Results
- Sami Zayn def. Aleister Black (WWE United States Championship) (15:21)
- Sol Ruca & Zaria def. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre (3:50)
- Je’Von Evans & Rey Fenix vs. Angel & Berto (9:10)
- Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed def. Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton (15:16)
Paul Heyman doesn’t believe in the Rhodes-Orton alliance
This week’s episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, opened with Cody Rhodes an appearance from Cody Rhodes. We knew he’s going to appear tonight in tag action, but just not yet, as he came to the ring dressed in a suit.
Rhodes got on the microphone and asked the crowd what they wanted to talk about. The playful tone of the segment quickly became heated as Paul Heyman answered his question. Appearing from the crowd, Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed climbed up to the ring apron. Randy Orton, Rhodes’ tag partner later tonight, emerged from the stage as backup, just in case anything popped off.
Heyman cast doubt on the Rhodes and Orton alliance, claiming that when the team loses tonight, they’ll start looking at eachother differently: “This can’t last.”
After Heyman’s prediction regarding tonight’s tag match, the trio dropped off the ring apron and returned to the back. A short little in-ring tease for tonight’s main event that, unlike many in-ring segments, ended without any physicality.
Backstage, The Miz confronted Carmelo Hayes about their tag loss last week. Hayes claimed Miz only gets in his way, then dropped some sad news about their future as a duo.
“This? This is done,” Hayes said about Melo Don’t Miz.
“You are telling me this is done?” Miz replied.
“Yeah. And I’m being cool about this whole thing,” Hayes said. “Because normally? I shoot first. But we good.”
Aleister Black loses U.S. Open Challenge, thanks to Damian Priest
The latest edition of the Sami Zayn U.S. Open Challenge was next. After stand-out performances in recent weeks against Je’Von Evans, John Cena, Rey Fenix, and Carmelo Hayes, who answered the call this time? It was… Carmelo Hayes again?
Hayes, just minutes divorced from Melo Don’t Miz, made his pitch for a second chance against the WWE United States Champion: “Me and you, we already did this thing. But here’s the difference. This time, I don’t have anybody holding me back.”
Just before Hayes was about to head to the ring, his plans got altered. A frustrated Miz emerged from backstage and gave Hayes a Skull Crushing Finale onto the stage, wiping him out.
With Hayes hurt and unable to face Zayn, another member of the Smackdown locker room stepped up to the challenge: Aleister Black.
“Wow, that is just so unfortunate,” Black said, looking at Hayes. “U.S. Open Challenge. I’ll take it!”
So, after that sequence, it became official: Zayn vs. Black for the title kicked things off in the ring tonight. Michael Cole pointed out some interesting trivia: This was actually Black’s first main roster WWE title match.
The challenger had success in the early goings, using his crisp striking background to hurt Zayn. Black connected with a springboard moonsault off the middle rope just before the show went to a break.
Zayn started to rally back as the show returned. He sent Black to the outside with a clothesline, then landed a moonsault to the floor. Black dodged a top-rope dive from Zayn, but got caught on the follow-up with a Michinoku Driver from the champ for a two-count.
Zayn came running off the ropes for a move after a reversal, but instead ate a front kick from Black. The challenger scored another kick, then a snap German Suplex for a near fall of his own. The match went to a second break after Zayn met Black at the top rope to connect with a superplex.
The match returned at the 13-minute mark, with Zayn and Black once again battling in the corner. After pushing Black back down to the mat, Zayn came off the top for a move but instead ate a great-looking knee to the head from Black in mid-air. Still, it wasn’t enough to end the match.
Black dodged a Helluva Kick from Zayn, then came out of the corner with a Meteora for another near fall. The crowd really bit on this near fall and were quite into the match – what feels like a recurring trend in these Zayn U.S. title bouts.
As Black was setting up for a move a corner of the ring, he got distracted by the appearance at ringside of recent rival Damian Priest. This slight hesitation allowed Zayn to score a Helluva Kick in the corner, then connect with the Blue Thunder Bomb for the pinfall win in 15 minutes. Zayn remains the United States Champion, in part thanks to Priest.
