What does SmackDown have in store for us this week?

Who will be WWE Intercontinental Champion? What are Bayley’s reasons for brutally betraying Sasha Banks? And who, or what, joins Bray Wyatt in the Firefly Fun House?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE Intercontinental Championship: Jeff Hardy VS AJ Styles; Styles wins by disqualification, Hardy retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
• Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura VS The Lucha House Party; Lucha House Party wins.
• SmackDown Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Alexa Bliss VS Nikki Cross VS Tamina VS Lacey Evans; Cross wins and will challenge Bayley for the title at Clash of Champions.
• Otis w/ Tucker VS John Morrison w/ The Miz; Otis wins.
• Jey Uso & Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Baron Corbin & Sheamus; Uso & Roman win.

PLAY BY PLAY

WWE and SmackDown will #NeverForget 9/11/01.

Roman Reigns is here!

The “Tribal Chief” and his “special counsel,” Paul Heyman are back, but fans are torn as to how they feel about that. Heyman grabs a mic to give an “authorized” bit of “enlightenment.” They let the secret out of the bag that these two were business partners, and then at Payback, Roman wrecked everyone and left the new Universal Champion. Then last week on SmackDown, there was full transparency from them. Heyman set all the cards on the table, and then that night, Roman’s bloodline, Jey Uso, stepped up. Jey is not only the only beneficiary of the Fatal 4 Way, he is the one who dethroned a king, braved a brogue and solved a riddle, all in one night to become the NEW#1 contender. Therefore, Roman has bestowed upon Heyman the honor and privilege of introducing that contender. The challenger for the WWE Universal Champion at Clash of Champions, a cousin and practically blood brother, Mr. Jey Uso.

Jey makes his entrance and is very fired up. Jey says to Heyman that he’s got love for him, Uce. Jey thanks Heyman for helping Jey get to this point. Now he gets to compete with blood, Roman Reigns, at Clash of Champions. Heyman doesn’t mean to interrupt but there is nothing owed to him. It all goes to Roman. When Big E was taken out, it was Roman’s idea. Heyman just implemented the idea from his boss, Jey’s Tribal Chief, the razing, defending, undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns. Heyman gives Roman the mic so he says Jey doesn’t have to thank him. They’re blood. Years they thought about this. Roman is proud of Jey, the family is proud of Jey. Jey earned this! Jey is going to be in the main event of Clash, taking a huge payday home. This is his moment. This is all Jey.

At Clash, Roman won’t let Jey think it’s his moment, though. Because like when they were kids, Roman is gonna whoop Jey. The title has to stay on Roman’s shoulder to keep the family where it is now. Just like when they were little, Roman is gonna whoop on Jey, then it’s all love. Yeah, all love. But they’re not little kids. They’re grown men. It’s different, Uce. But wait, here comes Baron Corbin! Corbin has had enough of this. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out it was a set-up! Roman Reigns pulled the strings to get a handpicked opponent for his very first defense. And that guy just happens to be his cousin. This is classic nepotism and it makes Corbin sick! There is nothing Corbin despises more than watching someone else walk around and abuse their power.

But here comes Sheamus to add on! He actually agrees with His Royal Highness. “This whole situation stinks!” Sheamus reminded Big E where his car was, and Big E took a spill. Then it should’ve just been a Triple Threat. But what happens? Strings are pulled, and Jey Uso is now in the match! How can anyone prepare o such short notice? Sheamus is blown away! Jey tells them to hold up. He wanted time to prepare? The grown-ups haven’t finished talking, Jey. Jey says how about this? Both of them need to get ready for a tag match, Jey and Roman! The Blood VS the Butt Mud! Sheamus runs at Jey but gets thrown out, then Jey ROCKS Corbin! And POSTS him! Jey is fired up, Roman seems to like that. Will blood leave these sticks in the mud behind them?

Sami Zayn is furious in the production truck!

He does NOT approve of there being an Intercontinental Championship match between Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles! HE is the champion, not them! Didn’t they think about that?! He’s pressing buttons, and sends SmackDown to break! Will this be sorted out before the match happens next?

WWE Intercontinental Championship: Jeff Hardy VS AJ Styles!

