Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso have their backs against the wall.

How the tables have turned as Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline has Roman Reigns & Jimmy Uso on the defense. Will anyone come to help The OTC?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Qualifier Triple Threat: DIY VS The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly; DIY win and advance to the #1 Contender’s Match.
• Piper Niven w/ Chelsea Green VS Lash Legend w/ Jakara Jackson; Lash wins.
• WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Qualifier Triple Threat: A-Town Down Under VS Los Garza w/ Legado Del Fantasma VS Motor City Machine Guns; win(s) and advance to the #1 Contender’s Match.
• Nia Jax & Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell VS Naomi & Bayley; Nia & Candice win.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Crown Jewel Championship is brought into the building.

It is in its own carrying case to keep it from creasing or moving around, and security verifies it is in good condition. Will this incredible prize be returning to SmackDown after Cody Rhodes and Gunther battle for it in two weeks?

Solo Sikoa goes to the ring.

Columbia, South Carolina boos as the Usurper of The Table leads the way for Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa. The fans chant “O T C! O T C!” while Solo grabs the mic. Solo is annoyed by all that, but he tells Columbia, SC, “Acknowledge me!” The fans boo and give thumbs down instead. They even chant “SOLO SUCKS! SOLO SUCKS!” Solo says they better get used to seeing this, because we are looking at the present and the future. We are looking at The Bloodline. And we are looking at The Tribal Chief! The fans boo more but Solo says he is the man that created a bigger and stronger family. Solo is the man that created a bigger and stronger Bloodline.

“And Roman Reigns can’t do nothing about it!” The fans boo more but Solo shakes his head. He says Jimmy can’t do nothing, either! And check this out. Jimmy goes to Monday Night Raw to get Jey’s help, but Jey doesn’t want nothing to do with this! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” but Solo says, “No Yeet.” Solo says the beatdowns will continue to Roman unless he does one thing. Unless Roman comes down to this ring by the end of tonight, and acknowledges Solo. The fans boo even more, but “USO~!” Is that JEY!? Entering from the top of the crowd, it IS! Main Event Jey, THE Intercontinental Champion, returns to SmackDown!

The fans fire up and “YEET!” more as Jey makes his way down the stairs. Jey high fives all the way to ground level, and then hops the barriers to be ringside. Jey then steps up onto the apron, looks at Solo and his Enforcer, then gets on the corner to bounce along with the fans. The fans sing along, “It’s Just Me, Uce! Day One Ish!” Jey then hops down into the ring, and he grabs himself a mic. The fans “YEET!’ some more, and Jey says, “What’s up, little brother? It’s been a minute. I promise, I’m not out here to fight you. Cuz at the end of the day, I still care about you, you still my little brother.”

Jey wants Solo to look. Jimmy & Roman aren’t here yet, so Jey is here to talk with Solo one on one, Uce to Uce. Bro, just think about what you’re doing. Think about what this is doing to the family, what this is doing to The Bloodline. Jey says nobody’s got bigger issues with Roman than Jey. But dividing the family ain’t the way. Jey left the family, to be his own man. He went to Raw, and he became Intercontinental Champion! Look at that! The fans chant, “You Deserve It!” and Jey adds, “Yes, I Did~!” But Jey wants Solo to hear him out. Fighting over the ula fala is not the way. That right there is earned, not taken, and Solo should know better.

But if Solo wants to end Roman’s power, then do it. Just don’t divide the family while doing it. Solo asks if Jey is done wasting his time. Jey comes out here, “YEET! YEET!” Who said anything about dividing the family? Solo is trying to unite the family! And stop calling him “little brother.” He is Jey’s Tribal Chief now. Solo will always have a place for Jey and Roman in his Bloodline, he just has to acknowledge Solo. Solo doesn’t want Jey following in Jimmy’s footsteps, cuz look where it got him. So is Jey in? Or is he out? Fans say “NO! NO! NO!” and “O T C! O T C!”

Jey sighs, shakes his head, and says look. If what Solo is saying is true, and he’s trying to unite The Bloodline, then why did Solo go and get them? Tama, Loa, Jacob?! There’s a reason why the family stayed away from them, and if Jacob keeps staring at Jey like that, he’ll knock that ass out! The fans fire up as Jey steps to The Samoan Werewolf! Solo has Jacob stand down but the fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey says forget that, he’s not here for that. Next time Jey sees Solo, it’s gonna be different. Yeet. Jey leaves the ring now, but is there no escaping the family drama within the Samoan Dynasty?

WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Qualifier Triple Threat: DIY VS The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly!

The Bloodline survived the Triple Threat Ladder Match for the titles, but that means they need new challengers. Or perhaps in this case, some old challengers come back around? Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano want one more chance, as do Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford, but Kit Wilson & Elton Prince just want their first! Who will move on from here to be that much closer to a shot at gold?

