SmackDown paves the way to #WrestleManiaBacklash!

Before SmackDown puts all their gold on the line this Sunday, there’s gold here tonight! Can Natalya & Tamina finally stop Nia & Shayna?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Natalya & Tamina; Natalya & Tamina win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
• Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Robert Roode; Rey wins.
• Shinsuke Nakamura VS King Corbin; Corbin wins.
• Cesaro VS Jimmy Uso; Cesaro wins, by disqualification.

PLAY BY PLAY

Jey Uso is in the ring.

“They call me ‘The Right Hand Man,’ Main Event Jey Uso. You know this.” Last week, brother Jimmy disrespected The Head of the Table, Roman Reigns. So this week, they have no choice but to handle family business! That said, Jey brings to the WWE Universe the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief, the man who will handle Cesaro this Sunday at #WrestleManiaBacklash, Jey’s cousin and WWE Universal Champion, Roman…! Reigns! Roman does indeed make his entrance, with Paul Heyman following behind and carrying the title for him. Heyman hands the belt over so Roman can hold it up as pyro goes off.

Roman hands the belt back to Heyman and they continue down the ramp while recap of last week plays. Roman raises the title for the second round of pyro, then is handed the mic from Heyman. He says to Jey, “So clearly, we’ve got some problems. One of them being your brother. And we’ll get to him here in a minute, but I’m gonna address Cesaro first. I like him. Like a lot of the boys in the back, I respect Cesaro. I do, he’s a top tier talent. Hell, we could say he’s one of the best wrestlers in the whole world.” Heyman agrees with “one of.” But Paul, Roman is so much more than just a wrestler, right?

Heyman agrees there, too. He lists off how Roman is Tribal Chief, Head of the Table, the End All Be All, and of course WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion. But with everything Roman does, no way could Cesaro fulfill all that. Does WWE really want Cesaro in Roman’s place? Do you think SmackDown wants that? Does Fox want that? NO! Just look at the facts. How many world title matches has Cesaro even had? ZERO. And rightfully so! But how many has Roman had? Heyman’s people are good with numbers, and that number is 39! Wow! But moving on, let’s just talk about Jimmy Uso. “It was simple! He got to see how it works.”

But Jimmy comes out to interrupt! And his new shirt reads “NOBODY’S BITCH,” to emphasize what he said to last week. Jimmy has a mic and says he’s here, so let’s talk. Jimmy hears the chief jaw-jacking, running his mouth, while his brother standing there like, a, BITCH! Like the shirt, Uce? Jey must be feeling it. Jimmy has one for Jey if he’s ready. Matter fact, now’s the time! Jimmy isn’t sure if “our boy” Roman is gonna make it past Cesaro! Jey says that’s their cousin! Head of the Table! Show respect to family, Uce! Jimmy IS all about family, Uce! Roman asks Jimmy about that. If he’s about family, then he’s about Roman because what he’s done for the family.

No, that’s not it. Roman may be family, but he isn’t the entire family! Roman wants to backtrack a bit. Jimmy doesn’t think Roman can beat Cesaro? That’s how he feels? Jimmy doesn’t want to make this a thing, but if Roman’s asking… No, he doesn’t. But Jimmy can, right? He can do what Roman does, but better? No, but the Usos together can. Check it! What if the Usos won the tag titles but then Roman loses his Universal title? Wouldn’t that make the Usos the Heads of the Table? Technically, they’d be chiefs! That’s not how it works! That is not their part! Roman is Roman and the Usos are the Usos! Roman is chief and CHAMPION! He puts food on the table and carries this company, a responsibility Jimmy could never handle!

Hold on. Does Jimmy think he can? He really thinks that? He thinks he can do what Roman does? Be the man around here? Then do it! Represent like Roman represents. Put the title on the line against Cesaro tonight! Show the world that he’s the man! Roman will let the whole world see Jimmy can defend against Cesaro. Hell, just show you can beat him, Uce! Can you? Jimmy grins and calls out Cesaro! Cesaro is surely listening, but Jimmy is ready to lock it down! What you say, Uce? Was that good enough, Roman? Jimmy is still smiling, but here comes the Swiss Superman! Cesaro has a nice suit and a mic, but he says challenge accepted!

