It’s the SmackDown After Evolution, and Becky Lynch is STILL champion! What will she do to prepare for Ronda Rousey? Plus, AJ Styles confronts Daniel Bryan!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE Championship: AJ Styles VS Daniel Bryan; Styles wins and retains the WWE Championship.
• Trick or Street Fight: The New Day’s ??? VS The Bar’s ???; Big E wins.
• WWE United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura VS R-Truth w/ Carmella; Nakamura wins and retains the WWE United States Championship.
• Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio VS The Miz & Randy Orton; Hardy & Mysterio win.

PLAY BY PLAY

The WWE Champion, AJ Styles, is here!

The Phenomenal One is ready to defend his title in just a few days at Crown Jewel! However, his hopes of keeping things friendly between his challenger, Daniel Bryan, haven’t really panned out. In two consecutive matches against The Usos, Styles and Bryan have ended up colliding with each other and then losing the match. Whether both times were accidents is anyone’s guess, but it has caused champion and challenger to no longer see eye to eye.

Styles hears Atlanta give him an standing ovation and revels in the moment. He then says he needs to get something off his chest. He wants to say it to the man’s face, so he calls Daniel Bryan out to the ring. Bryan’s music hits, and he’s here! The fans give Bryan his own standing ovation as he heads to the ring. The Goat stands face to face with the Phenomenal One and fans duel with their chants now. Styles says he feels the need to apologize. He says “I’m sorry.” Bryan says there’s no need to apologize, they’re both after the same prize. Everyone knows Bryan has infinite respect for Styles as both man and competitor.

But looking at him now, Bryan doesn’t see a friend or colleague, just the WWE Championship. When Bryan was hurt, the thing that motivated him was getting that title back. So nothing personal, but Bryan vows to take that title, at Crown Jewel. Good to know, but Styles wasn’t done. Styles says he’s sorry, for lying. He said that Pele was an accident, but no, he meant to hit it. Because nothing personal, but Styles looks forward to doing it again at Crown Jewel. Wow what a shock! Bryan couldn’t have guessed. Two twins in the ring yet Styles hits Bryan. Bryan says he never lies, so believe him when he says “I feel like hitting you on purpose.” “So what’s stopping you?” In fact, why wait for Crown Jewel!? Styles will defend this title, here in ATL!!

But here comes Shane O’Mac! The SmackDown Commissioner comes out, and says we’ve seen this a lot. Two men wanting to go right here right now but never getting to do it. But this is SmackDown, Shane’s back in charge, so we’re going to get AJ Styles VS Daniel Bryan, the Crown Jewel WWE Championship match, here tonight! And NOW!

WWE Championship: AJ Styles VS Daniel Bryan!

Why wait three more days? We’re getting The Phenomenal VS The Goat tonight! Who wins to then have another match at Crown Jewel?

SmackDown returns as introductions are made and the belt is raised! The bell rings and we begin! Bryan and Styles circle and tie up. They fight for control as they grind shoulders into each other. Bryan brings Styles in, gets the wristlock, then brings him down. Bryan hammerlocks and stomps the arm! He backs off as Styles gets up, showing a semblance of respect. Styles and Bryan circle again, but Styles gets a waistlock slam! Bryan gets up and goes after the wrist again. He wrenches the arm around, but Styles scoops and throws Bryan over the top rope. Bryan stays on the apron, and Styles backs off to show his semblance of respect.

Bryan returns, and the two circle again. They tie up and Styles has Bryan in a corner. Bryan turns it around as fans start dueling. Bryan backs off at 3, then gives a shove. Styles shoves Bryan so Bryan shoves back. Styles shoves again, so Bryan goes after the arm. Bryan gives a shoulder breaker, then a hammerlock. He puts Styles into a corner shoulder first, then kicks away from both sides. He goes left and right, then grabs the arm for another shoulder breaker. Styles throws a forearm, then forearms and chops in a corner. He chops Bryan then whips him corner to corner. Bryan goes up and over, then runs, but Styles keeps pace. Styles dropkicks Bryan down! Bryan bails out as fans fire up. Styles aims, slingshot but misses! Bryan builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit but just a little double edged as Bryan holds his leg.

