The build to TLC picked up on last night’s SmackDown.
Roman Reigns defeated Dolph Ziggler in last night’s main event, but — after Baron Corbin vowed to humiliate him on the show — the night ended with an angle where Corbin, Ziggler, and Corbin’s royal security attacked Reigns, chained him to the ring post, and poured dog food on him.
Reigns will face Corbin in a tables, ladders, and chairs match at TLC on December 15.
Two other matches were confirmed for TLC last night. Bray Wyatt will face The Miz, and The New Day will defend their SmackDown Tag Team titles against The Revival.
Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin is the first match to be officially announced for this month’s TLC pay-per-view.
Prior to tonight’s SmackDown going on the air, WWE confirmed that Reigns will face Corbin in a tables, ladders, and chairs match at TLC. The PPV is taking place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 15.
Reigns and Corbin’s TLC match had been advertised by the Target Center before being officially announced.
The Target Center is also advertising two other matches for the PPV. Asuka & Kairi Sane defending their Women’s Tag Team titles against Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair in a tables, ladders, and chairs match is listed for the show, along with Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley. The Rusev vs. Lashley match doesn’t have a stipulation advertised.
Reigns vs. Dolph Ziggler is set for tonight’s SmackDown at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina. WWE is also hyping that Corbin “vows to humiliate Reigns” on the episode.
A six-man tag match has been announced for SmackDown’s Survivor Series go-home show.
Roman Reigns, Mustafa Ali & Shorty G will face King Corbin, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode on SmackDown next Friday. The episode is taking place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. It will be the first of four straight nights at the venue for WWE.
In a match where their Survivor Series spots were on the line, Ali & Shorty G defeated Ziggler & Roode last night. After being mocked by Corbin in the opening segment, Reigns came out to ringside during the match after Corbin distracted Ali. Reigns ended up laying out Corbin with a spear.
The six-man tag was announced for next week after Ziggler & Roode complained to Corbin and blamed Reigns for costing them the match and spots at Survivor Series.
Reigns, Corbin, Ali, Shorty G & Braun Strowman will be on Team SmackDown for their triple threat elimination tag match against Team Raw and Team NXT at Survivor Series.
Team SmackDown is the second group to be revealed for this year’s traditional Survivor Series men’s elimination match.
Roman Reigns, King Corbin, Braun Strowman, Mustafa Ali & Shorty G (Chad Gable) will represent SmackDown in their triple threat elimination tag match against Team Raw and Team NXT. The announcement of the team was made on last night’s episode of WWE Backstage.
On Monday, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, Ricochet & Drew McIntyre were announced as Raw’s team for the match. NXT’s team has yet to be revealed.
There will also be a women’s division elimination tag match between the brands at Survivor Series. Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke & Carmella are the first three wrestlers confirmed for Team SmackDown.
Survivor Series is taking place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on Sunday, November 24. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Rey Mysterio
Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley vs. NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler in a non-title match
United States Champion AJ Styles vs. Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. NXT North American Champion Roderick Strong in a non-title match
Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders (Ivar & Erik) vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) vs. NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) in a non-title match
Team Raw vs. Team SmackDown vs. Team NXT five-on-five-on-five men’s elimination tag match
Team Raw vs. Team SmackDown vs. Team NXT five-on-five-on-five women’s elimination tag match
This week’s Friday Night SmackDown is a taped show from the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
With the roster stuck in Saudi Arabia, last Friday’s episode featured an NXT invasion, Brock Lesnar quitting SmackDown to go to Raw, and NXT Champion Adam Cole defeating Daniel Bryan.
Two matches that were initially scheduled for last week have been rebooked for tonight. Roman Reigns takes on King Corbin, and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival defend their titles against The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E).
Boxing star Tyson Fury defeated Braun Strowman by countout at Crown Jewel last Thursday. Fury returns to SmackDown tonight to address the fans. Strowman is also scheduled to appear.
Plus, Sasha Banks returns and goes one-on-one with Nikki Cross. This is Banks’ first match since she was injured against Becky Lynch at Hell in a Cell last month.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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King Corbin made his way down to the ring to kick off SmackDown. He talked about the Survivor Series in two weeks and noted it’s Raw vs. SmackDown vs. NXT. The fans broke into a loud “NXT” chant. Corbin discussed NXT invading SmackDown last week and blamed Roman Reigns.
He noted Reigns fought leukemia and won. Now Reigns spends all his time with his family and doesn’t care about being a world champion. Corbin mocked Reigns and challenged him to come to the ring. He admitted Reigns wasn’t there but promised to defeat him in the main event later.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Kofi Kingston and Big E. They have a message to the injured Xavier Woods. Big E told Woods not to drop the soap, but Kingston pointed out Woods isn’t in jail. They promised to defeat The Revival and become seven times tag team champions.
