The Scottish Warrior and the Tribal Chief, face-to-face!

SmackDown prepares for Clash at the Castle, by having the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, look his #1 contender, Drew McIntyre, straight in the eye!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Vacated WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Natalya & Sonya Deville VS Toxic Attraction; Toxic Attraction wins and advances.
• WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 5 Way: Ricochet VS Happy Corbin VS Sheamus VS Sami Zayn VS Mad Cap Moss; Sheamus wins and will challenge Gunther for the title.
• Liv Morgan VS Shotzi Blackheart; Liv wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

It’s episode 1200!!

Pat McAfee confirms he was only 11 when Michael Cole and Good ol’ Jim Ross called that original episode! And look where SmackDown is now!

Ronda Rousey is here!?

The Baddest Woman on the Planet just struts into the ring from the crowd! She has the music cut and Montreal is torn. She said she paid her fine and then some, so tonight she is NOT leaving until she’s reinstated! Adam Pearce, get out here and undo the suspension! Montreal cheers in support as she says she’s not letting SmackDown start until Pearce responds. Pearce walks out, with security, and he says he can’t just lift the suspension because she wants him to. They had this conversation: that kind of authority is above Pearce’s paygrade. Well who isn’t? Pearce knows she’s frustrated, and he also knows she can’t just hijack the show.

So please, Ronda, calm down and listen to him. He is asking respectfully here that she leave the ring peacefully. Fans boo and Ronda says, “Peacefully? Last week, I chose to leave peacefully.” Fans chant, “We Want Ronda!” “No We Don’t!” Ronda tells Pearce to not make her choose violence. A couple security guards step forward and Ronda is ready! She rocks, one BOOTS the other and SAYANAGIS the other! Then she KNEES the others, and she has one in the double wristlock! Pearce tells her he is asking nicely, but she puts on the ARMBAR!! The guard taps and reinforcements are called out!

Ronda lets off as Montreal Police is brought in! Fans want Ronda to keep raging but Pearce says this is different now. Ronda lets the officer cuff her and Ronda is escorted away. Ronda says she’s doing this because she wants to, but does she really need to be put in the squad car? Nice haircut, Pearce. The police drive away, will Ronda have to worry about more than just a suspension now? Wait, pulling in as the police drive away is a Yukon SUV, and it’s the TRIBAL CHIEF! Roman Reigns is here, ready to be face-to-face with Drew McIntyre, later tonight!

Vacated WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Natalya & Sonya Deville VS Toxic Attraction!

The Queen of Harts teams up with “Cruella,” ready to get some gold back around their waists. But so are their opponents, who are last minute replacements for an injured Zoey Stark and unavailable Nikkita Lyons. Will Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne help NXT take over and take the titles? Or will Natty & Sonya keep them from making SmackDown toxic?

But wait! Sneaking in as fans are Bayley, Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky! Seems they want to keep a close eye on this match. The teams sort out and Gigi ties up with Natty. Natty hits a headlock takeover but Gigi hits headscissors. Natty kips free and the two stand off. They reset, circle, and Gigi kicks low. Gigi wrenches, wristlocks, but Natty rolls and handsprings. Natty wrenches but Gigi throws her by her hair! Gigi soaks up the heat but Natty rolls her up! TWO, and Natty facelocks. Natty stares Bayley down, tags Sonya, and Sonya rolls Gigi, ONE! Sonya headlocks and grinds Gigi but Gigi pulls hair! Gigi powers out but Sonya runs her over!

Fans rally as things speed up. Gigi hurdles while Sonya slides, but Sonya SPEARES! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Gigi ROCKS Sonya, Sonya shoves Gigi but Gigi RAN- NO! Sonya holds on, throws Gigi off, and then ROCKS Gigi with forearms! Sonya talks trash but Gigi knees low. Gigi throws Sonya through ropes, tags Jacy and Jacy KNEES Sonya in! Cover, TWO! Jacy talks trash on Sonya, Bayley talks trash on Michael Cole, but Sonya bumps Jacy off the buckles! And again and again and again! Fans are torn as Sonya fires off kicks! Sonya then runs in, but Jacy dodges and Sonya POSTS herself! Sonya falls out, Jacy goes to the apron to CANNONBALL!

