It’s the SmackDown season premiere!

And to make the night that much bigger, BOTH the King of the Ring and the brand new Queen’s Crown tournaments kick off with big grudge matches!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• King of the Ring Opening Round: Rey Mysterio VS Sami Zayn; Sami wins and advances to the next round.
• Queen’s Crown Opening Round: Zelina Vega VS Toni Storm; Vega wins and advances to the next round.
• Queen’s Crown Opening Round: Carmella VS Liv Morgan; Carmella wins and advances to the next round.
• King of the Ring Opening Round: Cesaro VS Finn Balor; Balor wins and advances to the next round.

PLAY BY PLAY

SmackDown opens with a title contract signing!

The EST is out first and San Jose is fired up! Becky Lynch sits at her own table far away from Bianca, and Sasha Banks stands on the announce desk to show off. Adam Pearce welcomes us to this “season premiere” episode, and says this is to make the Triple Threat official for Crown Jewel! Sonya Deville introduces the participants in turn, starting with Bianca, then Sasha, and then The Man. Becky says The Man has come around to San Jose and they love her here. She decided to sit here so she could get a good look at everything. “Esther” must feel bad after her losing streak going into Crown Jewel.

And Sasha, “ya disco ball lookin’ fool!” She attacks Becky from behind without a thank you for saving SummerSlam? Well there will be payback! Aw, did they miss Sasha? The fans sure did. Or is Becky just jelly that Sasha’s spotlight is just bigger? That’s why she’s the conversation, the blueprint, the- No no no. Bianca says the only conversation is about signing the contract. Sasha is the Boss but she just returns and returns and returns to cheap shot Bianca. And Becky wants to bring up SummerSlam? Then let’s be real. Becky rid the momentum of Bianca to get that opportunity. That wasn’t prepared, that was lucky. Still won in 26 seconds!

Well every big moment has had Bianca’s name in it. She is the common denominator. That’s why they both keep coming for Bianca, but Bianca’s in the ring and they aren’t. They should get in, cuz she’s ready now! Fans fire up for the “E S T! E S T!” but Becky just shrugs that off, so Bianca THROWS an armchair! Becky says Bianca sure thinks she’s tough for losing in 26 seconds. Becky flips her table then storms to the ring. But Sasha sneaks in to BLINDSIDE Bianca! Sasha then fires off in the corner but Becky gets Sasha back! Then she stomps Bianca! Sasha throws Becky into another corner and stomps her now! Becky bumps Sasha back then JUMP KICKS!

Bianca brings Becky around to ROCK her! Then she DOUBLE TORTURE RACKS! Sasha slips off but Bianca SMACKS her with Becky! Sasha ends up on the table, Bianca hits a KISS OF DEATH! Becky and Sasha both go through the table!! Fans are thunderous as The EST shows why she IS the strongEST! But what about the contract? Will they have to do these signings offscreen?

Backstage interview with Rey & Dominik Mysterio.

Kayla Braxton notes that tonight starts the King of the Ring 2021. What would winning this mean to Rey? Other than being Universal Champion, this is the next best thing. To rule as King of WWE, imagine that! Rey truly becoming a king! It’d make him sick if Sami Zayn became king at his expense, so he can’t let that happen. Dom tells Rey that he’ll let him go out alone. That’s a bit of a surprise to Rey, but he respects his son’s choice. Rey goes it solo, can he shut the Great Liberator down in round one?

SmackDown shares the King of the Ring bracket!

Along with Rey VS Sami, the first round has: Cesaro VS Finn Balor; Kofi Kingston VS Jinder Mahal; and Xavier Woods VS Ricochet! Could there potentially be New Day VS New Day in the second round?

King of the Ring Opening Round: Rey Mysterio VS Sami Zayn!

SmackDown returns and Dom is still watching backstage. Sami walks by and wants to say Dom made the right choice. Rey’s a good man, but it is time for Dom to be his own man. Sami thinks Dom is even better than his dad. Sami then makes his entrance while Dom thinks on that.