The New Day defeated The Revival to win the SmackDown tag team titles
Before the match, they announced Raw tag team champions The Viking Raiders vs. NXT tag team champions Undisputed Era vs. SmackDown tag team champions The Revival at Survivor Series. Cole noted if New Day wins, they’ll be in the match instead.
Kingston went for a quick pin to get the early win. The heels tried to isolate Kingston, but he fought back and tagged in Big E. New Day were firmly in control when Dash Wilder injured his knee. He clutched his knee as they cut to commercial.
Back from the break, Big E hit a bell-to-belly suplex on Wilder. During the break, Wilder revealed the knee injury was a fake and tricked Big E. Kingston ran wild and hit a dive to the floor. The Revival hit a superplex/splash combo for a near fall. Wilder went for a tornado DDT on Kingston, but he fought back and hit the SOS for a two count. The heels took back over and hit a double draping DDT for a close near fall.
The finish came when The Revival went for the Shatter Machine on Big E, but Kingston made the blind tag. Big E held Wilder as Kingston hit the trouble in paradise to win the titles. On commentary, Corey Graves claimed Kingston no longer has to have doubts about his career because of this win.
In the back, Roman Reigns arrived at the arena and ran into Shorty G. He told Reigns about King Corbin’s comments.
Backstage, Sami Zayn approached Daniel Bryan. He noted he asked Bryan to join him and Shinsuke Nakamura. Zayn claimed Bryan would have won the NXT championship last week if he was in his corner. He pointed out that Cesaro & Nakamura take on Ali & Shorty G later, and he wants Bryan to watch closely.
Heavy Machinery was in the ring, waiting for their opponents. Suddenly, Imperium (WALTER, Fabian Aichner, Marcel Barthel & Alexander Wolfe) from NXT UK jumped the faces. New Day and a bunch of other guys ran out for the save. Imperium ran off.
Kayla Braxton interviewed SmackDown Woman’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks. Bayley noted NXT Woman’s Champion Shayna Baszler jumped her last week. She pointed out that it was Bayley and Banks that put the NXT Woman’s division on the map. Banks promised to defeat Nikki Cross later, and Bayley promised to beat Baszler and Becky Lynch at Survivor Series.
Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro (w/Sami Zayn) defeated Ali & Shorty G
Daniel Bryan came out to watch the match. The heels had the early advantage, and isolated Shorty G. Shorty G fought back and attempted a tag, but Csearo caught him. He went for the victory roll on Cesaro and made the tag.
Ali ran wild and hit a huge tornado DDT for a close near fall. Shorty G suplexed Nakamura out of the ring, but Cesaro nailed Shorty G with an uppercut. Ali attempted a crossbody, but Cesaro caught him. Nakamura attempted the Kinshasa, but Ali hit a superkick. Ali climbed to the top, but Zayn interfered, and Cesaro pushed Ali off the top. Nakamura then hit the Kinshasa for the win.
After the match, Zayn invited Bryan into the ring, but Bryan walked off.
Sasha Banks defeated Nikki Cross
Banks has a new remixed version of her theme song, which now features Snoop Dogg. Bayley joined the commentators during the match.
Banks had the early advantage and choked Cross on the middle rope. Bayley was very impressed. The fans started singing at Bayley, but she wasn’t impressed.
Cross fought back and hit a crossbody off the apron onto Banks. Suddenly, Cross jumped Bayley at ringside. Bayley interfered, and Banks regained control. Cross fought back, and Banks rolled out of the ring.
Back from the break, Banks hit a double knee for a near fall. Cross fought back and hit a tornado DDT. She followed up with a splash and bulldog. Cross attempted a crossbody, but Banks rolled through into the Bank Statment. Cross reversed, but Banks rolled her up for a near fall.
Cross went for the neck breaker, but Banks hit the backstabber into the Bank Statement for the win.
After the match, Bayley attacked Cross. Suddenly, NXT Woman’s Champion Shayna Baszler ran out and attacked Bayley. It took a while for Banks to run back for the save. Baszler ran off as the fans erupted into an “NXT” chant.
In the back, Sami Zayn spoke with Daniel Bryan. He told Bryan to forget about the Yes Movement and the Yes chant. He asked Bryan to join them.
Suddenly, the lights went out, and the red light came on. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt was standing behind Bryan, and he attacked him with the Mandible claw.
They recapped Tyson Fury vs. Braun Strowman from Crown Jewel.
