Results
- Asuka def. Alexa Bliss (Queen of the Ring Semi-Final) (9:24)
- Randy Orton def. Sami Zayn (King of the Ring Semi-Final) (11:29) (Recommended)
- Charlotte Flair def. Chelsea Green (7:36)
- LA Knight def. Bronson Reed (7:32) (DQ)
- R-Truth def. John Cena (5:43) (DQ)
LA Knight calls for Seth Rollins.. But instead gets Paul Heyman
Tonight’s episode of Smackdown started with backstage arrivals including Randy Orton, Sami Zayn, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo, and Ron Killings.
LA Knight made his way to the ring for the first segment of the evening. He mentioned his ongoing rivalry with the Seth Rollins faction, which started during the men’s Money in the Bank match and has only continued in recent weeks during King of the Ring bouts. The only way for his issues with Rollins and company to end would be if he faced Rollins, Knight suggested.
Knight called out Rollins, but didn’t get what he had hoped for. Instead, it was Rollins’ “Wise Man” Paul Heyman who appeared on the ramp and eventually made his way into the ring. Heyman admitted that there has been some “bad blood” between Knight and Rollins.
Heyman jokingly claimed that he’s a big fan of Knight, then tried to imitate his “Yeah!” catchphrase. Things then got serious: Heyman told Knight to get out of Grand Rapids or else “Something really bad is going to happen to you before the end of the night.”
Knight wasn’t receptive to the warning. He suggested that, since Rollins isn’t around, the second-best idea was Paul Heyman vs. LA Knight tonight. Seemingly serious about this offer, Knight got ready for a match and told Heyman he could get the first shot. Heyman reiterated his warning about Knight getting hurt: “That wasn’t a prediction, that was a spoiler.”
Right after he said this, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed started marching toward Knight. They hit the ring and started to beat down on Knight with a two-on-one advantage. The fight went to the ringside, where Knight was able to grab a steel chair and hit the heels with it, sending them retreating. Heyman’s promise of Knight getting hurt hasn’t been fulfilled… Yet.
Asuka earns spot in Queen of the Ring finals
Backstage, Paul Heyman tried to calm down Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, who were livid after failing to hurt LA Knight. Byron Saxton entered the frame to announce that Reed would meet Knight in singles action later tonight. Reed was happy about this matchup getting booked.
Tournament action was next, as Asuka and Alexa Bliss faced off in a Queen of the Ring semi-final bout. Bliss won a four-way in the opening round on last week’s Smackdown, and Asuka is coming back just a few days after winning her return match on Raw.
The broadcast went to a break just a minute into this match, when Asuka sent Bliss tumbling to the outside with a hip attack. Once the bout returned a few minutes later, Bliss started to regain momentum with a series of shoulder tackles. After a strike combination, Bliss got a two-count with a running senton.
Asuka had a comeback of her own, getting a near fall after a Shining Wizard. This match was back-and-forth at a fast pace: Asuka escaped a Sister Abigail from Bliss, allowing the Japanese wrestler to score with another strike to the head for a close pin attempt.
Asuka missed on a missile dropkick off the top, giving Bliss the chance to score with a DDT. Bliss went to the top rope, but decided against a Twisted Bliss, suddenly climbing back down. As she went to the ground, Asuka pulled guard with an armbar attempt. Bliss escaped the submission by trying for a roll-up pin.
Asuka hit a neckbreaker for a near fall, but it didn’t end the match. Asuka came flying off the ropes but ate a forearm from Bliss. Asuka was draped upside down in the corner and then dropkicked to the chest by Bliss.
Bliss went back to the top, this time actually opting to attempt the Twisted Bliss. Asuka blocked this move, putting her knees up to counter it. She then came running off the ropes with the Empress Impact to win clean in just under 10 minutes.
Asuka has punched her ticket to Night of Champions, where she’ll meet either Jade Cargill or Roxanne Perez.
Backstage, a trio in the women’s division were seen watching the match. Michin and B-Fab mentioned wanting to go after the women’s tag belts so they can make their own statement in the division. Byron Saxton asked Jade Cargill about her match on Monday against Perez, and possibly facing Asuka in the finals. Cargill wasn’t worried about either matchup.
Ron Killings takes out his anger against Kit Wilson
Chelsea Green mocked Alexa Bliss for losing her match, then said she was supposed to win Queen of the Ring. Bliss suggested settling their issues in a match. Charlotte Flair then entered the room, saying that she was supposed to be Queen of the Ring, too. Flair then said she’s going to set up a match against Green for later tonight.
Bliss said she doesn’t need Flair’s help. That’s cute, Flair replied, as her action to make the bout had nothing to do with Bliss.
