The build to Crown Jewel continues as Friday Night SmackDown takes place from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defends his title against Roman Reigns in tonight’s opening match. The match was set up on Twitter after Reigns and Sami Zayn went back and forth insulting each other.
Bayley defeated Charlotte Flair last week to capture the SmackDown Women’s Championship. She debuted a new look with short hair and destroyed the Bayley Buddies. Tonight, she appears as a guest on Miz TV.
Dana Brooke, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, Lacey Evans, Carmella, and Nikki Cross are set for a six-pack challenge tonight, with the winner becoming the number one contender to Bayley’s title.
The New Day & Heavy Machinery take on The Revival, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode in an eight-man tag match. All four teams are participating in the World Cup tag team turmoil match at Crown Jewel.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Roman Reigns defeated Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Sami Zayn) by DQ
Zayn joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary. Nakamura rocked Reigns with hard knees to gain an early advantage. Reigns fought back and hit a Samoan drop for a near fall. Zayn jumped up from commentary and saved Nakamura from Reigns’ drive-by.
Back from the break, Nakamura was firmly in control with a side headlock. Reigns fired back and rocked Nakamura with a clothesline. He set up for the superman punch, but Nakamura countered with an armbar. Reigns powered out and hit a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall.
Zayn left commentary again and jumped on the apron. The distraction allowed Nakamura to hit a sliding German suplex. He went for the Kinshasa, but Reigns hit the superman punch for a close two count.
Reigns went for the spear, but King Corbin attacked Reigns from behind for the disqualification. On commentary, Graves noted Corbin is going to make Reigns pay for his cousin The Rock embarrassing him a few weeks ago.
The heels ganged up on Reigns, but Daniel Bryan ran out for the save. Bryan went for the suicide dive, but Zayn grabbed his leg. Nakamura then hit the Kinshasa on Bryan. The heels walked off, celebrating.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves talked about the draft and SmackDown’s roster. They’re both thrilled with SmackDown’s new roster.
In the back, The New Day sang a song. Tucker interrupted and pointed out they’re all competing against each other at Crown Jewel. Tonight they’re a team, and he wants to make Kofi Kingston feel better about losing the WWE Championship. Kingston said he’s feeling good and has the power of positivity. Otis then drank a bunch of protein shake and pancake batter.
Kayla Braxton tried to interview King Corbin, but he put his crown on and just walked off.
Shorty Gable defeated Curtis Axel (w/Bo Dallas)
Before the match, they recapped all the heels mocking Gable’s height and featured him getting beat down.
Axel slowed the pace down with an armbar. Gable rolled up Axel for a near fall.
Gable rocked Dallas with a kick to the face off the apron. Axel attempted the Perfect Plex, but Gable reversed into an ankle lock for the win.
After the match, Kayla Braxton interviewed Gable. He said he thought his height held him back, but that’s not the case. Gable talked about embracing who he is, and everyone has insecurities. He said to overcome them, and he accepts who he is. Gable decided to shorten his name to Shorty G. The fans slowly cheered Gable more by the end of the promo.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves interviewed Hulk Hogan on Skype. They noted Team Hogan had no team captain because Seth Rollins is taking on “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt at Crown Jewel.
Hogan noted he’s looking for a new captain, and the entire roster volunteered. He said the latest members of his team are Shorty G and Ali. He promised big news by the end of the show.
Heavy Machinery & The New Day (w/Kofi Kingston) defeated The Revival, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Tucker caught Ziggler with a dropkick to take over. Heavy Machinery both hit a suplex on Ziggler and Roode. The faces sent Revival to the floor and Woods hit a dive.
Back from the break, the heels were in control, but Woods nailed Dash Wilder with a back suplex. Scott Dawson prevented Woods from making the tag. Woods fired back, but the heels took over. They isolated Woods and cut him off from his corner.
Ziggler attempted a superplex, but Woods pushed him off. He followed up with a missile dropkick. Otis got the hot tag and ran wild. He attempted a splash, but Ziggler caught him with a boot. Dawson made a blind tag.
Otis then hit the caterpillar on Roode. Dawson attempted a cross body, but Otis caught him.