The Charismatic Enigma is currently the champion, but the Phenomenal One claims controversy because of the knee brace Hardy needed because of Styles’ sneak attack. But as we saw before commercial, the Great Liberator thinks he should still be THE champion because he never lost the title. Will Sami at least let this match happen so he can focus on one “fraud” instead of two?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and Sami interrupts! “How dare you!?” This match can’t be for the championship because HE is the Intercontinental Champion! How many times does he have to say it? He won on 3/8/20, and faced Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 36! And yes, for personal reasons, he had to take time off. But then the WWE goes and crowns a “sham,” but whatever. If Styles and Hardy want to beat each other up, fine! But this is an exhibition match! Adam Pearce arrives and Sami is relieved. He wants Pearce to sort this out. But Pearce has security to escort Sami away instead. Well, fine, just don’t touch him. But be ashamed! “This is an insult!” Sami leaves, and Styles sucker punches Hardy!

Styles stomps away on Hardy, the ref pulls him away, and the ref checks on Hardy. Hardy says he wants this match, and the bell rings on this “exhibition” title match!

Styles rushes Hardy but Hardy dodges and Styles hits buckles! Hardy kicks and hits TWIST OF FATE! Hardy goes up top fast, SWANTON BOMB FLOPS! Styles avoids a split second defeat and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Styles drags Hardy up. Hardy hits back, runs but Styles throws him out of the ring! Styles goes out to stomp Hardy but refreshes the ring count so he can stomp Hardy more. Styles goes back in, the ref starts his ring count again but has to keep Styles back, too. The count reaches 5 but Styles goes out the other side. Styles brings Hardy to the steel steps but Hardy shoves Styles so that he hits off the steps! Hardy then uses the steps for POETRY IN MOTION, into the barriers! Hardy doesn’t mind the double-edge of that move as he puts Styles back in. Styles swings, Hardy runs and rallies with forearms. Hardy atomic drops to leg splitting leg drop! But Styles blocks it!

Hardy and Styles are both down but stirring as fans build to a rally. Styles runs in at Hardy but Hardy elbows him away! Hardy goes up, WHISPER IN THE WIND! Cover, TWO! Hardy grits his teeth through the pain as he slowly gets up. He watches Styles rise up, Hardy kicks low but no Twist this time! Styles fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Styles is a bit surprised Hardy survives but the fans keep rallying. Styles drags Hardy up, reels him in, but Hardy resists the Clash to trip Styles up and get the leg splitting leg drop! Basement dropkick and standing splash to a cover, TWO! Hardy keeps his calm while he grits his teeth. He drags Styles back up, but Styles goes after the bad leg with elbows! Hardy spins back to kick Styles to a corner!

Hardy runs in, HARDY-AC misses! The swinging dropkick drops Hardy on his back and Styles is on the apron. Styles watches Hardy stagger around, but Sami appears as if from nowhere to attack Styles!!

Winner: AJ Styles, by disqualification; Hardy retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship

Sami just won’t let this go! He ruins the match and throws Styles into steel steps! Sami has his copy of the belt as he gives Hardy a HELLUVA KICK! Fans give thumbs down and boo as Sami raises his copy of the belt up. “There’s only one!” But will Sami be the one when this is all said and done?

But as for Hardy, he tries to walk with his actual copy of the title belt, but his leg gives out on the ramp! Will Hardy even be able to be part of this Intercontinental Championship conundrum?

Jey Uso talks game plans with Roman Reigns.

Jey seems to be going on and on about the Superman Punch from Roman, followed up by an Uso Splash by him. But Roman doesn’t seem interested at all. Will the cousins be able to work together against common, and old, enemies?

SmackDown returns with Alyse Ashton outside the trainer’s room.

According to the trainers, Hardy never lost consciousness, but at first glance, what happened just earlier was do to dehydration. Styles storms over to get to the real news. Neither he or Hardy are okay with what Sami did. Hardy cheated! And now Sami, who was gone for months, is claiming to be champion! Who’s the real champion? Is it Alyse? NO! Styles sounds frustrated, but he’s determined. Styles can beat Sami, he can beat Hardy, and it doesn’t matter when, where or how. Styles will prove once and for all that he is the TRUE Intercontinental Champion! Will there be a solution to this situation soon?

Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura talk backstage.

The Champions VS Champions challenge was issued and accepted on Monday Night Raw, and now the SmackDown Tag Team Champions are discussing game plans in their Champions’ Lounge. But to return the favor, The Street Profits appear! They like what’s going on in here! What are they doing here!? Just checking out the lounge, bruh. They heard about it, wanted to check it out, and “We want the SNACKS!” Okay, okay. But Cesaro and Nakamura have a match. There’s no time for nonsense. That actually sounds like the reason for nonsense. But go ahead, Montez and Dawkins will take good care of the lounge while watching them and filling out scouting reports. Fine. Just don’t break anything! And don’t touch the food! They wait until Nakamura is gone and they start getting some popcorn!

Sami Zayn “visits” Jeff Hardy in the trainer’s room.

The trainer says Hardy just needs to hydrate, drink some fluids, but Sami asks if that’s really all Hardy needs. Maybe it’s something more! Hardy goes after Sami but Sami tackles him over the table! These two brawl as SmackDown goes to break!

Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura VS The Lucha House Party!

The Swiss Cyborg and King of Strong Style might have the Profits on Monday, but it’s a fiesta on Friday! Will they keep things from being #LuchaLit? Or will Kalisto, the self-proclaimed leader of LHP, lead this team to victory?

SmackDown returns as Cesaro and Nakamura make their entrance. The teams sort out and Gran Metalik starts against Cesaro. They tie up, Cesaro knees low and throws more knees. Cesaro whips Metalik to a corner, Metalik dodges him and speeds up to tilt-o-whirl twice for a huricanrana! Metalik mule kicks, runs the corner to flying rana! Tag to Kalisto, Kalisto goes up and stands on Metalik’s shoulders for the elevated splash! Cover, TWO! Kalisto goes to run but Nakamura is in his way. Cesaro CLOBBERS Kalisto from behind! Tag to Shinsuke and he knees Kalisto low and hard! Nakamura snapmares to drop a knee on Kalisto’s head! Cover, TWO!

Nakamura drags Kalisto over, bumps him off buckles and gives him Bad Vibrations! The ref counts, Nakamura stops and tags in Cesaro. Cesaro runs in to BLAST Kalisto with a European Uppercut! Cover, TWO! Cesaro cranks Kalisto’s head, traps the arms and twists. Kalisto endures, fights his way up and throws body shots. Cesaro scoop slams hard and fast, then drops a leg! Cover, TWO! Cesaro tags Nakamura, they bring Kalisto up for Nakamura to KICK off his feet! Nakamura hauls Kalisto up to the top rope, backs up and runs in, Top Shelf Knee! Tag to Cesaro and he drags Kalisto into a gut wrench, Nakamura adds a nee before the suplex! Nakamura sucker punches Metalik while Cesaro covers, TWO!

Wait, what’s going on now? The titantron shows that the Profits are throwing a party inside the Champions’ Lounge, with NON-champions! Drew Gulak, Matt Riddle and a number of random strangers are here! Ford says that if Cesaro and Nakamura are throwing down in the ring, they’d throw down back here! WE LIT, FAM! And then Kalisto rolls Cesaro up!! Lucha House Party wins!!

Winners: Lucha House Party, by pinfall

Cesaro and Nakamura are FURIOUS! Their lounge is being made into a night club, and now they got pinned! Will LHP benefit from the Profits to become #1 contenders? Will Cesaro and Nakamura make the Profits pay on Raw?

SmackDown returns to the Champions’ Lounge!

And now Lucha House Party joins the fun! “LUCHA! LUCHA!” But will Cesaro and Nakamura make their way back their soon enough?

Bayley heads to the ring!

The SmackDown Women’s Champion is all alone, because she brutally betrayed and perhaps even broke The Boss, Sasha Banks! And instead of holding up her title, she holds up a steel chair. This is the same banged up chair she used on Sasha! Bayley grabs a mic while fans boo and give thumbs down. She sets the chair up and takes a seat in it before pointing to the titantron.

