Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (5/15/20)
Miz TV has Mr. Money in the Bank!

The SmackDown After Money in the Bank!
WWE has stripped Sami Zayn of the Intercontinental Championship! Who will win the tournament to take it up in Sami’s place?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Elias VS Baron Corbin; Elias wins and advances to the semifinals.
- Naomi VS Dana Brooke; Brooke wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Daniel Bryan VS Drew Gulak; Bryan wins and advances to the semifinals.
- The Miz & John Morrison VS Otis Dozovic & ???; Otis & Strowman win.
PLAY BY PLAY
SmackDown opens with Miz TV!
The Hollywood A-Lister and Guru of Greatness are both already in the ring to host the Most Must-See WWE Talk Show. But before their introduction is even over, Otis heads out! Mr. Money in the Bank is pumped up, and he’s pumping those hips! He does a cartwheel on his way to the ring!? That’s incredible! Dozer joins Miz and Morrison in the ring and they take their seats. But Otis’ chair breaks, so he’ll just stand. Miz congratulates Otis on “winning” the MITB briefcase. Perhaps his most important victory ever. Yes, it is. But in life, his biggest win was winning the heart of his “beautiful peach,” Mandy Rose. How did he pull that off? Does she pity him? Or is he just that good in the sack? Otis must be packing some meat. Morrison, please. He meant in the briefcase. What’s in it? The contract! And…? Well, some Rolaids and Gas X. And? Bratwurst, just in case. Nailed it.
But Miz is still trying to get his head around this. Otis won, even though he couldn’t climb the ladder one rung. Well some things in life crack up, but not Otis. That’s why Otis is MR. MITB! Speaking of Otis’ life, let’s dive into how Otis ended up… like this. Baby Otis is on screen! How much did he weigh when he was born? 12 pounds, 4 ounces. The biggest baby to ever come outta his mother. That poor lady. But can one even imagine what a baby between Otis and Mandy would look like? Is Otis pregnant? Morrison, he’s a man. It’s 2020, anything is possible. He looks like he’s about to give birth to a roast turkey. Maybe he should do what Becky Lynch did and give up the briefcase. Good idea! No, no, no. Otis is not letting go of this. Mama wouldn’t allow this, because she’s been a fan since day one. There’s a picture of Otis and Mama Dozovic.
Otis grew up dealing with a learning disability so school just didn’t make sense to him. But his mother helped him maintain his grades so that he could play sports, especially wrestling, because all that made sense to him. Well nothing in this next pic makes sense to Miz. It’s a young Otis in wrestling gear! The quads and the biceps, baby~! Did that learning disability keep him from figuring out clothes? John boy, if you’ve got it, you flaunt it. The Miz and Morrison can’t keep this up. They cannot take Otis serious as Mr. MITB! Miz was Mr. MITB and used it to springboard into stardom! Otis is using it as his lunchbox! He’s licking it… This “clumsy, sweaty, stuttering, muttering, bearded mama’s boy buffoon is Mr. MITB, and he got the girl, too?!” Otis is sensing a bit of a problem here. Yes! Otis is the problem! The briefcase just fell into Otis’ hands! Just LOOK at Otis! He’s one step from being Universal Champion! THIS is one step away from being the face of SmackDown!! Get Tucker and have a tag match with them!
Well, Tucker can’t be here. He’s got dysentery, like on Oregon Trail. Wow. Then find a partner! ANYONE that is willing to tag in with Otis- Wait why is this staffer only NOW putting in the new chair for Otis? But whatever. Miz still wants to see if anyone at all is willing to team with real-life Shrek here. And then Miz and Morrison will teach them both what real champions are like. Otis has until the end of the show, but are there any takers?
WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Elias VS Baron Corbin!
With Sami Zayn ruled as unable to compete and defend his title, there must be a NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion crowned! Will the Wolf King silence the Drifter once and for all? Or will Corbin be made to #DriftAway?
The bell rings and Elias dodges the punch to throw punches. Corbin knees low and elbows Elias hard, but Elias hits back. Elias throws hands and CHOPS but Corbin puts him in a corner. The ref calls for the break, and Corbin backs up, but Elias hits first! Elias CHOPS and forearms Corbin to the corner, then kicks him back. Corbin trips Elias up to turn him for a Boston Crab, but Elias rolls through to power out. But Corbin runs Elias over on the rebound! Cover, TWO! Corbin looms over Elias and clamps on for a half nelson. Corbin drives in elbows then wraps on a chinlock. Elias arm-drags free, but Corbin elbows him back down. Corbin puts on a half nelson chinbar but Elias endures. Elias fights up and powers Corbin back, but Corbin wrangles Elias back down. Corbin leans on the hold and drives his elbows in again. Corbin wraps Elias back up in the half nelson chinbar but Elias still endures.
Elias fights his way up, fights out with elbows, and whips Corbin corner to corner. Corbin reverses but Elias goes up, only to get caught. Corbin tosses Elias up but Elias boots him away! Elias throws Corbin out, but Corbin returns! Elias dodges Corbin to clothesline Corbin out! Corbin stirs but Elias climbs up top. Elias LEAPS, and knocks Corbin down with the falling crossbody! The ref starts a ring count as Elias gets up and goes to Corbin. Elias throws forearms and puts Corbin in at 6. Corbin bails out so Elias goes out the way, to walk into a throat chop! Corbin throws Elias into barriers, then puts Elias in the ring. The Wolf King grins as he grabs Elias’ guitar! Corbin mockingly plays the guitar but Elias wrecks him with a dropkick! Elias throws Corbin into barriers, then into steel steps! Elias POSTS Corbin then throws him into the timekeeper’s area! The ring count is climbing as Elias leaves Corbin behind, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Elias grinds Corbin down with a kelock. Corbin fights up and spins around to knee low. Corbin throws big forearms, runs in, but Elias dodges! Elias wrenches the arm and hammers away on it. Elias bumps Corbin off buckles, wrenches the arm again, and goes up top. Time to Walk With Elias, but Corbin trips him up! Elias hits ropes then mat, then bails out of the ring. Corbin slowly pursues, his arm slowing him down. Corbin rams Elias onto the announce desk and hammers away! The ring count climbs but Corbin brings Elias into the ring at 6. Cover, TWO! Elias still lives and Corbin is frustrated. Corbin stomps Elias, shouting, “You messed with the wrong king!” Corbin puts Elias in the corner and throws hands! He ROCKS Elias then stomps him into the ropes! Corbin drags Elias up to knee low then elbow on the back again.
Corbin throws another BIG right and Elias ends up in a corner. Elias counter punches and CHOPS Corbin and then kicks low. Corbin knees low again, then whips Elias hard into the corner. Corbin runs in but has to slide out. He slides in and LARIATS Elias down! Cover, TWO! Corbin drags Elias up to reel into another clothesline! “That championship is MINE.” Corbin clobbers Elias again, and says Elias brought this upon himself. But Elias blocks the next clothesline to hit a neckbreaker! Both men are down and a standing count begins. Elias gets to a corner but Corbin gets to his feet. Elias rushes Corbin and throws body shots! The ref pulls Elias off but Elias roars and STOMPS away on Corbin! The ref pulls Elias off again, but Elias whips and clobbers Corbin back! Elias drags Corbin up into a dragon sleeper, for a spinning facebuster! Cover, TWO!!
Elias goes from the corner and hits a running knee drop! Elias goes back to the corner, and up to the top rope. He leaps, but Corbin gets under! Choke grip but Elias breaks free, only for Corbin to throat chop again! Elias dodges, Corbin slides out and in, but Elias dodges again! Only to get a SPINE BUSTER! High stack, TWO!! Corbin’s surprise didn’t finish Elias and he’s furious. Corbin puts Elias on the top rope and climbs up to join him. Elias fights back and slips under to club Corbin on the back! Elias has an Electric Chair, but Corbin slips out to shove Elias into buckles. Choke grip and CHOKE SLAM!! Cover, TWO!?! Corbin can’t believe Elias survives! But if Elias doesn’t want to quit, then Corbin will break him! Corbin throws hands on Elias, mocking him for looking to fans that aren’t here. Corbin throws haymakers on Elias, and then goes back to fetch the guitar. He SMASHES it against a post! Corbin goes back to Elias, but Elias is furious as he KNEES and cradles! ELIAS WINS!!
Winner: Elias, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
Corbin’s ego costs him again! Will this mean the Intercontinental Championship will #WalkWithElias?
Otis searches for a partner backstage.
Sheamus comes by, and Otis offers him that shot against Miz & Morrison. Wow, Otis wants to team with Sheamus?! Really!? “Not a chance, fella.” Well, that’s just one superstar of many. Will Otis find a proper substitute for Tucker before the main event?
Otis mutters to himself as Mandy Rose finds him.
How is Mr. MITB doing? Not good. Without Tucky, he has no one to team with, and no one is offering. Why doesn’t he just ask Braun Strowman? GASP. That’s genius! Otis gives Mandy a kiss before heading out. But would the WWE Universal Champion really want to help the man with an instant title match in his hands?
The Messenger has another message for SmackDown!
“They want to know who I am. I am everywhere. I see everyone. I hear everything. I have the truth, and no one is safe.” Every camera in the WWE acts as his eyes. But what secrets has he seen? The truth will be heard.
Otis finds Braun Strowman.
Otis and The Monster Among Men congratulate each other on their respective wins from MITB. But Otis brings up the open challenge Miz & Morrison gave. Would Braun want to be in that tag team main event? Wait, is Otis propositioning him to be a tag team partner? Or setting him up for a cash-in? No, just the partner part. Strowman knows how the game is played as a former MITB winner. But Otis has guts asking him, so Strowman will consider it. That’s better than an outright no. Otis is confident, but again, will Strowman really team with the man that could get the jump on him and the Universal Championship?
Naomi VS Dana Brooke!
