A special homecoming for Logan Paul!

While SummerSlam is tomorrow, SmackDown is in Cleveland already! And a special celebration is promised for The Maverick US Champion, Logan Paul! Surely no one will ruin it, yeah?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Andrade VS Carmelo Hayes; Andrade wins.
• Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasma VS Apollo Crews w/ Baron Corbin; Santos wins.
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn VS Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill; Bianca & Jade win by disqualification, Alba & Isla retain the titles.
• WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS The Bloodline; The Bloodline wins and become the new WWE Tag Team Champions.

PLAY BY PLAY

Logan Paul pulls up in the Prime Mobile.

The Maverick and his bros step out of the truck, shake hands with Nick Aldis and dignitaries of Cleveland before heading inside.

Cody Rhodes is here!

Cleveland fires up for The American Nightmare and sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” The pyro goes off, Cody raises the Undisputed WWE Championship, then hugs and high-fives fans in the front row. Cody goes to the ring, gets more pyro, then is given a mic. The fans chant his name, and Cody smiles. Cody gets the fans even more fired up, then says, “So, Cleveland… Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer even more, and Cody says, “Better yet, who do we wanna talk to? Solo Sikoa.” The fans boo that name. Cody waits, and here comes the so-called Tribal Chief. The fans boo more as Solo makes his way out here, solo.

The usurper of the throne drops his overcoat to then step into the ring. The fans chant, “WE WANT ROMAN!” but Solo ignores that as he grabs a mic for himself. Solo tells Cleveland, Ohio, “Acknowledge me.” The fans instead boo and insult him with “SOLO SUCKS!” Cody smiles and he says he sees it. A chip on Solo’s shoulder. They’re both the “little brothers.” It isn’t easy what Solo’s been trying to do in becoming The Tribal Chief. And the lengths he’s gone to in order to get what he’s after, from a distance, Cody almost admires it.

But once the ballyhoo is through, once all the “cinema” that The Bloodline is all famous for is over, there’s an old expression in this business. “Tomorrow night, the bell’s gonna ring.” And when it rings, Solo will find out that he has nothing to lose, and Cody has everything on the line. Solo asks if Cody’s done. Is he? Because he is just wasting time, and Solo is running out of patience. Just like Cody’s reign tomorrow night at SummerSlam. Cody says no, he is not done. Solo is self-appointed! Cody stands here the actual WWE Champion! The fans cheer that!

Cody continues by saying he stands here atop the WWE, on a throne he once broke, and sits here in deep emotional debt to those who have helped him achieve his goals. Men who paid the price with their bodies. Men like Randy Orton, Kevin Owens. If Cody loses at SummerSlam, to Solo Sikoa, Cody cannot repay his debts. Cody will not lose, he will pay those men back with Solo’s blood. Cody will do what he did to Solo’s cousin, Roman Reigns, when he defeated Roman in a Bloodline Rules match. Bloodline Rules, huh? Cody bringing that up, when he beat Roman at WrestleMania, Roman was a weak Tribal Chief. The fans boo that!

Solo says he is not weak. In fact, Solo is the opposite. He is dangerous! And tomorrow night, Solo shows Cody just how dangerous. So Cody talks a big game, huh? “What?” He talks a big game! “What?” Shut up. But Solo wants Cody to put his money where his mouth is. Let’s make tomorrow night a BLOODLINE RULES MATCH! Here comes said Bloodline! Jacob Fatu from one end, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa from another! But as they approach ringside, Cody says Bloodline Rules for SummerSlam? Cody has looked Solo in the eyes, he knows what Solo is all about. Allow Cody to talk to Solo’s friends.

