Smackdown Results: The Bloodline Earns Tag Title Shot

July 26, 2024 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

July 26, 2024
(taped July 19th)
CHI Health Center – Omaha, NE

By: John Kleinchester

Results

  • LA Knight over Santos Escobar via BFT in 9:40
  • Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Gauntlet Match: The Bloodline over The Street Profits via Moonsault in 38:40
    • Angel & Berto Eliminated by Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews at 6:00
    • Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews Eliminated by The Street Profits at 14:39
    • Pretty Deadly Eliminated by The Street Profits at 20:37
    • The OC Eliminated by The Street Profits at 28:30
  • Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton over Bayley & Michin via Annihilator in 12:47

 

The Bloodline Substitution

SmackDown kicked off with Nick Aldis informing The Bloodline they had to forfeit their spot in the tag team gauntlet match as Tonga Loa was donned with an eye patch and Aldis said he was not cleared for tonight. Solo Sikoa responded to Aldis saying it would be Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu “if that’s okay with you”. Aldis agreed.

LA Knight Walk-and-Talk-to-Ya

LA Knight cut a walking promo on Santos Escobar, leading directly into Knight vs Santos Escobar.

The match began as the crowd (who was now beginning hour 3 of 4 as this was taped last week directly after that episode) barely reacted. Elektra Lopez interfered behind the referee’s back, allowing Escobar to gain the advantage and hit a 619, obviously mocking Rey Mysterio. 

As we returned from commercial break, the announce team wondered aloud whether LA Knight was too distracted by his match against Logan Paul next weekend at Summerslam. Escobar got into Knight’s face, screaming at him until Knight was able to reverse momentum and gain control. Elektra Lopez then climbed onto the ring apron and again distracted the referee. Logan Paul appeared and attempted to hit Knight but Knight ducked and clotheslined Paul to the outside. Santos Escobar set up for the Phantom Driver but Knight was able to reverse it into the BFT for the pinfall victory. Logan Paul and Santos Escobar then teamed up to beat down LA Knight with Paul hitting a big frog splash to finish things off. 

Davenport is a “Lame”

Backstage, Byron Saxton asked Naomi why Blair Davenport attacked her two weeks ago. Naomi said that Davenport was trying to play mind games with her. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair interrupted saying that Blair was a “lame” just like Alba & Isla. Cargill and Belair then excused themselves, saying they had to go to the ring to address the Women’s Tag Champs.

 

Mr. Cleveland Has a Surprise for Logan Paul

Byron Saxton caught up with Logan Paul backstage and Paul said what happened was an “appetizer” of what’s going to happen at Summerslam. Paul continued by saying that Cleveland is his hometown and everyone he knows and loves will be there and added that “Mr. Cleveland” called him and had a huge surprise “homecoming” for him. 

Cargill & Belair

Jade and Bianca jumped right to the point saying that Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn had been ghosting them which prompted the Women’s Tag Champs music to hit. Fyre & Dawn jumped the faces from behind and momentarily had the advantage until Belair got Isla Dawn up into the KOD but Dawn escaped over the top rope. Jade Cargill then threw Alba Fyre out of the ring onto Dawn. Later in the night, a lower third graphic revealed that the faces would get their tag team title rematch and later it was revealed that it would happen next week on Smackdown from Cleveland.

Carefully Edited Video from Japan Shows

Footage from the Osaka and Tokyo Japan WWE shows aired with careful editing to only show Raw Superstars and those who would not be appearing on tonight’s show. 

 

Street Profits, No Lashley

The Street Profits were backstage with B-Fab when Terence Crawford approached them and wished them luck in their match tonight. 

Broken Briefcase

Tiffany Stratton was lamenting her smashed briefcase backstage when Nia Jax approached and promised her a new briefcase that matched her. Stratton said that she just wanted to get revenge on Bayley later tonight. 

Tag Team Gauntlet Match

Up next was the #1 Contenders Gauntlet Match to determine who would face DIY at Summerslam. Kicking off the match was the team of Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews taking on Legado del Fantasma’s Berto and Angel. The heels jumped Crews and Corbin as the bell rang to gain an early advantage. Corbin & Crews were able to rebound as Corbin eliminated Angel & Berto after an End of Days. The Street Profits were out next as the two face teams squared off with Crews and Corbin repeating the spot from a recent show of Crews throwing Corbin out of the ring onto the Profits heading into an ad break.

