Will SmackDown keep it civil?

Cody Rhodes wants Kevin Owens to pay for what he’s done but The Prizefighter’s just “doing his job.” Will Kevin do his job even tonight?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament Triple Threat: Bianca Belair VS Chelsea Green VS Blair Davenport; Chelsea wins and advances to the next round.
• WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasma; Knight wins and retains the title.
• Bayley & Naomi VS Candice LeRae & Tiffany Stratton; Bayley & Naomi win, by disqualification.
• Tommaso Ciampa VS Montez Ford; Ford wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Solo Sikoa is here!

Salt Lake City boos as the Undisputed Tribal Chief leads Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Jacob Fatu and Bronson Reed to the ring. They destroyed Roman Reigns’ OG Bloodline last week, and they screwed over Seth Rollins on Monday Night Raw, so they certainly have the advantage going into Survivor Series and WarGames. The fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” but Solo has the mic. The fans boo as Solo says, “Salt Lake City…! ACKNOWLEDGE ME.” The fans boo even more, but Solo’s Bloodline raises the ones. Solo says yes, oh yes, we are one week away from WarGames, and his crew is ready to dominate, baby!

The fans continue to chant for “O T C! O T C!” but Solo says, “Me and my crew, we always ready. But you know who’s not ready? Roman Reigns.” The fans boo again but Solo says you know how he ain’t ready? Roman ain’t even here yet! Where’s he at? So when Roman does get here, Solo wants Roman to meet him in the middle of this ring. Solo needs Roman to accept his terms of surrender. The fans boo again, but Solo says once Roman surrenders, he and his crew “can finally ACKNOWLEDGE ME.” Is Solo already thinking he’s won the war? Or will the OTC and the OG Bloodline never surrender?

WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament Triple Threat: Bianca Belair VS Chelsea Green VS Blair Davenport!

The opening round continues, and The EST battles the Hot Mess and the Ichiban Gaijin for a spot in the semifinals! Who meets Bayley in that next round after defying the odds here tonight?

SmackDown returns and Blair makes her entrance, followed by “Shh… It’s Chelsea Green~!” The bell rings and Chelsea is wary of Bianca and Blair. Chelsea SLAPS Bianca, blocks Blair’s kick, then rolls Blair up! Bianca sunset flips Chelsea! But Blair body scissors Bianca into a cradle! Chelsea Oklahoma Rolls Blair! Bianca ghost pins Chelsea! Blair just stomps Bianca! Blair brings Chelsea up but Chelsea SLAPS Blair! The fans fire up as Chelsea runs up, and she LARIATS Blair up and out of the ring! Chelsea talks trash on Blair, then dodges Bianca. But Bianca returns to run Chelsea over! And STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!

Bianca stays focused on Chelsea and whips her to a corner. Chelsea reverses, Bianca goes up and over but Chelsea BOOTS her! Salt Lake City cheers Chelsea as she goes up and up! Chelsea FLYING SUNSET FLIPS! Blair breaks it! Blair DECKS Chelsea, then brings Bianca up. Bianca bucks the O’Conner Roll, then PLANCHAS onto Chelsea! The fans fire up with Bianca  but then Blair ROCKS her at the apron. Blair drags Bianca by her braid, and wraps it around the ropes! The ref reprimands but Blair goes up and up to APRON DOUBLE STOMP Bianca! Blair soaks up the heat and SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Blair goes back to Bianca in the ring, drags her up, and taunts her while pulling the braid. Bianca tries to get free but Blair reels her in to ROCK her! Blair bumps Bianca off buckles, then CHOKES her on ropes! The ref can only reprimand as there are no disqualifications, but Blair still steps off to soak up heat. Bianca gets up to fire forearms! Bianca then rolls Blair up, TWO! Blair BOOTS Bianca down! Bianca drags Blair up but Chelsea’s back! NECKBREAKER DDT COMBO! Chelsea covers Blair, TWO! Chelsea covers Bianca, TWO! Back to Blair for a cover, TWO! Chelsea goes back to Bianca, TWO!!

