One more stop before Crown Jewel!

Before the WWE returns to Saudi Arabia, SmackDown has Rey Mysterio challenging Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship! Will the King of Lucha Libre reign once again? Or will the mat be kept sacred?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• No Disqualifications: Liv Morgan VS Sonya Deville; Liv wins.
• LA Knight VS Ricochet; Knight wins.
• Shayna Baszler w/ Ronda Rousey VS Natalya; Shayna wins.
• 5v1 Handicap Match: Braun Strowman VS ???; No Contest.
• WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER w/ Imperium VS Rey Mysterio; Gunther wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

No Disqualifications: Liv Morgan VS Sonya Deville!

Ever since Extreme Rules, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion has been LIVing on the edge! Will she finally go over that edge against the Jersey Devil? Or will this be another big risk, big reward payoff?

The bell rings and the two tie up, for Sonya to DECK Liv! Sonya throws KNEE after KNEE, then a SOBAT! Sonya goes out and looks under the ring. Sonya brings out a kendo stick! But where’d Liv go? Liv LEAPS off the steel steps! The Thesz Press hits, and Liv gets the kendo stick! Liv swings but Sonya blocks! They fight over the stick, Sonya RAMS Liv into the apron, and again, and again! Sonya has the stick but Liv ducks it! Liv BOOTS Sonya, then gets in the ring. Liv grins, builds speed, and she runs into a SMACK! Sonya SMACKS Liv again! And again! Sonya circles around Liv, stands over her, then uses the stick to pull Liv back!

Liv endures, fans rally, but Sonya keeps grinding the stick as part of the camel clutch. Liv crawls, gets the ropebreak, but Sonya is allowed to still hold on! So Liv crawls to pull Sonya into the ropes! Sonya lets go, fans chant “We Want Tables!” but Liv fires off with the kendo stick! Liv goes until the stick breaks! Fans fire up and Liv goes outside. Liv looks under the ring, and she brings out the TABLE! Fans fire up, but Sonya WRECKS Liv with a dropkick! Sonya wags her finger and puts Liv in the ring. Sonya puts the table back under! Fans boo, Sonya goes through the ropes, into a SPIKE-RANA! Sonya flops back and Liv builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit!

Liv hurries to put Sonya in the ring, but Sonya hurries to get away! Liv just builds speed again to DIVE again! Another direct hit and fans fire up! Liv fist bumps fans and drags Sonya back up. Liv brings Sonya around, smacks her off barriers, and then bumps her off the apron. Liv mocks Sonya, fans still want tables, but Liv RAMS Sonya into steel steps! Liv hears the fans, and she brings out the TABLE! Fans fire up even more as Liv sets the table up at ringside. Liv makes sure the table is in just the right spot, but Sonya BOOTS her down! Liv flounders around, makes it back up to the apron, but Sonya hurries after her!

Fans fire up as Sonya waistlocks and tries to bring Liv down! Liv holds onto ropes, Sonya headbutts but Liv throws elbows! Liv grins, and says what the hell. BACKPACK SENTON through the table!! Fans lose their minds and Liv is smiling through the pain as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns and Sonya has Liv in a chinlock. Liv endures, fights up, and throws body shots. Fans fire up as Liv arm-drags free! Sonya comes back to KNEE Liv down! Liv goes to a corner, Sonya runs in but Liv dodges. Sonya goes up and leaps, FLYING KNEE! Cover, TWO! Sonya is frustrated and she goes outside while Liv goes to a corner. Sonya looks under the ring, and she brings out a chair! Sonya throws that one in the ring, then throws in another, and another, and another. Sonya keeps putting chairs in the ring, and fans count along. Sonya brings NINE chairs in, but Liv dodges the one to kick, KICK and ENZIGURI!

Liv roars and Sonya is on the ropes! SHOTGUN knocks Sonya down! Sonya goes to a corner, fans fire up and Liv runs in, back body block! Liv rolls and returns to SHINING WIZARD! Snapmare and springboard, CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sonya is still in this but Liv keeps her focus. Liv takes those nine chairs Sonya threw in and brings Sonya to the corner. Liv bumps Sonya off buckles, puts her up top, and she wants to repeat what she did a few weeks ago! But Sonya holds the superplex off! Sonya throws body shots, then forearms! Liv wobbles, Sonya slips under and POWERBOMBS Liv on the chairs!! High stack, TWO!?!