Jacy sees Natty coming and dodges her, Gigi PENALTY KICKS her! Toxic Attraction RAMS Natty into the steel steps! Bayley says they’re pretty good, but they’re not Kai & Sky! Toxic Attraction soaks up the cheers and jeers as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Gigi has Sonya in a BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Sonya endures and fans rally, Sonya pops free to a cover! TWO, Gigi CLUBS Sonya and whips her to the corner. Gigi tags Jacy, Gigi whips Jacy in to back body block! Then Jacy whips Gigi for a BRONCO BUSTER, then Jacy CANNONBALLS! Cover, TWO! Jacy is frustrated but fans rally up. Jacy drags Sonya up, whips Sonya to a corner, then run sin, but into a BOOT! Sonya elbows Gigi, BOOTS Jacy, then DECKS Gigi! Sonya runs but into an ELBOW from Jacy! Jacy mocks Natty and fans boo. Jacy steps through, and she goes to steal the Sharpshooter!

But Sonya BOOTS Jacy away! Fans fire up and Sonya crawls, but Jacy drags Sonya back! Sonya keeps reaching, fights up to her foot, and HOT TAG! Natty dodges Jacy, comes back and wrenches to a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Then a snap suplex! Natty gets Jacy again, another snap suplex! And then a whip to the corner, but Jacy elbows back. But Natty GERMAN SUPLEXES! Fans fire up and Natty has the legs! SHARPSHOOT- NO, Jacy powers out! Gigi swipes but Natty glares at her, and Jacy CLOBBERS her! Tag to Gigi, SUPERKICK from Jacy! Gigi runs and she STO’s Natty down! Cover, Sonya breaks it in time!

Sonya throws Gigi out, Jacy ROCKS Sonya! Jacy throws Sonya out then pursues. Jacy grabs Sonya but Sonya fires off hands! Sonya whips, Jacy reverses, and Sonya hits barriers right in front of Bayley! Bayley talks trash that Sonya should’ve stuck to being a GM! Sonya drags herself up, Jacy BOOTS Sonya down! Gigi rolls Natty, TWO! Gigi dodges Natty, kicks low and runs again, but into the DISCUS! Fans fire up with Natty and she storms up to fire off forearms! Natty runs in again but into an elbow! Jacy sneaks a tag and Gigi runs in, but Natty trips her! Natty ties Gigi up in the SHARPSHOOTER! But Jacy rolls Natty up!! TOXIC ATTRACTION WINS!

Winners: Toxic Attraction, by pinfall (advance to the next round)

Bayley loves it! Gigi & Jacy now face Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah next round, who will be the finalists for the “SmackDown” side of the bracket?

Sami Zayn is heading to Roman Reigns’ locker room.

But the bouncer checks who he is. Uh, he’s Montreal’s own, Sami Zayn. Well then, Roman would like to see him. Wo, really? Like, really? Sami knocks, then opens the door, and there’s Roman! Hey, Roman! How’s it going? He wanted to see Sami? Yeah, sit down. Sami sits on the couch and says it’ snice. Roman says it’s alright. But how’s everything going? Good! Very good! He’s been repping the Bloodline. It’s been good. Well, okay, it’s gotten a bit dicey lately. Sami and Jey have been getting into it. Jey was really going to town about leveling up and stuff, and it’s like Sami isn’t carrying his weight around here, which is a little annoying considering Sami took a Claymore for Jey! For the Bloodline!

But does Jey even text or call? How ungrateful! Sami calms down, realizing he’s venting about Roman’s family. But Roman agrees! Jey doesn’t appreciate anything. Thank you! They’re family, but c’mon. Why is Sami talking to Jey? He should be talking to Roman. Good point! Yes! Wait, is Sami in? The phone’s ringing. Oh, and it’s Jey! No way. It is! Then answer it. What? Really? Uh, okay. Sami answers the phone for Roman, and that’s right, Jey! It’s Sami! Sami is in Roman’s room, he was told to answer the phone. Just calm down, Jey, Sami will pass the word along, but now isn’t a good time. Sami will do it, though.

Sami tells Roman that Jey was screaming. Trouble at the border, apparently. The Usos won’t be here tonight. Well that’s not good. But hey! Sami’s here. Yeah, he is. He’s even in a Fatal 5 #1 Contender’s match for the Intercontinental Championship. That would look good in the Bloodline. Right? So Sami’s the guy! Sami will handle it. He’s gotta go get warmed up! They should do this more often. This was great. Roman tells Sami that one thing first. Is Sami still cool with KO? Kevin Owens? Yeah, they’re both from Montreal, they go back forever. Then just let KO know… Roman doesn’t “owe” anyone anything. Ever.

