Smackdown made a trip to the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida this week for an episode full of title implications. By the end of the night, a pair of championship bouts were set for next week and The Bloodline’s drama with Roman Reigns had a new chapter. Here’s what went down.
Quick Results
- Carmelo Hayes def. Andrade
- Blair Davenport def. Naomi
- Kevin Owens def. Grayson Waller
- The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) def. #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) (WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match)
Champ Nia Jax gets her celebration ruined
Smackdown kicked off with a recap of the brawl between Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa from last week. For anyone who wasn’t able to see, Reigns took out The Bloodline’s henchmen while Sikoa was able to escape amid the melee.
While we’re certainly going to return to the feud between Sikoa and Reigns later in the recap, the show had a different segment to kick things off. In the ring, decorations were put together for a celebration. With Pretty Deadly and Women’s Money In The Bank winner Tiffany Stratton already present, newly-crowned WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax was introduced.
Jax came to the ring with an entrance fit for the 2024 Queen of the Ring, being carried on a throne by four men. Jax seemed overwhelmed by how over the top the party was, but Stratton pushed back and said she deserved it.
“This isn’t really my style,” Jax said to Stratton, not enjoying the amount of pink in the ring. “My style is more destruction.” She went on to talk about her Summerslam win over Bayley.
Jax said that the women’s roster should bow down to her. Since Stratton was in the ring, she was asked to do so first. Stratton directed Pretty Deadly to perform a song before all three of them bowed down to her.
As this performance continued, Michin suddenly arrived in the ring with a kendo stick to crash the party. Stratton and Jax stormed out of the ring, allowing Michin to wail away with kendo stick shots on Pretty Deadly.
Naomi, Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair were seen watching the segment backstage. Naomi used the word “demure,” which is a trend online currently for anyone in the loop. Carmelo Hayes tries to invite the trio to an afterparty but was turned down.
Carmelo Hayes finally gets win over Andrade
The first in-ring action of the night was a grudge match between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes. It was mentioned on the broadcast that Andrade has overcome Hayes in both of their previous appearances, including a 16-minute win earlier this month.
Andrade was the first one to hit a big move, coming out of the corner to the outside with a moonsault. Hayes got tied up in the corner of the ring, giving Andrade the chance to do a double stomp onto the ring apron. However, Hayes stopped this move and instead caused Andrade to take a nasty fall to the outside just before a commercial break.
Hayes climbed to the top once again as the match returned from a break. Andrade joined him in the corner and tried for a superplex, but eventually hit a Spanish Fly instead for a two-count. The crowd was quite behind Andrade as he started to power up. He came charging out of the corner but ate a Superkick from Hayes. Andrade tried for a Three Amigos, but had his third suplex reversed into a cutter by Hayes for a near fall.
Hayes scored a knee strike after a quick pin exchange but was hit with a spinning back elbow from Andrade coming running off the ropes for a two-count.
Hayes avoided a moonsault off the top. Andrade tried for The Message but had it reversed into a roll-up pin by Hayes for the win, putting a twist into their rivalry. After losing in his first two appearances, Hayes got a win back this week.
Andrade didn’t like how much Hayes celebrated, cutting him off with an attack afterward. A sea of referees eventually got into the ring to break up the fight.
Blair Davenport scores win over Naomi
Naomi and Blair Davenport met for the next singles match of the night. Just before the contest started, NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez was shown watching in the front row.
Naomi had a strong start to the match, hitting a crossbody for a two-count before the broadcast went to a commercial break. Davenport got back into the match during the break, scoring a double stomp to the back into a senton in one motion.
After gaining some momentum, Naomi tried for a Split-Legged Moonsault. Davenport stopped the move, hit a double knees in the corner and then a knee to the head in the middle of the ring for a pinfall victory.
Before the next match, WWE had an “In Memory of” video package for Afa Anoa’i, who passed away this week. The video documented his career as a wrestler and his continued impact even after stepping away from the ring.
Kevin Owens proves a point against Grayson Waller
Backstage, Grayson Waller was talking smack about Kevin Owens to Austin Theory. As he was getting amped up, Owens appeared behind him. Owens agreed with Waller’s idea that he was a “loser,” and that he’s an “easy win” for others. Playing off this, Owens intimidated Waller with a challenge. “Let’s go prove you’re right!” Waller was shocked by the confrontation.
The aforementioned match between Owens and Waller was next. NXT was pushed once again, as main champ Ethan Page was shown at ringside before the bell was rung.
Owens got a jump on Waller to start, hitting a senton as part of a combination of moves. Waller slowed Owens’ momentum by rolling to the outside, but Owens joined him for a brawl. After heading over to the commentary desk, briefly damaging Wade Barrett’s headset along the way, a distraction by Austin Theory allowed Waller to hit a clothesline.