Sonya can’t believe it but Liv survives! “This is Awesome!” as both women slowly rise. Sonya dribbles Liv off a chair! “Who do you think you are?!” Sonya dribbles Liv off the chairs more and more! Then Sonya drags Liv up into a dragon sleeper, but Liv drops to roll her up! TWO! Sonya stagger sup, Liv dodges the knees to CODE BREAKER! Sonya flounders to ropes, Liv runs in, ObLIVion onto the chairs! Cover, Liv wins!

Winner: Liv Morgan, by pinfall

Liv went to the extreme again, and she came away the winner! Will “Hardcore Barbie” fight her way back to the title?

Backstage interview with Emma.

Megan says Emma made a big return to the WWE last week, how does it feel to be back? It’s been five years, and she wasn’t sure this day would ever come. So when she answered Ronda Rousey’s open challenge, she felt the blood pumping in her veins and her heart popping out of her chest. But then, with a sarcastic clap, in walks Xia Li. Good talk, Emma. But we saw you lose. The only thing you proved is that you are weak! Xia grins but Emma says one, that was a match against Ronda Rousey. And two, BAM! Emma decks Xia! Xia snarls and gets back up, who will be the weak one when these two face off?

WWE shares a clip from ImPAULsive TV.

Logan Paul and friends talk about the coming showdown with Roman Reigns. His brother, Jake, offered help. Logan could use the support. The Paul Brothers know The Bloodline always rolls deep, so they’re backing each other up! But will one brother be enough to thwart an entire family tree?

The Viking Raiders prepare for war.

The war paint is put upon the foreheads, and “Valhalla awaits.” Is it almost time for the raid to return?

LA Knight VS Ricochet!

There’s only one Mega Star in the WWE, dummy, but there’s also only one One and Only! Will Ricochet prove to Knight that he’s not nearly as great as he thinks? Or will Ricochet losing not be an insult, but a fact of life, YEAH?!

SmackDown returns and Knight makes his entrance. Knight has a mic to say, “Lemme talk to ya! You got to be kidding me, because now, a once in a generation star, some call him a Mega Star, is walking down the aisle. That means this incel, that incel, y’all’re gonna wanna jump on the gravy train that is L A Knight. But let me handle a little business here, because this little pop tart announcer over just couldn’t happen to get my hometown right a couple weeks ago. And believe me, I understand it. What you were feeling was the undeniable kavorka of LA Knight. You got lost in these baby blues.

“But even though you got it right tonight, that intro you just did? That ain’t good enough for the Mega Star. It might be good enough for this gymnastics jerk up here-” Ricochet DIVES onto Knight! Fans fire up and Ricochet drags Knight up to ROCK him! And again! Knight gets in the ring, Ricochet hurries after, and Ricochet shoulders in. Ricochet slingshots up and over and runs to CLBOBER Knight! The ref wants this to hold on, and then the bell rings. Ricochet CHOPS! And ROCKS! Ricochet says run your mouth now! Snapmare and KICK! Then an ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Ricochet stalks Knight, EuroUppers, then whips.

Knight reverses and CLOBBERS Ricochet! Ricochet flounders but Knight stomps away. Knight lets off as the ref counts and he taunts the fans. Knight drags Ricochet up to ROCK him, then whip him to ropes. Ricochet rolls over, slips under and handsprings to headscissor! Ricochet DROPKICKS Knight down and fans fire up! Ricochet aims but Knight anchors a foot. Ricochet JABS Knight to make him let go, and then he drags Knight back up. But Knight HOTSHOTS Ricochet down! Knight elbows Ricochet down, stomps him, but fans rally for Ricochet. Knight shows off his own agility, LIONSAULT but he FLOPS!

Ricochet BOOTS Knight down! Knight bails out but Ricochet builds speed, and he fakes Knight out with a Superhero Landing! Knight snarls but fans fire up, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again, YEAH, and Knight drops knees on Ricochet. Cover, TWO, but Knight keeps on Ricochet with stomps. Knight drags Ricochet up, bumps him off buckles, then stomps a mudhole in, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” The ref counts, Knight lets off, and fans boo. Ricochet ROCKS Knight! And again! And then ROLLING HAYMAKERS! Knight falls over and fans fire up! But then Knight YANKS Ricochet into ropes! Ricochet sputters, Knight goes to the apron, and he KNEES Ricochet back in! Knight then slingshots to SHOULDER TACKLE! Knight fires up and mocks the superhero pose, but fans boo. Cover, TWO!

