Guess who’s back?

With just weeks left before Crown Jewel, Logan Paul returns to SmackDown! Will he have another way to anger the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Sheamus w/ The Brawling Brutes VS Solo Sikoa w/ The Bloodline; Solo wins.
• Liv Morgan VS Sonya Deville; Double Count-Out Draw.
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Damage Control VS Shotzi Blackheart & Raquel Rodriguez; DMG CTRL wins and retains the titles.
• Rey Mysterio VS Ludwig Kaiser w/ Imperium; Rey wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Sheamus w/ The Brawling Brutes VS Solo Sikoa w/ The Bloodline!

A brawl between Brutes and Bloodline in last week’s Fatal 4 Way is what leads us to tonight’s FIGHT NIGHT! The Celtic Warrior and the Street Champion go 1v1, will the Fella unleash his full force on the Enforcer?

Whoa, the White Rabbit cuts in during the entrances. He, and therefore Bray Wyatt, is here, but when will he appear? But for now, the bell rings and and the two tie up. Fans rally as Solo puts Sheamus on ropes but Sheamus turns it around. They go around and end up in a corner. The ref counts as Solo digs a shoulder in, but he lets off at 4. Solo and Sheamus tie up again, Sheamus gets an arm and wrenches to a wristlock. Solo endures, he ROCKS Sheamus, but Sheamus smirks. Sheamus throws a forearm, Solo throws it back, repeat! Solo CHOPS, Sheamus throws heavy shots but Solo rakes eyes!

The ref reprimands but Solo CHOPS! Solo ROCKS Sheamus with a right, whips him to ropes, but Solo reverses, only for Sheamus to CLOBBER Solo! The Brutes and Bloodline yell at each other as Sheamus stomps and uppercuts Solo. Sheamus CLUBS Solo, puts him in a corner and digs in forearms. The ref counts, Sheamus lets off and he ROCKS Solo. Solo throws body shots and CHOPS, then a kick and a HEADBUTT! Solo whips, Sheamus blocks the hip toss to CLOBBER Solo! Sheamus kicks Solo around, he clamps on with an armlock and chinbar, but Solo endures. Fans rally as Solo fights his way up. Solo throat chops free!

Sheamus swings, Solo dodges and WHEEL KICKS! Sami and the Usos are all fired up for Solo and he storms up on Sheamus. Sheamus puts Solo on the apron, then drags him up! Fans fire up as Sheamus CLUBS Solo, but Solo fights the Beats of the Bodhrain! HOTSHOT to the arm! Sheamus still storms up on Solo but Solo throws him out to the floor! Solo stalks Sheamus, run sin and HIP ATTACKS Sheamus into the steel steps! The Bloodline is fired up but the Brutes are furious as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Solo stomps a mudhole into Sheamus! The ref counts, Solo lets off, and he goes corner to corner, for the HIP ATTACK! Sami is loving it and Solo mocks Sheamus by beating his chest. Solo runs in again, but Sheamus gets up to LARIAT! Both men are down and Solo its up in a daze! Fans rally and duel while the Brutes and Bloodline coach their guys. Sheamus snarls and rises as Solo goes to a corner. Sheamus runs in a the corner to clothesline! And then clothesline again! And again! And again! Sheamus reels Solo in for a fireman’s carry, and then WHITE NOISE! Cover, TWO! Solo survives and the Bloodline fires up!

Fans rally as the Brutes tell Sheamus to finish it. Sheamus goes to a corner and climbs up top. Sheamus shakes out the bad arm, but Solo ROCKS him first! And he YANKS and YANKS and YANKS the bad arm! Solo climbs up after Sheamus, fireman’s carries for a SUPER SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives and fans are fired up! Solo is frustrated but Sami coaches him through it. Solo stalks Sheamus as he rises, vows to end it here, and he reels Sheamus in. But Sheamus fights the clinch and puts Solo in the corner! Sheamus throws elbow after elbow, but Solo runs, into a scoop! ONE ARM POWERSLAM!