Cody sees Loa, Cody ain’t scared of him. Cody sees Tama, they have history, and he ain’t afraid of Tama, either! And Jacob Fatu… As dumb as it is for Cody to say this, he ain’t scared of that dumb SOB either! The fans go wild hearing that! Cody says tomorrow night, Cleveland SummerSlam, if Solo wants Bloodline Rules, then while this isn’t the smartest move, it is the only one he can make. Cody ACCEPTS! The fans go wild, and Solo says since it has been accepted, you know what can happen right now? If Solo snaps his fingers, his three associates will tear Cody apart. But Solo won’t do that. Because first, the tag team titles come back to The Bloodline.

And then tomorrow night, THE title comes back to The Bloodline, too. The fans boo but Cody says he gets it. Every time one of them is born, they have one thing in common: they hate Cody Rhodes. But Cody doesn’t have to fight Solo’s family. Cody just has to defeat The Tribal Chief. And since The Tribal Chief’s not here… Cody will settle for this wannabe! The fans are going wild while the stakes have been raised! Can Cody survive SummerSlam now that Solo can do whatever he wants?

Carmelo Hayes speaks.

“You guys keep asking me questions about Andrade. Why does everyone wanna see me and Andrade so bad? Alright, you wanna talk about it? Let’s talk about it. Andrade wanna call me Bronny Jr? What you know ’bout being a player? You ain’t makin’ no team. The only thing you know is quitting teams ‘n’ switching teams, let’s talk about it. Go and say how you beat me in some cornfield in Nebraska. Nobody’s gonna remember that, Andrade. What they are gonna remember is that was the night Melo had a breakout performance. They gonna remember that was the night Melo officially became HIM.

“So the next time you and I get on the court, it’s gonna be a whole different game. It’s gonna be Melo in three, Melo in five, as many times as you wanna do this. Because the same thing time and time again is, when I shoot, I don’t miss.” Will Melo hit the game winner this time? Or will he be the one getting dunked on? We find out, after the break!

Andrade VS Carmelo Hayes!

SmackDown returns and Melo makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally while Melo talks smack. They tie up, Andrade headlocks, then puts Melo in a corner. Melo turns things around, pie faces Andrade, then CHOPS! Andrade shoves Melo to egg him on. They tie up Andrade headlocks again, but Melo powers up, only for Andrade to hold on tight.  Melo slips out to headlock, he hits the takeover, but Andrade headscissors. Melo kips free but Andrade CHOPS him to the corner! Melo CHOPS back! Andrade CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Melo CHOPS, stomps and CLUBS Andrade!

Melo headlocks, Andrade powers out, then drops down to hurdle over. Melo rolls off Andrade’s back, RAMS him, then DROPKICKS him! Melo runs, but into a DRPOKICK! Melo falls out of the ring and the fans fire up! Andrade goes to fetch Melo on the apron, but Melo fights the suplex. Melo tries to suplex but Andrade fights it! Andrade suplexes Melo in but Melo makes it a cradle! TWO, and Andrade rolls Melo up! TWO, and Melo stands, into a kick! Melo fights off the hammerlock DDT and bails out! The fans boo, Andrade eggs Melo on, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and now Andrade is down on the outside. Melo goes out to RAM him into steel steps! Melo then stomps Andrade, scraping his face! The ring count climbs but Melo refreshes it. Melo puts Andrade in, drags him up and whips, but Andrade reverses. Melo springboards, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Melo snarls, but he drops an elbow on Andrade’s arm. Melo has the arm for a wristlock, but Andrade endures. The fans rally, Andrade fights around, but his shoulders are down. ONE, and the fans rally again. Andrade fights up, Melo keeps on the arm, but Andrade fires body shots! Andrade is free, then ROCKS Melo!

Andrade CHOPS Melo, Melo runs up, but Andrade blocks the kick to DRAGON SCREW! Melo staggers up, Andrade dodges him, and FLYING FOREARMS! Both men are down, but Andrade kips up! The fans fire up, and he has Melo in a corner. Fans clap and Andrade goes corner to corner, CIEN- BUCKLES! Melo avoids the knees, runs, but Andrade goes up! Only for Melo to hop down and sweep the legs! FADE AWAY- NO, Andrade dodges! Andrade ROCKS Melo, slingshots, but Melo trips him up! Melo reels Andrade in for a REBOUND SUPLEX! Melo then goes up top and takes aim! Andrade stands to CHOP first!

