WWE returns this evening, as WWE SmackDown airs live at 8/7c on USA Network in North America, and Netflix for international fans.
‘WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.’ airs as always to get this week’s show officially off-and-running. We then see a video package looking back at how last week’s Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk title tilt ended with the Sami Zayn attack. We then return live inside the arena.
Kevin Owens, CM Punk, Gunther & Finn Balor Kick Things Off
The theme for “The Prize Fighter” hits and Owens emerges with a serious look on his face. He heads to the ring to kick off this week’s show. Fans break out in a loud “Ole! Ole!” chant before he begins. He starts by saying this is not the way he was hoping to come back to Ottawa.
Owens says if he’s honest, he’s lost a lot of title matches in his career. He says none hurt quite as much as this past Friday’s in Toronto. He talks about his journey to come back from a major injury setback and earning his way into a title tilt in Toronto of all places.
Owens says he picked Toronto because he knew his parents would be there. He says it was in Toronto fans may remember when he spoke about his mom fighting for her life a couple of years ago. She then talks about them driving from Montreal to Toronto.
All he wanted to do was win that title in front of her. He says Sami Zayn made sure he didn’t do that. Owens says he and Zayn have done a lot to each other throughout their careers. He says he’s not innocent in that regard either. He says he can’t forgive it this time.
He’ll never get the stars to align like they were last week. Owens says it was even sweeter that he was going to beat CM Punk to make it happen. He says Punk knows he had him beat last week. He tells Punk that things aren’t over. Punk interrupts and comes out saying he didn’t need Zayn’s help to do it.
As Punk continues talking, he is cut off by the entrance tune of “The Career-Killer” Gunther, who comes out to a ton of heat. He talks about why Punk and Owens hate each other and makes his claim for deserving a title shot. Finn Balor comes out next.
Balor essentially does the same, and this all leads to WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis making an announcement. The blue brand shot-caller announces Owens vs. Balor vs. Gunther later tonight for the next title shot against Punk.
Tiffany Stratton & Chelsea Green vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend
From there, we move onto women’s business as Chelsea Green told Tiffany Stratton she’s been cleared to perform and wasn’t going to let Tiffany fight alone. This leads into our first match of the evening. It will be Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton taking on Nia Jax and Lash Legend in women’s tag-team action.
Stratton and Legend start things off. Legend grabs a waist lock, but Stratton escapes and connects with a dropkick. Tiffany hits the ropes, only for Legend to catch her and plant her with a backbreaker for a two-count. Legend takes a swing at Chelsea Green on the apron, but Green avoids it, allowing Tiffany to connect with a Stunner.
Green tags in and hits a neck-breaker before Nia Jax enters for her team. Tiffany and Chelsea connect with a double dropkick on Nia. Green tries a crossbody, but Jax catches her. Chelsea manages to land on her feet and kicks Nia in the side of the head, but Jax responds with a headbutt directly to Green’s protective face mask.
Chelsea immediately grabs at her face as Tiffany tags back in. We head to a mid-match break. When we return, Legend is in control of Tiffany and makes a cover, but Chelsea breaks it up. Nia enters and catches Green with a knee to the face, bringing the medical team out to check on Chelsea at ringside.
Legend traps Tiffany in a bear hug, but Stratton fights free before eventually getting cut off again. Nia tags in and crushes Tiffany with a clothesline for another near fall. Legend returns and locks Tiffany in another bear hug before Nia tags herself back in. Jax climbs to the second rope for a leg drop, but Tiffany moves out of the way.
Stratton connects with a reverse DDT on Legend and desperately looks for the tag, but Chelsea is still being tended to on the ramp. Green suddenly races back to ringside and tags herself in. Chelsea heads to the top and connects with a missile dropkick on Nia before sending Legend outside.
Green follows with another dropkick that knocks Jax from the apron, then flies off the top with a crossbody to the floor. Back inside, Tiffany attempts a hurricanrana on Legend, but Legend catches her and launches her into the barricade.
Chelsea is distracted by what happened to her partner, allowing Nia to catch her with a right hand and Samoan Drop. Jax follows with the Annihilator and gets the three-count and the victory for the team of The Irresistible Forces. The show moves on from there.
