This is why you #JustKeepFighting!

SummerSlam Weekend was full of action and surprises! Kevin Owens is back, and he’s the NEW #1 contender to the Undisputed WWE Championship!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• WWE United States Championship: Baron Corbin VS Trick Williams; Corbin wins and retains the title.
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Fatal Influence VS Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton; Fatal Influence wins and retains the titles.
• Charlotte Flair VS Jade Cargill; Charlotte wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

WWE mourns the loss of Dory Funk Jr.

It’s a commercial free first 30 minutes!

Cody Rhodes is here!

Philadelphia cheers The American Nightmare, even though he is still without the Undisputed WWE Championship. Cody still high-fives fans, and we get the “WHOA OH~!” and pyro. Cody then goes to the ring, gets the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro, then gets the mic. The fans cheer Cody, and he calls out Randy Orton! “Where’s he at?! Randy! Randy, why don’t you come out here right now!” The fans cheer that! Cody says yeah, they all want it! Let’s do this right now! Randy, Cody, SmackDown, right now! The fans cheer more, and even chant for Randy, but we’re still waiting. Cody says while we wait, he’ll just go and say it.

“PHILADELPHIA! The City of Brother Love, my surrogate hometown, a WrestleMania city, what do you wanna talk about?!” The fans cheer, they chant for “Randy! Randy!” and sing for “Cody, Cody Rhodes~!” Cody says let’s talk about memories. Everyone saw the recap, how the wrestling world lost a champion’s champion in Dory Funk Jr. The fans applaud, and Cody says good memories, great memories, like 200 years from here, where WrestleMania 40 happened. A time where Cody didn’t know then what he does know now, and that was John Cena, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and Randy Orton.

More memories, like losing with his boots on in the center of this ring to The Best in the World, C M Punk! Now, Cody will assume that Punk had no idea that Randy Orton was going to roll in and hit Cody with an RKO. But then CM Punk appears! The fans cheer as the Undisputed Champion goes right to the ring in a Philadelphia Eagles colored version of his merch shirt. Punk gets a mic now, and the fans cheer Punk him on. But Punk says he heard his name so he got the truck to play his music, because it sounds like his friend wants to ask him some questions. Does Cody have something to ask him? Cody says no, he doesn’t want to ask.

But Punk is here, so Cody might as well. Did Punk know Randy would show up at SummerSlam? Punk has a nonplussed look on his face. That hurts, but he gets it. If Cody needs to hear it from Punk, no, Punk did not know Randy would show up, hit a drive-by RKO, and while he’s obviously not as mad about it as Cody, he’s still pretty pissed. So if Cody still wants to Two Man Power Trip this place, they can go back there together, find Randy, and beat his ass together! What’s Cody say to that? Cody says no, they have unfinished business, so he needs his answer from Randy. Cody guarantees he will find Randy and beat his ass himself.

The ring is yours, so ladies and gentlemen, the champion, C M PUNK! The fans cheer while Cody exits. Punk tells Cody, “That unfinished business between you and I… Say when.” But then just as Cody goes up the ramp, KEVIN OWENS makes his entrance! The fans cheer again as The Prizefighter is back on SmackDown! Kevin sees Cody, they stare down for a moment, and Cody offers Kevin his mic. Kevin accepts and goes to the ring to join Punk. They stare down while the fans say “Welcome Back!” to Kevin. Punk and Kevin step forward, talking off mic, and Kevin seems to bring up the idea of Cody just needing to say “when” if he wants a title shot.

The fans are torn as the two argue off mic about things, and then Nick Aldis appears. Aldis wants them to take it easy, but fans chant “Let Them Fight!” Kevin spots Aldis, then smirks at Punk. Kevin gets on mic and says don’t worry, it’s all good. They’re bros, right? Management’s been telling them all week to keep it professional, after all. Punk says yeah, he can handle it, Punk is a professional. But is Kevin here to claim his shot? He’s clearly dressed to wrestle in his “gear!” Kevin says first of all, he wrestles in shorts, not pants. But if Punk is asking if Kevin wants to wrestle, then the answer is yes! That’s all he’s wanted to do the last 17 months. The fans cheer that!

Kevin says 17 month sis a long time to be told that you might never get to do what you love ever again. Especially when you haven’t decided. Kevin didn’t choose, he was forced to leave, and he lived in uncertainty. But he’s been proving people wrong his entire career, and he here is. The fans cheer that, and even Punk applauds. Though, Punk might be doing it sarcastically. The fans chant “Welcome Back!” and “You Still Got It!” Kevin says he never lost it. But this brings us to Punk! Punk is out here proving Kevin right. Because for three years now, Kevin’s had people come up to him and tell him to give Punk a second chance. Punk’s changed, he’s a new guy!

And Kevin never bought it. Not for one second, because Kevin knows who Punk is. And Punk is proving Kevin right by having the arrogance to tell Cody, “Just say when.” When in fact, Kevin is the #1 contender to the title. But not surprising that Punk is looking past Kevin. Punk thinks he’s better than Kevin, and better than everyone, which proves to Kevin that he is right that this is still the same arrogant sociopath Kevin’s always known him to be. Punk grins and says he is only stepping closer to Kevin can hear him.