Melo grabs at Andrade to HEADBUTT him! Andrade UPPERCUTS! Melo CHOPS! Andrade climbs and he ROCKS Melo back! And ROCKS him again! Andrade brings Melo up, and goes to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Melo trades forearms with Andrade! The fans rally as they go back and forth, then Melo CHOPS! Andrade CHOSP! Melo drops to a knee, and the fans fire up! Andrade brings Melo up, fires another forearm, then whips. Melo springboards but Andrade shoves him out! Andrade DECKS Melo off the apron, then goes up top! ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit and down goes Melo! Andrade hurries to put him inside while fans fire up! Andrade feeds off the energy, calls his shot, and fans chant “SI! SI! SI!” Andrade runs corner to corner, CIEN- LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo is beside himself!

Andrade goes to a corner now, and Melo thinks about it. Melo brings his kneepads down, and he mocks Andrade’s clapping. Melo runs to steal– NO, he has to dodge the elbow first! Kick and suplex, but Andrade fights out! Boot feint to LIGHTS OUT ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives so Andrade puts him in the drop zone! Andrade goes up, MOONSAULT not once but TWICE!! Cover, TWO!!! Melo survives and Andrade is shocked! The fans fire up, “This is Awesome!” Andrade stands, and he blocks the First 48! He steps through on the legs, FIGURE FOUR!! Melo endures, the fans are thunderous, and Andrade pushes on the hold!

Melo crawls, drags Andrade with him, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Andrade lets go, but he grows frustrated. Andrade brings Melo up, and Melo SUPERKICKS! And SUPERKICKS again! Andrade falls so Melo goes up! Melo aims, for NOTHING BUT- NO! Andrade dodges, kicks low, and underhooks! But Melo slips free to O’Conner Roll! TWO, into a GEDO CLUTCH! ANDRADE WINS!

Winner: Andrade, by pinfall

El Idolo gets HIM again! Melo was talking about “in three,” but uh, that’s 0-2. Is it Melo who has to admit he’s the one struggling? Will it be Andrade that moves on to a title opportunity past SummerSlam?

Legado Del Fantasmo is at gorilla.

Elektra Lopez tells Santos Escobar to take out Apollo Crews, and take care of business. Angel Garza says this will be so easy! Santos hears that and asks Angel if it was “easy” losing to Apollo in the tag gauntlet. Legado Del Fantasma needs to get back on track, and their failure… No, the group’s failure is a knock on the potential they have. Their fortunes will turn, and that starts tonight when Santos takes care of Crews right now. The Emperor leads the way, will he take control of Legado’s future with his own two hands? Or will Smackdown be on Crews Control instead? We see, after the break!

Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasma VS Apollo Crews w/ Baron Corbin!

SmackDown returns and Apollo makes his entrance, Baron Corbin still sticking by his side. The bell rings and the two circle. Santos then DROPKICKS Apollo to a corner! Santos fires off hands, stomps away, but lets off to run in and BOOT Apollo! Santos brings Apollo up to fire knees, then he bumps Apollo off buckles. Santos ROCKS Apollo in the back, pushes him to ropes then ROCKS him again! Another shove, another forearm in the back! Santso runs in to RAM Apollo in the back, then he goes ot the apron to GAMANGIRI! Apollo falls, Santos slingshot sENTONS! Cover, TWO! Santos grins as he drags Apollo up.

Apollo fires body shots and forearms! Santos CLAWS Apollo’s eyes! Santos trips Apollo, then drops an ELBOW on his back. Santos stands Apollo up again but Apollo fires more hands! Apollo whips, Santso reveres to scoop and BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Santos clamps on with a REAR BEARHUG! Corbin coaches Apollo and Apollo fights up. The fans rally, Apollo throws elbows, then reaches back to HEADBUTT! Santos rebounds, kinto an OVERHEAED BELLY2BELLY! Santos staggers up, and Apollo fires haymakers! Apollo LARIATS, LARIATS again, then mule kicks! Apollo keeps moving, and he BOOTS Santos!