The bell rings, Sami rushes but Rey dodges the boot! Victory roll, TWO! Rey ROCKS Sami with a right, runs in but is put on the apron. Rey ROCKS Sami again, goes up and FLYING RANAS! Rey runs and goes up but Sami turns rana into POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Sami drags Rey up, throws haymakers, whips but Rey tilt-o-whirls to put Sami on ropes! Rey dials it up but Sami bails out. Rey builds speed again to FLY AND RANA!! Sami hits hard and San Jose is fired up! Rey puts Sami in, climbs up top, FLYING SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Sami survives and Rey can’t believe it! Sami gets up, Rey stalks after him and climbs up in the corner. Rey rains down rights and gets all 10!

Sami slumps down while Rey shouts out Latino Heat. Rey gets Sami up as fans chant for “Eddie! Eddie!” Rey wrenches and whips but Sami reverses, kicks and POSTS Rey! Rey slumps out of the ring and Sami is already celebrating. Dom walks out to ringside now, out of concern for his dad. Will Dom respect Rey’s space the way he wants in return? We find out, when SmackDown returns from break.

SmackDown returns and Sami has Rey in a corner. Sami throws hands, the ref counts and Sami lets off. Rey kicks back, throws forearms, then whips. Sami reverses but Rey goes up and over and comes back, into an EXPLODER into the corner! Dom is worried for his dad as Sami wants Rey to get back up. Sami goes corner to corner, but Rey RANAS the boot away! Cover, TWO! Rey hops on for a CODE RED! Cover, TWO!! Sami staggers up to a corner, Rey is after him but Sami elbows him down. Sami goes up, Rey throws hands! Rey climbs up but Sami shoves him to the apron! Sami then drags Rey up by his mask, only for Rey to ROCK him with haymakers!

Rey climbs again, and SUPER STEINERS! Cover, TWO!! Sami is still in this and Rey grows a bit frustrated. But fans rally up, Rey whips but Sami reverses. Rey springboards but Sami ducks the crossbody! Sami hurries to get Rey up, BLUE THUNDER RANA! Rey dropkicks Sami into ropes, then dials it up, but Sami dodges the 619 to BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Sami can’t believe it! He goes to a corner, and decides to start undoing some padding! Dom sees that while the ref doesn’t, and Dom moves that way. Sami hoists Rey up but sees Dom pick up the buckle pad. Dom ties it back on! Sami turns around into Rey’s SEATED SENTON!

Rey tells Dom to stop already, but Dom explains he’s helping. Sami shoves Rey into Dom and rolls him up! SAMI WINS!!

Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall (advances to the second round)

The father didn’t trust the son and now the King of Lucha is out of the tournament! Sami puts on the crown and cape already, is he going to be the WWE’s king?

SmackDown, get ready, because Hit Row is coming.

B-Fab, Top Dolla, Ashante “Thee” Adonis and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott. If you didn’t know, now you know.

Backstage interview with Seth Rollins.

After The Architect committed a very unsettling Breaking & Entering on the Copeland home, Kayla asks if Rollins crossed the line. That does seem the be the narrative, doesn’t it? But just humor Rollins for one minute. Up until SummerSlam. Rollins is embarrassed, humiliated, mocked and ridiculed. Through all that, Rollins still managed to beat Edge at Madison Square Garden in a sanctioned match and with a legal maneuver. Is Rollins celebrated? No! He’s called a monster and demonized for it! But that’s fine. The double standards are thrown out. Because Rollins has been the bigger man, coming out week after week, challenging Edge to have it out once and for all.

Not a single thing from Edge, though! Rollins sure hasn’t heard anything. So Rollins did what any sane man would do and kept his promise: Rollins went to Edge’s home to get an answer. So NO, Rollins hasn’t crossed any lines, and he STILL hasn’t gotten an answer to his challenge! The more Rollins thinks about it, he isn’t even sure why he’s here talking about this. Kayla has no power to do anything. So excuse him while he goes and finds someone who does. Will he talk to Pearce and Sonya about having a shot at the Rated R Superstar?