Fans fire up while Solo goes to the apron. Sheamus storms up on Solo and he drags Solo up! The Bloodline says don’t do it, but Sheamus fires BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN! Sheamus goes past 10, he gets 15 as Solo is falling to the apron! Sheamus then goes to a corner as fans fire up! Sheamus runs in but Solo dodges the Brogue to SUPERKICK! Sheamus comes back with a KNEE! But Sami distracts from the cover! Pete Dunne YANKS Sami down! Jimmy SUPERKICKS Dunne over the desk! Ridge fires off on Jimmy but Jey SUPERKICKS Ridge! The Usos tip the desk over! They bury the Brutes! But Sheamus is up top!? SUPER FLYING LARIATS!!

Sheamus hurries into the ring, he ROCKS Solo, but Sami anchors Sheamus! Sheamus kicks Sami away but Solo ROUNDHOUSES Sheamus down! Clinch, SPINNING SOLO!! Cover, Solo wins!

Winner: Solo Sikoa, by pinfall

But the win isn’t the end! The Bloodline drags Sheamus out but he starts fighting back! BUt that’s 4v1 while the Brutes are stuck under stuff! The Bloodline grabs chair after chair, and they put Sheamus’ arm through one! They put that arm on the steps, they beat Sheamus down to keep him there, and Jey says this is what Sheamus gets for disrespecting them! CON-CHAIR-TO to the arm!! And again! And again! And again!! Sami has Jey let off and they let Sheamus fall to the floor! The fans boo but the Bloodline stands tall, will anyone ever defy them again?

Rey Mysterio arrives backstage.

The King of Lucha runs across Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser. They tease “little Rey Mysterio,” and say he is all alone on SmackDown. And yet, he thinks he stands a chance against Der Ring General, Gunther. Ludwig says this is the end of Rey. Hopefully, he knows that. Rey says no, this isn’t the end. In fact, it’s a new beginning for Rey. Rey moving to SmackDown is just what he need. And instead of passing a word along to Gunther through them, Rey will just say it to his face. But hey, he’s not looking for trouble. He just doesn’t appreciate disrespect. So if either one of them have the huevos, step to Rey in the ring.

Ludwig will make sure to punish this disrespect. Then see you in a few. The #1 contender, the living legend, is ready to go, will he dial it up against the Impeccable German?

Bray Wyatt speaks.

He’s backstage as he apologizes for last week, “I didn’t get to finish what I was saying. But that’s okay. I will now. I used to say all the time that revenge is a confession of pain. And it is. I still believe that. But I feel like confessing some things to you guys today. I feel like that can help, right? So here goes. I confess that I have problems. I know I have problems, I’ve always had problems. It’s not hard for people to see. But there’s a few of ’em, like anger. Sometimes, it can take me to places that I don’t want to be, and this past time, it took me this place that I shouldn’t have come back from. I really shouldn’t have.

“But for whatever reason, I get chances. Chances most people won’t get. Well, I confess that this time, I was happy, I was content with just being left alone. I was okay with it being over. I wanted you to stop saying my name I wanted you to leave me the hell alone. But I confess that I’m really glad you didn’t. Because I needed you. I needed all of you. You pulled the spears outta my ribs and yanked me up. You told me what I was supposed to do without even having to tell me. I’m thankful for that.

“Because now, I can see. I know who you are. I know what you want, I know what you’re trying to do. But it won’t work. I confess that along this journey, I am going to do horrible, horrible things. But I will never feel sorry for them. I’m just a servant. I go where the circle takes me.” Then just where is Bray’s journey going to take him this time?

The Bloodline celebrates backstage.

Sami Zayn says that is what the people want! He and Jimmy chant, “We, the ones! We, we, the ones!” Sami knows Sheamus can’t break it down like them. Because they just broke Sheamus’ arms! That was great! Jey says that’s how you level up, Solo! Every week, level up! Sami tells Solo that he means this: Solo has been an absolute gem for the team. Solo is doing so good! As far as Sami’s concerned, that was a message sent not just to Sheamus but to the entire roster! So the work here is done tonight. Jey asks Sami what he means. They’re just getting started! When Logan Paul show sup, they’ll get him, too! Complete the mission!

