The road to Extreme Rules continues tonight as SmackDown takes place from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Bayley goes one-on-one with Shotzi tonight. Bayley’s out for revenge after Shotzi helped Raquel Rodriguez against Dakota Kai last week. Bayley is set to challenge Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair for the title in a ladder match at Extreme Rules on October 8.
Sami Zayn & Sola Sikola take on Ricochet & Madcap Moss on tonight’s show. Last week, Sikoa stood up for Zayn and gave Ricochet and Moss a vicious beating to set up this bout. There was also a segment on last week’s SmackDown where Zayn was officially brought into The Bloodline and recognized as the “Honorary Uce.”
Plus, Hit Row face off against Los Lotharios. Angel and Humberto attacked Top Dolla and Ashante “Thee” Adonis last week, leading to tonight’s tag team match.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Show Recap
Sami Zayn & Solo Sikoa vs. Ricochet & Madcap Moss (12:34)
Not surprisingly, this was a fun opener and a fast-paced match. Everyone worked hard. It had a ton of heat, with the fans treating Zayn and Sikoa as the faces. They didn’t hate Ricochet or Moss; they just loved Zayn so much more.
A video package recapped Roman Reigns giving Sami Zayn an Honorary Uce t-shirt last week. Next, they aired highlights of Sikoa attacking Moss and Ricochet backstage.
The fans love Zayn and broke into a “Sami” chant within seconds. Ricochet had the early advantage with a standing dropkick on Zayn. Moss continued the beat down on Zayn. Zayn recovered and tagged in Sikoa to a big pop. The heels were briefly in control.
As the fans broke into another “Sami” chant, Moss dumped Zayn and Sikoa out of the ring. Moss then assisted Ricochet with his dive to the floor.
Back from the break, Sikoa was firmly in control with a nerve hold. Ricochet tried fighting back, but Sikoa hit a Samoan drop for a near fall. He followed up with a big leg drop. Ricochet fired up and hit a missile dropkick off the middle turnbuckle.
Moss and Zayn tagged in at the same time. Moss got a hot tag, but the fans booed him. Instead, the fans popped for Zayn. Moss ran wild on Zayn to a lackluster reaction. Sikoa grabbed a chair to a loud pop. Ricochet cut Sikoa off, and Moss knocked him off the apron.
Zayn rolled up Moss for a near fall to a big pop. He then hit the blue thunder for a close two-count. Zayn hit a flying cross body, but Moss rolled through. Ricochet ran wild and went for a suicide dive on Sikoa. Instead, Sikoa threw a chair at Ricochet. He then tossed him into the timekeeper’s area. The finish came when Sikoa made the blind tag and hit the spinning Solo on Moss for the win.
Zayn trashed talked Moss after the match. Moss heard enough and grabbed Zayn by the neck until Sikoa made the save. Sikoa beat down Moss until Zayn stopped him.
Back from the break, Zayn and Sikoa walked towards the Bloodline locker room. Jey Uso opened the door and let his brother enter. He wouldn’t let Zayn in and got in his face. He noted that Zayn has everyone else fooled except for him. Zayn told him to take it up with Roman and walked into the Bloodline locker room. Jey wasn’t happy.
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Karrion Kross and Scarlett cut a promo on Drew McIntyre in a pre-tape. It included highlights of the fireball and Kross locking on the Kross Jacket on McIntyre. He promised to defeat him in the leather strap match at Extreme Rules.
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Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviewed Austin Theory about cashing in the Money in the bank briefcase. Theory blamed Brock Lesnar and Tyson Fury for his failed cash-in attempts.
Theory started burying Drew McIntyre for losing at Clash at the Castle. Of course, McIntyre was standing behind Theory. He demanded Theory meet him in the ring now.
Drew McIntyre defeated Austin Theory (w/The Alpha Academy) (1:55)
McIntryre pretty much squashed Theory. It really wasn’t much of a match, but the post-match angle was hot. Johnny Gargano and Kevin Owens ran out to a big pop.
It was more an angle to set up the main event. Later, they announced Drew McIntyre, Johnny Gargano, and Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory & Alpha Academy in the main event tonight.