The teams sort out, and in this type of Triple Threat, every team gets a legal man. Elton starts against Ford and Ciampa, only to bail out pretty quickly. Kit regroups with Elton. Ford bucks an O’Conner! Ciampa blocks a kick, flips Ford, but then gets moving. Ford ducks, Ciampa ducks, but Ford DROPKICKS! Ford covers, ONE! Ford brings Ciampa up, but Ciampa knees low. Ciampa TOSESS Ford, but here comes Elton! Ciampa KNEES Ford to the floor, but Elton SLAPS Ciampa! Elton gets a taste, but Ciampa isn’t happy. Ciampa storms up, Elton runs away, but Ciampa pursues! Kit waits to CLOBBER Ciampa!

The fans boo but Pretty Deadly cheer themselves on, only for Dawkins to POUNCE Elton! But then Gargano DIVES onto Dawkins! Kit CLOBBERS Gargano, Pretty Deadly mugs him, but Ford FLIES in! Gargano escapes before Ford wipes out Pretty Deadly! Ford goes to a corner, GAMANGIRIS Gargano, and springboards, into a PSCYHO KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Ford survives and B-Fab can breathe again while she helps Dawkins up. Kit rolls Ciampa up, TWO! Elton tags back in, Kit RAMS Ciampa into a corner! Then Elton UPPERCUTS! Elton RAMS Ford, Kit UPPERCUTS! Ciampa storms up, but into the MARTI-KNEES! Cover, TWO!!

Kit shouts “YES BOY~!” as he and Elton are standing tall. Elton UPPERCUTS Ciampa, tags Kit, but the fans chant “You Look Stupid!” Pretty Deadly mugs Ciampa, then they pose together. The fans boo more, but Ford rolls Elton up! TWO!! Ford almost had it, but Kit runs up on him! DDT right as SmackDown goes picture in picture!

Kit fires up, he storms over to Ciampa and UPPERCUTS! Ciampa flops to ropes, Kit RAMS Ford into the Pretty Deadly corner. Kit CHOKES Ciampa, tags Elton, and Elton stomps Ford. Kit pushes Ciampa away and Elton tags him back in. Pretty Deadly put Ciampa in a corner, Elton UPPERCUTS! Pretty Deadly coordinate, but then they both miss the dropkicks! Ciampa and Ford crawl for their corners, hot tag to Dawkins and Gargano! Dawkins and Gargano rally on Pretty Deadly with LARIAT after LARIAT! Dawkins CYCLONE SPLASHES Elton in one corner while Gargano hits a forearm SMASH on Kit in the other!

Then Gargano and Dawkins trade, CYCLONE SPLASH on Kit and forearm SMASH on Elton! Gargano then runs and Dawkins gives him a boost to DROPKICK Kit! Then a boost to DROPKICK Elton! Dawkins sends Gargano in again, but Kit puts Gargano out. So Gargano SUPERKICKS Elton! Kit ELBOWS Dawkins, ELBOWS Gargano, runs, but into a SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Dawkins then TOSSES Gargano out! Gargano gets on the apron, but Dawkins storms up. Gargano GAMANGIRIS, and SLINGSHOT SPEARS into the Silencer!! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives that twist, but Dawkins stays cool. Dawkins brings Gargano up, tags Ford, and whips Gargano.

Dawkins then pops Gargano up but Gargano RANAS Dawkins away! Apparently Pretty Deadly trips Ford up, too. Ciampa tags in, has Kit in the ropes, WILLOW’S BELL! Cover off the draping DDT, TWO! Kit survives and Ciampa is frustrated. Kit kicks at Ciampa while he flounders, but Ciampa brings him back up. Ciampa CHOPS Kit, but Kit eggs him on! Ciampa CHOPS Kit back down! And stomps Kit on the face! Kit flounders, Ciampa bumps him off buckles, and then CHOPS again! And again! And again! Kit eggs Ciampa on so he gets MACHINE GUN CHOPS for it! Kit sputters and falls over, the fans fire up with Ciampa!

Ciampa puts Kit up top, to CHOP! Kit wobbles up top, Ciampa climbs up to join him, and CHOPS again! Ciampa fireman’s carries, SmackDown returns to single picture, SUPER AIR RAID CRASH! FORD 450 SPLASH!! Cover, Gargano breaks it! B-Fab is freaking out but Dawkins run sin, Gargano fires hands, Dawkins ROCKS him! Elton CLOBBERS Dawkins! Gargano BUZZSAWS Elton! Ford ENZIGIRIS Gargano! Ciampa runs up to BOOT Ford! Ciampa runs up on Dawkins, but into the POUNCE PLEX!! But Pretty Deadly TOSS Ford and cover Ciampa, TWO!! Kit is furious but Elton calls to him!

