WWE brings fighting, fashion, Smackdown, and more to Bridgestone Arena

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Major sports leagues plagued by abbreviated seasons and schedule stoppages have dominated the COVID-19 era. However, one company has yet to face this circumstance: World Wrestling Entertainment. On Friday evening, the 69-year-old sports entertainment company’s popular WWE Smackdown program comes to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Since March 2020, the company has missed no weeks of televised programming.

Now, as the world adjusts to a prolonged “new normal,” shows like WWE’s highlight how athletics can still deliver evolved entertainment options in a challenging era.

Does pro wrestling still have soap opera elements? Sure. However – amongst many things – it now also features current WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair wearing rare fashion snatched from New York’s Fashion Week headlines and Paul Heyman presenting Brock Lesnar, arguably the most lucrative box-office draw in modern combat sports history.

Within a decade, Charlotte Flair – the daughter of iconic wrestler Ric Flair (“the kiss-stealing, wheelin’ and dealin’, son of a gun”) – is a 13-time WWE women’s world champion (currently the WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion).

Flair’s penchant for wearing haute couture from iconic fashion brands or jewel-encrusted silk and velvet ring robes to the squared circle is a direct homage to her father.

“If you call yourself ‘The Opportunity,’ you need to look like it,” she said.

“As WWE superstars, it’s important that we’re always wanting to grow, evolve, and get better,” she adds.

To that point, in recent months, the presentation of her character has elevated (along with those including current WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, multiple-time WWE World Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins, former women’s champ Carmella, and veteran championship-level performer Bobby Lashley), benefitting from the strikingly outlandish work of New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles-based celebrity stylist and image consultant Troy “King Troi” Haynes. Alongside WWE’s finest, he’s also styled the likes of Tiffany Haddish, Nick Cannon, and Jazmine Sullivan.

A new era for sports entertainment

Never before have so many professional grapplers invested in the aid of a stylist and consultant as much as a wrestling trainer. But this isn’t any typical era for the sports entertainment industry, either.

Women wrestlers were once just an afterthought at wrestling shows. But in the past 20 years, they’ve turned into main-event contributors and multi-million dollar earners who have shown the ability to move television rating and public interest needles for an iconic globetrotting brand.

“[Women] are multifaceted performers now who have earned the company’s trust. and are – just like the men – now having more than just matches,” says Flair. “We’re also doing more non-wrestling in-ring segments, too. Also, we have outside-the-ring media appearances too. So that allowed for me to have a need [for King Troi’s] work.”

Brock Lesnar is a 300-pound mountain of a man who, in the past 25 years, is the only combat sports professional to have claimed heavyweight championships in WWE, Ultimate Fighting Championship, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

More:Why WWE superstar Brock Lesnar was on sidelines at Lipscomb vs. CPA DII-AA championship game

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In the past two decades, the suplex-loving powerhouse has stood alone as a uniquely compelling worldwide box-office drawing attraction in combat sports and sports entertainment. Yet, in the squared circle, one name has stood alongside or across the ring from him during that entire period: Paul Heyman.

As an on-screen character for the past five decades, Paul Heyman is not overselling his excellence when he says – sans any note of humility, that he’s “the best that’s ever done his job.”

For the most recent 20 of those past 35 years, he has portrayed the ultimate sanctimonious toadie seconding Lesnar as his “advocate” – a lawyer-as-middle manager seemingly out of place in a CEO’s expensive suit. Yet, behind the scenes, he’s regarded as a progressive-minded creative with sharp business acumen – he led his own outlaw-style company, Extreme Championship Wrestling, for most of the 1990s.

Currently, Heyman’s character, as showcased with Lesnar, is a hybrid of both. Lesnar’s in-ring success at times feels anti-climactic. However, his chances for victory feel significant even when faced with opponents like the previously-mentioned (and thickly muscled) renowned professional wrestler and mixed martial artist like Bobby Lashley or WWE’s present 500-plus day holder of the Universal Championship, the aloof and aggressive Jason Momoa-lookalike Roman Reigns.

In this scenario, Heyman plays the shrewd businessman who simultaneously fears and loves the performer he loudly boasts as “[his] client, Brock Lesnar.” Heyman’s note-perfect character acting in his role makes everything surrounding Lesnar feel like less of a “one-sided wrestling match” and more of an homage to gladiatorial super-fights in the Roman Empire.