The Glow is back and ready for some payback for the MITB Qualifiers. Especially since Ms. Flex Appeal goofed up and thought a prop was the real MITB briefcase. Will Naomi prove she should’ve been the one climbing the corporate ladder all along?
The bell rings and Dana circles with Naomi. They tie up, go around, and Dana powers Naomi back. Naomi turns things around to waistlock and O’Conner roll, TWO! Naomi keeps moving to clothesline Dana down, then dropkick her, too! Naomi runs into the corner to hit a big forearm smash, then brings Dana up for a bulldog. Dana powers out of that and rolls Naomi up, TWO! Dana ducks a kick to give a kick, and Dana fires herself up. She handsprings corner to corner to back elbow! Then whips Naomi corner to corner. Dana handsprings in but Naomi boots her down! Naomi goes up top and leaps for a crossbody! But Dana rolls it through, only for Naomi to roll it back! Cover, TWO! Naomi watches Dana closely, then wheelbarrows, but Dana sits on it! Dana wins!!
Winner: Dana Brooke, by pinfall
Dana did it again! She catches Naomi by surprise and is thrilled! But Naomi is frustrated that she got caught like that again. Will Naomi keep her cool and her glow?
SmackDown shares Raw’s big news.
Becky Lynch was very emotional as she shared the story of her journey from just a “loud-mouthed Irish woman” who didn’t know anyone in the US, to perhaps one of the most beloved superstars in WWE History! But The Man must now take a step back as she is going to become The Mom! Becky revealed to Asuka that Asuka didn’t just become Ms. MITB, she became THE Raw Women’s Champion! The baton has been passed and Becky starts a glorious new chapter of her life! When and where will The Man come around again?
Charlotte Flair returns to SmackDown!
The new Brand to Brand Invitation was accepted by none other than The Queen! Raw, NXT, and now SmackDown, Charlotte is everywhere! “So here I am, on Friday Night SmackDown, being the hardest working woman in the industry.” Now, she knows what we’re thinking. How is it possible that she’s on all three brands? The answer is simple: people want more Charlotte! So of course Fox used the Brand to Brand Invitation to get the 5’10”, blonde superior athlete and, oh yeah, she’s a Flair. She won five of her 12 title reigns here on SmackDown! There should just be a giant picture of her hanging in the arena to “inspire” everyone to be like the greatest! But here comes Bayley! Oh, and Sasha Banks. But the SmackDown Women’s Champion and The Boss go to the ring to join their fellow NXT Horsewoman.
“Charlotte Flair! Oh my God.” Bayley would say it’s nice to see her, but she’s a role model so she shouldn’t lie. But Fox is just like all the sheep, going wild for the leggy blondes. But of course being a Flair is a selling point, “WOO~!” Charlotte asks if they’re done. Nope. Bayley was sitting back there as Charlotte blabbed on like always, and Bayley thought, “When was the last time I saw Charlotte Flair?” Sasha knows when! It was when Bayley took the title from her to become two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion! Fact check: The first time Bayley beat her, Charlotte was unconscious. And the second time took a makeover and a bad- er, new haircut. Well Charlotte knows better than anyone that a champion’s gotta do what a champion’s gotta do. But Charlotte was upset that Bayley won to become the first GRANDSLAM WOMEN’S CHAMPION!
So Charlotte should just go back to NXT to give the youngsters something to look up to. Or go back to Raw to beat Liv Morgan on repeat. Because this is their show, SmackDown! Bayley is the most dominant SmackDown Women’s Champion ever! She beat everyone, including Charlotte. BOOM! Roasted! Bayley will tell Fox that this was great, but Charlotte should just leave. Oh Bayley. Some things never change. Sasha made Bayley relevant in NXT, and now she’s the only reason Bayley is still relevant here. “And my oh my…” Sasha and Charlotte were the ones that main evented Raw. They were the ones that main evented PPV’s. Sasha is a six-time champion, The Boss, the Blueprint, the gold standard. And yet, Sasha is content standing in Bayley’s corner? That Sasha is content being an afterthought? Shut up, Charlotte. An egomaniac would never understand a true friendship like this! Someone PLEASE cut Bayley’s mic so Sasha can talk.
Bayley doesn’t want to talk, she wants to fight. Champion VS Champion! Charlotte thinks about it, and is pretty sure Fox would love to have Charlotte back again. Challenge accepted. But one question before she leaves. What? Charlotte’s taken too much time already. No, it’s not for Bayley. It’s for Sasha. Charlotte wants Sasha to think long and hard on this. “Are you your own woman? Or are you just going to be Bayley’s lackey and happy being an afterthought?” Next week will answer this and more when Raw’s NXT Women’s Champion and THE SmackDown Women’s Champion collide!
Backstage interview with Braun Strowman.
Judging by him warming up, is it safe to say he has accepted Otis’ offer to face Miz & Morrison? Braun is still chewing on that, this is just how he thinks things over. Braun continues to pump, but will he reach an answer before the main event?
SmackDown hears from The Forgotten Sons.
The following represents the personal views and opinions of Jaxson Ryker, Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake. They do not reflect nor represent the views and opinions held by WWE. Viewer discretion is advised.
Ryker wants us to remember when we were kids that believed in something. Honor, freedom, patriotism, heroes. But now it’s all BS. But The Forogtten Sons fought for what they believed in, only to be shunned and cast aside. The country failed to welcome them with opened arms, so they will “welcome” their opponents with closed fists.
Backstage interview with The Miz & John Morrison.
Renee Young asks their reaction to Otis recruiting Braun Strowman. Look, Braun is named that, because he is brawn, not brains. But not even Braun is as dumb as to let Otis have a chance to cash-in. And even then, Braun won’t accept because he knows he can’t go against the Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century. Stare off into space. Hey hey! Ho ho! Will Miz ‘n’ Morrison #GetTheseHands?
WWE Intercontinental Championship Tournament Quarterfinals: Daniel Bryan VS Drew Gulak!
Training partners and good friends now must put each other to the test! Will Bryan rebound from missing out on the MITB briefcase? Or will Gulak finally unleash a plan that can defeat even The Goat?
SmackDown returns as Gulak makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two shake hands to show there is going to be respect here. They circle and tie up with knuckle locks but Gulak spins and wrenches. Bryan rolls and rolls and bridges, to then spin and step through to a back drop! Gulak headscissors but Bryan rolls and ties up the legs. Gulak blocks and goes for a leg, but Bryan gets the ropebreak. Gulak lets up and the two reset. They tie up and Gulak pushes Bryan back, but Bryan headlocks. Bryan shifts to an arm takedown and wrenches the wrist. He steps over but Gulak rolls him up, TWO! Bryan has a short arm scissor and rolls, but Gulak avoids the Yes Lock, only to end up in a cover! TWO and now Bryan has the Yes Lock! Gulak gets the ropebreak, and Bryan lets up quick. The two grin and reset again.
Bryan and Gulak tie up, Bryan waistlocks and rolls but Gulak keeps his shoulders up. They stand, Gulak standing switches and rolls back, to the GuLOCK! Bryan endures, pops free but the body scissors are on. Gulak wants the hold again but Bryan gets a ropebreak. Gulak lets go and once again, they reset. Bryan and Gulak tie up again. Bryan wrenches and hits a shoulder breaker. He shifts to a butterfly underhook but Gulak resists the takedown. Bryan won’t let Gulak get away, but Gulak back drops to a bridge cover! TWO, and Bryan is still holding onto the butterfly. Gulak gets up but Bryan hit a butterfly suplex to an armbar! Gulak clasps hands to resist, but Bryan goes for the Yes Lock. Gulak make sit a cover, ONE, and they end up in the ropes. Bryan backs off fast and Gulak keeps his cool. They go again, tie up with knuckle locks, and Bryan shifts through.
Bryan waistlocks but Gulak standing switches. Bryan switches, Gulak switches, repeat, repeat, and Gulak back suplexes Bryan up and out hard! Gulak realizes what happened as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Gulak has Bryan in a full nelson. Bryan fights up but Gulak spins him to a back suplex! Cover, TWO, but Gulak is right back on the full nelson. Bryan endures, Gulak shifts to a headlock, but Bryan powers up and gets a leg. Bryan gives Gulak a shin breaker, but Gulak still holds onto the headlock! Gulak grinds Bryan down, but Bryan hits another shin breaker! Gulak still has the headlock, but Bryan hits another shin breaker! Bryan hits a dragon screw! And another! And another! Bryan wrenches the leg to an Ankle Lock! Gulak endures and gets to the ropes! But Bryan brings him up for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Bryan holds onto the waistlock, shifts to a full nelson, but Gulak drops down to victory roll! TWO and Bryan wants the leg. Gulak resists the takedown to scoop SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Bryan survives what was practically a driver. Gulak puts a full nelson on again as Bryan is on the mat.
Bryan endures as Gulak drags him up that way, and spins out. Gulak back suplexes again but Bryan lands on his feet. Gulak bucks the roll off but not the SNAP GERMAN! Bryan stumbles to a corner while Gulak sits up. Bryan takes aim and runs corner to corner, but Gulak avoids the knee to sunset flip! Cover, TWO! Bryan goes for the leg, Gulak steps through to POWERBOMB! And jackknife cover, TWO! Bryan sits on the cover, TWO! Gulak runs and grabs Bryan in the dragon sleeper, GuLOCK! Bryan fades, pops back and pops out to get the arm! Gulak resists the Yes Lock to Oklahoma Roll! ONE, Bryan has the leg, but Gulak pops out of the dragon screw! Bryan tries again, and goes the other way! Bryan clamps on with a HEEL HOOK! Gulak reaches, but Bryan turns him from ropes. They both roll, Gulak taps! Bryan wins!