SmackDown shares the Queen’s Crown bracket!

Liv Morgan VS Carmella is later tonight, but there’s also “Doudrop” Piper Niven VS Natalya, Shayna Baszler VS Dana Brooke, and the match that’s up next to kick off this inaugural tournament!

Queen’s Crown Opening Round: Zelina Vega VS Toni Storm!

La Muneca promises to rule like Queen Cleopatra, and tells us to get ready to call her Queen Zelina. But will The Doll be rocked by the Lightning From Down Under?

SmackDown returns and Toni makes her entrance. The bell rings, Toni blocks Vega’s kick then lets it down, to snapmare and hip attack! Vega is reeling from being hit by a cheek, and she hits a THESZ PRESS! Vega throws fast hands but Toni shoves her away! Vega KNEES Toni down, covers, TWO! Vega wraps on a dragon sleeper stretch and bends Toni back! Toni endures, Vega shifts to STOMP her down! Vega grins and poses over Toni, but fans boo. Vega says the crown is already hers, but Toni ROCKS her with forearms! Toni fires off, then HEADBUTTS Vega! Toni hits a stalling ATOMIC DROP! Then runs to DECK Vega with a forearm!

Fans fire up with Toni and she runs to HIP ATTACK in the corner! Toni then shoves Vega, goes up the corner but Vega trips her up! Vega KICKS then THROWS Toni down! Vega snarls and runs in but Toni spins her around to a Gory Especial! Vega turns it into a CODE RED! Cover, Vega wins!!

Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

And it’s over just like that! Vega wants that crown, will she be the one sitting on the throne at Crown Jewel?

Roman Reigns heads to the ring!

San Jose is ready to acknowledge their Tribal Chief as the WWE Universal Champion of 403 days walks out, Paul Heyman and The Usos right behind him. Roman and his cousins hold up the titles for the pyro, then continue down the ramp. The Head of the Table is going to send a message to BROCK LESNAR, after the break.

SmackDown returns and the Bloodline is in the ring, raising their belts for the second round of pyro. Heyman hands Roman the mic, and Roman tells San Jose, “Acknowledge me.” Fans certainly do, and they raise their fingers in unison with the Usos. Roman says his Special Counsel had one job to do before tonight and that was to make sure the Usos were drafted to SmackDown. Clearly, that’s what he did. So San Jose, acknowledge Heyman. Fans don’t seem as eager to do that. Roman puts an arm around Heyman’s shoulders and says, “I love you, Paul.” Heyman is touched as Roman says the Usos love him, too. Heyman says he loves them back.

Roman says Heyman is family. He is the Wiseman to the family. And that is what Roman wants right now: for Heyman to be wise. Heyman needs to come clean and tell the truth. Fans chants “Suplex City!” because they know what Roman means. Roman says San Jose is silly. Suplex City isn’t real, this is the Island of Relevancy! Now back to what the Tribal Chief was talking about here. Roman wants Heyman to come clean and admit that he is responsible for Brock Lesnar’s free agency. Heyman is given the mic and says he is in a terrible situation. No matter what he says, it’ll sound like spin. He has been loyal and faithful to the family for 40 YEARS.

But Roman makes Heyman look him in the eyes. Heyman tells Roman that Roman choice him, saved him, to be his Special Counsel because Roman knew Heyman IS the Wiseman. Heyman has been accused of many things in his life, and he’s guilty of even more, but he’s never been accused of being stupid. Pulling the trigger now on a scheme to dethrone the Tribal Chief would be STUPID! Think about it! Why do it before Crown Jewel? Wouldn’t the whole thing would be for Heyman to stay within his circle, maintain his trust, and counsel him on a strategy that he would then leak it to Lesnar, making him think he has a chance. Not that Lesnar has a chance, but he would think he does!