Waller sat on a security chair on the other side of a barricade to gloat in front of the crowd but was picked up and thrown back to ringside by Owens. Owens tossed Theory over a barricade, allowing for distraction once again which allowed Waller to regain control and throw him in the ring.
Waller earned a two-count for an elbow drop off the second rope. Owens took Waller off the ropes with a headbutt then scored a near fall with a Swanton Bomb. A stunner got reversed into a roll-up attempt by Waller. A move from Waller was stopped, allowing Owens to hit the stunner upon the second attempt. He followed that up with a pop-up powerbomb for the win.
Owens wasn’t done after the match ended. He took Waller outside of the ring and tried for what looked to be a powerbomb onto the ring apron, but Theory was able to prevent the move. Theory grabbed a pair of steel chairs, but a two-on-one attack was prevented by WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who came in for the save. The soon-to-be-challenger and champion stood in the ring after clearing the heel duo out of the ring.
In a tense moment to end the segment, Owens picked up Rhodes’ belt and handed it to him.
LA Knight accepts title fight against Santos Escobar
A video package showed Santos Escobar trying to motivate Legado del Fantasma at a dinner. He told the group that they have been struggling as of late, and that next week they need to remind everyone about who they are.
Escobar said that he will take the United States Championship from LA Knight tomorrow.
Knight was quick to respond to this challenge, appearing to a massive reaction at the Kia Center. He was quick to accept Escobar’s challenge, rebutting Escobar’s mention of him being “trash.” “This trash will put you on your a**,” he said.
Backstage, Michin was seen leaving Nick Aldis’ office. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven approached her, complimenting her on the run-in earlier. Michin said that the attack earned her a title shot. Just moments later, Nia Jax appeared out of nowhere and pushed her into an office door. Aldis appeared from his office to stop the attack from continuing.
The Street Profits earn tag title opportunity
The final match of the night saw Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford of The Street Profits take on Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa of #DIY for a shot at the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Street Profits had a controlling lead of the match for the opening few minutes, but Gargano started to get ahead once the match returned from a commercial break.
Dawkins suddenly got some momentum back for The Street Profits with a pounce for a two-count. Ciampa, who was the legal man at this point, avoided a top-rope move from Dawkins. Gargano was tagged back in but had a DDT off the ropes reversed by Dawkins into a slam. Street Profits tried for a double team move but were blocked.
After both delivering crossbodies to the outside, Gargano and Ford had a duel in the ring. A superkick from Gargano caused a two-count before another commercial break.
When the show returned, Ford scored a ZigZag onto Ciampa. He went to the top for a 450 Splash, but Ciampa put up his knees to reverse the move. He tagged in Gargano for a Shatter Machine, but Dawkins broke up the pin attempt that followed.
Ciampa got tagged back in for a knee strike double-team move to Ford, but Dawkins took Gargano out of the ring. Ford hit Ciampa with a jumping knee then tagged in Dawkins for a double team move. A pin afterward was stopped by Gargano.
After Dawkins and Ciampa traded strikes, Gargano got tagged in. Ford was dumped to the outside, then the duo hit the Fairy Tale Ending for a two-count.
Gargano tried for a spear through the ropes but was caught by Dawkins for a DDT. Ford was tagged back in for a super blockbuster to win the match. The Street Profits are next in line for a tag match, and they won the opportunity with a match that made the Kia Center electric.
Roman Reigns confronts Solo Sikoa, but it backfires
The latest installment of The Bloodline’s drama closed out the night, as Solo Sikoa hit the ring to address Roman Reigns. It didn’t take long for Sikoa to call out Reigns. He challenged Reigns to take his Ula Fala, a ceremonial Samoan necklace. “You call yourself the Tribal Chief … If you want this Ula Fala back, then bring your a** out here. Come and take it from me.”
Reigns’ music hit. “The OTC” made his way to the ring to confront Sikoa. Tama Tonga held the Ula Fala as Reigns and Sikoa stared each other down. Then, a brawl broke out. Sikoa was taken out by a clothesline, but Tonga was quick to jump Reigns right after. However, Reigns tossed Tonga outside the ring, near Sikoa.
The two-on-one numbers game played against Reigns, as Sikoa was able to get a jump on him while he tried to go after Tonga. Back in the ring, Reigns avoided a spike by Sikoa for a Superman Punch. He followed that up with a spear.
Reigns grabbed the Ula Fala from the ground and placed it on his neck, causing a massive pop from the crowd. His music hit, but Reigns’ moment was cut short. Jacob Fatu hit the ring to attack Reigns despite wearing a brace for his right foot. Fatu threw Reigns outside the ring, where the Bloodline trio delivered a powerbomb through the commentary desk. Reigns was then dragged into the ring, where The Bloodline posed as Reigns was in agony.