And let’s talk Punk’s arrogance! Some people love it! Punk calls himself The Best in the World, it’s what got him to the dance! It’s why people chant his name! It’s why they chanted for ten YEARS while Punk was gone. Also, why are Aldis and the producers still out here for? Punk can handle this, he’s professional! But flipside of the coin, some don’t like Punk that he calls himself Best in the World, but he backs it up. In fact, this title that Kevin is #1 contender for, it means Punk is Best in the World! The fans cheer that! Punk says what he doesn’t understand is that Kevin can’t appreciate the arrogance, because if anyone’s benefitted from it, it’s Kevin!

If anyone has benefitted from what Punk has gone through, what he has done and said to knock down doors so that guys like Kevin can get here, they benefitted the most! They called Punk “Skinny fat,” so do you think they were waiting with baited breath for Kevin Owens? Kevin brushes that off to say it’s been ten YEARS since the last time Kevin was last world champion. And for the last ten years, Kevin pictured winning it back countless times. It is always great in his head, but he could never have imagined something would happen where that moment is even better. Because now, Kevin doesn’t just get to win that title, he gets to humble Punk and beat him for it!

The fans cheer, and Punk says it’s good to have impossible dreams. Sometimes, Punk dreams so big it scares him, and clearly, Kevin’s a little scared. Kevin laughs at that, but Punk says practice gratitude. Without Punk, Kevin wouldn’t be here. He’d be working a nine-to-fiver at some job he hates, while also being a “weekend warrior” on the indies, calling Punk and asking him for tickets to a WWE show for him and his family. Kevin says Punk thinks he’s the best? No, brother, that doesn’t work for Punk, Punk knows he’s the best, and so do the fans! Just look at Kevin! Kevin says yeah, look at him. He should be grateful for the trail Punk blazed, that’s all true.

But Kevin should also thank Punk because he also showed us what not to do. What not to become! How not to treat those around you! Punk showed us that someone’s ego can get so overinflated that they start believing the crap that comes out of their own mouths. Dude, Punk must be so lonely on the pedestal he puts himself on. Meanwhile, thank you, because seeing what Punk has become has made Kevin determined to not become such a miserable POS like him. Mic drop, and then Aldis gets back in there! Aldis wants these two to cool off, but then Kevin SHOVES Punk! Producers and refs rush in there now, but fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!”

Punk says yeah, let’s fight! Kevin eggs Punk on, Punk says we’ll see how strong that neck really is! Punk backs off for now, and the fans boo. But clearly, the fuse has been lit, how long until the powder keg explodes?

Backstage interview with Charlotte Flair.

Cathy Kelley is with The Queen, and relates the heat building between Punk and Kevin to the heat between Charlotte and Jade Cargill. Charlotte, things have been getting personal for months, they were both rather focused on each other at SummerSlam, just what is it about Jade that gets under her skin? Charlotte says it’s not even months, it’s been years! Jade arrived three years ago, and that first night, Charlotte strength, she saw presence, she saw someone who wanted to be the top woman. Charlotte isn’t fighting for her spot, not fighting for gold or legacy, but for her best friend, Alexa Bliss, someone who brought Charlotte back to life.

So when Charlotte had to hold Alexa’s daughter a few weeks ago and assure her Mommy was going to be okay, Jade now has Charlotte’s attention, now Jade has her spotlight. Now, Charlotte will kick Jade’s ass in that spotlight! Charlotte tells Jade through the camera that two alphas, one ring, and if Jade’s half the woman she says she is, she’ll come alone. WOO~! Charlotte heads out, but will #ThatB1tch play fair? Or will it be The Queen VS The Baddies whether she likes it or not?

Trick Williams is at gorilla position!

And he tells Baron Corbin that tonight, he gets his rematch! He sees Corbin smiling, feeling himself, doing podcasts with Trick’s title! But we all know the only reason Corbin has it is cuz he hit Trick in the head with it! He’s cheating, taking cheap shots, because we all know Corbin doesn’t have what it takes to beat Trick Williams! So this is what we’re gonna do about it: Trick will beat Corbin down tonight, and there’s nothing that will stop him. He’s doing this for himself, for Yachty, and for the culture. Tonight, we whoop dat trick, and Trick whoops dat ass! Let’s talk about it!

The music hits, and it’s the moment of truth! Will Trick have his revenge for the SummerSlam that slipped through his fingers? Or will Corbin still cause the pain?

WWE United States Championship: Baron Corbin VS Trick Williams!

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly championship material!

The bell rings and Trick runs up! But Corbin TACKLES him first! Trick gets up but Corbin KNEES low, whips to ropes, but Trick LEAPING LARIATS! The fans fire up with Trick while Corbin bails out. Trick hurries after Corbin, CHOPS him, then POSTS him! Then he CHOPS Corbin again! Trick sends Corbin into and over the barriers, into the timekeeper’s area! Trick refreshes the count, then gets a running start! Je’Von Evans, eat your heart out as Trick LEAPS onto Corbin! The fans fire up as Trick then stands on the barriers. The fans chant “Whoop Dat Trick!” while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Trick brings Corbin up and around to then put him against barriers for a CHOP! The fans cheer Trick on as he CHOPS Corbin again! Trick stands Corbin up to UPPERCUT, then chases him into the ring. Trick whips and RUNS Corbin over! Corbin bails out, but Trick hurries after him. But Corbin BODY BLOWS, then RAMS Trick into steel steps! Trick clutches a shoulder while Corbin soaks up the heat. Corbin then goes back to Trick, brings him up, and puts him in the ring. Corbin talks trash on Philly, then brings Trick back up. Trick UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And BOOTS! Corbin stays up so Trick runs, but into an ELBOW! Cover, TWO!

