An Irish Donnybrook determines the next contender!

SmackDown bring out the shillelaghs as Drew McIntyre and Sheamus fight for that golden ticket to Clash at the Castle! Who will go to Cardiff to meet the Undisputed Universal Champion?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Undisputed WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender’s Irish Donnybrook: Drew McIntyre VS Sheamus; McIntyre winners challenges for the title at Clash at the Castle.
• Aliyah VS Shotzi Blackheart; Shotzi wins.
• Ronda Rousey & Liv Morgan VS Sonya Deville & Natalya; Ronda & Liv win.
• The New Day VS The Viking Raiders; The Viking Raiders win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Undisputed WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender’s Irish Donnybrook: Drew McIntyre VS Sheamus!

That’s a bit of a mouthful, huh? But the bottom line is, after ducking and dodging the Scottish Warrior, the Celtic Warrior has no choice but to fight! No disqualifications, no count-outs, and no swords, but all the shillelaghs you could want! Who survives this to go all the way to Clash at the Castle?

Sheamus attacks McIntyre during his entrance! The bell rings, Sheamus throws McIntyre into barriers and CLUBS him down the ramp. Fans boo as Sheamus fires off haymakers, then brings McIntyre to some kegs! McIntyre stops himself, hits Sheamus back, and he whips Sheamus into barriers! Sheamus POSTS McIntyre in return! And then puts McIntyre in the ring! Sheamus fires off haymakers in a corner, stomps McIntyre, then throws body shots in another corner. Sheamus whips corner to corner, McIntyre comes back to LARIAT! McIntyre CHOPS Sheamus, ROCKS him, CHOPS him again, then whips him to ropes.

Sheamus kicks McIntyre back, runs, but into a scoop! MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, ONE!! Sheamus bails out but McIntyre pursues, only for Sheamus to trip him up! McIntyre hits the apron, and Sheamus gets a shillelagh! McIntyre avoids getting clobbered but Sheamus grins as he follows McIntyre. Fans rally up for McIntyre as he circles with Sheamus. McIntyre dodges again, and hits a BIG back suplex! McIntyre gets the shillelagh! But Sheamus kicks him low! And clotheslines McIntyre and himself out! They both stagger around by commentary, and McIntyre fires off big forearms! McIntyre TOSSES Sheamus over the desk!

Fans fire up as Sheamus flounders. Fans chant, “We Want Tables!” McIntyre looks under the ring, and he finds a TABLE! Atlanta is fired up but Sheamus attacks! Sheamus CLUBS McIntyre down, grins and mocks the fans as they boo, then he RAMS McIntyre into steel steps! Sheamus soaks up the heat, then drags McIntyre up and into the ring. Sheamus gets the table and moves it to a corner of the barriers at ringside. Sheamus leans the table up against barriers, then goes into the ring. Sheamus undoes a corner crossbar’s cover, and surprise! The shattered shillelagh from last week! Sheamus CLUBS away on McIntyre with it!

Sheamus DIGS the shillelagh into McIntyre’s face! McIntyre shouts in pain, gets to the apron, but Sheamus grabs McIntyre. BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN with the shillelagh! Fans count all the way to 10, then past that to 20! McIntyre flops down on the apron as Sheamus lets off. Sheamus kicks McIntyre to the floor, then goes out after him. Sheamus positions the table, brings McIntyre around, and he suplexes McIntyre, only for McIntyre to block! McIntyre suplexes Sheamus up and over to the floor! Fans fire up as McIntyre RAMS Sheamus into barriers! And then the POST! And then the steel steps!

McIntyre hauls Sheamus up to BARREL the kegs over! Atlanta is all fired up as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Sheamus has the shillelagh in McIntyre’s mouth like a gag! McIntyre fights it off as fans rally up, and McIntyre kicks low! McIntyre CHOPS, runs, but into a scoop and POWERSLAM! Sheamus goes out to grab a chair from the timekeeper’s area! Sheamus brings it to the ring to JAM McIntyre, and SMACK him on the back! Sheamus wedges the chair deep in the corner, then drags McIntyre up. The chair pops out on its own so Sheamus fireman’s carries instead. McIntyre fights free with elbows, then POSTS Sheamus! Sheamus’ plan only partially backfires, and both men rise.

