Who reigns in the City of Champions?

Baron Corbin VS Carmelo Hayes, Tiffany Stratton VS Jacy Jayne, two United States Championship matches on one Friday Night SmackDown!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• GUNTHER VS Matt Cardona w/ Chelsea Green; Gunther wins.
• WWE United States Championship: Baron Corbin VS Carmelo Hayes; Corbin wins and retains the title.
• WWE Tag Team Championships: Damian Priest & R-Truth VS The War Raiders VS MFT; win(s) and
• WWE Women’s United States Championship: Tiffany Stratton VS Jacy Jayne w/ The Fatal Influence; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

Nick Aldis is in the ring!

Boston cheers the SmackDown General Manager, and he says that as many know, Chelsea Green suffered a broken orbital bone last week. After discussing with WWE Medical, they’ve made A decision. Firstly, please welcome out the champion, Chelsea Green! The fans cheer as Chelsea, big shiner and sad smile on her face as she wears the title to the ring. The Hot Mess joins Aldis in the ring, and the fans cheer her on as she gets the mic. Aldis says there’s no easy way around this. We all know how hard Chelsea worked, how much this means to her, and how much that moment at SummerSlam meant to her.

But Aldis cannot in good conscious let Chelsea compete with a broken eye socket! Chelsea says please don’t say it. It’s already healing! She’ll do whatever it takes. Don’t say what he’s about to say. Aldis says he hates this part of the job, but it is his job. The fans boo, and Aldis says he is sorry, but… She must relinquish the title. The fans boo even more, and Chelsea nods. The fans chant “NO! NO! NO!” but she says she knew it was too good to be true. She knew that when she climbed the ladder and took the title down, she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Every single time something good happens to her in this business, it is followed by something devastating.

That’s just the Chelsea Green Story, isn’t it? Chelsea Green: Comic relief! The perfect opponent for the rest of the girls. Never the champion! Never QB1! The fans chant, “You Deserve It!” and Chelsea says Aldis knows how much she’s sacrificed to be here! She’s missed weddings! She’s missed funerals! She’s broken bones and left her blood, sweat and tears in the ring! She’s had her face put through cakes and pies, her body thrown into dumpsters! She’s had the entire world laugh in her face! But every night, when she got into bed, she told herself it was all worth it, because this moment would come. And now, here we are. She made it!

The fans cheer Chelsea on, and she says Aldis should understand, ESPECIALLY after SummerSlam! Aldis says don’t do that! This isn’t the same. IT IS THE SAME! ALdis went out there, and the entire world applauded him, his wife, and his son! And then Chelsea went out there, and together, they proved that it doesn’t matter what “They” think! What matters is what WE think about us! Aldis was champion! Mickie James was a champion! And until someone takes this title off Chelsea, this title is hers! The fans chant “YES! YES! YES!” Chelsea still takes off the belt, and as she hands it over, she says, “I thought you of all people would understand that.”

Chelsea storms off, still no longer WWE Women’s Champion. Aldis shouts, “Chelsea, wait!” The fans cheer, and Chelsea turns around. Aldis says as GM, he is doing the right thing. But as Aldis the man, he doesn’t give a damn what medical says. OH?! The fans cheer as Chelsea hurries back to the ring, and Aldis says she has 30 days to get cleared, get a mask, get whatever she has to do to defend this title. As far as he’s concerned, until someone takes the title from her, it IS hers! But then GUNTHER makes his way out here! The fans boo as Der Ring General ruins the moment, mic in hand as he storms down the ramp.

Gunther says, “Well, enough of that sob story, nobody wants to hear it. Let’s put all our attention to actual important things in this company.” Gunther steps into the ring and says he knows Aldis that “Hunter” has him on a short leash, so let’s answer professionally. Why did Aldis pull that stunt at SummerSlam? Aldis says this is not the time or the place, they can discuss this in the office like men. Right now, this is about the WWE Women’s Champion. Gunther says let’s be honest, if we’re talking SummerSlam, what’d Chelsea even do? She climbed a ladder, grabbed the belt, then a week later, bumps into a door and now she’s crying about it.

Y’know what Gunther did? He pulled double duty! He wrestled and competed both nights! One night, he made a man tap out in front of his family. But Aldis, why did you add Kevin Owens to Gunther’s match? Aldis says this is funny. He didn’t add Kevin to Gunther’s match, he added Gunther to Kevin’s match. Yeah! See, they’d been negotiating Kevin’s return for months. Gunther was the one who Aldis did a favor for, so you’re welcome, sorry you couldn’t get the job done. Chelsea says good one! Burn! Gunther says y’know what, Chelsea? Do us all a favor and shut up.