Kit tags Elton, Pretty Deadly hauls Ciampa up! SPILT- SUPERKICK! Ford takes Elton out, then SUPERKICKS Kit! Ford shakes the ropes, the fans are thunderous, and Ford goes to a corner. Ford climbs, Elton stagger sup, but Elton trips Ford up! Ford is stuck, Elton tags Kit! Pretty Deadly hurry up top and they have Ford, but Dawkins CLUBS them both! Dawkins DUMPS Kit, Electric Chair Lifts Elton, Ford is up! BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY!! Kit takes a MEET IN THE MIDDLE!! Double covers, DOUBLE THREE COUNTS?!?

Winners…?

The ref says DIY pinned the legal man, Profits did NOT!! So by technicality, it is CIAMPA & GARGANO who are advancing! The Profits can’t believe it, but the Sicilian Psycho & Johnny Wrestling move on to THE #1 contenders match. Who will join them? Another Triple Threat is set for later tonight to figure that out.

Roman Reigns & Jimmy Uso arrive.

The OTC and #BigJim hop out the Chevy and Jimmy says Travis Scott is lit. He never heard that one. Cuz it ain’t out yet, get it? Jimmy does. Oh, and wait, Jey finds them? Jimmy is all smiles, but Roman not so much. Jey turns to go but Roman stops him. Roman looks Jey up and done, and says, “I’m proud of you. We all are.” Jey looks Roman up and done, and he says, “No Yeet.” Jey leaves, Jimmy can’t find the words, but Roman says, “I told you. C’mon.” The OGs are stuck in the past, but can Jimmy be the one to change the future?

Nia Jax is on the phone.

She says she can’t hear whoever this is, but asks, “What do you mean you have the flu, Tiffy? Now’s not the time to abandon me. Liv Morgan and her greasy boyfriend are trying to get in the way of me becoming the first ever Crown Jewel Champion. And then, I have Naomi on my back, and I thought tonight I could teach her a lesson, but if you have the sniffles, Nick Aldis is gonna have to cancel the match.” Nick Aldis is there to say no, the match is not canceled. Wait, what? Aldis says the match is not canceled. Nia tells Tiffany to shut up right now, and hangs up. Nia says her partner is sick, though.

Yes, but SmackDown has a deep, deep roster. Simple solution: find someone else. Who else?! Well look at the timing. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell step in. Candice admires the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship on display but Nia steps in the way. Candice & Indi overheard Nia needs a tag partner, and well, Candice is the first-ever WWE Women’s Speed Champion. She wouldn’t mind helping out. Aldis likes the idea of two women’s champions working together. Nia says don’t even go there. Aldis says it smells like money to him. Nia says that’s her perfume. But look! It’s booked! Aldis even wrote it in a book.

Nia tells Candice that she better hold up her end, or Nia ends Candice, and it won’t take Nia three minutes. Nia storms off, Aldis says, “You’re welcome.” Will the Irresistible Force and the Poison Pixie find a way to work together against Naomi & Bayley?

Piper Niven w/ Chelsea Green VS Lash Legend w/ Jakara Jackson!

“Lil’ Miss P” and The Hot Mess are in part to blame for last week not going The Meta Four’s way, which leads us to the Scottish Viper battling the Bougie Bully. Will Piper prove that she and Chelsea are deserving of a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships? Or will Lash gain momentum for her and Miss Jackson before they go to Monday Night Raw?

SmackDown returns as The Meta Four’s leading ladies make their entrance. And speaking of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair watch from the front row. The bell rings and Lash talks trash on Piper. Lash then shoves Piper, but Piper shoves back. Lash talks more trash, daring Piper to run ropes. Lash pushes Piper, Chelsea says don’t let her do that to you! Lash headlocks Piper but Piper powers out. They RAM shoulders, and Lash is the one that staggers! Lash says Piper should try. Piper runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and she RUNS Lash over! The fans cheer Piper and Chelsea says you’re welcome.

Piper runs, but Lash avoids the splash! Lash kips up, and she BOOTS Piper down! Lash pushes Piper down to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Lash is upset with the ref, but then she runs corner to corner at Piper. Piper catches Lash to SPINEBUSTER! Piper then runs to SENTON! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, Piper talks trash back on Lash, and she calls her shot. Piper goes corner to corner to CANNONBALL, but into buckles! Lash avoids disaster, and she runs up to CHOP! And ROCK! Piper staggers, Lash clamps on a grip! Piper ELBOWS free, runs up, but Lash avoids a corner splash, to CORNER SPLASH in return!

Lash fireman’s carries?! But Piper slips free, HEADBUTTS Lash, and gets moving. Lash SCOOPS Piper! And SLAMS her! The fans are thunderous but Chelsea gets on the apron to shout at Lash! Lash runs Chelsea off, but Piper is in a corner. Jakara handles Chelsea by throwing her into barriers! Piper still SPLASHES Lash! Lash falls into the drop zone, and Piper roars as she climbs up! VADER BOMB FLOPS as Lash dodges again! Lash hurries to clinch, BOW ‘N’ ARROW RACK! BOUGIE SLAM!! Cover, Lash wins!