We go picture in picture while both men are down. The referee checks on them, and they’re okay to continue. Styles heads for the ring first while Bryan gets his leg moving. A ring count begins, but Bryan puts Styles in at 6. He stalks Stylse to ropes, then wrenches the arm for another shoulder breaker. He keeps going and has Styles in a hammerlock on the mat. Bryan sits on the hold to add leverage as he pulls back. Styles endures but Bryan flips him over for a cover, TWO! Styles gets to ropes, but Bryan is after him. He hits Bryan and put shim in a corner, but Bryan hits him back for buckle bumps. Bryan whips corner to corner hard, then says “YES!” before running in. Styles boots Bryan away, then leaps up, moonsault DDT! But the bad arm keeps Styles from making a cover.

Styles gets to ropes while Bryan stirs. Styles goes to Bryan in a corner, brings him up, and rams in his shoulder. He chops Bryan, but keeps with him in the other corner. Styles chops and chops, but Bryan turns things around to chop Styles! And kick him! Bryan reels Styles out for an arm wringer! He twists Styles’ arm, but then backs off. Fans duel between “YES!” and “NO!” as Bryan stalks Styles. Bryan drags Styles up and gives him a rocking European Uppercut. We return to single picture as Bryan unleashes Yes Kicks! Styles takes the kicks, but blocks the buzzsaw into a dragon screw! Bryan clutches that bad leg, but Styles is right on it. Styles DDT’s the leg into the mat and Bryan crawls away in pain. Styles kicks Bryan while he’s down, showing little mercy as he tweaks it between his own legs.

Bryan is still down, so Styles keeps going after the leg. Styles drops an elbow into a toehold. Bryan works to go after Styles’ face, but Styles fights him off. Bryan gets the fish hook and reels Styles in for an armbar! Styles works against it, and has Bryan turned over, for a knee smash! And then he sweeps the leg! He keeps kicking Bryan while he’s down, but the referee has him back off. Styles comes back for a BIG shinbreaker! He keeps kicking, but then Bryan hits back! Styles kicks the leg again, then gives Bryan a shinbreaker on a buckle! Bryan is down, clutching the leg, but Styles still keeps on him. Styles drops another elbow, but Bryan uses his good leg to kick Styles in the back. Bryan gets free, and gives Styles another EuroUpper.

Bryan runs in at the corner but into a back elbow. Styles hops up, moonsault but no DDT as Bryan gets a cravat! Bryan drives in knees, then throws Styles down! Both men are down but now Bryan is firing up. He gives more Yes Kicks! The buzzsaw hits! Bryan takes aim from a corner, but runs into a dropkick! Both men are down again, but Styles heads for an apron. He prepares himself, springboards, but Bryan trips him up! Styles is stuck up top, so Bryan turns him around. Bryan climbs up to join Styles, for a SUPER Back Suplex! That Styles turned enough on! The crossbody brings both men down, Bryan gasping while clutching his neck! We go to break while the referee checks on him.

SmackDown returns and Styles throws forearms. Bryan drags Styles into the Yes Lock!! Styles is so close to the ropes, he just reaches out, Ropebreak! But the damage was done as Bryan backs off. Bryan waits for Styles, then brings him in for a suplex. Styles resists, and suplexes Bryan out!! That bad leg is hurting again from the landing! Styles drags Bryan up, shinbreaker on the desk! Styles whips but Bryan reverses, Styles goes into steel steps! Bryan puts Styles in, then joins him. Bryan fires himself up, bad leg and all. He aims at Styles, runs in corner to corner, for a big dropkick! Bryan runs again, for another dropkick! He hoists Styles up top, then climbs up to join him. Super Steiner BLOCKED! Styles Brings Bryan back up, but Bryan gets that Super Steiner! Both men are down again, but stirring.

Styles gets up, and throws a clothesline in the corner. He runs in but is put on the apron. He shoulders in but Bryan kicks him! Bryan wraps the bad arm on the ropes, but backs off at 4. Bryan YES Kicks Styles between the ropes! But Styles catches one, dragon screw in the ropes! Bryan is down while Styles gets back on the apron. Styles aims, springboards, but flies into a double underhook suplex! Into armbar! Bryan pulls back, Styles flails and fans duel. Bryan shifts to a YES LOCK! Styles endures as Bryan pulls back. Styles gets up, makes it a cover, ONE! Bryan holds Styles with headscissors, and now it’s more a triangle. Fans duel as Styles holds on. Styles gets up, deadlifts Bryan, STYLES CLASH!! To CALF CRUSHER!! Bryan reaches, flails, but taps!! Styles wins!!

