5. “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins vs. Austin Theory and Angel Garza (w/Zelina Vega) for the Raw Tag Titles.
Phillips and Saxton were on the call. The Profits made a bunch of noise during the match. They got the better of Theory and then dropkicked both opponents. A short time later, Theory dumped Dawkins over the top rope. While the ref was dealing with Theory, Garza delivered a superkick at ringside, then hopped up onto the apron and turned his head the other way.
The challengers isolated Dawkins. Garza removed his tearaway pants and threw them at Dawkins. A short time later, Dawkins made the hot tag to Ford, who performed a leaping clothesline on Garza, then followed up with a standing moonsault for a two count. Ford DDT’d Garza and went for the cover, but Theory broke it up. Dawkins and Theory ended up at ringside. Ford performed a flip dive onto both men. Garza went up top and moonsaulted onto the pile on the floor and yelled “WrestleMania.”
Back in the ring, Garza hit a moonsault from the middle rope and got a two count on Ford. Dawkins took a tag and shoulder blocked Garza to ringside, then ate a superkick from Theory, who followed up with a TKO. Theory went for the cover. Ford performed a springboard frogsplash on Theory, who was then pinned by Dawkins.
The Street Profits beat Austin Theory and Angel Garza in 6:20 to retain the Raw Tag Titles.
After the match, Garza and Theory attacked the Street Profits. Vega entered the ring and kicked Ford while Garza and Theory held him. Bianca Belair ran out and tackled Vega, then threw several punches at her. Belair hit her finisher on Vega and left her lying while the Street Profits cleared the ring. The Street Profits returned to celebrate with Belair, while Phillips noted on commentary that Belair saved her husband Ford. The Profits put Belair on their shoulders while celebrating…
The match felt like it belonged on Raw, but we knew that would be the case once Andrade was pulled due to injury. It’s nothing against Theory, who has a bright future. It’s just that there was no reason to think the makeshift challengers would win the tag titles. Bianca Belair appearing afterward was the highlight and it’s nice that she got a WrestleMania appearance. Here’s hoping her next WrestleMania appearance is a high profile match. She’s a star.
6. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks vs. Naomi vs. Lacey Evans vs. Tamina in a Fatal Five-Way elimination match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
Cole and JBL were on commentary for the match. Tamina was dominant early on. Naomi grabbed her legs. Tamina slammed Naomi’s head into the mat. Evans caught Tamina with a kick. Bayley and Banks teamed up on Tamina, who rolled to ringside.
Evans and Naomi made separate covers on Bayley and Banks for a simultaneous two count. Tamina returned. Bayley and Evans were cleared from the ring. Former Team BAD members Banks, Naomi, and Tamina did their hand gesture, but Tamina superkicked Banks. A short time later, Banks performed a 619 on Tamina, then Bayley dropped a top rope elbow on Tamina. Banks performed a frogslash on Tamina. Evans and Naomi followed up with moves and then all the women piled onto Tamina and pinned her to eliminate her.
Tamina was eliminated by all four opponents in 6:35.
Naomi performed a double sunset flip for a near fall on Bayley and Banks. Naomi hit a Rearview on Banks and a Disaster Kick on Bayley. Naomi put Banks in a submission hold, but Bayley broke it up with a running knee. Banks performed a Backstabber on Naomi and put her in the Bank Statement and got the submission win.
Naomi was eliminated by Sasha Banks in 10:20.
Evans was left alone to face Bayley and Banks. The heel duo doubled up on Evans and went for a simultaneous cover, but Evans kicked out. Banks held Evans in the corner. “This is for Summer,” Bayley yelled in reference to Evans’ daughter. Bayley charged, but Evans moved and Bayley accidentally caught Banks with a knee that knocked her out of the ring.
After an exchange with Bayley and Evans, Banks returned to the ring and was upset with Bayley, who told her they needed to get rid of Evans and deal with it later. Evans tried to hit Banks from behind, but Bayley shoved Banks out of the way. Bayley shoved Evans, who tagged Banks with the Woman’s Right and pinned her.
Sasha Banks was eliminated by Lacey Evans in 13:25.
The match came down to Bayley and Evans. Bayley ran Evans into the ring post. Evans sold a shoulder injury. Bayley covered her for a two count. Bayley targeted the shoulder while Cole said it was a different Bayley than he was used to seeing. Bayley tied Evans hand up with a tag rope and continued to target her arm and shoulder. Evans caught Bayley with a kick and then freed herself.
Evans threw several kicks at Bayley. Evans went to the middle rope, saluted, and hit her rope to rope moonsault and got a near fall. Evans teased the Woman’s Right, but Banks returned to the ring and performed a Backstabber on Evans. Bayley drove Evans’ face into the mat and then pinned her.
Bayley eliminated Lacey Evans to win the Fatal Five-Way elimination match in 19:20 to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship.
After the match, Banks put the belt on Bayley and raised her arm. Banks went to ringside and watched while Bayley yelled at Evans and the broadcast team that nobody can touch her…
I wasn’t sure where they were going with Banks and Bayley, but Banks helping Bayley win the match was a letdown. The match was solid. As much as Bayley’s title reign has been an afterthought, sticking with her as champion feels like it’s starting to actually pay off in that it should mean something if the right person beats her to win the title.
