This week’s WWE SmackDown featured a triple threat Tag Team Ladder Match, the return of AJ Styles, Tiffany Stratton taking on Naomi, and more.
It was SmackDown at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee with Michael Cole & Corey Graves on commentary.
AJ Styles did a show opening promo. Styles said that it was fitting that he is here in Nashville because this is where it all started for him. AJ spoke about how he did things that he may regret and things he may not be forgiven for. Styles said he wasn’t there to talk about the past, but he is here to rebuild the legacy of AJ Styles. Styles said that there are still a lot of guys that need to know this is the house that AJ Styles built. Carmelo Hayes made his entrance in his wrestling gear. Melo spoke about how he’s beaten Andrade three times and he’s been holding it down on Smackdown since AJ has been gone. Melo said he’s a huge fan of Styles and he’s a fan of old-timers like him. Ouch. Melo said he deserves to be the US Champion, not LA Knight or Andrade. Styles said he’s been in the ring with LA Knight before and the guy is relentless. Styles said that Knight came to his house. Styles said they had a match at WrestleMania and kept on going. Melo and Styles each insulted eachother about not being a champion right now. Styles said they’re both in wrestling gear, they’re in the ring here in Nashville, so why don’t they fight right here and right now in this very ring? Melo said: “Nah, I’m good.” Melo wanted to leave.
LA Knight arrived with the United States Championship and the fans were hot for him. Knight said it was a familiar sight because Melo wanted to run away from a fight. Knight said they’ve been through it all and mentioned that Styles spoke about how he’s going to retire, so then he was a liar. Knight said that Melo is a guy who will get stomped out here tonight. Knight said he could go down to the ring and punch Melo a few times and then go down to Broadway to have some drinks and have a good night. Knight told Melo if he can beat AJ Styles right now then Knight will make the case to Smackdown GM Nick Aldis that Melo deserves a shot at the US Championship. Knight said after AJ stomps him, Melo is still going to be hearing “LA Knight…yeah.”
Match #1: Carmelo Hayes defeated AJ Styles due to the referee’s decision because Styles was unable to continue. Styles was selling a left ankle injury When Styles hit a neckbreaker onto his knee, he collapsed to the mat. Referee Charles Robinson checked on Styles and then decided Styles was too hurt to continue. Melo was announced as the winner. After the match, LA Knight went into the ring and hit a BFT on Melo. The fans loved that.
Michael Cole set up a video package for the Bad Blood tag team match and called it the main event. That was expected after reports about it being the main event. There was a video package about Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns teaming up against The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu at Bad Blood.
Match #2: Dumpster Match: Michin defeated Chelsea Green. Piper Niven tried to help Green, but Michin was ready for it. Michin won by hitting a Powerbomb through a table that was over the open dumpster. Michin closed the dumpster to win the match.
AJ Styles was shown on the trainer’s table getting his left ankle checked on by a doctor. Graves said the video was a few minutes earlier and that Styles was going to the hospital to get checked out.
Naomi was approached by Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill. They talked about their various issues. Belair & Cargill told Belair she could host Bad Blood with them so Naomi was happy about that. Bayley walked in, so Belair and Cargill left. Bayley said she promised that when she beats Nia Jax to win the WWE Women’s Title, she’s going to give Naomi a title shot. Bayley hugged Naomi and Bayley kept on walking.
Bayley did a promo calling out WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax and Miss Money in the Bank holder Tiffany Stratton. Bayley told Jax that two women could beat her – Bayley and Stratton cashing in MITB. Bayley suggested the idea that Stratton could cash in on Jax. Stratton said she didn’t need the briefcase to beat Nia so Nia was like “excuse me?” Stratton said instead of trying to break them up, Stratton wanted Bayley to bow down to her. Bayley said she could at least respect Jax, but she didn’t respect Stratton. Bayley said she didn’t want to patronize a stupid bitch like Stratton. Stratton went after Bayley, who avoided it and hit a knee. Jax knocked Bayley down. Jax went for a senton attack, but Bayley avoided it. Bayley hit Jax with the MITB briefcase a few times. Bayley hit a running knee on Jax. Bayley held the Women’s Title and then she put it on Jax. Bayley left while Stratton stood in the ring and saw Jax crawling to the ropes to try to get back up. The fans stood up thinking it might be a MITB cash in by Stratton, but there wasn’t one and Jax left the ring. The fans chanted “cash it in” at Stratton, who didn’t do it.
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven were walking backstage. Pretty Deadly were standing by and they were repulsed by the smell. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller, so then they were grossed out by the smell and Waller said Green’s name in a funny way. Angel & Humberto were also grossed out by the smell. Green walked up to Smackdown GM Nick Aldis backstage. Aldis made jokes about garbage and recycling. Green left without saying anything. Carmelo Hayes walked up to Aldis wanting to be rewarded for his win, but Aldis said he was going to check on AJ Styles and he’ll talk to Melo next week.
Match #3: Naomi defeated Tiffany Stratton by pinfall. Naomi won with a crucifix pin for the win.
The Bloodline was shown walking backstage. Jacob Fatu screamed into the camera about how he loved the Tribal Chief. Fatu said his Tongan brothers loved The Tribal Chief. Fatu said that Nashville loved the Tribal Chief. Fatu said that #DIY, Street Profits, Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns love the Tribal Chief. Fatu said if you don’t want to love the Tribal Chief then you must acknowledge the real Tribal Chief, Solo. Solo spoke into a camera: “Acknowledge me.” That led to Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa entering for their match.
Match #4: Ladder Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships: The Bloodline – Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa defeated #DIY – Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano and The Street Profits – Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins to retain the titles. A lot of action with ladders being smashed and tables breaking. Ford hit a splash off the top to put Loa through a table and Dawkins gave Tama a Powerbomb through the commentary table. Four guys went climbing until Ciampa & Dawkins went crashing onto a ladder. Gargano and Ford also took a final bump into a ladder. This allowed Loa to climb the ladder while Tama held the ladder to keep it straight and Loa pulled down the titles to win.
After the match, Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu arrived in the aisle to congratulate the winners. That was the end of the show right at the two-hour mark. No overrun this week.
WWE Bad Blood Lineup
No matches were promoted for Smackdown next week, so here’s a look at the WWE Bad Blood PLE lineup for Saturday, October 5th in Atlanta.
* Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes vs. The Bloodline – Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu
* Hell in a Cell Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
* WWE Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley (Dominik Mysterio will be in a Shark Cage)
* Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
* WWE Women’s Championship: Nia Jax (c) vs. Bayley
You can watch WWE Bad Blood, streaming live on Saturday, October 5, at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.