The fans boo but Chelsea says Gunther can puff his chest at a woman, fine. He can have his little temper tantrum go ahead. Stroke that tiny, fragile little ego. It’s really all Gunther has after SummerSlam, isn’t it? She looks around, and sees only one champion, and that’s her! Gunther gets heated, but then Matt Cardona slides in, defending his wife! The fans cheer, but Chelsea wants Cardona to take it easy, he doesn’t need to do this. Gunther says wow, all the way from catering to the rescue! But let’s be honest. What’s Cardona gonna do to Gunther? There’s nothing he can do! Gunther could call Cardona every slur in the world, and there’s nothing Cardona can do!

The fans boo Gunther but Chelsea says do not give Gunther the satisfaction. Cardona accompanies Chelsea out, and Gunther says like a dog listening to its owner. Cardona DECKS Gunther! Cardona rains down fists then stomps away! The fans cheer as Gunther is in retreat! Refs hurry out here to cool Cardona off, and Gunther shouts to do something about it! Are we about to see The Complete stand up to the bully in a match?

GUNTHER VS Matt Cardona w/ Chelsea Green!

SmackDown returns and indeed, even though they’re still in regular pants, Gunther and Cardona are having this match. Gunther drags Cardona up, wrenches an arm, then CHOPS Cardona back down. The fans boo but Gunther drags Cardona up to CHOP him back down! Gunther soaks up the heat now, then drags Cardona back up. Cardona ducks the chop to fire forearms! The fans fire up as Cardona HAMMERS away, then he runs side to side, only for Gunther to CHOP! Cardona falls again, but Gunther stands him up, just to CHOP again! Cardona dodges to fire forearms again! Cardona digs his knee in, but the ref counts.

Cardona goes side to side again, but Gunther bails out! So Cardona just WRECKS him with a dropkick! Cardona goes out, but Gunther RAMS him into barriers, then CHOPS again! And BARRIER BACK SUPLEX! Gunther then reels Cardona in, and GUNTHER BOMB on the desk! Then a GUNTHER BOMB on the apron! Cardona flops down, Gunther leaves him behind, but only long enough to refresh the count. Gunther stares Chelsea down but she says he’s nothing! Gunther goes back to the ring to soak up the heat. Chelsea coaches Cardona, he rises, and he’s back in! But into a ripcord and LARIAT!

Gunther mockingly claps for Cardona, and says Chelsea should keep cheering. Gunther goes back to Cardona, drags him up, and SAIDOS! Cardona flounders to the ropes while Gunther soaks up more heat. Chelsea coaches Cardona on, the fans cheer Cardona on, but Gunther talks trash on Chelsea. Chelsea gets on the apron to shout back, Gunther turns around, LOW BLOW! The fans cheer as Cardona gets away with one! And then a ROUGH RYDER!! Cover, TWO!! Gunther survives but Cardona just reloads! ROUGH- GUNTHER BOMB!! Then another GUNTHER BOMB!! And then the BOSTON CRAB!! Cardona TAPS, Gunther wins!

Winner: Gunther, by submission

Cardona stood up to the bully, but he could not stand tall over the bully. Gunther grins as he soaks up more heat, will nothing and no one ever humble him? Chelsea goes to Cardona to check on him, but speaking of bullies… The Irresistible Forces are here! And Nia Jax says, “Oh, Chelsea, not even a week into your title reign, and you’re injured? Pathetic. Sounds like you have a ticking clock. And since you wanna be a ‘fighting champion,’ why waste time? I got screwed outta SummerSlam, and you know what I want? I want the WWE Women’s Championship.” The fans boo but Nia & Lash step into the ring.

Nia says if Chelsea doesn’t give her what she wants, well, let’s say Nia has a history of breaking faces. But wait! Tiffany Stratton rushes out here! Tiff may have a match of her own, but she goes after Nia & Lash with forearms! But she jumps into a BEARHUG, and a SANDWICH! Nia HEADBUTTS Tiff, and feeds her to Lash’s LEGENDARY RIGHT! Then Nia DROPS THE LEG! The refs finally get back in here, but the Bougie Bullies just did some damage. Will Tiff soon run out of time on her own reign because of this? Or can she still hold onto her Women’s US Championship against Jacy Jayne?

Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss meet up backstage.

The Queen hugs “Blisster” and says how much she missed her. Alexa says she missed Charlotte, too. Charlotte thanks Alexa for kicking The Baddies’ butts last week. Alexa says you’re welcome, but that was all Tatum Paxley. But Alexa is proud how Charlotte was nice to Tatum, too. Charlotte says, “In the moment. I was nice in the moment.” It was a one-off, cute thing. Alexa says she likes Tatum, she reminds Alexa of herself. And since Charlotte loves Alexa, she can be nice with Tatum, and she’ll enjoy the surprise she has for them. Alexa opens a door toa small room, and it’s already Tatum’s shrine to #Charlexa.

Tatum says hi, and she has been working on their new locker room all day! Please come in! O-Oh… This sure takes Alexa back. Doesn’t Charlotte just love it? Yeah… It’s a collage… of herself… It’s… cozy in here… Will the Queen, Lil’ Miss Bliss and #FridayAddams make a dream team? Or a nightmare?

Nick Aldis talks with producers.

But then Cody Rhodes steps in. The American Nightmare apologizes to Jason Jordan & Shawn Daivari, shakes their hands, then asks Aldis about Randy Orton. Cody wants to settle things before it gets outta hand, they gotta get the match on paper. Aldis says he hasn’t seen Orton tonight, but he will throw this out there: Sunday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta, Georgia. Aldis can call Orton and put that together. Cody says whenever, wherever, doesn’t matter. Cody turns to go, and Sami Zayn is there! Sami nods and says Cody and Aldis. The more things change, the more they stay the same: Cody wants something, and Aldis will move Heaven and Earth to do it!

Cody wants Randy Orton, so let’s find Orton! Oh, precious Golden Boy, let us give you what you want! But when Sami wants a title rematch, what does he have to do? Wrestle a #1 Contender’s Match, which turns into a Triple Threat, which turns into a Fatal 4 Way, and he wrestles with a broken hand! But Cody, he can just say “when.” Cody says here’s something that has changed: Sami used to be able to come up and do this. Sami used to be able to filibuster, Cody would let him talk and talk and talk. Maybe it was because of their previous friendship, maybe Cody felt he owed Sami something. Cody doesn’t own anyone a DAMN THING!

So enough, Sami, with your carpal tunnel gout fist! Wanna do something about it? Let’s do something about it! Sami says last time they were in the ring together, he did something no one else has been able to do. Not Drew McIntyre, not CM Punk, not Roman Reigns, not Brock Lesnar. Sami Zayn pinned Cody Rhodes, clean as a whistle, no funny business, no shenanigans. And he did it for the WWE Championship! Cody says Sami must think he can do it again. Sami wants to just say when? Then let’s do it TONIGHT! Sami says yeah, of course, on a night when he can’t go. Aldis asks can’t or won’t? What? Obviously it’s can’t! Aldis says what if there was something in it for Sami.

What if Aldis said that if Sami beats Cody tonight, Sami gets the winner of CM Punk VS Kevin Owens? B-But he’s hurt! Well, he was hurt at SummerSlam and made that choice, didn’t he? He can make that choice again. Just let Sami know. Sami is conflicted again. Is he willing to power through if it means getting the rematch he wants? Or will he choose to keep up the blame game?

WWE United States Championship: Baron Corbin VS Carmelo Hayes!

Speaking of titles, The Lone Wolf was able to #CauseThePain two times in a row against Trick Williams, but he overlooked someone still owed their own rematch. Will Corbin learn that Melo Don’t Miss? Or will Corbin find a way to cheat H1M like he did Trick?

SmackDown returns as Corbin makes his entrance on a shining silver motorcycle. The introductions are made, but then Melo FLIES out onto Corbin! The fans fire up as Melo fires off, and he chases Corbin into the ring. The bell rings, Melo dodges and DROPKICKS! Corbin staggers, Melo ROCKS him, then fires more shots. Corbin grabs Melo to THROW him to the corner! Corbin snarls, runs up, but Melo dodges to CHOP! And CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! Melo climbs up, and he rains down fists! The fans count but Corbin stops things at 5! Corbin throws Melo back, but Melo returns to ENZIGIRI! Melo springboards, LAY UP LARIAT! Cover, ONE!!