Tyson Fury made his way down to the ring. He talked about traveling all over the world and ran down some of his victories. Fury feels great to be home. He spoke of his fight in February but noted he has unfinished business with Braun Strowman.
Strowman made his way down to the ring. Fury thanked Strowman for the match at Crown Jewel, and they shook hands. He noted if they fight again, it should be as a tag team. Strowman liked that idea, and so did the fans. He said there’s nobody stupid enough to face the two of them. The B Team’s music hit, and they made their way to the ring. Curtis Axel said they’re stupid enough to accept the challenge.
Fury and Strowman beat down the B Team together. Strowman ran around ringside and ran the heels down. Fury rocked Bo Dallas with right, and Strowman took out Axel with a power slam.
They recapped King Corbin attacking Roman Reigns on WWE Backstage.
Carmella & Dana Brooke defeated Fire & Desire
The winning team joins Sasha Banks and Team SmackDown at the Survivor Series.
The heels had the early advantage and isolated Carmella. Fire & Desire attempted a double suplex, but Carmella fought back. Sonya Devilla regained control with a kick to the head. Dana Brooke got the hot tag and ran wild. Brooke scored a near fall, but Mandy Rose broke up the pin attempt.
Brooke sent Deville into the ring steps. She sent Deville back into the ring and hit the Swanton Bomb for the win. Brooke and Carmella join Team SmackDown at Survivor Series.
King Corbin defeated Roman Reigns
Reigns clotheslined Corbin out of the ring before the bell. Reigns beat Corbin around ringside and in the ring. Corbin had a brief advantage but Reigns took back over with a big boot. Reigns set up for the Superman punch but Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler ran down to ringside.
Reigns attacked them both but Corbin gained control and scored a near fall. Corbin followed up with a hard clothesline for another near fall. Reigns fought back and hit a flying clothesline for a two count. He set up for the Superman Punch but Roode caused a distraction.
Ziggler tried to attack Reigns but he fought them both off. Reigns hit the spear on Ziggler but Corbin hit the End of Days for the win.
Two matches that were originally scheduled for last week’s SmackDown have been rebooked for this Friday.
During last night’s Raw, a commercial aired advertising Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin and a Tag Team title match for this week’s SmackDown. The title match will be SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival defending against The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E).
The delays that the WWE roster had getting out of Saudi Arabia prevented those matches from happening this past Friday. An NXT invasion instead took place as WWE kicked off the build to Survivor Series.
A non-title triple threat match between The Revival, Raw Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders, and NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) has been announced for Survivor Series. The pay-per-view is taking place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on November 24.
This week’s SmackDown and next Monday’s Raw are both being taped at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England this Friday.
WWE has announced two matches and a segment for next week’s post-Crown Jewel episode of SmackDown.
Before their match against Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode on tonight’s show, it was announced that The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) will challenge for The Revival’s SmackDown Tag Team titles next Friday.
Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin has also been confirmed for next week’s SmackDown, and Bray Wyatt will appear on Miz TV the day after challenging for Seth Rollins’ Universal Championship in a falls count anywhere match in Saudi Arabia.
New Day & Heavy Machinery defeated The Revival, Ziggler & Roode on SmackDown last week, with Xavier Woods getting the pin on Scott Dawson. Tonight, Ziggler pinned Kingston with a roll-up in their tag match. The Revival attacked Kingston & Big E after, but Heavy Machinery came out to make the save.
Kingston & Big E, The Revival, Ziggler & Roode, and Heavy Machinery will all be part of the World Cup tag team turmoil match at Crown Jewel.
Reigns, Ali, Shorty G (Chad Gable), Ricochet & Rusev will be on Team Hogan for the five-on-five tag match against Team Flair at Crown Jewel. Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley & Drew McIntyre will be on Team Flair.
Reigns, Ali & Gable defeated Corbin, Nakamura & Cesaro in the main event of tonight’s SmackDown. There was then an angle where Corbin attacked Reigns during an interview on WWE Backstage.
SmackDown will be back on FOX next week after tonight’s episode aired on FS1 due to the World Series.
An Intercontinental title match in the opener of last night’s SmackDown set up Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan facing Baron Corbin & Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event.
Reigns challenged for Nakamura’s Intercontinental title, but the match ended in a disqualification when Corbin attacked Reigns as he was about to win. When Bryan made the save, he was laid out by Nakamura after Sami Zayn stopped Bryan from hitting a dive.
Bryan pinned Nakamura in the tag team main event.
One week after fully turning heel, Bayley appeared on Miz TV last night and explained her actions. There was also a six-pack challenge on the show, with Nikki Cross winning it and becoming the number one contender to Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s Championship.