Sami says the thing is, The Tribal Chief was very specific to NOT engage Logan. Roman’s words. NOT at all. And that is right, they can’t let Logan think he is in any way in the heads of The Bloodline. The whole thing wouldn’t be very Ucey. Sami isn’t crazy, right? Jimmy, back him up. “My dawg.” Jey accepts that, but well, he is a hot head! So we’ll see by the end of the night what really happens. Jey storms off and Sami isn’t sure if Jey was joking or not. Will Jey lose his cool on the Influencer?

Liv Morgan VS Sonya Deville!

The LIVing Embodiment is having a blast going to the extreme, it’s almost like she doesn’t mind she lost the title to Ronda Rousey. Will Liv make an example out of the Jersey Devil that she’ll go to any lengths to get back to the top?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Sonya pulls hair to put Liv in a corner, and the ref counts. Sonya lets off at 4 but Liv just smiles. Liv storms up but Sonya knocks her down! Liv grins again, she rolls Sonya up, ONE! Sonya runs Liv over and taunts her, but then things speed up. Liv hurdles, Sonya slides, then Sonya leaps but into a SHOTGUN! Cover, ONE! Liv chases Sonya to ropes and the ref has her back off. Liv says okay, but then she blocks the cheap shot! She spins Sonya around for a BACKSTABBER! Fans fire up as Liv grins and runs in, back body block! Liv rolls, comes back, slips around and backslides, but Sonya slips through to KNEE! Cover, TWO!

Sonya tells Liv, “Who do you think you are, huh?!” Sonya drags Liv up and talks some trash, then she throws knees. Sonya bumps Liv off buckles again and again and again but lets off as the ref counts. Sonya drags Liv up, bumps her off more buckles, and again and again and again! The ref counts, Sonya lets off and argues with the ref, but Liv still smiles! Liv blocks a punch to give some haymakers! Fans fire up as Liv whips but Sonya reverses. Liv stops herself to BOOT Sonya! Liv runs in, but Sonya slips away to BOOT Liv! Liv hits the floor but is still smiling as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Sonya taunts Liv while she has the chinlock. Liv fights up as fans rally, and Liv throws body shots. Liv rolls and arm-drags, Sonya rushes back in but into an ELBOW! Liv BOOTS Sonya, then dodges a haymaker to kick, KICK and ENZIGURI! Sonya goes to a corner, Liv roars and fans fire up! Liv runs in to back body block! Liv runs in again to SHINING WIZARD! Liv snapmares Sonya, she goes up and up, but leaps into a KNEE! Cover, TWO! Sonya grows frustrated but she drags Liv up. Sonya whips Liv to a corner hard and Liv bounces off buckles. Liv crawls, Sonya drags her up and KICKS her!

Sonya KICKS Liv again and again, and Liv falls over! Sonya runs, but Liv wants her to hit her? So Sonya BOOTS her! Cover, TWO! Sonya is frustrated again as she pie faces Liv around. Liv keeps laughing it all off as Sonya says she’s not extreme. Sonya keeps slapping Liv but Liv wants her to hit harder! Sonya SLAPS and SLAPS and SLAPS, but Liv trips Sonya up! Liv fires off fists! Liv goes after Sonya on the apron, Sonya manages to get away but Liv SMACKS her off the desk! Liv RAMS Sonya into the apron! Then TOSSES her into barriers! The ring count is 7 of 10 but Liv is dribbling Sonya off the steps! The count hits ten!!

Double Count-Out Draw

Liv still smiles, surprised to hear the match is over! Fans boo but Liv brings out a chair! Fans fire up now as Liv puts the chair in the ring, then puts in another. Fans chant, “We Want Tables!” but Liv drags Sonya up and into the ring first. Liv fetches chairs from the timekeeper’s area, that’s her choice of furniture for tonight. Liv makes a little chair pile while Sonya is in a corner. Liv ROCKS Sonya, hoists her up top, and Liv climbs up after her! Fans fire up but more refs rush out to tell her no! Liv doesn’t care, she CLUBS Sonya and hits a SUPERPLEX onto the chairs! Double-edged, but Liv is loving it! Liv crawls after Sonya while fans lose their minds!