Santos swings, Apollo dodges to LEAPING LARAIT! Apollo kips up, the fans fire up, but Angel gets on the apron! So Corbin drags him down and DECKS him! Lopez shouts at Corbin, but Apollo gorilla presses Santos! Apollo DROPS Santos, but now Humberto gets on the apron! Apollo DECKS Humberto, then STANDING MOONSAULTS onto Santos! Cover, TWO! Santos stays in this but Apollo drags him to a drop zone. Apollo goes up, but someone grabs Corbin from under the ring!? Humberto CLOBBERS Corbin, and surprise, it was Angel! Santos drags Apollo off the corner in the distraction! PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Santos wins!

Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall

Well, considering it was 3v2 out there, this was the natural outcome. Legado is willing to do what they have to in order to win, will they make SmackDown their empire?

Backstage interview with Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill.

Byron Saxton is with The StrongEST Duo, and he says that for weeks they have been adamant about regaining the Women’s Tag Team Championships. With that in mind, how confident are they going into tonight? Jade says they are very confident. And one thing they do is they stand on business. They said they were coming back for their tag titles, and they do just that. Bianca says remember, Alba & Isla didn’t even pin Bianca or Jade to win the titles. Tonight, it is 2v2, and while they can try their hardest. Alba & Isla can’t whoop The StrongEST. Now, Bianca & Jade have been waiting, and Alba & Isla want all the attention, so now they’ve go it.

Jade says between the Storm and the EST, anyone that steps up gets stepped on! Time is up, because tonight, you’re looking at the NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Will the Unholy Union survive the force of nature coming their way? Or will they have just the thing to turn the tides on Bianca & Jade?

Nick Aldis is in the ring.

The SmackDown General Manager welcomes us back, and he is alongside the Cleveland dignitaries to welcome home one of their own. Please welcome the WWE United States Champion, Logan Paul! The Land boos their returning “hero,” but Logan revels in that. Logan then goes right to the ring, shakes the dignitaries’ hands, as well as Aldis’. Logan gets a mic while the fans boo harder, but Logan says, “Hey, Cleveland, I’m home. LA Knight!” the fans cheer that name! Logan says he has never met a man so eager to take a belt off him. But hey, bad news, Biceps Boy, you aren’t Logan’s type.

And Knight is delusional if he thinks he is stripping Logan of his US Championship in his own hometown! The fans chant for “L A KNIGHT! L A KNIGHT!” Logan says whether the fans wanna admit it or not, he inspires this great city! Logan represents this great city! Logan IS Cleveland! Cleveland boos more and he asks what kind of welcome is this! The reason Knight has so many fans is because people can relate to him: A bunch of try-hards who never made it! And look, it sounds like they don’t think Logan’s a great champion. Guess he sees their point. He has only had two title defenses in his 273 days. But two more than Knight will ever have.

Logan cannot relate to the people, he is great and he “made it.” So today, we are here to recognize Logan’s greatness. That is why he has these esteemed dignitaries. Cleveland’s finest! Aldis is glad Logan brought that up. Aldis put the names of these three people into Google after Logan’s assistant emailed them. Aldis could not find a single- No no no, see, Aldis isn’t from here. Trust Logan, this is all legit. It is insulting to Cleveland, this is Logan’s moment. Time to unveil his championship banner that will hang in the rafters of this sacred arena to permanently remind everyone that Logan Paul IS Cleveland’s Finest.