WWE has revealed Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair’s roles for Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.
On this week’s Raw season premiere, it was announced that Hogan and Flair will coach teams for a five-on-five tag match against each other at Crown Jewel. Hogan and Flair won’t be wrestling in the match.
Rollins was announced as the captain of Team Hogan, while Randy Orton will captain Team Flair. It was also revealed that Rusev will be on Team Hogan and Baron Corbin will be on Team Flair. Rusev made a save for Rollins after he was attacked by Orton and Corbin.
The remaining members of the teams will be announced in the coming weeks.
Crown Jewel is taking place at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Thursday, October 31. Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, The New Day, AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, and NXT’s Mansoor are also advertised for the show.
Crown Jewel 2019 will be the fourth event in WWE’s 10-year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority. It began with last year’s Greatest Royal Rumble.
Baron Corbin has joined the ranks of WWE’s King of the Ring winners.
On tonight’s post-Clash of Champions edition of Raw, Corbin defeated Chad Gable in the King of the Ring finals. After getting to the ropes when Gable had him in an ankle lock, Corbin hit the End of Days and pinned Gable to win the tournament.
WWE has announced that a coronation segment with Corbin will take place on tomorrow’s SmackDown.
Corbin defeated The Miz in the first round of the tournament and Cedric Alexander in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Corbin defeated Samoa Joe and Ricochet in a triple threat match.
Gable defeated Shelton Benjamin, Andrade, and Shane McMahon to get to the finals. Shane was a replacement for Elias, who missed his scheduled semifinal match against Gable due to an ankle injury.
Corbin is WWE’s first King of the Ring winner since 2015. Wade Barrett defeated Neville in the finals of that year’s tournament.
Location: Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee
The Big Takeaways —
WWE has inadvertently created a new top babyface in The Fiend. The crowd chants his catchphrase, and cheers wildly for him. Of course, he is supposed to be a heel.
The Fiend is playing mind games with Seth Rollins, who could not beat up more than one guy on his own tonight, on a show where Braun Strowman left three of the four tag champs laying, and 52 year-old Kane beat up five men on his own.
Becky Lynch wants to destroy Sasha Banks inside Hell in a Cell. The attention paid to small details is differentiating this feud from the rest of the madness that is WWE storytelling.
Baron Corbin is now King of the Ring.
Rusev returned, and in storyline, impregnated Maria Kanellis. Maybe not in that order.
What a night.
Show Recap —
Seth Rollins started the show with a promo. He said that we have a lot to unpack tonight. He proceeded to recap his evening at Clash of Champions. “I didn’t even have time to celebrate before I was cloaked in darkness. I was taken down by something I can only describe as…”
Before he could finish his thought, the crowd interrupted Rollins with a “yowie wowie” chant.
Rollins said that the last thing he saw before he was choked out was the face of The Fiend. Rollins said he gets to face The Fiend inside Hell in a Cell in three weeks at… Hell in a Cell.
Firefly Funhouse music interrupted Rollins. Bray Wyatt appeared on the Titantron. Ramblin’ Rabbit tried to interrupt Wyatt, but Wyatt bopped him on the head.
Wyatt said that Rollins has made mistakes. Wyatt can forgive mistakes, but he said that The Fiend never forgets, and maybe that’s why The Fiend had something to say to Rollins at Clash of Champions.
Wyatt said that maybe The Fiend will have more to say to Rollins tonight, then bid us adieu with a cheery, “See you in hell!”
Rollins tried to sell fear or concern, but the crowd cheered The Fiend, and Rollins won’t be winning an Emmy any time soon.
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They advertised two matches for later tonight, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley, as well as Seth Rollins vs. Robert Roodw.
The match graphics appeared upside down. There might be a Fiend at the controls in the truck.
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Braun Strowman was shown arriving at the building. Charly Caruso stopped him for a word. She said that she was surprised that Braun was here tonight. Braun said that the next person he sees is going to get these hands.
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Robert Roode, Dolph Ziggler, and The Revival came to the ring for a “tag team summit”. Roode started to cut a promo. Strowman rumbled down to the ring and beat up Ziggler, Dawson, and Wilder. Roode managed to escape. All WWE tag teams are tackling dummies for the real stars.
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Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were shown backstage, pretending to drink coffee out of their new mugs, available on WWE Shop.
Nikki said that they took out the trash last night. Alexa said, “Speaking of trash,” and verbally ran down Bayley and “Sasha Smurf”, and the two promised to beat Banks and Bayley later tonight.
