After pulling out the victory against Carmelo Hayes last week, Andrade has earned himself a United States title match on WWE SmackDown tonight.
Andrade and Hayes each had two wins against one another going into last Friday’s bout. Following Andrade’s victory, Knight appeared in the entrance way to set up his title against Andrade for tonight’s show.
Also tonight, Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns will meet in a taped segment. Set on the campus of Georgia Tech, where Roman Reigns played college football, the two recently had “an intense conversation,” and WWE cameras captured the interaction.
In a tornado tag team match, Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton will take on Bayley & Naomi. Last week, the stipulation was set that whoever scores the fall will challenge Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship at Bad Blood. If Bayley & Naomi lose, whoever loses the fall must leave SmackDown forever.
Then, after Apollo Crews spoiled Giovanni Vinci’s debut two weeks ago, beating Vinci in three seconds, the two will have a rematch tonight.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– A video package recapping last week’s Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Bloodline developments opened the show.
– The Bloodline was shown entering the building earlier today and Jacob Fatu attacked the entire security staff. LA Knight’s music hit and we went to the ring for the first match.
LA Knight defeated Andrade to retain the United States Championship [17:10]
That post-match thing was odd. Knight seemed genuinely miffed, but it could have been because he slipped on the ropes a couple times as the match went to the finish. The commentary team did a good job covering up for it, but it looked like Knight didn’t feel like Andrade was blameless. Interesting. This was one of the best LA Knight matches in a long time and I have to think that has a lot to do with Andrade being the one standing opposite Knight. It’s rare you see an LA Knight match go longer than 15 minutes on television, but this one did and it worked – actually, it worked much better than I anticipated it would. Even better: No Carmelo Hayes interference. I wonder if that means he’s done with Andrade for good, for real, for real. I hope not.
Andrade stuck out his hand for a handshake to start the match and Knight shook it. Knight when for an inside cradle early and got a one-count. Both guys went for their finishers less than a minute into things, and both got out of the attempts. The show then went to a commercial break. Back from the break, the two were trading strikes inside the ring. Andrade landed a few loud chops and went to the top to hit a cross-body for a two-count. Andrade then worked a head-lock to slow things down.
Andrade ran the ropes, which eventually ended with Andrade running into an elbow from Knight. Action spilled outside and Knight slammed Andrade’s head off the commentary table repeatedly. Andrade found himself back in the ring and Knight hit a slingshot shoulder block for a two-count. The two fought on the apron and Andrade ran Knight into the ring post to take control. Andrade went to the top and actually landed a moonsault onto Knight from the corner top onto the outside. The show then went to another break.
Back from that break, Knight and Andrade collided in the middle of the ring to reset things. Andrade got to his feet first and played to the crowd, which was a mixed bag. Andrade went for a double-knees, but Knight moved and followed up with a DDT, which was good enough for a two-count. Knight stomped on Andrade in a corner, which led to a running knee from Knight. Knight hit a neck-breaker for a good near-fall. Knight lifted Andrade and put him on the top turnbuckle as the crowd chanted “This is awesome!”
Andrade elbowed Knight off the top rope and that led to the missed-moonsault-into-a-standing-moonsault spot (and it looked a lot closer to disaster than normal). Andrade then landed a double-knees in the corner, but Knight kicked out. Andrade ran at Knight, but Knight caught him and hit a powerslam, followed by an elbow from the top rope. Knight went for a BFT, but Andrade countered into a roll-up for a two-count and then hit a wild spinning back elbow for a great near-fall. The two battled on the top and Knight slipped twice, which led to an attempted dropkick from the top via Andrade, but Knight moved and hit a BFT for the win. Knight stood up and was bleeding from the eyebrow. The two had a weird exchange after the match, with Andrade wanting to shake Knight’s hand, but Knight wouldn’t open his hand. Andrade raised Knight’s arm and Knight looked angry to close the segment.
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– Tiffany Stratton was talking to Nia Jax backstage and she said it would be so good to never see Bayley or Naomi on SmackDown again. Jax said if Stratton loses, it might be a good idea if Stratton leaves SmackDown.
– Andrade and Melo were talking backstage and Melo said Andrade choked harder than the Kings did against the Lakers some years back (he wasn’t entirely wrong). It quickly escalated and the two had a nice backstage brawl.
The Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns confrontation
I … I … I don’t know. This wasn’t for me. Not on a pro wrestling show. I understand it – production is great, drama is there, it looks like a movie, blah, blah, and blah. I could have done without it because I like my pro wrestling with a side of grit. Now, with that said: This was great in terms of explaining how and why these two will team together. Cody wanted Roman’s word that he would stand by him, considering they are going into battle against Roman’s family, and that was a key aspect to this story that needed to be explained. So, in that way, this worked better than a standard opening SmackDown promo segment that would have felt too normal. That said, mission accomplished. The shiny excess, though? Not for this viewer.
The walkup looked like a scene from “Love Is Blind.” A ton of black SUVs pulled up to the Georgia Tech football stadium. Reigns got out of one of them and walked to the 50-yard line. A single white car pulled into the stadium and Cody hopped out of it from the driver’s seat. Cody walked to the 50-yard line as well. Roman talked first and told Cody that everyone Cody saw was Roman’s. Reigns then followed that up by saying it’s his field and his stadium and his city. Reigns asked Cody what he has done for Roman’s city.
