- Kevin Owens announced on SmackDown that he's had an issue with his neck for a while, that his medical testing indicates that he requires surgery and that he doesn't know when it might be possible for him to return to action. He will not be able to compete against Randy Orton at WrestleMania. This is bad on its own, but also the timing couldn't be worse since we're only two weeks out from WrestleMania on the 19th and 20th of this month. I like KO and have been a fan since his Kevin Steen days back in Ring of Honor. Here's hoping for a smooth recovery from his surgery and that he will able to return to competition eventually if he chooses to do so.
- Randy came out and quietly wishes KO the best on the apron and entered the ring, where SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis told Randy that this unfortunately meant Randy no longer has a match at WrestleMania. Randy, frustrated about the situation, RKO'd him. People are guessing that this might mean there will be an Orton-Aldis match instead. If so, it's neat to see Aldis get a match in WWE, but it's unfortunate that it arose from this situation. Don't know how they build that up sufficiently in two weeks, but hey.
- Jacob Fatu earned the right to face LA Knight for the United States Championship at WrestleMania after he beat Braun Strowman. I like both guys, but I don't know who I want to win that match. They're both really popular and can both use the win; Knight would benefit from beating a monster like Fatu and retaining to show that he's not just a transitional champion, while Fatu could use the win to earn some singles gold. I guess Solo could screw Jacob out of the win at WrestleMania to further their own feud that has been slowly brewing.
- The whole Tiffany Stratton-Charlotte Flair feud hasn't been going so well. Supposedly the verbal barbs they exchanged were actually shoots rather than what was planned. That itself could be WWE working the dirtsheets, but if not, woof. Also I can understand similar ring gear but how likely is it that they're both going to wear such similar casual clothes? I know the whole appeal of the feud is that they look alike, but that was a stretch. Charlotte seemed truly taken aback by the crowd's antipathy toward her.
- CM Punk's favor from Paul Heyman was revealed; Paul Heyman will be in CM Punk's corner at WrestleMania instead of Roman's. A bit of a letdown of a favor, at least in my opinion, but it makes sense given thier history and relationship. Saw someone mention that statement Roman made at Paul's Hall of Fame induction last year that when he no longer has The Wiseman, we won't be seeing The Tribal Chief anymore. Nice bit of intrigue added in there. Granted, he's kind of a Chief without a tribe now. He reclaimed his ula fala from Solo earlier this year, but everyone's kind of doing their own thing now. Maybe he'll be retiring sooner than later? Maybe his gimmick will change? Guess we'll see.
- I fogot to mention the Gunther attack last Monday where he bloodied up Jimmy Uso, ziptied Jey to the ring ropes, and locked Jmmy in a submission hold with Jey futilely trying to break free and only being able to helplessly watch. Gunther eventually got up, covered in Jimmy's blood. Great visual. I'm still not really feeling Jey in this position, but no hard feelings toward him.
- Between that time Solo and Tama put that chair around his head and Solo hip attacked into it last year and now Gunther's bloody assault, Jimmy Uso ought to change his name to Kenny Uso because oh my god, he keeps getting killed.