As Theory walked out, he introduced Alpha Academy for the advantage over McIntyre.
Theory chopped McIntyre a few times, but McIntyre took over. He threw Theory around the ring and rocked him with vicious chops. Theory briefly fought back, but McIntyre regained control.
McIntyre set up for the claymore, but Chad Gable jumped on the apron. McIntyre pulled Gable into the ring, allowing Otis to pull him out for the disqualification.
Theory and Alpha Academy jumped McIntyre after the match. Johnny Gargano ran out for the save, but it still wasn’t enough to even the odds. Kevin Owen’s music hit to a huge pop. The faces cleared the ring of the heels. Owens and Gargano gave Otis superkicks, followed by a Glasgow kiss from McIntrye.
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In the back, Max Durpi approached Maxine and the Maximum Male Models. They apologized for disappointing him last week but promised to win the title tonight. He thought they got a title shot against The Uso, but they meant holding the longest pose. Dupri walked off. Hit Row walked up and made fun of the models as they held their poses.
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In a backstage promo, Shotzi noted she’s sick of Damage Control. She’s not the type to sit on the sidelines weighing her options. She promised to defeat Bayley later.
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Hit Row (w/B-Fab) vs. Los Lotharios (2:26)
Hit Row vs. Los Lotharios was just kind of there and too short to be anything. It was pretty much Top Dolla squshing the heels.
Los Lotharios briefly isolated Ashante “Thee” Adonis until Top Dolla got the hot tag. He tossed Humberto around the ring and hit an elbow for a near fall. He then gave Los Lotharios a double slam. Hit Row hit the heavy hitter for the win.
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They cut to Michael Cole and Corey Graves talking about the previous match. Standing directly behind Cole and Graves was a fan holding a large black sign with the words “Revel In What You Are” in white letters. They never called attention to it, but it was clearly the focus. It appeared to be another White Rabbit clue.
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A video package of Liv Morgan putting Lacey Evans through a table aired next. Kayla Braxton interviewed Ronda Rousey in the locker room. She called Morgan Hooters Barbie. Rousey noted she’s already dangerous but will be more dangerous with a baseball bat.
Ronda Rousey defeated Natalya (3:26)
Despite only getting three minutes, Rousey and Natalya had a short but fun match. They based it around doing submissions. The post-match pull-apart brawl between Morgan and Rousey was good. They both showed a lot of fire and got the fans into the angle.
Natalya got a pop coming out. Rousey got a good reaction with lots of cheers.
Natalya and Rousey traded submission holds on the mat. Natalya escaped and ran to the corner. Rousey went for a flying knee, but Natalya countered with a powerbomb. The fans broke into a “Ronda Rousey” chant.
Natalya went for the sharpshooter but Rousey revesred into an armbar. Natalya caught Rousey with a discus clothesline for a near fall. Rousey recovered quickly and beat Natalya with the ankle lock.
After the match, Liv Morgan walked out with a baseball bat. Rousey jumped out of the ring and walked towards Morgan. They had a brief stare down. They started brawling around ringside as Morgan used the bab. Rousey threw Morgan, and the bat flew into the ring.
Morgan and Rousey fought over the bat. Security ran out as Rousey tossed Morgan over the barricade. Security surrounded Rousey and asked her to leave. After a few moments, Rousey agreed to leave and started walking.
In the background, Morgan got back to her feet and tackled Rousey down. Security struggled to separate them but eventually did. The fans went crazy for the brawl.
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In the back, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, and Johnny Gargano discussed their upcoming match. McIntyre joked about Gargano trusting Owens.
Owens walked down the hallway and saw the Maximum Male Models still holding their pose. Owens told Mace to raise his hand to make the pose more effective. That hilarious line made the models posing segment worth it.
Owens crossed paths with Sami Zayn to a big pop. Owens told Zayn that he needed to get a different shirt.
Later, Sonya Deville and Shinsuke Nakamura watched the Maximum Male Models continue to hold their poses.