Cody noted how Center Stage and The Omni were in Atlanta and multiple generations of his family have bled for the city. Cody said it might be Roman’s field, but it is Cody’s home. Roman grinned and said, “That’s very good. This is your home.” Roman told Cody that he signed himself into a lose/lose situation because Cody has everything to lose and he’s dealing with people who have nothing to lose. Roman recalled all the bad things The Bloodline did to Roman and Roman said he has nothing to lose because they took everything him from. Roman said he was a man with no country.
Cody responded by saying that Roman is a chief without a tribe. Cody said they took Jimmy, his Wise Man and the Ula Falla. Cody asked Roman to take a good look around WWE because WWE has a Tribal Chief and a champion and neither of those things are Roman Reigns. Cody essentially said Roman is a shell of himself. Roman looked shook and asked Cody what he wanted. Cody said he wanted Roman’s word that Roman will have his back so Cody can have Roman’s. Roman gave Cody his word. Roman said he’d have Cody’s back, but after it’s done, Roman will take back what’s his – the Undisputed WWE Championship. Cody said it wasn’t Roman’s to take. Roman told Cody he was in his way. Cody moved and Roman said Cody was in his way … in life. Roman then walked away.
Kevin Owens was shown watching the video backstage. Byron Saxton walked up and asked Owens what he thought. Owens just walked away.
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Apollo Crews defeated Giovanni Vinci [1:35]
I don’t really know that I’m a fan of whatever gimmick this is supposed to be. If anything, this is getting Crews over … right? I thought WWE did a good job of building Vinci’s debut up and making him feel like a big deal. The first loss put him in joke territory and this second loss throws him into mid-card hell. I don’t know what’s next, but you have to think he eventually gets a win. At this point, so what?
Crews’s entrance was not televised. Vinci’s entrance, meanwhile, was, indeed televised. As for the revolution … OK, sorry. Anyway, the bell rang and nobody won right away, so we didn’t get a repeat of their fist match. Instead, Vinci attacked Crews with a series of chops and slaps. Vinci worked a ground-and-pound and weirdly threw Crews into the ropes repeatedly. Vinci lifted Crews, but Crews wiggled out and rolled up Vinci for the win yet again. After the match, Vinci attacked Crews and hit a brain-buster. Vinci then jawed at Crews and left the ring.
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– Saxton walked up to Owens again backstage and asked Owens what he thought. Owens said he’d rather talk about it in the ring and walked to the ring as the show went to break.
The Kevin Owens segment
There wasn’t much to this, though I do wonder where Sikoa (and for that matter, Roman) is tonight. I could do without the impromptu booking, which has been run into the ground in WWE Land, but it should be a serviceable main event. In the meantime, Owens feels like he’s spinning his wheels a bit in these random roles that aren’t necessarily random, but they aren’t necessarily fresh, either. With all the contract chatter surrounding him lately, it does make you wonder what his immediate future might look like.
Owens said he’s aware that people wonder what he thinks of the situation between Cody and Roman. Owens said he has to be honest … but then Tama Tonga’s music hit and Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu walked out – sans Solo Sikoa. Tonga received a ton of boos and said last week, Cody and Roman embarrassed Sikoa last week and that was a big mistake. Tonga said Cody and Roman will get what’s coming to them at Bad Blood, but tonight, Owens will get what he has coming by orders of the real Tribal Chief, Solo Sikoa.
Owens invited everyone into the ring and ultimately faced off with Jacob Fatu. The Bloodline put the boots to Owens until #DIY ran out for the save, complete with a Shatter Machine on Tonga. Nick Aldis then walked out with a microphone and a bunch of security guys. The ring was filled with security and Aldis said he was sick and tired of everyone fighting each other when there isn’t a bell ringing. Aldis said he noticed there were three heels and three babyfaces and as such, a six-man tag match was booked for the main event.
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– Bayley and Naomi were talking backstage and Bayley said they have a common goal of getting the belt off Nia. Naomi said when she wins, Bayley will be the first with a title opportunity.
Naomi & Bayley defeated Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton [11:05]
Well, it appears a triple threat is coming. The tiny moment between Naomi and Bayley was fun, but outside of that, this was a pretty standard tornado tag by WWE standards. Stratton accidentally hitting a Swanton on Jax only furthers their will they/won’t they story, and that’s fine, but I’m about two weeks away from that whole thing running my patience thin. This means Jax leaves SmackDown forever, right? I’m joking, but that would create a neat wrinkle.
The match opened with the heels taking control until Naomi and Bayley came back with some splashes. The heels quickly regained the upper hand and the show went to a commercial break. Back from that break, the action spilled to the outside and Jax threw Naomi over the barricade. Jax tried to do the same to Bayley, but Bayley got out of it and pushed Jax into a Naomi kick. Bayley hit a suicide dive on Jax and Naomi landed a cross-body on Stratton on the outside.