Aleister Black was scheduled to face Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson in the next bout, although Ron Killings had other plans for the segment. Disguised in a hoodie and emerging from the crowd, R-Truth jumped Wilson during Black’s entrance.
Killings grabbed a microphone and then demanded that John Cena come to the ring for their match, which is scheduled for later tonight. He then put Wilson in an STF, putting him to sleep.
WWE personnel came to the ring to separate Wilson from Killings. R-Truth seemingly calmed down after this separation, walking to the back instead of waiting for Cena’s arrival. Black stood confused in the entranceway as his scheduled match vanished into thin air.
Cody Rhodes gets segment hijacked by fellow King of the Ring competitors
I don’t know if you knew this, but Fanatics Fest NYC was this weekend. A video package of the event’s WWE entrance contest was shown.
Backstage, Aleister Black asked why Ron Killings got involved in his match. Killings said it wasn’t personal, which Black didn’t take as much of a fair explanation. Damian Priest played mediator, separating the two. After Black left the shot, Priest tried talking some sense to Killings, saying that he needs to focus his anger on his match tonight. Priest’s words seemingly got through to Truth.
Ahead of his King of the Ring semi-final match this Monday, Cody Rhodes made his way to the ring. Before he could start talking, semi-final opponent Jey Uso made his entrance. The vibes were positive between these two – they’ll be fighting in a few days, but they’re close friends.
Uso got to the tension between them: Next week, “There’s only room for one of us.” However, he admitted whatever happens between them on Monday will be “strictly business.”
After Uso said his piece and before Rhodes could finally start talking in his own segment, Sami Zayn came out. Zayn, who is set to compete in his semi-final bout in the next block, looked forward to sharing the ring with either Uso or Rhodes in the finals. He talked about what it meant to him when he saw both Uso and Rhodes become world champions before, and that he hopes they recognize that now is his time to finish a story.
Randy Orton, Zayn’s opponent for tonight, came out next. Rhodes still hasn’t spoken. Similar to what Zayn did, Orton expressed his respect for Rhodes and Uso, but also stated that he plans to win the tournament. He also said that Zayn will be a world champion someday, but that it won’t come through King of the Ring. The segment came to a close without a word from Rhodes.
Randy Orton RKO’s Sami Zayn, advances to King of the Ring final
A King of the Ring semi-final match between Randy Orton and Sami Zayn started right as the show returned from a break.
This match was dirty early on, with both Orton and Zayn using an eye poke at one point to get an advantage. Zayn took the first major spot of the night, getting slammed onto the commentary desk… Twice.
While there was some back-and-forth during a commercial break, the show returned with Orton in control once again. Zayn dropped Orton with a clothesline, starting to regain some momentum. He tried for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Orton escaped. Orton hit Zayn with a pair of clotheslines, then a scoop powerslam.
Orton scored with his signature draping DDT off the middle rope, then started teasing the RKO. However, showing good awareness, Zayn rolled out of the ring. Orton went to ringside and tried to throw Zayn onto the commentary desk for a third time, but Zayn reversed the move and tossed Orton onto the desk himself.
Back in the ring, Orton went flying into a ringpost after Zayn avoided a move. Zayn came charging in for a Helluva Kick, but Orton instead came forward and hit another scoop powerslam for a near fall.
Orton narrowly avoided a Helluva Kick attempt, causing Zayn to get caught in the corner for a moment. Zayn avoided an RKO after getting out of the corner, instead hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb for his own near fall.
Zayn went to the top, but Orton avoided the high-flying move he tried. Orton once again tried for an RKO, but Zayn didn’t fall for the move. Zayn came running forward with a move, but instead, out of nowhere, Orton hit an RKO to win in 11 minutes. Orton will compete to become the King of the Ring next weekend.
Tiffany Stratton announces title match for next week, narrowly avoids cash-in from Naomi
Nia Jax came to the ring for a promo in the next segment. Jax talked about how WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, who once was a henchwoman for her, betrayed her. Stratton herself showed up to respond, saying that Jax is like a toxic ex. Stratton told Jax that maybe she’s just better than her.
“Okay… So if you’re so much better than me, then why don’t you give me the rematch I deserve?” Jax replied. Stratton came with some news to break: Jax will in fact get her rematch.
Jax and Stratton will face off next week in a Last Women Standing match for the WWE Women’s Championship, the champ announced. Jax attacked Stratton after the match was announced, scoring a pair of leg drops and raising her world title.