Liv just showed Sonya just how extreme she can go, but how much further will she go to get back to the title?

LA Knight speaks.

“You wanna know about the Mega Star? About talking the talk, backing it up, walking the walk, and taking care of business. Well if you don’t know anything, which you obviously don’t, then just know this: There’s a difference between beating the game and ruling the game. And whose game is it? The Mega Star’s! L A Knight, YEAH!” Will LA Knight rule the game here on SmackDown?

The Viking Raiders speak.

“The words of the gods will haunt our victims. The gods preach patience.” “We obey.” They beat their drums and shields, “Valhalla awaits.” The time is drawing closer, when and where will the Viking Raiders return?

BRAUN is here!

The Monster of All Monsters returns to SmackDown to answer the invitation of Montel Vontavius Porter and the Nigerian Giant! But before MVP and Omos appear, Braun gets the mic. “Look at me. I mean, really look at me. Clearly, I am not someone that’s easy to miss. And if you got a problem with me, I promise you, I’m not hard to find.” Braun heard MVP running his mouth, so let’s get to the point! MVP, Omos, come on out so you can look in the eyes of a REAL monster. MVP’s music hits, but there’s no Omos?

MVP tells Braun, “Let me make this clear. At no point have I ever referred to you as anything less than an absolute monster of a man, because that is what you are. I’m sure you’ve always been the biggest. Biggest kid on the playground. Biggest athlete in the locker room. Strongest athlete in the weight room. Braun Strowman, always the biggest and the strongest. That is until last week, when you found yourself in the vicinity of a literal giant. A 7’3″, 403 pound Nigerian Giant named Omos.”

Now, Braun represents himself as the Monster of All Monsters, and the WWE Universe believes that. Fans cheer in agreement there. So if Braun would like to maintain that, MVP advises he stay away from Omos. Because once the fans see Braun face to face with a literal giant, he is exposed. Braun tells MVP, “enough. I don’t need any of your damn advice. So why don’t you tell this so-called giant, if he’s so destined to show the world that I’m normal, then why don’t he try it at Crown Jewel?” Oh, so, that’s a challenge? Yeah, you heard him. Okay, then on behalf of Omos, MVP accepts. And at Crown Jewel, when Omos rag dolls Braun-

Braun again says, “Enough, enough, enough. We can talk about what we’re going to do to each other at Crown Jewel all night long, but let’s be for real. Everybody in here knows I’m more for action than talking.” Fans cheer for that, too. Braun says since MVP is here and Omos didn’t show- Whoa, hold on! What gave Braun the idea that Omos wasn’t here? MVP never said that. So here comes Omos after all! Omos struts his way out in his suit and Braun stares him down. Omos goes to the ring but Braun stands his ground. Braun then steps closer to Omos, and while he looks up at Omos, he isn’t intimidated.

Omos steps, Braun doesn’t move, so Omos SHOVES Braun out of the ring! MVP says time to go, and Braun gets up to chuckle. Braun says, “Okay, big boy.” Omos says HE’s the alpha! HE’s the tyrant! Braun says Omos is gonna learn real quick the truth. Will Crown Jewel look more like a Godzilla movie now that this match has been made?

Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.

Kayla Braxton asks Drew that “upper management” isn’t too happy with what happened last week. Have there been any repercussions? McIntyre says at Extreme Rules, Karrion Kross pushed him past his breaking point, but y’know what? That’s irrelevant. Yes, McIntyre was called into WWE HQ. They had some “uncomfortable conversations,” and it was made clear that if McIntyre and Kross get in each other’s way, start throwing hands, there will be severe consequences. “But… We all agreed that this thing has to end. And it will, at Crown Jewel. Cuz it’s gonna be Drew McIntyre VS Karrion Kross in a Steel Cage Match!”

Someone pulls into the parking lot in the back.