Chelsea is stunned and frustrated, but then she brings Bianca up. Chelsea whips, Bianca reverses, and Chelsea is sent into Blair! Bianca runs up but Chelsea dodges, so Bianca runs into Blair! Chelsea TOSSES Bianca, then soaks up the cheers. Chelsea takes a bow, but then is reminded by the ref that there are no count outs. Chelsea pouts as she has to fetch Bianca back into the ring. Chelsea reels Bianca in for a GOURD BUSTER! Chelsea runs, SLIDING FLATLINER! Cover, Blair breaks it! Blair then TOSSES Chelsea, though not very cleanly. Bianca rolls Blair up! TWO, and Bianca ROCKS Blair! And ROCKS her again!

Bianca fires more shots, then gets outta the way as Chelsea MISSILE DROPKICKS! Blair flounders but Chelsea grabs at her. Blair is on the apron so Chelsea just shoves her down. Chelsea runs at Bianca but Bianca dodges in the corner to ROCK Chelsea! Bianca runs Chelsea over, then DROPKICSK her! Blair is back but Bianca wrenches her to a suplex! Blair tries to fight it but Bianca powers through to SLAM Blair down! SmackDown returns to single picture as Bianca kips up! Bianca has the fans fired up and she goes to Blair in a corner. Bianca rains down fists, but Chelsea stops her at nine by pulling the braid!

Bianca backflips and whips Chelsea but Chelsea ducks ‘n’ dodges to ROUGH RYDER! Chelsea runs up at Blair but Blair ELBOWS her! Blair goes up and up to FLYING DOUBLE STMOP! But Bianca hits a SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up and Bianca lines up a shot. Bianca handsprings to MOONSAULT, onto knees! Chelsea SHOTGUN SENTON COMBOS! Cover, TWO!! Chelsea is frustrated and she hauls Blair up. Chelsea hooks the arms but Blair fights it to standing switch. Chelsea switches, Bianca adds on! DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX!! The fans fire up as Bianca crawls to cover Blair, Chelsea breaks it in time!!

All there women are down and Salt Lake City is thunderous! Chelsea rises, she brings Bianca around, but Bianca RAMS her into the corner! And RAMS her again and again! Bianca then runs, but Chelsea moves! Bianca hits POST! Blair runs up, Chelsea puts her on the apron. Blair ROCKS Chelsea, climbs up, but Chelsea GAMANGIRIS! Chelsea climbs to the top, the fans fire up, and Chelsea hits a SUPERPLEX! Both women are down, but Bianca is up top! 450 SPLASH on Blair!! Cover, CHELSEA BREAKS ITA GAIN! Chelsea TOSSES Bianca, covers Blair, but Bianca YANKS Chelsea away! Then THROWS her into barriers!

Bianca goes to Blair to cover, TWO!! Blair stays in this and Bianca can’t believe it. But then cameras catch something going on! JADE CARGILL DOWN ON A CAR HOOD! Piper Niven is nearby, did she do that to Jade?! Bobby Roode and producers call for paramedics and Bianca panics. Bianca decides to go help her friend, so now the way is open! Chelsea hurries in to get Blair, but Blair rolls Chelsea! TWO!! Chelsea stands, into a SUPERKICK! Blair hurries to suplex, but Chelsea slips free! UNPRETTY-HER!! Cover, Chelsea wins!!

Winner: Chelsea Green, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The Hot Mess takes advantage of someone wrecking Jade, and now she’ll face Bayley 1v1 in the semifinals! Will Chelsea win the Women’s US Championship for all of Canada?

SmackDown returns and…

Bianca has caught up to Naomi and Nick Aldis, asking what happened. No one knows for sure, and now Bayley steps in to ask what’s going to happen. Bianca says she’s Jade’s tag partner, she’ll go. Bianca hops in the back of the ambulance and it heads out. Aldis tells his refs to go ask around and figure out what happened. Does this have to do with the tag titles, the Women’s US Championship, WarGames, or all of the above?

WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Santos Escobar w/ Legado Del Fantasma!

The Mega Star is a fighting champion indeed, as he puts this title back up on the line after last week’s battle with Humberto and the blindside attack from Shinsuke Nakamura. Will Knight be able to focus on the Emperor of Lucha when he knows the King of Strong Style is lurking?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if it’s “YEAH!” or “SI!”