Seeing Black lose in humiliating fashion wasn’t enough for Priest, who started to gently remove items from the commentary table at ringside. He peeled Black off the ring canvas and then delivered a Razor’s Edge onto the table, which imploded upon impact. Priest stood tall as the segment came to a close.
Backstage, a conversation between Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis and NXT women’s tag duo ZaRuca (Sol Ruca and Zaria) was interrupted by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. After denying the opportunity to apply for a role in the Secret Hervice, Ruca and Zaria pitched the idea of facing Green and Fyre in tag action, with a win possibly putting them in line for a women’s tag title shot. Aldis liked that idea and made it official for the next segment.
NXT’s Zaruca score tag win, impressing the champs
Looking to pull off a big win, NXT talents Sol Ruca and Zaria faced off against Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. This was Ruca’s second-ever in-ring Smackdown appearance, and Zaria’s first time competing on the brand.
Zaria had a good showcase in the first minute of the match, starting against Fyre. Green and Fyre took control of the match a couple of minutes in after a crafty blind tag misdirection spot to Ruca.
As Zaria and Fyre fought at ringside, Ruca escaped an UnprettyHer from Green and came out of the corner with her finisher, the Sol Snatcher. The flashy finisher was enough to stop Green in just under four minutes, giving Ruca and Zaria a big win and one would imagine an invitation back onto the show sometime soon.
Right after the bout, the tag champs themselves, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, were asked for comment. They both admitted they were impressed by the NXT duo, but Bliss said, “when that time comes [to face us], they better be ready.”
Vaquer & Stratton make it official for Crown Jewel
We saw a video recap of Roman Reigns’ return on Raw this week, then were reminded that he’s appearing on next week’s show as well.
Cody Rhodes, rattled by Paul Heyman’s comments earlier tonight about the weak alliance between him and Randy Orton, told the “Viper” that he has his back. Orton said he has his, too.
Back in the ring, Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis showed up to moderate a contract signing between Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer for Crown Jewel.
Vaquer mentioned her respect for Stratton and said she’s a good champion. The Chilean star pointed out that she has only been a champion for two weeks, but said when they meet at Crown Jewel, “I will show you who I am.”
Stratton also mentioned her respect for Vaquer, but said she will be the one woman walking out of Crown Jewel. “It doesn’t matter where we are … It is and always will be Tiffy Time.”
They shook hands then faced off… One of the more civil contract signings in recent history? Well, at least for the moment. As Stratton was on her way out, she was attacked from behind by WWE United States Champion Giulia.
Kiana James, Giulia’s manager, approached Vaquer, saying she would make her a “superstar” if she accepted her managerial services. As James was talking, Stratton swept her off the ring mat and dragged her to the outside. Vaquer picked up Giulia and tried for an S.V.B., but James dragged her client out of the ring, ending the segment.
NXT’s Je’Von Evans puts on show alongside Rey Fenix
We were shown a clip from earlier tonight, where Aldis booked a tag match, with Los Garza taking on Je’Von Evans and Rey Fenix.
NXT’s “Young OG,” Evans, making an appearance on Smackdown for the second week in a row, teamed up with Fenix to try and overcome Angel and Berto in the next match.
A series of dives to the outside went down just before the break, a sequence ending with a gigantic leap over the top rope from Evans.
Los Garza had an impressive double-team after the show came back from the break: Angel carried both Evans and Fenix as Berto came off the ropes with a dropkick, tapping the head of Evans before both babyfaces were put down with a slam.
Evans got a hot tag and took on both Berto and Angel. After sending Angel out of the ring, he did a tope suicida which seemingly took out a cameraman – we got a first-person shot of what it’s like to take a tope from Evans, basically.
Back in the ring, the referee stopped a pin attempt after noticing Berto grabbing the tights of Evans. After trying a roll-up of his own, Evans came running off the ropes with a huge knee strike for a near fall.