Winners: Nia Jax & Lash Legend
Backstage
Backstage, Nick Aldis is on the phone when Danhausen enters. The two shake hands, with Danhausen telling Aldis that he can be his employee of the month. Gunther then walks in, and an excited Danhausen says he has been waiting forever to meet him. He offers Gunther a handshake, but Gunther completely ignores him.
Gunther confirms with Aldis that tonight’s main event will be a Triple Threat Match. He says he feels great but doesn’t appreciate having to jump through hoops to prove himself against Kevin Owens and “the ghost of Finn Balor.” Aldis simply tells him that it’s a Triple Threat and may the best man win.
Gunther looks over at Danhausen before walking away. Danhausen asks Aldis if Gunther said “ghost,” but Aldis assures him it was just a figure of speech. Danhausen then asks if he can be added to the match. Aldis immediately tells him no. We head to another break.
WWE Women’s United States Championship
Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Paige
Now we return inside the arena, where championship action is on deck in our second bout of the evening. It will be Fatal Influence’s Jacy Jayne putting her WWE Women’s United States Championship on-the-line against women’s wrestling legend Paige.
Paige wastes no time going after Jacy Jayne, connecting with a kick to the face followed by a headbutt. Paige sends Jayne onto the apron and delivers a series of knees to the face, knocking the champion to the floor. Paige follows her out and quickly sends Jayne back into the ring.
Jayne distracts the referee long enough for Reid to catch Paige with a kick to the face. We head to a commercial break. When we return, Paige and Jayne wipe each other out with simultaneous clotheslines. They get back to their feet and trade right hands until Jayne connects with a kick to the side of the head.
Jayne hits the ropes, but Paige catches her with a clothesline before delivering a fisherman’s suplex and a German suplex. Paige follows with the Paige Turner and covers, but Jayne kicks out at two. Jayne fires back with a superkick, only for Paige to answer with a headbutt.
Paige looks for the RamPaige, but Reid jumps onto the apron. Paige sends Jayne into the ropes and knocks Reid into the ring in the process. Henley gets onto the apron next, but Paige kicks her back to the floor. The distractions prove costly. Paige turns around and Jayne catches her with an inside cradle for the three-count.
Winner and STILL WWE Women’s United States Champion: Jacy Jayne
Afterwards
After the match, Nikki Bella comes out and attacks Paige from behind. Bella plants Paige with the Rack Attack 2.0.
Backstage
We see highlights from the earlier exchange between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes before cutting backstage, where Rhodes is approached by Finn Balor. The two shake hands, and Cody admits he isn’t sure what to say or do about the situation with Orton and the stipulation surrounding their match.
Balor advises Cody to keep his cool, warning that Orton is trying to lead him down a dark path. Balor adds that by the time Cody is finished with Randy, Balor intends to be champion. The two shake hands again before Balor walks away. We head to another commercial break.
Backstage
Back from commercial, Trick Williams is backstage with Lil Yachty. Trick tells Yachty he appreciates what he did for him and promises to look out for him, but reminds him that facing Baron Corbin is a big deal and asks if he’s ready.
Yachty says he’s had bigger fish fried in his pan. He points out that Corbin disrespected them, took the title at SummerSlam and put him through a table. Yachty says none of that will matter at Saturday Night’s Main Event because he’s going to survive the five-minute challenge, allowing Trick to march to the ring and “whoop that Trick.”
Yachty leaves to go to the gym, and Trick turns around to find Corbin standing behind him. Corbin tells Trick the reason he doesn’t have friends is because they do stupid things. Corbin vows to “whoop that Trick” himself, reminds Williams that he’s the champion and walks away.
Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton Face-To-Face
Cody Rhodes’ music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Cody asks the fans what they want to talk about before saying he wants to talk about Randy Orton. Cody admits he would love to beat Orton senseless, but says that wouldn’t accomplish his goal of killing the Legend Killer.
Cody addresses the talk surrounding Orton potentially becoming a 15-time world champion, saying 15 isn’t the record and he no longer believes breaking the record is in the cards for Randy. Cody says if anyone could have done it, it was Orton, but every time Randy begins climbing back toward the top, he screws it up.