Corbin argues with the ref but the count was fair. Corbin drags Trick up, puts him in a corner, and CHOPS! Trick sputters, Corbin talks more trash, then he stalks Trick to another corner. Corbin UPPERCUTS, then he mocks the fans that he can’t hear them. Corbin ROCKS Trick, the fans give thumbs down, but Corbin doesn’t care as he stomps away on Trick in the corner. The ref counts, Corbin stops, then he soaks up the heat from the fans. Corbin drags Trick up but Trick UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And again as SmackDown returns to single picture! But Corbin kicks low, and whips Trick into buckles before the LARIAT!

The fans boo but Corbin mocks them all. “I can do it all day!” Corbin goes back to Trick, talks trash, and drags him up, just to DECK him! Corbin ROCKS Trick, then stands him up again. The fans rally for Trick, but Corbin whips him into the corner! Trick dodges the lariat to LEG LARIAT! And LEG LARIAT! Trick whips Corbin to then FLAPJACK! Trick kips up, the fans fire up, and time to “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” Trick winds up, and he TRICK SLAPS Corbin down in the corner! Trick then stomps, “WHOOP DAT TRICK! WHOOP DAT TRICK!” Trick then fireman’s carries, and DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Cover, TWO!

Corbin survives but the fans still rally for Trick. Trick has the wristlock, fires up, and cartwheels to ripcord, only for Corbin to fire elbows! Corbin then fireman’s carries, only for Trick to slip free, shove, and TRICK KICK! The kneepads come down, Trick takes aim, and Corbin rises up. TRICK- DEEP SIX! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Trick survives! Trick and Corbin rise, and Trick says “SUCK IT!” Trick fires a haymaker, Corbin fires back, repeat! Then they rise to their feet, throw more shots, and Trick LARIATS! Corbin stays up to LARIAT back! Trick LARIATS, then dodges Corbin to JUMP NECKBREAKER!

Trick fires up again, and he LARIATS Corbin up and out! Trick then hurries after Corbin, but Corbin POSTS him! Corbin rains forearms on Trick, then puts him in the ring. Corbin snarls, and he grabs the belt! The fans boo as Corbin wants a repeat of SummerSlam! The ref reprimands, they argue over the belt, so Corbin lets the ref have the belt. Trick then hits the BOOKEND! Cover, TWO!! Corbin survives, so Trick lets his hair down! Trick shakes them dreads, then aims from a corner! TRICK- NO, Corbin catches Trick, but Trick slips through! Trick ducks ‘n’ dodges, TRICK SHOT!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Corbin survives by fingertips!!

The fans can’t believe it, and Trick is beside himself! Corbin bails out, and he sneaks the belt back! Trick hurries up, BELT SHOT!! Cover, CORBIN WINS!!

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

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me! Trick did not think Corbin would get away with another one, and that’s exactly why Corbin just did! But if this is what it takes for Corbin to keep the belt, will he run out of tricks soon enough?

Nick Aldis is on the phone.

He finishes the call as Sami Zayn steps in. Sami says he hasn’t had this chance to talk to him since SummerSlam, and Sami wants to congratulate Aldis on that match with Gunther. When Aldis’ kid got into the ring to hug him, Sami admits, he cried. Aldis thanks Sami for that, and Sami asks if Aldis is going to congratulate him. Oh, here it comes. Here it comes?! OF COURSE here it comes! How many times does Aldis think Sami’s gonna wait on the sideline when he gets screwed! And yeah, he did! Because Sami would still be Undisputed Champion if not for Aldis, at the 11th hour, finding CM Punk!

Sami would be #1 contender if not for Aldis, at the 11th hour, adding Gunther AND Kevin Owens to the match! This is getting harder for Sami to think this was not all on purpose. In the 11th hour, Aldis adds Kevin Owens!? And then Kevin walks in. Aldis says these two have unfinished business to handle, so he’ll leave them to it. Before Aldis leaves, Kevin tells him he knows where he wants the title match: SmackDown in Toronto on August 21st. Aldis says he’ll make the call. Aldis leaves, and Sami welcomes Kevin back. Kevin says that doesn’t sound sincere. Sami says no one is happier that Kevin is back!

Sami has spent the last year-and-a-half wondering if their last match in Toronto was their last match ever. Of course Sami’s happy! And Kevin comes back, now he has a title opportunity, and he could become champion in Toronto! Of course Sami’s happy! But Kevin needs to understand that his return 100% screwed Sami, 100% came at his expense. Can they acknowledge that? Kevin says yes, his return being that way messed it up for Sami. Then can he say sorry? Sorry, Sami, that it affected you that way. But perhaps they can acknowledge that if Sami was in Kevin’s position, he’d do the same thing.

Imagine Aldis calling you for a title opportunity after you’ve been away because of an injury. Sami would’ve said yes, right? And y’know what? People, or Phil, can say Kevin didn’t earn it, but the match Kevin had before leaving, Kevin won. And it was beating one of the guys also in the #1 contender’s match, which was Sami. Sami says fair enough. In all honesty, Sami wants Kevin to win. Sami would rather see Kevin as WWE Champion than CM Punk, and if there’s anything Sami can do, he- Kevin says he appreciates this. They both know how long Kevin’s been waiting to get Punk in the ring, he’s got this.