Nikki is a babyface, who then aligned herself with Alexa, who was a heel. Nikki never turned. Now the two are de facto babyfaces, again without the benefit of a turn.
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AJ STYLES & THE CLUB DEFEATED CEDRIC ALEXANDER & THE VIKING RAIDERS
Alexander and Styles started off. Alexander hit a knee strike, then a penalty kick. He hit a series of punches in the corner, then tagged Erik. Styles managed a tag to Karl Anderson. Ivar made a blind tag, and Viking Raiders hit tandem offense on Anderson.
Ivar worked over Anderson’s left arm. Gallows and Erik tagged in. Erik missed a meteora in the corner, and The OC took over. On the outside, Styles dropped Erik face-first onto the barricade, as the show went to a commercial break.
Back from break, Erik hit Anderson with a knee strike, then made a hot tag to Ivar. Ivar connected with a senton, then a cartwheel.
The match broke down, and everyone hit a move. Alexander and Anderson were left legal. Alexander hit a handspring kick. Styles blind-tagged his way in, then nailed Alexander with a Phenomenal Forearm for the pin.
After the match, Gallows and Anderson went after Erik on the outside. Ivar hit a flip dive off the post, wiping all three out.
Back in the ring, Alexander crotched Styles on the top rope. He teased a superplex, but Styles blocked it, then hit a Styles Clash off the second rope. Alexander was handed another resounding defeat after his pre-show loss at Clash of Champions.
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Renee Young, Michael Cole, and Corey Graves introduced a vignette taped earlier in the day at the Women’s College Basketball Hall of Fame.
R-Truth and Carmella were shown talking about the great basketball teams at the University of Tennessee. Mayor Glen Jacobs entered. R-Truth asked if he was Magic Johnson. Jacobs offered R-Truth a limo tour of Knoxville. R-Truth accepted.
Truth and Jacobs exited the scene, while Carmella looked on… concerned? Suspicious?
The King of the Ring final is up next.
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KING OF THE RING FINAL: BARON CORBIN DEFEATED CHAD GABLE
They started the match with some chain wrestling. Corbin forced a rope break, then hit a back elbow. Corbin began working over Gable at a snail’s pace, hitting a series of strikes in the corner, playing to the crowd between each punch.
Gable low-bridged Corbin over the top rope to the apron, then knocked him to the floor with a dropkick. Corbin stumbled to the timekeeper’s area. Gable charged in after him, and Corbin hit a backdrop onto an office chair, as we went to a commercial break.
Back from break, they were teasing a countout. Gable made it back in at 9. Corbin hit a series of elbow strikes, then used a chinlock. Gable took a flip bump off a lariat, and Corbin covered for a two count.
Corbin hit a double sledge to the back. Gable hit a couple of punches and a flying forearm, but Corbin cut him off right away, hitting a big boot. Corbin teased a superplex. Gable slapped on an armbar over the ropes, but Corbin broke the hold with a powerbomb.
Chinlock time. Corbin took a break from the chinlock to yell at the fans. Gable got a single-leg, then used an ankle lock. Corbin escaped, then missed a charge into the corner, posting his own shoulder.
Gable hit a missile dropkick, then three front-flip kicks. He went for a fourth, but Corbin hit a pop-up powerslam for a nearfall. Corbin dragged Gable to the floor, then sent him into the barricade.
Corbin missed a running attack and ran shoulder-first into the ring steps. Gable then posted Corbin’s left leg. Gable hit a dropkick to the leg, then a series of punches.
Gable hit the ropes, but ran right into a Deep Six. Corbin covered, but Gable kicked out.
Gable hit a victory roll into a bridging German for a nearfall. Gable went for a moonsault, but Corbin moved. Gable landed on his feet. Gable avoided End of Days, then applied the ankle lock again. After a long tease, Corbin forced a rope break.
Gable hit a series of strikes in the corner. He went for a tornado DDT, but Corbin reversed it into End of Days for the pin.
The first half of the match was boring. The second half was good. Corey Graves was insufferable on commentary throughout.
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They cut to a scene of Sarah Schreiber, Kayla Braxton, Titus O’Neil, Curt Hawkins, The Street Profits, and Maria and Mike Kanellis partying in the back.
The Kanellis Baby’s GENDER REVEAL PARTY is next.
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Maria revealed that her baby is a boy. She told Mike that Ricochet was her baby’s father. Ricochet denied it. Mike slapped Ricochet and told him to meet him in the ring.
Titus told Ricochet he better go to the ring and do something about it all of this.
Angelo Dawkins said he was surprised that Maria didn’t say that he was the father. The Street Profits made a stripper joke about Maria.
