October 25, 2024
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
Results
- Andrade / Carmelo Hayes – No Contest in 9:44
- Naomi over Candice LeRae in 8:52
- #1 Contender’s Match: Motor City Machine Guns over DIY via Skull & Bones in 11:19
- WWE Tag Team Championship: Motor City Machine Guns over The Bloodline via Skull & Bones in 7:26 (Recommended)
Randy Orton Calls Out Triple H
Smackdown from Brooklyn kicked off with Randy Orton walking into Gorilla and talking to Triple H about something off-mic. Hunter shook his head no and Orton seemed to shrug it off as he made his way to the ring.
What did Randy Orton just say to Triple H??? 👀#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/0MzEgIkXgL
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Orton said he had been doing everything he could to get Kevin Owens at Crown Jewel and then wondered if Triple H was protecting Kevin Owens from him. He called Triple H out, to which he obliged.
If there's one man who can give Randy Orton his match against Kevin Owens, it's Triple H… and he's on his way to the ring RIGHT NOW! 👀🔥#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/k3YGfJHp2j
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Hunter insulted Randy saying he could never show up to work on time and Orton reiterated that Hunter was protecting Kevin Owens and he had a soft spot for him. After Orton continued to badger him, Hunter finally admitted he was trying to protect Orton himself.
"I AM NOT PROTECTING KEVIN OWENS, I AM TRYING TO PROTECT YOU!"
Triple H says Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens is NOT going to happen. 😮💨#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/8eGolcHZwg
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Hunter went on to say that Kevin Owens never had a friend in WWE but he had somehow let his guard down and trusted Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. Triple H said Orton and Rhodes turned on him in Owens’ mind and he saw something different in his eyes and that’s why he was protecting him. Orton said he didn’t call Paul Levesque out to the ring, he wanted the Cerebral Assassin and again insisted he wanted Owens at Crown Jewel to which Hunter finally acquiesced.
"I hope to god y'all know what you're asking for…"
Triple H just made it official!
Randy Orton will go one-on-one against Kevin Owens at #WWECrownJewel! 👏👏👏#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/GNcg6YIwJL
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Game 7 Means Definitive Winner
The night’s first was “Game 7” between Carmelo Hayes and Andrade with Special Guest Referee LA Knight. A graphic popped up before the match began, noting that the first match in this series was on July 19th. LA Knight had a referee shirt underneath his vest and was wearing his United States Championship for this match. Early in the match, Carmelo Hayes used LA Knight as a shield to gain control over Andrade. Hayes then was tossed to the outside and LA Knight would not allow Andrade to exit the ring to which Corey Graves quipped, “What is this, WCW in the mid-’90s?” as Andrade dove over the top rope and Knight to take out Hayes.
There's no keeping these two away from each other! 😤🔥
Special Guest Ref, LA Knight, learned that real quick… #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/sErPrR0OKS
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
As we returned from break, Andrade hit Hayes with what Michael Cole called an “Inverted Spanish Fly” but was just them both hitting simultaneous moonsaults while holding each other. Then began a series of near-misses with both competitors almost taking out LA Knight until finally, things devolved and LA Knight hit both men with BFTs.
Protip: You can't win a match if you take the referee out. 🤦
Carmelo vs. Andrade GAME 7 is pure chaos! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/UwOwZrPtVo
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Knight then climbed out of the ring and rang the bell himself and declared himself the winner of the match. This is the first Game 7 in history to not produce a victor.
THE WINNER OF GAME 7 IS… nobody. 😤
LA Knight has had enough of Carmelo AND Andrade! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/kZwwgEDNW1
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
A little while later, Nick Aldis confronted LA Knight and informed him that he would be facing both Carmelo Hayes and Andrade in a Triple Threat Match at Crown Jewel.
It's gonna be a TRIPLE THREAT MATCH for the #USTitle at #WWECrownJewel! 🇺🇸👏
KNIGHT vs. CARMELO vs. ANDRADE#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/l3nzmCQq26
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Tiffy Gets Replaced
Backstage, Nia Jax sarcastically told Tiffany Stratton that she hoped she enjoyed her vacation (Stratton was sick last week and Candice LeRae replaced her). Jax said that she couldn’t get Naomi off her back and that she needed someone to take care of her. Stratton said she’d do it but Jax said that she already found someone in Candice LeRae. This led directly into LeRae vs Naomi as footage was shown of LeRae pinning Naomi last week after Indi Hartwell interfered. LeRae controlled much of the early goings until Naomi was finally able to swing momentum in her direction. That is until Indi Hartwell rammed Naomi into the ring post behind the referee’s back. This brought out Bayley who took out Hartwell as Naomi successfully pinned LeRae.
Candice has Indi but Naomi has… BAYLEY!! 😤😤😤#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/DVVP9Y177x
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Rhodes & Gunther Face-Off
Next up was the face-off between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. Gunther said it was unnecessary to drag his daughter into this and he was making things more dramatic than they are.