Knight drags Ricochet around to then have a neck wrench. Knight leans on the hold, fans rally up, and Ricochet fights up. Ricochet throws body shots but Knight knees low. Knight has Ricochet on the ropes, whips him to ropes, but Ricochet ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Knight! Ricochet rains down fists, Knight gets away to a corner, but Ricochet CHOPS! Ricochet whips corner to corner, Knight reverses and Ricochet hits buckles! NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Ricochet is still in this but Knight goes to a corner. Knight drags Ricochet over, hops up and spells his name. But Ricochet grabs at him! Knight BOOTS him, but Ricochet comes back with a RANA! Cover, TWO!!

Knight survives but even he’s shocked! Ricochet throws hands, body shots, then whips. Knight reverses but Ricochet RANAS again! Knight staggers to a corner, Ricochet turns in to RAM into Knight! Ricochet bumps Knight off buckles, ROUNDHOUSES him away, then springboards to FLYING LARIAT! Fans fire up and Ricochet STANDING SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet puts Knight in a drop zone and he goes up top now. Fans fire up but Knight gets under the jump! Knight scoops but Ricochet slips off to roll up! Knight pulls tights to get the roll-up and holds ropes! Knight wins!!

Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall

Two tricks to get the three count on the One and Only! But that’s just how the one and only LA Knight does it, YEAH! Will he continue to play this game his way until he’s running SmackDown?

The Bloodline talks backstage.

Sami Zayn is excited! They’re all rolling! Roman Reigns is going to handle business at Crown Jewel… Yeet. And so will the Usos against the Brawling Brutes… Yeet. And when they all do, The Usos will be on the verge of breaking the all-time record for the longest reigning tag team champions ever! They are there! Jey says they are, and they’re gonna tell the Brutes what’s about to happen. In the ring? Yeah, right now. Uh, no. They talked about this! They were making progress here. Could Jey not? There’s no reason for it. The match is made, they can get a good night’s sleep, and they can beat the Brutes with the record right around the corner. So please, don’t-

Oh, okay, just because he’s Sami Uso, he thinks he’s in charge! This ain’t no Bloodline thing. This a Uso thing. And they’ve been champions before Sami, and they’ll be champions long after Sami’s gone. Jey tells Jimmy to go, and Jimmy says Jey’s got a point. They go, Sami panics, but will things go sideways this close to Crown Jewel?

Bray Wyatt speaks.

“I’m not the type of person that likes to share their feelings. In fact, the concept is brand new to me entirely. It makes it even harder for me when people play with me like that. When people interrupt me when I’m trying to do something that’s obviously very hard for me!” But then someone interrupts! Bray storms over to them and tells them, “I know you’re probably just here trying to do your job. I’m just trying to do my job, too. But you know that feeling you get when you’re in traffic and someone cuts you off? He drives right in front of you and he’s smiling at you. And for the next little bit, all you wanna do is fantasize what you would do what you had him for just 30 seconds?

“What would you do if you just had him alone for just 30 seconds? Me? I can’t stand the way I’m thinking about things. It’s wrong, I hate myself right now, you understand that? Because all I wanna do is take your head, run over there, and smash it in that cement wall! And honestly, bro, I can’t handle myself. I am a hair away. So I want you to do something. I want you to do it for me, do it for you, do it for both of us. I need you to reach down and I need you, from the bottom of your soul, look me in the eye, look me in the eyes, and apologize to me and tell me you didn’t mean to bust in! You didn’t mean to come this all up! Tell me you mean it! Tell me you’re sorry!”

But as Bray is losing his cool, Uncle Howdy is getting to him. “It’s all your fault.” The staffer says he’s sorry, he didn’t mean to. Bray calms down, and says he knows. Go, please. The staffer hurries off and Bray takes a breath. Does Uncle Howdy have a point? Is Bray lying to himself?

The Usos head to the ring!