And Roman, look at Cesaro. Cesaro will beat Jimmy tonight, then Roman on Sunday! Cesaro is ready, despite what Roman says. Jimmy is ready, despite what Roman says. But can Jimmy hang after all the time off? Or will he get into the swing of things thanks to the #1 contender?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Natalya & Tamina!

These two teams met at WrestleMania 37 after the Queen of Harts and Daughter of Superfly got through Tag Team Turmoil. They were close but still so far away. Will they finally get these belts off the Irresistible Force & Queen of Spades this close to #WrestleManiaBacklash?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we revisit WrestleMania before the PPV all about revisiting WrestleMania!

The teams sort out, and once again blood battles blood as Tamina and Nia stare down. They circle, Reggie already distracts and Nia attacks! Nia CLUBS Tamina over and over, then looms over her at the ropes.? Nia drags Tamina up to toss her into the corner! Tag to Shayna, they mug Tamina but Tamina fights back! Tamina shoves Nia out, fires off on Shayna, then backs her down to the other corner! BIG uppercut, tag to Natty, then a HEADBUTT and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Natty drags Shayna back over, tags Tamina back in, and feeds Shayna to Tamina’s LARIAT! “That’s what you get!” Tamina tags Natty back in, they coordinate, catapult SAMOAN DROP!

Reggie gets on the apron again but the ref tells him to stop! The ref EJECTS Reggie, but he’s still missing Natty cover Shayna! Nia is upset, Tamina attacks her on the ramp! They brawl, Nia fireman’s carries, SAMOAN DROP into barriers! Shayna kicks Natty down, KNEES her in the face, cover, TWO!! The second generation superstars are in a tough spot as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns and Shayna whips Natty to feed Nia’s scoop SLAM! Nia then runs to drop an elbow! Cover, TWO! Tamina is still down on the outside, Nia dribbles Natty on the mat! Nia shoves Natty to the corner, runs in and HIP ATTACKS! Shayna tags, she drags Natty to a cover, TWO! Natty survives but Shayna wrenches the arm and stands on Natty’s head. The ref reprimands, Shayna locks the arm and STOMPS it! Shayna mocks Natty to go get a tag, then tags in Nia. Shayna feeds Natty to Nia again, then runs, KNEE TO SIDEWALK SLAM! Nia sees Tamina and sends Shayna to get her while Nia covers Natty! But Tamina scoops and SLAMS Shayna onto Nia!

Tamina goes back to the corner and calls to Natty. Natty crawls, hot tags for Tamina and Shayna! Shayna dodges but returns to a scoop! Shayna slips out to Kirafuda! Tamina gets free, runs and FLYING HEADBUTTS! Shayna gets to a corner, Tamina fires up and run sin. Shayna dodges, but Tamina elbows back. Tamina boots but Shayna catches it to twist the foot! Tamina uses power to kick and STOMP Shayna down! Cover, TWO! Tamina drops knees on Shayna, then goes to the corner. Tamina climbs up, but Shayna gets up to KICK her first! Tag to Nia, and Nia hurries to climb up after Tamina! Tamina fights off the superplex and clubs Nia back! Nia throws headbutts and sends Nia down!

Nia staggers, Shayna swipes but Natty trips her up! The Queen of Harts sends the Queen of Spades into barriers with a GERMAN SUPLEX! Nia hits Natty, headbutts Tamina, and drags Natty into a fireman’s carry! SAMOAN DROP! BUT SUPERFLY OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, Tamina & Natty win!!

