The tag team division took the reins on SmackDown as RK-Bro and The Usos exchanged words and physicality. Randy Orton and Riddle accepted the challenge posed by Jey and Jimmy Uso to unify the Raw and SmackDown tag team titles at WrestleMania Backlash.
Undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns decreed on last week's SmackDown that it was time for The Bloodline to achieve complete supremacy. The Usos were tasked with becoming undisputed champions, much like Reigns did by defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38. Not content with playing the B-side, Orton and Riddle brought the fight to their new rival on Friday night.
Elsewhere on SmackDown, Ricochet defended his intercontinental championship and Drew McIntyre continued to hunt down Sami Zayn. Other notable stars that appeared on Friday included SmackDown women's champion Charlotte Flair and former WWE champion Kofi Kingston.
CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
RK-Bro accepts The Usos challenge to unify tag team titles
Raw tag team champions Randy Orton and Riddle kicked off SmackDown by reflecting on being attacked by SmackDown tag team champions Jimmy and Jey on Monday's episode of Raw. Enter The Usos, who delivered a raw and rugged promo about how RK-Bro had entered Bloodline territory. Orton jolted to life with an impassioned promo, reminding The Usos of exactly who he was. Orton, on behalf of he and Riddle, accepted The Usos challenge for a tag team title unification match. The Usos departed the ring afterwards, but snuck in and attacked Riddle before fleeing.
RK-Bro spoke with authority figure Adam Pearce backstage. Pearce informed Orton and Riddle that management was still mulling over a match for the Raw and SmackDown tag team titles and refused to confirm the booking.
Riddle def. Jimmy Uso via pinfall after counter a pop-up into an RKO. The ending came after Jimmy was briefly distracted by Orton dropping Jey onto the announcer's table. Riddle and Jimmy pieced together a solid match that featured momentum swings and crisp offense.
After the match, SmackDown announcers Michael Cole and Pat McAfee -- as well as a match graphic -- confirmed the booking of The Usos vs. RK-Bro in a tag team unification match for the Raw and SmackDown crowns.
Both teams did a great job in top-and-tailing SmackDown, building genuine enthusiasm for their match at WrestleMania Backlash. WWE is often criticized for treating their tag team division like an afterthought. The intensity brought forth during the opening segment, particularly by a renewed Orton, gave the feud instant credibility. The main event match was a solid piece of work that served as an appetizer to what should be a great match. Tying The Usos' conquest for tag team supremacy to Bloodline leader Roman Reigns further elevates the feud. Grade: B+
What else happened on WWE SmackDown
- Rhea Ripley (w/ Liv Morgan) def. Naomi (w/ Sasha Banks) via pinfall after landing her Riptide finisher. The two tag teams traded barbs backstage prior to the match.
- Happy Corbin split from Madcap Moss, claiming the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner was an anchor beneath him.
- Madcap Moss def. Humbert Carrillo (w/ Angel Garza) via pinfall after planting Carrillo with the Punchline finishing move. Madcap spoke with Drew Gulak before the match, explaining that he had moved on from Happy Corbin.
- Charlotte Flair denied tapping to Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 38. An irate Flair verbally tore down interviewer Drew Gulak before attacking him and locking him in the Figure Eight Leg Lock.
- A pre-taped video package promoted Gunther's violence with help from Ludwig Kaiser.
- Drew McIntyre def. Sami Zayn via count-out after Zayn fled into the crowd. McIntyre subsequently gave chase. Zayn ran into Pearce afterwards, who informed Zayn that a rematch against McIntyre was scheduled for next week under the Lumberjack stipulation.
- Intercontinental championship match: Ricochet (c) def. Jinder Mahal (w/ Shanky) via pinfall after landing a Shooting Star Press. Ricochet made good on his promise to win during a pre-match interview with Kayla Braxton.
- Butch had friction with Sheamus and Ridge Holland during a backstage interview. Butch subsequently attacked New Day backstage, causing a pull-apart brawl between the two factions.
- Lacey Evans opened up about her abusive father and his mental-health problems in a vignette. Natalya and Shayna Baszler subsequently mocked the video.