The bell rings and wait, the lights fade. Nakamura tells LA Knight, “I have watched you, and learned about you, better than you know yourself. You are riddled with insecurities. You beg them to chant your name with a growing aura of desperation. You lash out so they don’t see how frightened you are. How you lie at night, consumed with fear that everything you have obtained will slip through your fingers. Your fears are justified.” Knight looks around for where Nakamura could be, but Nakamura continues, “This is the beginning of your end.” And then ESCOBAR attacks! The fans boo but Escobar PUNTS Knight int he side!

The ref reprimands, he backs Escobar down and says he has to wait for the bell. The fans rally behind Knight, Knight wants the match, sot he bell rings. Escobar fires off on Knight, whips him corner to corner, but Knight comes back to LARIAT! Knight storms up on Escobar but Escobar YANKS him into ropes! Knight falls to the apron, and Escobar BOOTS him to the floor! Escobar then PLANCHAS and down goes  Knight! The fans boo but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Escobar has Knight in a corner. Santos keeps trying to make “ES-CO-BAR! SI!” work but the fans boo. Escobar CHOPS Knight, then CHOPS him again! Knight CHOPS in return! And again! And again! Knight blocks a kick, RAMS Escobar to a corner, then whips corner to corner. Escobar reverses to RAM Knight into a corner, then he goes out to ENZIGIRI! Knight falls over, Escobar slingshots to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Lopez says finish this and Escobar covers again, TWO! Escobar argues with the ref but then Escobar clamps on a seated stretch. Escobar taunts Knight and the fans while Knight endures.

The fans rally, Escobar tells them to shut up, but Knight fights his way up. Knight moves around, fires body shtos, but Escobar knees low. Escobar whips, Knight reverses but Escobar grabs ropes. Knight blocks the boot, Escobar DUMPS him out, but Knight is on the apron! Knight slingshot SHOULDER TACKLES! Escobar staggers up, Knight JABS, JABS, JABS! Then DISCUS LARIAT! The fans fire up and Knight whips Escobar hard into buckles! Then JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Santos survives and Lopez coaches him up, but Knight drags him up. Escobar fires haymakers and KICKS!

Escobar puts Knight up top, ROCKS him, then climbs up. Knight fires body shots in return! Knight HEADBUTTS Escobar down! The fans fire up and Knight spells it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” DOUBLE JUMP- NO, Nakamura is on stage! Knight stops but he blocks Escobar’s gamangiri! Escobar trips Knight up! Escobar climbs up to SUPER STEINER! Knight tumbles, Escobar puts him in the drop zone and Escobar goes up top! FROG SPLASH! Knight rolls onto his side but Escobar fireman’s carries. PHANTOM- NO, Knight slips out to B F T!! Cover, Knight wins!

Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall (still WWE United States Champion)

And Nakamura attacks! The fans boo but Nakamura POSTS Knight! And POSTS him again! Knight slumps down but Nakamura drags him up. Nakamura POSTS Knight again! The fans boo but Nakamura isn’t done! BLINDSIDE KINSHASA!! Knight falls in a heap while the fans boo. Is Nakamura’s promise to end Knight come true?

Johnny Gargano talks with Motor City Machine Guns.

Johnny tries to explain the circumstances for Tommaso Ciampa’s anger, but Alex Shelley says he’s known Gargano a long time. Chris Sabin says as they see it, Ciampa stuck his nose in MCMG’s business. They wanna be fighting champions and Ciampa ruined that for them. Gargano gets that. But Ciampa’s an emotional guy. Ciampa just wants his own tag title match. They can fix this whole thing by talking to Aldis and- Sabin stops Gargano there. MCMG feels Gargano’s frustrations, but after what Ciampa did… The Profits deserve another shot. Oh c’mon! They’ve known The Profits for three weeks! They’ve known Gargano for years!

But in step Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins. Ford asks Gargano if MCMG stuttered. After The Profits get finished with Gargano’s tag team partner, if that’s what you wanna even call Ciampa at this point, Ford 7 Dawkins got next. And MCMG may be tight with Gargano, but Ciampa is bad news. But hey, snakes hide in the grass. Gargano asks what that’s supposed to mean. And c’mon, Dawkins sucker punched Shelley last week! They’re gonna listen to The Profits? Gargano just wants MCMG to think about it. But one way or another, the Sicilian Psycho has to face the consequences of his actions, will he make it through The Profits?

The OG Bloodline has arrived backstage!

Roman Reigns leads the way for Jimmy, Jey, and if you go by the shirt, “Sami Uso.” Surely they know of Solo’s demands, what will be their response?