Winner: Daniel Bryan, by submission (advances to the semifinals)
The technical geniuses put on a mat classic! Bryan moves on, and Renee Young interviews him in the ring. What would it mean for Bryan to win this title? Bryan recalls having to forfeit that title when he had to retire five years ago. Bryan has always wanted to make the WWE Intercontinental Championship THE title on SmackDown! He vows to defend that title every single week, so that it represents the absolute greatest wrestler in the WWE. And that wrestler right now is him. Will Bryan once again be champion to raise the bar on everyone around?
SmackDown confirms matches for next week!
Jeff Hardy and Sheamus will finally have it out in the ring as part of the WWE Intercontinental Championship tournament! Will the Charismatic Enigma shut up the Fella and head for gold? And the King of Strong Style has another rematch with the Phenomenal One as AJ Styles comes back to SmackDown! Is it just for the Brand to Brand Invitation? Or is Styles going to move back into the house that he built? Plus, Otis and his sweet peach will take on Dolph Ziggler and Sonya Deville in a Mixed Tag Match? Will Mr. MITB and Mandy finally and truly get even with the pair of sneaky snakes that tried to sabotage their love?
SmackDown hears from Sonya and Ziggler.
Everything Sonya has promised has become reality. And next week won’t be any different. Sonya and Ziggler will humiliate Mandy and Otis in their match. But Sonya started to wonder. What is Mandy actually good at? Not fighting, not winning, not being a tag partner or being a friend. Mandy’s only good at being pretty. And that will be over eventually, so where does that leave her? In a double wide trailer with a bunch of kids running around as she cooks steak for hubby Otis while he shouts, “pass me another beer.” Mandy will never be a winner like Sonya. Sonya has the skills, the talent, the charisma and the mind Mandy doesn’t! And she has so many more plans! Sonya will ruin Mandy’s life and she’s just getting started. So Mandy better go home and put on her big girl panties to try and prove she deserves to hang with Sonya and the Show-Off. “B*tch.” The Fire is becoming an inferno, is she going to burn the Rose into ashes?
The Miz & John Morrison VS Otis Dozovic & ???
The Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century couldn’t stand the idea of The Dozer being Mr. MITB. But without Tucker Knight here to back up his brother in blue collar solid, Otis turned to the Monster Among Men for help. Did Braun Strowman accept the invitation? Miz and Morrison aren’t surprised when no one shows, but then BRAUN does show! The WWE Universal Champion is teaming with the one man that has an instant title match at the drop of a hat, but will he worry about running through the A-Lister and Mayor of Slam Town instead?
The teams sort out and Braun gets Otis fired up to start against Morrison. Miz mocks the roaring from the super heavyweights as Otis and Morrison circle. Morrison gets around to a headlock but Otis powers out. Otis checks his neck, Morrison moves around, but Otis powers him to a corner, Morrison gets out and kicks back, but Otis just uses it as fuel. Otis blocks a kick, spins Morrison but gets another kick. The gyrations start up again, and he counter headbutts Morrison to run him over with shoulders! Otis whips and pops Morrison up for a flapjack! Otis hits Miz off the apron then scoops Morrison for a spinning slam! The Dozer tags Strowman in and coordinates a DOUBLE CATERPILLAR! Well, Strowman’s more like a fish, but they hit a double elbow drop! Miz and Morrison regroup outside as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns once more and Miz has Otis down with a chinlock. Miz cranks on the neck but Otis powers up and powers out. Miz boots Otis to a corner, and unleashes It Kicks! Otis can’t jiggle these off, and Miz goes corner to corner and knee! And again! And then hits the A-List Lariat! Otis staggers and Miz climbs to hit flying ax handles! Miz mocks the roaring again and Strowman glares. Miz waits for Otis to sit up, and he gives Otis more It Kicks! These Otis feeds off of, but then he gets a BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO! Miz drags Otis up in a chinlock, and Otis starts fading! Braun coaches Otis up and Otis gets a second wind. Miz hops on to be a backpack but Otis heads for Braun. Miz manages to pull Otis back and tags Morrison in first! The Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century go to double suplex, but Otis double suplexes them instead! Otis crawls, hot tag to Strowman!
The Monster Among Men corner splashes Miz then scoops and TOSSES Morrison! Miz runs into a body check, and Strowman whips corner to corner. Strowman hits a corner splash then a suplex TOSS! Strowman roars as Miz bails out, but that just means the steam train is on the tracks! Morrison runs for it, Miz gets run over! Strowman puts Miz in the ring and runs corner to corner, but Morrison saves Miz! Strowman gets POST! Morrison hits the FLYING CHUCK! Morrison fires off with fast strikes, then runs, into a tilt-o-whirl and MONSTER SLAM!! Cover, Strowman and Otis win!!
Winners: Braun Strowman & Otis Dozovic, by pinfall
The Monster and the Dozer steamrolled through The Miz & Morrison! But then here comes Mandy Rose! Mandy distracts Strowman and Otis looks poised to go. But Strowman sees him, and Otis says it was just a joke. Otis has the girl and has the briefcase, but will he have an opening to actually cash in on the champion?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode for SmackDown, with fewer matches than I expected with the WWE Intercontinental Championship tournament starting tonight. But they clearly want to stretch this out, and even said the finals will be on an episode of SmackDown because Fox wants those ratings. Each and every match in the opening round looked great immediately on paper, and in retrospect, I actually like that we’re getting some matches that count as “payoffs” for stories. Corbin VS Elias was really good, one of Corbin’s better 1v1 matches lately, but I did not expect Elias to win. Elias shuts Corbin out of what seemed like a natural lateral move to put the title on a Heel that could fit Sami’s role. Teaming Corbin with the Artist Collective seemed to indicate that, but I’m actually glad WWE didn’t go with the obvious. Bryan VS Gulak was a great match, but naturally Bryan wins again. And I am glad there’s continuity in him wanting to be Intercontinental Champion again to make up for the reign that got cut short because of his neck and concussion concerns.
The Hardy VS Sheamus match next week will be good, but I can’t figure out who wins it. I would think Face VS Heel traditions mean Bryan VS Sheamus, but I’d love to see Bryan and Jeff Hardy have a match. AJ Styles being part of this tournament is a great surprise. Brand to Brand Invitation is probably Styles’ way back to SmackDown, but I bet he’s making an official move back. Even if you don’t factor what happened with the releases and the Good Brothers being swept up in that, Styles moving back to SmackDown is a pretty good move. If his story with Taker is continuing, it would be great if Taker also went back to SmackDown to wrap up his career. SmackDown always felt more like Taker’s show than Raw did, so if Taker can get another match with Styles on SmackDown, or even a match with Fiend Bray Wyatt, those would all be the best way for Taker to finally retire. As for the Intercontinental Championship, Bryan VS Styles or Nakamura would be an incredible finals.
I heard talk that a long-term SummerSlam story involving Becky Lynch was scrapped when she discovered she was pregnant. Could it have to do with how three-fourths of the NXT Four Horsewomen were champions for all three brands? Becky on Raw, Charlotte on NXT and Bayley on SmackDown. Were they going to up the Winner Takes All to three titles, in Boston, for The Boss, Sasha Banks? That definitely would have been epic, but I don’t think they should’ve used that idea for this year anyway. That’s a WrestleMania moment and nothing less. But Charlotte and Bayley having a match next week with the possibility of Sasha turning on Bayley is going to be great, too. Dana VS Naomi was a short match, but the reason why is likely that Naomi could end up turning Heel out of frustration. Sasha tried reaching out to Tamina before, even if it was as a decoy move. But maybe Team BAD could end up reforming once Sasha gets a title back? And then Naomi and Tamina go for tag titles? Golden Team BAD would be pretty awesome.
The mixed tag match next week sounds great, and Sonya burned it up again in her promo. That match is going to be so intense and will do great things for that story. And the story with Otis and Strowman tonight was really good, too. Miz & Morrison might’ve been more frustrated that Otis wasn’t hurt by their sarcasm during Miz TV, but it does make a lot of sense for them to be upset Otis won by sheer luck. Otis and Strowman definitely made a good tag team combo, and of course they won. I liked that Otis teased a sneak attack, even if it was an in-character joke. I honestly don’t think Otis cashes in on Strowman, but I’m not sure how effective he’d be cashing in on Bray Wyatt, Fiend mode or not. As a Face, maybe Otis will try the kind of cash in where he declares a date and they have the match. And while that hasn’t succeeded at all in the past, maybe Otis will be the one that pulls it off. He’s already defied expectations to this point, why not surprise us again?
My Score: 8.3/10
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Will the Front Man have his Resurgence?
Hirooki Goto and Zack Sabre Jr. battle over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, knowing that Shingo Takagi waits at NJPW Dominion!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Strong Survivor: Allan Breeze VS CJ Tino; Tino wins.
- Bea Priestly VS Viva Van; Priestly wins.
- Fred Rosser VS Matt Vandagriff; Rosser wins.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: World Class Wrecking Crew VS TJP & Templario; win(s) and
- 8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS The Young Bucks & The Good Brothers; win(s).
- NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; wins and
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS El Phantasmo; wins and
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr; wins and
- NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Mercedes Mone VS AZM VS Mina Shirakawa; wins and
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: World Class Wrecking Crew VS TJP & Templario!
No longer just for the West Coast, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson are World Class! But will they start to take over the world? Or will the Aswang & Lion Warrior conquer them for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is truly world class!
8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS The Young Bucks & The Good Brothers!
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS El Phantasmo!
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr!
NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Mercedes Mone VS AZM VS Mina Shirakawa!
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
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THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
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SmackDown is in O-H! I-O!
24 hours before Backlash and his Undisputed WWE Championship defense, JOHN CENA is on SmackDown! Will Dayton, Ohio get an Attitude Adjustment?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- LA Knight & Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu; Knight & Priest win.
- Chelsea Green & Piper Niven w/ Alba Fyre VS Zelina Vega & Alexa Bliss; Zelina & Alexa win.
- WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Nia Jax VS Jade Cargill; Nia wins and will challenge Tiffany Stratton for the title.