The drum roll begins, and boom! “YEAH!!” is plastered right over Logan’s face! Logan is pissed, when did that happen!? But here comes The Mega Star! Aldis says he has no idea how this happened, either. Knight has a mic but the fans chant his name for him plenty. “LEMME TALK TO YA!” Knight says he must apologize, but he can’t see what the banner says. What does it say? “YEAH!” “Huh?” “YEAH!” “YEAH!!” Logan says congrats, they can read! Knight says Logan better get serious. They’re 24 hours out from SummerSlam, and from Logan losing his US Championship! And considering last week, Logan’s lucky that’s the worst that can happen!

The fans cheer Knight more, and Knight says he’ll tell ya what, with everything that’s coming to Logan… The best thing to happen to Cleveland? Isn’t Logan from West Lake or something? Logan says it’s a suburb of Cleveland! Well whatever, Logan worried about homecoming and banners, well, Knight will do him a solid. Since tomorrow will be the worst night of Logan’s life, Knight’s gonna go back here, he’ll get a new one for him. Be right back. Knight steps backstage, Logan asks if there really is another one. Where’s DJ Khalid going? Knight says hold on, he’ll find something. Something real ugly.

Knight asks Pretty Deadly something. Do they have a banner? No, sorry, but what about a sneak peak of their Pretty Deadly musical? Chapel Road meets Cats. NO. Knight moves on. No one has anything? No? Wait, hold on, talk about an eye sore. What about the Prime truck? The fans fire up as Knight steps over to it. State of the art, EV, not bad. Logan is hurrying out there, Knight knows it, and here we go. BYE~! Knight takes the Prime Mobile for a joyride, and Logan says this is a crime! Grand Theft Auto? Maybe. Hilarious? YEAH! Will it be even better when Knight drives off with the US Championship tomorrow night?

SmackDown returns and…

Logan argues with Aldis. How could he let that happen on his show? Logan knows Aldis knew! Aldis says that hurts his feelings. Logan wants Aldis to do something about this, and Aldis says he’ll take it up with the “dignitaries.” Aldis leaves Logan in the lurch, will the champ be able to focus on his title when he’s worried about his truck?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn VS Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill!

It is a known fact that Clash at the Castle, where the wicked witches of Scotland won and the StrongEST Duo lost, was a Triple Threat title match. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark will not be a factor tonight, so it is time to see who is really the better team! Will these titles stay with the Unholy Union? Or will they go right back to Bianca & Jade?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is truly the B E S T in WWE!

The teams sort out and the champs rush the StrongEST Duo! But both Bianca & Jade dodge, then start throwing hands on the champs! They scoop and DOUBLE FALL AWAY SLAM! The fans fire up while Jade & Bianca kip up! Alba & Isla flounder out of the ring, the ref needs one of them to get in. They both side in, but then Alba drops back! Isla runs up and fires off on Jade! Isla runs, but gets run over! Jade fires up, the fans are with her, and Jade runs to SPLASH int he corner! Then she scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Jade drags Isla up to fireman’s carry, but Isla fights free! Isla ROCKS Jade, Jade ROCKS Isla!

Jade bumps Isla off buckles, tags Bianca, and the fans fire up as Bianca stomps a mudhole in. The ref counts, Bianca brings Isla out and suplexes, but Alba makes the save! Only for Jade to join in! Jade & Bianca dodge again to ROCK the champs! Alba & Isal go to corners, Jade & Bianca run up! Jade & Bianca block boots, Jade ROCKS Alba while Bianca puts Isla up top! Bianca ROCKS Isla, Jade does in kind. We get STEREO MILITARY PRESS SLAMS! Wakanda Forever, Black Girl Magic, and The Land is fired up while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the champs mug Jade. Isla runs up but Jade dodges the knee! Alba tags in, Jade DECKS Isla but Alba drags her back! Jade fights her way forward, reaches out, and Jade BOOTS Alba! But Isla YANKS Bianca down! No tag for Jade, and Alba CLOBBERS Jade from behind! The fans boo but Alba KICKS Jade in the side! Tag to Isla, she brings Jade up while Alba climbs. BACKSTABBER to SWANTON COMBO SANDWITCH!! Cover, TWO!! Jade survives and Isla can’t believe it! Isla calls to Alba, then brings Jade over. Tag and the champs double suplex, but Jade fights it!