Winner: Lash Legend, by pinfall

The StrongEST Duo has to admit, that was good. Lash is building her legend, will she and Jakara soon take over the Women’s Tag Division? Or does Damage CTRL have something in store for them on Raw?

Roman Reigns is back in the suite.

But Jimmy is sitting a little too close. Jimmy apologizes, it was the Wise Man spot. Well, he’s not The Wise Man. Jimmy says he knows, but listen. He still thinks they should talk with Jey. Roman says if Wise Man were here, this would be done by now. They saw Jey, they talked to him, Jey made it clear, that’s it. But hey, Jimmy tried, now to do it Roman’s way. Roman will fix this tonight. How is he gonna do that? Roman says… he will acknowledge Solo. What?! Is that really where Roman is going with this?

Cody Rhodes is here!

Columbia cheers The American Nightmare and sings along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, he gives high-fives to the front row, and he is even welcomed into the ring by the attendants to the Crown Jewel Championship. The men’s title sits on the pedestal while “WHOA~ OH~,” Cody gets more pyro. Cody takes a look at the Crown Jewel title, then grabs himself a mic. The fans cheer on “CODY! CODY!” and he says before his remarks, we have an unbelievably sized crowd this evening. He wants to make sure we say hi to everyone up there, over there, and around here.

Cody says a very wise individual told him recently, “When it comes to the pantheon of top men and top women in professional wrestling, who would be the next leader? The next one doesn’t always look like the last one.” That is something Cody’s been thinking on quite a lot lately. But in regards to this Crown Jewel Championship, it isn’t about the next one, or the last one, but about who will be the first one. So many “what ifs” in the history of this sport. Let’s go down that road: What if the NWA Worlds Champion, Harley Race, fought against the WWWF’s Bruno Sammartino? What if the AWA’s Nick Bockwinkle went against The Nature Boy, Ric Flair?

What if WCW’s Bill Goldberg had fought WWF’s Stone Cold Steve Austin? And what if all of these What Ifs did come true, and the outcomes weren’t quite satisfactory? When it comes to Crown Jewel, at the end of that night, there will be a definitive Crown Jewel Champion. Again, champion VS champion, Cody won’t stand here and disparage his opponent, the World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther. Widely respected by peers and legends alike, he could chop a tree down with his hand. Most men walking around here are terrified of Gunther. But Cody’s not. And even if he was, Cody wouldn’t bet against himself.

Why does Cody think he is leaving as Crown Jewel Champion? For starters, look at this thing! They’ve been saying all night, one of the most beautifully designed belts in the history of this sport. But beauty is only skin deep. In the last 2+ years, we all, Cody and the WWE Universe, have gotten to know each other, haven’t we? The fans cheer yes, so Cody says we know that when he came back, he wanted to take the John Cena schedule, the workhorse model. We did do that, we even added to that. Cody has bled, sweat and paid the price, and he is not foolish to think he is done paying that price. The fans cheer that.

But again, that is skin deep. The real reason he thinks he is leaving as Crown Jewel Champion is sitting at home right now. She’s three foot tall, and Cody needs her to know that when Cody turns to dust, his title will be attached to this Crown Jewel Championship as the very first. He needs her to know that the name given to him is the same name given to her, and it will matter. She will know that you play the game not to lose but to win! The fans cheer that! Now, Cody would like to invite to next week’s SmackDown, Gunther to stand in the ring with him.

Cody wants to ask Gunther’s reasons for all this, and he wants to look Gunther in the eyes to say, “Hey, Champ, whaddya wanna talk about?” The American Nightmare has extended an invitation to Der Ring General, will it be accepted?

Kevin Owens speaks.

Via a video message from his car, The Prizefighter says, “I’ve been in WWE now for about 10 years. Actually, it’s been over 10 years just recently. And I’ve had a lot of ups and downs over those 10 years, but I don’t think things have ever felt as bad as they do right now. Because for WWE officials to tell me to stay home and not come to work, not come to SmackDown, where I belong, because of what I did to Cody Rhodes after Bad Blood… is just so unfair and ridiculous. I mean, look at what we’ve WWE superstars do to each other in and out of the ring, in the locker rooms, all the ambush attacks and beatdowns.

“And I get told to stay away? Because I dropped their little golden boy outside of his bus? Ugh. C’mon. That really… It really makes me ask myself just how appreciated and valued I am by this company. But that I can live with, I can kinda get past that. What I can’t get over is what Randy Orton did to me. Randy, I can’t believe that you betrayed me like that. I… You can let people say whatever they want about me, ‘Kevin Owens turns on all his friends, blah blah blah,’ it doesn’t matter. I would’ve never done that to you, ever. I thought what we had was different. Dude, I… I just can’t believe you’d pick Cody Rhodes over me.