- WWE Tag Team Championship Eliminator: The Street Profits VS Fraxiom; Fraxiom wins and earn a title opportunity.
- Aleister Black VS Carmelo Hayes w/ The Miz; Aleister wins.
- Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar VS Rey Fenix & Andrade; Fenix & Andrade win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Backstage interview with Damian Priest.
Byron Saxton catches the Archer of Infamy at gorilla and knows his match is moments away. Byron brings up tomorrow night’s Fatal 4 Way for the United States Championship at Backlash, how is he feeling? Priest says he was good with just getting his hands on Drew McIntyre. But now the idea of becoming a two-time US Champion and getting his hands on Drew, that’s pretty… Oh, there he is. LA Knight steps up and wishes Priest all the luck in the world. But Knight is in that match tomorrow night, too, and anyone who gets in his way of the title, the backlash will be swift and severe!
But tonight, Knight & Priest take on Solo & Fatu, and what they gonna do? Priest is glad Knight brought that up. They’re facing two of the baddest men on this entire roster. Priest isn’t worried about having Knight’s back, but about Knight having his. Knight says he came in here with a clean conscience, trust wasn’t an issue, but now alarm bells are going off, Priest is acting a little sus. Here’s the deal: If Priest has Knight’s back, Knight has Priest’s. If you do dirt, you get dirt, so don’t make Knight give you dirt. Let’s do the thing, hit his music! YEAH!
Knight leads the way into battle, but will he and Priest be rolling into Backlash after tonight? Or will it be all gas, no brakes with it, YADADA MEAN!?
LA Knight & Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu!
The teams sort out but Priest and Knight argue. Solo CLOBBERS Priest and tells Knight to get out! The bell rings as Solo fires off on Priest more! The fans boo, Solo soaks it up, then throws more hands. Solo CHOPS, HEADBUTTS, then fireman’s carries, but Priest fights free to BELL CLAP! Priest then KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! ROLLING ELBOW! Solo wobbles, goes to a corner, and Priest ROCKS him again! Priest runs corner to corner to BACK ELBOW! solo staggers, Priest runs to RUN Solo over! The fans fire up and Priest roars at Fatu. Priest wrenches Solo, knuckle locks, and goes up the corner. Priest goes Old School with the CROSSBODY!
The fans rally up, Priest winds up, and Priest runs, only for Solo to bail out! The fans boo but Priest goes out the side. Priest runs in around the way, uses the steps to leap in, and AX HANDLES Solo down! Fatu stares Priest down and Priest dares Fatu to do something. But then Knight WRECKS Fatu with a dropkick! Priest tells Knight he didn’t need that, but Knight says he was gonna do that because the title will be Knight’s again. They argue that point while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Knight tells Priest to focus on Solo and Priest puts Solo in the ring. Priest storms in but Solo UPPERCUTS! Priest comes back to ROCK Solo! Priest JABS and ROCKS Solo again and again in the corner, the ref counts, but Knight tags in. Priest is annoyed by that but he lets it slide. Solo takes a swing on Knight but Knight blocks to counter punch! Knight stomps away on Solo, the ref counts, but then Priest tags in. Knight lets that slide, and Priest whips Solo. Solo reverses, Priest grabs ropes and he ELBOWS Solo away! Fatu takes a swing, Priest dodges, and then Priest DECKS Fatu! But Solo LARIATS Priest up and out!
Solo argues with the ref, and Fatu CLBOBERS Priest! Knight protests but the ref has him stay back. Priest drags himself up with the desk, Solo tags Fatu, and Fatu fires hands! Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest, stalks after him, and SMACKS him off the barriers! Priest staggers away but Fatu is right on him, to SMACK him off the apron! Fatu puts Priest in, whips him to a corner, and Priest hits buckles hard! Priest falls to the mat, but Fatu puts him on the ropes to COHKE! The ref counts, Fatu stops at 4, but Solo HEADBUTTS Priest down! Solo soaks up the heat and Fatu throws hands. Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest down, then HEADBUTTS him again!
Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest again, tags in Solo, and they mug Priest. SmackDown returns to single picture as Solo clamps on a shoulder claw! Priest endures and fights up while the fans rally. Priest stands and pries the claw away, but Solo CLUBS him! Solo talks smack, but Priest ROCKS him! Priest reaches for Knight but Solo grabs his hand! Priest throws hands but Solo holds on! Priest still reaches out, still throws hands, but Solo dodges to BLAST Knight! Priest ELBOWS Solo down, but he doesn’t have anyone to tag! Solo SPLASHES Priest from behind! SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Priest stays in this but Solo tags Fatu.
Fatu runs and SENTONS! The fans are torn but Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest down! And HEADBUTTS again! Fatu shouts all gas, no brakes! He HEADBUTTS Priest down, runs corner to corner, and HIP ATTACKS! Fatu snarls, he tags in Solo, and the fans boo. Solo soaks up that heat, then runs in, but Priest WHEEL KICKS Solo down! The fans fire up as Solo and Priest stir, and Knight rises! Priest and Solo crawl, hot tags to Fatu and Knight! The fans fire up as Knight fires haymakers on Fatu! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Knight whips, Fatu reverses, but then Knight didges the splash! JUMPING NECKBREAKER!
Knight scoops Fatu for the POWERSLAM! Knight mocks the geeking out, then spells it out! “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! Knight then kicks and B F- NO, Fatu powers out, swings, but into a BIG back suplex! Knight goes to the corner, he spells it out again, but Priest tags in! The fans boo and Knight is indignant, but Priest winds up to LARIAT Fatu down! Priest brings down the straps and he takes aim. But Knight manages to tag in! The fans cheer but Priest and Knight argue, Solo CLOBBERS them both! SUPERKICK on Knight! Solo stands Knight up for the SAMOAN- NO, Knight spins that around to B F T!! Cover, Knight & Priest win!
Winners: LA Knight & Damian Priest, by pinfall
The dysfunction didn’t stop them from winning, but now Knight and Priest start shoving! Then they start throwing hands! And Fatu CLOBBERS them both! The fans are torn as Fatu HEADBUTTS Knight then POSTS him! Then he POSTS Priest! HIP ATTACK for Knight! HIP ATTACK for Priest! And repeat! Fatu geeks out and the fans fire up! Fatu grabs his belt and holds it up. The fans in Dayton cheer the Samoan Werewolf, but wait! CLAYMORE!! The Scottish Terminator takes Fatu down! The fans boo but now McIntyre holds up the belt. Will McIntyre complete his Grand Slam by destroying three other men to do it?
R-Truth is cheering on Cena… in the parking lot…?
Jimmy Uso walks over and asks what Truth is doing. Truth says Cena is in the house tonight to talk Backlash. It is on! Uh, but Cena sucks, though. Whoa! Truth’s childhood hero says you should never give up, but sounds like Jimmy threw in the towel. Jimmy says No Yeet then heads out. Will Truth be the only one in the locker room on Cena’s side?
Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.
Byron catches up with Drew and asks why he laid out Fatu, and Drew says it was a message to the Werewolf. Tomorrow night, Drew puts a silver bullet in him! But shouldn’t it be 1v1? Didn’t Drew win that #1 contender’s match with LA Knight? Didn’t Knight bring up the outside interference? Drew is a big details guy, cuz the devil is in the details. LA Knight shouldn’t have been in that match cuz he lost at WrestleMania! That’s BS! And speaking of BS, why is Priest in this match?! Drew told Priest that at Mania he would beat Priest in front of the world, in front of his family, brother, sister, father and mother, and he did that fair and square.
But Priest can’t succeed without Drew! Priest is rewarded with a spot in this match! BS!! And Fatu, the baddest dog in the yard, that’s who Drew wants to face. And when Drew wins, he’ll become a Grand Slam Champion. But Drew has some advice for Fatu so listen closely. “The problem when you’re all gas and no brakes~, is things are great when you’re mowing everybody down. But eventually, with no brakes, you hit a brick wall. And that brick wall is your next United States Champion, Drew McIntyre!” Drew heads out, will he make Backlash into a human demolition derby?
The Green Administration holds a funeral service…?
Alba Fyre says today, they are here to celebrate the Women’s US Championship reign of Miss Chelsea Green. But then Nick Aldis turns the lights on as he and Zelina Vega walk in. Aldis asks what in the world is going on. Piper Niven says sorry, this is a family and friends only event. Do they have clearance to be here? It’s HIS office! Chelsea say Alba was about to give one of the greatest #Eulogirlies, aka Eulogy for the Girlies, ever! She is in mourning! Zelina says spare us the crocodile tears. She’s mourning something she lost fair and square. So pathetic. Chelsea says Zelina doesn’t understand cuz she has zero friends!
Oh, wow, Zelina has zero friends? Well, maybe Chelsea & Piper should face Zelina and her non-existent friend in a match tonight. Aldis likes where this is going. Okay, then, see you in the ring tonight. Bye~! Zelina leaves, Chelsea says she is going through too much to do this! But she has no choice, that match is next! Just who does Zelina have in her corner to help against the Green Regime? We find out, after the break.
Aleister Black speaks.
“I guess this is the part where you expect me to speak in riddles. To pick up where I left off. Well, that part of myself, that man, I buried him. Ritualistically, violently. And funny enough, what I found six feet deep, it wasn’t death. No, no, it was the truth. And the truth is, I came back because I truly believe that I am the consequences this company so desperately needs. I am more than just the man that whispers in shadows, despite what you what me to do, despite what you think I might do. Now when I say that, I don’t mean that in a villainous way. No, this is so much bigger than just good versus evil. This is more than just the chants, the fog.
“Because this… This will cut deeper than any symbol could, deeper than I could ever do. I’m here to confront you, both mentally and physically. And you get to decide which one is worse. And as far as you, Carmelo, I haven’t quite figured you out. Or have I?” The Dark Father is still very mysterious, but will he make H1M #FadeToBlack?