Y-Yeah, no, Sami gets it. Sami hasn’t really talked with Kevin lately, but Kevin should know that. Roman owes nothing to him, Okay, Sami’s gonna get going. Good luck out there, Uce. Sami is fired up, but Roman looks upset over the Usos’ issues. Will the Tribal Chief have to sort this mess out himself?

Maximum Male Models are in the ring!

Max & Maxxine Dupri stand with Maçé & Mansôör, and Max says, “Time and again, these two men, Mace and Mansoor, have titillated the juices of your guilty pleasures. And tonight’s no different. On the 1200th episode of SmackDown, we-” “HIT~ ROW~!” That’s right! B-Fab leads Ashante THEE Adonis & Top Dolla out and all the way to the ring. Max says okay, sorry, but this was a scheduled appearance by MMM. And to be honest, these two, especially Dolla, are NOT MMM material. Oh, too bad. DROPKICK for Mansoor and then a whip and TOSS for Mace! Fans fire up and Dolla shrugs.

“Ey yo! Montreal, what up? We got something special for y’all!” “And Adonisly… They acting like we never left!” Hit Row performs We Back, all the way back, all the way back! Maxxine wants to vibe but Max says no, MMM is getting out of here. McAfee tries to get Cole to vibe but Cole probably doesn’t know how to. But the details is crucial! PYRO! And if you didn’t know, now you know!

Tick-tock.

Scarlett says that, “The Tongue is not steel, yet it cuts.” Karrion Kross says, “Good evening, Mr. McIntyre. Last Monday night on Raw, something I said seemed to upset you. ‘Chosen One.’ Which begs the question, why? Whether you want to be or not, you are a chosen one. Just like Reigns. Doesn’t matter what you’ve ever done, or what you’re ever gonna do, this is what you are. But let’s review what bothers you about that. The fact that when you failed, they chose someone else. And that person built the table you failed to set.

“They chose you, and they were wrong. They chose you, and they were wrong. They chose you, McIntyre, and deep down inside, you’ve always known, they were wrong!!” But will Kross be wrong about McIntyre come Clash at the Castle?

WWE Intercontinental Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 5 Way: Ricochet VS Happy Corbin VS Sheamus VS Sami Zayn VS Mad Cap Moss!

The One & Only still has beef with “Bum Ass,” but it’s being thrown in the mix with the Celtic Warrior, the Honorary Uce, and someone Corbin’s familiar with in the former funny man turned serious fighter! Who out of this fearsome five rises up to challenge Der Ring General, GUNTHER?

Fans are of course thunderous for their hometown hero, Sami Zayn, as he makes his entrance. The bell rings and Ricochet rushes Corbin! Corbin bails out, Sheamus CLOBBERS Ricochet, and Moss fires off on Sheamus! Fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLEEE~! OLE~, OLE~!” for Sami as he stays back. Sheamus shoves Moss but Moss clotheslines Sheamus up and out !Sami is alone with Ricochet and he brings him around to a headlock. Ricochet powers out, things speedup, Ricochet hurdles and RANAS! Sami bails out and Ricochet says go ahead, boo! Ricochet runs, but Corbin gets in to CHOKE SLAM him! Cover, but everyone else breaks it!

Moss and Sheamus brawl, Sami fires off on Corbin in frustration, and fans fire up as Sami stomps away while SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns and while Moss is down, Sami brings Corbin to the announce desk. Corbin blocks being dribbled off the desk, and Ricochet LEAPS off the steel steps to attack Sheamus! Corbin SMACKS Sami off the desk, Ricochet fires off hands on Sheamus, but Sheamus picks Ricochet up to RAM him into barriers! Ricochet falls down while Corbin drags Sami up. Sheamus fires off on Moss as he gets back up, and Corbin RAMS Sami into barriers! Fans boo Corbin and Sheamus and Corbin goes around the way to fetch Ricochet. Corbin puts Ricochet in the ring while Moss fires off hands on Sheamus!