“And I gotta be honest with everybody, with everything that’s happening right now, between the disrespect shown to me by the WWE and Randy breaking my trust like that, I… I really don’t know if or when I can come back.” KO is putting out an ultimatum of sorts, what will WWE do in response?

Nick Aldis meets with Randy Orton.

Speaking of that response, The Viper says he doesn’t know what anyone else has planned, but he needs to get his hands on Kevin Owens and it needs to happen at Crown Jewel. Aldis had a feeling he’d say that. Aldis is sorry, but it is not something he can do right now. What? Not something Aldis can do? Orton needs to understand. It isn’t that Aldis won’t, it’s that he can’t. No, Aldis isn’t understanding Orton. Aldis says it is Orton not understanding. Orton says he wasn’t asking permission, he is demanding Kevin at Crown Jewel. Aldis says with all due respect, he is saying he can’t, because this is coming from higher up.

Oh, okay, then Orton knows who he needs to talk to. Is Orton going to go over Aldis’ head to ask The Game for this one?

WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Qualifier Triple Threat: A-Town Down Under VS Los Garza w/ Legado Del Fantasma VS Motor City Machine Guns!

Austin Theory & Grayson Waller being the former WWE Tag Team Champions, they of course want back at those belts. But Angel & Humberto are hungry for their opportunity, and yes, THE MCMG, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, are debuting right into the spotlight! Who wins here to join Gargano & Ciampa in THE #1 Contenders match?

SmackDown returns as Los Garza makes their entrance, Elektra Lopez with them. And then, Motor City Machine Guns get pyro with the RATATATAT! Columbia fires up seeing the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight, former NJPW Strong Openweight, former ROH World, and former TNA Impact World Tag Team Champions! The teams sort out, and Sabin starts against Waller and Angel. Waller and Angel agree to go after the new kid, and they mug Sabin right away! The fans boo as Angel stomps away, and Garza says, “Welcome to SmackDown!” Waller digs his boots into Sabin, Angel pulls on a leg, but the fans rally for “Motor City!”

Angel stands Sabin up, UPPERCUTS, then whisp Waller in. Sabin BOOTS Waller, ELBOWS Angel , then goes up to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Sabin SOBATS Waller, then KICKS Garza to TORNADO DDT Waller! The fans fire up again and Sabin tags Shelley. MCMG DOUBLE DROPKICK Angel & Waller! Theory & Humberto run up but are THROWN right out! The fans fire up, Shelley holds the ropes open, and Sabin DIVES to take out Theory and Los Garza! But Waller slides in to JAB Shelley down! Waller hits the drop steps to show off, then he runs to slide, but into a CHOP! Sabin SMACKS Waller off the apron, and MCMG regroup on the apron.

MCMG aim, SUPERKICK PENALTY KICK SANDWICH! Waller sputters, the fans fire up, and MCMG is feeling good. Sabin puts Waller in, Shelley wrenches an arm and the fans rally for “Motor City!” Waller pulls hair but Shelley still hits the ELBOW BREAKER! Shelley runs, Waller sidesteps and ROLLING ELBOWS! Theory tags in, and he CLOBBERS Sabin while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Theory says, “ALL! DAY!” then he and Waller DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOW Shelley! Cover, Angel breaks it! Angel tags Berto, Theory runs up but into a drop toehold and KNEE! Berto storms up to KICK Shelley. Shelley goes to a corner, Berto stands him up to CHOP! Theory rolls in but Berto stomps him down. Berto GAMANGIRIS Shelley in a corner, covers, TWO! Shelley shows that champion level toughness but Berto snapmares to basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stalks Shelley to ropes, reels him in, and puts him up top. Berto then CLUBS Shelley, puts him in the Tree of Woe, and soaks up heat as he gets space.

Berto runs corner to corner, but Theory ELBOWS him down! Sabin uses that time to free Shelley from the Tree, but Theory storms up all the same. Theory talks trash on Shelley, winds up, but Shelley blocks to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Theory fires knee after knee in return! Tag to Waller, he climbs, and Theory scoops. BACKBREAKER, but then Berto SUPERKICKS Theory! Waller still leaps over Berto, DECKS Sabin, but Berto SHOTGUNS Waller down! Berto goes to Shelley, whips him to ropes, then LARIATS! Berto paces, he drags Shelley up, and tags Angel. Los Garza double whip, then ELBOW Shelley down.