This led to…
RICOCHET DEFEATED MIKE KANELLIS
Ricochet beat Kanellis with a codebreaker in a quick squash. The announcers played all of this for laughs. Graves made references to divorce and paying child support.
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Another Firefly Funhouse segment was up next. Bray Wyatt showed us his wall of friendship, which featured photos of Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, Finn Balor and Jerry Lawler (The Big 4), all with their faces crossed out.
Wyatt said it’s time for him to make some new friends tonight.
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Back from break, Mike was still sitting in the ring. Maria stood on the stage. She cut a promo on Mike. She said Ricochet isn’t the baby’s father, she was only trying to motivate Mike to fight for her honor.
Maria then said that it was time to introduce the real father… Rusev.
Rusev made his triumphant return and stomped to the ring. Mike cut a promo. He said he’s having a bad day and a worse night. He congratulated Rusev and Maria and tried to beg off. Rusev beat Mike all around ringside. Michael Cole called Mike a loser on commentary.
RUSEV DEFEATED MIKE KANELLIS
Rusev hit some stomps, then used the Accolade, and Kanellis tapped out right away, losing his second squash in as many segments.
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Mayor Jacobs was shown giving Truth a tour of the University of Tennessee’s football stadium. Jacobs put over the local police, and introduced Truth to a police officer. The officer took off his uniform, revealing a referee’s shirt.
Truth tried to run away, but ran into the goalpost. Mayor Jacobs covered, and became the new WWE 24/7 Champion.
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REY MYSTERIO DEFEATED CESARO
Cesaro came to the ring in running shoes, a track suit, and sunglasses. He announced that the next time he sees Rey’s son, he’s going to beat the hell out of him.
Rey, the valiant babyface fighting for his son’s honor, was immediately cut off, as Cesaro hit an uppercut forearm for a nearfall. Cesaro took the first several minutes of the match, using Irish whips to send Rey around the ring.
Rey made a comeback, then hit a suicide dive, which led to a commercial break.
Cesaro was in control when we returned from the break. Cesaro used a chinlock. Rey teased a seated seton, but Cesaro countered with an uppercut forearm. Cesaro hit a slingshot senton for a two count.
Cesaro used another chinlock. Rey went for a sprinboard crossbody. Cesaro blocked it, but Rey was able to hit a crucifix bomb, then a springboard DDT. Rey teased La Mistica, but Cesaro blocked it, then hit an uppercut.
Cesaro used a crossface. Rey reversed into a cradle for a nearfall. Rey hit an enziguri. He went for a 619, but Cesaro caught him, then hit a gutbuster for a two count.
Cesaro went for Three Amigos. Before the third Amigo, Rey blocked it, then hit a hurricanrana. He followed up with a 619, then hit a Canadian Destroyer for the pin.
This was a solid match, but I would like to ban chinlocks. Everyone learn some new holds.
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Back in the Firefly Funhouse, a cherubic Bray Wyatt was shown hanging a photo of Rollins on his wall.
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The announcers plugged the upcoming WWE Draft, and promised an end to the Wild Card Rule, then threw to a hype video for the Authors of Pain. This was an excellent vignette.
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Bayley and Sasha Banks, who owns zero bad ring jackets, entered for their match.
Bliss and Bayley started the match. Bliss worked on Bayley’s left arm, then hit her double knees-standing moonsault combo.
Bliss hit a code red out of the corner. Bayley rolled outside, and Banks went to check on her. Bliss took both out with a flip dive off the apron. Bliss sold as though she injured her leg on the landing.
Bliss tagged Cross, and Bayley cut her off with a knee lift right away. Bayley and Banks used quick tags, working over Cross. Banks hit a vertical suplex for a nearfall on Cross, then kicked Bliss for good measure.
Banks missed a knee drop in the corner. Bayley and Bliss fought on the floor, where Bayley sent Bliss’s injured leg into the steps. Banks continued working over Cross inside.
After a commercial, Bayley had Cross in a chinlock. The announcers explained that Bliss was taken to the back for medical attention.
Banks used Bayley as a springboard and hit a splash in the corner. They looked to repeat the move with Bayley delivering the move this time, but Cross used Banks a springboard instead. That was the idea, at least. Cross slipped jumping off of Banks.
Cross made a comeback. She trapped Banks in the ring skirt, then sent Bayley into the barricade. Cross hit a crossbody off the top for a nearfall. Cross hit some forearm strikes, then hit a bulldog.
Cross hit a dropkick to Banks, freeing her from the ring skirt. Cross hit Bayley with a tornado DDT, then hit her draping neckbreaker. She covered, but Banks made the save.