“We’re at a rare and fascinating moment in [combat sports] history,” says Heyman. “There are two fighters, Lesnar and Reigns, who can make valid claims to be both the greatest of all time and best right now. He adds that a fight between the two would “mirror the hype of [heavyweight boxing matches] between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.”

Royal Rumble

2022’s first quarter sees WWE not slowing down. Their annual Royal Rumble event is scheduled for January 29. Following that is a February 19 trip to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the international debut of the Elimination Chamber event. The company’s premier event, Wrestlemania, is scheduled for April 3 at the 100,000-plus person capacity AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas’ suburbs.

When asked what, at the core, drives WWE’s continued legacy of engaging entertainment, Heyman – as expected – makes a grandiose claim. He insinuates that, by having a business model that moves a step faster than the “universe, multiverse, and metaverse,” the company succeeds by positively “[disrupting] history.” Charlotte Flair adds a more straightforward bottom-line point at the intersection of sports and entertainment.

“Nothing compares to the feeling of being in front of our crowds,” she said. “We’re still the best of both worlds. It doesn’t get any better.”

WWE Smackdown at Bridgestone Arena

WWE Smackdown comes to the Bridgestone Arena on January 21. Doors open at 6:45 PM. Tickets are available via WWE.com.

WWE SmackDown Preview

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WWE SmackDown on FOX will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Music City – Nashville, Tennessee as the blue brand rolls along towards the Royal Rumble.

Charlotte Flair previously stated her intention to do what nobody has ever done before when she plans to enter and win the women’s Royal Rumble match while still reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion. The Queen wants to repeat her 2020 victory and then name her own number one contender for WrestleMania 38.

However, on SmackDown, a spanner could be put in those plans when Charlotte Flair defends her title against Naomi. Naomi has not had her troubles to seek in recent months with WWE official Sonya Deville but will hope to put those behind her as she looks to reclaim the title she last won at WrestleMania 33.

There is sure to be more ill-feeling on display between former tag team partners Roman Reigns and Seth “Freakin” Rollins with the two men set to face for the WWE Universal Championship. The former Shield brothers came face to face last week before Rollins escaped an attack from The Usos.

With only half the field so far declared for the men’s Royal Rumble match and spaces still remaining in the women’s bout, more WWE SmackDown Superstars are sure to make their play for a spot in the showpiece matches.

Also currently announced for tonight’s episode of SmackDown:

Kofi Kingston takes on Madcap Moss in singles action.

Naomi takes on SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte in singles action.

Follow along with all the action from WWE SmackDown and join in the conversation with Inside The Ropes on Twitter.

Another interesting name backstage at WWE SmackDown

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PWInsider is reporting that there is another interesting name backstage at WWE SmackDown.

As noted earlier, Roderick Strong is backstage and is expected to wrestle in a dark match. WWE has been bringing in veteran talent as of late for a dark match, perhaps, for a look to see if Vince McMahon is interested in moving them up to the main roster.

PWI is also reporting that LA Knight is also backstage. It was not said why he’s there but he could also be in line for a dark match tonight.

Knight, real name Shaun Ricker, previously wrestled in Impact Wrestling and he became a top star during his run as Eli Drake. During his run with Impact, he held the World Championship and the World Tag Team Title.

Knight was released by Impact in 2019 and he ended up taking time away from the business until returning to work for the NWA and ultimately signing with WWE.

Knight is 39 years old so he falls in the category of some of the other veterans who might not fit in NXT 2.0 because they are pushing to feature more younger talent.

WWE SmackDown recap, review: Hall of Famer Lita returns, more

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World Wrestling Entertainment WWE SmackDown recap, review: Hall of Famer Lita returns, more 6 days ago share facebook twitter reddit link

By Ryan Satin

FOX Sports WWE Analyst

SmackDown this week featured the return of a Hall of Famer, an intense in-ring segment between former partners and a banger of a match.

While it’s true that last week’s episode was a bit more momentous due to the monster showdown between WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Universal Champion Roman Reigns, this week’s show still had plenty to enjoy throughout.

Let’s get into the highs and lows of the January 14, 2022 edition of Friday Night SmackDown.

SMACKDOWN HIGHS

Lita and Charlotte Flair

I grew up a huge fan of Team Extreme, so anything involving Lita is a highlight for me, especially a segment where she’s interacting with one of the top stars of today and teasing the idea of another run in WWE.