Winners: Natalya & Tamina, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)

History has been made! Tamina has been 24/7 Champion, but she’s finally got a “major” title under her belt! Kayla Braxton interviews them and congratulates them. Natty says tonight was for anyone who has had a dream but felt like it passed them by. It is NEVER too late to keep fighting for your dreams! Natty is so proud of Tamina, and Tamina is thankful to Natty and the WWE Universe! Tamina is thankful to their families! This is why they do this!

Kayla Braxton intercepts Paul Heyman.

He was headed for Roman’s private suite but she wants a quick word. If Jimmy & Jey did team up and become tag team champions while Roman lost his Universal- Oh stop with the hypotheticals! Here’s the real question! “Mr. Heyman, can Jimmy Uso beat Cesaro tonight?” Heyman doesn’t know, but he does know that Roman can and will defeat Cesaro on Sunday. Thank you for your questions. Heyman goes into Roman’s room and we’ll just have to wait and see on all of that.

Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez are in the ring.

Azeez stands on a podium, colored green and white for Nigeria, as Apollo has a mic and a box in his hand. “Tonight, all of you get to witness a very, very special presentation.” Very triumphant music plays and Apollo says that ever since he became WWE Intercontinental Champion, “the swarm of gnats” attempting to take the title has grown. But time after time after time, his commander has swatted them like the nuisances they are. With the help of Azeez, Apollo has restored glory to this title, and brought honor to Nigeria! There is no end in sight to Apollo’s reign of prosperity! As a matter of fact, Apollo might be Intercontinental Champion for LIFE!

And so, for those acts of bravery and loyalty, Apollo presents Azeez with the most distinguished medal, the Nigerian Medal of Honor! Azeez bows and Apollo puts the medal around his neck. Big E talks from the titantron! “Apollo~! Apollo~! You ain’t gotten rid of me yet!” And what sham is this? This is worse than when Macklemore won best rap album of the year. Apollo better not get comfortable with the title. Because Apollo still has to feel the power~! But wait, Sami Zayn heads out now! Is this not typical Big E behavior? Having to mock and joke? Sami always respects and loves an awards ceremony, though. This isn’t the Sami Awards but-

Apollo tells Sami to shut up. How dare he come out here and disrespect both Apollo and Azeez! Sami says the truth is, there is a bone to pick. Apollo is holding Sami’s Intercontinental Championship. Azeez picks up the podium and TOSSES it out of the ring! Sami wants Azeez to calm down and tells Apollo that if he were a man of honor, he’d give Sami a match so that he can reestablish his status as Champion of the People! But not now, of course. Wait, here comes Kevin Owens! Sami wants everyone to just take a breath, but then he urns into the ring to avoid Kevin! Kevin gives chase, he ends up brawling with Apollo and Azeez!

Apollo fires off haymaker after haymaker, but Big E is here! Big E goes after Azeez, but Azeez throws him out! Big E stays on the apron, Azeez grabs him, but Big E ducks the Nigerian Nail to dump Azeez out! Big E goes after Apollo, Kevin SUPERKICKS him down! And SUPERKICKS Apollo! Sami hits Kevin and now fires off haymakers! Sami goes corner to corner, into a STUNNER! Big E scoops Kevin for the BIG ENDING! Apollo swings, only for Big E to scoop him! Azeez saves Apollo again! Big E says that title is his, but Apollo says it will never be Big E’s again! What will Apollo do to finally exterminate the challengers that are bugging him?

Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Robert Roode!

There was a last minute swap between father and son last week, and it paid off! The Show-Off certainly wants redemption, but will the King of Lucha Libre show him up?

SmackDown returns as the SmackDown Tag Team Champions make their entrance. The bell rings and Ziggler circles with Rey. They tie up, Ziggler puts Rey in a corner, but lets off as the ref counts. Ziggler smirks as he and Rey reset. They tie up again, Rey waistlocks but Ziggler gets ropes. The ref counts, Rey lets off and they go again. Ziggler waistlocks, brings Rey around, pulls at the mask but the ref reprimands and counts. Ziggler headlocks, grinds Rey down, but Rey fights up. Rey throws body shots, powers out but Ziggler runs him over! Ziggler swivels hips and fires up as he looms over Rey at the ropes. The ref has Ziggler back away and Rey gets up.