McIntyre rallies on Sheamus, whips him to ropes and OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes! Then clinch in the corner, OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Sheamus runs back in but into a NECKBREAKER! McIntyre kips up and the fans fire up! McIntyre goes out of the ring to get himself some chairs! Then McIntyre brings out more chairs from under the ring! Fans fire up as McIntyre has at least half a dozen chairs, but Sheamus CHUCKS one into McIntyre’s face! McIntyre goes down and Sheamus stacks the rest. Sheamus drags McIntyre up, fireman’s carry to the- NO, McIntyre slips off, FUTURE SHOCK onto the chairs!! Cover, TWO!! Atlanta can’t believe Sheamus survived!

McIntyre fires up and fans fire up with him. McIntyre drags Sheamus up, reels him in, but of course the Brawling Brutes show up! Ridge Holland BREAKS a shillelagh on McIntyre’s back! Sheamus KNEES McIntyre down! Cover, TWO!! No one can believe it, least of all Ridge! Ridge drags McIntyre out of the ring to scoop him, but McIntyre slips off to POST him! And then McIntyre OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes Ridge through the table!! Fans are thunderous and McIntyre is seething as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and McIntyre fires off haymakers and headbutts on the top rope! McIntyre drags Sheamus up but Sheamus trips McIntyre up! Sheamus throws haymakers on McIntyre and puts him in a Tree of Woe. Sheamus grins and soaks up the heat, but McIntyre sits up! SPIDER SUPERPLEX!! McIntyre gets out of the Tree, takes aim, but Sheamus avoids the Claymore! Sheamus Alabama Lifts and ALABAMA SLAMS! Cover, TWO! Sheamus is frustrated that McIntyre is still in this, but the fans rally up. Sheamus drags McIntyre up, puts him on the apron and kicks him to the floor again.

Fans duel, Sheamus stalks McIntyre and brings him up, to whip, but McIntyre reverses! Sheamus hits the family bar!! The beer goes flying, but McIntyre RAMS him in again! The bar cracks, but BUTCH flies in off barrels!! Pete Dunne gets some air and takes McIntyre down! Sheamus uses a bar stool and he SMASHES McIntyre’s back! Sheamus puts McIntyre in the ring, drags McIntyre up to a fireman’s carry, and he climbs the corner! SUPER WHITE NOISE!! Cover, TWO!!! McIntyre survives and Atlanta is thunderous! Dunne is furious, Sheamus is seething, but McIntyre will not go down easy!

“This is Awesome!” as Dunne gets the SUPER SHILLELAGH! Sheamus holds that up, swings, but misses! GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! SUPERSMASH for Dunne! SUPER SMASH for Sheamus! McIntyre counts it down, “THREE! TWO! ONE!” CLAYMORE on DUNNE! BROGUE from Sheamus!! Cover, TWO!?!? McIntyre survives and no one can believe it!! Sheamus watches McIntyre crawl to a corner. Fans boo Sheamus as he powers up from the opposite corner. Sheamus runs in, but into a POP-UP POWERBOMB through the table!! Fans are electric as McIntyre gets himself to a corner again.

Sheamus stirs in the wreckage of the table and McIntyre tells him to stay down. Sheamus refuses, as he crawls to the shattered shillelagh. McIntyre runs in, BASEMENT CLAYMORE!! Cover, McIntyre wins!

Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the Undisputed WWE Championship)

The Scottish Warrior wins! He conquers his former friend, and now he is moving on to Clash at the Castle! Kayla Braxton congratulates McIntyre, and he will head home to the UK to face whoever is champion. This must feel really good. McIntyre says first off, Hotlanta’s been rocking all match! And Sheamus, it didn’t have to be this way. But McIntyre knew what he had to do, because someone has to do something about that part-timer champion! But wait, (AUSTIN) THEORY CLOBBERS McIntyre with his MITB briefcase! And CLUBS him down! And again, and again! Theory reminds everyone that he’s got the contract, and he SMACKS McIntyre again!

Atlanta’s own gets booed as he says he’ll have the titles on his shoulders as the NEW Undisputed WWE Universal Champion! But will that become reality at SummerSlam? Or will Theory be champion only in theory?

Baron Corbin taunts McAfee from the crowd.

Corbin says he’s here as a fan, and that’s why he has a sign that says “LOSER” with a picture of McAfee on it. Corbin says McAfee can’t touch him, either! Corbin takes a seat with his big bag of popcorn and ticket in hand. McAfee wants to fight Corbin now, but he has to wait until SummerSlam.

Seth Rollins VS Matt Riddle for SummerSlam is OFF!