At one point in the match, Apollo Crews got folded up like an accordion in a scary-looking spot. Thankfully he appeared to be okay as the match continued. Street Profits then hit a double team to eliminate Corbin & Crews.

This brought out Pretty Deadly next who attempted a series of quick roll-ups with some tight-pulling unsuccessfully. Kit was then dropped on his head/shoulder area in another scary-looking spot and again luckily he seemed to be okay. Pretty Deadly then focused on Montez Ford’s knee as he screamed in pain. The teams fought back and forth until the Profits executed a Blockbuster on Elton Prince for the elimination.

Next out was The OC and the fresh team of Gallows and Anderson dominated the Profits early on. The Profits were able to mount a comeback including an impressive dive from Angelo Dawkins.

The Street Profits then eliminated The OC, bringing out the final remaining team in Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga. Solo Sikoa got involved behind the referee’s back as Fatu and Tonga dominated the Street Profits. At one point, Montez Ford executed a dive over the corner post onto The Bloodline on the outside. Ford missed a follow-up frog splash, leading to Jacob Fatu hitting a superkick and a moonsault off the top rope for the victory. 

Terence Crawford & A-Town Down Under

Austin Theory and Grayson Waller jumped into the ring and complained that they would have beaten Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens last week if it weren’t for Terence Crawford. This brought out Terence Crawford to the stage with Alicia Taylor giving him a big talk-up as a lower third graphic for his fight on August 3rd against Madrimov appeared. 

Crawford got in the ring and A-Town Down Under demanded an apology for not only handing Rhodes a chair but also for thinking he belonged in the ring with the best tag team in the world. Waller said that Theory was about to knock him out as Crawford nailed Theory as Waller retreated. 

 

Cody Rhodes “Exclusive” Interview

Cody Rhodes sent in a video from Japan where he said he was reflecting on his last year. He called this new Bloodline a “doppelganger” version that took out all of his friends. He said that the deck was stacked against him at Summerslam and he had to bring all his fire and passion into this fight as he wouldn’t allow the title to fall back into the hands of The Bloodline. He then challenged Solo Sikoa to meet him in the ring next week on Smackdown one-on-one to see if he is ready to face him.

 

Andrade & Carmelo Continues

Byron Saxton asked Andrade what was next on his journey after beating Carmelo Hayes last week. Andrade started mentioning the United States Championship when Carmelo Hayes interrupted and said it wasn’t over yet and that the crowd didn’t miss him when he left for two years. Andrade then agreed to one more match. 

Tiffany Stratton & Nia Jax vs. Bayley & Michin

Michin was out first and before she reached the ring, she was jumped from behind by Stratton and Jax. Bayley then ran out with a kendo stick to even the odds and check on Michin. Bayley asked if she was okay and Michin responded “Yeah I’m good”, but then continued to sell on the outside as the match began as a two-on-one. Eventually, Nia Jax went over to Michin and hit a Samoan Drop on her so at least it would make a bit more sense that she was incapacitated. 

The heels dominated Bayley for a long time until Michin finally appeared on the apron allowing Bayley to make the hot tag. Bayley and Michin started their comeback until Stratton nailed Bayley with the MITB briefcase allowing Jax to hit the Annhilator for the win. 

 

Solo Accepts

A Bloodline promo package aired with Solo Sikoa accepting Cody Rhodes’ invite to be face-to-face next week. Sikoa said that he would be happy to destroy Cody the same night his family wins the Tag Team titles. Sikoa noted that if Roman Reigns has a problem with that, he knows where to find him. 

 

Announced for Smackdown Next Week in Cleveland, OH:

  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn vs. Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair
  • WWE Tag Team Championship: DIY vs. Tama Tonga & Jacob Fatu
  • Logan Paul’s Homecoming in Cleveland

 

Final Thoughts

A taped show is always going to pale in comparison with a live one, especially in a setting where the crowd is sitting through two full episodes at once. That said, the Tag Team Gauntlet Match had some fun spots but suffered from a nearly forty-minute match time in front of a tired crowd. Overall, this episode was pretty skippable with the more anticipated Go Home Smackdown emanating from Cleveland next week featuring two Tag Team title matches. 

About John Kleinchester 179 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.
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