Berto puts Shelley on the apron and Angel runs up, KNEE ENZIGIRI COMBO! Cover, Waller breaks it! Waller throws hands but Angel blocks to SUPERKICK! Angel drags Shelley up, tags Berto, and Los Garza stomp away in the corner! The ref reprimands but that’s all he can do as Angel CHOKES Shelley with his boot. Angel finally steps away so Berto can step on Shelley. The ref reprimands, Berto stops, and he tags Angel. Los Garza double gorilla press as SmackDown returns to single picture. The fans rally, but Los Garza still hit a DOUBLE LAWN DART! And then a HIGH LOW! But Waller TOSSES Angel!

Berto runs up, Waller puts him outside. Angel ENZIGIRIS Waller, then he and Berto both go up! DOUBLE AIRHARA MOONSAULTS! Down go Sabin and Theory! But Waller runs, slides out and he LARIATS Angel! Berto runs up but Waller sends him into a barrier! Waller lines up a shot, runs back into the ring, somersault and COMPLET- NO, Shelley blocks to fire knees! Theory runs up, Shelley kicks him low! Shelley has ATDU, and Sabin runs in, ENZIGIRI COMPLETE SHOT DDT SUPER COMBO!! The fans are thunderous behind MCMG, but Angel BUZZSAWS Shelley! Shelley gives a JAWBREAKER!

Berto tags in, Shelley dodges Angel, but Angel scoops! Berto pops Waller up so Angel can add on! Berto goes up, MISSILE DORPKICK POWERBOMB POWERSLOAM SUPER COMBO!! Cover on Waller, Theory breaks it! Theory drags Waller over, tags in, and HOTSHOTS Angel! Somersault and SHOTGUN takes Angel out! Berto runs up, but Shelley steps in the way, FLYING CHUCK hits Shelly! Theory ROCKS and ELBOWS Berto, to then AOI SHODOU!! Theory storms over to Shelley, but Sabin tags in before the whip! MCMG start up the DREAM COMBO! CHANCERY DROPKICK! The fans are thunderous as MCMG aim at Berto!

MCMG run up, BOOT ENZIGIRI COMBO! Then a turn and Shelley climbs, SKULL AND BONES! Cover, MCMG wins!

Winners: The Motor City Machine Guns, by pinfall (advance to the #1 Contenders Match)

Sabin & Shelley VS Gargano & Ciampa, that’s a dream match right there! But who will be the team that goes after the Guerrillas of Destiny?

Backstage interview with Andrade and Carmelo Hayes.

Byron Saxton is with both El Idolo and H1M, saying that next week is the proverbial “Game 7” in this rivalry. Melo has Byron skip all that. Andrade says this is what he’s talking about with Melo! So disrespectful, just shut up and let Byron ask the question! Melo says Andrade is the one who needs to shut up, no one is here to hear him talk either. Byron tries to cool everyone down, but Melo and Andrade start throwing hands! Security and producers rush in, Melo loads up with his gold chain, and he GUT PUNCHES Andrade! Aldis storms in and tells Melo to get out of here! Melo already got his shot in, will he not miss the game winner? Or will Andrade teach Melo a thing about respect?

Nia Jax & Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell VS Naomi & Bayley!

They always say “card subject to change,” so here we are. The Queen of the Ring wanted Miss Money in the Bank by her side, but it seems Cold & Flu Season is already here. Will Nia make do with the brand new WWE Women’s Speed Champion? Or will they all #FeelTheGlow?

SmackDown returns and Bayley is in the ring already as Candice makes her entrance. Then the WWE Women’s Champion makes her entrance. The teams sort out, Nia starts against Bayley, and Bayley runs up at the bell! Nia catches Bayley, RAMS her into a corner, then whips corner to corner. Bayley sits down, Nia runs up and HIP ATTACKS! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Nia drags her up. Nia tags Candice, has Bayley in the corner, and Candice brings Bayley around. Bayley DECKS Candice, drags her up to snapmare, then tags Naomi. Naomi PENALTY KCIKS, then drops a leg! Cover, TWO!

Naomi keeps Candice from Nia but Candice drop toeholds Naomi into ropes! Candice tags in Nia, and Nia storms up to whip Naomi to the corner. Nia runs up, but Naomi goes up! Nia hits buckles, Naomi stomps away on Nia’s back, then stands on her to twerk! Naomi leaps, then runs up to UPPERCUT! Nia is upset, but Naomi runs, only for Nia to FLAPJACK her down! Cover, TWO! Naomi is tougher than that but Nia is upset with the ref now. Nia drags Naomi up, whips her to ropes, and SPINEBUSTER! Then a SENTON! Cover, TWO!! Naomi survives again, and Nia is growing frustrated, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and both Nia and Naomi are down! They crawl for their corners, hot tags to Candice and Bayley! The fans fire up as The Role Model rallies! Bayley hits Nia, fires shots on Candice, then whips Candice to a corner. Candice reverses, Bayley goes up and FLYING ARM-DRAGS! Bayley BLASTS Nia then SLIDING LARIATS Candice! Candice fights the saido and CLUBS away! Bayley goes to a corner, Candice runs up, but Bayley FLAPJACKS her off buckles! Bayley runs back in, SUNSET BUCKLE BOMB! Bayley drags Candice into a cover, but Nia breaks it! Naomi storms up and ROUNDHOUSES!

