Smackdown Results: The Bloodline Takes Out Randy Orton

July 12, 2024 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: WWE

July 12, 2024
DCU Center – Worcester, MA

By: John Kleinchester

Results

  • Nia Jax over Michin via Annhilator in 9:29
  • Berto & Angel over Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews via Wing Clipper in 8:02
  • Naomi over Blair Davenport in 7:36
  • WWE Tag Team Championship: DIY over A-Town Down Under via Meet Me in the Middle in 7:13

 

This Isn’t Hugger Bayley 

SmackDown kicked off with 2024 Money in the Bank Winner Tiffany Stratton coming down to the ring to a huge ovation from the Worcester crowd. Stratton boasted about becoming the youngest Miss Money in the Bank in WWE history and ran down Trish Stratus as she was the real hero last week in Toronto. She then called out Liv, Roxanne, and Bayley, saying their title reigns would soon be operating on Tiffy Time. Bayley noted that she won the Money in the Bank match in 2019 and that if Stratton tries to cash in she’ll be the first woman to ever fail to do so. Nia Jax interrupted reminding Bayley that they had a match in three weeks at Summerslam. Bayley said she wasn’t “hugger” Bayley who Jax injured in 2017. Then Bayley wondered aloud what would happen if Jax did beat her.. would Stratton cash in on Jax? Nia responded by calling her “BBL Bayley” and this led to Jax and Stratton beating down the champion as Michin ran out with a kendo stick to make the save. 

 

Neck Brace Jones and a Background Conversation

Byron Saxton approached Chelsea Green (complete with neck brace) and Piper Niven in the back and Green said the whole world was now calling her the Mother of Mayhem and the Princess of Pain. She said she was waiting for Nick Aldis and Saxton tried to tell her something about Aldis but Niven told him to go away. In the background of the shot before they went to the next segment, Blair Davenport could be seen speaking with Isla Dawn.

 

Nia Jax vs. Michin

We went back to the ring and the scheduled match between Nia Jax and Michin began with Bayley and Stratton cornering for the two competitors. Early in the match, Jax executed a Stinkface and managed to knock off one of Michin’s fake eyelashes in the process. Later, Stratton placed the kendo stick on the ring apron and then distracted the referee in an attempt to allow Jax to use the weapon. Unfortunately for the heels, Michin was too quick and nailed Jax before she could use it. Jax then recovered hitting a big leg drop and the Annhilator for the victory.

After the match, Bayley jumped Nia Jax but was quickly hit from behind with the briefcase by Stratton. The two heels then took turns decimating Bayley, leaving her lying. Jax went to leave and Stratton realized she could cash in on Bayley right then and there. She approached the referee as the crowd built to a fever pitch but Jax got in the way and Stratton backed off. 

Bloodline Promo

Another Bloodline promo aired, similar to the one from the end of last week’s show with Solo Sikoa saying Roman Reigns went soft and he’s there to build a stronger, more aggressive family. Sikoa finished up by saying “By the end of tonight, everyone will acknowledge me”. 

 

Andrade & Carmelo

A sit-down with Andrade by Byron Saxton from earlier in the day aired, asking him what was next. Andrade started speaking when Carmelo Hayes interrupted saying Byron should be talking to the real MVP of the Money in the Bank match. Andrade said the answer to Byron’s question of “what’s next” is “him” – referring to Carmelo Hayes. 

Corbin & Apollo Crews vs. Berto & Angel

Ledgado del Fantasma took their sweet time getting into the ring so Baron Corbin decided to throw Apollo Crews out of the ring and onto Berto and Angel to kick things off in the second match of the evening. Then, as action spilled to the outside the team decided to reverse their roles as Apollo Crews assisted in throwing Baron Corbin over the top rope onto Berto and Angel in a very impressive-looking spot. At one point, Santos Escobar got into Baron Corbin’s face and Corbin knocked him down. Elektra Lopez then distracted the referee allowing Escobar to hit Apollo Crews with a big knee. Angel then hit the Wing Clipper for the win.

Pretty Deadly: The Musical

Backstage, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven were still waiting outside Nick Aldis’ office when Pretty Deadly approached and said they were planning to ask Aldis for a budget for “Pretty Deadly: The Musical”. Green told them to get to the back of the line as no one was going to see Aldis before her. Just then, LA Knight emerged from the room seemingly with a contract in hand. Knight told Chelsea that Aldis was still busy and it would just be a little bit longer. 