Melo keeps the fans fired up, runs corner to corner, and forearm SMASHES! Melo whips but Corbin blocks! Corbin TOSSES Melo out, but Melo ROCKS Corbin! Melo goes up, up, and CROSS- NO, Corbin catches Melo, CHOKE- NO, Melo slips free! And he DUMPS Corbin out! Corbin is back up but Melo KICKS him in the ropes! Then the FADE AWAY JUMPER! The fans fire up as Corbin flops back, and Melo builds speed! Melo has to duck Corbin’s lariat, and FIRST- NO, Corbin blocks the First 48 to SPINEBUSTER, flip over, and BOOT! Melo tumbles out, but Corbin pursues! Corbin THROWS Melo into barriers!

Corbin drags Melo up, POSTS him, but the ring count is climbing. Corbin THROWS Melo into the timekeeper’s area! Corbin rolls into the ring, shouts that’s how it’s done, but the fans boo as SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Melo sputters in the timekeeper’s area, but Corbin goes back out. Corbin soaks up heat, then goes to Melo. Corbin drags Melo up, brings him around the way, and soaks up heat as they go to the desk. Melo CHOPS Corbin, CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! But Corbin KNEES low, and THROWS Melo into steel steps! Corbin refreshes the count again, talks more trash, then goes to Melo. Corbin looks at all the thumbs down, then turns around. Melo CHOPS! Corbin ROCKS Melo, puts him in the ring, then eggs the fans on. Corbin has Melo in a corner, ROCKS him, then stomps a mudhole in. Corbin CHOKES Melo, but the ref counts.

Corbin stops at 4, he argues with the ref, then he soaks up more heat. Melo crawls back in, but Corbin drags Melo up. Melo fires body shots from all sides, then runs the ropes, but into an ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Melo toughs it out but Corbin argues with the ref. Corbin sits Melo up, talks more trash on the fans, then CLUBS Melo. Melo goes to a corner, but Corbin stands him up to BODY BLOW! Corbin CLUBS Melo back down, then drags him up to CLUB him again! Melo sputters, SmackDown returns to single picture, and Corbin stands Melo up. Melo fires forearms, and the fans fire up! Melo ROCKS Corbin, then whips, only for Corbin to block!

Corbin whips Melo into the corner, then CLOBBERS him! The fans boo but Corbin just drags Melo back up. Corbin scoops, aims for a corner, but Melo slips free! Corbin hits buckles, but he runs after Melo! Melo dodges again, kicks the legs out, then BOOTS Corbin! Melo runs, NO LOOK DDT! Cover, TWO! Corbin survives, but Melo goes up! The fans fire up as Melo hits the FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Corbin survives and Melo is beside himself! The fans rally up for Melo, and Melo kips up! FIRST- NO, Corbin still denies the 48 and BOOTS Melo! Corbin reels Melo back in, lifts, POWER- SUNSET FLIP! Cover, TWO!!

Corbin escapes, but Melo KNEES Corbin in the face! Melo runs, but into DEEP SIX! Cover, TWO! Melo survives and the fans fire up again! Corbin snarls, but the fans rally even harder for Melo. Corbin reels Melo in, but Melo slips free, FIRST 48! Corbin sputters, so Melo hits another FIRST 48! Corbin falls, Melo climbs, and Boston is thunderous! Melo is up top, but Corbin hits the ropes! Melo wobbles, and Corbin SHOVES him to the barriers! Corbin then hurries to get Melo back in, for the END OF DAYS!! Cover, Corbin wins!

Winner: Baron Corbin, by pinfall (still WWE United States Champion)

It wasn’t quite as awful as how he cheated Trick, but Corbin still gets the upset win here in Boston. But wait! Speaking of Trick, he is here! Boston chants, “Whoop Dat Trick!” while Trick finishes rotating. Corbin says bring it then! Lil’ Yachty is in the ring, and he SMACKS Corbin with the Trick Stick! The fans cheer Yachty, but then Corbin SNATCHES the stick and swings on Yachty! Yachty gets outta there, but Trick is in! TRICK SHOT! Down goes Corbin, and Trick throws his jacket at him! Will Trick make sure the third time is the charm?

Chelsea and Tiffany regroup backstage.

Chelsea thanks Tiff for rushing out there to help her, but the last thing Chelsea wants is for Tiff to get hurt before her match. Tiff says she wasn’t gonna let her friend fight alone, and she’s fine! She’s not hurt, the match is still on. Okay, but… Is she sure? Yes. Tiff heads out, but will it be anything but fine when Fatal Influence has the numbers advantage?