Aldis talks with Nia Jax.

The SmackDown General Manager talks with the WWE Women’s Champion about what happened with Jade Cargill. He knows the Women’s WarGames match has them on opposite sides, so he just wants to ask this once: Does she know what happened to Jade? Oh, c’mon, Nick, really? No, she doesn’t know. Plus, she wants to take Jade out during WarGames. That, and she was busy helping Tiffany & Candice prepare for their match. So if there’s nothing else… Nia heads out. Aldis wants to talk with security but he spots Cody Rhodes heading to gorilla. Where’s he going? Uh, Aldis just advertised the face to face so Cody’s head to the ring.

Right, he did advertise that, but no one has heard from Kevin nor seen him tonight, he might not even be here. Cody doubts Kevin would skip tonight. Cody continues on to gorilla and the music hits. Salt Lake City fires up for The American Nightmare and sings along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” The pyro goes off, Cody continues to the ring, then he grabs a mic. The fans fire up with Cody as we get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody then snarls as he says it’s that time! Time to go face to face! And Cody can tell us someone who is not here, and that’s Randy Orton. And they’re telling Cody that Kevin is not here, but Cody doesn’t believe that!

So wherever you are, Kevin, come to this damn ring right now! The fans fire up again but Cody tells KO to not keep him waiting! Here and now! In this ring! Like Kevin said he’d- Wait, Kevin does talk to Cody but from where? He’s at the very back of the crowd! And in one of those shirts that’s a fake tuxedo! “I’ve got to say, I’m a little… disappointed. See, because I was ‘summoned’ to be here tonight on SmackDown because the great Cody Rhodes wanted me here. And you can’t deny Cody Rhodes’ request! So here I am, dressed to the nines in my bets attire, and you are not even wearing your stupid, sleezy politician suit? I think I deserve better than that!”

Cody says yeah, Kevin was “summoned” here tonight, but not to stand way back in the crowd. He was summoned to come stand in this ring with Cody right now! The fans cheer that, but Kevin says yeah, that’s true. But the thing is, Cody may not be used to this anymore, but Cody doesn’t get what he wants when he wants it. Cody hops out of the ring and security rushes in to stop him. Kevin says he will not jump just because Cody says so. Kevin’s over here, Cody’s over there. But Kevin sees Cody is all riled up. Does Cody wanna fight Kevin? Cody said so last week, right? Then before they do that, tell Kevin why Cody is so upset.

Because what happened over the last few months, what happened to Cody, what Kevin did to Cody and Randy, it is all Cody’s fault. Oh, it’s CODY’s fault that Kevin gave Randy a piledriver?! YEAH! Kevin storms closer to ringside and says he’ll explain why. Kevin gets on the desk to shout, “For four YEARS, I fought the Bloodline! Every week! Blood, sweat and tears! I fought them all! And they tried to end my career. More specifically, the guy who led the group, Roman Reigns, tried to end my career more times than I can count! And he never could, and he never will! And I kept fighting before you were even back!

“And then you came back, and what happened? I stood by you, I fought alongside you, I fought them alongside you! I was in the ring at WrestleMania 39 trying to help you win the WWE title. I was in the ring at WrestleMania 40 after you won the title, to stand there with you, as happy as I could be, because you finished~ your~ story~! And then what happened? A few months after that, Roman Reigns needs a partner because he’s pissed off everyone around him. And who says yes?! YOU! You teamed with the guy who tried to end MY career! Who tried to take away the one thing that I’ve loved since I was 11 years old! He tried to take my livelihood!

“And you teamed with him! So yeah, everything that’s happened is YOUR fault!” The fans are torn but Cody says ENOUGH. If KEvin wants to justify his actions all because Cody teamed with Roman, fine, believe that. But Cody will call this for what it actually is: Cody teaming with Roman had NOTHING to do with Kevin! Roman asked, Cody felt it was the right thing, but that doesn’t jive with who Kevin is. Because Kevin’s always gotta be the victim. Kevin’s always gotta have the world against him! The story of Kevin Owens has to be that Kevin is being held down! Newsflash: No one holds KEvin Owens down more than Kevin Owens!