Footage replays of the fall from golden grace the Role Models had from SummerSlam to Payback. Sasha said they were still best friends, and they gave everything to try and take back the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. But in the end, it would not happen as Sasha’s knee would take a lot of damage, and Nia Jax would CROSSBODY both Sasha and Bayley down. Sasha was at a very low point, but Bayley would only knock her down lower with the vicious assault. Back in the present, Bayley says, “After all of that, everybody is asking how Sasha Banks.” Is she feeling better? When will she be back? No one is asking how Bayley is doing, or how she feels. “Do you think I enjoyed doing that to my tag partner? Do you think it made me feel good to take this steel chair and destroy my best friend?”

DING DONG, hello, it did! She loved every second of it! And now everyone wants answers, right? Even Michael Cole! Bayley has questions of her own first. Sasha, Bayley knows you’re watching. Does Sasha think Bayley is an idiot? Did Sasha think, that after all these years, Bayley was so naive as to not see what she was up to? After everything they’ve been through, who knows Sasha better than Bayley? Nobody. Sasha was waiting for the right time to strike! The first break in WWE Bayley gets, Sasha makes her a tag team partner, just to keep her close. When Bayley had her first Raw W Omen’s Championship match, Sasha was part of it. Sasha followed Bayley to SmackDown, and when Bayley reached the top of her game, Sasha needed to be #TwoBeltzBanks.

Sasha pretended to be best friends with Bayley, but she was just using her. And Bayley knows that because she was using Sasha! Bayley didn’t care about Sasha or their friendship! Bayley used Sasha every single step of the way! And thanks to Sasha, she was #BayleyDosStraps, the first ever Women’s Grand Slam Champion! And thanks to Sasha, Bayley is the longest reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion ever! But after last week, Sasha is “completely useless” to Bayley. Bayley no longer needs hugs, friends or fans, just her title. But will Clash of Champions bring about the end of the most dominant reign in SmackDown Women’s history?

SmackDown Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Alexa Bliss VS Nikki Cross VS Tamina VS Lacey Evans!

The loony lass crosses paths with Bayley as she makes her entrance, and Bayley SMACKS Nikki with the chair for it!! Bayley wants to make sure Nikki’s next chance never comes! Will this only make it easier for the Five Foot Fury, the Samoan Steamroller and the Sassy Southern Bell?

SmackDown returns as Alexa is there to help her friend, Nikki. Nikki wants to still compete, the medics give her the green light but Alexa isn’t so sure. Lacey makes her entrance and it’s now or never! Lacey throws her fancy skirt at Nikki and Alexa wants after her already! The ref keeps the peace, all four women get in the ring, and this golden opportunity begins!

Alexa kicks Lacey but Tamina goes after Nikki. Lacey shoves Alexa and drop toeholds while Tamina throws Nikki out. Lacey covers, TWO! Lacey SLAPS Alexa then drags her up to feed to a BOOT from Tamina. Tamina and Lacey go 1v1, Lacey is put on the apron but pulls hair! Lacey hooks Tamina with a leg, and dabs the sweat while she chokes Tamina. She lets Tamina go to sweep the legs then slingshot, only for Tamina to avoid the stomps. Tamina HEADBUTTS Lacey but Alexa dropkicks them both down! Alexa ROCKS Lacey then fires off on Tamina. Alexa shotgun dropkicks Lacey down and paces as she seethes.

Alexa drops knees, Insult but no Injury as Tamina LARIATS Alexa down! Tamina goes after Lacey with stomps, drags Lacey up and suplexes hard! Cover, Alexa breaks it! Tamina glares at Alexa and hauls her up! Alexa fights, gets down but Tamina denies the DDT. Tamina stomps, Alexa dodges but Tamina BOOTS her down! Tamina drags Alexa up, whips her to a corner, and runs in for a corner splash! Tamina digs her heels in but Lacey scrapes Tamina’s face on the ropes! Lacey goes after Alexa with a swing, but Tamina kicks her down! Tamina has Alexa all alone and digs her boots in, but here comes Nikki! Nikki jumps on Tamina, Tamina throws her off, but Nikki fires off forearms!