The Visionary’s vicious attack on The Bro, culminating in a Curb Stomp to steel steps has given Riddle a brachial plexus injury. Riddle has been medically disqualified from the coming match, but will there be substitute named so that the Visionary can still be on the card?

Corbin keeps badgering McAfee from his front row seat.

McAfee has had enough of it, but it’s security that comes by to stop this before it gets started. Corbin throws the whole bag of popcorn at McAfee! Then he jumps the railing! The officials try to get McAfee to sit down, but then Corbin LOW BLOWS him!! Fans boo while McAfee writhes on the ground. Corbin leaves with an obnoxious grin on his face, but will McAfee get the last laugh?

Backstage interview with (Austin) Theory.

But he already knows Kayla wants to ask him about the attack on McIntyre. Okay, then what’s his answer? He is sick and tired of everyone treating him like a punching bag. He is a future two-time United States Champion, and he is  already the youngest Mr. MITB in history. He can’t help it if guys like Dolph Ziggler and Mad Cap Moss are jealous of him. But just because they’re jealous doesn’t mean he’ll stop cashing in tomorrow on SummerSlam to become the NEW Undisputed Universal Champion. And sure, Brock Lesnar gave Theory an F5m but that won’t stop him. Roman Reigns and the Bloodline attacked Theory, but that won’t stop him.

As a matter of fact, NO ONE will stop Theory becoming champion and then go to Cardiff to make McIntyre his punching back. But then Paul Heyman stands in his way. Heyman walks and talks with Theory about his bright future. Is the Wise Man going to somehow convince Theory of another way to the top?

Aliyah VS Shotzi Blackheart!

This was supposed to be Aliyah’s chance to get at Lacey Evans, but apparently Lacey isn’t medically cleared to compete tonight. The silver lining is that Aliyah gets another go at another foe in the wild child. Will Aliyah show everyone that she’s not some pushover? Or will Shotzi welcome her to the ballpit?

The bell rings, they circle and tie up, and Shotzi headlocks then facelocks then hammerlocks. Shotzi messes Aliyah’s hair and talks trash, but Aliyah keeps her cool. They circle, Aliyah dodges to headlock. Shotzi powers out but Aliyah hits a THESZ PRESS! Aliyah fires off fast hands, then she wrenches Shotzi to a cording hold. Shotzi throws Aliyah down by her hair! Shotzi stomps a mudhole into Aliyah, then she CHOKES Aliyah on the ropes! The ref counts, Shotzi lets off, and Shotzi runs in to SENTON Aliyah against ropes! Cover, TWO! Shotzi gets the leg, drags Aliyah around, and she stomps Aliyah in the stomach!

Shotzi then brings Aliyah around to a BOSTON CRAB! Aliyah endures, fans rally, and Aliyah drags herself over, to the ROPEBREAK! But Shotzi just drags Aliyah away! Aliyah turns over, kicks free and then kicks Shotzi away! Fans fire up, Shotzi runs in but Aliyah ROCKS her first! And again! Boxing elbows! SOBAT! Aliyah runs and LEAPING LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Shotzi bails out but Aliyah goes to the apron! FLYING THESZ PRESS! Aliyah fires off hands and fires up, and fans fire up with her! Aliyah brings Shotzi around but Shotzi POSTS her! Shotzi snarls and drags Aliyah up and into the ring.

Shotzi drags Aliyah up, hooks her legs, FISHERMAN DDT! Cover, Shotzi wins!

Winner: Shotzi Blackheart, by pinfall

Shotzi just made sure Aliyah will #NeverWakeUp with that one! Will Shotzi use this momentum to make her way towards the title?

SmackDown shares exclusive footage from last week.

After losing to Raquel Rodriguez, Sonya Deville vented at the WWE Universe. They boo when she wins and cheer when she loses, but there is not a single person in that locker room that will make her leave! But RONDA ROUSEY showed up! And she fired off on Sonya, then hit the PIPER’S PIT! And the ARMBAR! Sonya tapped, will she learn not to run her mouth now?

Ronda Rousey and Liv Morgan have a photoshoot.

Challenger and champion stare down in front of a SummerSlam poster, but Natalya walks in to tell Liv to soak it all in. Liv needs to enjoy these final few hours of being SmackDown Women’s Champion, because Ronda will destroy her in record time! Liv says, “I don’t think so.” Natty says the photographer should be taking pictures of her with the title, because she’s the only reason Liv has it! But then Sonya Deville walks in. Natty has amazing points, but isn’t it ironic that Ronda is the “Baddest Woman on the Planet,” but she went after Sonya after Raquel already did the damage? Ronda storms off but Liv says this is more like being a sore loser.