Banks tagged in. Cross used a cradle for a nearfall. Banks hit a backstabber, then used the Bank Statement, and Cross tapped out.
This was sloppy in places, but everyone worked hard, and overall I would call it a good match, but the crowd didn’t care.
After the match, Banks grabbed a chair. She teased using it on Cross. Becky Lynch ran down with a chair for the save.
Banks and Lynch had a sword fight with their chairs. Bayley jumped in with a chair. Charlotte tiptoed to the ring in the highest heels I’ve ever seen. Bayley went after Flair. Flair hit her with a big boot, then used the chair on Bayley.
Back inside, Lynch ducked a chair shot, then sent Banks packing with a chair shot. The crowd came alive and chanted for Lynch.
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Banks cut a promo on Lynch in the locker room area. She said that she’s the talk of the division, and she’s cashing the winner’s check. She challenged Lynch to a rematch at Hell in a Cell, “…that is, unless you’re man enough to accept.” Obviously she misspoke and should have said “unless you’re NOT man enough to accept.”
I feel bad pointing out a flubbed line on live TV.
Banks recovered and ended the promo strongly with a “Your move, bitch.”
I don’t make it a secret that Banks is my favorite wrestler. I may be biased, but I liked the promo.
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R-TRUTH DEFEATED MAYOR JACOBS TO WIN THE 24/7 CHAMPIONSHIP
Truth rolled up Jacobs as he arrived at the building, and regained the title. Jacobs teased firing up and becoming Kane, as he grabbed Truth by the throat. Truth talked him down, and they walked into the building together.
**********
The announcers threw to a backstage promo by Lynch.
Lynch said she loved going to war with Banks last night. Lynch said that Banks brought Hell in a Cell into their business, just like she brought a chair into their business. Just like she used the chair against Banks, Lynch promised to use the cell against her.
Lynch said she’s not interested in facing Banks at Hell in a cell, but she is interested in destroying Banks in Hell in a Cell.
I don’t make it a secret that Lynch is my second favorite wrestler. I may be biased, but I liked this promo too.
They are doing little things to differentiate this feud from the rest of the gaga on the show, right down to having these two deliver their promos straight to the camera instead of to a backstage interviewer. Good stuff.
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LACEY EVANS DEFEATED DANA BROOKE
Evans threw her skirt at Brooke at the opening bell. Brooke overcame the distraction and hit a handspring back elbow in the corner.
Evans rolled outside. Brooke hit chops on the floor. Evans used a leg sweep and a slingshot dropkick. Brooke came back with clotheslines and a bodyslam.
Evans used a hair pull, then hit the Woman’s Right. She then used a Sharpshooter, which sent a message to Natalya. Brooke tapped out.
They kept this short, and it was fine. The crowd was so quiet that you could hear a single heckler yelling.
**********
The announcers plugged NXT on USA on Wednesday. Seth Rollins was shown warming up in the back. The main event is up next.
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SETH ROLLINS DEFEATED ROBERT ROODE BY DQ
This was an above average Raw match.
They started with some basic tackles, dropdowns, leapfrogs and armdrags. Rollins used an armbar, a bodyslam, and a knee drop. Roode cut Rollins off with a knee to the midsection.
Rollins sent Roode outside, but Ziggler distracted him. Rollins overcame the first distraction. Ziggler then distracted him again, and Rollins was not smart enough to pay attention to his opponent. Instead, he focused on Ziggler.
Roode knocked Rollins off the apron, sending him flying into the barricade. Ziggler hit a cheap shot while Roode took the ref. Rollins was on the floor selling as we went to commercial.
Roode used a waistlock, then a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Roode sent Rollins outside. Ziggler tried a superkick, but Rollins ducked it and hit his own superkick.
Rollins sent Roode into the barricade. Back inside, Rollins hit slingblade. They did a couple of teases. Rollins blocked a DDT, while Roode avoided a springboard knee.
Rollins hit a falcon arrow for a nearfall. Cole said that the fans were looking to “will Rollins back into this match” as we was firmly in control and climbing the ropes to deliver an offensive move.
Roode attempted to cut Rollins off. He teased a superplex, but Rollins dropped him face-first to the mat. Rollins hit a superkick, which is the setup for the Curb Stomp.
Rollins hit the Stomp. He covered, but Ziggler broke up the pin for the DQ. So, Braun can make three tag champs look like dweebs, but the champion of the universe can’t pin one of the tag champs? You hate to see it.
Ziggler and Rollins had a back and forth fight in the ring. A.J. Styles and The OC ran down, and it became 4-on1 against Rollins. It would have been 5-on-1, but Roode was still selling the Stomp.