Sami says okay, sure, Kevin’s got it, what does he need Sami for? No, Sami means it, it is fine, Kevin can handle it himself. But understand: Don’t expect Sami to stop chasing what he wants just because it’s what Kevin wants. Sami heads out, will these best frenemies once again have it out one way or another?

Baron Corbin returns backstage.

And Cathy Kelley is there to bring up his two upset wins over Trick Williams in one week. Corbin stops her there. Upset? Upset? Is Corbin somehow the underdog in this story? Explain that to him, please! He’s been back for a cup of coffee, he already has a title, and it’s the first of many. So explain to him how he’s the underdog. Because everyone thought he couldn’t do it? Story of his career. He hopes the doubters feel real stupid right about now! Corbin said he was taking this title, and he took it! As far as he’s concerned, he’s telling everyone that Trick will NEVER get his hands on this title gain! There is not a man who can step to him for this!

But then Carmelo Hayes is here! And he fires off on Corbin! He THROWS Corbin into the garage door! Melo says hold up, wait a minute, you thought that he was finished? Melo was just talking to Aldis, and Aldis said Melo VS Corbin for the US title in Melo’s hometown of Boston. See you there! Melo is dropping bars and dropping Corbin, but will he get Corbin to drop that title? Or will Corbin make sure it is the end of H1M?

Chelsea Green is here!

The ring has the red carpet, as well as red ‘n’ white balloons on every corner, for the NEW (interim) WWE Women’s Champion! But then wait, as the new merch shirt says, cross out “interim,” she IS WWE Women’s Champion! The pyro goes off for Chelsea as she holds the belt up high! Chelsea takes a mic and says, “I love you guys.” The fans cheer Chelsea on, and Chelsea says she so appreciates them all sticking with her from the beginning, and pledging her allegiance. Because of them all, they are a huge part of why she walked out of SummerSlam as the NEW WWE Women’s Champion!

And while we’re thanking people, it is only right she thanks herself! She’s also the reason she’s a champion! And lastly, she thanks her beautiful, stunning, blonde bombshell bestie, Tiffany Stratton! And indeed, it’s Tiffy Time in Philly! The Women’s US Champion makes her entrance, in matching red ‘n’ white like Chelsea. Tiff gets a mic, and Chelsea says she is sorry for how it happened, but she knows their friendship is stronger than that, right? Right? Right! So that said, Chelsea has Tiff here so she can make a toast to strong female friendship! Chelsea has the champagne, but Tiff says hold on. She kinda wants to talk to her about that.

But then the Fatal Influence makes their entrance! The fans boo as Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid step all over the moment, but Jacy says enough of this cringy soap opera. If not for Tiff, Jacy would’ve been in the ladder match, and SHE would be the one standing in that ring as WWE Women’s Champion! The fans boo, but Lainey says Fatal Influence would then be draped in gold, as it was always meant to be. But instead, it’s Chelsea, the Hot Mess, representing SmackDown. What makes it worse is that she actually thinks she deserves it! Uh, rude. Do they mind putting a pin in it while Chelsea celebrates her moment?

Jacy says don’t worry, they’re not out here to ruin the “moment.” But Tiff, you took away Jacy’s chance at a title, so now Jacy has no choice but to take away what Tiff loves most. And since her “bestie” destroyed Tiff’s hopes of being #Tiffy2Belts, why not put the final nail in the coffin and take Tiff’s title? Then Tiff will be Tiffy NO Belts! HAHAHAHA! The fans boo, but Tiff says y’know what? She’ll give Jacy a title match next week, if Fatal Influence gives them a title match here and now! The fans cheer, but Jacy says pause. Fatal Influence talks it over, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Aldis, send a ref right now!

The fans fire up, but wait, could Tiff & Chelse become a Two Woman Power Trip? Or are they both going to be under the Influence?

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: The Fatal Influence VS Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton!

SmackDown returns as the teams sort out, and Lainey starts against Chelsea. They tie up, Lainey THROWS Chelsea down, then she mocks the salute. The fans boo, Lainey scoops, but Chelsea slips free. Chelsea waistlocks, but Lainey blocks the slap! Lainey winds up, Chelsea ducks the lariat and slides out. The fans cheer but Lainey is annoyed. Lainey rushes out, Chelsea hurries back into the ring, but Lainey sees the elbow drop coming! Lainey slingshots but Chelsea dodges the senton! SLIDING FLATLINER! Cover, ONE, but Chelsea brings Lainey up and whips her into the corner. Chelsea says kiss this, then she SPLASHES Lainey!

Tag to Tiff, Chelsea sends Tiff in and she SPLASHES! Lainey stumbles around, Tiff whips, but Lainey reverses. Tiff handsprings up and over, but Lainey avoids the dropkick! CODE BREAKER, but Tiff handsprings through! Basement DROPKICK! Fallon tags in, but Tiff arm-drags! And arm- NO, Fallon blocks and whips Tiff to a corner. Fallon BACK BODY BLOCKS, SMACKS Tiff, then snapmares for a YEEHAW KICK! Fallon then whips, but Tiff handsprings, TIFFY STUNNER! Fallon ends up on ropes, Lainey runs up, but Tiff dodge! Chelsea SLAPS Lainey down! Tag and the besties both run, DOUBLE DOUBLE KNEES!