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven w/ Alba Fyre VS Zelina Vega & ???
SmackDown returns as Chelsea fires Piper up. Zelina makes her entrance, and her partner is… ALEXA BLISS! Dayton cheers as their hometown girl stands side by side with La Muneca! Will these dolls make the Hot Mess & Miss P their playthings?
The teams sort out and Piper starts against Zelina. Zelina dodges Piper, runs up, but Piper scoops. Zelina slips free, Piper bucks the O’Conner, but then Zelina avoids the splash! Zelina sunset flips but Piper stays up. Zelina avoids the stomp, jumps again, but Piper catches her for a POWERSLAM! Piper drags Zelina over, tags Chelsea, and then Piper scoops and SLAMS Zelina! Chelsea goes up, up, and VADER FLOPS as Zelina moves! Zelina bumps Chelsea off buckles, JUMP KICKS her, then brings her around to ropes. Zelina calls her shot but Piper runs in! Zelina drop toeholds Piper into Chelsea! Zelina dials it up, DOUBLE 619! Cover, TWO!
Chelsea survives but Zelina points to Alexa. The fans cheer, but Chelsea THROWS Zelina down by her hair! The fans boo but Chelsea swings on Alexa. The ref keeps Alexa from retaliating, but Zelina kicks Chelsea. Zelina whips, Chelsea reverses and Piper gets a cheap shot in! Chelsea hooks a leg for a modified snapmare, then tags Piper! Piper runs and ELBOW DROPS! The Green Administration salutes but the fans boo, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Zelina fires forearms on Chelsea! Chelsea still keeps Zelina back, then she kicks low! Chelsea whips Zelina to a corner, but Zelina ELBOWS Piper! Zelina DUMPS Chelsea out, crawls her way over, but Chelsea tags Piper! Piper runs and ELBOW DROPS, but Zelina narrowly dodges! Zelina runs up, Piper catches her, then HEADBUTTS her! Piper scoops but Zelina swings to DDT! The fans fire up while both women are down! Zelina crawls, as does Piper, hot tags to Chelsea and Alexa! Dayton erupts and Chelsea panics! Alexa rallies on Chelsea, blocks a kick, and hits a DRAGON SCREW!
Alexa SLAPS, ROCKS, and runs up on Chelsea to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! Chelsea tumbles to ropes and Alexa runs in, DOUBLE KNEES! Alexa YANKS Chelsea back, then hits a BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Chelsea survives but Alexa drags Chelsea up. Alexa whips Chelsea into a corner, but Chelsea ELBOWS her away! Chelsea salutes as she climbs, but Alexa trips her up! Chelsea is in the Tree of Woe, Alexa DROPKICKS her down! The fans fire up as Alexa climbs the corner, TWISTED BLISS!! Cover, PIPER BREAKS IT! Zelina grabs Piper and hops on, CODE- NO, Piper blocks it! But Alexa KICKS Piper into the CODE RED!
The fans fire up and Zelina pushes Piper out of the ring. Zelina then METEORAS to the floor! Chelsea hooks Alexa’s arms and turns her! But Alexa powers out, and has the clinch! TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL!! Cover, Alexa wins!
Winners: Zelina Vega & Alexa Bliss, by pinfall
They might be small but they are mighty, Zelina & Alexa win big together! Will they stick together to keep the Green Administration out of power?
Rey Fenix is backstage.
And Santos Escobar finds him. Fenix doesn’t wanna hear it, and he tells Santos that Fenix won last week. No more conversation. Santos says yeah, he knows he lost. But he has one thing to say, and then he’ll go. Okay, fine, what is it? Santos asks, “Who said anything about a conversation?” LOS GARZA ATTACKS! Legado del Fantasma mugs Fenix, throws him around into road case after road case, but security and producers rush in! They get Legado to back off, and Andrade hurries over. El Idolo checks on Fenix, but did the Emperor of Lucha just get the revenge he wanted? Or will Legado work to make sure the Firebird never rises again?
Charlotte Flair is here!
Dayton is torn as The Queen struts her way to the ring. Charlotte still has someone hold the ropes open for her before stepping inside, and she smiles as she accepts cheers and jeers. Charlotte then grabs a mic to tell Dayton, “Your Queen has arrived! Here I am, coming off the greatest women’s match in WrestleMania history! And I need to give credit where credit is due. I was… I was out for almost two years, with a career-ending knee injury. And I took your champion to her absolute limit! Check this out, check this out.” Charlotte has the tron show an image of Tiffany Stratton near the end of the match.
Charlotte asks if that looks like someone who enjoyed her WrestleMania Moment? Charlotte enjoyed hers so much, she is going to announce her path back tot he WWE Women’s Championship! The fans are even more divided over that and she asks why they’re so disrespectful. Seriously! Why?! Charlotte is the Women’s Wrestling GOAT! THE Greatest Of All Time! See, if you continue to be this disrespectful, she will just leave Dayton and never come back. The fans cheer that! Charlotte says last chance, Dayton! The fans say bye bye already, and Charlotte throws her mic down in frustration! Charlotte storms off to the back, but then wait! “A storm is coming.”
Jade Cargill makes her way out here, the fans cheer, and Jade stares Charlotte down as they cross paths. Charlotte and Jade move on, but then Jade grabs that mic. Jade wants Charlotte to wait. “Before you go… You had your chance. Now head to the back of the line.” Jade throws shade, but will she be shining in the spotlight with her golden ticket? Or will the Irresistible Force make sure no one gets to Tiffany before her?
Charlotte returns backstage.
She argues with Aldis about leaving. He says she can’t just walk out. She isn’t “walking out,” she’s just leaving. Aldis says this is not how professionals handle business. Charlotte says she has done more for this division than anyone, and this is how he’s treating her? Aldis says she should be a leader and lead by example, not throw a temper tantrum when things don’t go her way! She says she can’t do this, and she wants her driver to take her to the airport. But then someone slams the door shut! It’s Alexa! And Alexa says, “Let’s chat.” A curious move from Lil’ Miss Bliss, but what does she have in mind for The Queen?
WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Nia Jax VS Jade Cargill!
SmackDown returns and Nia makes her entrance. But then wait! “It’s Tiffy Time!” Tiffany Stratton makes her way to ringside so she can watch this in person. The bell rings, Jade and Nia circle, and they tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Jade manages to push Nia back a couple steps. Nia digs in her heels and pushes Jade back those steps. Jade turns things around to put Nia in a corner, the ref counts, and Jade lets off at 4. Nia wants a timeout and talks trash on Tiff. Tiff talks trash back, then Nia rushes Jade. Jade slips around, waistlocks, but Nia ELBOWS her away. Nia CLOBBERS Jade and soaks up the heat.
Tiff and the fans boo but Nia whips Jade to a corner. Jade goes up and over, runs and RAMS Nia! Nia rebounds to RUN Jade over! Nia flexes, Tiff and Dayton boo more, but Nia soaks it up. Nia runs in and BACK ELBOWS Jade! Jade sputters, Nia brings her around, but Jade fires hands! Nia shoves Jade, Jade dodges and hurdles! Jade then SHOULDER TACKLES Nia down! The fans fire up and Tiff applauds as Jade brings Nia up. But Nia fights the fireman’s carry with knees and elbows! Nia fireman’s carries and SAMOAN DROPS! Jade sputters again and Nia runs, to drop the leg, brother! Cover, TWO!
Jade survives, Nia grows frustrated, but Tiff talks more trash as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Nia lifts Jade with a STRETCH MUFFLER! Jade endures, uses her core to sit up, and she sunset flips over! But Nia stays up! Only for Jade to avoid the hip drop! Tiff cheers for Jade to get going, and Jade hurries to bring Nia up! Jade fireman’s carries and the fans fire up for Jade’s SAMOAN DROP! Jade rises up again as the fans cheer her on! Jade runs up on Nia to ROCK her! And then ROCKS her again! Nia blocks the third shot to KNEE low! Nia brings Jade around, suplexes, but Jade fights that to suplex Nia! The fans fire up and Jade kips up! Jade huffs ‘n’ puffs and runs in at the corner, but Nia puts her on the apron!
Jade RAMS Nia, slingshots up and over and keeps moving, SUPERKICK! And a SUPERKICK! Nia staggers, into the SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Tiff is excited just like the fans as Jade watches Nia rise again. Jade runs up, but Nia gets under the boot! POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Jade survives and Nia is shocked! Nia shakes her head, rises up, and she drags Jade to a drop zone. Nia goes up, up, but Jade SUPERKICKS! Jade then ROCKET LAUNCHES Nia off the corner!! The fans fire up and Tiff cheers Jade on! Jade roars, climbs, and FROG SPLASHES! Cover, TWO!! Nia survives and Jade is beside herself!
Jade drags Nia up, reels her in, but Nia elbows free! And TOSSES Jade to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then runs corner to corner, only for Jade to BOOT her down! Cover, TWO!? Nia survives and Jade is beside herself! BUT WAIT, NAOMI ATTACKS TIFF!! The fans freak out as Naomi RAMS Tiff into steel steps! Jade sees Naomi and wants after her, but Nia CLOBBERS Jade from behind! SENTON! Nia drags Jade to a corner while Naomi stomps away on Tiff! Nia goes up, up, and A-NIA-LATES Jade!! Cover, Nia wins!
Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Women’s Championship)
Give an assist to Naomi, Tiffany did not #ProceedWithCaution! Will Naomi help Nia tear Tiffany apart and take the title from whatever’s left?
The Street Profits walk the halls.
Mia Yim & B-Fab are there, and Michin says, “DAYUM! Y’all look messed up.” Fab says they still look so good drippin’ in all that gold. That TLC match was nothing less than fab-u-lous! The Profits thank Fab for that, and Fab says Dawks & Tez are doing their thing. Ford tells the ladies that they never lie. But also, they heard Mia & Fab put their foot down and talk tag titles. Tonight, right now, Ford & Dawkins are gonna do the same thing. Fab says tell ’em! Ford & Dawkins head to gorilla, what will the WWE Tag Team Champions have to say about what’s next? We’ll find out, after the break.