Naomi has Nia in ropes, Bayley has Candice, HOTSHOT NECKBREAKER and HEATSEEKER in stereo! The fans fire up as Naomi gets moving, and she DIVES out onto Nia! Bayley DIVES into forearms from Candice! Indi cheers while Candice hurries up the apron. Candice goes up and up but Bayley  YANKS her down! Bayley TOSSES Candice in, but Indi YANKS Bayley out! Indi POSTS Bayley, then puts her back in! Candice hurries to LIONSAULT! Cover, CANDICE & NIA WIN!

Winner: Nia Jax & Candice LeRae, by pinfall

Nia looks over, and is actually surprised this happened! The WWE Women’s Speed Champion found the way to take down a former WWE Women’s Champion, and she gets to celebrate alongside the current WWE Women’s Champion. Will Nia find she has more allies than just Tiffany?

Backstage interview with Nick Aldis.

Byron is now with the SmackDown General Manager, and Byron brings up what we saw with Andrade and Carmelo Hayes. Aldis says Andrade and Melo have been escorted from the building, because they aren’t settling this backstage, they’re settling this in the ring. That is next week in Brooklyn. But because this is such a personal issue, and because this is Game 7, time for a special guest referee who can handle business, and who quite frankly hates both men equally. And in steps LA Knight. Knight says that’s the funny part, because he really has no reason to get involved. He beat both men twice already!

If Aldis wants Knight to put on the zebra stripes, Knight will do it. He’ll be the best referee WWE has ever seen! In 20 years, you can put him in the WWE Hall of Fame as both wrestler and ref. Knight tells Andrade and Melo that if they step in there, he’s calling it down the middle. You think you’re signing up for a shot at the US Championship? NAH NAH! All you’re signing up for is to get smacked back to factory settings, and your aspirations for a title shot go up in smoke. That’s just how it is, YEAH! The Mega Star will become the Mega Referee, but will he be able to keep his emotions out of it when calling El Idolo VS H1M?

Roman Reigns heads to the ring!

Columbia, South Carolina puts up the ones for THE ONE TRUE CHIEF! Roman raises his finger, and the pyro goes off! Roman slowly brings his hand back down, a lot on his mind. Roman said he would acknowledge Solo, but is that true? We find out, after the break.

SmackDown returns and the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” as Roman stands in the ring. Roman has a mic to tell Columbia, SC, “Maybe for the last time… ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer, but then here comes Solo. The former Enforcer, the Usurper of the Table, the new Tribal Chief, makes his way down to the ring to join Roman Reigns. The two circle each other while the fans boo Solo and continue to chant “O T C! O T C!” Roman says earlier tonight, he heard Solo telling Jey that the family is stronger now. Solo told Jey that The Bloodline was stronger now. Roman doesn’t see. He doesn’t see anything that tells him they’re all better off now.

If anything, they’re divided and broken. After everything they’ve been through, from the Spring to what they lost in the Summer, and they stand here divided like this…? “Solo, I told my father that I could fix this. All I want to do… is put us back in the Promised Land. I want titles around our waists, I want paydays coming from the Heavens. I want abundance! I want our family to be priority! Tell me what I have to do to fix this.” Solo starts laughing? Solo says, “What you have to do? That’s an easy fix, Roman! What do you have to do to fix this? I’ll tell you what. All you have to do… is acknowledge me.”

The fans boo, and Roman has that look like he knew it would come to this. The fans again chant “O T C!” but Roman  takes a moment before he says, “I acknowledge you.” The fans can’t believe it! Roman says there, happy? Does that make Solo feel better? Solo says no, no, no, Roman. That wasn’t good enough. Solo needs Roman to acknowledge him, as Tribal Chief. The fans boo and Roman twitches a bit. The fans tell him “NO! NO! NO!” but Solo is waiting. Solo tells Roman that he needs Roman to acknowledge him as Tribal Chief, or else. Roman asks, “Or else what?!” The fans fire up for that one!

Solo laughs again and says look at him! There it is! Roman never changed! Roman always wanted the ula fala. But since Roman never changed, neither will Solo. And he calls in Tama, Loa & Jacob, who are dragging Jimmy out here!! The fans boo as they make Roman look at Jimmy. The fans chant “YEET!” but Solo takes as wing! Roman dodges to fire off fists! Roman TOSSES Solo, but Tama runs in! Roman CLOBBERS Tama! And he CLOBBERS Loa! And he dodges Jacob to LEAPING LARIAT! The fans are thunderous, Solo returns, SUPERMAN PUNCH!! Roman sees the ula fala is on the mat!