Watching one of my all-time favorite female wrestlers trade jabs on the mic with Charlotte Flair felt like one of those video game confrontations you wouldn’t expect to see in 2022, yet it really happened this week — and it was awesome.

When Lita was first announced for the Rumble, I assumed it would be nothing more than a legends spot in the match and didn’t give it much thought. Now, however, her tease for one final run in WWE has me wondering if she’ll be featured in a match at WrestleMania this year and her opponent for that will be setup during the women’s Rumble.

::fingers crossed::

The Shield Showdown

Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins acknowledging the history they share to build up the importance of their upcoming Royal Rumble match was the right way to go.

These are two of the top performers of this generation, and a match between them needs to feel like a big deal (especially with how few singles World title matches they’ve been in together). In my opinion, this episode did a good job in starting that.

The video flashbacks helped whet the appetite of fans by reminding viewers of their past and the in-ring segment at the end of the show kick-started some badly needed tension between them — since this is ultimately a feud between two heels.

Seth reminding Roman that he’s never beaten him in a world title match was a good bit of long-term storytelling, too, and Reigns saying he’s on God mode now ruled.

Ricochet vs. Sheamus

There’s not a ton to analyze when it comes to the match itself, but I just wanted to give a little recognition to these two Superstars for their work here, as it’s deserved.

Sheamus continues to put on consistently great matches and not enough people are talking about it. The finish with a Brogue Kick out of a handspring looked incredible.

I will say, however, that I think WWE needs to put a little more focus on building up babyfaces for the coming future. Roman Reigns is going to need challengers for the Universal title in a few months and Ricochet is one of the few names who could potentially be that for him if they were to give him a proper push.

With the right storylines and a string of wins under his belt, repackaging Ricochet into a serious contender for the Universal title could be done.

SMACKDOWN LOWS

Madcap Moss defeating Kofi Kingston

I totally understand the need to build Madcap Moss into a credible in-ring threat. They’ve dedicated a lot of TV time to his act alongside Happy Corbin, and getting wins on TV is the natural next step.

To me, though, beating Kofi Kingston clean in five minutes was a bad call.

Kingston is a former World Champion and beloved by fans. A loss like that adds further disrespect to his title reign, no matter how long ago it might have been. Honestly, at this point, with the way New Day have been treated on WWE TV, I’m ready for the group to turn heel again and fight back against everyone who isn’t giving them enough respect.

Don’t forget to follow all your favorite WWE Superstars and shows in the FOX Sports app to receive alerts on what they’re doing and more.

Ryan Satin is a WWE analyst for FOX Sports. Satin previously appeared on FS1’s “WWE Backstage” and founded Pro Wrestling Sheet, where he broke countless news stories as editor-in-chief.

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21): Charlotte Flair Takes On Naomi

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Friday Night SmackDown returns to our screens with just one match announced in advance of the show. Whereas there are one or two segments being teased, the show is being built around a non-title match between Charlotte Flair and Naomi. With tonight’s AEW Rampage set to feature the in-ring return of one of the biggest stars in the industry in Jon Moxley, it is a bit surprising the WWE hasn’t gone all out to promote tonight’s SmackDown – though with Rampage and SmackDown not head-to-head, perhaps it is not that surprising. Anyway, let’s jump in.

Non-Title Match: Charlotte Flair Vs. Naomi

The solo match announced for tonight’s SmackDown from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee is the non-title women’s match between Charlotte Flair and Naomi. Of course, as has been the case for months now, Naomi is embroiled in a bitter feud with SmackDown authority figure, Sonya Deville. This match itself is fresh off the heels of another Charlotte and Naomi match-up which took place a couple of weeks ago, with Charlotte going after after yet another power trip maneuver by Deville (how is she even employed? Does SmackDown not have a HR department?) to cost her rival the match. After securing a rematch through pleading with Adam Pearce, Naomi is back to face Charlotte once more.

This is a difficult match to predict. Charlotte is a dominant champion and Naomi is clearly on-track for a feud-ending match with Deville at WrestleMania, meaning it is highly likely Deville keeps tormenting her between now and then. So whether Naomi wins here and is robbed of her title shot down the line remains to be seen. We pick Naomi to pull off an upset against Charlotte on tonight’s SmackDown.

Not Announced But Expected For SmackDown

– Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are in the midst of an interesting, heel versus heel feud. The WWE are teasing some kind of confrontation between the two tonight, so if you like the idea of the former Shield brothers colliding, you might want to tune in.