Shotzi is laughing in the ring!

She says Aliyah will never- Wait, Ronda is coming out here?! Seems Sonya’s whining set her off, and Shotzi’s the one in the ring. Ronda tells Shotzi to go, but Shotzi tries a sucker punch! She gets thrown around, and then gets a PIPER’S PIT! “Bye, Shotzi.” Ronda is sick and tired of everyone else complaining they should be in the title picture instead of her. And that heckler should shut up, and their mom failed them. But Liv, you come out here and show the other chicks why they’re the title match and not the others! Ronda wants a fight, who will give her that fight?

SmackDown returns, and Liv makes her entrance. The champion took Ronda up on her offer, but what kind of match are we getting? HOLLA HOLLA, PLAYA!

Ronda Rousey & Liv Morgan VS Sonya Deville & Natalya!

Adam Pearce made this match during break, now we’ll see if Ronda can break Sonya and Natty before going after Liv as her opponent!

The teams sort out, Ronda steps up against the Queen of Harts. Natty shoves Ronda, but Ronda blocks the kick to throw Natty around! Natty gets up, she and Ronda circle and tie up. Natty waistlocks, Ronda wrenches to a hammerlock, but Natty hits a fireman’s carry takeover. Natty has the armlock, but Ronda fights up. Natty wrenches, Ronda slips through to wrench back. Natty endures, rolls, handsprings, and wrenches but Ronda hits a hip toss! Cover, TWO! Ronda facelocks, tags Liv, and fans fire up. Natty gets away but Ronda gives Liv a boost to RANA! Natty tags out to Sonya, she rushes in but misses as Liv kicks, KICKS, but Sonya ROCKS Liv!

Sonya fires off kicks in the corner but lets off as the ref reprimands. Sonya rushes back in but Liv goes up and over. Sonya kicks Liv low, runs but Liv follows to SHOTGUN! Liv fires up and the fans fire up with her, she runs in to back body block! Liv rolls and comes back to whip Sonya to the corner. Liv runs in to SHINING WIZARD! Ronda tags in, but Liv says she was fine. Sonya runs in, Liv goes Matrix and Ronda BOOTS Sonya down. Ronda gets a leg but Sonya gets to ropes! Liv tags in as Ronda lets go, they argue again, but Sonya trips Liv! Sonya RAMS Liv into barriers and soaks up heat! Fans boo but Sonya puts Liv in to KNEE in the side!

Liv crawls to ropes, Sonya tags Natty. Sonya CHOKES Liv, Natty smacks Liv around. Natty snap suplexes then wraps on a chinlock. Fans rally and Liv fights up to throw body shots. Natty CLUBS Liv, throws her out, then pursues to snap suplex Liv to the ramp! Liv writhes and Natty grins while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns as Sonya dribbles Liv off buckles! Sonya lets off as the ref counts, and she throws Liv down. Sonya lines up a shot and KNEES Liv down! Cover, TWO! Liv survives but Sonya drags her up. Sonya puts Liv back in the corner, tags Natty, and they double suplex Liv! Fans rally up for Liv and Ronda but Natty clamps on a chinlock. Natty holds out Liv’s hand mockingly, then she turns Liv around. Liv throws body shots but Natty throws Liv down! Natty gets the legs, stomps Liv in the stomach, then steps through. Liv kicks Natty away, dodges her, but Natty gets a foot to reel Liv in! CODE BREAKER! Liv thinks about the tag but covers, TWO!!

Liv drags Natty back up, fires off haymakers but Natty hits back! Natty whips Liv into the corner, runs in but into a BOOT! Liv swings on Sonya but Natty CLOBBERS her! Natty SLAPS Liv, tags Sonya, and they mug Liv. Sonya gets in Liv’s face, then ROCKS her with a forearm! Sonya snapmares Liv, clamps on a chinlock and thrashes Liv around. Liv endures, Ronda coaches Liv up, and fans rally up again. Liv throws elbows, ROCKS Sonya with haymakers, but Sonya shoves and ROUNDHOUSES! Liv ENZIGURIS! Both women are down and fans fire up! Liv and Sonya crawl, hot tag to Natty, but Liv says no!