Tamina shoves Nikki but Nikki dropkicks the legs out! Nikki fires up, runs and LARIATS! Cover, ONE!! Tamina powers out and bails out but Nikki fires up. Nikki runs and RAMS Tamina off the apron! Nikki whips Alexa for her to wreck Tamina and Lacey with dropkicks! Nikki comes around but asks if Alexa is still in this. Nikki CROSSBODIES both Tamina and Lacey down! And now Alexa goes after Nikki with SISTER ABIGAIL!? Alexa used Bray Wyatt’s move?! Is “he” in her head again? Alexa’s the only one standing as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns and Tamina grinds Lacey down with a chinlock. Tamina also hooks Lacey’s nose but Lacey fights up. Lacey throws body shots but Tamina throws Lacey down by her hair! Also, Alexa just up and left during commercial, so this is basically a Triple Threat. Tamina puts Lacey in a corner, stomps away, but Lacey gets to the apron. Tamina tries to rally the fans as she runs side to side, but Lacey knees her back! Lacey has Tamina in the ropes to fire off knees and elbows, then ducks the punch to hotshot Tamina backwards! Lacey gets another leg sweep and the slingshot elbow drop hits this time! Cover, TWO!

Lacey has the ref give her space as she goes up top. Tamina trips Lacey up and she hits buckles on the way down! Tamina goes corner to corner but Lacey drop toeholds her into buckles! Tamina is down in the corner, Lacey grits her teeth and swings in for the BRONCO BUSTER! Lacey drags Tamina to a drop zone then climbs up top. Lacey hits the SASSIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Cover, but Nikki breaks it! Nikki is still in this! All three women are down, fans build to a rally, and Nikki fires up! Nikki runs to corner splash Lacey, then Tamina, then back again! Nikki keeps going, and hits a bulldog clothesline combo! Cover on Lacey, TWO!

Nikki seethes but drags Tamina up. Nikki whips Tamina to a corner, runs in but Tamina dodges. Nikki elbows back, hops up top, boots Tamina away then grabs her for a tornado DDT! Lacey runs in, Nikki gets around her for a straitjacket neckbreaker! Cover, but Tamina breaks it! Tamina drags Nikki up to throw her into a corner. Lacey goes after Tamina but gets a SUPERKICK! Lacey escapes the Samoan Drop to WOMEN’S RIGHT! Lacey spins out of the Purge, Nikki ducks the punch, to put Lacey on the ropes for a DRAPING PURGE! But Tamina hits Nikki before she can cover Lacey! Tamina fireman’s carries, Nikki slips out and deflects the superkick to roll Tamina up, NIKKI WINS!

Winner: Nikki Cross, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the SmackDown Women’s Championship)

Nikki has one more chance at the championship! But will she be able to shrug off what Alexa did to her to focus on Bayley?

SmackDown’s mystery woman is now putting on clothes.

Heels, nylons, and a sparkling dress, complete with a fur coat. But just who is this?

Otis w/ Tucker VS John Morrison w/ The Miz!

Heavy Machinery flattened the Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century *stare off into the distance* but the Guru of Greatness tried to literally steal the right to be Mr. Money in the Bank. Luckily, Otis thought ahead and switched the contract into his lunch pail and his lunch into the briefcase. Will Morrison try it again now that he knows the trick?

The bell rings and Otis circles with Morrison. Morrison super punches but Otis dodges to come back and run Morrison over! Miz joins commentary to say that Otis using the MITB briefcase as a lunch box “is a spit in the face to any person that has ever been Mr. Money in the Bank.” It makes sense he’d be offended, Miz was also Mr. MITB at one time. Morrison is in a corner, Otis drags him up and whips him. Morrison rolls off Otis’ back but still gets run over on the return! Otis is fired up, Miz says Otis doesn’t deserve to be Mr. MITB, and Morrison jawbreakers Otis away! Morrison kicks, but Otis fires up! Fans fire up with Otis, Morrison super forearms but Otis just shakes the ropes. Otis blocks the roundhouse, scoops Morrison for an EXPLODER!

Otis drags Morrison up again to scoop, spin and slam! Morrison gets to a corner, Otis fires up but Miz gets on the apron! Otis swipes at Miz, Tucker backs Miz off, but Morrison dodges Otis and sends him into buckles! Morrison grabs the lunch pail and tosses it to Miz! Miz runs away with the contract! Morrison laughs but Otis squashes him in the corner! Otis has Morrison in the drop zone, and hits the CATERPILLAR ELBOW! Then Otis goes up to the corner for a VADER BOMB! Cover, Otis wins!