Jey & Jimmy go to the ring, just as Jey said. They’re just nine days away from tying the New Day’s record, but they’ve got the Brawling Brutes to face tomorrow. Fans chant “Let’s Get Ucey!” Jey gets the mic to say, “The Bloodline is now in your city!” Jimmy says, “Yo, Uce. We on our way, baby.” “To what?” “We on our way, history-making. And it starts tomorrow at Crown Jewel.” They will be the longest reigning tag team champions EVER! Fans like the sound of that, as they chant “UCEY! UCEY!” Jimmy says it starts with the Brutes! “Ey, Brutes!” “You the twos!” And #WeTheOnes! But wait! Here comes the New Day!

Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods want them all to “hold up hold up hold up.” Pump the brakes, slow it down, and take a second. Just STOP! Now yes, at Crown Jewel it’ll be Usos VS Brutes for the tag titles. And to be honest, Kofi & Woods want the Brutes. But if by some Bloodline stroke of luck, the Usos get through the Brutes and retain, then understand one thing: “When you’re on that plane, flying back home, as soon as you touch back down on American soil, you will have THE longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions waiting to tear you limb from limb to protect our record.”

“In other words, we got next.” “BECAAAAUSE!” “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” The challenge has been made, the Usos raise the belts, but then the Brutes attack from behind! Ridge & Dunne take down the Usos, and Woods tells them they better win. And then all four stomp out the Usos! But here comes Sami & Solo! Solo CLOBBERS the New Day! Sami fires off on Ridge but Dunne jumps on Solo! Solo SLAMS Dunne! And he SUPERKICKS Ridge! Solo TOSSES Dunne out, Jimmy SUPERKICKS Woods! Jey SUPERKICKS Kofi! Sami drags Ridge up, he and Solo feed Ridge to the DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Fans fire up for “SAMI USO!” but THE Usos go to the corners!

Jey & Jimmy aim at Ridge, for the DOUBLE- NO, Dunne CLOBBERS everyone with a shillelagh! Sami! Then Solo! Then Jimmy and Jey! But Solo SUPERKICKS Dunne back down! Then the SPINNING SOLO! The Bloodline stands tall after all, but will the Usos make it through the Brutes to head for history?

Backstage interview with Rey Mysterio.

Kayla Braxton says Rey is facing Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship. Winning this title could be the fresh start he needs? Rey says he loves competing in the WWE, and he has given his life to wrestling. Everyone knows that that is something Rey always shared with his son. But Rey is haunted by those memories, even now. But Rey will also show his son that even when the worst thing happens to you, you can’t give up, you have to keep fighting. Now Gunther is one hell of an opponent. Rey still feels the pain in his chest from the chop last week.

But Rey will take that pain and turn it into rage and that rage will fuel him up to chop Gunther down to size so he can become the NEW Intercontinental Champion. Rey is ready in mind, body and soul, but will it be enough to stop Der Ring General?

Shayna Baszler w/ Ronda Rousey VS Natalya!

The Queen of Spades choked out the Queen of Harts when she mouthed off to the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Will she do so again to keep Natalya from the title? Or will the BOAT sail towards a match with the Baddest Woman on the Planet?

SmackDown returns and Natty makes her entrance. The bell rings, Natty and Shayna circle, then tie up. Natty headlocks, hits the takeover, but Shayna headscissors. Natty moves around, gets free and gets the headlock back. Shayna rolls Natty to a cover, ONE! Natty grinds the hold, Shayna fights up and powers out. Natty runs Shayna over, drags Shayna up, and then wrenches to a wristlock. Natty tells Ronda to shut up but Shayna drags Natty down. Shayna isolates an arm, and she STOMP- NO, Natty rolls her up! TWO, Natty SLAPS Shayna! Natty whips Shayna to a corner, runs in, but Shayna dodges.

Shayna runs in to KNEE Natty in the corner! Shayna stomps a mudhole, lets off as the ref counts and soaks up the heat. Ronda applauds and Shayna drags Natty by the arm. Shayna isolate sit again and STOMPS it! Ronda mocks Natty’s pain while Natty writhes and gets to the ropes. Shayna drags Natty by her bad arm, wraps it around ropes, and pulls! The ref counts, Shayna lets off at 4, and Ronda is loving this as Shayna twists the bad arm around. Natty endures, fights around, gets to her feet, and she throws body shots! Shayna kicks but Natty blocks to throw Shayna down! Natty kicks Shayna, and ROCKS her with haymaker after haymaker!