The action returned to the ring and Stratton clotheslined Naomi. It worked until Bayley hit Stratton with a suplex and went for a pin, but Naomi broke up the pin, so the babyfaces had a moment of discord. Naomi and Bayley made up and landed a double back-drop on Jax. Jax came right back and took down Naomi before going for her finish, but Bayley came over and cut Jax off. Stratton got involved, but that only led to a stereo elbow/leg drop from Naomi and Bayley on Stratton and Jax. Naomi and Stratton were working on the top rope, but it led to an X-Factor from Naomi on Jax. Stratton then accidentally hit a Swanton on Jax.
Bayley and Naomi hit a 1-D on Stratton. All of this was enough for Jax to gain her energy back. From there, Bayley and Naomi countered something from Jax and subsequently pinned Jax at the same time. As such, they won the match simultaneously. Jax looked shocked as the show went to a commercial break.
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– A Chelsea Green vignette aired and it featured Green taking the literal trash out. Green then beat up a mannequin with Michin’s face taped onto the top of it. Green was ostensibly training for a dumpster match with Michin, which was set up last week. Turns out, the match will happen in Nashville in two weeks. As for next week, Melo and Andrade will have their sixth match in the series.
– Naomi and Bayley were talking to Nick Aldis in his office. Aldis said the solution to the finish of their match will be that next week, Naomi and Bayley will face each other. The winner will take on Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship.
– Kevin Owens made his entrance for the main event, but video of #DIY being beat up backstage was shown. The Bloodline then came out and attacked Owens. From there, the Street Profits’ music hit and the Profits ran to ringside for the save. Owens landed a Swanton on everybody on the outside. It looked like Owens and the Profits would take on the responsibility of the six-man tag after a commercial break.
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) & Kevin Owens fought The Bloodline (Jaco Fatu, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) to an apparent no-contest [14:49]
I’m not sure why #DIY was taken out of the match … only to have the Profits replace them … only to have #DIY run out for the save after the match … only for #DIY to quickly be dispensed. I also don’t quite know why the referee calls it all off after someone is thrown into the steps, which happens routinely in WWE every week on television. But. If you can get past all that, I suppose, this was fine. SmackDown has become extremely formulaic anymore and this six-man tag was the epitome of that. At some point, this show has to get out of its rut, but my fear is if it does actually move to three hours next year … well, that’s going to be a tough ask. For now, outside of Roman and Cody (and perhaps Andrade and Melo, though that clearly has a shelf life), SmackDown is an increasingly tough watch. Not very compelling. Not very different. Not very interesting. That said, on to next week.
Owens and Loa started the match and Owens got the better of it. Dawkins tagged in and got his strikes in before Ford tagged in and worked over Loa. Dawkins came back in and kept up the offense. Owens followed that up with a tag in and a clothesline and a two-count. Ford tagged in and stomped on Loa as the crowd chanted “OTC!” Eventually Loa was able to tag in Fatu and Fatu quickly gained control over Ford. Tonga tagged in and landed a springboard splash onto Ford. Tonga hit a sliding clothesline on Ford for a two-count. Fatu tagged back in and landed a running elbow on Ford, but missed a hip attack.
Dawkins tagged in and fired things up, hitting a leaping back elbow and hitting the rest of the Bloodline … until Dawkins ran into a super-kick from Fatu. Fatu followed it up with a moonsault and the show went to a commercial break. Back from the break, Tonga covered Dawkins for a two-count. Tonga eventually leapt at Dawkins, but Dawkins caught him and suplexed Tonga. Fatu tagged in and cut off Dawkins, whipping Dawkins into a turnbuckle. Fatu ran at Dawkins, but Dawkins countered with a leaping kick. Fatu jumped at Dawkins and Dawkins moved, ultimately getting the hot tag to Ford.
Tonga tagged in and Ford hit a series of moves, complete with a step-up knee and a standing moonsault, for a two-count. Owens tagged in and immediately ran around the ring outside of it, clotheslining everyone in the Bloodline and hitting a Frog Splash on Loa from the apron. Back in the ring, Owens hit a Cannonaball and Swanton on Tonga for a good near-fall. Owens went to the top and Tonga cut Owens off. Tonga went for a super-plex, but Owens countered with his usual counter suplex. A pin attempt was broken up via Loa. Owens hit a Stunner on Tonga, but Loa pulled Owens off Tonga and for whatever reason, the ref rang the bell to end the match.
After the match, Ford landed a flip dive on The Bloodline and pumped up the crowd. A brawl between the teams ensued. The Bloodline got the best of the babyfaces, including an attempt at a triple powerbomb on Owens … until #DIY stumbled out from the back and broke up the brawl. It didn’t quite matter because The Bloodline fought them off, too. The trio set their sights on Owens … until Cody’s music hit and Cody ran out with a chair. Cody hopped into the ring with Fatu and Fatu kicked the chair out of Cody’s hands. Cody came back, however, with a Cody Cutter on Fatu. Owens grabbed the chair and stood behind Cody. Cody turned around and it looked like Owens was going to hit Cody with the chair, but Owens dropped the chair. Cody extended his hand and Owens shook it. The two half-hugged and the show ended.