As Jax went to the commentary desk to brag about how she’ll win next week, Women’s Money in the Bank winner Naomi made her way to the ring to cash in her contract. Naomi was just moments away from the title match, but Jax stopped her. The two started arguing at ringside, where Stratton dropkicked Naomi onto Jax, wiping out both of the future title challengers.
Stratton got the final laugh in a segment where her two biggest threats in the division made an appearance. We’ll see her put that gold on the line next week.
A video package about the rivalry between CM Punk and John Cena aired, a pretty solid way of describing what makes their upcoming matchup different from their meetings over many years ago.
Alexa Bliss saves Charlotte Flair from post-match beatdown
A grudge match between Charlotte Flair and Chelsea Green was next.
Flair got a two-count early in the match with a crossbody. Alba Fyre, who was at ringside, was able to distract Flair briefly. This allowed Green to score a neckbreaker, getting her back into the match just before a commercial break.
Flair started to mount a comeback as the show returned. After a long series of chops, Flair scored a fallaway slam. She mocked Green’s salute pose, then got a near fall by hitting a clothesline.
Flair had to once again get Fyre off the ring apron, delaying a Figure Eight. Once Flair turned around, she ate a Rough Ryder from Green for a two-count. Green took off her mask, then tried for an Unpretty-Her.
Flair avoided the Unpretty-Her, then came off the ropes for a spear. Green escaped a Figure Eight, transitioning the move into a roll-up attempt. But Flair reapplied the hold after a kick-out, forcing a tap from Green to end the bout.
Green’s Secret Hervice got into the ring to attack Flair immediately after her win. A three-on-one attack from Green’s team was stopped by Alexa Bliss, who came to the ring and gave Green a Sister Abigail before the heel trio retreated.
Bliss extended her arm for a handshake with Flair, whom she just saved from a beatdown. Flair completely ignored Bliss, strolling right by her.
Backstage, Solo Sikoa saw JC Mateo wrapping his hands and asked what he was doing. Mateo said he wants to take out Jacob Fatu when they all meet tonight. Sikoa said that’s not going to happen, as he wants to go out there alone. But, as he left, he told Mateo to “just be ready.”
Jacob Fatu won’t make amends with Solo Sikoa
Can Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu patch things up? That’s the question that we hoped to answer in the next segment.
Sikoa came to the ring and asked Fatu to come out and speak with him face-to-face. Once Fatu got to the ring, Sikoa said he didn’t want to fight. “Families, they fight all the time. They fight, they argue, they forgive, and then they move forward. So let’s move forward together, Jacob. Let’s do it together, as one.”
Sikoa said Fatu is “All I got … So come back to the family.”
Fatu wasn’t buying Sikoa’s story: “The way I see things is you’ve been using me. You’ve been using me to gain power, you’ve been using me to fight your battles, you’ve even been using me just so you can stay Tribal Chief.”
He continued: “Ever since I won this U.S. title, you’re the one who’s been acting different … Maybe the problem is this U.S. title. If that’s what I think it is, then fight me for it.”
As Fatu said his “All gas, no brakes” slogan, Sikoa tried to hit him with a Samoan Spike. Fatu caught this move, instead headbutting him. As Fatu jumped a downed Sikoa, JC Mateo got into the ring for a two-on-one brawl.
Sikoa and Mateo continued to beat up Fatu until Jimmy Uso came in for the save. Sikoa and Mateo beat down on Uso, allowing Fatu to power back up for a comeback. He took out the heel duo, then locked eyes with Uso… Before putting his focus on trying to beat up Sikoa even more. Sikoa escaped a moonsault attempt from Fatu as the segment came to an end.
LA Knight suffers brutal attack by Reed and Breakker
A match between LA Knight and Bronson Reed, which was booked earlier on the show, was next.
Knight made his entrance through the crowd, allowing him to take out Bron Breakker before getting into the ring. Reed shook off a jumping backbreaker attempt from Knight in the second minute of the match. Reed tried for a senton right after, but Knight dodged the move.
Knight came off the middle rope with a bulldog. Reed rolled out of the ring, but Knight met him at ringside with a baseball slide. Knight scored a springboard moonsault to the outside before the bout went to commercials.
Reed gained control of the match during the break. He put Knight on the top rope for a superplex as the show returned, but Knight was able to fight his way out of the move. Instead, Knight knocked Reed off the middle rope after landing a series of punches.
Knight came off the top rope for an elbow drop, earning him a near fall. Reed escaped a BFT, scored with a headbutt, then threw Knight down with a Jagged Edge for a two-count. Reed lifted Knight up for a move, but Knight countered it into a DDT.