Jade then DOUBLE SUPLEXES Alba & Isla! Jade hurries, hot tag to Bianca! The fans fire up as Bianca ROCKS Isla, ROCKS Alba, then goes up to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! Cleveland is thunderous as Bianca continues to rally! DROPKICK for Isla! Wrench and suplex for Alba! Bianca marches around then SLAMS her down! Bianca kips up, runs at Isla, and RAMS her! Bianca climbs to rain down fists! The fans count, but Alba runs up! Bianca backflips over to RAM both cjamps! Bianca then climbs to rain down fists on them both! The fans count again, and Bianca goes all the way to TEN!

Alba gets free to get Bianca’s braid! Bianca uses that to send Alba into Isla! Then SPINEBUSTER for Alba! Handspring and MOONSAULT! Cover, Isla breaks it! Jade storms in and CLUBS Isla! But Isla TOSSES Jade out! Jade drags Isla out, and SUPERKICKS! Alba rolls Bianca up! TWO! Bianca ROCKS Alba, then torture racks! But BLAIR DAVENPORT appears, and she RAMS Jade into steel steps!!

Winners: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill, by disqualification (Alba & Isla retain the titles)

The fans boo and Bianca is mad, but now all these wicked witches attack! This coven from the United Kingdom beat Bianca up, KAMI-GOYE for Bianca! But Jade drags Blair out to BOOT her! Jade grabs Isla, but Alba CHOP BLOCKS a leg out! The mugging now focuses on Jade! They POST Jade, then TOSS her over the desk! Jade hits armchairs hard and fans lose their minds! Will nothing stop this new trio of darkness in taking over SmackDown?

Tiffany Stratton still sulks over her smashed briefcase.

She sits with the beat-up, taped-up Money in the Bank briefcase, but Nia Jax walks in and says she has a surprise for Tiffy! For the perfect princess to the Queen of the Ring, Nia presents her with a custom briefcase! Bright pink and glittery with golden logo, and Nia wants her to remember who got this for her. Because if Tiff cashes in, they will no longer be Princess and Queen. Tiff will have to answer to Nia. Tiff promises, and thanks Nia. Tiff says this briefcase is perfect! But then in step Chelsea Green & Piper Niven. The Hot Mess says, rather sarcastically, “Isn’t that adorable?” Personally, change the font, upgrade the crystals, and make it soft green.

Because before Tiffy so rudely pushed Chelsea off the ladder, Chelsea was designing her own custom briefcase. Chelsea asks “P” if she thinks “Cha-Ching Chelsea” would’ve been so much better than “Tacky Tiffy Time.” Tiff says green is definitely not Chelsea’s color. Tootles. Chelsea is offended, Piper is also upset, but will they do something about the self-centered Center of the Universe soon enough?

WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS The Bloodline!

Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano took these titles and kept these titles from A-Town Down Under, but now they’re facing a team far more dangerous than perhaps any team they ever have. Tama Tonga & Jacob Fatu crushed the hopes of The Street Profits just last week, will they crush the dreams of DIY? Or will the Sicilian Psycho help Johnny Wrestling have a triumphant homecoming?

SmackDown returns and Ciampa walks ‘n’ talks backstage. “Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu, I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. I’m one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, The Blackheart, Tommaso Ciampa.” Ciampa walks up to Johnny Gargano while wife Candice LeRae and baby boy Quill Gargano wish him luck alongside Indi Hartwell. Gargano then introduces himself as Johnny Wrestling! SummerSlam 1996 was the very first WWE show Gargano ever saw in this very building. And that was the night he decided he needed to become a WWE wrestler. And 28 years later, he is back home in this building, in the main event as one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions!