It’s Logan Paul! The Influencer, the ImPAULsive challenger is here! Will The Bloodline control themselves or not?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Damage Control VS Shotzi Blackheart & Raquel Rodriguez!

While Bayley is still trying to get that Raw Women’s Championship, Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky are ready to defend their championships here tonight! Will #CobraKai and her new partner put away The Ballsy & The Badass? Or will Big Mami Cool get some payback on her old partner while also getting some gold?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if Shotzi & Raquel can Take Care o’ Bidness, after the break!

SmackDown returns and the teams sort out. Sky and Raquel start and they stare down. They each talk some trash, Sky pie faces but Raquel clamps on both hands! Sky wheelbarrows free to STOMP 182! Sky scuffs Raquel, tags Kai, and Sky sunset flips! Raquel stays up to sit on Sky, but Kai PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Kai smirks as she SCORPOIN- NO, Raquel blocks that to a STRETCH MUFFLER! Shotzi tags in, STRETCH MUFFLER NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Shotzi brings Kai up, whips her to a corner and runs in, to SPLASH! Shotzi rolls and comes back to CANNONBALL! Shotzi drags Kai to a drop zone and heads up top!

Fans rally but Sky hurries to drag Kai to safety! Shotzi is annoyed but Raquel POUNCES Sky into Kai! Tag and Raquel is legal. She helps Shotzi up onto her shoulders, and fans fire up as Shotzi hits a SUPER CROSSBODY onto the champions! DMG CTRL is down but Shotzi & Raquel put Kai in the ring. Fans fire up, Raquel covers, TWO! Raquel drags Kai over, tags in Shotzi, and then Raquel Electric Chair Lifts Kai! Shotzi is up top, SHOTGUN DOOMSDAY! Cover, TWO! Kai survives and Shotzi can’t believe it! Shotzi drags Kai around, tags Raquel back in, and they mug Kai in the corner.

The ref counts as Raquel RAMS her shoulder in. Tag to Shotzi, Shotzi runs in to back body block! Shotzi drags Kai around, covers, TWO! Bayley is concerned as Shotzi drops an elbow! Cover, TWO! Shotzi drags Kai up but Kai JAWBREAKERS! Tag to Sky, Kai baits Shotzi in and there’s a chase! Kai lures Shotzi into a MISSILE DROPKICK from Sky! DMG CTRL is back on top as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Kai throws Shotzi down y her hair! Tag to Sky, Kai & Sky double whip but Shotzi KIKCKS back! Shotzi ELBOWS Sky, BOOTS Kai, then tosses Kai out! Sky rushes in, Shotzi dodges but Sky gets a leg! Shotzi kicks Sky away, hot tag to Raquel! Fans rally as Ricky Desperado rallies on DMG CTRL! Bayley is freaking out but Raquel FALL AWAY SLAMS Sky! And then she scoops Kai for another FALL AWAY SLAM! Raquel goes up but Sky goes after her! SO Raquel deadlifts Sky! But Kai adds on! Shotzi ELBOWS Kai down, but Sky kicks Raquel away. Sky adjusts, leaps, FLYING DDT!! Cover, TWO!!

Bayley is furious but Sky steps on Raquel to go up the corner! OVER THE MOON- NO, Raquel moves! Sky comes back, into a LARIAT! Hot tag to Shotzi and Raquel helps her. SLICED BREAD! BOOT for Kai, Shotzi covers! But Kai slips out of the bomb to break the pin!! Bayley rallies for her team, but Raquel snarls and storms over. She pops Kai up but Kai fights with fists! Kai RANAS Raquel and herself out! Bayley storms in but Shotzi DECKS her! Sky Alabama Lifts Shotzi for an AIR RAID CRASH! Sky goes up top, OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, DMG CTRL wins!

Winners: Damage Control, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)

Fans boo as Bayley’s assist helps her team survive! With the Role Model as the outside factor, will any team be able to dethrone them?

Backstage interview with Ronda Rousey.