Natty throws elbows, and Ronda is upset. Natty hits a basement dropkick, TWO! Ronda is annoyed that Shayna is struggling but fans cheer Natty. Natty drags Shayna up, but Shayna blocks the suplex to PANCAKE! Bridging cover, TWO!! Natty escapes but Shayna whips Natty to a corner, Natty dodges the knee, DISCUS!! Cover, TWO! Shayna is still in this but Natty has the legs! Natty glares at Ronda but Shayna throws hands! Shayna BOOTS Natty, then gets the KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!! Natty flails, endures, moves around, rolls it back, TWO!! Shayna has the clutch back! Natty is fading, she is OUT! Shayna wins!

Winner: Shayna Baszler, by submission

Ronda is proud but the fans all boo. The killer instinct has returned, but these two MMA Horsewomen decide that’s not enough. Shayna brings down the kneepads, the ref tells her no, but Shayna runs in to KNEE Natty in the mouth!! Ronda applauds as Natty has a bloody nose! Will Ronda & Shayna be the baddest women on the planet?

SmackDown returns and MVP is in the ring.

Montel Vontavius Porter has the mic, and he says, “I was particularly pleased when I found out that the Monster of All Monsters would be in action tonight! And so close to his match at Crown Jewel with the 7’3”, 403 lbs. Nigerian Giant, Omos. Well, you guys know that I’m kind of a big deal around here. I used my connections to sort out some competition for Braun Strowman tonight. So I got a few opponents for him. Well, five opponents for Braun Strowman tonight.” And those five men make their way out. But just because this is one more than Omos handled, will that stop them from GETTING THESE HANDS? Because here comes BRAUN!!

5v1 Handicap Match: Braun Strowman VS ???

MVP tells them to watch out! But the Strowman Express BLASTS all five men at once!! Fans are thunderous as MVP is stunned silent! Braun storms up to the ring, and MVP says they can just talk this out. Braun steps closer and MVP runs! Braun pursues! MVP manages to make it to the ramp, he swings his cane, but Braun blocks it! Braun takes the cane away, BREAKS it, then drags MVP up to toss him around! And into barriers! Fans fire up as Braun hauls MVP up and puts him in the ring! Braun storms in after MVP, hauls him up, and he carries MVP around before the MONSTER SLAM! MVP writhes but fans want “ONE MORE TIME!”

Braun says why not! He scoops MVP and hits another MONSTER SLAM! Fans fire up more because they want “ONE MORE TIME!” Braun drags MVP up again, scoops him again, and he hits a third MONSTER SLAM! Braun roars, but will Omos get revenge when these titans meet in Riyadh?

Backstage interview with Gunther & Imperium.

Kayla starts to ask Gunther something, but Ludwig Kaiser takes the mic and hands it to Gunther. “Tonight, I’m gonna step in the ring and successfully defend my title with dignity, respect and honor. Rey Mysterio has got not honor. That’s why his son turned his back on him. One thing will never change, and that is me being the WWE Intercontinental Champion.” Ludwig hands the mic back to Kayla. Will Gunther back up his words by destroying Rey? Or will Rey manage to dethrone the towering Ring General?

SmackDown begins a World Cup Tournament!

That’s right! Starting next week, an eight man tournament will begin and the winner will be the first-ever winner of the SmackDown World Cup! Who will be in? And who will be the first ones out?

Legado del Fantasma speaks.

Santos Escobar says, “I always thought he was an intelligent man. But Nakamura’s choice last week leaves me with no choice but to make an example out of him.” Zelina Vega says, “Shinsuke Nakamura, shizukani. The time for talking is done. Because after what happens to you, everyone in WWE will see exactly why Legado del Fantasma’s growing empire cannot be stopped.” Escobar says that is why La Reina, Zelina Vega, and El Emperador, Santos Escobar, make the perfect competition. Vega will drink to that. They all will. LDF toasts, but will the Emperor of Lucha fall to the King of Strong Style?

WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER w/ Imperium VS Rey Mysterio!

Der Ring General has gone from the most dominant NXT UK Champion ever to perhaps one of the most dominant WWE Intercontinental Champions ever. However, the King of Lucha Libre has proven to be one of the greatest underdogs of all time! Will Rey pull off another David VS Goliath level victory? Or will no one, not even a living legend, stop Gunther?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if it and the mat stay sacred!