Liv runs at Sonya, misses, Natty has her for a REBOUND- VICTORY ROLL from Liv! TWO!! Liv hurries up but into a DISCUS! Cover, TWO!! Liv is trying to do this on her own but that makes this a handicap match! Natty runs in, drop toehold into buckles! Liv has a clear path, she makes her way over, Ronda tags herself in! Ronda rallies on Sonya, then goes up to ELBOW Sonya down! Fans fire up as Ronda gets Sonya up for a PIPER’S PIT! Ronda talks some smack, but Natty CLOBBERS her from behind! But Liv goes after Natty! Liv gives Natty ObLIVion! Ronda has the ANKLE LOCK on Sonya!! Sonya taps, Ronda and Liv win!

Winners: Ronda Rousey & Liv Morgan, by submission

The challenger and champion win together, but now they’ll have to fight each other tomorrow night! Will the Baddest Woman on the Planet take back that belt? Or will Liv prove she can be more than a one and done?

The Street Profits are here!

Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford are in Atlanta for a very special face-to-face with The Usos, and special guest referee, Jeff Jarrett! Double J is going to lay down the law, but will he have to flex his authority here tonight?

SmackDown returns as The Usos make their entrance. And then Jarrett comes out to say whoa whoa whoa! Double J has something to say! He has some words for the Profits, and the Usos! Jarrett felt it’d be a good idea for the five of them to get things straight before SummerSlam. He wants them all to understand just how serious he’s taking his job of being a special guest referee. Jey says hold up, ATL! It’s J E Double F, J A Double R E Double T! Jey wants to know if it’s a DQ if Jey hit Ford in the face and his nose started leaking on the canvas like on Monday. Jimmy asks Jarrett if it’s a DQ if he took both belts and wrapped them around Dawkins’ head like those headbands he has!

Dawkins says hold on. Is it a DQ if he hits Jimmy so hard, he comes back with face paint on? The Profits mock the haka, then Ford asks if it’s a DQ if they do that and more and then you look on the mat and see the Profits did nothing but drop bodies. Bodies? BODIES! And then you see NEW Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions! The Profits are up, and nothing changes! #WeWantTheSmoke!! Jarrett has everyone hold on. The four of them certainly have some creative imaginations. But listen: Jarrett isn’t here to contain them. In fact, he’s just here to let them run wild! He just has one job: when two shoulders are down, he counts 1-2-3.

BUT… that’s tomorrow. As far as tonight goes, it is very apparent that these four have some outstanding issues. So if they feel froggy, why don’t ya jump? Dawkins says hey, ain’t no jumping. But one more question: Is it a DQ if he SUCKER PUNCHES! The brawl is on! Jarrett watches from a corner as this all goes around the ring! But then Ford dodges and a SUPERKICK takes Jarrett down! Everyone is stunned! Jey is worried, is that going to affect Jarrett’s thoughts on them? Jey apologizes, then he and Jimmy help Jarrett up. But Jarrett shoves the Usos away! And then Dawkins POUNCES the Usos out of the ring! And Ford FLIES! Direct hit at the ramp!

The Profits stand tall and Jarrett stares at the Usos as they regroup. Will the Usos’ historic reign end in Nashville?

Maxxine Dupri speaks.

“Hi. I’m Maxxine Du-Pri, and I’m the Director of Talent for Maximum Male Models. Welcome to the debut of the 2022 SummerSlam beach wear collection.” Maçè is sporting the SummerSlam swim shorts, accentuating his symmetric quadriceps. And Mansôör is styling the ultra modern SummerSlam crop top, perfectly displaying his awe-inspiring abdominals. And Max Dupri is back! He and his sister are still seeking those who embody the excellence of physique to titillate the juices of your guilty pleasures.

The New Day VS The Viking Raiders!

Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have tried fighting the new and vicious Erik & Ivar, and they’ve tried poking fun at them, too. Neither has really worked out for them, but perhaps an actual match will finally settle this! Will ya bois be able to stop the raid? Or will the warpath continue right through SummerSlam weekend?