The Street Profits head to the ring!
Dayton cheers as Dawkins & Ford go to the ring, holding up the belts. Ford says, “The gorilla fears us!” IYKYK. Ford grabs a mic to say, “Oh, Daytoooon~!” Dawkins asks, “Who Dey?” The fans are torn as not everyone is a Bengals fan. But Ford says here’s how you do it. “O H I!” “O~!” See? Good pop. But anyways, cut the noise. Unless you’ve been under a rock the last couple weeks, Profits have been the talk of the town, right? Think about it. They put on arguably the greatest… No, they DID put on the greatest TLC match of all time! The fans cheer that. Ford says yeah, that’s right! The gorilla fears us!
But with that said, the blood, the sweat, the tears, the passion, and hell, they even used a prosthetic leg! They got a leg up on the competition! They’re a whole leg ahead! But with that said, what happened is what always will happen, and that’s the Profits coming out on top. The fans cheer that! But then wait! Fraxiom makes their way out here! Ford is already annoyed, but Nathan Frazer sincerely apologizes for this interrupting. But damn, it feels good to be here on Friday Night SmackDown! Ford says duh. Frazer says look at them, amigo! They’re rubbing shoulders with THE WWE Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits! Quite possibly the best tag team in the game right now.
Ford says hey, at least they’re smart. Frazer & Axiom step in, and Frazer asks Axiom if he remembers what Shawn Michaels told them as they left NXT. Oh yes, he does. HBK gave them one direct command: When you see an opportunity, go ahead and take it! Axiom says hey, The Profits are amazing, truly, best of the best. No disrespect, but Fraxiom saw them out here and just thought, “Man, those tag titles would look great on Fraxiom.” The fans are torn, and Dawkins needs a second. Y’all only had two matches on SmackDown. They think they deserve a title shot? The fans are torn again but Fraxiom is united in saying, “Yes!”
Ford says, “What? Are you serious? After three weeks, you want a title shot? Against the Street Profits? Who last week, put on a classic?” But Aldis steps in here. Aldis says Fraxiom is in the ring with The Profits, and Aldis likes what he sees. And yes, Fraxiom is new and haven’t proven themselves worthy, yet. But they have been extremely impressive. And we’re in the heartland of America with Dayton, Ohio! The fans cheer that and Aldis says with this being the Land of Opportunity he can’t think of a better opportunity to prove themselves than to face the Street Profits… RIGHT NOW! Let’s get a ref and let’s do this!
The Profits are upset, because between being beat up and NOT being dressed to compete, they’re not ready! But will they hurry and get ready? Because the match is happening after the break!
The Street Profits VS Fraxiom!
SmackDown returns and the match is already underway. Ford bucks Axiom’s O’Conner Roll, but Axiom comes back to RAM low! Tag to Frazer, then Axiom reels Ford in for an IRON OCTOPUS! Frazer runs and runs and runs, to DROPKICK Ford down! Ford flounders away and tags in Dawkins. Dawkins CLOBBERS Frazer, but his arm bothers him. Dawkins runs, Frazer drops down, hurdles, but Dawkins manages to cartwheel! The arm slows Dawkins down but Frazer always says #NeverSlowDown! Frazer ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DROPKICKS Dawkins down! Dawkins stagger sup, Frazer runs up and hits a snapmare!
The fans rally as Frazer grinds Dawkins down. Dawkins fights up, powers up, but Frazer hits a flying-mare! Frazer has the headlock and grinds Dawkins again, but Dawkins fights up. The fans rally, Dawkins powers up and out, then catches Frazer as he goes up and over! Frazer slips free, shoves, but Dawkins hurdles and FLYING ELBOWS! Frazer flops out, the fans rally up, and Dawkins goes out the side. Dawkins runs in and POUNCES Frazer into the desk! Frazer flops down, Dawkins leaves him behind, and the ring count climbs. Axiom checks Frazer, helps him up, and then helps him into the ring.
The fans rally as Frazer stands, but Dawkins is on him. Dawkins CLUBS Frazer, tags Ford, and Ford slingshot SENTONS! That was a bit double-edged, but the fans fire up as Ford rises. Ford runs to KICK Frazer in the side! Cover, TWO! Ford KICKS Frazer again, tags Dawkins, and Ford snapmares Frazer for the SPLASH STOMP COMBO! Dawkins shakes out the bad arm before he covers, TWO! Frazer stays in this but Dawkins looms over him. The fans rally, Dawkins whips Frazer corner to corner hard, then runs in for a CYCLONE SPLASH! Dawkins sputters as he covers, TWO! Dawkins seethes but he grabs at Frazer’s legs.
Frazer kicks at Dawkins, Dawkins HYANKS him up, but Frazer ENZIGIRIS! Tag to Axiom and the speed combo fires off! DDT on Dawkins! Ford runs in, he gets KICK after KICK and the ASSISTED DROPKICK! Ford tumbles out, as does Dawkins, Axiom DIVES on Dawkins while Frazer DIVES on Ford! And then repeat! Dawkins is sent into barriers, then Ford is sent into barriers, and Dayton fires up for Fraxiom as SmackDown goes picture in picture!
Fraxiom fires up, and Axiom stands Dawkins up to CLUB the bad arm! Axiom puts Dawkins in the ring, pushes him over and covers, TWO! Axiom waistlocks Dawkins but Dawkins endures. Axiom shifts up to a chinlock, then he goes for the arms! Dawkins fights against the motorcycle stretch, so Axiom shifts to a ghost pin! TWO, and Axiom DROPKICKS Dawkins down! Cover, TWO! Axiom facelocks and he grinds Dawkins down. Dawkins endures, fights up, but Axiom keeps between him and Ford. Dawkins fights up and lifts Axiom, to then THROW him! Frazer tags in and runs up to grab a leg! But Dawkins BOOTS Frazer away!
Axiom tags back in, he grabs legs, and he YANKS one! Dawkins writhes, Axiom looms over him, and Axiom clamps on a chinlock. Dawkins endures, reaches out, and fights up. Dawkins pries at the hold, but Axiom shoves him away. Axiom LARIATS at the ropes, tags Frazer, then feeds Dawkins to a GAMANGIRI! Fraxiom DOUBLE SUPERKICK Dawkins down! They BLAST Ford, Frazer STANDING SHOOTING STARS on Dawkins! Cover, TWO! Dawkins survives but Frazer goes to a corner. Frazer climbs while SmackDown returns to single picture. Frazer takes aim, PHOENIX- NO, Dawkins dodges and FLAPJACKS!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Frazer and Dawkins crawl, hot tags to Axiom and Ford! Ford runs and CLOBBERS Axiom! Then he BLASTS Frazer! And he LARIATS Axiom! And LARIATS again! Ford then dodges Axiom, both men run, and then Ford blows past Axiom to LARIAT again! The fans fire up with Ford, and he gets around Axiom to hit a BIG back suplex! Ford kips up and fires up, and Dayton is with him! Ford sets up, flexes, and STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Axiom survives and Ford is frustrated. Ford whips, Axiom KICKS, and Frazer tags in! Ford ENZIGIRIS Axiom, Frazer springboards in!
Ford dodges Frazer, Frazer handsprings through and comes back to roll up! TWO, and Ford SUPERKICKS! The fans fire up again, and Ford runs up, only for Frazer to put him right up top! GAMANGIRI! Ford wobbles, Frazer climbs, and Frazer brings Ford to the very top! Ford resists with body shots, then he shoves Frazer back! Frazer backflips to land out, then he goes right back up! But Dawkins sneaks a tag! Dawkins gets under Frazer to Electric Chair Lift! Ford goes up, BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY!! Cover, AXIOM BREAKS IT! The fans are torn as this continues, but they all know “This is Awesome!”
Axiom drags Ford up at the apron but Ford GAMANGIRIS! Ford climbs, leaps, but into a SUPERKICK! Ford falls out of the ring, Dawkins ENZIGIRIS Axiom! Dawkins runs up on Frazer but Frazer TOSSES him out! Frazer runs, DIVES, but into a HAYMAKER! Dawkins hurries up the corner, but Frazer UPPERCUTS! Axiom tags in and ENZIGIRIS! Frazer tags back in as Axiom climbs! SUPER SPANISH FLY!! PHOENIX SPLASH!! Cover, FORD BREAKS IT AND UPPERCUTS AXIOM!! The fans are thunderous and Frazer drags Dawkins up. But Dawkins ROCKS Frazer! Frazer PELES Dawkins!
Ford sneaks a tag, Dawkins gives Frazer the SKY HIGH! Ford hurries to a corner but Axiom hits a GOLDEN RATIO on Dawkins! Ford still reaches the top, but Frazer runs up! Ford hops down to GAMANGIRI, then he climbs again! Axiom runs up, Ford BOOTS him down! FROM THE HEAVENS FLOPS as Frazer dodges! Tag to Axiom and Frazer sets Ford up! MISSLE DROPKICK HIGH LOW!! Cover, Fraxiom wins!!
Winners: Fraxiom, by pinfall
The “Catapulta Infernal” strikes its target, and the new kids on the block just beat The Profits! Fraxiom offer handshakes, the Profits accept, and now these two teams will battle again with titles on the line. Will Fraxiom’s winning combination reach the titles in record time? Or will the Profits be able to heal up and bring their 100% to the match?
Tiffany Stratton returns backstage.
The WWE Women’s Champion is hunting down Naomi, but Nia finds her first. Nia says it isn’t easy being champion, is it? Tiff’s made some enemies. But instead of worrying about Naomi, worry more about Nia, because Nia is the #1 contender now to take back what is rightfully hers. Tiff says that’s fine, because once she beats Nia, Tiff can reserve a spot for Nia at the loser’s table. Right next to Charlotte Flair! Tootles. Tiff heads out and Nia scowls. Will Nia make sure time runs out on Tiffy Time?
