WWE SmackDown Episode 1491 provided yet another action-packed evening of professional wrestling highlighted by the fiercest rivalries, most dramatic confrontations and unforgettable matches. As storylines inched closer and the stakes were raised heading into pay-per-view events, there was more reason to get excited for SmackDown. The Men’s and Women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches took place amid a raucous red, white and blue environment as fans enjoyed a night that showcased their favorite superstars’ athleticism.
Opening Segment: Bloodline Troubles
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa & The Usos) started [the show] off in the ring for a powerful opening interview segment of Smackdown This tension was as palpable in the air as were the fissures that had begun to mar relationships with members of his faction. Universal Champion Roman Reigns arrived next and talked about the power of The Bloodline, essentially putting over how much better he is than everyone else in WWE.
Jey Uso was frustrated, though he felt overshadowed and underappreciated. One thing led to another, and it sparked off a nasty spat amongst the others members which eventually resulted in Reigns pulling rank. As Solo Sikoa silently stood by, he was the only presence who appeared as if they figured possible alliances and betrayals were in their future. This segment was a great way to open the show and really foreshadows an internal struggle that could be exploited in a bigger storyline going forward.
Match 1: women’s tag team title
That opened the show up to a hot WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match. In the champions corner we saw Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan vs the team of Shayna Baszler and RondaRousey. There was an air of electricity through the crowd as they looked forward to seeing Morgan’s high-flying Rubix Cube style and Rodriguez overwhelming power meet Baszler’s experience on the mats, backed up with Rousey smart ring game.
It was a battle of contrast from the word go. Rodriguez went on the offensive with her muscle, hitting hard slams and corner attacks. This in turn allowed Liv Morgan to display her agility and some very decent aerial moves. But Baszler and Rousey relied on their experience to isolate Morgan, using some underhanded tactics in the process.
The crowd exploded during a close call when Rousey hit Morgan with a nasty judo throw. But Rodriguez immediately cut him off, scrambling away from his count. The bout ended with a twist, as Morgan caught Rousey off guard and rolled her up for the surprise pinfall to successfully keep their belts. It was the sound of victory that for Morgan and Rodriguez as champions they would also receive wild cheers, additionally it furthered their rivalry with Baszler (and Rousey).
Match: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Challenge
After the win, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn stood together in a backstage interview where they announced their intentions to take on The Usos for the WWE Tag Team Championships. View this post on Instagram #SamiZayn and @fightowens fight pretty well together, too.
This was a fun, if not compelling segment that showcased the burgeoning bond between Zayn and Owens — as well as their mutual comical charisma (especially when working off one another) with Zayn’s boundless enthusiasm dovetailing nicely with Kevin Owen’s intensity. La sinceridad que mostraron hacia sus objetivos de superación conecta con la audiencia y genera expectativa por un enfrentamiento futuro ante The Usos. It beat with the rhythmic undercurrent of competitive disdain, foreshadowing a rivalry about to metastasize into one that will dominate headlines over the next nine weeks.
Match 2: Gunther vs. Ricochet
The evening’s second bout featured the highly anticipated clash between Intercontinental Champion Gunther and high-flying risk-taker Ricochet. The match showcased contrasting styles, with Gunther’s brute force against Ricochet’s agility, highlighting Newell’s quick reflexes during the bout. As both competitors made their entrances, the crowd was electric.
Gunther preceded the match with a powerful show of quality that saw him run over Ricochet utilizing his size and force. A punishing series of strikes in addition to suplexes have grounded Ricochet and stopped him flying. But Ricochet showed his fighting spirit, disrupting Gunther’s assault with lightning-fast blows and high-risk slams like you’d have to see it to believe him moonsault left the fans on their toes.
The match picked up in intensity as it continued with both superstars hitting near falls. Ricochet hit a delightful shooting star press, but Gunther kicked out on two to show how tough he was. In the end, Gunther shot his way back up and hit a powerbomb to pick up the win. The crowd is surely hungry for more collisions between them though after they gave us a display of both competitors abilities.
Track: The Bloodline Feels Heat
Tensions between members of The Bloodline continued to rise backstage as Jey Uso confronted Roman Reigns. Jey vented his frustrations in a promo, criticizing Roman for being too demanding as their leader in The Bloodline. Things escalated as Jey questioned Reigns’ position “at the head of the table” and his care for the title reign.
Reigns pushed back with a blend of intimidation and manipulation, reminding his cousin about the power they had together. Solo Sikoa remained silent, this was the only foreshadowing that Solo would shed some blood for what’s about to come. It highlighted the ongoing power struggle within The Bloodline and left me eager to see where this leads.
Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross
The next match was a heavy-hitting battle between Drew McIntyre and Karrion Kross. Both competitors had a bone to pick, so to speak. Kross as he blindsided McIntyre during an earlier episode. The two started off by slugging it out toe-toe to show the anger that both of them have.
McIntyre then started unleashing his power, hitting chops and suplexes on Kross. Kross, all-business behind his killer instinct smile, fought back with surgical strikes aimed at tiring McIntyre down. When the action spilled outside, brawling around ringside area it felt like things had really kicked into another gear.
In fact, the audience stayed very hot throughout this contest as they rooted for McIntyre to fight back into it.
In the end, Kaross attempted to cheat using the ropes for leverage, but an official caught him.
Enter McIntyre, who took advantage of the distraction with a Claymore Kick to Kaross for the win. The match showcased McIntyre’s challenger status and teased future confrontations with Kaross, who is set to return soon.
Segment: Final Confrontation
All three segments involved the big players in the main event picture and it ended with another one. A big brawl erupted between the two teams, leading The Usos to confront Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The Usos entered the ring, claiming to be “the soul of this tag division,” while taunting Legacy.
A fired-up Owens and determined Zayn vowed to “decrown” the champions, who should be on their throne. The argument escalated into a fight, which ultimately spilled over into the stands. The chaos had fans on their feet, creating a tense rivalry that left us wanting a title rematch soon.
After the show went off the air, we saw Roman Reigns watching backstage with a pensive look on his face. This closing moment hinted at a storm for The Bloodline, shaping future rivalries and marking Episode 1491 as unforgettable.
Conclusion
This was a great episode of WWE SmackDown Episode 1491. The show had everything; from nail-biting matches to gripping storylines. With new rivalries, talent showcases, and brewing tension in The Bloodline, this episode was brilliantly scripted this season.
As the build-up continues for the next pay-per-view, fans can expect twists and compelling WWE storytelling ahead. The legacy that Episode 1491 has left is massive, building up the excitement for more in all future weeks.