The bell rings as Gunther and Rey stare down. Rey shoves Gunther, but then Gunther corners him. Rey gets away, then gets away again, but Gunther catches Rey the third time. Gunther swings, misses, and Rey SLAPS Gunther! Rey backs up to BOOT Gunther, then leaps, but into Gunther’s arms! Gunther puts Rey up top to CHOP! Gunther climbs up to STAND On Rey! The ref counts, Gunther lets off and Rey flops to the outside. Fans boo but Gunther goes out to CHOP! And then he YANKS Rey down to the floor! Rey writhes and Gunther looms over him as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Gunther slides Rey out hard to the floor! Rey writhes again, but Gunther goes out, drags him up, and talks trash while smother Rey into the apron! Gunther reels Rey in, brings him up, and APRON POWERBOMBS him! Gunther pushes Rey down, goes into the ring, and he lets the ring count handle this. Rey is down all the way to 5 of 10 but fans rally up. Rey sits up at 7, drags himself up with the apron skirt, and manages to get in at 9.5! Fans fire up but Gunther is right on Rey. Gunther brings Rey around, scoops him, and SLAMS him! Gunther snarls while Rey writhes again.

Gunther dares Rey to get up, then KICKS him in the back! Gunther drags Rey up, scoops and SLAMS him again, and he looms over Rey again. Rey crawls to a corner but Gunther is right on him. Gunther scoops Rey but Rey holds on! Gunther tries again, but Rey blocks again! Gunther throws KNEES, but still Rey holds on! Gunther fireman’s carries, but then Rey tries a crucifix takedown! Gunther holds that off as fans fire up for Rey! Rey gives it one last gas, CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Both men are down and fans rally back up. Gunther and Rey rise, Rey KICKS a leg! Rey ROCKS Gunther with haymakers but Gunther shoves him.

Rey rebounds to ROCK, KICK, and KICK again! Gunther shoves Rey again, Rey rebounds to duck and QUEBRADA! Gunther catches Rey, but Rey slips around to a SLEEPER! Gunther flails, pries the hold, but Rey shifts his grip! Gunther is fading, but he THROWS Rey away! Fans rally while Gunther sputters. Rey gets up to go up a corner, and he BOOTS Gunther! Rey hops on for another SLEEPER! Rey squeezes tight as a backpack, but Gunther RAMS Rey into buckles! Rey holds on! Gunther is fading again! Gunther is down to a knee! But Gunther fights back up, to go up the corner!? SUPER BACKPACK SENTON!! Fans fire up while both men are down, and SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns again and Gunther looms over Rey again. Gunther stomps Rey but fans rally up. Gunther pushes Rey down into a NECK TWIST! Rey writhes and he flounders to the apron. Fans boo but Gunther storms over to drag Rey up. Gunther turns Rey around to fishhook the nose and even pry at the mask! The ref counts, Gunther lets off at 4, and Rey flops into the ring. Gunther KICKS Rey in the side! Gunther gives toying kicks but the ref counts as Rey is in the corner. Gunther stands Rey up to SMOTHER him! The ref counts, Gunther lets off, and Rey SLAPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Gunther CLUBS him down!

Gunther drags Rey up and reels him in, POWER- NO, Rey fights it off with fists! Gunther drops and gets a SEATED SENTON! Rey BOOTS Gunther, springboards to wheelbarrow and BULLDOG! Fans fire up for Rey as he and Gunther are both down! Rey SHOTGUNS Gunther to a corner, runs in, but is put on the apron. Rey throws body shots, GAMANGIRIS Gunther away, then goes up top! Rey leaps, FLYING SEATED SENTON! Rey keeps moving, LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Gunther survives but he and Rey both slowly rise. Rey stands first, he runs in and tilt-o-whirl headscissors Gunther onto ropes!

Fans fire up, Rey dials it up, but Gunther stands up! Rey SHOTGUNS Gunther back onto the ropes, and then redials, 619!! Gunther is in a drop zone and Rey hurries to a corner! Rey climbs up but a bit too slowly, and Gunther grabs him! Gunther TOSSES Rey to the mat! And then Gunther climbs! Fans boo but Rey ROCKS Gunther first! And again! Gunther and Rey brawl as Rey climbs up! Rey throws HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT, but Gunther shoves him away. Rey comes back to ROCK Gunther, climb up again, and rain down fists! Then SUPER- NO! Gunther blocks the rana, brings Rey up, but Rey SUPER STEINERS!! Cover, TWO!!!