Winner: AJ Styles, by submission; still WWE World Champion

This was an incredible match, and the Phenomenal One pulls it out! The Crown Jewel came early and both men put it all out there. They still respect each other, too, as they shake hands and hug it out. Styles raises Bryan’s hand, but then SAMOA JOE attacks?! The Destroyer has returned for revenge! He rains right hands down and shouts “You thought we were done?! We’re never done!” COQUINA CLUTCH!! Styles can’t fight back, he fades out. But Bryan saves him! Only for Joe to go after the bad leg! Fans boo as Joe puts Bryan in the Coquina! Bryan fades almost as quickly, and then Joe holds the title up over his head. Joe shows no mercy nor respect, but will he get the title that he wants?

Jeff Hardy speaks.

“All artists are willing to suffer for their work.” Brother Nero adds to his self-portrait with every match in his career. At the WWE World Cup, he will illustrate his masterpiece, and prove he is the Best in the World.

The Miz responds.

“While Jeff Hardy is busy Painting by Numbers,” the Hollywood A-Lister wakes up to a flawless wife who says he’s the best husband in the world. His precious baby girl shows it in her eyes that he’s the best father in the world. And then Hollywood praises Miz as the best reality star in the world. But above all else, Miz is the best WWE superstar in the world! He’ll prove it at Crown Jewel!

SmackDown GM Paige meets with Charlotte Flair.

The Queen may have lost at Evolution, but the Last Woman Standing match itself was amazing and could’ve gone either way. But Paige knows Charlotte has more than just physical pain to deal with. However, please consider being SmackDown’s team captain for Survivor Series. Charlotte thanks Paige for being asked, but she doesn’t think she’s the right woman for the job. Paige understands, but she remembers Charlotte telling her this: Don’t let success go to your head, and don’t let failure get to your heart. Just think on it, okay? Charlotte agrees to that much. Will she see that she’s still great enough for the brand warfare? Or will someone else be appointed instead?

Trick or Street Fight: The New Day’s ??? VS The Bar’s ???

Awwww~, Atlanta! All Hallow’s Eve is on the horizon, but the festivities are here now! And apparently ya bois decided to dress up as Edge, Christian & Gangrel this year. Meanwhile, Sheamus has gone full White Walker as he walks out with the Swiss Cyborg and Giant. Only one member each will participate directly in this fight without rules but with a lot of spooks, who will we face off in this fright night street fight?

SmackDown returns and we see it’ll be Cesaro and Big Gangrel. Cesaro swings a stick but Big E blocks it! Cesaro hits low but still walks into an overhead belly2belly! Big E swings the kendo stick and cracks it on Cesaro’s ribs! Then his back! Then his front! Big E starts the clap as Cesaro slowly stands. He scoops Cesaro but Sheamus attacks. A street fight means no disqualifications, so a brawl breaks out! Kofi Christian and Edgezavier Woods are forced out by Big Show! Big E goes after Show, but Show blocks the whip to whip Big E out! Show and Sheamus go after them, and slams the pancakes int Kofi’s face. Kofi gets a rolling senton added on, while Show makes Woods bob for apples!

The Bar focus on Big E and pile a bunch of pumpkins in the middle of the ring. Cesaro lifts Big E in a torture rack, for a burning pumpkin hammer! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro drags Big E back up, and aims for a table set up during commercials. He suplexes but Big E resists. Cesaro tries again but Big E turns it around to suplex Cesaro onto pumpkins! But Sheamus knees Big E, then lifts him up. Big E slips out, dodges Sheamus, then sends him through the table! Woods dropkicks Show off the apron, then Kofi DIVES! But Show catches Kofi, then grabs Woods. They spray “blood” mist! Cesaro goes after Big E with the Neutralizer, but Big E back drops out, to spray the mist! Then Big Ending! Cover, Big E wins!