Rey and Ziggler circle, tie up again, and Ziggler headlocks again. Ziggler drags Rey down but Rey gets up. Rey throws body shots, powers out, and things speed up, only for Ziggler to run Rey over! Ziggler talks trash while he puts a headlock back on. Roode talks trash to Dom while Ziggler makes Rey look at him. Ziggler puts Rey on the ropes and grinds his forearms in. “You don’t have what it takes anymore!” Ziggler whips Rey, drops and waistlocks but Rey uses that to send Ziggler out! Rey WRECKS Ziggler with a dropkick, then builds speed to SLIDING TOPE! Both men are down on the outside as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Ziggler has Rey in a corner. Ziggler throws haymakers, talks more trash, then throws more hands. Rey counter punches! Rey whips, Ziggler reverses but Rey ducks and springboards, only to FLOP off the crossbody! Ziggler grins and Roode says to stay on him! Ziggler stalks Rey to ropes, the ref warns Roode, but Ziggler sits Rey up. Ziggler digs his fingers into the eyeholes of the mask and Rey’s eyes themselves! The ref counts, Ziggler lets off, and he drags Rey up to INVERTED POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Ziggler stays on Rey with a chicken wing and chinlock! Rey endures the holds as Ziggler pushes up for leverage.

The fans rally on their ThunderDome screens as Rey fights up. Rey elbows free, throws body shots and even clubs Ziggler’s leg! Rey runs but into a BIG back elbow! Ziggler hobbles over to cover, TWO! Roode is frustrated on Ziggler’s behalf, but Ziggler puts Rey in a grounded Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch! Rey endures, reaches and gets the ropebreak! Ziggler holds until 4, then stalks Rey to a corner. Ziggler whips Rey corner to corner hard, then runs in, to get a BOOT! Rey uppercuts, headscissors, but Ziggler blocks to bring Rey off the corner! Rey swings to make that a DDT! Both men are down but their tag partners coach them up as fans fire up!

Ziggler and Rey sit up, Ziggler goes to a corner but dodges Rey as he runs in! Rey goes to the apron, shoulders back in, DECKS Ziggler then climbs up! Ziggler hits Rey first! Ziggler climbs, stands on the very top, but Rey fights back with body shots! Rey headbutts Ziggler away, then adjusts to FLYING SEATED SENTON! Rey whips Ziggler, Ziggler sunset flips but Rey rolls through to BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!! Ziggler survives and Roode panics. Rey dropkicks Ziggler onto ropes and dials it up! 619 misses and Ziggler returns with a FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Ziggler is beside himself as Rey survives but he aims from a corner. Rey dodges the superkick to put Ziggler back on ropes!!

Dial it up, SUPERKICK!!! Ziggler got Rey outta nowhere but he has to crawl to a cover! He gets it, ROPEBREAK!! Ziggler is shocked but Rey’s resilience is part of what made him a legend! Ziggler gets Rey up, scoops and SLAMS him, then vows this is over! Ziggler drags Rey back up, scoops and Rey makes it a cradle!! REY WINS!!

Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall

That’s twice the Mysterios have gotten Ziggler! Roode runs in but Dom is there to BLAST him first! Dom and Rey are ready, but will they keep this momentum rolling all the way through Backlash to make history as father and son?

Backstage interview with Cesaro.

His first Universal Championship opportunity is Sunday, but he must get through Jimmy Uso tonight. What’s his plan of attack for both those matches? It means the world to Cesaro that he has a Universal Championship match. He grew up dreaming of a moment like this, watching WWE in Switzerland. People thought he was crazy to want to go to the US, enter the WWE and become champion. But he always told himself, “I think I can.” When someone doubted him, mocked him, said he can’t, he said, “I think I can.” Cesaro isn’t like Roman Reigns. He wasn’t bred for this business, asking people acknowledge him. He earns it.