No one can believe it but Gunther survives! “This is Awesome!” as both men slowly rise again. Rey goes to a corner, he climbs up again, but Gunther stands! Rey leaps, but Gunther catches him! Gunther swings Rey up, but Rey sunset flips! TWO!!! Gunther escapes by nanoseconds! Both men are a bit stunned, but Rey stands again to go back to the apron. Rey shouts out Latino Heat and fans fire up. Rey climbs, leaps, but Gunther moves and the splash FLOPS! Gunther runs in to SHOTGUN Rey! And then Gunther reels Rey in, for the GENERAL BOMB! Cover, TWO!?!? Rey survives and Gunther is furious!

Fans are thunderous for Rey but Gunther storms around. Gunther drags Rey up, but Rey SLAPS him! Gunther CHOPS Rey! Gunther gets Rey up, to- RANA! Gunther is on ropes, Rey redials, but runs into a BOOT!! Gunther RIPCORD LARIATS! Cover, Gunther wins!

Winner: Gunther, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)

The King of Lucha put up a fight as big as Gunther himself, but Gunther withstands it! As dominant as he was in NXT UK, will nothing stop Der Ring General as Intercontinental Champion?

My Thoughts:

A really good go-home, but still rather go-home-y. But I suppose it can’t be helped with this being filmed last week so that those on the card could make the trip for Crown Jewel. We did get some well made video packages for the big title matches, namely Roman VS Logan. We still got really good segments from The Bloodline, but of course we also got chants of “UCEY!” I did like that the New Day called the Usos out over the title reign record. And it seems like no matter who makes it out of Crown Jewel as champions, Kofi & Woods get a shot. The Bloodline may have stood tall in that brawl with New Day & Brutes, but I’m pretty sure Usos retain and then face New Day to give us a proper showdown of “titles VS record.”

We got a great No Disqualifications match from Liv and Sonya, and Liv winning big is great stuff for her. I don’t know if she’s going to get back to the title so soon when Ronda is still champion, but she’s clearly having a lot of fun running wild like this, and that’s fun for the fans. Speaking of Ronda, of course Shayna beats Natty, but it was an interesting touch that Ronda suggested Shayna to go the extra mile. I still wonder if there’s a twist and Shayna turns on Ronda to go after the title herself. It’s either that or they try to get in on the Women’s Tag Division and they take on whoever comes out of DMG CTRL VS Team EST. I prefer Shayna turning on Ronda.

Good promo from Emma and Xia to set up a feud there. That Viking Raiders vignette was short but really well maid, I wonder if they’ll be back to then go after the tag titles on the road to Survivor Series. Very good match from LA Knight and Ricochet, but also good promo stuff from Knight. Not enough “YEAH” and “Dummy” but Knight does love calling people incels. Knight cheats to win, of course, so there’ll surely be a rematch. And great stuff from Bray Wyatt, taking a new twist on his already rather unique promos where Bray’s got Howdy haunting him. At some point, I think Bray is going to snap and beat someone up, proving Howdy right.

Good promo from Legado to call out Nakamura, and Nakamura VS Escobar is going to be great stuff, but I feel like they should put that into the “SmackDown World Cup” tournament. And given that that is a SmackDown only tournament, it REEKS of Fox telling SmackDown to do something sports related, since the World Cup is now part of the Fall to Winter season. Nakamura VS Escobar would be a great way to kick the tournament off, and maybe the winner of that takes the whole thing to then, I don’t know, use winning the cup as reason to get a title match.

And speaking of, we got a great Intercontinental Championship match, though it maybe took a bit to really get going there. I was pleasantly surprised that Gunther won clean, but I also figured he would win either way. Gunther adds another big name to the list, maybe he finds a contender through the SmackDown Cup, but the possibilities are pretty open. Solo Sikoa would also be a natural choice given the Bloodline will want even more gold. Solo could also have a good run in the SmackDown Cup, so maybe it’s two birds with one stone, Solo wins the cup and then challenges Gunther for just a badass match.

My Score: 8.5/10