Winner: Big E, by pinfall

The New Day Brood get away with the win, as well as some treats! Will they still be rolling and laughing at Crown Jewel as they go to take back the SmackDown Tag Team Championships? Or will The Bar get back at them for spitting blood?

Shane McMahon talks with the WWE World Cup entrants.

Will The Miz, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton or Rey Mysterio win for SmackDown? The King of Lucha is no stranger to The Viper and how vicious he can be. But he won’t be underestimated. Orton admits he’s vicious, and he’ll show Mysterio that in that first round, proving he shouldn’t have come back. Hardy sees Orton and Miz are cocky. But Hardy will fly above them both to prove he’s the best! Miz is bored by the Jeff Hardy Redemption Story. That will be a box office bust as Hardy crashes and burns. Seems Halloween has come early as there’s a power ranger, a missing member of the Insane Clown Posse, and… a really cool Randy Orton. Miz is the most must-see, and therefore the best!

That’s why Shane invited them all into his office. The worst thing to happen at Crown Jewel is for a Raw superstar to win the World Cup. These four need to realize the gravity of this situation. Whoever makes it to the finals from SmackDown’s half better win, or they’ll no longer be part of SmackDown. The boss gives quite the ultimatum, but tonight is about momentum. Which side wins tonight in tag action before facing off in the brackets?

AJ Styles talks with Paige.

Despite the match he went through with Daniel Bryan and the beating he suffered at the hands of Samoa Joe, he wants to talk with the GM. He wants Samoa Joe at Crown Jewel. Wait, after what he just did the last month or so to the Styles Family? She won’t reward him. No, this isn’t a reward, this is the punishment. “Once a pickle, always a pickle.” She gives him his match. Styles thanks her, and says she won’t regret it. Joe will, though. But will Styles regret giving Joe this opportunity?

WWE United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura VS R-Truth w/ Carmella!

The King of Strong Style feels no one is worthy of challenging his title reign. However, Mr. Ron Killings has been wanting after him for quite some time. Of course, he has been chasing the wrong leads, such as facing Carmella and Ric Flair… Can Truth make the best of his golden opportunity? Or will these still be the United States of Nakamerica?

SmackDown returns as the FABULOUS Truth makes their rapping entrance. The bell rings and we begin. Nkamaura throws knees and gets Truth on the mat. He throws in more vicious knees, then puts Turth in a corner. He fires off more knees, then gives some Bad Vibrations. Nakamura backs off then mocks Truth’s dance. Truth takes offense, and uppercuts Nakamura otu of his “C’mon!” pose. Truth throws hands, whips but Nakamura reverses, but Truth comes back with headscissors. Then Truth shows Nakamura how it’s done, and says “C’mon!” Nakamura runs, but into a hip toss! Truth asks “What’s up?” before clotheslining Nakamura out! Truth grins as Carmella gets in, for a DANCE BREAK~!

The music hits and the flossing begins. We go picture in picture as the match continues. Truth waits for Nakamura, then slingshots to the apron. Nakamura sweeps the leg! He turns Truth sideways to hit a big knee, then climbs up to drop a knee! Truth is slumped on the edge as Nakamura puts him in. Nakamura drags Truth to a cover, ONE! Nakamura keeps on Truth with a chinlock, but Truth endures as fans rally up. Truth gets up, but Nakamura throws him down. Nakamura kicks Truth while he’s down, then puts him on the ropes to choke. He backs off at the ref’s count, but comes back. Truth hits Nakamura, then uppercuts. We return to single picture as Nakamura kicks and clubs Truth back. Nakamura snapmares and drops a knee! Cover, TWO!

Nakamura puts Truth in a seated abdominal stretch. Fans rally for “Truth TV!” as Truth endures an elbow in the ribs. Carmella keeps the fans going and Truth gets up. Truth hip tosses Nakamura off and gets to a corner! Nakamura runs in with a scowl, but Truth elbows him away. Nakamura runs back in but into boots. Truth runs out and rallies with lariats! Truth ducks and hits the calf kick! “What’s up!?” splits, and the Lie Detector flying forearm! Cover, TWO! Truth gets up first, then runs, but Nakamura blocks the scissor kick. Nakamura swings a kick but gets the back heel. He drags Truth up and around to whip. Truth reverses, but then misses in the corner to get a roundhouse! Nakamura puts Truth up top, for the Top Shelf Knee! Cover, Ropebreak! Nakamura keeps his cool as he gets back up.