 

Cody & Randy

After the commercial break, Randy Orton approached Cody Rhodes saying that he has his back against The Bloodline and Owens feels the same but he’s not there tonight as he’s with his family. Orton continued by saying that when this business with The Bloodline is finally over Cody’s going to have a lot of guys coming after his title and he’s going to have his back then too. 

LA Knight Needs a Signature

LA Knight came down to the ring clutching the contract that he had in his hands coming out of Nick Aldis’ office. Knight lamented about not winning the Money in the Bank match last weekend but he’s the “walking embodiment” of Money in the Bank. Knight then showed footage of him pinning Logan Paul with a handful of tights two weeks ago in a MITB qualifier match. Knight then revealed he had a contract for a United States Championship match against Logan Paul at Summerslam but he just needed Logan’s signature but he wasn’t there tonight. 

Blair Davenport vs. Naomi

A brief promo package highlighting Blair Davenport aired and then as we returned to the arena, Davenport made her way to the ring to take on Naomi. This would be Davenport’s first singles match on the main roster with her only other televised match being her loss in the triple threat Money in the Bank qualifying match against Naomi and Indi Hartwell two weeks ago. Early in the match, the announce team noted that Naomi was having some shoulder issues stemming from the brutality of the Money in the Bank match last weekend. Soon thereafter, Davenport launched Naomi shoulder-first into the steel steps as she gained the advantage. Naomi recovered after the break and there were a series of roll-up attempts until Naomi finally scored the pinfall.

Nick Aldis, Out of Office

Backstage after the match, Naomi celebrated with Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair and Naomi said she was excited for them to win their Women’s Tag Titles. Belair said that they were hoping to ask for their match tonight but Nick Aldis wasn’t there tonight. It was then revealed that they were all talking directly in front of Chelsea, Piper, and Pretty Deadly, and Chelsea and Piper stormed into the office as Pretty Deadly ran off in disgust. Naomi turned around and ran into Blair Davenport who said that the best person won and maybe she’d have better luck next time. They shook hands and Davenport walked off as Chelsea and Piper emerged from Aldis’ office and announced that Nick Aldis was not there. Davenport then returned jumping Naomi from behind. 

This begs the question… what was LA Knight doing in Nick Aldis’ office tonight and how did he get his signature?

 

Run It Back, But Shorter. And Worse.

The main event of the night was the rematch between new WWE Tag Team Champions DIY taking on former champs A-Town Down Under. The match started a bit awry as Gargano faceplanted coming out of the ring with his dive and then Grayson Waller lost hold of Ciampa as he had to crash onto the ring apron by himself. 

Thankfully, by the time the show returned from ad break they had regained the crowd, and then Waller failed to get all of a rolling flatliner. After that, Waller accidentally hit Austin Theory in the face with a running knee, allowing DIY to hit the Shatter Machine and Meet Me in the Middle for the win.  

After the match, Theory and Waller were arguing outside the ring when Jacob Fatu appeared and leveled Theory out of nowhere. Fatu continued his attack, this time taking out DIY with impressive top rope maneuvers. Solo Sikoa’s music then hit as the show went to its final commercial break.

Bloodline and Cody

Solo Sikoa was on the mic as the show returned and said that everyone who didn’t acknowledge him was “gone” including Jimmy Uso and Paul Heyman. Sikoa said that if Roman Reigns decides to come back, he will acknowledge him as his Tribal Chief. Solo then shifted his focus and said that it was Cody Rhodes’ turn to acknowledge him which brought out the WWE Champion. Rhodes said that he and Solo want the same thing and to consider their match official for Summerslam. The Bloodline then surrounded Cody as the crowd chanted “Randy”. Cody tried to hold his own against the foursome but was quickly overwhelmed. Randy Orton ran down and fought off the heels until Jacob Fatu hit him with a running forearm.

Fatu and Solo then tied Cody up in the ring ropes while the Tongans nailed Randy Orton with the ring steps. Fatu then hit Orton with multiple superkicks as Sikoa made Cody watch. Orton was then triple-powerbombed through the announce table as Sikoa hit Rhodes with the Samoan Spike.

Announced for Smackdown Next Week from Omaha, NE:

  • Logan Paul Live!
  • Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes

 

Final Thoughts

Not much to crow about tonight in the way of good wrestling. The attempt at running back the Tag Title match from last week was shortened and sloppy despite the crowd trying to get into it. The good news is that the Women’s division got a good amount of spotlight with intersecting stories between Bayley, Nia Jax, and Tiffany Stratton as well as Naomi, Blair Davenport, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and also something seemingly going on between Davenport and Isla Dawn. Jimmy Fatu also continued to stand out in the ongoing Bloodline story.

About John Kleinchester 199 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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