Moss whips Sheamus into barriers while Corbin whips Ricochet hard into a corner! Ricochet writhes on the mat while Sheamus turns things around on Moss! Sheamus runs in but is tossed into the timekeeper’s area! Corbin whips Ricochet to ropes but Ricochet Tiger Wall Kicks! But Corbin DECKS Ricochet with a right! Moss gets in but Corbin knees him low. Corbin throws more knees, then whips him to a corner hard! Moss writhes now but fans chant, “We Want Sami!” Corbin drags Ricochet up to whip him hard corner to corner again! Ricochet hits chest first and falls back, then Corbin goes after Moss.

Moss ROCKS Corbin with haymakers, whips him but Corbin reverses. Corbin runs in, slides out and slides in, to LAIRAT Moss down! Sami returns but Corbin CLOBBERS him! Fans boo Corbin, as if they need a reason, but Corbin whips Ricochet. Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard but Corbin CLOBBER him outta the air! But Sheamus goes after Corbin! Fans fire up as Sheamus fires off hands and CLUBS Corbin around. Sheamus headlocks but Corbin powers out and sends Sheamus into buckles! Then he hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, ONE!! Corbin is annoyed, he runs in at Ricochet, but Ricochet goes up and over!

Corbin slides out then in, but Ricochet dodges to run and flapjack DROPKCIK! Moss returns, Ricochet dodges to springboard CROSSBODY Sami returns but Ricochet triangle jump DROPKICKS him down! Ricochet keeps moving, and tilt-o-whirl DDTs Corbin down! Fans fire up for the RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO!! Moss returns, he dodges and ducks Ricochet to POUNCE him! Moss fires off haymakers on Sheamus, stomps him in a corner, then fires off more hands! Moss eggs Sheamus on but Sheamus throws heavy body shots! They brawl, Sheamus gets the edge but Moss whips! Sheamus reverses and Moss KICKS back!

Moss wings, into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Sami returns, but he gets an IRISH CURSE! Sheamus grins as fans boo, and he mocks Gunther’s pose! Sheamus sees Moss on the apron, and gives him Beats of the Bodhrain! Fans count along and Sheamus goes all the way to nine, then winds up for TEN! Moss falls and then Sheamus sees Corbin on the other apron! Sheamus pulls Corbin’s shirt up for Beats of the Bodhrain! Wind up at nine, for TEN! Ricochet fires off forearms but Sheamus throws him out! Sheamus throws a body shot, then gives Ricochet Beats of the Bodhrain!! He doesn’t stop at 10, either! He goes all the way to 17, then just shoves Ricochet down!

Sheamus puts Sami in and now fans turn sour on him! Sheamus grins and brings Sami in, but Sami HOTHOTS Sheamus! Corbin flounders in, he rushes Sami but Sami dumps him out! Sami builds speed, to FLY! Direct hit and down go Corbin and Sheamus! Montreal is thunderous for Sami as stands up! Sami gets in, he drags Ricochet up but ducks a kick! Ricochet fights the Blue Thunder and fires off hands. Ricochet runs, into a scoop and MICHINOKU! Cover, TWO!! Sami can’t believe it, but Ricochet is still in this. Sami goes to a corner and fans sing again. Sami aims at Ricochet but Moss intercepts! FALL AWAY-

NO! Sami slips out, gets around, BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!!! Sami can’t believe it all over again, but fans are thunderous for him as he goes to the corner! Sami climbs up, but Corbin rushes over. Sami DECKS Corbin, but Ricochet springs up! Sami shoves Ricochet back down! Sheamus gets in, he ROCKS Sami then fires off more hands! Sheamus climbs up, fireman’s carries and shifts, SUPER WHITE NOISE!! Sami flounders out of the ring, clutching his arm! Did that White Noise just crush Sami? Ricochet CLOBBERS Sheamus, but Moss whips Ricochet! Moss RAMS into Ricochet, then RAMS into Sheamus!