The fans fire up as Fatal Influence bails out. Tiff and Chelsea build speed, DOUBLE DIVE! The fans fire up with Tiff & Chelsea, and they shout, “Pledge your allegiance!” The fans indeed cheer #HotMessTime while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Chelsea fetches Fallon into the ring, and Fallon flounders to a corner. Chelsea runs up, Fallon dodges, but Chelsea ELBOWS back! Chelsea climbs, but Jacy distracts, and Fallon YANKS Chelsea down! Fallon mocks the salute, then she rains down forearms! Fallon drags Chelsea up, bumps her off buckles, then tags Lainey. Lainey stomps and CLUBS Chelsea down, then clamps on a neck wrench. Chelsea fires body shots, then shoves Lainey to whip. Lainey reverses, Chelsea bounces off buckles, and Lainey scoops to BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Chelsea survives, Lainey is furious, but Lainey tags Fallon.

Lainey bumps Chelsea off buckles, Fallon runs up and ELBOWS her! Fallon snapmares Chelsea, then runs, SLIDING FOREARM! Cover, ONE!! Chelsea is tougher than that, but Fatal Influence protests the count. Fallon whips Chelsea hard into the corner, then goes up, up, tag to Lainey before the BLOCKBUSTER! Lainey then steps in for a STUNNER! High stack, TWO! Chelsea stays in this, but Lainey stays on her with forearms! Then she SLAPS Tiff! Tiff scowls as she stays up, but Lainey clamps on a chinlock. Chelsea fights up, JAWBREAKERS free, but Fallon tags in! And Fallon CLOBBERS Chelsea!

Fallon whips Chelsea to the corner, tag back to Lainey, and they taunt Tiff. Fallon sends Lainey in, but Chelsea BOOTS her! Chelsea dodge Fallon to then SLAP her outta the ring! Lainey grabs a hand, but Chelsea SLAPS her! Lainey holds on, Chelsea SLAPS, repeat, as SmackDown returns to single picture. Chelsea dodges Lainey’s lariat to GERMAN SUPLEX! Then hot tag to Tiff! The fans fire up as Tiff LARIATS Lainey again and again, ELBOWS her, and she SHOTGUNS Fallon! Tiff then runs, cartwheels, and Alabama Lifts to the ALABAMA SLAM! Tiff goes up, up, and SWANTON BOMB! But then Fallon DECKS Tiff!

Tiff tumbles, she tags in Chelsea, and Chelsea says wait, she’s not ready! Fallon runs up, but Chelsea DUMPS her down! Chelsea then hurries in, but Lainey springboards! Chelsea catches Lainey, has the arms, but Lainey powers out of the Unprettier. Chelsea goes to a corner, Lainey runs up, but Chelsea puts her on the apron. Lainey ENZIGIRIS, then goes up! Chelsea GAMANGIRIS and Lainey wobbles! Chelsea ROCKET LAUNCHES Lainey! The fans fire up, but here comes Fallon! Chelsea dodges to CUTTER! The fans fire up as Chelsea then gets Lainey’s arms! But Jacy YANKS Tiff down! That distraction saves Lainey!

Chelsea storms over to Jacy, but Fallon distracts the ref so Jacy can ROCK Chelsea! But Tiff THROWS Jacy into barriers! Fallon tags in, and she WRECKS Tiff! Lainey & Fallon get Chelsea up for the DOUBLE SPIRAL!! Cover, Fatal Influence wins!

Winners: The Fatal Influence, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)

The #FatalFlaw wins one for the Fatal Influence, and now Jacy is getting her shot at Tiff next week! Will it be #JacyTime soon enough? But then LASH LEGEND & NIA JAX ATTACK! The fans boo as the Irresistible Forces TOSS Tiff, then Nia grabs the Women’s Championship! The fans boo as Nia brings that into the ring, and she holds it up over Chelsea. Will nothing stop these two Bougie Bullies from wiping the floor with the Hot Mess?

Backstage interview with Damian Priest.

Cathy Kelley is with the Archer of Infamy and brings up that attack by MFT last week after the tag title match. What are his thoughts now that Haku is here? Priest says it’s just the same thing over and over! They beat MFT way back to win these tag titles, then MFT jumps them. Priest & Truth handle things and beat them again. Then MFT does what they do best and jump them. Yeah, okay, they have Haku now, so MFT is finally a threat. But is Priest supposed to be afraid? No! Priest has Ron Killings, he is a former world champion himself, and if MFT wants to get their asses kicked-

The War Raiders step in and Erik shouts at Priest. Erik & Ivar have been chasing Priest & Truth, and now Priest is upset? Ivar says they will be double champions, it is only a matter of time. But MFT has a hard lesson coming to them. Truth steps in, turns his hat backwards, and asks if they’re supposed to be scared of the Raiders. They ain’t scared of luchadores, the Faces of Fear and Ming, the Road Warriors, Legion of Doom, or Hawk ‘n’ Animal! Priest says those were all the same people. Truth says then same difference! He talked with Aldis, they’ll defend the WWE Tag Team Championships against Raiders AND MFT next week!