Nakamura drags Truth u, inverted exploder, but Truth lands on his feet. Truth goes to hip toss but Nakamura blocks to then elbow Truth in the back. Nakamura also knees Truth in the back! Truth is dazed, Nakamura takes aim, KINSHASA! Cover, Nakamura wins!

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, by pinfall; still WWE United States Champion

The King of Strong Style continues his reign, and prepares for Survivor Series’ brand warfare. Who will be the WWE Intercontinental Champion who faces him?

Becky Lynch is here!

The Lass Kicker is still SmackDown Women’s Champion after the brutal, first-ever show-stealing Last Woman Standing match. And she admits she was folded on chairs, smacked with kendo sticks and thrown around but she kept getting up. Becky is THE Last Woman Standing, and at the end of the night, there was only one woman who was the real main event: Her. She beat Charlotte to prove she is “The Man”, and not just on SmackDown but on Raw, too! She’ll slap whoever she has to on Raw to prove it. So what’s next for the biggest star in the WWE today? The infamous Ronda Rousey!

Ronda says she’s the baddest woman on the planet, but what planet? Ronda’s opponents were all beat before the bell, but not Becky. Becky travels the world to smash fighters like Ronda. Becky isn’t here to cosplay or talk about reality shows. She heads into Survivor Series to rip Ronda’s arm off! The Straight Fire is more than ready mentally, but will she be ready physically?

“Oh, AJ~…!”

Samoa Joe asks if Styles honestly thought these two were done. Are the styles kids still having nightmares? Is Wendy still checking the locks? Has Styles told them things will be alright? Well Styles was wrong. When Shane let everyone know Styles defended his title tonight, Joe just had to write the final chapter. The story will end with Styles out cold and Joe holding that WWE Championship above his head. “The End.” Will Joe’s dark storybook ending come true? Or will Styles manage to retain and complete the trilogy?

Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio VS The Miz & Randy Orton!

The entire SmackDown half of the WWE World Cup is on display in this star-studded tag team main event! The Charismatic Enigma teams up with the King of Lucha Libre to take on the Hollywood A-Lister and The Viper before they pair off for the opening round. Who gets the win in this 2v2 teaser of Crown Jewel?

SmackDown returns as the entrances finish. The teams sort out, and we begin with Hardy and Orton. Fans rally up already as these two go at it again. Hardy gets a headlock but Orton pulls hair to power out. Hardy runs Orton over and runs, to then counter a hip toss with a hip toss. He brings Orton up to club the arm and wrench it. He collides shoulder with shoulder, then wrenches the arm more. Hardy gives Orton a jawbreaker, then bumps him off buckles as fans chant “DELETE! DELETE!” He has Orton come out but Miz interferes. Hardy gives him the atomic drop and leg-splitting leg drop. He wants the Twist but Orton shoves him. Hardy goes up but Miz trips him up! Mysterio chases Miz off, but the ref has him go back to his corner.

Orton stares Mysterio down, and mocks his height as he looks down. Miz gets sucker punches on Hardy, then Orton stomps Hardy’s limbs. Orton scrapes his laces on Hardy’s face, then stomps the hands. Orton tags Miz, and Miz stomps, too. Miz sits Hardy up for the low boot, cover, TWO! Miz drags Hardy up with a fishhook into a chinlock. Fans rally as Hardy endures. Hardy fights out but Miz yanks him down by his hair! The referee reprimands him, but Miz just brushes his hands off. Miz brings Hardy over to drive in knees. Orton gets eye rakes behind the ref’s back! Orton lets go before the ref sees, then tags in. Miz stomps a mudhole in until the count of 4, but then Orton comes in to scrape Hardy again.

Orton has Hardy under the bottom rope, and catapults him for the rope guillotine. He drags Hardy out on the apron to drive his elbow into Hardy’s throat. Mysterio rallies the fans even as Orton pulls Hardy into ropes. Orton backs off at 4 and keeps Hardy from reaching his corner. Orton stomps Hardy out, but fans continue to rally. Hardy stirs but Orton pulls his hair. Orton throws a punch but Hardy counter punches. Orton pokes the eyes then dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Hardy flounders but Orton is on him again with a chinlock. Orton squeezes but Hardy endures. Hardy reaches for ropes and fans rally up again. Hardy gets up and runs around, then fights with elbows. Orton clubs him and whips him, but Hardy boots Orton away. Hardy goes up, Whisper in the Wind hits!