And he’s not taking Jimmy lightly. But does Jimmy want to be known as Jimmy Uso, or as Roman’s Cousin? Cesaro doesn’t think he can, he KNOWS he can beat Roman Reigns and earn our acknowledgement as WWE Universal Champion! Will that start with avoiding lockdown tonight?

Backstage interview with the Mysterios.

Kayla congratulates Rey on the win, and Rey says they’re so close to grabbing the titles, he can almost feel it. He and Dom are going to make history together! But here comes Ziggler & Roode. Ziggler told the kid doesn’t belong, so he should just beat it. Daddy got lucky, but on Sunday, the Dawgs take him out for good! So if “Baby Dom” were smart, he wouldn’t even get out of his crib. They can call Dom all the names they want, but on Sunday, he’ll be #BabyChamp! Aw, how cute. The Dawgs say THEY’RE the champs, but will that all change in the most historic way?

Bianca Belair heads to the ring!

The EST SmackDown Women’s Champion is here ahead of her title match at Backlash, and we’ll hear her final thoughts before her match with Bayley, after the break!

SmackDown returns and Michael Cole has joined Bianca in the ring. He can’t believe it’s been four weeks already that she won this title off Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37. And this Sunday at Backlash is her first title defense against a woman who held the belt for 380 days, the Role Model, Bayley. Bianca wants Cole to remember that she’s the B E S T. When you shine like she shines, you get a whole lotta hate! People have doubted her all her life, but speaking of, where is Bayley? Yes, that is an obvious question after last week.

A recap package reminds us that Bayley talked up then talked down to all the past champions, and even Bianca as the current. Bianca responded, they brawled, and Bayley had the last laugh quite literally. And now in the present, Bayley is here to laugh at Bianca more! Does Bayley like Bianca’s hair? She wants to show Bayley her braid. Where is she, anyway? Far, far away, okay? Via satellite thanks to the technology of 2021! Bianca must be a big idiot if she thinks they’ll be in the same ring after that vicious attack! The next time they’re in the ring together is when they battle at Backlash, and Bayley takes back her title.

Oh, Bayley, you’re so funny. Bayley talks a big game and will do whatever it takes to win, but when Bianca gets her hands on her, it will be the roughEST, the toughEST and the quickEST victory yet! Bayley laughs more, but Bianca says she didn’t want to have to stoop to Bayley’s level. But Bayley keeps coming at her so time to hurt Bayley’s feelings. Bianca says the real reason Bayley is so mad is that she was busy getting thrown down the ramp by the Bellas while Bianca was in the main event and won the title! Bayley isn’t laughing anymore. When Bayley sees Bianca waving her ponytail, shining to get attention, it’s like a look into Bayley’s past.

Bayley wants Bianca to know that from experience, the fairy tale doesn’t end well. Bayley makes sure it ends for good on Sunday. The longEST reigning champion and the newEST champion are going to get serious, but who comes out of Backlash with the belt?

Shinsuke Nakamura VS King Corbin!

The King of Strong Style may have suffered the pinfall at the hands of the Wolf King, but he is not conquered in the least! Will Nakamura show Corbin how different 1v1 is from 5v5?

SmackDown returns as Corbin makes his entrance. The bell rings, Nakamura and Corbin circle. They tie up, Corbin powers Nakamura to a corner but Nakamura powers back. Corbin knees low and hard, then brings Nakamura up to suplex. Nakamura knees free, Corbin ducks a roundhouse but not the HEEL KICK! Nakamura gives Corbin some BAD VIBRATIONS! Corbin staggers, Nakamura runs in but Corbin dodges! Nakamura boots Corbin, hops up, but Corbin DECKS him! Corbin stomps Nakamura, puts him on the ropes and chokes him! The ref counts, Corbin lets off to argue, but then Corbin gets Nakamura up. Nakamura fires body shots, runs but into a kitchen sink!