This new Bloodline likes to talk about family. But did they forget? They’re in Cleveland, Ohio! This is Johnny’s city, these are Johnny’s people. Tonight, The Bloodline will be surrounded by 10 THOUSAND members of Johnny’s family. Cleveland, let’s freakin’ go! DIY steps through gorilla, fired up for the fight that’s coming! The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who wins this fight in The Land!

The teams sort out and Tama starts against Ciampa. The fans rally up, the two circle, and they approach. Tama body shots then fires off hands! Tama has Ciampa in a corner as he fires more hands, but lets off as the ref counts. Tama storms up but Ciampa ROCKS him in return! Ciampa fires hands, but Tama shoves back. Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, but then Tama kitchen sink knees! Gator roll and suplex, for a FALCON ARROW! Tama then POSTS Ciampa in the neutral corner! Ciampa falls to the floor and Gargano hurries to back him up. Solo Sikoa says he won’t do anything, but Gargano doesn’t trust it. Solo soaks up the heat while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Fatu runs up, but into an ELBOW from Ciampa! Ciampa goes to a corner, Fatu runs in but Ciampa dodges, Fatu’s splash only gets POST! The fans fire up while both men are down! Fatu and Ciampa crawl, hot tags to Tama and Gargano! The fans fire up for their hometown hero! Gargano fires hands, whips, but Tama reverses. Gargano CLOBBERS Tama, LARIATS, then sees Fatu get up! ENZIGIRI for the Samoan Werewolf! ENZIGIRI for the Good Bad Guy! Fatu runs up again but Gargano DUMPS him out! Gargano runs at Tama, is put on the apron, but Gargano GAMANGIRIS Tama!

Gargano SUPERKICKS Fatu, then SLINGSHOT SPEARS Tama! Cover, TWO! Tama stays in this but the fans rally behind Gargano! Tag to Ciampa, Gargano goes side to side, ENZIGIRI KNEE COMBO! Gargano CANNONBALLS Fatu! Ciampa has Tama up to and tucks him in, SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, TWO!! Tama survives and Solo is stressing out. Ciampa sits Tama up to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP again! Tama runs up, but into a ripcord! Tama ROCKS Ciampa first, but Ciampa shoves and BOOTS him back! Ciampa runs, Fatu tags in, and he CLOBBERS Ciampa! Then he SUPERKICKS Gargano!

Fatu runs in at Ciampa, HIP ATTACK! Fatu tags back to Tama and Tama climbs. Fatu sets Ciampa up for SUPREME FLOW!! Cover, GARGANO BREAKS IT! The fans are thunderous but Fatu throat chops Gargano! Gargano flops out of the ring, Fatu storms out after him to fire hands! Fatu HEADBUTTS Gargano again and again, then sits him against steel steps. Fatu roars and runs in, but only gets steps!! Tama staggers up, storms to Ciampa, but Ciampa drags him into a roll-up, TWO!! Tama escapes, Gargano tags in! The splash misses, SHATTER MACHINE hits!! The fans are thunderous, and DIY sets up in corners!

But wait! Loa gets on the apron! The ref stops Loa, but Solo SAMOAN SPIKES Ciampa! Gargano is furious, but Tama catches him for a TONGAN TWIST!! Cover, TWO!!! Gargano survives and The Land erupts! Tama rains down fists, he shouts to Fatu and Loa, and Fatu gets in! Fatu and Tama stomp away, then they put up the ones. The fans boo while Ciampa sputters on the outside. Gargano stands to SUPERKICK Fatu! And he SUPERKICKS Tama! Loa gets back up but Gargano SUPERKICKS him, too! The fans roar as Gargano DIVES! Tama is sent into the desk! Gargano hurries back in, and he dodges Fatu to hop up, POISON-RANA!

But Fatu rises!! This guy IS a monster! He SUPERKICKS Gargano, then POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Fatu hurries right up to BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! And then, IMPALER DDT!! Cover, BLOODLINE WINS!