Both men are down but fans fire up. Mysterio and Miz reach out as their tag partners crawl. Hardy is up but Orton follows. Hot tag to Miz, hot tag to Mysterio! Mysterio hits a springboard seated senton! Miz sunset flips but Mysterio rolls through to kick him in the moneymaker. Miz whips but Mysterio boots him away, then rolls into a satellite DDT! Cover, TWO! Mysterio brings Miz up, Miz shoves and tilt-o-whirls him to a backbreaker. Then the A-List combination, cover, TWO! Miz keeps his cool while he stalks Mysterio. He runs but Mysterio rolls him! Miz rolls through but gets in a wheelbarrow position. He wants the Finale, but Mysterio arm-drags out! Hot tag to Hardy! Hardy sunset flips Myz, Mysterio gets some lucha Poetry in Motion! Then Hardy gets the traditional Poetry in Motion!

Orton comes in but Hardy throws him back out. Mysterio wheelbarrows Miz to the ropes! He runs, 619! SWANTON BOMB! Cover, Hardy & Mysterio win!

Winners: Rey Mysterio & Jeff Hardy, Hardy pinning

RKO outta nowhere for Hardy! Mysterio springboards in, but he gets an RKO, too!! Miz staggers up to his feet, for an RKO!! The Viper stands tall over all his potential opponents. Orton needs to get through Mysterio first, then the winner of Mysterio-Miz. Will he succeed to then give an RKO to the Raw Bracket winner? Or will someone from SmackDown be put on the chopping block?

My Thoughts:

Once again, SmackDown appears to be Raw but better. They realized that with Daniel Bryan wanting out of Crown Jewel, they should give us that match anyway. And this match was amazing, probably what they were going to give us at Crown Jewel if Bryan was still going (or if it was in a venue no one would complain about). And they also gave us a great substitution out of nowhere as we get WWE Styles VS Joe 4. That match will also be great, and Bryan doesn’t look to suffer too much for sticking to his principles. And as for who wins between Styles and Joe, it could work either way since Survivor Series brings brand warfare. Assuming Strowman wins, either option of Strowman VS Styles or Strowman VS Joe would be great.

The “Trick of Street Fight” was fun, but it didn’t make much sense to not just make this a Six Man match in itself. The brawl broke out so it would’ve been fine if it started as a 3v3 to begin with. The New Day being the Brood kinda made up for it, though. The tag title match could go either way, too, but obviously Raw’s Rollins-Ambrose story will have to sort out somehow or else Rollins is doing double duty to face the SmackDown tag champs AND the United States Champ in one night. Though, that would be awesome. I’d give the Raw tag titles to Authors of Pain and they face New Day/The Bar, then it’ll be Rollins or Ambrose against Nakamura. Truth did great against Nakamura, by the way, even in losing. Nakamura needs more to do, and hopefully that changes on the way to Royal Rumble.

I like this “crisis of confidence” Charlotte is suddenly having as far as the Women’s Division. She turns down being team captain at the moment, but perhaps once she sees someone more bothersome like Zelina Vega taking over, she might change her mind and we get a match to determine team captain. Aside from Charlotte, I’d expect Asuka, Naomi, and maybe even the IIconics on the team given Raw will surely send Nia, Tamina, maybe even Bayley, Sasha and Ember. Becky’s promo was great because it got right to the point. She celebrates herself, but also calls out Ronda. I look forward to Ronda’s response on Raw, and then the story of the match being a battle of armbars for some real good technical wrestling.

The SmackDown Bracket tag team match was really good, and we got to see a bit of every possibility. But with Shane giving that threat to his people, and with Orton standing tall, I’m thinking Orton doesn’t win the World Cup. SmackDown might still pull it off if it’s Mysterio or Hardy in the finals, but it might actually be intriguing if a SmackDown superstar is “fired” and ends up on Raw.

My Score: 8.3/10