Styles laid out Rollins with a Styles Clash. Roode woke up and it became 5-on-1.
Kane’s music played, and he lumbered to the ring, where the 52 year old mayor then beat up five men by himself.
After clearing the ring, Kane teased shooting fire from the ring posts… but The Fiend’s special effects started.
The Fiend used a Mandible Claw on Kane, sending himm rolling to the floor.
The Fiend then focused on Rollins. Did he attack him? No. Did he stare at him? Yes.
The show ended with a distorted version of the Firefly Funhouse graphics and theme song.
The finals of WWE’s King of the Ring tournament are officially set.
Chad Gable will face Baron Corbin in the finals on next Monday’s episode of Raw. The finals had originally been planned for Clash of Champions.
With Elias unable to wrestle on tonight’s SmackDown due to an ankle injury, Gable faced Shane McMahon in the semifinals instead. In storyline, Shane put himself into the match and made Kevin Owens the special guest referee. Shane suggested that he would rescind Owens’ $100,000 fine if Owens helped him win.
Owens fast counted to three when Gable pinned Shane with a German suplex right after the match started. Shane then made it a two-out-of-three falls match, but he ended up tapping out to an ankle lock after Owens stopped him from using a steel chair.
Shane “fired” Owens after the match.
Corbin advanced to the King of the Ring finals by defeating Ricochet and Samoa Joe in a triple threat match on this week’s Raw. Corbin defeated The Miz and Cedric Alexander in the first two rounds of the tournament, while Gable defeated Shelton Benjamin and Andrade.
Baron Corbin is going to the finals of King of the Ring.
In the semifinals of the tournament, Corbin defeated Samoa Joe and Ricochet in a triple threat match on tonight’s Raw at Madison Square Garden. Ricochet hit a 630 on Joe at the end of the match, but the finish was Corbin pinning Joe after pulling Ricochet out of the ring and throwing him over the barricade.
Raw’s semifinal for King of the Ring became a triple threat after Joe and Ricochet’s quarterfinal match ended in a double pin.
Corbin defeated The Miz in the first round of the tournament and Cedric Alexander in the quarterfinals.
Elias vs. Chad Gable is SmackDown’s semifinal match. It’s taking place at Madison Square Garden tomorrow, with the winner advancing to face Corbin in the finals at Clash of Champions. The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina is hosting the pay-per-view this Sunday.
Elias defeated Kevin Owens and Ali in his first two King of the Ring matches, while Gable defeated Shelton Benjamin and Andrade.
Submitted by Jarrod Hachey from Raw’s Friday night house show in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
– Ricochet defeated Cesaro with a running Shooting Star Press
– Cedric Alexander defeated Robert Roode with the Lumbar Check
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson attacked Alexander after he won. Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins made the save, then The Revival’s theme hit and they came out and cut a promo.
– Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson defeated Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins and The Revival in a triple threat tag match
Anderson got the pin with a schoolboy while holding onto Hawkins’ tights.
– Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defeated Lacey Evans to retain her title
Lynch won via submission with the Dis-Arm-Her.
– Titus O’Neil defeated Mojo Rawley with a sit-out spinebuster
– A Moment of Bliss segment took place in the ring with Nikki Cross as the guest. Natalya and Dana Brooke interrupted them.
– Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross defeated Natalya & Dana Brooke to retain their titles
Natalya took the pin after a running forearm strike from Bliss.
– Universal Champion Seth Rollins defeated Baron Corbin in a Saint John street fight to retain his title
Becky Lynch got involved and neutralized Lacey Evans. Rollins and Lynch Irish whipped Corbin through a table.
Both semifinal matches are now set for WWE’s King of the Ring tournament.
Elias will take on Chad Gable in a semifinal match on next Tuesday’s SmackDown. Baron Corbin vs. Ricochet vs. Samoa Joe is the semifinal on the Raw side of the bracket and will take place next Monday.
Elias defeated Ali on tonight’s SmackDown to advance to the semifinals. Gable then advanced by defeating Andrade.
Corbin defeated Cedric Alexander in their quarterfinal match on last night’s Raw. Ricochet vs. Joe ended in a double pin, with it later being announced that both Ricochet and Joe are advancing to the semifinals and will face Corbin in a triple threat match.
Joe also appeared on tonight’s SmackDown. Before Gable’s match against Andrade, Joe insulted Gable and called him mentally weak.
Next week’s Raw and SmackDown are both taking place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The King of the Ring finals will be held at Clash of Champions. The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina is hosting the pay-per-view on September 15.