Kevin’s self-sabotage is next level! He is obsessed with the idea of being the face of WWE, the number one guy, not knowing the whole damn thing is a team effort in the first place. And what Kevin does not realize is while he is fixated on that, he has been synonymous with the WWE for the past DECADE. Kevin has every accolade! A GRAND SLAM CHAMPION! One of the best in recent memory! And everyone knows it BUT Kevin Owens! The fans cheer that! Cody says Kevin wants to talk self-sabotage, what about the last time these two faced each other. Let’s talk about Bash in Berlin.

Cody says Kevin couldn’t pull the trigger, didn’t do it when Cody’s knee was hurting. Because we all know Kevin could’ve powerbombed Cody right on this apron, and maybe he’d be standing here, all his dreams come true as THE WWE Champion. And Kevin blames Cody for that!? Kevin finally did pull the trigger, just on the wrong guy. Randy Orton is an absolute, 100%, unequivocable legend and Kevin’s friend, and he did NOT deserve what Kevin did to him! Kevin didn’t just bring back a banned move, a move that has ended lives, Kevin crossed every line he possibly could. This lesson won’t be handled with just a microphone tonight.

No, Cody wants to BEAT it into Kevin! So whether it is here in Salt Lake City, with plenty of show left, or in Kevin’s home country at Survivor Series, or even Saturday Night’s Main Event… Cody promises it is coming. Cody wants Kevin to know, ball’s in his court. Oh, Cody wants to fight, huh? The fans fire up and Kevin says Cody will get his match. But it’ll be when Kevin says it’s happening. The fans boo and Kevin says it definitely isn’t tonight, so good job, Salt Lake. But know this: When it does happen, Kevin is just doing his job. And don’t worry about Kevin pulling the trigger this time. He crossed the line with Randy? Yeah, Cody’s right.

But Kevin loved Randy. Kevin hates Cody. The fans boo as Kevin drops the mic and leaves through the crowd. Cody tells Kevin that Kevin doesn’t hate Cody. Cody thinks Kevin hates himself. Kevin almost comes back to ringside, but he keeps leaving. Cody says that now he knows the lengths Kevin will go, so in that way, they’re in agreement. Whenever Kevin decides they have the match, just know that there is not a single line Cody won’t cross either! Both men have said their piece, but who will survive when these two go to war?

The OG Bloodline sits in the suite.

Roman stews while Sami says this is insanity. Solo wants them to just surrender? Not happening, right? No question. Jimmy has no idea what’s going on with “Lil’ Brother,” and Jey points out that they still need to find their fifth. Sami agrees, but he’s out of ideas. Jey asks about Cody Rhodes. Jimmy likes that idea, too, but Roman says no. Why not? Because that’s old news. Roman’s moved on. Well, okay, um… Look, he may not be available after what happened on Monday, but Sami could still ask Seth Rollins- Roman shuts that down with a glare. Okay, fine, no Rollins either. Then any way they cut it, they have no one else. What’re they gonna do?

Roman says listen. They don’t need anyone else. This is all that matters right here. This is all they need. They go out there together and they’re good. And if not, then fine, they die but they die together. You feel him on that? Jey says, “Yeet.” Jimmy says he’s with it. Sami says yeah, he’s in. But then, what’s the plan? Roman says, “I dunno.” They’re united as one, but will they only fall as one?

Cody returns backstage.

He passes by Carmelo Hayes and Giovanni Vinci, and Melo says it’s about time someone told Kevin about himself. Cody asks back, “I’m sorry? What’re we talking about?” Melo defends that he’s just saying what everyone else is saying. Cody asks what everyone else is saying, and Melo says that it’s Kevin just telling the truth. No one is telling the truth louder than Randy’s neck, though. Cody SHOVES Melo, Melo gets up but Aldis stops this from getting worse. Cody says maybe we should reevaluate this first round pick. Melo says reevaluate then! Melo storms off, will Cody take his anger out on H1M before getting his hands on Kevin?

Bayley & Naomi VS Candice LeRae & Tiffany Stratton w/ Nia Jax!

The Role Model is in the next round of the Women’s US Championship tournament, with The Glow waiting her turn. However, Survivor Series is first, and that will let Naomi get revenge on those who kept her from THE WWE Women’s Championship. Will she and Bayley make the Poison Pixie & Miss Money in the Bank pay for backing Nia Jax? Or will even more damage be done to Naomi’s WarGames team?