Cody says everyone backstage has heard the excuse that it’s simply “Randy being Randy.” He recalls watching other people get shown the door while Orton received slaps on the wrist and second chances. Cody says Orton screwed up again when he got between him and the most important championship in WWE at SummerSlam. Cody starts to say that at Saturday Night’s Main Event, it won’t be Randy beating Randy, it’ll be Cody killing the—
Randy Orton’s music hits. Orton makes his way out and admits Cody is right about accountability. Randy says he made bad decision after bad decision early in his career and jokes that Cody had a front-row seat because Orton needed someone to drive him around, babysit him and make sure he safely got tucked into hotels around the world.
Orton asks if Cody resents him and repeatedly encourages him to take a swing. Randy says he knows how much the WWE Championship means to Cody, which is exactly why he returned at SummerSlam after kicking Cody in the face and made sure Rhodes didn’t defeat CM Punk for the title.
Orton continues trying to provoke Cody, eventually bringing up Cody’s late dog, Pharaoh, and noting that Saturday Night’s Main Event takes place in Atlanta in front of Cody’s family and friends. Cody angrily removes his jacket, but Orton isn’t finished.
Randy asks whether Cody’s “trailer park trash mother” will be sitting in the front row when he beats Cody’s ass, then brings up Cody’s wife and again demands that Rhodes hit him. Cody finally responds, saying he knows exactly what Orton is doing.
Rhodes says he knew this was the path Randy would take because Orton will do anything to get out of their match. Cody says he’s counting the days until Atlanta, where they’ll find out whether Orton really is the once-in-a-lifetime guy.
A generational superstar that Cody’s father was, or a first-class screw-up like Orton’s father. Cody then turns the tables and tells Randy to hit him. Rhodes tells Orton he’ll see him in Atlanta, throws down the microphone and leaves the ring.
Backstage
Backstage, Jackie Redmond is standing by with Tatum Paxley, who says her thoughts have been racing. Paxley whispers something into Redmond’s ear, prompting Jackie to walk away. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss enter, and Paxley tells them she had fun at brunch before apologizing for “the blood thing.”
Bliss reveals they’ve just been informed that they will face Jade Cargill, B-Fab and Michin at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Flair warns Paxley not to make her regret sticking up for her. Paxley responds by hugging Charlotte and declaring that she knew they were best friends. We head to another break.
Backstage
Backstage, Byron Saxton is with Rey Fenix. Fenix says he loves his brother, but this is his moment. Ricky Saints interrupts and tells Fenix it’s a nice story, but wants him to skip ahead to the part where he loses the tournament.
Saints also demands that Fenix stop ducking him and give him a match for the AAA Championship. Fenix says he’s going to win the tournament and the championship before telling Saints that he doesn’t have what it takes to be champion.
Michin vs. Tatum Paxley
Back to the ring we go for more women’s singles action. The bell rings and Tatum Paxley immediately charges at Michin, who sidesteps her and sends Paxley spilling to the floor. Michin connects with a kick and sends Paxley back into the ring.
Michin gets onto the apron, but Paxley catches her with a dropkick. Paxley follows her to the outside and connects with a moonsault. On that note, we shift gears and head into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues in the ring.
When the show returns, Michin connects with a right hand and goes for the cover, but Paxley kicks out. Michin charges for a cannonball in the corner, but Paxley moves out of the way and gets a near fall of her own. Paxley connects with a superkick followed by another kick to the side of the head.
She looks for another kick, but Michin catches her and plants her with a powerbomb. Michin attempts the Styles Clash, but Paxley escapes and sends her over with a back body drop. Paxley follows with a rolling kick before hitting Cemetery Drive. She hooks the leg and gets the three-count.
Winner: Tatum Paxley
Backstage
Backstage, Jackie Redmond is with Blake Monroe. Monroe says her match last week was beneath her and questions why Nick Aldis would put a Superstar like her in that position. She says when there is an opponent worthy of her, and an entrance worthy of her glamour, she’ll make her real debut. Giulia suddenly storms in and attacks Monroe, throwing her into a garage door before WWE officials rush in to separate them.
Elsewhere, Kevin Owens is stopped by Randy Orton. Orton reluctantly admits Owens was right about Cody Rhodes. Owens is thrilled to hear it, but Orton reminds him that he hasn’t forgotten Owens dropping him on his head and makes it clear they aren’t friends. Owens says they’ll work on that and heads off for his match.