Wouldn’t that be the time to pull the trigger? Do you know how Lesnar is lying? Because he’s telling you in advance a move against Roman! And only someone STUPID would do that! Heyman thinks so highly of Roman, and Roman wouldn’t choose a stupid man to be his counsel. Lesnar cannot stand the fact that at Crown Jewel, the Conqueror will be conquered by Roman… wants the mic back… Heyman hands it over and Roman doesn’t want him to tell the Bloodline. Look in the camera and tell Brock. No excuses. And don’t worry, Roman will protect Heyman, because he can. Heyman looks at the camera as fans chant, “WE WANT LESNAR!”

“Brock… I have to give you a ton of credit. You outsmarted the Wiseman on this one. Frankenstein taught the doctor a lesson. You know what’s gonna happen to you at Crown Jewel, we’ve had this conversation years ago. They said The Undertaker couldn’t be defeated at WrestleMania. I told you, The Undertaker met his match and the match’s name was Brock Lesnar. Brock Lesnar has met his match, and his match’s name is Roman… Reigns!

“Roman Reigns will walk into Crown Jewel as your Tribal Chief, and he will fight you as a Tribal BEAST. And you will learn at Crown Jewel one thing: the winner, and still Reigning, Defending, Undisputed, Uncontroverted WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion… The Tribal Chief, Roman. Reigns. And that’s not just a prediction. Brock Lesnar, that is a spoiler, and you can believe that!” Heyman drops the mic, drops to his knees and hands the title back to Roman for him to hold up. Will the words of Heyman become reality when the Head of the Table meets the Beast in two weeks?

Pearce and Sonya are visited by Seth Rollins.

Knock knock~! But to get to the point, is Edge going to be here tonight or not? Well he was before Rollins broke into his house. Oh, right, that makes sense. But Rollins wants an answer one way or another. At the end of the night, Rollins will go to the ring. If Edge shows up tonight, Rollins full expects an answer. If not, then that is on management, and this show won’t end very well. Oh, and one more thing. If they do happen to run into Edge before he does, maybe return this picture to him. Rollins took a picture of Edge and Beth Phoenix sharing a romantic moment! Will this scumbag “Visionary” get what he wants one way or another?

Queen’s Crown Opening Round: Carmella VS Liv Morgan!

The self-proclaimed Most Beautiful Woman in the WWE delayed the Extreme Rules rematch last week by putting on a rather ridiculous protective mask for her face, then sucker punching Liv. Will Liv get the sweetest revenge when she floors Mella and takes a step closer to history?

SmackDown returns and Liv makes her entrance. But Mella hurries out of the ring to get that mask back on. Liv says that won’t save her, the bell rings, and Liv trips Mella up! Liv throws hands, Mella kicks her away but Liv jackknifes. TWO, into the CODE OF SILENCE! Liv reaches for Mella’s face and grabs the mask! Mella freaks out, lets Liv go and throws hands! Mella is furious but the mask is still on. Liv elbows Mella in the chest, then dodges to block the kick and ENZIGURI! The mask doesn’t protect the back of her head! CODE BREAKER! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Liv forgot about ring positioning and Mella survives

Liv runs but Mella BOOTS her! Mella CLUBS away on Liv’s back, covers, TWO! Mella gets to ropes, Liv runs in but misses ObLIVion! Mella HOTSHOTS Liv, FABULOUS KICKS then covers, Mella wins!

Winner: Carmella, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Mella takes off the mask and celebrates her victory! But she’s going up against her ally in Zelina Vega, will the protective mask still help her through?

Backstage interview with Mace!

Separated from his tag partner, T-Bar, what is Mace going to do as a singles competitor? Mace doesn’t see himself “competing” much. “To compete” implies there is worthy competition. Mace looks around and sees no one who can match his strength, aggression or his disposition to dominate. All he sees is fresh prey. Mace isn’t here to compete, he is here to ANNIHILATE!