Ricochet goes up and Moss POSTS himself! Ricochet ROCKS Sheamus, CHOPS Moss, but then Sheamus dodges! Sheamus scoops Moss, POWERSLAM! Other referees come out to check on Sami, is he out of this? Sheamus CLOBBERS Ricochet, but Corbin hits DEEP SIX! Ricochet FLYING LARIATS Corbin down! All four men in the ring are down and Sami is being taken to the back, while SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Moss fires hands on Sheamus up top. Moss climbs up after Sheamus, fires off hands, then scoops him for a SUPER FALL AWAY SLAM!! But Moss has to crawl to the cover! Fans still rally for Sami to return as Moss covers, TWO! Ricochet hurries to LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Corbin rains down fists on Ricochet! Corbin drags Ricochet up, whips him to ropes, but Ricochet slips through the lariat! Ricochet dumps Corbin out, Corbin hurries back in but Ricochet handsprings to BACK ELBOW! Corbin comes back to BOOT Ricochet! Corbin hauls Ricochet into a torture rack, for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Ricochet keeps this match alive and fans rally up. Corbin drags Ricochet up but then he sees Sheamus. Sheamus and Corbin fire off haymakers! Fans fire up for the scrum but Corbin knees low. Corbin scoops, Sheamus slips off and he dodges! Corbin hits buckles, Sheamus clotheslines Corbin up and out! But Moss rolls Sheamus up, TWO!! Sheamus swings but misses, then misses again, but the KNEE takes Moss down! Cover, TWO!!! Sheamus stands and fans rally up, still hoping for Sami to return. Sheamus shouts and aims at Moss, runs in, but Moss blocks the Brogue into the PANCAKE! RECOIL from Ricochet!

Ricochet hurries while Sheamus is in the drop zone! Ricochet’s up top, for the SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Cover, Corbin breaks it! Corbin reels Ricochet in, he slips out again, and Ricochet dumps Corbin back out! AND SAMI RETURNS! Sami holds his bad arm as he hobbles his way to ringside! Fans are thunderous again as Ricochet runs in, but into a BUCKLE EXPLODER! Sami goes to the other end, takes aim as Ricochet stands, for the HELLUVA KICK!! Cover, Corbin drags Sami out!! Corbin soaks up all the heat from Montreal, and he POSTS Sami! Fans tell Corbin he’s an A-Hole, but he doesn’t care!

Sheamus gets in as Corbin stands Ricochet up, BROGUE for Corbin!!! Cover, Sheamus wins!!

Winner: Sheamus, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship)

Sami tried, he really did, but he couldn’t win against four top level opponents. However, The Celtic Warrior succeeds, and he is heading to Cardiff, Wales! Will Sheamus dethrone Gunther and finally complete his WWE Grand Slam?

The Viking Raiders hold a “Viking Funeral.”

With torches and shields, Erik & Ivar approach the altar of sticks and bones, as well as many items of The New Day’s. The master of ceremonies adorns them with special paint. “New Day, we are gathered here to celebrate our battles. And to prepare for what’s to come. We respect you as great warriors, champions, and heroes. But your time has passed. The wounds upon your flesh are merely a prelude. You failed to heed our warnings. Your folly and your pride have led you here. And now, Valhalla awaits. tonight, we stand upon these consecrated grounds to pay tribute. A great battle awaits. Soon, the sun will set upon the New Day. And will be the dawn of a new Viking day!”

The altar is set ablaze as we see highlights of the devastation Erik & Ivar have brought upon Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods. Will this be the end of The New Day once and for all?

Backstage interview with Liv Morgan.

Kayla says Liv faces Shotzi Blackheart tonight. Is she worried that a match tonight could jeopardize her ability to face Shayna Baszler at Clash at the Castle? Liv says if she played it safe, she never would’ve won the title in the first place. She can’t sit on the sidelines and wonder how she’ll do. She has to get back in the ring and find out. She knows she has a huge target on her arm, but that’s no different than the target she has on her back as a champion. Ronda, Shayna, Shotzi and the entire SmackDown Women’s Division want what she has, and they will do anything to take it. But Liv will do anything to keep it. #WatchMe.

Liv Morgan VS Shotzi Blackheart!

SmackDown returns as the SmackDown Women’s Champion makes her entrance. Montreal is fired up to see her, but Kayla then interviews Shotzi in the back. She’s about to- to rip Liv’s arm from its socket and make her cry? Or maybe drive her knee into Liv’s elbow until she needs a robotic arm. Liv is overly emotional, and she thinks with her big, dumb heart. That’s why she’s coming out here trying to prove herself while hurt. Taking a match with Shotzi was a bad decision. One that Shotzi will make Liv pay for dearly! Shotzi laughs and makes her way out, will she welcome Liv to the ball pit?