The Miz talks with Carmelo Hayes at gorilla.
The Hollywood A-Lister insists that last week was all about getting game film on Aleister Black. And if Melo watched that film, then he should know a lot of counters to Aleister’s moves. If Melo studied that film, he should know that during Miz’s match, Melo was out of position. But that is okay, because Miz will show Melo where he needs to be to get the job done. Just watch Miz out there, because tonight is about Melo. Tonight is about showing Melo IS the Tenth Wonder of the World! For Miz, for Melo, and for #Dre, and for the WWE Universe, Melo will run the play just as Miz designed it, because #MeloDon’tMiz! And they are… AWES-H1M!
Who’s H1M? Melo is! Who’s H1M? MELO IS! That’s right! Let’s go! Miz & Melo make their entrance, but will Melo use Miz’s game plan to hit that game winner? Or will there be no three pointer when things #FadeToBlack?
Aleister Black VS Carmelo Hayes w/ The Miz!
SmackDown returns and Aleister makes his entrance. The bell rings and Aleister stares Melo down. They slowly circle, feel things out, and tie up. Aleister wrenches but Melo rolls. Melo facelocks, cranks on the hold, but Aleister wrenches out to headlock. Melo powers up and out, but Aleister spins that around to hit a headlock takeover. Melo keeps his shoulders up, fights to his feet, and he powers up and out. Aleister wrenches and whisp but Melo rolls off Aleister’s back. Melo ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard, but Aleister ducks under to sit cross-legged! The fans cheer as Melo is rather stunned. Melo runs up, Aleister avoids the low crossbody!
Aleister kips up, Melo kicks low and Miz tells Melo to keep on him! Melo fires off hands in the corner, then stomps away! The fans boo, the ref counts, and Melo lets off to soak up heat. Aleister just snarls, and then he KNEES Melo low! Aleister fires hands and kicks, then KICKS Melo at the rope! melo tumbles out, Aleister goes up and out, ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes Melo and Miz is worried. Miz stays back but Aleister does take a moment to catch his breath. Aleister also refreshes the ring count, then he runs up on Melo. Melo dodges, Aleister’s boot gets stuck on barriers! Melo DROPKICKS Aleister down!
Miz fires up and Melo crosses his arms like Andre the Giant. Melo is in control while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Melo goes around the way to fetch Aleister, and CHOPS him against barriers! Melo RAMS Aleister into more barriers, CHOPS him again, then refreshes the ring count. Melo drags Aleister back around to wrench and RAM Aleister into the apron! Melo CHOPS Aleister against the desk, then he puts Aleister back in the ring. Melo hurries to KNEE Aleister in the side! Aleister ELBOWS Melo in return! Aleister ROCKS Melo, Melo mule kicks! Melo stomps Aleister down, then covers, TWO! Aleister toughs it out but Melo clamps on. Melo whips, ELBOWS Aleister down, and Melo drops a leg, brother! Cover, TWO!
Melo is frustrated but he clamps onto Aleister with a top wristlock. Aleister endures, fights up, and arm-drags Melo away! Aleister KICKS Melo, snapmares, and basement DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Melo toughs it out but Aleister whips him to ropes. Melo uses that to springboard and CROSSBODY! Down goes Aleister and Melo says swish! Melo stands Aleister up, CHOPS him, but Aleister CHOPS in return! Melo ROCKS Aleister, Aleister ROCKS Melo! Melo ELBOWS Aleister, Aleister fires fast hands! Melo HEADBUTTS, Aleister ROCKS Melo! Aleister clinches, fires KNEES and then sweeps the legs! SmackDown returns as Melo goes to the apron.
Aleister storms over and brings Melo up, but Melo HOTSHOTS him away! The fans rally, Melo climbs, but Aleister steps up to KICK Melo in the face! Melo wobbles, Aleister climbs, and Miz coaches Melo. Melo shoves Aleister away, but Aleister comes back, so Melo leaps over. Melo rolls through, comes back, tilt-o-whirl, but Aleister slips free! Aleister blocks a kick to JUMP KNEE! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Aleister and Melo stir while Miz coaches Melo up. Melo rises, fires forearms on Aleister, but Aleister fires back! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth, the fans duel, and Aleister CLOBBERS Melo!
Aleister fires off a strike fest! LEG SWEEP! SLIDING KNEE! Aleister kips up, then QUEBRADAS! Cover, TWO! Melo survives and Miz can breathe again. Aleister checks his teeth, shakes off the cobwebs, and then looms over Melo. Aleister reels Melo in, suplexes, but Melo counters to a cradle! TWO! Aleister blocks a kick to sweep the legs! Then Aleister suplexes, but Melo knees free! Aleister blocks another kick, but Melo rebounds to SUPERKICK! Melo runs, tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! And then Melo brings Aleister up, but Aleister suplexes! BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Miz is relieved as Melo survives!
Aleister scowls while he thinks on what to try next. The fans rally, Aleister stalks behind Melo, and then Aleister spins Melo around just to lift him up with his foot! Miz distracts Aleister, but then Aleister senses Melo! Aleister ducks, Melo BLASTS Miz, and Aleister rolls Melo up! ALEISTER WINS!
Winner: Aleister Black, by pinfall
Miz rushes back in, but into BLACK MASS!! The A-Lister tried trickery but paid for it! Will Aleister not back down on SmackDown? Will he find his way to gold soon enough?
Solo and Fatu return backstage.
Solo throws a bit of a fit over the loss. He says the numbers game is no longer with their family tomorrow. They need a game plan for it! They need to figure something out, because Solo is all outta sorts! Everyone is hurt! They need- Fatu says stop! “WE?! Game plan?! Man, the only game plan I that I got tomorrow is just to run the play! So tomorrow, Backlash, live in The Lou, these three suckas gonna get in where they fit in! Cuz tomorrow, Damian Priest, DOG WALKED! LA Knight, DOG WALKED! GADDAMN DREW MCINTYRE! I’ma ’bout to dog walk his ass!! That’s the only play that I ’bout to run! Cuz I’m all gas, no brakes with it. Yadada mean?”
Fatu is locked in, and Solo accepts that. At least, it seems he does. Will there still be something up Solo’s proverbial sleeve to ensure the Samoan Werewolf stays on top?
Fraxiom returns backstage.
They’re both still fired up from winning over the Profits, THE WWE Tag Team Champions. And then Motor City Machine Guns walk over and Chris Sabin says that is how you do it! They just won over the champs! Alex Shelley says Fraxiom came in, made some noise, and MCMG loved it! That’s exactly what MCMG did. They took the volume and cranked it to 11. Now, let’s see if Fraxiom can keep that energy up, because they know eventually, they’ll be facing MCMG. But then DIY CLOBBERS them all!! Johnny Gargano & Tommas Ciampa ran down fists on Fraxiom, and Ciampa shouts, “Don’t get it twisted, boys! You didn’t beat the tag team champions, the Profits, tonight!”
Ciampa says what Fraxiom did was they took advantage of two guys who were very banged up from TLC! Gargano says only a couple of lowlifes would do that! Then DIY stomps Fraxiom more. DIY hurries away, will Johnny Wrestling & Sicilian Psycho make sure no one gets ahead of them in line?
Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar VS Rey Fenix & Andrade!
Angel y Berto got the jump on the Firebird, but now they will have to fight fair and square with their enemies. Will the Firebird and El Idolo be able to humble Los Garza? Or will Legado del Fantasma lead the way for lucha libre in WWE?
SmackDown returns and Andrade makes his entrance, followed by Fenix. The teams sort out, Angel rushes Fenix but Fenix dodges to BLAST Berto! Fenix then SOBATS Angel, CHOPS him, and whips. Angel reverses, Fenix goes up and FLYING HEADBUTTS! Fenix runs, tilt-o-whirls, and he wrangles Angel into a ghost pin! TWO, and Angel RAMS Fenix into the corner! Tag to Berto, Los Garza stomp a mudhole, and Santos is mostly making sure commentary speaks positively about “running the bingo.” Los Garza taunt Andrade, and Angel throws his tearaway pants at him! The fans boo but Berto goes back to Fenix.
Berto drags Fenix up and snapmares for a KICK! Fenix writhes, Berto covers, TWO! Berto drags Fenix up, Fenix fires body shots, and Fenix CHOPS! Fenix runs, but Berto DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix stays in this but Berto argues the count. Berto drags Fenix up, reels him in and suplexes, but Fenix knees free! Fenix CHOPS Berto, then dodges to hot tag Andrade! The fans fire up as Andrade LARIATS, then blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Berto goes to a corner, the fans fire up, and they join in with “SI! SI! SI!” Andrade goes corner to corner and back again, but Berto runs up! Andrade dodges, Berto switches, and Angel sneaks a tag.
Andrade ELBOWS Berto, runs the ropes, but Berto drops down. Angel holds the ropes open, but Andrade stops short! Andrade wags his finger, but Berto CLOBBERS Andrade out of the ring! Fenix runs up, Berto TOSSES him and Angel DROPKICKS Fenix to the floor! Angel y Berto then go to the corners, climb up, and DOUBLE ARIHARA MOONSAULT! All four men are down but Santos loves it, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and the fans rally as Andrade endures the chinlock. Andrade fights up, JAWBREAKERS free, but Berto kicks low! Berto suplexes, Andrade fights that, and Andrade ducks both the roundhouse and the enzigiri! Then he hops on, and POISON-RANAS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Berto and Andrade crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up more as Fenix rallies on Angel! Fenix whips, Angel reverses, but Fenix reverses again to ENZIGIRI in the corner! Fenix puts Angel up top, CHOPS, but Berto storms up! Fenix ROCKS Berto then CHOPS Angel again! Fenix wrenches Berto, KICKS him, then knuckle locks.