Kayla says we all expect the SmackDown Women’s Champion to issue an open challenge as she has in the past. Ronda says, “Oh, is that what they’re expecting?” Ronda says she only issues challenges to prove she’s the best, not to entertain all the fans. She owes the fans nothing! She gave them everything before and only got hate for it. If Ronda kept chasing approval, how pathetic does that make her? She didn’t come back for the fans, and she doesn’t win for the fans. Ronda ripped this title off “Glitter Cinderella” just to spite fans. The fans want their favorites to win, but now they’re stuck with the best! So then, there’s no open challenge tonight?

Ronda says next week, it’ll be an open challenge when Ronda feels like it. Now she’s gonna get the hell out of Ohio. The Baddest Woman on the Planet is even worse, but will someone step up to her?

The White Rabbit speaks…

“Wowie zowie! Live a lie. Lie to the ones you love.” And now we get a new face… “Howdy.” Just who is this? And just what do they have planned as part of this twisting story between Bray Wyatt and himself?

Legado del Fantasma speaks.

Santos Escobar says, “Legado del Fantasma’s family business is growing into an empire. Businesses grow stronger and prosper through mergers and acquisitions. And our latest acquisition is the beautiful, ruthless and powerful Zelina Vega.” La Madrina says Escobar is right. She’s been successful at everything she’s done, and you can’t mess with her when it comes to recruiting power. LDF has no peers, no competition, because they are head and shoulders above everyone else. They are “an unbreakable force,” fueled by tradition, heritage, and culture. Their legacy begins by destroying Hit Row! Salud!

But Hit Row is watching.

Top Dolla questions how LDF says they’re head ‘n’ shoulders above the rest when none of their heads reach Dolla’s shoulders. Adonis is tired of these fools jumping them from behind. LDF doesn’t wanna see Hit Row face to face. B-Fab says Legado del Dummies talking about destroying Hit Row, acting like they ain’t just playing the numbers game. But that doesn’t matter, because B has an idea. Let’s go. What will this idea entail? Will it succeed or fail against the scheming Zelina?

Rey Mysterio VS Ludwig Kaiser w/ Imperium!

The King of Lucha is once again #1 contender after choosing not to quit and simply move back to SmackDown. With an encounter with Gunther on the horizon, will Rey be red hot going into their Intercontinental Championship match? Or will the Impeccable German tell him “NEIN” tonight?

The bell rings and Ludwig storms up on Rey. They tie up, Ludwig puts Rey in a corner, Ludwig lets off to kick and headlock. Ludwig hits a takeover and he grinds Rey down. Ludwig throws hands, Rey rolls to a cover, ONE! Rey fights up, Ludwig shifts to wrench and whip, but Rey goes up and over! Rey keeps moving, he slides under and ENZIGURIS! Ludwig staggers, Rey whips but Ludwig reverses. Rey hits buckles but he elbows back! Rey then BOOTS Ludwig, goes up, and leaps, into a BIG right hand! Gunther tells Ludwig to keep on Rey, and Ludwig PENALTY KICKS! Fans boo but Imperium soaks up the heat.

Ludwig drags Rey up, but Rey throws body shots and haymakers! Fans fire up but Ludwig rakes eyes! Ludwig kicks, whips but Rey KICKS back! Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl and headscissor! Ludwig’s on ropes, Rey dials it up, but Vinci stands in the way! Rey swipes at him, but now Gunther distracts Rey. Fans boo but Rey still runs to WRECK Ludwig with a dropkick! Rey runs, slides, but has to bail out as Ludwig moves! Ludwig CLOBBERS Rey with the European Uppercut! Fans boo as Imperium stands tall and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Ludwig has Rey down with an armlock. Ludwig taunts Rey, Gunther talks trash, but fans rally up. Ludwig stomps Rey down, swaggers around, and Imperium soaks up the heat. Rey goes to the apron and crawls to a corner. Ludwig runs in but Rey dodges the kick! Rey ROCKS Ludwig, goes up and fans cheer, only for Ludwig to throw hands! Ludwig climbs, he throws down elbows on Rey’s neck, and then he hauls Rey up. Rey holds the corner to fight things off, and he fires off body shots! Rey HEADBUTTS Ludwig down, Gunther and Vinci shout at Ludwig and Ludwig gets up, for the SEATED SENTON!