The bell rings and Shotzi calls for a test of strength. Liv kicks her low instead! The hands start flying, Shotzi shoves Liv then wrenches the bad arm. Liv knee slow, SHOTGUNS Shotzi to a corner, then runs in to back body block! Liv rolls, runs back in and SHINING WIZARDS! Liv snapmares, but Shotzi comes back to ENZIGURI! Liv leans against ropes so Shotzi runs, SENTON against the ropes! Cover, TWO! Shotzi snarls and drags Liv by the bad arm. Shotzi wrenches, Liv gets the ropes and breaks free but Shotzi ROCKS Liv! Liv BOOTS back, goes up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS Shotzi away! Liv then runs in at the corner, but only gets buckles!

Shotzi runs in but Liv puts her on the apron. Shotzi ROCKS and ROUNDHOUSES Liv first! APRON DDT!! Liv flops to the floor and Shotzi laughs while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Shotzi knocks Liv down! Shotzi runs in again but Liv dodges! Liv kicks but Shotzi blocks to KICK back! And ROLLING ELBOW! Liv wobbles, into the QUESTION MARK KCIK! Shotzi fireman’s carries but Liv fights it off to a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Shotzi survives but Liv is clutching her bad arm. Liv runs in at the ropes, Shotzi dodges and waistlocks to then chicken wing! TIGER SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Both women are down and fans rally up! Shotzi and Liv glare at each other, and they start firing hands on the mat! Shotzi gets the edge, she CLUBS away on Liv’s bad arm, then drags Liv up.

Shotzi shouts, “You’re a phony, Liv! A PHONY!” Liv hits a CODE BREAKER! Liv then gets Shotzi at the ropes, ObLIVion!! Cover, Liv wins!

Winner: Liv Morgan, by pinfall

The champions toughs it out, but then SHAYNA ambushes Liv! Shayna BOOTS Liv down, throws off her jacket, and she gets the bad arm! Shayna twists the wrist and elbow, stands on Liv’s head, then drags her around to isolate the arm! Shayna lets down her hair as she spares Liv. “I want to break your arm so bad, but I’ll wait until we get to Cardiff. That’s the only reason!” Shayna then BOOTS Liv in the face! Did Shayna just bring back the killer inside? Can Liv find a way to survive Shayna and win like she did against Ronda?

Speaking of Ronda…

Adam Pearce chose not to press charges for trespassing, and Ronda was released under her own recognizance. But will Rowdy Ronda only try this again next week?

Roman Reigns puts on the title belts.

The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion is without his Wise Man and without his cousins, will he be able to handle this face-to-face all on his own?

Drew McIntyre also prepares backstage.

He takes his jacket off the hanger, only to find Kross’ hourglass sitting there. McIntyre grumbles and storms out, is it only a matter of time before Mr. Doomsday decides to strike again?

Roman Reigns heads to the ring!

The Tribal Chief holds onto the Universal Championship while wearing the World Championship, as he reaches 719 days in his reign! But he alone holds up the belts for the pyro before continuing down the ramp. He then goes into the ring, holds up the belts again, and we get more pyro. A production staff member hands Roman the mic since there is no Heyman or Usos. Roman takes a moment as fans cheer and jeer, and he says, “Montreal…! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” Fans are more than happy to do that! He has them calm down and says, “Here’s the deal. I’m not here every week anymore. So every once in awhile, people gonna come out here and say some stupid stuff.

“So I just want to set the record straight. If anyone ever comes out here and says they’re the face of the company that’s not me, they’re lying. If anybody ever comes out here and says they’re the main event and it’s not me, they’re lying! And if anyone ever comes out here and says that they carry this company on this back, Drew McIntyre, YOU’RE LYING! There’s only one man that can say they’re the face of this company, there’s only one man that can say they’re the main event. Not a ‘main eventer,’ THE main event, and there’s only one man that carries this company on his back, and his name is the Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, ROMAN! REIGNS!”

Fans cheer in acknowledgment, and Roman says he’s said this many, many times: he’s a man of his word! What he says has substance here. So he doesn’t have to say anything face-to-face to Drew, because he is BENEATH Roman. But wait! Here comes McIntyre! Fans fire up as McIntyre gets his own pyro then storms to the ring. McIntyre gets himself a mic to say that he’d love to have said everything he’s said lately to Roman’s face, but as Roman just said himself, he’s not really here anymore. So McIntyre gets right to it: Roman isn’t representing the titles they deserve to be represented, and so Roman does NOT deserve to be champion!