SmackDown returns and Tiffany makes her entrance, Candice alongside her, and Nia accompanying them both. The teams sort out and Tiff argues with Candice about it. Tiff turns around, into a KNEE from Naomi! Naomi rains down fists on Tiff, then brings her up, only for Tiff to RAM her into a corner! Tiff whips corner to corner, then runs up, but Naomi goes up and stomps on Tiff’s back! Naomi then stands on Tiff, hops down and somersaults, to come back with a mule kick! Tiff sputters, Naomi whips, but Tiff reverses. Naomi RANAS Tiff and Tiff tumbles to ropes. Naomi runs up but Tiff stops the bulldog!

Tiff bails out and hides behind Nia. Naomi goes out after Tiff but Nia stands in the way. Bayley joins Naomi, Candice sneaks up, and Candice & Tiff DOUBLE SUCKER PUNCH! The fans boo but Tiff taunts Bayley as a loser. Tiff puts Naomi in the ring, then tags Candice. Nia’s buddies double whip Naomi but Naomi slides under the double lariat! DOUBLE MULE KICK! Naomi hits the slingshot, BULLDOG SHOTGUN COMBO! Bayley tags in, and then builds speed, to DVIE! Down goes Tiff at the ramp! The fans fire up as Naomi TOSSES Candice out for Bayley to DAREDEVIL DROPKICK! The fans fire up again while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns as Bayley fires forearms and reaches for Naomi. Tiff keeps Bayley back, then throws her down byer her hair! Tiff runs, but Bayley avoids the stomps to roll Tiff up! TWO, and Tiff stomps Bayley down anyway. Tiff drags Bayley up, but Bayley puts Tiff in the ropes for a HOTSHOT! Tiff flops over and Bayley crawls for the corner. Tiff runs up on Naomi but Naomi avoids the cheap shot! The ref has to stop Naomi, and that lets Tiff RAM Bayley into the corner! Tiff RAMS Bayley more, soaks up heat, but then Candice tags in on her own. Tiff argues with Candice but they’re letting Bayley crawl away!

Nia shouts at her sidekicks to focus and Candice STEP-UP SENTONS Bayley! Then Candice BLASTS Naomi! Candice brings Bayley up but Bayley JAWBREAKERS! Candice ENZIGIRIS back! Candice goes up, Tiff tags in before the LIONSAULT! Tiff adds her TIFFY STOMPS! Cover, Naomi breaks it! The fans fire up but Candice TOSSES Naomi. But then Naoim drags Candice out of the ring! Naoim throws Candice into barriers! Tiff stands Bayley up to whip to a corner. Tiff goes corner to corner with the handspring, but Bayley dodges! Tiff hits buckles and staggers around. Tiff comes back, but Bayley DUMPS her out!

Nia is upset but Bayley crawls! But Nia YANKS Naomi down! And THROWS her into barriers! The fans boo and the ref calls it!

Winners: Naomi & Bayley, by disqualification

Nia doesn’t care, she just smiles. But Bayley runs up, only for Nia to ROCK her! Nia whips Naomi into steps, and Candice drags Bayley in. Candice & Tiff HAMMER away on Bayley! The fans boo but here comes IYO SKY!? The Evil Genius slides in and she dodges Tiff to SHOTEI Candice! Then she blocks Tiff’s kick to send it into Candice! SHOTEI for Tiff! Nia CLBOBERS Iyo! The fans boo but Nia TOSSES Iyo! Iyo lands safe on the apron! Iyo ROUNDHOUSES Nia, springboards and MISSILE DROPKICKS! But Raquel Rodriguez BOOTS Iyo down! Liv Morgan joins in and Nia’s team beats down what’s left of Naomi’s!

WAIT! Rhea Ripley is here! Liv says bring it then! The fans fire up but Mami looks really scare with both mask and kendo stick! Rhea storms in, Liv is a deer in the headlights, so Raquel takes the kendo stick smack! Rhea SMACKS away on everyone but they go running! The fans are fired up for Mami, will she be more than enough to take down Liv’s team?

Tommaso Ciampa VS Montez Ford!

The Sicilian Psycho’s black heart showed itself when he showed no remorse ruining last week’s tag team championship match. But will The Profits’ flyest high-flyer make him pay for that? Or will Ciampa look to prove why DIY deserves the title shot?

