Results
- Sami Zayn def. Rey Fenix (WWE United States Championship) (15:51)
- Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill (WWE Women’s Championship) (Double Count-Out) (11:10)
- Drew McIntyre def. Randy Orton (17:28)
Brock Lesnar takes out R-Truth
This week’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown from the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, was an NXT takeover… At least on the commentary desk, as Tuesday night’s Vic Joseph and Booker T were on the call. The show opened with a recap of John Cena’s final appearance on Smackdown last week, where a title match against Sami Zayn was interrupted by his Wrestlepalooza opponent, Brock Lesnar.
We then returned to the live feed in Norfolk, where Lesnar made his way to the ring. Lesnar grabbed a microphone and teased speaking… But was cut off by R-Truth.
Truth started walking to the ring with his usual routine, performing his “What’s Up?” entrance theme. Truth went face-to-face with Lesnar in the ring. After welcoming Lesnar back, Truth said he’s not scared of him anymore.
“I don’t even know who you are,” Lesnar said. “And you better have a damn good reason for coming out here and interrupting me.”
Truth said that Lesnar disrespected Cena, his childhood hero. “How old are you, and what is your name?” Lesnar replied.
Lesnar said he’s here for Cena, and asked Truth if he knows where the former world champ is. “No, I don’t,” Truth said.
Truth and Lesnar went back and forth in conversation, a discussion which led to Lesnar inevitably giving him an F5. Lesnar nearly ripped his jeans fully in half from this move, something he played up as the segment, delivering on a Lesnar appearance and not much more, came to a close.
Backstage, Sami Zayn was seen talking to his open United States Championship challenge opponent, Rey Fenix.
Sami Zayn takes down Rey Fenix in thrilling U.S. Open Challenge
In a vignette, Solo Sikoa stated his intention to reclaim the WWE United States Championship.
The first match of the night saw Sami Zayn present his second-ever WWE United States Championship open challenge match, going one-on-one with Rey Fenix.
Fenix and Zayn had a lightning-quick start full of reversals. Fenix sent Zayn out of the ring with a hurricanrana and teased a tope suicida, but decided against the move after Zayn moved out of the way. The show went to a break after this sequence.
Fenix went flying after the show returned, going over the top rope for a beautiful crossbody. He followed that up in the ring with a crossbody off the top, but Zayn kicked out at two. Fenix countered a Blue Thunder Bomb into a hurricanrana for another near fall.
Defending champ Zayn continued to struggle, kicking out at two from a Superkick. Fenix came off the top for a moonsault, but Zayn avoided the move. Zayn tried for a Helluva Kick, but Fenix dodged it and then scored a high-angle DDT. Fenix went for another pin, providing likely the nearest fall thus far (so close the crowd started to boo, thinking they just saw a title change). The match went to a second break at the eight-minute mark.
Zayn came flying off the top with a move during the break, but instead ate a hard Superkick from Fenix upon arrival – another near fall. The crowd was totally into this match, chanting “This is awesome.”
The match went to the top rope as the commentary team returned. After some back and forth, Fenix delivered a double stomp to the top of Zayn’s head. Fenix came off the top with a moonsault, but a tough Zayn remained in the match.
Zayn caught a move from Fenix in the middle of the ring for a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Fenix survived the follow-up pin attempt. He kept the pressure on with an exploder suplex into a set of turnbuckles. Zayn tried yet again for the Helluva kick, but Fenix countered with a hurricanrana bridged into a pin attempt, delivering, again, a near fall.
Fenix walked the top rope for a kick to Zayn’s head. Zayn avoided a running head kick in the corner, then landed a second exploder suplex into the turnbuckles. Zayn connected with the Helluva Kick that he failed to obtain twice earlier in the match, earning him the pinfall win at nearly 16 minutes. This was a great performance from both, and understandably got quite the reception from the crowd. This continues what has been a strong stretch of matches from Zayn on Smackdown.
In a segment from earlier in the day, B-Fab called out Giulia for a match tonight, wanting to stand up for Michin. Kiana James attempted to get between them, but Giulia accepted her challenge.
Forget about that Giulia match
Worlds Collide was promoted heavily during this broadcast, with the show frequently showing some wrestler arrivals from the show in Las Vegas this evening.
The second scheduled bout of the night was WWE Women’s United States Champion Giulia against B-Fab in a non-title match. Kiana James got in the face of B-Fab before the match, causing the babyface talent to attack her.
Giulia and James started a two-on-one fight in and around the ring, so forget about that match we expected. The attack continued until Michin, wielding a kendo stick, came in for the save. Giulia and James retreated as the segment came to a close.
Tiffany Stratton retains following double count-out
In a Summerslam rematch, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton put her title on the line against Jade Cargill next.
Cargill had the first pin attempt of the bout, getting a two-count after landing a powerslam. Stratton kneed Cargill in the head to avoid a suplex, then tried for a roll-up pin. Cargill went tumbling to ringside after Stratton dodged a move, then the champ came flying over the top with a crossbody, giving her the upper hand as the show went to a commercial break.
Cargill got a near fall during the break after reversing a move from Stratton into a Bossman Slam. Stratton got back into the fight with a Spinerbuster as the show returned (this landed awkwardly).
Stratton landed a hurricanrana, an elbow in the corner of the ring, then a nasty dropkick to the head of Cargill. She came off the top with a Swanton Bomb, but Cargill kicked out at two.
