Trick Williams scored the biggest win of his career on Friday’s SmackDown in Phoenix, pinning Jacob Fatu after Drew McIntyre returned and attacked Fatu at ringside. McIntyre then hit Fatu with a Claymore after the match, making it clear that their WrestleMania 42 collision is on.
The finish came after a back-and-forth match that saw Fatu miss a double jump moonsault when Williams rolled to the floor. Fatu recovered and hit a shoulder tackle off the apron, but McIntyre, who had declared “I quit” earlier in the night, appeared and sent Fatu into the ring post while the referee’s back was turned.
Williams capitalized with a running knee to the downed Fatu, then hit a second running knee for the pin.
After the match, McIntyre stood over Fatu, loaded up, and drilled him with a Claymore kick.
The Match
Fatu controlled much of the early going. He shrugged off a neckbreaker from Williams, popping right back to his feet, then hit a clothesline, back senton, and handspring moonsault. He clotheslined Williams over the top rope and attempted a suicide dive, but Williams caught him with a forearm to cut off the momentum.
The fight spilled to the outside, with both men trading strikes and sending each other into the announce table, ring steps, and ringside barrier. Back in the ring, Williams connected with a spinning heel kick and applied a reverse chin lock to slow the pace.
Fatu fought back with Whisper in the Wind for a near fall. Williams responded with a cyclone kick, a leaping neckbreaker, and a uranage, but none of them could keep Fatu down.
Fatu hit a superkick followed by a pop-up Samoan drop, a running hip attack, and a swanton bomb from the top rope, but Williams kicked out. Fatu went up for the double jump moonsault, but Williams rolled to the floor to avoid it. Fatu pursued with the shoulder tackle off the apron, which is when McIntyre struck.
Drew McIntyre’s Return
McIntyre had quit earlier in the broadcast after a confrontation with Nick Aldis and Fatu. Fatu had taken credit for costing McIntyre the Undisputed WWE Championship, telling him, “I’m the one who screwed you. What the hell you gonna do about it?” McIntyre responded by saying he was done with everyone and walked out through the crowd.
His return later in the night to attack Fatu answered Fatu’s question. The Claymore after the match punctuated the statement.
WrestleMania 42 Picture
The angle strongly suggests Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42 on April 18-19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Reports had previously indicated that was WWE’s planned direction, and Friday’s SmackDown made it a near certainty.
McIntyre lost the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes on March 6 after Fatu interfered and prevented McIntyre from using a steel chair. McIntyre’s 56-day reign ended as a result of Fatu’s actions, giving McIntyre a direct grievance heading into the feud.
For Williams, the win over Fatu continues an upward trajectory that has made him one of WWE’s fastest-rising stars. Cody Rhodes recently named Williams on the Chris Van Vliet podcast as someone he believes is “on his way” in the company. While the victory came with an assist from McIntyre, pinning Fatu on SmackDown is a significant resume addition for Williams heading into WrestleMania season.