The bell rings and Ciampa runs up! Ford dodges to fire off hands in the corner! The ref counts, Ford stops stomping at 4, but Ciampa turns things around! Ciampa fires hands, but Ford counter punches! Ford backs Ciampa down but Ciampa kicks low. Ciampa whips, Ford reverses, then Ford DROPKICKS Ciampa down! Ford KICKS Ciampa, pushes him down, ONE!! Ford snarls but he drags Ciampa up. Ciampa throat chops! The ref reprimands but Ciampa ROCKS Ford with a right. Ford goes to ropes, Ciampa wrenches and KNEES Ford low. Ciampa runs, but Ford blows past him to LARIAT! The fans fire up while Ciampa sputters.

Ciampa stands, he blocks a kick and flips Ford! Ford lands out to ENZIGIRI! Ciampa tumbles out of the ring and the fans fire up! Ford builds speed to FLY! Down goes Ciampa at the ramp, and Ford roars to his feet! The fans cheer as Ford puts Ciampa in. Ford storms up on Ciampa, but Ciampa YANKS Ford out of the ring. Ciampa then KNEES Ford off the apron, and Ford hits desk on the way down! Ciampa grins while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Ciampa has Ford up top, then in an Alabama Lift! Tuck and- NO, Ford slips free to SUPER POWERBOMB! The fans fire up while Ford rests in the corner. Ciampa stirs, crawls to ropes, but Ford runs up to UPPERCUT! And LARIAT! Ford keeps moving, LEAPING LARIAT! The fans fire up and Ford hits a BIG back suplex! Kip up, and then STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ciampa stays in this and goes to a corner. Ford runs up, but Ciampa BOOTS him! Ciampa CHOPS Ford, Ford CHOPS back! Ciampa and Ford fire hands back and forth while the fans rally.

Ciampa ducks a shot, ripcords, but Ford mule kicks first! Ford runs up, but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Ciampa then brings Ford in, turns him, TWISTING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Ford survives but Ciampa snarls. Ciampa brings Ford up, underhooks, but Ford wrenches out to JUMP KNEE! Ciampa wobbles but Ford goes to a corner. Ciampa runs up, but into a GAMANGIRI! Ford springboards, into a KNEE!! Ciampa underhooks Ford for the- NO, Ford backdrops free! And sits down on Ciampa! FORD WINS!!

Winner: Montez Ford, by pinfall

Ciampa is just as stunned as anyone that Ford turned that around! And then Ciampa CLOBBERS Ford from behind! The fans boo but Ciampa stomps away! Dawkins rushes in to ROCKS Ciampa now! The fans fire up as Dawkins fires fast hands on Ciampa in a corner! Gargano runs in to stop Dawkins, but Dawkins just grabs Gargano by the neck! Ciampa CLOBBERS Dawkins now! Gargano stops Ciampa and asks what he is doing! Ciampa says, “What am I doing?!” Ciampa and Gargano argue, and then Ciampa SHOVES Ciampa! MCMG run in but Ciampa bails out! The fans boo but Ciampa is unhinged!

Ciampa asks Gargano whose team he’s on! Is Gargano with Ciampa or MCMG?! Are DIY’s days on SmackDown numbered? And what about the Profits going for the titles? Will they finally return to former glory amidst the chaos?

Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline heads to the ring.

As he said at the beginning of the show, the Undisputed Tribal Chief expects unconditional surrender from The OTC. But we also heard the OG Bloodline say it’s ride or die. How will tonight end? We find out, after the break.

SmackDown returns as Solo and his Bloodline stand in the ring, ones to the sky. Solo has a mic, but Roman’s music begins before he can speak! Solo smirks as it is clearly still just 5v4, but Roman, Jey, Jimmy & Sami do not back down. The OG Bloodline steps into the ring but Solo has his team hold on. Solo says he is not here to fight Roman. As a matter of fact, Solo still loves his family. Roman, Jey, Jimmy, Sami, all of them. He never stopped. But he wants them to understand something: If the four of them join Solo’s Bloodline, they could run the WWE for DECADES. The fans boo but Solo says they don’t have a fifth man, nor a Wise Man. And they have no choice.