Wait, wait, wait, they get to drop Truth & Priest, AND MFT, AND get the gold? The Raiders are in. Priest asks the heck. They went title for title last week, and now they’re defending their titles in a Triple Threat, but NOT the AAA titles? No… How convenient. Priest storms off, did Truth write a check neither of them can cash? Or will it still be #WepaUp no matter the odds?

Randy Orton is here!

Philadelphia is torn as The Viper is back on SmackDown and slowly makes his way to the ring. He even checks over his shoulder in case Cody Rhodes comes running out from the back. Orton makes it to the ring, poses on the corner, then the other corner, then he grabs the mic. The fans cheer while Orton paces, but then Cody makes his way out here! The fans fire up as Cody goes right to the ring! But then Orton slithers right out of the ring! Cody throws off his windbreaker jacket, dares Orton to come back, but Orton stops short.

Cody has the mic and he says, “What’re you waiting on?! You know it has to take place in this ring! It’s been 100 days, I know you want it! Get in this ring right now!!” Orton sets his mic down, as does Cody, but then Orton fakes going to the ring. Aldis and producers hurry back out here, so Cody picks up his mic to say, “Really? That’s how we’re gonna do it when we know where this all ends up? I know you don’t answer to anybody! But after 20 years, after everything we’ve been through, especially recently, Randy, you owe me an explanation!” Orton says, “I owe you? I owe you an explanation? Are you crazy? I don’t owe you jack!”

Cody asked for this, remember? Back on the Road to WrestleMania, Cody asked for the very best version of Orton! He gave Orton permission to be the very best version! You cocky, arrogant, SOB!! Cody gave permission to Orton, a 14 TIME WORLD CHMAPMION! The Viper, the Legend Killer! Orton played the game! WrestleMania 42, Las Vegas, Cody got the best version of Orton, and what’d he do? In the middle of the ring, he beat Orton, 1-2-3. Congratulations! But in that moment, something snapped. Orton heard this echo that got louder and louder, and the voices came back clearer than every before!

And they said do whatever to do to get Cody down on all fours, then kick him in the face as hard as possible! And then, in that moment, Orton realized that the best version of Orton wasn’t gonna bring home number 15. But… the worst version of Randy Orton can and will! He doesn’t care who has it, he’ll take it back! Doesn’t matter if it’s Owens or Punk, but he knows it won’t be Cody, because as long as there is air   in Orton’s lungs, he will make sure Cody ever, ever, ever, EVER becomes WWE Champion again! Cody says great, the “worst” version, huh? What’s he talking about! Cody is not held to the standards of the title anymore!

Cody doesn’t have to turn the other cheek! Orton wants to be the worst version of himself? What about the worst version of Cody? He doesn’t have to be the damn good guy anymore! The fans are intrigued by that. Cody says forget about the title, know what needs to take place in here. And newsflash: Orton wants to be the Legend Killer? He’s the last legend left! So Cody’s question is this: Who kills Orton? The American Nightmare is ready to lean into that last part of the name, will he make Orton’s life a nightmare as revenge for SummerSlam? Or is he playing right into Orton’s hands?

Sami Zayn talks with (or rather to) Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae.

Sami vents about how Cody and Randy can solve their problems, CM Punk and Kevin Owens get to solve their problems, but who gets left out again? Who has to earn their way back in again? Wanna know the truth? Sami is a little jealous of Kevin, he is, but not because Kevin faces CM Punk for the title. But because Kevin gets to look Punk in the eyes what a fraud he is! But then Punk steps in. Punk asks if they’re still doing this. And by this, he means Sami crying behind our backs. Sami has a big mouth when Punk’s not around. Punk knows Sami is jealous, he knows Kevin is jealous, and… He has no idea what to do with Gargano.

But at least Kevin has the decency to say it all to Punk’s face. Oh, you think Sami won’t say it to his face? Sami will say it now, Punk is a fraud, his days are numbered. And Sami might do something more, if not for this broken bone in his hand. Punk laughs while Sami says understand, if he didn’t, he’d break Punk’s face! Punk says no, Sami wouldn’t. Because if he could, he would’ve in Chicago. But Sami lost! Just like Kevin will. So back of the line, in both jealousy and title shots. Punk would give Gargano, hell, he’d give Candice a shot before Sami! Punk leaves, Sami seethes, and he asks how Gargano can lie there and take that.

Candice asks why Sami’s yelling at Gargano. Sami says whatever, and he storms off. But do Punk and Sami have a point? What has to happen for Gargano to get back on his feet?

The Baddies talk backstage.

Jade says she already beat little sidekick whatever her name, and she is over this. Tonight- Cathy Kelley interrupts to ask about tonight’s main event, Jade VS Charlotte 1v1. Cathy wants to relate Charlotte’s challenge, but B-Fab stops her there. They don’t care, even give a damn, about what Charlotte has to say. You think with as many times as they’ve put their feet down her throat, Charlotte would learn to keep her mouth shut. Week after week, they’ve proven Charlotte is nothing compared to Jade! Michin adds that Charlotte is jealous, because Jade is everything that Charlotte isn’t! Supermodel with abs of steel! The greatest wrestler of all time! The only thing missing is the beautiful title around her waist!

Jade agrees, and says they all know this is just business as usual. Now, Jade puts an end to the disrespect by simply whooping that ass. The Baddies head out, but will they crush Charlotte once and for all? Or will Charlotte find a way to humble #ThatB1tch first?