Breakker got on the ring apron, causing Knight to knock him to the floor. Knight sent Reed over the ropes and was seemingly setting up for a dive, but had his momentum stopped by Breakker, who got into the ring and speared Knight, ending the match via disqualification.
The assault didn’t stop there. Reed held Knight up for another spear from Breakker, then Reed came down off the top with his Tsunami splash once, then again, then a third time. Paul Heyman’s promise was kept: LA Knight got hurt tonight.
Four title matches get announced for next week
Before the main event, they gave a rundown of next week’s Smackdown, which will air in Saudi Arabia:
- Zelina Vega vs. Giulia (WWE Women’s United States Championship)
- The Street Profits vs. Wyatt Sicks (WWE Tag Team Championships)
- Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax (WWE Women’s Championship) (Last Woman Standing)
Backstage, Jacob Fatu announced that a U.S. title fight against Solo Sikoa has been added to Night of Champions.
R-Truth gets another unsatisfying finish against John Cena
It’s main event time: In a rematch from Saturday Night’s Main Event, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena faced Ron Killings in a non-title match.
R-Truth caught Cena off guard, taking him down and throwing a series of punches to start the bout. Cena was beaten up by Truth around the ring, getting thrown head-first onto the commentary table and ring apron before moving back onto the canvas before the match went to commercials.
Truth used Cena’s famous Five Moves of Doom during the break. He tried for a Five-Knuckle Shuffle, but Cena avoided it by rolling out of the ring. Cena started to put together his first moves once Truth met him at ringside, climbing into a match he had a rough start in.
Cena connected with a Five-Knuckle Shuffle right as the show returned. Truth escaped an Attitude Adjustment, then hit a splash in the corner, causing Cena to retreat to ringside once again.
Cena grabbed his title and looked to head home. Truth chased Cena onto the ramp, where they started brawling. Cena struck Truth with his championship, ending the bout via disqualification after just five minutes.
John Cena delivers his own ‘pipebomb’ to CM Punk
CM Punk, who will face Cena at Night of Champions next weekend, came out for the save. He got into the ring and started brawling with Cena. Punk lifted Cena’s belt and attempted to strike him in the head with it, but instead took a kick to the groin.
Back in possession of his title, Cena cracked the championship over Punk’s head. Cena then set up a SlimJim table inside the ring. Punk was hit with the belt once again, then put through the table with an Attitude Adjustment.
In a scene eerily reminiscent of Punk’s famous pipebomb promo, Cena started to talk while the upcoming title challenger was laid out by the table bump.
“Before I leave here in six months with the WWE Championship, I gotta get a whole lot of stuff off my chest,” Cena said. You heard that right, this is Cena’s remix of the pipebomb.
Cena doesn’t hate Punk, but hates the idea of him. “You’re better than me at one thing… You’re the best bulls****** in the world … Hey, I’m breaking the fourth wall!”
Cena said Punk changes his values more than he changes his t-shirts. He then shouted one a few non-WWE people: “Hey Claudio Castagnoli, hey Nic Nemeth, hey Matt Cardona. How are you guys doing?”
He kept checking to make sure his microphone didn’t get cut yet, but said nobody in the back cared about Punk enough to do such a thing.
Here’s the tail-end of Cena’s pipebomb:
“Remember who gave you the stage for your pipebomb, pal. And what have you done with it since then, huh? You’ve just regurgitated the same five microphone moves of doom. You’re promo potato salad, pal. Hey, you’re no longer the voice of the voiceless, you’re a friggin’ millionaire, despite yourself. You’re not punk, you’re a capitalist. And you’re not against TKO, dude, you are Mr. TKO, ’cause they knocked your balls technically off your body. Your Tweets are strong, your actions are weak. And in Saudi Arabia, you’re going to face some loud, loud music when I finally prove to the world that each and every day, day in, and day out, no days off for 25 years, I have been the greatest of all time. [Crowd chants ‘Cena’]. See, they know. They know that you were the best in the world for seven minutes, 14 years ago. And if after Night of Champions you’re still delusional enough to believe that you’re the best in the world, well, I guess it’s a small world after all. You’re welcome, Grand Rapids. Bring your a-game to Night of Champions, because as you can tell if this building in Grand Rapids is an indication, the mood is starting to change.”
A referee started to check on Punk. Cena said this was fine, as Punk needs to rest up for their title match next weekend.
“I know even you idiots are smart enough to see the truth, the champ is here,” Cena said. “Hey USA [Network], you can keep the extra two-and-a-half minutes, I don’t need a bomb. Elvis has left the mother-fudging building. Thanks for letting me rip off your promo to make you look even more foolish.”
To a positive reaction, Cena left as the show came to a close.