Happy Corbin heads to the ring!

And not just him! Here comes “Madcap” Riddick Moss! These two are still feeling great after making Kevin Owens the butt of their jokes. But now, Happy Talk has its second episode, and the Street Profits will be their guests! Will Corbin & Moss be cracking wise at the Profits’ expense?

SmackDown returns and Corbin’s in his plush leather chair with Moss applauding. Corbin says he is the happiest man in the world, and welcomes us back to the “award winning” talk show that has the WWE Universe “grinning from ear to ear.” One of the things that makes Corbin so happy is his buddy, Madcap Moss. Moss says, “What instrument do you find in a bathroom? A tuba toothpaste.” Moss and Corbin laugh like the hyenas they are, but here comes KEVIN OWENS! He wasn’t a guest but he doesn’t give a damn! Moss goes out to be security but he gets kicked and thrown into barriers! Kevin clubs away, then gest in to fire off on Corbin!

Fans fire up as Kevin hammers away but Moss returns! Kevin kicks back but Corbin stops the stunner! Moss and Corbin mug Kevin, clear out space, and then whip Kevin into a corner! Kevin tumbles and falls, and Moss is laughing all over again. Moss gets Kevin up, and gives him a SPIKE NECKBREAKER! Well, no Happy Talk with the Profits, but will Corbin and Moss keep laughing until their need stitches? Or will Kevin be the reason for that?

Pearce and Sonya double check the SmackDown Women’s title Crown Jewel contract.

They need to figure out how to get this by the end of the night, but then Naomi barges in! She is getting tired of this, Sonya! Why was Naomi not even considered for the Queen’s Crown tournament? Sonya says first of all, she owes no explanations. But if Naomi wants an answer, it is because she is not worthy. Not worthy of being a queen or even being on SmackDown. So Naomi should be thankful she’s still here. Woman, Naomi is a two-time champion. Can Pearce just trade Naomi to Raw or something? No no, Sonya is not done with Naomi. Naomi DOES have a match next week, and it is against Sonya! Just what Naomi wanted! It’s on like a pot o’ neck bone, but will Sonya #FeelTheGlow in her in-ring return?

King of the Ring Opening Round: Cesaro VS Finn Balor!

The Swiss Cyborg wants to finally establish himself as a top talent, but in his way is a Prince hungry to be a king! Will Balor make this opener Too Sweet?

SmackDown returns and Cesaro makes his entrance. The bell rings, the two shake hands and then tie up. They go around, Cesaro wrenches the arm to a wristlock but Balor rolls and hooks a leg. Cesaro wrangles Balor back down, but Balor kips up and wrenches around to a headlock. Cesaro powers up but Balor grinds the headlock. Cesaro powers up, but Balor fights again. Cesaro goes to a corner but Balor goes up and around to hit a takeover! Cesaro makes that a cover, TWO! Cesaro headscissors, Balor kips out and headlocks again. Cesaro powers out this time, Balor ducks and dodges but runs into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Cesaro pushes Balor then whips him to a corner hard! Balor bounces off buckles, Cesaro covers, TWO! Cesaro stalks Balor, snapmares him then runs to drop the leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Balor gets to a corner, Cesaro is on him again with body shots then EuroUppers! Cesaro CLUBS Balor in the back, whips corner to corner but Balor goes up and over to trip and DOUBLE STOMP! Cesaro gets up while wincing and Balor fires up. Balor dumps Cesaro out high and hard, then builds speed to get a POP-UP EUROUPPER! Cover, TWO! Balor bails out and Cesaro is frustrated, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Balor fires off forearms! Cesaro shoves but Balor BOOTS from the corner! Cesaro ROCKS, CHOPS but Cesaro CHOPS and whips! Balor ducks and dodges, tilt-o-whirl into the ELBOW DROP DDT! Cover, TWO! Cesaro gets to ropes and drags himself up but Balor glare sand runs in to KICK him down! Balor stomps away at the ropes, lets off as the ref counts, then waits for Cesaro to rise. Balor runs in, but no Slingblade as Cesaro shoves him away! EuroUpper! Whip corner to corner, another EuroUpper! Whip back the other way, another EuroUpper! And back again, but Balor SLINGBLADES! Fans fire up as both men are down!