Corbin gets Nakamura’s arms and throws down elbows! Ghost pin, TWO! Corbin argues the count but the ref says it was fair. Corbin looms over Nakamura with a grin, then drags him up to a facelock. Corbin whips, Nakamura ducks and dodges to DYNAMIC DROPKICK! Both men are down but the ThunderDome rallies up. Nakamura fires off a strike fest, ducks Corbin’s counter and fires off kicks! Corbin blocks one but not the ENZIGURI! Nakamura gets Corbin up, whips him but Corbin reverses. Corbin runs in, but Nakamura dodges. Corbin slides out, slides in, swings but into a takedown! ARMBAR!! Corbin fights to get up but ends up in a triangle hold!

Corbin powers up to dead lift Nakamura but Nakamura throws hands! Nakamura drags Corbin down but Corbin makes it a cover, Corbin wins!!

Winner: King Corbin, by pinfall

And then Corbin throws Nakamura out so he can celebrate! Corbin demands his crown back, and he puts it on, only to turn around into a ROUNDHOUSE!! And a KINSHASA!! Nakamura has knocked Corbin’s crown off his head! And then steps on him to go to the crown itself! Nakamura wants the crown for his own! He pretends it’s very heavy, but he still gets it on his head! Will Nakamura truly become the King of WWE soon enough?

Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville talk backstage.

But then Apollo and Azeez barge in! What kind of leaders are they?! Did they not see what happened to Apollo and Azeez? “How can you allow those idiots to interrupt my sacred Nigerian ceremony?!” He demands consequences! What is Pearce going to do about it? Well the plan was to figure out who faces Apollo next week for the Intercontinental Championship. What?! They’re going to be rewarded?! That is outrageous! Sonya tells Apollo to be careful, or else Pearce might end up making Apollo face them all at once like he did Roman. Just saying. Pearce says that’s a great idea! It will be a Fatal 4 Way for the championship next week!

Apollo says Pearce is out of his mind! But he and Azeez leave, and Pearce tells Sonya not to undermine him in front of the superstars. The tension in the management aside, will Apollo survive when Big E, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn all come for the title at once?

SmackDown returns and Nakamura models the crown.

He seems to like how he looks with it on, even if it was made for Corbin. Will Corbin come back to get that one? Or use that money he brags about to buy a better one?

Aleister Black shares Chapter 3 from Tales of the Dark Father.

“Man is born worthless. But he can discover his value. Not by love, not by affection. It can only be trial by fire. It can even cleanse or consume you. Father spoke about the cruelties of life. Father taught me… The Lesson.” Father taught Aleister that he was wrong to fight his true nature. “I am a cruel man, because you have deemed it so. I was cut from steel while you were made from dirt. Because I was chosen. I saw greatness and I chose it, while you chose the archetype.” But it’s easier to take a seat and watch life happen rather than fight through it. Aleister could help us, teach us The Lesson, but he won’t. “Because you’re not a participant. You’re a spectator.” Will SmackDown have no choice but to watch what Aleister has in store for us next?

Backstage interview with Jimmy Uso.

What’s going through his mind just moments before his first match in over a year? Well this isn’t his idea. He thought his first match back would be alongside Jey, and they’d do what they do. Because as far as Jimmy is concerned, the Usos are the hottest tag team the WWE Universe has ever seen! But now, he’s not so sure. Roman Reigns is playing around. Jimmy was home as he saw Jey do all the work for Roman. Roman says he doesn’t need Jey to have success. Well Jey doesn’t need Roman, either! Jimmy knows Jey doesn’t think that but Jimmy does. Jimmy knows the brothers will be fine, so long as Roman stays out of it.

But what’s better than WWE tag team champions and Roman being Universal Champion? Roman wants to see what Jimmy can do to Cesaro. Well let’s get it! Jimmy makes his entrance first, can Jimmy break through to both Jey and Roman and make them see things his way? Or will he just be a pawn in Roman’s game with another of his challengers?

Cesaro VS Jimmy Uso!

SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Jimmy and Cesaro tie right up, go around, and Jimmy wrenches to a wristlock. Cesaro rolls, handsprings, breaks free and dropkicks Jimmy down! Cesaro welcomes Jimmy back but Jimmy keeps his cool. They tie up, Jimmy headlocks but Cesaro changes it to his headlock. Jimmy powers out but Cesaro runs him over. Things speed up, Jimmy leaps but into a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Jimmy gets to a corner but Cesaro waits on him. Jimmy rushes into a waistlock, Cesaro whips him to a corner, but Jimmy goes up and over. The leg bothers him, that’s why he was out for so long.

But Jimmy was suckering Cesaro in! Mule kick, whip and SAMOAN DROP! Jimmy grins as he covers, TWO! Jimmy clubs away on Cesaro, then wraps on a chinlock. Cesaro endures, fights up, but Jimmy squeezes tighter. Jimmy CLUBS Cesaro, goes for a suplex but Cesaro blocks. Cesaro powers up to suplex Jimmy up and over! Fans fire up while Cesaro catches his breath and shakes out his arms. Jimmy gets up, he kicks but Cesaro blocks. Cesaro spins Jimmy but gets the DRAGON WHIP! Cover, TWO! Cesaro gets to a corner, Jimmy fires up and runs in, to HIP- NO! Cesaro dodged the hip attack, rolls Jimmy up, TWO! SUPER- NO! Cesaro blocks the kick to EuroUpper!

Cesaro whips Jimmy corner to corner, runs in but Jimmy dodges and POSTS Cesaro! Cesaro staggers, Jimmy clotheslines him out of the ring! Jimmy builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit for the first time in over a year! Jimmy clutches his leg and this time it might be a bit more real. Both men are down at the ramp while SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns once more and Cesaro fires body shots on Jimmy in a corner, then throws in EuroUppers! The ref backs Cesaro off but he runs to DISCUS! Cover, TWO!! Jimmy is still in this but Cesaro reels him in. Jimmy back drops, Cesaro lands on his feet, springboard into a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro survives and gets to a corner. Jimmy runs in, HIP ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Jimmy keeps his focus and goes to a corner. Cesaro is down as Jimmy climbs up, but Cesaro gets up to EuroUpper! Cesaro climbs to join Jimmy, brings him up, and SUPERPLEXES! Both men are down, fans fire up, but Cesaro crawls to a cover, TWO!!

Cesaro shakes out the cobwebs while checking the count. Jimmy survives, drags himself over to ropes, but Cesaro stalks over. Cesaro goes out after Jimmy, aims from the apron, and leaps to CANNONBALL! Fans fire up with Cesaro, but he isn’t done there! He runs in and EuroUppers Jimmy into barriers! Jimmy wobbles, Cesaro puts him in the ring, and ROMAN ATTACKS!

Winner: Cesaro, by disqualification

Roman POSTS Cesaro, then throws him over the announce desk! “I TOLD YOU! I RUN THIS BITCH!” Jimmy is upset, Roman just had to make this about him. Jimmy had Cesaro but then Roman and Jey get in the ring. Jimmy goes to leave, Roman says this isn’t about Jimmy. No one cares if Jimmy wins! Jimmy says he was gonna win. Roman says no one cares about the little matches. This is about the big money matches!! That is how they keep the family on top, and how Roman keeps them on top! UNDERSTAND THAT!

So it’s about Roman? Not this time! Cesaro gets after Jey with EuroUppers! Jimmy and Roman still argue, but then Roman runs in to CLOBBER Cesaro! Roman asks what Jimmy is doing outside. Get inside and help! But Cesaro EuroUppers Roman! And again! And kicks low, to reel him in! Jey attacks and saves Roman! Jey rains down rights on Cesaro, then tells Jimmy to get in here so they can end this! But Cesaro EuroUppers away on Jey! And BOOTS Jimmy! Roman retreats but Cesaro gets Jey back up! “This is gonna be you this Sunday!” Gotch, hold NEUTRALIZER!! Cesaro dares Roman to do something for his family, but Roman stays put on the ramp!