Cargill escaped a move from Stratton, then sent her out of the ring with a Superkick. Stratton tried for a baseball slide to the outside but was instead thrown stomach-first onto the ring apron.
Back in the ring, Stratton dodged a pump kick from Cargill. Stratton slammed Cargill down and started to set up for a Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Cargill picked her up and off the top rope for a powerbomb. It wasn’t enough to win via pinfall.
Stratton escaped a pair of chokeslams, turning the second one into an Alabama Slam. She tried again for the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but Cargill dodged it. Cargill landed a Pump Kick, putting them both on their backs as the match neared 10 minutes.
The fight went to the ring apron, where Cargill connected with a Superkick. Stratton dodged a charging-forward Cargill, causing the challenger to run into the ringpost with force. Stratton scored a dropkick on the ring apron. She tried for a moonsault to the outside, but nobody was home. Cargill was quick to capitalize on the missed moonsault, picking up Stratton and putting her through a barricade.
It was at this point that the referee reached the 10-count, ending the bout as a draw after 11 minutes.
Nia Jax saw this unfortunate result as a moment to capitalize, appearing at ringside to attack both Cargill and Stratton. Jax gave Stratton the AnNiaLator, making it clear that she’s still aiming to face the champ sometime soon. This match had some sloppy and awkward moments, but picked up near the end and got the crowd interested.
Backstage, Chelsea Green asked Nick Aldis when she would get a shot at the women’s tag titles. Aldis proposed that Green and Alba Fyre can face the winners of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss’ title match from next Tuesday’s NXT. The Miz approached Aldis about a title shot. Aldis said that he told Carmelo Hayes that if he wants an opportunity, he can go out and get one.
A video package narrated by Joe Tessitore detailed the early years of the rivalry between John Cena and Brock Lesnar. The second part of the video, detailing Lesnar’s return in 2012 and everything since then, will air next week.
In a segment over in Las Vegas ahead of Worlds Collide, Rey Mysterio said that if Dominik Mysterio dethrones El Hijo del Vikingo tonight, he’ll put the AAA Mega Championship around his waist. Finn Balor told Mysterio that the best way to prove that he’s the best is to win the title without any extra help from Judgement Day.
Sami Zayn was approached backstage by Carmelo Hayes, who said he wanted a shot at the title. Zayn agreed to the match. As Hayes was leaving, he was caught by The Miz. Hayes admitted that he wasn’t talking to Nick Aldis about a tag title shot earlier, but instead a U.S. title.
Hayes said that they could go after the tag titles after he becomes U.S. champ. “You have no idea how difficult that is,” Miz replied. Hayes said that Miz did it before, a comeback which seemingly got Miz back on his side.
Drew McIntyre defeats Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes returns in post-match
The main event of the night saw Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton face off in a grudge match.
Orton was in control just before the break, sending McIntyre out of the ring with a clothesline a minute in. Orton continued to control McIntyre as the show returned, chipping away at him with kicks and knees. McIntyre caught Orton in the knee with a kick, tweaking the “Viper’s” leg and getting the heel back into the bout.
McIntyre continued to focus on the left knee of Orton, putting him in a Figure Four leglock in the center of the ring. Orton was able to turn over the submission, putting pressure on McIntyre. This didn’t last long, however, as McIntyre earned a rope break.
Orton dodged a punch from McIntyre for a belly-to-back suplex. The fight went to ringside, where Orton bashed McIntyre’s head onto the commentary table. McIntyre raked the eyes of Orton, then dropped him back-first onto the table. Still focused on the knee, McIntyre landed a forearm to the back of Orton’s leg before the show went to its final break.
McIntyre slammed Orton as the show returned, intentionally making Orton’s leg hit the ropes on the way down. Orton poked McIntyre in the eye, then started to mount a comeback by running McIntyre’s head into the turnbuckles.
Orton avoided a Figure Four, pushing away McIntyre and sending him shoulder-first into a ringpost. McIntyre was able to reverse some moves from Orton, but Orton remained in control after connecting with a Powerslam.
McIntyre avoided Orton’s draping DDT, heading to ringside. Orton followed him to ringside, throwing McIntyre onto the commentary table twice. Orton rolled McIntyre back into the ring. Once Orton got in the ring, he was surpisingly hit with a Claymore Kick from McIntyre.
After getting Orton back into the ring, McIntyre rolled in and was hit with an RKO. McIntyre then rolled out, preventing a now slightly bloodied Orton from going for the pin. McIntyre ran Orton into the ring apron, then they went back to the ring.
Orton caught McIntyre coming through the ring ropes, allowing him to score a draping DDT. He started to set up for the punt, but the referee got in his way, pleading with him not to do it. McIntyre dodged the eventual punt attempt, then scored a Claymore Kick for the pinfall win.
McIntyre didn’t celebrate afterward, instead focusing on further damaging Orton. He started to set up for a Claymore Kick through the side of the commentary table, but was interrupted.
Suddenly, Cody Rhodes’ theme hit. The man who was put on the shelf by McIntyre just a few weeks back had returned and was out for revenge. He came in for the save, causing McIntyre to run away.
“Drew McIntyre, the champ is back,” Rhodes said. “We can do this dance. I’ll see you, my friend, at Wrestlepalooza.”
Rhodes stared down McIntyre as the show went off air.