Winner: Otis, by pinfall

Mr. MITB keeps building momentum, but what about the lunch pail? Otis assures Tucker it’s fine, but will they track Miz down?

SmackDown has an update on Big E.

After Sheamus tricked Big E and smashed him through a car windshield, Big E has been recovering at home with lacerations and bruising. Xavier Woods will share the latest on Big E’s condition as part of Talking Smack, on the WWE Network this Saturday morning!

SmackDown returns as Heavy Machinery is backstage.

Tucker is pretty sure Miz went down this hall, but Otis says to calm down. Because just as Morrison was tricked last week, Otis switched things around on everyone this week. That was just a lunchbox. THE lunchbox was inside THE briefcase this week! Tada! Otis is a genius! And as Miz and Morrison regroup, Morrison remembers that the contract is non-transferable. Miz has a lawyer friend who can help them find the loophole in this contract. And they’ll do that… With this mostly eaten apple… Miz has had it! He’s “calling in a favor.” But to who?

SmackDown presents a new Firefly Fun House!

Bray Wyatt and his puppets are so excited! Before the fun begins, Bray needs to get this off his chest. It’s a big ball of lint. But as you can see, thanks to Roman Reigns, something rather special is missing. But it’s okay. Everyone experiences loss. And how you handle loss defines the person that you become. #TheLessYouKnow. Now, let’s have that fun! Tickle tickle, Huskis. And here, in this box, is the newest member of the Firefly Fun House! It’s a very special friend who will be an inspiration to all. “he has overcome so much in his life to make it this far! Please join me in welcoming… Pasquale the Persevering Parrot!” C’mon, buddy! Fly out and say something inspiring!

Pasquale? Is he there? Bray looks inside the box, and can’t find Pasquale! Technical difficulties, please stand by. Ramblin’ Rabbit says Pasquale flew the coop. Bray should’ve cut holes in the box. Wah wah waaaah~! Mercy loves dead birds. Oh well! But wait! It’s DEVIL VINCE! “What the my home is going on around here?!” Bray lost the title, his parrot, and Vince’s trust! Bray can’t handle the responsibility of the Fun House alone! “Are you sure, boss?” “Don’t sass me, boy! This is non-negotiable!” Cooperate or you’re… Okay, okay! What does he have in mind? Introducing, the special advisor to the Firefly Fun House…

“Ladies and gentlemen, my name… is Wobbly Walrus!” Umm… Yowie wowie! “This is such good *toot*.” OH NO~! To be continued in the next episode of the Firefly Fun House!

Jey Uso & Roman Reigns w/ Paul Heyman VS Baron Corbin & Sheamus!

Blood is thicker than water, and the Samoan Bloodline is strong in the WWE! But will Jey and the Tribal Chief be stronger together against the Wolf King and the Celtic Warrior?

SmackDown returns as Jey makes his entrance. Sheamus rushes Jey but so does Corbin! Jey fights them 2v1 but Sheamus clobbers Jey, and rams him into barriers! Sheamus puts Jey in the ring, Corbin runs at him but Jey boots him away! THe ref rings the bell without Roman and COrbin tosses Jey to a corner. Jey dodges and backs away. Sheamus gets in but Jey uppercuts him out! Jey fires uppercuts at COrbin, COrbin scoops him but Jey sunset flips! TOW, Jey SUPERKICKS Corbin! Jey runs but Sheamus trips him up! COrbin gets JEy for a DEEP SIX! Cover, TWO! Jey survives but where is Roman!?

Corbin grins as Roman isn’t here and he tags Sheamus in. “Where’s your boy, huh?!” COrbin ROCKS Jey into Sheamus’ beats of the bodhrain! Sheamus gets all 10 in before the ref counts 4, then he scoops Jey for a swinging slam!Sheamus fixes his mohawk before he puts Jey in the corner. Corbin tags in and stomps awya, then drags Jey up to choke Jey on ropes! The ref counts, Corbin stomps and hops up to jump, but Jey hotshots Corbin! Jey kicks, uppercuts and fireman’s carries, but Corbin slips out. Corbin shoves Jey, Jey hits Sheamus and SUPERKICKS COrbin! SAMOAN DROP!