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Imperium Promo
Sheamus came out to confront Imperium on his own and got a good reaction. The heels beat down Sheamus, but he called them back to the ring. This was a simple but effective angle.
Imperium came down to the ring for a promo. Ludwig Kaiser mentioned their problems with The Brawling Brutes. Giovanni Vinci praised Gunther and called him a real champion. Gunther then promised to defeat Sheamus next week and end the Brawling Brutes.
Sheamus interrupted and came to the ring alone. He noted that Butch and Ridge Holland are stuck in Florida. He said it’s okay because he’s in Winnipeg. He challenged Imperium to a fight.
Sheamus fought off Vinci and Kaiser with a shillelagh. He got in the ring and started trading shots with Gunther.
Sheamus set up for the Brogue Kick, but Kaiser and Vinici recovered. They held Sheamus down as Gunther beat Sheamus with vicious chops. He then powerbombed Sheamus and walked off.
Sheamus laughed into the mic and challenged Gunther to come back. The fans broke into a loud “Sheamus” chant. Imperium got back in the ring and jumped Sheamus. Gunther then knocked out Sheamus with his own shillelagh.
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In a backstage promo, Bayley noted that Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai are stuck in Flordia. She promised to defeat Shotzi later.
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Michael Cole and Corey Graves discussed Antonio Inoki’s passing. Graves mentioned Inoki’s controversial WWE Championship title reign and his legendary fight with Muhammed Ali.
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Bayley defeated Shotzi (6:34)
This was a bit of a disappointment only because most of the match was during the break. Bayley and Shotzi didn’t have a bad match, but it lacked heat. The fans did pop for the post-match angle with Bianca Belair.
Shotzi came out in the tank for her entrance. Cole was very excited to see the tank back.
Shotzi avoided Bayley’s clothesline by sliding on her knees. Bayley tried fighting back, but Shotzi quickly took over.
Back from the break, Shotzi was firmly in control and gave Bayley a suplex in the corner. She climbed to the middle turnbuckle, but Bayley cut her off. She yanked Shotzi off the corner by her leg. Bayley then hit the rose plant for the win.
Bayley continued to attack Shotzi after the match. She hit another rose plant and brought in a ladder. Bayley put Shotzi in the ladder, but Bianca Belair ran out for the save. Bayley tried to give Belair the rose plant on the ladder, but Belair reversed into the KOD. Bayley grabbed the rope and escaped.
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In the back, Maximum Male Models were close to breaking the record when Max Dupri jumped Mansoor. He mocked them, threw his belt at them, and said this wasn’t for him.
Drew McIntyre, Johnny Gargano & Kevin Owens defeated Austin Theory & Alpha Academy (9:49)
Everyone worked hard and the match built to the faces hitting their big moves. Nobody in the arena thought the heels had a chance of winning. It was more about having a fun match to end the night.
The heels took over and cut Gargano off from his corner. They were firmly in control until Gargano recovered and speared Theory. The faces cleared the ring, and Owens hit a cannonball off the apron onto Gable and Theory.
Back from the break, the heels were back in control as they isolated Gargano. Gargano went for one final beat, but Gable countered into a Northern light suplex for a near fall in an awesome spot.
Theory attacked McIntyre and pulled him off the apron. It didn’t matter as Owens got the hot tag and ran wild. He hit the cannonball on Gable and followed with the Swanton Bomb, but Otis broke up the pin attempt.
McIntyre tagged in and ran wild on Theory. He hit the belly-to-belly suplex and a neck breaker. He went for the claymore, but Theory slipped out the ring.
Otis attacked McIntyre at ringside. Owens and Gargano hit a double superkick on Otis and tried to put him through the commentary desk. Gable made the save and went on the table with Owens instead.
Owens hit the stunner on Gable on the table. In the ring, McIntyre hit the claymore on Theory for the win.
After the match, McIntyre grabbed a strap and whipped Theory to end SmackDown.
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Next Week: On the season premiere of SmackDown, Roman Reigns and Logan Paul meet face-to-face. Plus, Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Sheamus. Also, Ricochet goes one-on-one with Solo Sikoa.