They attempted the compacter, but Ziggler pulled Tucker to the floor.
Dawson got a near fall and attempted a suplex. Otis held up Dawson for a suplex and handed him to Big E. New Day then hit the midnight hour for the win.
They announced Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan against Shinsuke Nakamura & King Corbin later tonight.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Bryan in the back. He doesn’t care about Twitter beef or grown men arguing about the draft. He promised to put the two Kings in their place.
They showed a video on Ali and noted he’s on Team Hogan at Crown Jewel.
Miz TV with SmackDown Woman’s Champion Bayley
Bayley came out to new music and didn’t smile as she walked to the ring. Sasha Banks accompanied Bayley.
Banks is out there to support her best friend. Bayley reminded everyone that she beat Charlotte Flair last week.
Miz pointed out that Twitter exploded after Bayley’s shocking behavior last week. They recapped her defeating Flair and debuting a new look and attitude. Miz asked Bayley why she did what she did. She doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. He said she owes an apology to all the kids that supported her.
She didn’t speak, and he called her Brock Lesnar and wondered if Banks is her Paul Heyman. Miz asked if it’s because the fans didn’t cheer her. He thinks it’s because she’s in Banks’ shadow.
Bayley destroyed the Bayley buddies because she’s sick of the fans. All the fans did was take, and all she was trying to do was be a role model. She was heartbroken when she lost the title at Hell In A Cell. Nobody was there for her, and there was nobody to hug her. Bayley feels she outgrew the fans. She asked the fans if they want some inspiration. She said life sucks, and then you die.
Nikki Cross interrupted and made her way to the ring. She said the time for talking is over, and it’s time for action. She told Bayley to make herself comfortable and promised to hug Bayley after the match.
Dana Brooke then made her way out. She said tonight marks a new beginning and promised to win as well.
Six-pack Challenge: Nikki Cross defeated Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, and Carmella To Earn A SmackDown Woman’s Title Shot
Banks and Bayley watched the match from ringside.
Evans rolled out of the ring. Rose and Deville worked together to control the match. They teased going at it but instead went after Carmella on the floor. Brooke took Fire & Desire out, but Evans rocked Brooke with an elbow.
Carmella took out everyone with a cross body off the barricade. Back from the break, Rose and Deville worked over Carmella. Cross took over and hit a cross body off the top to the floor.
Dana Brooke gained control and hit a powerbomb on Evans. She followed up with Swanton Bomb for a near fall.
Carmella and Rose both made the save. Rose and Carmella started trading slaps, and on commentary, Cole told Graves not to get conflicted.
Evans hit the women’s right, but Carmella hit a superkick. Rose caught Carmella with a knee, but Cross hit the neck breaker for the win.
Cross and Bayley had a staredown after the match.
They recapped the Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins feud, including Rollins burning down the Firefly Funhouse.
Braun Strowman defeated Drew Gulak
Gulak got on the mic and introduced himself to Strowman. He noted it’s his first night. Gulak said he’s a historian and said Tyson Fury will beat Strowman if he does the same thing he always does.
Gulak created a powerpoint presentation and started to walk Strowman through it. Strowman snapped and completely dominated Gulak. He ran around ringside and rocked Gulak with a shoulder block. He then hit a splash in the corner and power slam for the win.
Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & King Corbin
Roman Reigns was announced at the new team captain for Team Hogan at Crown Jewel.
Daniel Bryan was firmly in control until Sami Zayn interfered. Back from break, the heels were in control. Corbin knocked Reigns off the apron. They isolated Bryan and cut him off from his corner. Bryan fired up and hit a running knee. He tried to make the tag, but Corbin pulled Reigns off the apron again.
Corbin teased hitting Reigns with the steps, but Bryan hit a suicide dive. Bryan then applied the Lebell Lock on Nakamura, but Corbin made the save. Reigns then hit a superman punch on the floor. He followed up by spearing Corbin on the floor through the barricade.
Bryan rocked Nakamura with the Yes Kicks and set up for the running knee. Nakamura avoided the first time, but Bryan hit the running knee on his second attempt for the win.
Bryan and Reigns celebrated and shook hands after the match.
Next Week: SmackDown moves to FS1 because of the World Series.