So surrender, join him, or the four of them will die where they stand. The fans boo more but Solo holds out the mic. Roman takes the mic while the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Roman looks at the mic, raises it, but “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!” WHAT?! The fans are going nuts as yes, Paul Heyman is back!! Heyman grins and gives us the rest of his introduction. “Now, forgive me, but I’d been put through a table in Madison Square Garden, so maybe my math is a little off. But there’s no way to do WarGames four versus five! That math does not commute to your Wise Man. No, no, no, no, no.

“So it’s not going to be four versus five. It’s going to be five versus five!” And Heyman is bringing… C M PUNK!! Salt Lake erupts as The Best int he World joins in to throw hands! The OG Bloodline has turned the tables and the fans are losing their minds! Punk is on Bronson, Solo is on Roman, but the Usos DOUBLE SUPERKICK Solo! SUPERMAN PUNCH on top! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Bronson! SUPERMAN PUNCH! Sami and Punk DOUBLE LARIAT Bronson up and out! Solo’s Bloodline is on retreat, but then Sami & The Usos TRIPLE FLY!! They all wipe out Solo’s side, leaving Punk and Roman to stare down.

Wait, Tama & Loa get back in! But Loa gets a SPEAR!! Tama gets a G T S!! The fans are again losing their minds as CM Punk stares down with OTC! Roman is still in disbelief, but once a Paul Heyman Guy, always a Paul Heyman Guy. “This is Awesome!” and Heyman smiles as two of his clients are now on the same side. And Punk tells Roman it isn’t about them, it’s about Heyman. Will Punk make sure it’s Clobberin’ Time inside the double steel cage?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown here with big leaps in the build to Survivor Series. For one, they’re doing a rather surprising edit on not just who is in the Women’s US Championship tournament but who is perhaps in the Women’s WarGames match. Jade Cargill is the victim of a whodunnit, and there are some obvious suspects. Piper Niven could’ve done it so Jade wouldn’t be in their US Championship tournament Triple Threat. Raquel Rodriguez could’ve done it to take Jade out of WarGames. Or perhaps in a big twist, it was Bayley who did it to get herself on the WarGames team alongside Naomi, even though it’s not like Bianca and Iyo really like her.

Speaking of the Women’s US Championship, great match from Bianca, Blair and Chelsea. With the Jade attack happening, Bianca taking herself out of the running made sense. Chelsea winning is great, too, fans are really taking a liking to Chelsea, and she really is that talented in the ring for her very goofy character. Chelsea VS Bayley will be good stuff next round, and I feel like Chelsea will again advance thanks to story stuff, as Bayley could be “whodunnit.”

Meanwhile, some pretty obvious stuff in the Men’s US Championship story. Knight VS Escobar was a really good match, and Knight got a great win, but of course Nakamura attacks. Knight VS Nakamura is obviously next up, and honestly, I kinda want Nakamura to win for his own sake. Nakamura’s been spinning his wheels waiting for something, and I hope a title run under this new, darker persona is what we get going into 2025. At the same time, a shame for Escobar. Do we just need Legado moved over to Raw so that Escobar can try for the Intercontinental Championship? Feels like something needs to freshen him up.

Very good stuff in the WWE Tag Team Championship story, especially that 1v1 match of Ford VS Ciampa. Great win for Ford, as honestly, singles titles are really the only think next for him and Dawkins. But Ciampa was of course a sore loser, which brings out Dawkins and Gargano and even MCMG. I still feel like we’re getting another Triple Threat for the tag titles, maybe with an Elimination factor or something to make it different from when DIY and Profits faced Tama & Loa. I just can’t be sure if DIY breaks up or goes full Heel together to just go wild on SmackDown. I’d kinda prefer the latter since it’d be different from what we got out of DIY in NXT.

And of course, great stuff in the Bloodline story as usual, with quite the surprise again. As I said on Monday, I really thought Rollins would have a change of heart, but I guess between getting beat up by Bronson and just hating Roman that much, he’s just a no-go. But hey, Heyman returning at this moment was actually pretty genius. And because of his connections, Heyman bringing CM Punk to this WarGames match is a pretty genius move, too. Mostly because it’s not Lesnar. But also because Punk and Rollins still have their beef, and this can build their feud indirectly. I would think OG Bloodline wins now, so Punk can rub it in Rollins’ face that Punk kept Bronson down when Rollins couldn’t, and boom, there you have Punk VS Rollins headed to either Saturday Night’s Main Event, or just as a major part of Raw’s Netflix debut.

My Score: 8.9/10