The fans fire up as Roman picks up the ula fala! Roman looks it over, holds it up, and puts it on, only to get a LOW BLOW!! Solo takes the ula fala back, and his Bloodline beat Roman down! The fans continue to “YEET! YEET! YEET!” but Jacob gives Roman the IMPALER!! Solo talks trash on Roman, “Look at you now! You ain’t The OTC! This is MY ula fala! This is MY WWE!” The Bloodline beats Roman down more, and Solo prepares his thumb. Tama & Loa stand Roman up, and Solo tells him to look at him! SAMOAN SPIKE!! Roman is down, sputtering and writhing, and Solo says HE is the chief!

Solo mocks the lock ‘n’ load, then sits Roman up for another SAMOAN SPIKE!! Jacob holds up the ula fala as Solo stands over Roman. Jacob adorns Solo with the ula fala while the fans chant “SOLO SUCKS! SOLO SUCKS!” Solo says this is HIS ring, HIS ula fala, HIS Bloodline! The people acknowledge HIM now! The Bloodline stands tall over Roman Reigns, will this be how it is for the rest of time?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown here, maybe even awesome. I appreciate there being an apparent audible called in helping MCMG have a bigger debut than it was going to be as of last week. Just beating Los Garza would’ve only done so much for Shelley & Sabin in the eyes of exclusively WWE fans. But winning one of two awesome Triple Threats from tonight, MCMG beating Los Garza and former WWE Tag Team Champions in A-Town Down Under, that really establishes MCMG right away. The other Triple Threat having DIY win was a touch surprising, but they had such a genius finish to it. DIY VS MCMG really is a dream match, that’s not just fluff, but I would think MCMG wins to become #1 contenders to the tag titles.

Lash VS Piper was great stuff, the fans really took to Lash showing off her power game that is on par with Bianca & Jade. Lash & Jakara will also have a great match with Iyo & Kairi on Raw, that is for sure, and I again hope this all builds to something big for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. And really good stuff in the WWE Women’s Championship story, with Tiffany “out sick” tonight. Could just be good kayfabe to cover for travel issues, but having Candice & Indi stepping in is great stuff because we needed to see Candice & Indi get back on TV. Great detail that they also mentioned Candice is Women’s Speed Champion. Great tag match, and great win for Candice, I didn’t think that’d happen.

Candice & Indi could suggest the idea of teaming up with Nia more, making for a faction with Nia & Tiff, but it’d also still work if Nia rejects the idea. We just need to also establish Candice & Indi back in the SmackDown Women’s Division, and surely the Women’s Tag Division. And perhaps in a roundabout way, after we see Nia VS Liv at Crown Jewel and Nia VS Naomi at some later point, Candice finds her way into the Women’s Championship story, she does have the potential to be a great top champ if they’d push her.

Very good promo from Andrade and Melo to build heat on their “Game 7” match, and good promo from LA Knight as part of him becoming special guest ref but… Do we really need that? Knight himself started off by saying it, but I’m thinking of how NXT and Raw have both done a special guest ref match already this year. Is this the Nth anniversary of the special guest referee concept? Granted, with Knight involved, there’s a very good chance we get a draw and that causes a Triple Threat for the US Championship at Crown Jewel or Survivor Series. On one hand, that’s a bit lame, Best of 7 Series shouldn’t end like that. But on the other, it keeps both Andrade and Melo strong and that US Championship Triple Threat will be great stuff. Feels like a rare case of the HHH Era booking itself into a corner.

And The Bloodline story is back to being awesome. Great stuff with Jey confronting Solo about this Bloodline Civil War that’s brewing, great counter from Solo saying he isn’t the “little” brother anymore, and then great interaction of Jey with Jimmy & Roman backstage. Roman’s part was perhaps a bit contradictory, though. He tells Jimmy in their suite that he might actually have to acknowledge Solo, and then acts like he never said that. Roman has to ask Solo what Solo wants, and Solo says it is the “acknowledgement,” and Roman is reluctant. Solo’s guys going after Jimmy was a logical move, it’s what you’d expect out of like mafia movies, action movies and even superhero movies.

Fans wanted Jey to show up but we saw Jey leave, so he wasn’t going to make the save. Plus, they have to stretch this out to Survivor Series and WarGames. Solo’s Bloodline stands tall tonight, and that puts the pressure on the Face/OG Bloodline. Jimmy might go back to Raw to talk with Jey about what happened, Jey will still be reluctant, but something will certainly compel Jey to save Jimmy & Roman. And Jey can even go with a classic take on the trope, “I didn’t do it for you, I did it for the family.” Then all the OG Bloodline would need is one more person so they can go 4v4 with Solo’s Bloodline.

My Score: 8.8/10