Balor gets to a corner, Cesaro runs in as fans rally up, Balor dodges and Cesaro hits buckles! Balor GAMANGIRIS Cesaro down then climbs up top! Cesaro Euro SHORYUKENS Balor down! Cesaro headbutts, Balor wobbles, and Cesaro climbs up! Cesaro brings Balor up but Balor blocks the superplex! They brawl with body shots, Cesaro powers up to SUPERPLEX!! Cesaro crawls to the cover, TWO!! Balor survives, but is in the CROSSFACE! Cesaro pulls back, Balor reaches out, but then Balor rolls it to a cover! TWO, and Cesaro EuroUppers! Cesaro trips Balor but Balor victory rolls it! TWO, and Balor gets to a corner. Cesaro runs in but only gets POST!

Cesaro flops out of the ring and Balor builds speed to FLY! Direct hit at the ramp! Fans fire up with Finn as he puts Cesaro back in! SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Cesaro is down again and Balor goes up top! COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Balor wins!!

Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

And with that, the Prince is one step closer to the throne! Will Balor silence the Great Liberator in the semifinals to go to Crown Jewel?

Becky Lynch complains to management.

No one, not even Roman Reigns or Brock Lesnar, has changed the game the way The Man has! She is an institution, this is her show! Put respect on her name! She’s delivered on every request, but what have those two dopes done? Did they earn they way in with those blindside attacks? Is that how it is? But okay, Becky sees how it is. They’re putting her in the corner. But let the record show that she’s giving the people the biggest match possible. Sonya says we all know how great Becky is, the only thing left to do is to prove it by signing the contract and having the match. Becky takes the pen, puts her signature on it, then shoves the contract hard into Pearce. One down, two to go…

Next week, SmackDown is on Fox Sports 1!

Not only will there be the semifinals, Sami VS Finn in KOTR and Vega VS Mella in Queen’s Crown, but we’re also getting The Man VS The Boss! Will Becky or Sasha be going into Crown Jewel with more momentum? Plus, THE BEAST, BROCK LESNAR will return on this #SupersizedSmackDown before going to Saudi Arabia!

Seth Rollins heads to the ring!

The Architect is going to keep his newest promise, he awaits an answer from Edge. Will the Rated R Superstar appear to give him that answer? Or will things end poorly in San Jose?

SmackDown returns and Rollins says, “The time has come! We’ve been waiting all day, I have been waiting for weeks. Hell, I’ve been waiting all my life for a moment like this!” Edge, come out and answer Rollins’ challenge! C’mon, Edge! Don’t keep the people waiting! It doesn’t have to happen tonight, Edge can name the time, place and stipulation! Ladder match, Street Fight, No Holds Barred, it don’t matter! It could even be in Edge’s living room and the wife ‘n’ kids can cheer him on! Fans want to see Edge and Rollins is getting impatient. What happened to the Rated R Superstar? What happened to the Ultimate Opportunist?

Rollins laughs and says, “Oh, yeah. I know what happened to that guy. I ended him with ONE STOMP in Madison Square Garden!” And if Edge isn’t gonna show up here tonight, then Rollins will just take this as an admission from him that Rollins is NOT Edge Lite! Rollins is BETTER than Edge in every conceivable, possible way! But hey, Rollins understands the fans are disappointed. So is Rollins. This isn’t how he thought it’d go. But this isn’t about Rollins. Edge isn’t just disappointing Rollins, but all of the fans. This is disappointing all of Edge’s fans, and more importantly, he’s disappointing his family.