Nikki Bella speaks.

“Y’know, I tried really hard to be supportive. Like, really, really hard, because I love my sister so much. And I worked so hard every week to get to WrestleMania, and then it was taken from me. So I made a very unselfish call to someone who I thought was a friend. And y’know, it worked. I singlehandedly revitalized Paige’s career, and how does she repay me? By losing the tag titles and leeching onto my sister every chance she could get. Brie deserved better. And I did everything I could to return and fight alongside my sister. And yet again, Paige failed us. That was it for me. That was my final straw.

“Paige, because of you, my sister is hurt. Because of you, The Bella twins aren’t together right now. So I’m going to make sure that you feel the pain Brie is feeling. I am going to make sure of whatever career you have left, that it is going to be pure misery.” Fearless Nikki is ready to be ruthless Nikki, but will she be able to turn the page on Paige? Or will Paige prove this is still her house?

Shinsuke Nakamura speaks.

“Tongans. MFT. You think you’ve evolved. Uou have a new leader now. But you also have past enemies. You say you need to remember who you are. You’re wrong. You need to remember who I am! The King of Strong Style, the Artist Known As Shinsuke Nakamura. I’m back, and this time, I will not be alone. I’m starting a war, and I’m no longer a one-man army. He and I make it clear who are warriors, and who are just pawns. Here is your warning! You are running out of time.” Just who is it that’s joining the King in this war for SmackDown?

Charlotte Flair VS Jade Cargill!

The Queen wanted to fight #ThatB1tch and only #ThatB1tch, but as we just heard, The Baddies don’t care, they do what they want. Will Charlotte still avenge Alexa? Or will nothing stop The Storm from violently changing the landscape?

Surprisingly, Jade does send B-Fab & Mia Yim back to the back, accepting that challenge for a true 1v1. The bell rings and the fans “WOO~” for Charlotte as she stares down with Jade. The fans rally up, the two circle, and they tie up. They go around, Charlotte powers Jade to a corner but Jade turns it around. Charlotte shoves back, they tie up again, and now Charlotte has Jade in the corner. Jade powers out again, but Charlotte shoves Jade, then MONKEY FLIPS, only for the collar ‘n’ elbow to stay locked in! They tumble out of the ring and to the floor! They get up, and Jade RAMS Charlotte into the apron!

Jade puts Charlotte back in the ring, hurries to run the ropes, and she RUNS Charlotte over! Jade says now what?! The fans boo, but then Charlotte kips up! The fans cheer as Charlotte flexes in return. Charlotte dodges Jade, dodges again, and escapes a fireman’s carry to CHOP BLOCK and BOOT! Charlotte RUNS Jade over! The fans cheer, and Charlotte snapmares to headscissor! Queen’s Decree, she THROWS Jade around and around, but Jade bridges back to a cover! ONE, and Charlotte brings Jade outside with the headscissors. Or rather, Jade Electric Chair SLAMS Charlotte on the desk!

The fans boo but Jade THROWS Charlotte into and over barriers! Jade is fired up while Charlotte is down, but SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Jade flexes on the corner while Charlotte is down on the floor. The ring count is climbing, but Charlotte manages to roll in at 9, only for Jade to stomp away on her! Jade drags Charlotte up, suplexes, then floats to a cover, ONE! Charlotte is tougher than that, but Jade is annoyed. Jade talks trash on Charlotte, pie faces her, then soaks up the heat. Jade counts her abs, but Charlotte rolls her up! TWO, and Charlotte CHOPS! And CHOPS! Jade CHOPS back! But Charlotte BOOTS Jade back! Only to run into a BOSS MAN SLAM! Cover, TWO! Charlotte survives that turnaround, but Jade pushes her around again.

Charlotte says time for five, and she does push-ups just to taunt Charlotte. Jade then brings Charlotte up, whips her to a corner, but Charlotte goes up, up, and leaps, into an UPPERCUT! Jade drags Charlotte to a cover, TWO! Jade clamps onto Charlotte with a chinlock, maybe even a SLEEPER! She THRASHES Charlotte around but Charlotte endures. Charlotte fights up, but Jade wrangles her back down! Jade leans on the hold, but Charlotte still fights. Charlotte rises up, fires body shots, then whips Jade to catch her into a SLEEPER! Jade endures, fights around, and powers out to then SPINEBUSTER! SmackDown returns to single picture as Jade falls to the cover, TWO!

The fans rally up as Charlotte survives. Jade snarls, drags Charlotte up, and whips her to a corner. Jade runs up, but Charlotte avoids the splash! Then GERMAN SUPLEX! Both women are down and the fans rally up again. Charlotte stirs, sits up, and Jade follows. They snarl as they find each other, and Jade ROCKS Charlotte! But Charlotte UP KICKS! The forearms go back and forth, harder and harder, and the fans fire up! Charlotte ROCKS Jade, Jade ROCKS Charlotte, repeat! Charlotte then CHOPS! CHOPS! And CHOPS! Jade rebounds, Charlotte dodges the boot, then LARIATS! And dodges again, to HANDSPRING- BOOT!! Cover, TWO!