Roman looks confused while fans are cheering that. “I don’t deserve it? I don’t deserve to be champion? After everything I just said, do you not understand?” NO, Roman does NOT deserve it! And why? Let’s look at the last couple of years. Roman’s had the Wise Man, Paul Heyman, working for him politically. Roman’s got the Usos doing work for him physically, taking bullets for him. And sure, when they’re all together, they’re “The Bloodline.” Yeah, yeah, who can take down The Bloodline? Probably nobody! They’re in GOD MODE, but Roman Reigns is just a man! And right now, McIntyre sees something different in Roman’s eyes when it’s just them: FEAR.

And Roman should be scared, because there is not a man alive that Drew McIntyre cannot tear apart with his bear hands. At Clash at the Castle, McIntyre tears Roman apart, takes those titles from him, and y’know what? We’re alone tonight, this is a unique opportunity since Roman’s actually in the building. McIntyre feels like having a fight in Montreal! McIntyre throws his shirt off and dares Roman to do the same. Roman fires off hands and he backs  McIntyre down! But McIntyre throws big counter punches! Then he clinches Roman to hit an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly !Roman writhes, gets the world title off, and McIntyre takes aim!

But SAMI gets in and takes the CLAYMORE!! Roman hits a SUPERMAN PUNCH! The Honorary Uce serves his purpose and fans are fired up for him! But Roman aims at McIntyre now, “OOAH~!” CLAYMORE!!! McIntyre still hits Roman!! The champion is down, and McIntyre holds the belts up!! Will we see this happen in Cardiff? Or will McIntyre be proven right when The Bloodline can regroup and help their Tribal Chief?

My Thoughts:

Another great episode for SmackDown, and a lot of great build towards Clash at the Castle. I just don’t know about that opening segment. It is logical that Ronda keeps trying to force her way back into being an active superstar, but them trying to make her Stone Cold Ronda isn’t working on me. She’s just Cold Ronda. But at least we moved on to a very good tag team match for the tag title tournament. WWE broke the news themselves that Zoey Stark & Nikkita Lyons were out (surely all kayfabe reasons) and that Toxic Attraction was in. It should’ve been an established NXT team to begin with, but whatever.

Toxic Attraction gets a great win to introduce themselves to fans who only watch RawDown, and Bayley’s group ringside was a nice touch. There’s a chance Toxic Attraction make the finals since they’re going against a rag tag team like Raquel & Aliyah, and they’ll have a great match against either team from Raw. We also got a good segment from Liv, Shotzi and Shayna. Great match and win for Liv to prove her resilience, but also a great attack from Shayna to show that killer instinct again. Shayna VS Liv is going to be a really good match, especially on the story merits of Liv just trying to win without getting more beat up.

I didn’t expect a recorded vignette for the Viking Raiders’ “funeral” for the New Day, but it was a well made and well delivered promo. If Kofi & Woods are as beat up as they are, can they even have a match against Erik & Ivar? Or will we get some kind of No Disqualification tag match out of this to essentially make up for the New Day being at less than 100%? Then, we got quite the bait and switch with Maximum Male Models starting a segment but getting kicked out by Hit Row. I chose not to try and keep up with the rap skills of Hit Row, having learned my lesson last year when Swerve was still with WWE and just leaving me in the dust.

But it’s good to see we’re getting a lot more out of the WWE Tag Division midcard. Hit Row, MMM and Los Lotharios can all start feuding on SmackDown to determine contenders to the Usos. And nice little plot twist of having the Usos “stuck at the border” so that Roman was without his usual back-up. Roman and Sami had a great segment together, and Sami really did carry his weight tonight. Even though he lost, Montreal was loving Sami out there, and I just knew that he went down in the middle so he could valiantly return. But in the end, Sheamus wins, and he is going to have an awesome match with Gunther. However, I don’t see Sheamus winning the Intercontinental Championship. Gunther’s just getting going, so Sheamus will be a great name on Gunther’s resume.

Good promo from Karrion Kross to warn both McIntyre and Roman, and while he may or may not be right about McIntyre, he’s definitely right about Roman being a chosen one. And then we got great promos out of Roman and McIntyre before turning it into a brawl. I thought Sami taking the Claymore was gonna help Roman gets advantage but nope, McIntyre stands tall! This isn’t the go-home yet so this doesn’t write McIntyre off, it just shows that he’s right: Roman needs his back-up to have a chance.

My Score: 8.8/10