Rey keeps things moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges and springboard CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Imperium is furious but Ludwig blocks a whip to kick low. Ludwig runs, sunset flips, but Rey rolls through to BUZZSAW! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ludwig gets to a corner but Rey has the fans chanting “6 1 9! 6 1 9!” Rey runs in to ROCK Ludwig! Rey climbs up, rains down fists, and fans count all the way to TEN! Fans fire up with the Latino Heat, and Rey lets off. Ludwig EuroUppers! Ludwig goes up, but Rey ROCKS him first! Rey climbs up, he throws down headbutts, and then SUPER STEINERS! Cover, TWO!

Rey keeps his cool while Imperium shouts at Ludwig. Ludwig flounders to a corner but Rey goes out to the apron. Rey shoulders into Ludwig, then he climbs up. Ludwig CLUBS Rey, brings him around, but Rey fights the bomb to RANA Ludwig out of the ring! Rey is on the apron, he LEAPS, but Ludwig gets under! Ludwig gets in the ring while Rey is down. The ref checks Ludwig but Rey gets a chair to fend off Gunther and Vinci! Rey throws the chair at Gunther, Gunther SWATS it down, but then Rey falls over! Another shoutout to Eddie Guerrero! The ref sees Rey down and questions Gunther.

Vinci defends Gunther’s innocence, but the ref EJECTS Vinci and Gunther!! Fans are thunderous, and they sing, “Nana na na, nana na na, hey hey hey! Good bye~!” Ludwig is furious, but Rey shoulders into him! And GAMANGIRIS! Ludwig is down, Rey goes up, FALLING SPLASH onto knees! Cover, TWO!! Rey is still in this and Ludwig is shocked! Fans rally for Rey with “6 1 9! 6 1 9!” but Ludwig says “NEIN!” Ludwig hooks Rey up but Rey rolls him, slips around and RANAS Ludwig onto ropes! Dial it up! 619!! Rey goes up, springboard SPLASH! Cover, Rey wins!

Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall

Fans are fired up as Rey gets the better of Imperium from top to bottom! But with just two weeks to go, will the King of Lucha have to look over his shoulder for retaliation?

Next week, SmackDown is on Fox Sports 1!

SmackDown heads to Missouri, and Ronda Rousey holds her open challenge! That, and Hit Row gets their mysterious third man to face Legado del Fantasma in a Six Man Tag! Who will be the third man, brother?

Logan Paul heads to the ring!

Though he’s from Ohio, Toledo isn’t all on board with his return to SmackDown. Logan gets the mic to say, “TOLEDOOO~! WHOA! I know I’m supposed to address the hard cam and the millions watching at home, but I gotta take a second personally to say it feels good to be back in Ohio, baby! But, back to the hard cam for all the WWE diehards back at home. I know you doubt me. But news flash, dummies: I’ve been doubted my whole life, and look where I am now! Yeah, it’s true, I run my mouth a lot. But that’s because I’m confident. I’m confident in both myself, and in my abilities.

“I don’t need some penguin looking Paul Heyman dude out here talking for me. I don’t need two guys that are basically just the same guy around me at all times to protect me. Or a guy who calls himself Solo, but personally I’ve never seen him alone. And I definitely don’t have any friends that look like Sami Zayn. What is that guy? But what I do have is the desire to be the best. And yeah, I know I’m the underdog in this fight. As I should be. No one’s expecting me, some kid from social media, to step in the ring with the GOAT and actually win. But what happens if I do? What happens if I hit Roman Reigns so hard, that I bounce his face on the canvas and bust all his teeth in, turning his little tribe into a clean-up crew?

“Cuz Roman Reigns, brother, on November 5th in Saudi Arabia, at Crown Jewel-” JEY ATTACKS! The hot headed Right Hand Man rains down fists from all sides! Fans are just as torn, but Jey says he’s getting Logan for Roman! Jey puts Logan in a corner and then SUPERKICKS him down! Jey holds up the finger, HE the one who just did that. HIP ATTACK! Logan is dazed and gasping, but Sami shows up to shot out Jey. Sami tells Jey to get out of the ring, because they were told not to do this. This isn’t from Sami, it’s from Roman! Get out of the ring, Jey. Jey listens, but then rushes back in! Logan dodges this time to DECK Jey!!