Jade is frustrated as Charlotte survives again. Jade tells Charlotte to get up, and Charlotte goes to a corner. Jade whips corner to corner, but Charlotte goes up and out! Charlotte BOOTS Jade away, then goes up the corner! The fans cheer as Charlotte CROSSBODIES! Direct hit, but Jade rolls it through to a cover! TWO, and both women stand! Jade trips Charlotte, jackknife bridges, TWO as Charlotte bridges up! Charlotte spins Jade around, but Jade fights the backslide! The fans rally as the two fight for control! Jade KNEES low, then SUPERKICKS! Charlotte staggers, Jade torture racks! TOWER HACKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up as Charlotte survives! Jade is furious, but she goes up a corner! This is a bit rare for Jade, but Charlotte goes up after her! Jade shoves Charlotte away, but Charlotte rolls and returns, STRAT- NO, Jade stops the rana! Jade brings Charlotte up, SUPER POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Charlotte survives again and the fans are thunderous! Jade frowns as she looks at Charlotte. The fans rally, and Jade says three years, this has been coming! Jade drags Charlotte up, but Charlotte SLAPS! Jade SLAPS! Charlotte dodges the boot to CHOP BLOCK! And a BOOT! then the step through, FIGURE FOUR! And the bridge, FIGURE EIGHT!!

Jade endures, but B-Fab is back! And that distraction means so is Michin! Mia sweeps Charlotte’s arms out to break the hold! The fans boo as The Baddies get away with one! The ref says they better get outta here, but then wait! ALEXA BLISS is back!! The fans are thunderous as Lil’ Miss Bliss has her arm in a brace, but she also has LILY!! But then, that means… The lights go out, and when they come back up, TATUM PAXLEY is on the top rope?! She SUPER DUPER CROSSBODIES The Baddies! Jade is stunned, but then she goes back to Charlotte. Jade reels Charlotte in, lifts, but Charlotte slips free!

Charlotte spins Jade around, clinches, and wait! YES! TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL!! Charlotte roars, and she goes up the corner again! SUPER NATURAL SELECTION!! Cover, Charlotte wins!

Winner: Charlotte Flair, by pinfall

“Blisster” is back, and she brought a new friend in #TuesdayAddams! Or perhaps, that’s Friday Addams now? Will Tatum be the X-factor in ending things with The Baddies once and for all?

My Thoughts:

A very good SmackDown, though a little talkier than usual. Though, there was a lot to be said after everything that happened at SummerSlam so it needed to happen. Very good promo from Cody with Punk, and very good segue into Punk with Kevin. They obviously didn’t explicitly state everything in their history, but Punk did a good job alluding to the (what I understand was) shoot argument about ring gear and body types, which is all stuff Kevin’s faced while in WWE from other characters/stories, too. I also like that Kevin and Sami are still friends, just on edge because of the title and CM Punk. And after the interaction from Punk, Sami, Gargano & Candice, can Gargano come back to life already and be the one that costs Punk? What a way to get Gargano into the top title/main event picture.

A little surprised they just went and did Corbin VS Trick 2, but I suppose with them doing it so suddenly, it was giving away Trick losing. But hey, Melo gets his shot in Boston next week, that’s going to be awesome, but maybe Corbin finds a way to cheat again. And while character wise, Corbin isn’t much different from when we last saw him, I wouldn’t mind him holding onto the title for a little while for some fresh match ups. Can Ilja Dragunov return during it to really test Corbin’s “badass” levels? Great promo from Priest, Truth, and Viking Raiders to give us the Triple Threat I expected, but I’m with Priest, what’s this about only one pair of titles on the line?

Then Nakamura had a very good promo to warn MFT, and I’m not sure who I want to team with Nakamura more. Is it gonna be Finn so that it’s The Prince & The King? Is it going to be Naraku with a quick call-up? Or is it someone completely new to WWE? And with that, are they going to attack MFT to cost them the titles? Or will MFT win the titles, and then Nakamura and his new tag partner feud with them for said titles? That route feels like we could then see Priest & Truth feud with Erik & Ivar for the AAA tag titles and face them at TripleMania. That might be what they do, WWE is really hoping AAA does well.

Good promo from Nikki Bella to not just give her perspective but to cover for Brie getting hurt, perhaps forcing an adlib in the plans. Nikki VS Paige will be good stuff, just not sure which way it goes. Good celebration promo for Chelsea, and the way they’re saying it, it seems Rhea has had to quietly relinquish her claim to the title, which means she’s going to be out for even longer. Seems she just had surgery, so hopefully she has a speedy recovery. That aside, Chelsea & Tiff had a good promo with Fatal Influence, and a great tag title match. I was hoping for a Two Woman Power Trip but I guess they’re going Golden Prophecy instead. And Nia going after Chelsea, Chelsea’s automatically in an underdog champion story here, we can only hope she survives.

Very good segment from Cody and Orton to get their feud going again. “The Worst” Orton is an interesting way of phrasing it, but Cody saying he doesn’t have to be a good guy anymore, that’s what I like. Heel Cody is right there, maybe we see it coming out of this feud. And very good promos from Charlotte and The Baddies to hype up the main event. Great match here, and I should’ve known The Baddies would help Jade one way or another. Great return moment for Alexa Bliss, and honestly, I was expecting Nikki Cross. She literally would’ve done the same spot as Tatum, but I do love that Tatum Paxley is jumping right into a big story with big names. Six Woman Tag is right there, and maybe Charlotte and Jade escalate to a No DQ style blowoff.

My Score: 8.8/10