Cesaro drags Jey up and reels him back in. Another Gotch hold, another NEUTRALIZER!! Does Jey not matter to Roman? Cesaro says this will be Roman’s fate at Backlash! Will Cesaro prove he’s worthy by earning the top spot?

My Thoughts:

SmackDown avoids Go-Home Syndrome because this was a pretty great night! There were recap packages that kinda had to be mentioned, but it was actually because they were worked into segments much more organically than just starting the night with one or throwing over to a “Progressive Match Flow” to fill between segments. Bianca’s segment having that was good, and it was a good segment even without the recap, as Bianca throws Bayley’s segment with the Bellas in her face, but also for Bayley saying she had the same experience as a ponytail Babyface. Their match is going to be awesome and could be a show stealer just on the in-ring, but I would think Bianca wins.

It is so great that Natalya & Tamina won the Women’s Tag Titles tonight. Nia & Shayna had a strong run but the last few months have been the downhill part, so it was good to get these titles onto a new team now. Tamina & Natty can carry the titles through into the Summer, and maybe all the way to SummerSlam, whenever and wherever that will be. Nia & Shayna can still stick together since the RawDown Women’s Tag Division still needs teams, but this can also free them up for a story about “Who goes after the Raw Women’s Championship first?” The dysfunction element that helped Shayna & Nia work before as characters can come back and keep them going a little longer.

On the SmackDown Tag Team Championship scene, I’m a little surprised we didn’t get Rey VS Roode as the flipside to Dom VS Dolph, but I suppose since we were “meant” to get Rey VS Dolph, we were still going to get that. Ziggler losing again might mean history isn’t made at Backlash, which is a shame, but maybe WWE decides to surprise us and make Backlash noteworthy again. Apollo giving Azeez a kayfabe medal seemed like a nice touch, it allows both of them to have something to boast about. I also like that the Intercontinental Championship match is happening next week, in a Fatal 4 as expected.

As I said before, this can help keep everyone fairly strong, even if Apollo retains, and maybe, just maybe, it gets Sami and Kevin on the same side again. As much as Jimmy wants to reunite with Jey and go for the tag titles, Sami and Kevin joining up could really get the SmackDown Tag Division going because it is surely something all the Sami and Kevin fans have wanted to see for some time. Nakamura VS Corbin, King VS King, is a very natural move, though obviously this first match was just an appetizer. I don’t know if this will spark a 2021 King of the Ring tournament, but with Nakamura snatching Corbin’s literal crown, at least make it a Ladder Match, winner takes the crown.

We got great stuff out of the ever expanding Universal Championship/Roman Reigns story. I feel like Jimmy already having a Jimmy Uso “Nobody’s Bitch” shirt is a sign he isn’t going to convince Jey of anything, but it’s a good detail. Jimmy calling out Cesaro in an indirect move for the Head of the Table is a great detail. I find it intriguing that he’s trying to get the others to be reasonable, and is of course finding resistance from Roman. Cesaro VS Jimmy was a great main event, a great return for Jimmy, and the ending segment was great for Cesaro because he took the fight to the Bloodline again, and looked like he actually got Roman to be wary.

With Cesaro standing tall, the math says Roman wins on Sunday, and there’s a good chance he does with Jey still being loyal. I think it’d be creative to have Jimmy try and stop Jey, and that distraction in itself is how Cesaro loses.  Cesaro has been working so hard for so long, it would be a shame if he loses, but Roman’s story is still that strong. As for Jimmy, they could bring this full circle by having Roman VS Jimmy like Jey did at Hell in a Cell, and that could be the moment of truth for Jey. Jey saving Jimmy from Roman like he couldn’t do in October would definitely get a pop from fans, live or otherwise, and that’d help the Usos skyrocket right back into the tag title scene.

My Score: 8.6/10