A video package airs featuring the MFTs addressing Shinsuke Nakamura. Tala Tonga says Nakamura went home and got back up, while Tama Tonga warns that they aren’t in Japan anymore — they’re in MFT territory. Haku tells them never to underestimate their enemies and says challengers must be destroyed.
Backstage
Backstage, Damian Priest is with R-Truth, who says he’s scouting the MFTs. Priest reflects on their run together over the summer but says summer is over and they no longer have the titles. Priest takes that as a sign that it’s time to move on and refocus on his original goal when coming to SmackDown — pursuing singles gold. The War Raiders interrupt and say the MFTs will receive the beating that was originally meant for Priest and Truth. Truth then challenges the War Raiders for the AAA Tag Team Titles in Mexico City. The champions accept, and despite Priest looking less than thrilled, Truth accepts on their behalf. Priest agrees to one more match.
Nick Aldis is then confronted by Nia Jax and Lash Legend. Jax demands a championship match against Chelsea Green, but Aldis says Green first needs to be evaluated by WWE medical. Jax warns that if Aldis won’t give her a title opportunity, she’ll take one by force.
The Miz and Kit Wilson arrive next, complaining that Aldis used them as lab rats and even had them electrocuted. Miz says Aldis owes them. The SmackDown GM responds by booking Miz and Wilson against Shinsuke Nakamura and Kyoki.
Undisputed WWE Championship No. 1 Contender
Kevin Owens vs. GUNTHER vs. Finn Balor
It’s main event time!
Balor is barely getting into the ring when GUNTHER blasts him with a right hand. Owens goes after GUNTHER, but “The Ring General” answers with strikes of his own before dropping Owens with a big boot. Balor gets involved, only to eat a superkick from Owens.
Owens connects with a senton on GUNTHER and follows with a Swanton Bomb from the top rope, but Balor breaks up the cover. GUNTHER chops Balor before kicking Owens out of the ring. Balor catches GUNTHER with a roll-up for two, but GUNTHER responds with another brutal chop.
GUNTHER charges Balor but misses and spills to the floor. Owens climbs onto the apron, where Balor catches him with a right hand before launching himself over the top rope onto GUNTHER at ringside. On that note, we head into a mid-match commercial break.
The show returns and we see Owens superkicks GUNTHER and follows with another on Balor, but Finn fires back with an overhead kick. All three men are down. Balor catches GUNTHER with a kick to the head and heads upstairs for the Coup de Grace. GUNTHER moves, Balor lands on his feet, and Owens wipes out both opponents with a clothesline.
Owens follows with a cannonball on GUNTHER, but Balor catches Owens with a Sling Blade. Balor heads back to the top rope, but Owens cuts him off with a right hand and climbs after him. GUNTHER pulls Owens down and levels him with a clothesline before chopping Balor. GUNTHER locks Owens in the sleeper, but Balor comes flying off the top with a Coup de Grace onto Owens.
This breaks the hold. Balor plants GUNTHER with a reverse DDT and connects with a dropkick. Finn heads upstairs and hits the Coup de Grace! Balor covers, but Sami Zayn shows up. Zayn drags Balor out of the ring and throws him into the announce table. Zayn then punches the referee.
Back inside, Owens hits GUNTHER with the Stunner! Owens makes the cover, but there’s no referee! A second official races down, but Zayn decks him as well. Now CM Punk’s music hits and the crowd erupts as Punk storms to ringside and unloads on Zayn with right hands before sending him into the barricade and ring post.
Punk grabs the Undisputed WWE Championship, but Zayn retreats into the ring. Punk follows him inside, only for Owens to start throwing right hands at Punk! Punk fires back before Owens drops him with a clothesline. Zayn grabs the championship and blasts Owens with it.
Balor gets back into the ring, but Zayn nails him with the title too. GUNTHER grabs Zayn in the sleeper, but Zayn smashes him with the championship to escape. Punk charges, but Zayn clocks Punk with the title. Now Sami Zayn stands tall over the wreckage and raises the Undisputed WWE Championship high above his head as SmackDown goes off the air. That’s how this week’s SmackDown comes to an end. Thanks for joining us!
Winner: No Contest
