Welcome to eWn’s live coverage of Friday Night SmackDown, live from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB, Canada. Tonight, features the fallout from last weekend’s SummerSlam.
After a shocking turn of events to close SummerSlam, we shall witness the next chapter in ‘The Bloodline Saga’ as Jimmy Uso will ‘Hail to the Chief’ Roman Reigns.
Meanwhile, Austin Theory will defend the United States Championship against Santos Escobar. Plus, Asuka and Charlotte Flair will be in singles action, and so will AJ Styles and Karrion Kross.
*****
Kevin Patrick welcomes us to SmackDown and is the play-by-play lead announcer at the three-man commentary booth, alongside Michael Cole and Corey Graves.
Following a recap of Bianca Belair’s title win and Iyo Sky’s immediate cash-in on Saturday, we head to ring to kick off the show.
*****
#1. Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka – Winner: DNF
WWE Women’s Champion Iyo Sky, alongside Bayley, came out to ringside to witness the match, before laying out both Charlotte and Asuka and causing a No Contest. Dakota Kai also joined them to celebrate.
*****
Backstage, Kayla Braxton is joined by Santos Escobar, and he discusses his shot at Austin Theory’s United States Championship tonight. Theory suddenly blindsides Escobar, injuring his leg. Medical personnel and the LWO (including Rey Mysterio) check in on him.
*****
There are a ton of video packages tonight, since this is of course the episode following SummerSlam. A vignette featuring Edge airs ahead of SmackDown in Toronto next week, while there are of course multiple allusions to the ending of SummerSlam and how it might play into tonight’s show.
*****
#2. AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross – Winner: AJ Styles
Styles likely had Kross beat following a 450 splash, but Scarlett put his foot on the rope. This caused Mia Yim to neutralize Scarlett, and following a ton of shenanigans, AJ Styles got the 1-2-3 over Kross.
*****
On this day, I see clearly, everything has come to life! The Rated-R Superstar! EDGE IS HERE!!
Edge plays to the crowd for a bit before declaring that he wants to face Sheamus one-on-one in Toronto next week. He recounts their history, sharing that without Sheamus, Edge would have never been able to make a comeback to the ring. He shares a personal story with Sheamus before inviting him to the ring.
Sheamus makes his way to the ring alongside Butch and Ridge Holland. Sheamus and Edge banter for a while before expressing their respect for one another. Sheamus also recounts a heartwarming story involving Edge, claiming that without Edge, he wouldn’t be in a WWE ring today either. Eventually, Sheamus accepts Edge’s challenge for SmackDown next week.
*****
Guess who’s here? LA Knight! YEAHH! And after the commercial break, he’ll be in action against Michael Cole’s BFF, Flop Dollar.
#3. LA Knight vs. Uncle Phil – Winner: LA Knight
The Megastar picked up a quick squash over Uncle Phil, and Michael Cole had a field day with those two minutes. Following the match, Knight grabs the mic and does his thang for a few seconds.
*****
An injured Santos Escobar is on his way to the ring to challenge Austin Theory for the US Title. However, Theory blindsides him yet again. He gets a mic and heads to the ring, demanding a referee to count Escobar out.
LWO, docs, agents, and Adam Pearce come out, and Pearce announces that Theory will be defending the US title against Rey Mysterio right now.
#4. Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio (United States Championship) – Winner: Rey Mysterio
We’ve got a new United States Champion, and it’s just OH SO SWEET! Hot crowd throughout! Theory is desolate while Mysterio celebrates with LWO.
*****
Out next, flanked by Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa, is the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Reigns asks Calgary to acknowledge him, before asking Paul E. where Jimmy is. Paul E. doesn’t really know where Jimmy is, but conveniently enough, Jimmy appears himself, in a hoodie of course.
Reigns addresses Jimmy, saying he owes him one. Jimmy can have anything… car, yacht, jet. Jimmy says he doesn’t want anything Roman; what happened at SummerSlam was not about him. Roman says he can have ANYTHING; if he doesn’t want material possessions, he can have power, position, he can be ‘Main Event Jimmy Us…’ Enter Jey Uso!
Jey gets into the ring and demands an explanation from Jimmy, or he is going to throw away the twins’ entire life. Jimmy says he did what he did because he loves Jey. He did it for love, not jealousy. Jimmy was afraid that if Jey became the ‘tribal chief’, he’d get corrupted, just like Roman Reigns. He didn’t want to lose Jey. But if Jey wants to kick 37 years of pain into his face, that’s up to him.
Jimmy turns his back for Jey to make his decision. Jey does not attack Jimmy, and Jimmy exits. Roman laughs at Jey and mocks him, but Jey takes him out with a super kick. Solo takes Jey out, but not for long. Jey retaliates, only for Roman to land the Superman punch.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Uso, on the ramp, is conflicted as to what he should do. Roman measures Jey but is taken out with a Superkick and then a Spear. Jey grabs a mic and asks Jimmy to wait. Jimmy turns and walks toward Jey to embrace him, but Jey takes him out with a Superkick.
Jey then speaks into the camera and says – “Hey, I’m out! I’m out of The Bloodline. I’m out of SmackDown. I’m out of WWE. Dueces. Uces!” Jey walks off through the crowd as SmackDown goes off the air.
*****
I’ll see you folks tomorrow night for AEW Collision. Have a great weekend!
