This week’s WWE SmackDown featured Cody Rhodes setting up a big match for next week, Bayley in action against Tiffany Stratton, a huge 8-man tag main event, and more.
This was the last Smackdown on Fox episode for viewers in the US since Smackdown is going to USA Network next week. It’s the end of the five-year run of Smackdown on Fox.
It was SmackDown at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with Michael Cole & Corey Graves on commentary.
The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes did a show opening promo. Cody said at Bash in Berlin, he was victorious while there was a hell of an outing by Canada’s own Kevin Owens. Cody welcomed back Michael Cole on Smackdown, which drew cheers from the crowd. Cody said he might as well issue an invitation to The Bloodline. Solo Sikoa led his version of The Bloodline, which included Jacob Fatu and WWE Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa. Solo asked Cody if he was ready to defend that Undisputed WWE Title against a real challenger like him. Solo said that he could have been champion because he had Cody beaten if it wasn’t for Roman Reigns. Solo claimed he deserved a rematch. Cody responded by saying that next week the Season Premiere should have a WWE Championship match and the fans were chanting “We Want Roman” in response to that.
Cody said that Solo is truthfully the number one contender and he said that Solo did deserve a WWE Championship match. Cody said he wasn’t talking to Solo. Cody said that he was talking to Jacob Fatu, who was looking mean with a mouth full of gold teeth. Cody told Jacob to step up. Jacob was on the apron telling Solo he loved him and that Solo was his Tribal Chief. Jacob went down from the apron to the floor. Cody said that Solo is wearing the Ula Fala, which means The Bloodline revolves around him. Cody said that this WWE Championship means that WWE revolves around this title. Cody suggested the match next week with Solo and Solo accepted the match. Solo said he knew Cody was trying to get Jacob to turn on Solo while adding that they didn’t have to wait until next week. The Bloodline got into the ring and Cody had backup with The Street Profits & #DIY getting in the ring. Nick Aldis, the Smackdown GM, said he knows that The Bloodline, Profits, and #DIY want to tear eachother apart, so they can do that in the 8-man tag team main event tonight. Aldis said that next week, the WWE Championship is on the line when Cody Rhodes defends the title against Solo Sikoa. Aldis said we are all sick and tired of the numbers game involving The Bloodline, so next week’s Cody-Solo match will be a Steel Cage Match. Cody’s music played to end it.
Tiffany Stratton was in her dressing room with Pretty Deadly hanging out with her. Nia Jax walked in with the WWE Women’s Title, so PD left. Jax said people thought that Stratton would cash in Money in the Bank on Jax and Stratton denied that. Stratton said Chelsea Green was spreading bad rumors about her. Stratton asked Jax to be in her corner tonight and Jax said she would do it to help like Stratton did last week.
Match #1:Bayley defeated Tiffany Stratton by pinfall. Nia Jax went down to ringside to support Stratton, so Bayley dove on Jax with a suicide dive. Back in the ring, Stratton got a backslide pin with no count because the referee was looking at Jax while she was on the apron, so it was only a two count. Bayley hit the Roseplant on Stratton for the pinfall win.
Kevin Owens was backstage when he was approached by Austin Theory & Grayson Waller. An argument ensued, so Owens suggested a triple threat match with the two of them.
Legado Del Fantasma was sitting at a table together while Angel & Berto were in a good mood about their win last week. Santos Escobar said that they shouldn’t be shocked by success. Escobar said that they don’t find success, they make it. Elektra Lopez said that Smackdown is bound to be their turf. Escobar said it would belong to him and his family, Legado Del Fantasma. They all had a drink. Santos said now they can celebrate.
Match #2: Apollo Crews defeated Giovanni Vinci by pinfall in about five seconds. Vinci was taking a long time to take off his jacket, so the referee called for the bell and Crews jumped on Vinci’s back leading to the quick crucifix pin for the win.
There was a scene in the office of Smackdown GM Nick Aldis, who had to deal with a complaining Chelsea Green with Piper Niven. Michin walked in with an ice pack in her hands to sell the match she had with Nia Jax last week. Green kept on rambling, so Aldis put her in a match with Michin.
Match #3: Kevin Owens defeated Austin Theory and Grayson Waller by pinfall. Owens gave Waller a Powerbomb through a table at ringside early in the match. Owens won with a Stunner on Theory.
After the match, Waller attacked Owens and Owens dumped him out of the ring. Theory hit A-Town Down on Owens followed by Waller hitting a rolling flatliner to put Owens down. Waller & Theory celebrated over a fallen Owens.
A video package aired about the Andrade-Carmelo Hayes rivalry over the last two months. Andrade won the first two matches, then Melo won the next two matches and it’s 2-2 in this rivalry.
LA Knight did an in-ring promo about being the United States Champion. Carmelo Hayes interrupted to brag about beating Andrade two times in a row. Knight mentioned he defended the US Title twice in a month, which is the same as the previous title holder Logan Paul in about ten months. Knight made it clear he cared about winning. Andrade interrupted and spoke in Spanish, which Knight didn’t like very much. Andrade shoved Melo into Knight, so a fight broke out with Knight hitting a BFT on Andrade. Melo trash-talked Andrade, so Knight hit a BFT on Melo too.
The A-Town Down Under Team of Grayson Waller & Austin Theory found Smackdown GM Nick Aldis and told him they wanted to face Kevin Owens and a partner next week.
Match #4: Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven) defeated Michin. Niven got in some cheap shots on the floor while Green was distracting the referee. Green hit her Unpretty-her finisher for the win.
The Street Profits and #DIY team did a pre-match promo about how they respect eachother and want to take down The Bloodline group.
Match #5: The Bloodline – Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa defeated The Street Profits – Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins (w/B-Fab) and #DIY – Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa. Fatu was dominant for his team with a splash on Ford against the turnbuckle and a massive Impaler DDT. Solo tagged in with the Samoan Spike two times in a row on Ford for the pinfall win.
The Bloodline group celebrated the win to end the show.
Next Week On WWE SmackDown
Here is what WWE is advertising for next week’s Smackdown episode.
* Undisputed WWE Championship Steel Cage Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
* Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes
* A-Town Down Under – Grayson Waller & Austin Theory vs. Kevin Owens & ???
The USA Network X/Twitter account also claimed that Roman Reigns will be back as well.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.