This week’s WWE SmackDown started with words from Cody Rhodes and ended with Cody teaming up with Kevin Owens.
It was SmackDown at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska with Corey Graves & Wade Barrett on commentary.
Cody Rhodes did a promo in a tank top, pants and sneakers rather than a suit like usual. Cody said let’s talk about Randy Orton. Cody said that Randy is a friend and said that before he was a friend, Randy was a mentor. Cody made it clear that he wouldn’t be WWE Champion without Randy Orton. Cody said that Randy is family and Randy is his brother. Cody spoke about how Orton wouldn’t want him to talk about guilt or shame. Cody looked into the camera to talk to the man responsible: Solo Sikoa. The fans booed. Cody said he looked Solo in the eyes before WrestleMania 39 even and he told him that he wasn’t ready. Cody said that Solo paid him back by costing Cody the WWE Title. Cody was interrupted.
Austin Theory & Grayson Waller walked out to interrupt. Theory complained about how Jacob Fatu attacked him last week and it was Cody’s fault. Cody said that Waller put Theory in the way. Waller said that the reason Cody’s mentor and friend Randy Orton got hurt last week was because of Cody. Theory and Waller got close, so Cody tried to fight them by himself. Cody didn’t have much success as Theory and Waller beat him up with punches. Boxer Terence Crawford handed Cody a steel chair, so Cody went into the ring and hit Waller in the back with it. Cody tossed the chair to Theory leading to Cody doing a Disaster Kick into the chair into Theory’s face. Cody stood tall in the ring as his music played to end it.
After a break, Cody Rhodes was backstage talking to Smackdown GM Nick Aldis. Cody said he didn’t need a tag team partner for a match. Aldis said he can’t send Cody out there alone because Nick has the board of directors to answer to, so respectfully he told Cody to find a partner. Nick left while Cody thought about it.
Match #1: Andrade defeated Carmelo Hays by pinfall. It was an exciting matchup with the fans chanting “this is awesome” during the match. Melo went up top, he jumped off, but Andrade moved and Andrade hit The Message lifting neckbreaker slam for the pinfall win.
The WWE Women’s Champion Bayley and Nia Jax were on the split screen for an interview about their SummerSlam match. Graves tried to ask questions, but Jax cut him off. Jax said that she’s going to take Bayley’s title at SummerSlam and put her down like an old, sick dog. Bayley said that Jax hasn’t changed in the ten years since she has known her. Bayley called Jax the same heartless woman she was back then. Bayley said in 2017, Jax took Bayley out of her SummerSlam match and that changed Bayley’s career. Bayley told Jax she was big, clumsy and reckless. Jax said she was content being your Queen of the Ring and the queen of this division. Jax said that she is coming for that title because she gets to take it off Bayley. Bayley said she’s walking in and out of SummerSlam with this championship and there is not a damn thing that Jax can do to stop her. Jax asked if this was done and left.
Match #2: Bianca Belair (w/Jade Cargill) defeated Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven) by pinfall. Green covered for two while holding the tights. Belair countered that and sat on top of Green while holding onto the legs for the pinfall win in about one minute.
Belair and Cargill were in the ring as Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn did a promo on the video screen about being the Women’s Tag Team Champions. They bragged about being the champions while saying they knew Jade & Bianca were thinking about them. Dawn said “we’ll see” about giving a title shot and laughed.
There was a United States Championship Contract Signing with champion Logan Paul and challenger LA Knight while SD GM Nick Aldis was there. Logan Paul asked Omaha why he would give this guy a shot at the US Championship? Knight replied saying maybe Paul was right and he can go take a walk, but Knight pointed out that when they’ve been face to face he has owned and cooked him. Knight said he pinned Paul’s shoulders to the mat. Knight said that he’s chased him around the world just to get a title shot. Paul said that Knight needs this match against him while Paul doesn’t need this match. Paul bragged about all the things that he does outside of WWE. Paul said that Knight wants to be the champion, but he is not. Paul called Knight a “Gym Bro” with a spray tan and a catchphrase while trying to be like The Rock. Knight joked that he hadn’t heard that before while trashing Paul again.