Rollins says this is embarrassing but true. He cannot imagine what it is like for Edge’s little girls to know that her daddy is no longer an inspiration, but a coward. “It must break their little hearts into tiny pieces.” Wait, Edge pulls into the arena! The music hits and Rollins is getting an answer! Rollins throws off the jacket, Edge storms out onto the stage and then heads for the ring. Rollins gets a chair, but Edge SPEARS him in the ring!! Rollins bails out, Edge goes out and SPEARS Rollins over the desk! Edge hammers away, then RAMS Rollins into steps, taking Pat McAfee’s headset with him! Edge uses that to CHOKE Rollins! Then he puts Rollins in the ring before HE gets a chair!

Edge breaks off the crossbar, just as he did with Roman Reigns! Rollins scrambles as Edge wants the crossface! Rollins elbows free then runs away! Fans boo as Rollins retreats, but Edge is seething and staring him down. Edge gets the mic, and he tells Rollins, “YOU! ME! HELL IN A CELL!!” Rollins’ smile fades away into a look of horror. Will the Architect regret allowing Edge the right to choose? Will he even survive this final encounter with the Ultimate Opportunist?

My Thoughts:

A good episode of SmackDown, but let me give a big sarcastic “wow” on how they chose to open the historic Queen’s Crown tournament. Did they seriously keep BOTH matches to such short lengths? Toni Storm is a Mae Young Classic winner and for her to not just lose but lose that quickly, regardless of who it’s against, is more Vince McMahon brand BS. And while I want to applaud WWE for giving us a Heel VS Heel match next week, I can’t because that match probably won’t last any longer than either of tonight’s matches. These completely fly in the face of how they’re setting up great things in the singles title.

Granted, that contract signing had an odd start without really any explanation. Maybe it was to keep them from fighting, but then that clearly didn’t work. Bianca putting both Becky and Sasha through the table was great, and oddly we’re getting Becky VS Sasha to get ratings on the go-home that’s on FS1. Of course, there’s also an advertised tag match, Bianca & Banks VS Becky & Charlotte. A great match on paper but I’m wondering who ditches who and when. Charlotte has no challengers right now, I’m thinking she bails and just waits things out. And at least we’re getting Naomi VS Sonya for next week, too.

The King of the Ring tournament has a good bracket. Sami VS Rey was good but it was mostly to keep the Mysterio family dysfunction going. Sami kinda jinxes himself touching the crown, though. Cesaro VS Balor made for a great main event match, and it makes sense Balor wins. One way of making up that Extreme Rules debacle would be for The Prince to become The King. Meanwhile, the Raw side looks really juicy. Woods VS Ricochet, Kofi VS Jinder, both could be really great matches, but what a story if it were to come down to Kofi and Woods. Balor VS Woods could be some great stuff, too, and could really go either way to me.

We got a great segment from Roman and Heyman, and of course Heyman gives us great promos. I really like his argument of how it’d be stupid for him to try and double cross Roman with Lesnar saying all this stuff. Heyman started to get that fire and it was like he was taking a stand for himself. I really hope Heyman finds a way to get some guts again and not let Roman kick him around. We got a decent promo from Mace about being on his own, and I was a bit disappointed in the Happy Talk segment on one, just being another beatdown of Kevin Owens, and two, the Profits didn’t come out to help. Profits should want a match with Corbin & Moss on Kevin’s behalf at this point.

Rollins and Edge had great stuff, too, and of course we get one last match out of these two. I was expecting something a bit more freeform, like a Hardcore match, but I suppose Hell in a Cell is fine. This could go either way, but with them both going to Raw, how is the feud actually over? It’d be definitive if Edge stayed on SmackDown, but I suppose Edge isn’t an Intercontinental Champion kind of guy anymore and already faced Roman for the Universal Championship. Whoever wins, I feel like they could be easily set up as the next WWE World Championship challenger, and Rollins VS Big E is something we haven’t seen in a long time.

My Score: 8.1/10