surprises, making it a great watch for fans.
Overall, Friday Night SmackDown delivered a fantastic show with tons of fun moments. The Rock’s return and the ongoing storylines involving Roman Reigns, LA Knight, and The Bloodline have fans eagerly anticipating future episodes. It’s clear that WWE is building towards some exciting matches and developments.
Grade: A-
For more details on the latest episode of SmackDown, you can read the full recap and reactions here.