SmackDown returns and the Viking Raiders make their entrance. The teams sort out Woods starts against Erik. They tie up, Woods headlocks but Erik powers out. Woods goes up and over, ROCKS Erik, but Erik puts Woods in the corner. Woods dodges the haymaker, CHOPS and fires off hands! Woods climbs up to rain down fists but Erik carries him out. Woods sunset flips, ONE! Erik CLOBBERS Woods, then he drags Woods up to whip. Woods ducks ‘n’ dodges, Kofi tags in, and Woods shoves Erik into Kofi’s shoulder. Kofi then springboards to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Kofi keeps on Erik with knees, then whips. Erik reverses, Kofi goes up, FLYING RANA!

Kofi gets up, but Erik FLYING KNEES! Both men are down but Ivar tags in. Erik drags Kofi up, he and Ivar mug Kofi at the ropes! The ref counts, the Vikings let off and the fans boo. Ivar drags Kofi up to put in a corner, fire haymakers, and he tags Erik. Erik throws body shots, but fans rally up. Kofi fights back with body shots on Erik, elbows on Ivar, but Erik shoves Kofi back. Ivar tags in, Erik shoves Kofi and Ivar YANKS Kofi out of the ring! BASEMENT CROSSBODY against barriers! Kofi is down and dazed while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Ivar has Kofi in a chinlock. Kofi endures as Ivar thrashes him around. Kofi fights up as fans rally and he throws body shots! Ivar DECKS Kofi with a haymaker! Ivar drags Kofi up and DECKS him again! Ivar then gets Kofi up again, but Kofi counters with an SOS! Fans fire up while both men are down! They crawl, hot tags to Erik and Woods! Atlanta fires up as Woods dodges, rallies, and whips. Erik reverses but Woods tilt-o-whirls into a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! But Ivar clamps on and whips Woods to ropes! Woods dodges Ivar to dropkick him out! Then he baits Erik into a drop toehold onto ropes!

Woods runs side to side, SLIDE ATTACK DROPKICK COMBO! He takes both Vikings down, then GAMANGIRIS Erik to set up the SLINGSHOT TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Erik survives but Woods drags Erik up. Fans rally as Woods suplexes, but Erik is too big for that! Erik wrenches and DECK Woods! Erik then hauls Woods up, but Woods slips out of the back suplex to mule kick! Kofi tags in, Woods manages the suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Kofi FROG SPLASHES! Cover, Ivar breaks it! Woods runs in but into a LEG LARIAT! Kofi SOBATS Ivar out! Erik waistlocks, Kofi switches and rolls him up, TWO!

Erik gets Kofi for Ace Ten Mao! Tag to Ivar, Erik feeds Kofi to the SEATED SENTON! Then Erik and Ivar drag Kofi up for the DOUBLE POEWRBOMB!! Cover, the Viking Raiders win!

Winners: The Viking Raiders, by pinfall

Erik & Ivar put away the eleven-time tag team champions, and then they grab their shields and some chairs! The win is not enough, they want to destroy the New Day! Woods hurries in to save his friend, but he gets a SHIELD BASH!! Erik throws Kofi out and now Ivar puts the chair around Woods’ leg! Ivar then picks up his shield, he and Erik DOUBLE SHIELD BASH THE CHAIR!!! Woods clutches his leg, the very leg that was injured and kept him out of action! Have the Viking Raiders sidelines Woods themselves?

Paul Heyman is in the ring.

The Special Counsel to the Tribal Chief gets an introduction from the ring announcer while he paces. Heyman says, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name…” “…is Paul Heyman!” Atlanta knows the introduction, but Heyman says it himself. And Heyman serves as Special Counsel to YOUR Tribal Chief. “The one and only Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, not just all of WWE, but all of sports entertainment, the GOAT, the Greatest of All Time, the Head of the Table, and tomorrow night, tomorrow night, tomorrow night at SummerSlam, the last! Man! Standing! Roman…! Reigns!

“700 days in the modern era as the heavyweight champion. An unheard of accomplishment, not for a few years, not for a decade, but for 35 years, no one has gotten to 700 days as the heavyweight champion. And guess who is gonna be the spoiler tomorrow night? BRRROCK! LESNARRR! Over my damn, dead body. Tomorrow night, Roman Reigns will not pin Brock Lesnar. Roman Reigns will not just smash Brock Lesnar. Tomorrow night, Roman Reigns is going to put Brock Lesnar down for 10 seconds, stand over a defeated, humiliated, embarrassed, victimized Brock Lesnar, hold both titles up in the air, be the last man standing, and we all be done with Brock Lesnar once and for all!”