Fenix goes up, up, jumps around, and ENZIGIRIS Angel before he FLYING ARM-DRAGS Berto! Dayton fires up and Santos is furious, but Fenix runs corner to corner! Somersault LARIAT on Angel, and Fenix puts him up top! Fenix tucks Angel in, but Angel slips free to FLAPJACK KCIK! Andrade runs in, dodges and CLOBBERS Angel! Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Fenix SUPERKICKS Berto! The fans fire up while all four men are down! “This is Awesome!” as all four luchadores stir. Angel and Fenix find each other, and Angel CHOSP! Fenix CHOPS back! Angel CHOPS again, but Fenix CHOPS again!
Both men stand, Angel KNEES low, and then he runs to SPLASH Fenix in the corner! Berto tags in, he fireman’s carries Fenix to WASTELAND SLAM! Then ROLLING MOONSAULT! Cover, Andrade breaks it! Andrade hurries out but Berto drags Fenix up. Berto whips, Fenix reverses and runs up to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix snapmares Berto, but Santos distracts! Fenix hits the somersault rana, but Berto rolls through to sunset flip! But now Santos is costing Berto! The ref finally sees it and counts, TWO!! Santos is furious but Fenix wheelbarrows and victory rolls to FACEBUSTER! Cover, but Angel DOUBLE STOMPS it apart!
Angel CLUBS Fenix, hits a BIG back suplex, but Fenix lands out! Fenix staggers back, hot tag to Andrade! Andrade ROCKS Angel, then runs to boot feint and ELBOW! Berto flounders, Fenix goes up, ADIOS AMIGO KICK! Andrade brings Berto around, Fenix builds speed and FLIES onto Angel! Then THE MESSAGE!! Cover, Andrade y Fenix win!
Winners: Rey Fenix & Andrade, by pinfall
Santos is beside himself, but it was still his fault for this loss. Andrade and Fenix stand tall, will they be the ones leading the way as Worlds Collide? Santos then shouts at Los Garza to get on their feet! “What was that?!” Santos is taking his anger out on the wrong ones, and Berto SLAPS him! The fans fire up for Berto while Santos glares at him, but Berto leaves without Santos and Angel. Is Legado falling apart all around Santos, all because of his ego?
JOHN CENA is here!
Dayton fires up but also shout, “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” as the Undisputed WWE Champion walks out in his Ohio State Buckeyes styled The Last Time is Now merchandise. Cena has the song stop, and he again points to Mark Nash. The fans duel, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” while Mark reluctantly goes to the ring, same as the last few times. Cena tells Mark he already knows so Mark does the “proper” introductions. “Please welcome the Greatest Of All Time! The Never Seen Seventeen! Gracing Dayton with his presence one last time…! He is the Last-” Wait, Cena stops Mark there? Cena sees someone threw their bottle into the ring!
Cena picks up the bottle, looks it over, and it is a Michelob Ultra. Cena shakes his head, tosses the bottle aside, and lets Mark finish. “He is the Last Real Champion…! JOOOOOOHN CEEENAAA~!” The fans are torn while Cena holds up the title. Cena then takes Mark’s mic and excuses him. The fans boo but Cena says, “Tomorrow, your childhood dies. The reason you’re reduced to throwing empty bottles of beer is because every single one of you knows exactly how important Backlash is. You’ll do everything you can, just like Randy Orton. Which is why Randy Orton is not here tonight.
“Don’t boo! Don’t boo! He’s smart! He took my advice. He is home with his family in St. Louis. And he is preparing for the biggest moment of his career. The first time I wrestled Randy Orton was almost 25 years ago. Since then, we have shared in this ring on WWE television of almost 100 appearances. There are 31 world championships between us. We are the two names that defined what it means to have Ruthless Aggression. And if you are a fan between the ages of 12 to 55 and beyond, you either choose Randy Orton or you choose John Cena! THAT is what’s at stake tomorrow!” The fans here certainly cheer for “RANDY! RANDY!”
Cena says tomorrow, that is their final match. “Tomorrow, you only get to choose one more time. Tomorrow, your childhood dies! Don’t worry, don’t worry. If you’re a fan between the ages of 3 to 11 tomorrow, your childhood will die, as well. I will make sure you grow up fast, because tomorrow I prove three things: Life isn’t fair; winners write the history books; and Randy Orton is a liar! The person Randy’s been lying tot he most all these years is himself! I will explain it in terms that you can understand. Hustle, loyalty, respect.
“Hustle! Randy Orton only has this job because of his family! He has never once been held accountable for any of his failures! And he uses his stardom and his connections to protect him from responsibility or actually doing any hard work. Randy Orton is the Greatest Of All Time at wasting his potential! I am the Greatest of All Time because I AM hustle!” The fans boo but Cena continues. “Loyalty! Randy Orton thinks that working a job a lot of days in a row is loyalty. That’s not loyalty, that’s cashing a check. Randy Orton says he’s a WWE Lifer, he’s stuck here! He says he’s a piece of furniture, that’s right! He’s a La-Z-Boy!
“Loyalty is being a person that you can always count on. And you are counting on Randy Orton to be the one to take this away from me?! After 25 YEARS of injuries, bad attitudes and coasting his way to be over-celebrated and overpaid, you can’t count on Randy Orton for anything! Randy Orton is the Greatest of All Time at doing the bare minimum. I am the Greatest of All Time because I AM loyalty! Respect, of which you show me none! Randy Orton wants to beg for your respect! He has to remind you he’s a third-generation superstar. C’mon!
“Nobody knows Bob Orton Senior. The only thing Bob Orton Jr. ever accomplish in life was knocking up Randy’s mom. And the only thing Randy Orton’s ever done is life is ride off MY coattails! Yet he calls himself the Legend Killer? All he does is use his mean streak and his strength to remove these names from wrestling that were barely relevant in the first place. And tomorrow, he gets to do it again. Tomorrow, Randy Orton kills the legend of Randy Orton. Because he’ll be just like his 2006 drug test: A failure! Randy Orton is the Greatest of All Time at making a mockery of what a WWE superstar should be! I am the Greatest of All Time, because I AM respect!
“I’m not gonna stoop to your level, Dayton. Take a good look. Tomorrow is a historic moment for WWE. Because I make history again. And this is what a Last Real Champion looks like.” The fans boo as Cena holds up the belt. But who is this in a hoodie!? They spin Cena around, but Cena lifts them up for an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! This clearly isn’t Orton, he’s not tall enough. But Cena still nods and holds the belt up. ONLY FOR THE REAL ORTON TO APPEAR! You can’t see the R K O OUTTA NOWHERE!! Dayton is all fired up for Orton as he stands tall, holding the title up over Cena! Will this be how Backlash ends? Or will Cena make sure Orton’s legend ends instead?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown, especially as the go-home to Backlash. Great closing promo from Cena tonight, but Orton standing tall with that great surprise appearance hammers it home that Cena is winning at Backlash. Or he’s at least retaining. Everyone is wondering if they’ll flip the classic match from years ago where Randy retained by slapping the ref, and I wouldn’t mind them teasing that here to really add to the continuity of the rivalry. Charlotte Flair’s promo was also really good, with her doubling down on being a Heel even after her loss to Tiffany, and then being “so upset” over Dayton’s booing that she storms off.
Alexa Bliss returning in Ohio was a good move, and she had a very good match alongside Zelina against Chelsea & Piper. And a truly interesting move for her to confront Charlotte. Charlotte claims she’ll go right back for the top title but I would think Alexa doesn’t like that. Though, at the same time, Alexa could easily hop into the Women’s US Championship scene despite just teaming with Zelina. Meanwhile, great match between Jade VS Nia, with a great tease of Charlotte VS Jade during that entrance. Naomi of course does two birds with one stone, she beats up Tiffy while costing Jade, and now Nia VS Tiff will be some great stuff for the title. I wonder how Naomi will factor into that…
Great stuff opening with the US Championship story like they did last week. I figured Solo would take the loss so the Face team could have momentum, and then Drew gets the drop on him so that Fatu can also have go-home math in his favor. Fatu and Solo also had a very good promo together to show tensions mounting because it’s just them, and they’re at odds on how to handle the Fatal 4 Way. At this point, Solo Sikoa should bring in Hikuleo to freshen up their rogue bloodline. But also, Fatu could end up kicked out as Solo leads Leo, Loa & Tama against everyone else. Granted, fans would continue to see it as Temu Bloodline but whatever, SmackDown needs that one solid faction that does a lot of stuff in the same way Raw still has Judgment Day but now is also getting Rollin’s faction.
Good promo from Aleister to parallel Rusev’s return promo. It states that whatever WWE gimmick we remember from before no longer exists, and this is going to be more like Aleister bringing “Malakai” to WWE. Good promo from Miz to kinda talk down to Melo just a bit, but we still got a great match from Aleister VS Melo. Aleister of course wins with Miz getting too involved, and I’m still curious as to where this goes from here. We also got good progress in the Legado story, with Berto just done with Santos wrongfully heaping the blame on him. It was a great tag match, and I wonder if someone new joins Legado to freshen the group up, but mostly to give us a Six Man Tag of Fenix, Andrade y Berto VS Legado.
And great stuff with the tag titles, but perhaps with some curious moves. I liked Mia & Fab encouraging the Profits and then the Profits returning that as Mia & Fab hope to go for the women’s tag titles. But when it came to Aldis putting Profits in a match they weren’t prepared for, is that Aldis being Heelish? I don’t see the Profits being Heels at this point now, but hey, even “beat up” they had an awesome match with Fraxiom. Now DIY were really Heel with going after the tired Fraxiom backstage. We already got a Triple Threat with the TLC but I wonder if Fraxiom will have to still earn their title shot by getting past DIY and MCMG on separate occasions.
My Score: 8.8/10
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