Fans rally and Jey goes corner to corner to fire up. Corbin avoids the hip attack and tags in Sheamus! WHITE NOISE! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus is frustrated and tells Jey is the loser! Sheamus seethes as he aims at Jey from a corner. He fires up but where is Roman?! NOW Roman appears! Sheamus sees Roman storming down the way, Jey dodges the Brogue but Sheamus blocks the kick. Sheamus spins Jey but gets the dragon whip kick! Jey hits the hip attack on Sheamus, DIVES into Corbin and sends him flying! Jey goes up top, leaps, but into Sheamus’ arms! Sheamus pops Jey up, Jey lands on his feet and SUPERKICKS!

Jey climbs the corner, Roman tags in! USO SPLASH! Roman aims at Sheamus, Jey realizes the tag happened and gets out, for Roman to SPEAR Sheamus! Cover, Roman and Jey win!

Winners: Roman Reigns & Jey Uso, by pinfall

The Big Dog takes the pinfall to take credit for everything Jey did! Roman leaves with a smile on his face, and Heyman hands him the championship back. Jey raises Roman’s hand in victory, which surprises Roman a bit. Will Roman be surprised by the fight his cousin puts up at Clash of Champions? Or will he still #ShowUpAndWin like he did tonight?

My Thoughts:

A great episode to set up for Clash of Champions here. Opening and closing with the Universal Championship story was obvious but also really well done material. Roman saying all that stuff about Jey adds to the tension, and I’m just waiting for the moment Jey snaps on Roman. It is definitely happening, because of how Roman left him alone in the tag match and then came in just to finish it up. It may have seemed odd for Jey to get this opportunity, but the build is definitely going to make it work out. I actually like Sami interfering with the Intercontinental Championship, because it is slowly but surely heading towards my idea of a Triple Threat Ladder match to crown the UNDISPUTED Intercontinental Championship. Sami was also great in the production truck and brawling with Hardy in the trainer’s room, I can’t wait to see his response to whatever match is made for Clash.

There was a lot of great stuff with the tag teams tonight, especially the interaction of the champions. Ford and Dawkins showing up to SmackDown was a natural response, and they did great character stuff. The party that they started in the Champions’ Lounge was hilarious, and it definitely makes sense for that to distract Cesaro. LHP’s story is getting some depth as only now, after years of being a trio, does Kalisto say he is the leader. I don’t think they’re going to win the titles off Cesaro and Nakamura, because I could see the trio falling apart during the match. Kalisto will be the one to turn and I bet he finds someone new to team with to go after Metalik and Lince Dorado.

The segment with Heavy Machinery went in an obvious direction. Otis wins but someone steals the lunchbox, only for there to be the bait and switch back the other way. I’m very curious as to who Miz’s friend is and what the favor is going to be. Maybe Clash of Champions surprises us by having a match for the MITB contract. Though, I’m not sure if that really helps anyone. Miz and Morrison are going to look bad if Otis beats them again, but Otis will just be shown as a wasted Mr. MITB if he loses his contract to one of them. Firefly Fun House was very interesting. I like the swerve on the newest member of the puppet cast. Pasquale the Persevering Parrot dying on arrival is morbidly hilarious since it’s Bray saying perseverance and hope are overrated. But then there’s also the great meta of adding the Heyman parody to poke at how AJ Styles went on the record about things in the actual backstage environment.

Then the women’s division segments were great, especially with how they tied together. Bayley going deeper into Heel territory claiming she was just using Sasha and all that was a pretty good move. Even if some of it is just Bayley covering up for the truth, it works for her character to at least say she stopped caring about Sasha a long time ago. Her going after Nikki should’ve been an indicator that Nikki would find a way to win. Well there’s that, the fact Bayley is mega Heel, Tamina and Lacey being firmly Heel and Alexa turning as part of the story with Bray Wyatt, Nikki was the only real choice. I almost feel like that won’t go through because of this story with Alexa. Alexa could attack Nikki and keep the match from happening so Bayley retains by default to reach that one-year mark.

My Score: 8.3/10