Fans are a bit torn on that, but then HERE COMES BROCK LESNAR!! Heyman looks like he’s seen a ghost as the Alpha Male of Our Species makes his way down the ramp! Lesnar grins as he circles the ring and Heyman clutches his chest. Lesnsar gets in the ring, and Heyman offers him the mic. Lesnar steps to Heyman and Heyman cowers in the corner. Theory attacks with the briefcase! But it doesn’t take Lesnar down! Lesnar DECKS Theory, SMACKS away on him with the briefcase, then hauls Theory up for a GERMAN SUPLEX! And then another GERMAN SUPLEX! Hotlanta is #SuplexCity!

Theory crawls away with the case, flounders up the ramp, but turns around into a CLAYMORE!! McIntyre gets payback on Theory, and he stares Lesnar down! Could we see a rematch from WrestleMania 36 happen at Clash at the Castle? Will the Tribal Chief retain the titles? Or will Theory, beat down as he is right now, still pull off the cash-in after calling his shot?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown that didn’t feel like the usual WWE go-home, and that’s a good thing. They didn’t stuff this thing full of recap videos, we just got a lot of action that helped build the energy going into SummerSlam. Opening with McIntyre VS Sheamus was quite the surprise, but that was so the match could breathe and really give us everything they could. A little annoying that the Brutes got involved but of course they were going to. Why can’t there ever be a point where management thinks, “Hey, maybe we should do a ringside ban, threatening suspensions and fines?” But in the end, McIntyre comes out looking even stronger.

And I do appreciate that Theory attacked McIntyre here. He didn’t say it in his backstage interview promo, but he is becoming the afterthought because even commentary was saying the winner of the Donnybrook was going to be taking on either Roman or Lesnar. Heyman talking Theory into jumping Lesnar in the final segment was also rather clever. It’s Heyman playing off that ego to sucker Theory in while also trying to weaken Lesnar up even just a little. But naturally, that doesn’t happen, Lesnar is too tough for Theory. And McIntyre getting even with Theory definitely does tease the possibility of Lesnar VS McIntyre finally happening in front of fans. However, I don’t see it, as there’s still a lot in Roman’s favor.

Rollins VS Riddle being off of SummerSlam is definitely a new angle in the story. I don’t know why it’s happening, unless Randy Orton is making a shockingly quick return. Randy could prove everyone wrong and fight Rollins on Riddle’s behalf, showing us that RKBRO is still a thing. If that’s not the case, then I don’t know. Is there real heat between Rollins and Riddle again and HHH is trying to help that now that he’s in charge? Also Corbin heckling McAfee the entire time from his seat was actually pretty hilarious because McAfee kept pointing it out. And then of course Corbin uses it to take advantage and get that cheap shot. I really hope this means McAfee wins.

Pretty good stuff out of the women’s division tonight, but I will say this: a new problem I have with this Lacey Evans Heel thing is that she doesn’t even wrestle. She walked out of three matches in a row, from the tag match with Aliyah to the two singles matches with Aliyah. And now she doesn’t even show up, (kayfabe) claiming she is hurt. But Shotzi subbing it was definitely good for Shotzi, she got to get a win for it. Good promos from Ronda, Liv, Natty and Sonya, very good tag match between them, and of course Ronda and Liv win so that they both have momentum and the math is still the same. And as I’ve been saying, I really hope Liv wins and gets to have more than one month as a champion. Then it can be Liv giving us some fresh match-ups going towards Clash at the Castle.

A little surprised LA Knight is still Max Dupri after rumors were flying around, but I guess those rumors were wrong. Now Maximum Male Models is a four person faction, but seeing as how Sophia (Maxxine) didn’t wrestle in NXT, I don’t see her wrestling on SmackDown. I just wish MMM would get in the ring already. Great to see New Day and Viking Raiders finally have a match, and it was a very good one. Viking Raiders winning and going after Woods’ leg like that were some big surprises, but I suppose this is part of their new vicious attitude. At this point, I’d expect the Viking Raiders to be next for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships.

And speaking of which, we got a great segment between the Usos, Profits and Jarrett. I was kinda hoping Jarrett would be a bit more direct about how he said his only job was to count a pin. If this was some kind of No Disqualification tag, or something akin to that, I feel like it’d finally make sense to have a special guest ref. But anyway, we got a great brawl from the teams, and a great sell of that superkick from Double J. But with the Profits standing tall, I have a feeling the Usos are going to continue on as champions. Unless WWE suddenly decides to go against go-home math, which would be pretty cool.

My Score: 8.6