Angel broke up a pin attempt and tried to take on Evans, but instead was knocked down with a head kick. Fenix got back into the match and picked up Berto for a Mexican Muscle Buster. As he did this, Evans took out Angel with a springboard cutter. That fun sequence gave Fenix and Evans the pinfall win in nine minutes.
Backstage, Damian Priest was asked how far he was willing to go to get his payback on Aleister Black. This interview was interrupted by Kit Wilson, who stood out of a wheelchair and said he was going to prove to Priest how masculine he was. Priest pushed him back into the wheelchair and then sent him rolling down a ramp. Anyway, back to the question. “I’m willing to take this as far as I have to,” Priest said about his grudge with Black.
Priest then offered a challenge for Black, a “Last Man Standing” bout next week on Smackdown.
A pre-taped promo showed Solo Sikoa encouraging Talla Tonga to show everyone “the monster inside” him.
Backstage, The Street Profits said that, despite their recent issues, they’re going to overcome The Wyatt Sicks for the tag titles next week. A taped promo from the Wyatts called into question whether the duo are as loyal as they want people to believe: “Will you still consider yourselves family when everything comes crashing down?”
The broadcast provided a rundown of next week’s special Perth, Australia edition of Smackdown:
- Wyatt Sicks vs. Street Profits (WWE Tag Team Championships)
- Tiffany Stratton & Stephanie Vaquer vs. Giulia & Kiana James
- Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black (Last Man Standing)
- Sami Zayn U.S. Open Challenge
Seth Rollins prevents a Cody Rhodes win, but the Undisputed champ gets the last laugh
The main event of the night saw Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes make his first TV in-ring appearance in two months, teaming with Randy Orton to take on Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.
Orton had a hot opening minute to the match, sending Breakker to ringside with a clothesline before the show went to a break. Reed tossed Orton onto the announce table during the commercials, helping The Vision get control of the match.
Orton dodged a move from Reed in a corner of the ring at the five-minute mark, sending him shoulder-first into the ringpost. This led to a hot tag to world champ Rhodes, who dumped Reed outside of the ring after scoring a Disaster Kick. Rhodes gave Reed a tope suicida then dragged him back into the ring for a pin, but Reed kicked out at one!
Rhodes tried for another Disaster Kick but was instead caught and countered into a World’s Strongest Slam from Reed, giving the heel duo the lead as the show went to its last break.
Rhodes was kept isolated for minutes on end, finally finding his way out of the heel team’s corner by avoiding a senton from Reed. Orton went up against Breakker, taking him down with a series of clotheslines, then a powerslam. Reed got back into the match but also took a powerslam.
Orton’s momentum was slowed by a Jagged Edge driver from Reed. He tried to follow up the move by heading to the top rope, but Orton met him in the corner and delivered an impressive superplex to stay on a roll. A pin attempt was broken up by Breakker.
Breakker drove Rhodes’ head into a ringpost, then came off the ring apron for a dive that sent them both through a barricade. At this point, it was down to just Reed and Orton… Until an unexpected guest arrived.
Orton connected with his famous draping DDT, then started to set up for the RKO. Paul Heyman climbed to the ring apron, distracting the referee and giving the chance for WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins to hit the ring and give Orton a Curbstomp.
The sneaky attack from Rollins gave Reed the opportunity to come off the top with a Tsunami for the pinfall in 15 minutes. Commentary discussed whether this was the biggest win of their careers thus far.
Breakker and Reed started to walk towards the ring for seconds. Rollins waved them off from doing a second attack, claiming it’s his issue, not theirs.
Rollins stared Heyman down, and you could see the wheels turning. As Heyman pleaded with him to leave Rhodes alone, Rollins was fighting the urge to get back in the ring.
Eventually, the urges from Rollins won. He stormed back into the ring and tried for a Curbstomp, but Rhodes avoided it and instead hit a Cross Rhodes. A fired-up Rhodes stared down his Crown Jewel opponent as the show went off air.