As the segment continued, Knight said that Paul was pretending to be the United States Champion. Knight mentioned Paul not wanting to sign a contract. Knight said that Logan’s brother is willing to get in the ring with Mike Tyson, but Logan doesn’t have the balls to get in the ring with Knight. LA said he guesses balls don’t run in the family. Logan said he’ll sign the contract and give Knight a shot at glory. Paul signed the contract. Paul told Knight he’ll draw him a map where he can stick his dreams of becoming a WWE Champion. Paul and Knight got face to face, so Aldis stood between them. The fans chanted for LA Knight as Paul left the ring. Paul went back into the ring going for a cheap shot. Knight fought back. Paul tried a punch, Knight was ready for it and Knight wanted the BFT, but Paul slipped out of it. Paul bailed to the floor while Knight stood tall in the ring.
A video package aired about Miss Money in the Bank Tiffany Stratton.
LA Knight was shown walking backstage when Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez were there to interrupt. Escobar pointed out that Knight pinned Paul in the match they had for Money in the Bank qualifying and Escobar said that he wasn’t pinned in that match. That led to a match challenge from Knight, who said Escobar’s mom has Knight’s number. Escobar agreed to the match.
Match #3: Michin defeated Tiffany Stratton (w/Nia Jax) by pinfall. Bayley showed up at ringside, avoided a charging Nia Jax and hit Jax with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Bayley also tried to destroy the MITB briefcase and did so a bit by hitting the steel stairs and stomping on it. Michin capitalized with the rollup for the pinfall win. Michin was given the MITB briefcase back and it was banged up.
Solo Sikoa was featured in a backstage segment with The Bloodline’s Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa. Solo wondered who was going to team up and disrespect the Tribal Chief by teaming up with Cody Rhodes. Solo asked if you saw what they did to Cody Rhodes last week? Solo said that if you team with Cody then you’re against The Bloodline. Solo said that this better be a handicap match or somebody will pay the price. Solo said he is the Tribal Chief and you will acknowledge him. Jacob Fatu put a red lei around Solo’s neck. The group held up the “ones” to salute the Tribal Chief to end it.
Cody Rhodes was walking backstage in his wrestling gear with the WWE Championship around his waist. Kevin Owens was shown putting the tape on his wrists and the camera followed Owens as he walked backstage leading to his entrance. That means Owens was the mystery partner.
Match #4: Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens defeated A-Town Down Under- Grayson Waller & Austin Theory by pinfall. Cody won with the Cross Rhodes for the win.
After the match, The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa went down to the ring for a fight. Owens eye-gouged Loa to try to take him out. Owens and Cody battled Solo on the floor, but Jacob Fatu showed up. Fatu sent Cody into the steel steps. Fatu superkicked Owens on the floor. Back in the ring, Fatu hit a running hip attack on Owens. Cody was held at ringside. Fatu hit the running hip attack three more times in a row so KO’s head was hitting the turnbuckle multiple times. Tama & Solo were holding onto Cody on the floor to make him watch it. Fatu went up top and hit Owens with a headbutt to the left shoulder. The Bloodline picked up Cody and gave him a triple Powerbomb (Solo, Jacob & Tama) that sent Cody through the commentary table. Tama put a steel chair around KO’s head/neck and rammed it into the ring post. That always looks brutal. Fatu put the red lei around Solo’s neck. Solo held up his finger in the air while Fatu, Tama & Loa also held up their hands to show they are the ones. Solo laughed at a fallen Cody as the show ended there.
This is CHAOS!
Will anyone be able to stop #TheBloodline?! 😳#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/BwE2kEP9Lc
— WWE (@WWE) July 20, 2024
Next Week On WWE Smackdown
Here’s what WWE has announced for next week’s Smackdown.
* Tag Team Title Gauntlet Match: The Street Profits vs. Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews vs. The Bloodline vs. Legado del Fantasma vs. Pretty Deadly vs. The OC
* LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar
* Bayley & Michin vs. Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton
That’s all for this week.