Logan shakes off the damage and he grins at Sami, who is stunned silent! Fans are torn again as Logan puts his hat back on. Logan proves he can take out an Uso, but will he be able to take out the Head of the Table? And how will Roman respond to Jey’s insubordination?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown here, with a lot more set up for Crown Jewel. For one, a great promo form McIntyre to set up a rematch with Karrion Kross. But for me personally, a Steel Cage Match stipulation just isn’t as exciting anymore. Unless they add that there’s no winning by escape. That would be great because then there’s no reason for door interference spots, no reason for Scarlett to try and keep McIntyre from leaving with her fireballs and mace. It’ll just be a brutal fight between Kross and McIntyre inside a cage, as we want to see. But either way, I feel like this should be McIntyre’s win so that he can move on towards a title opportunity.

Really good promo segment from Braun, MVP and Omos, and that match at Crown Jewel is almost certainly to bring back the ring breaking superplex spot. Braun had the previous one with Big Show, it’d be fitting of Braun had the next one with Omos to sort of pass the torch on being a giant in the WWE. We also got a good vignette for LA Knight, another good vignette for The Viking Raiders, and good promos from Legado and Hit Row. No idea who Hit Row is recruiting for this Six Man Tag but it’ll surely be a great surprise and a great match. I also do appreciate that Legado somewhat kayfabes the reason for replacing Elektra Lopez with Zelina Vega with how they’re expanding and getting more brand recognition with the Queen of the Ring on their side.

We got a really good match out of Liv Morgan and Sonya Deville, with Liv being rather crazy an interesting direction for her character. Her using those chairs was a great spot, too. Ronda is officially back to being a Heel, but I felt she was already that with the interactions with Adam Pearce and Liv Morgan going into Extreme Rules. Anyway, that open challenge could go any which way, but I see this possibly being Shayna Baszler’s chance jumping into the title scene. Shayna and Ronda can give us a PPV level match to really get some buzz while SmackDown ends up on FS1 because of MLB’s World Series, but I don’t see Ronda losing to whoever it is answering the challenge.

Great tag title match but of course Bayley helps DMG CTRL retain. Shotzi & Raquel are a solid team but I’m not sure who is going to take the titles off Kai & Sky at this point. That is, unless Sasha Banks & Naomi return, but there hasn’t been any word on that happening yet. As for Bayley, I feel like she’s going to beat Bianca on Raw since it’s non-title, and then we see them have one more match for the Raw Women’s Championship, either at Crown Jewel or Survivor Series.

Great promo from Bray Wyatt, and I love that his theme song was playing the whole time. It fit the tone and the build of what he was getting to. I can’t be sure but it felt like he was turning Heel, but he’s definitely not going to play nice. “White Rabbit” and this rumored “Uncle Howdy” got an interesting promo, too. I’m intrigued to see where this is going to go from here, but because it is Bray Wyatt, it is going to be a very entertaining story. And a great match from Rey VS Ludwig to be the “main event.” Rey gets a lot of momentum here, but I feel like that only guarantees he’s losing in the title match. Putting that match on the go-home is smart, it’ll get the ratings and the buzz going into the weekend.

Great match from Sheamus and Solo, and of course The Bloodline helps its own win. Great use of the desk to trap Dunne & Ridge, though. And I like the tension keeps growing between Sami and Jey, where Jey basically doesn’t trust Sami is speaking for Roman when Roman isn’t around to confirm it. Logan Paul had a good promo, but of course he can talk on the mic and he’s shown he can go. Jey taking the shot here is already the comeuppance of him disobeying but I’m sure Roman’s going to get on his case, too. Jey will surely hold it against Sami instead of taking responsibility and owning up, and that’ll just add to the eventual fight between them.

My Score: 8.6/10