Winners: The Bloodline, by pinfall (NEW WWE Tag Team Champions)

The first promise of Solo Sikoa comes true! His henchmen, his MFT and his Enforcer stand tall with the gold! They raise those belts, to put them on Solo’s shoulders!? Will Solo soon go from a pale imitation of The Tribal Chief to the real deal? Or will Cody Rhodes expose the usurper as a pretender to the throne?

My Thoughts:

A great go-home episode for SmackDown here as WWE seems to continue a new trend. Instead of putting matches on the kickoff shows for a Premium Live Event, they just put those matches on SmackDown. It makes sense, as it gets SmackDown the ratings, and not everyone watches the kickoff show. And going by Andrade VS Melo, they also let these be on the level of a PLE. Melo had a good promo to hype the match up, and it also gives him that typical “arrogant Heel who distorts the facts” thing. Though, I kinda thought Melo would win this one to force a tiebreaker but now he’s 2-0 and there really isn’t a reason for Andrade to give him a third.

Though that said, Andrade could/should move up to be a challenger for the US Championship. Very good promo segment from LA Knight with Logan Paul, including Aldis questioning just how important these “dignitaries” were. But I figured last week that something was unfortunately going to tip the scales back in Logan’s favor, and Knight defacing his banner and stealing his Prime branded truck are probably it. As much as I’d love for Knight to defy the go-home math trope, even the HHH Era hasn’t completely turned that over. Logan probably gives Cleveland their win for the weekend, and then moves on to another top Face.

With that, I figured Bloodline would find a way to beat DIY. I really like the walk ‘n’ talk promos DIY is doing, but even having the moment with Candice & Quill wasn’t enough to be “win entrance.” DIY lose to serve the story of The Bloodline, which of course has to parallel the earlier chapters in order for Solo to at least appear on par with Roman Reigns. The visual of him holding up two belts was definitely a solid part of that. And now that Cody VS Solo is Bloodline Rules, we’re taking this to another level. Great promo from Cody and Solo to give us that match, and now you can just feel the return of Roman Reigns.

They might not just throw Roman out there, though. Jimmy might make a return, trick Solo into thinking he’s an ally, but then Jimmy swerves Solo and serves him up for Roman to serve some family justice. That plants sees for Bloodline Civil War WarGames, and we’ll have a couple months to build up the teams. And with all this talk of Hikuleo on his way over from NJPW, and Zilla Fatu being in town even tonight, it’s just a matter of who is with who to get us to 5v5. Jey is of course a possibility, but maybe Cody ends up an unlikely ally for Roman since there’s respect there over what happened at WrestleMania?

Santos VS Crews was good stuff, even with Legado getting involved so Crews would lose. We might get another tag match, or maybe Corbin takes Santos on 1v1 next. Corbin and Crews might even get a third man to make this a Six Man Tag, I just have no idea who that would be. Good promo from Nia and Tiff to present the Tiffy in the Bank briefcase. That’s not how I pictured the custom Tiffy briefcase looking but that might actually be better. And good promo from Tiff with Chelsea & Piper to be all mean girls VS mean girls. Nia’s warning to Tiff is probably enough to say no cash-in tomorrow, and honestly, that’s fine. It feels like we might get Tiff VS Chelsea for the MITB contract to prolong Tiff’s time as Miss MITB. Gotta sell replica briefcases, y’know.

And great women’s tag team championship match tonight. Bianca & Jade had a good promo to hype things up, but I had a feeling they’d lose because of something underhanded. Blair Davenport was of course going to join up with Alba & Isla, as the Women’s Tag Division is unofficially becoming a trios division. Shayna & Zoey joined Sonya, Lyra joined Kayden & Katana, DMG CTRL has always been three or more, and while Blair joins Alba & Isla, we know #TheBig3 of Bianca, Jade & Naomi can counter them all. Maybe we get big faction warfare for Bash in Berlin or even Bad Blood, with the tag titles being the ultimate prize at the end.

My Score: 8.8/10