Gunther wants Cody to stop making things more dramatic than they need to be… 😬🏆#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/cP47ttqaQE
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Both men asked each other “why” they were going to win as if this was different than a regular match. Rhodes said that he was in Las Vegas promoting WrestleMania 41 but Gunther couldn’t be bothered to show up. Gunther retorted that he was the “Workhorse Champion” and he turns down requests for media appearances because he has the guts to do so. Gunther called Cody a “Gutless Champion” and this set Cody off as he fired the first shot. Ludwig Kaiser was quickly out to help Gunther which in turn brought out Randy Orton. After the heels were run off, Orton did the typical “pick up the belt and hand it to the champ” spot.
To be WORLD CHAMP… you need GUTS! 🏆
RHODES vs. GUNTHER at #WWECrownJewel is gonna be an all-timer! 😮💨😮💨😮💨#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/nHYoDQbkzV
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Women’s Tag Title Match
Backstage, Eva, Nick Aldis, and Adam Pearce announced that Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill will be defending their tag titles in a Fatal 4-Way against Chelsea/Piper, Damage CTRL, and Lash Legend/Jakara Jackson at Crown Jewel.
#WWECrownJewel is getting bigger by the minute!
Our #SmackDown, #WWERaw and #WWENXT GMs just announced a Fatal 4-Way Women's Tag Team Title Match for Crown Jewel! 👏👏👏
BIANCA & JADE vs. IYO & KAIRI vs. CHELSEA & PIPER vs. LASH & JAKARA! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/8HqpjoLQpP
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
#1 Contenders’ Tag Team Match
Next up was the #1 Contenders’ Match between Motor City Machine Guns and DIY with the winner going on to face The Bloodline for the Tag Team Championships. Early in the match, MCMG executed what looked similar to a Meet in the Middle aka one of DIY’s finishers. A subsequent dive to the floor was then interrupted by Johnny Gargano hitting his slingshot spear. After the commercial break, Michael Cole noted Sabin & Shelley’s success in TNA and New Japan as the team executed a drop kick to Gargano while he was held on a kneeling Ciampa’s shoulders.
THIS IS AWESOME! 👏👏👏👏👏
Who will earn the right to challenge #TheBloodline for the WWE Tag Team Titles? #DIY or Motor City Machine Guns? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/4pwfiXGwC6
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
DIY then responded with a variation of the Fairytale Ending for a near fall as the crowd seemed more on the side of MCMG. Gargano then accidentally superkicked Ciampa which led directly into their Skull & Bones finisher as they picked up the win. After the match, Gargano and Ciampa argued briefly before walking to the back. Befor ethe segment ended, The Bloodline emerged as the show went to another commercial.
After the break, Nick Aldis was in the ring trying to control the confrontation. Solo Sikoa said they just wanted to introduce themselves to the #1 Contenders. MCMG said they were ready “anyplace, anytime” and Sikoa suggested they do it right now. Aldis jumped in and said he wouldn’t let them compete for the titles at anything less than 100%. MCMG stopped Aldis and agreed to the match.
Motor City Machine Guns 🤝 #TheBloodline#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/KnNzcJFKTE
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
WHAAAAT??? 🤯🤯🤯
We're getting MCMG vs. #TheBloodline for the WWE Tag Team Titles RIGHT NOW!!! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Q204ycTbnC
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
WWE Tag Team Team Championship Match
The match began with a hot start with the Brooklyn crowd amped that they were getting a title match right away. Although after an ad break, The Bloodline was in control as the crowd chanted “We want Roman”. MCMG took control of the match and Solo Sikoa started screaming at The Tongans only to be attacked by Jimmy Uso.
Y'all really thought The OTC wasn't gonna get his revenge? 😤🔥
ROMAN REIGNS and JIMMY USO are here! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/1Of8cQfcDf
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
Uso then got dropped by Jacob Fatu. Suddenly Roman Reigns appeared and Fatu, Sikoa, Jimmy Uso, and Roman Reigns fought to the back. Back to the match, the referee got knocked down and The Tongans went for a chair only to have Jey Uso appear and take them both out.
Did somebody say… YEET!? 👀
JEY USO IS HERE!!!! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ucReDTAhYX
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
MCMG then hit Skull & Bones as Jey Uso got the referee up and new Tag Team Champions were crowned.
THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS ARE YOUR NEW WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!!! 🤯🤯🤯#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/N3WB14MiDZ
— WWE (@WWE) October 26, 2024
After the new champs celebrated, Jimmy Uso reappeared with Jey Uso standing in the ring. The two brothers hugged as Roman Reigns looked on from the ramp, unsure of what to think.
Announced for Smackdown Next Week also from Brooklyn (Taped Tonight):
- Fatal 4-Way: Bianca Belair vs IYO Sky vs Piper Niven vs Lash Legend
- Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton vs Gunther & Ludwig Kaiser
- Face-to-Face: Liv Morgan & Nia Jax
Final Thoughts
Just when you thought it was going to be a three match show, they cram in the tag title match with eleven minutes to go. The crowd ate this up but it feels like a schmozzy way for MCMG to win the titles. That said, good for them. You could visibly see them thank both DIY and The Bloodline during each pinfall. Then the crowd got the coda with Jimmy and Jey reuiniting immediately after. It may be hard for that crowd to get excited about the next 90-120 minutes of taping they sat through after.