Credit: WINC
Tonight’s post-Hell In a Cell edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX opens up with a look back at how WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defeated SmackDown Tag Team Champion Rey Mysterio in a Hell In a Cell match last Friday night.
– We’re live from backstage at the WWE ThunderDome at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida. Paul Heyman is with WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in his locker room suite.
Heyman says from their hospital beds, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Mysterios are acknowledging him as The Tribal Chief, but they aren’t here tonight. Reigns stands up and in walks Jimmy Uso. He asks where Jey Uso is. Jimmy says Jey is a no-show tonight. He finally got in touch with Jey but Jey said he’s not coming back. Reigns shakes his head. Reigns isn’t happy with all he did for Jey, and now Jey doesn’t come to work. Jimmy says he’s here and he’s got Reigns, family for family. Reigns asks if this is Jimmy saying he will be his right hand man. Jimmy ends up saying he can do what his brother does. Reigns tells him to prove it. Jimmy walks off.
Michael Cole welcomes us to SmackDown. He’s joined at ringside by Pat McAfee. They announce that Roman Reigns will give a State of the Universal Title Address later tonight.
– We go right to the ring and out first comes SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair for our mixed tag team opener as Greg Hamilton does the introductions. We see stills from Belair’s Hell In a Cell win over Bayley. Belair takes the mic and talks about how we’re just weeks away from returning to crowds. Belair says she’s about to whoop up on Bayley again. Belair goes on about her Hell In a Cell win and while she will never forget all the pain Bayley put her through, she can’t stop smiling and celebrating because she walked out with the title, and she is so proud of herself. Belair goes on talking about bullies and then she raises the title. The music interrupts and out comes Seth Rollins, who is all smiles.
Rollins goes on about celebrating with Belair because he also won at Hell In a Cell. Rollins brags but fans keep booing him. He talks about dominating Cesaro at Hell In a Cell and says now he’s moving on up. He says Belair didn’t dominate Bayley like he did Cesaro, and some would say her win was a fluke, but win at all cost and tonight we’ve got a party. They have a few words until Bayley’s music hits and out she comes to interrupt. Belair talks some trash until Belair challenges her to come into the ring for a fight.
Bayley enters the ring and gets in Belair’s face. Bayley calls her a pathetic loser as Rollins keeps laughing. Belair drops Bayley out of nowhere for a big pop. Bayley uses Rollins’ interference to tackle Belair and unload on her. The music interrupts and out comes Cesaro. He hits the ring and ducks a microphone shot from Rollins. Cesaro knocks Rollins out of the ring as Bayley tosses Belair out of the ring. Cesaro and Bayley face off now. Bayley yells at Cesaro, saying he ruined her show. Belair comes in and Cesaro scoops her, using her to knock Bayley out of the ring. Belair’s music hits as she dances around while Cesaro looks on. Rollins watches from ringside as we go to commercial.
Bianca Belair and Cesaro vs. Bayley and Seth Rollins
Belair goes for the KOD on Bayley, but as Rollins and Cesaro are brawling on the outside, Seth bumps into Bianca, allowing Bayley to get a running knee to the side of the face, followed by the Rose Plant for the win.
Winners: Seth Rollins and Bayley
After the match, the music hits as Bayley joins Rollins on the ramp to celebrate. Rollins and Belair regroup in the ring.
– We see Jimmy Uso backstage pacing around.
– We go back to the ring and crew members are preparing the ring for the official coronation of King Shinsuke Nakamura. A new apron cover is rolled out and a throne is being brought in the ring. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Jimmy Uso stops Paul Heyman backstage, asking him what Roman Reigns meant by “prove it” tonight. Heyman says Jimmy’s family has The Head of The Table that they need, which is Reigns, but he needs a right hand man and if Jey Uso doesn’t want to show up and be that, then Main Event Jimmy Uso is it. They go on and Heyman tells Jimmy to make some progress by winning a match tonight. Heyman offers to get Jimmy a match but indicates that there might be some issues if he loses. Heyman walks off.
– We go back to the ring for the official coronation of King Shinsuke Nakamura. Fancy music plays and we see a throne set up. The crown is on a rotating podium. Cole shows us recent happenings between Nakamura and King (former?) Baron Corbin that led to Nakamura winning the Battle for the Crown last Friday night. Rick Boogs has a mic and his guitar now. He gives a grand introduction for Nakamura and out he comes in all white as Boogs plays his entrance on the guitar.
Nakamura takes a seat in the throne as Boogs continues to play. Nakamura is given the crown and it’s on his head now. He gets up and dances around as Boogs screams out, telling everyone to hail the new King. We see Corbin watching backstage, shaking his head. Kayla Braxton approaches Corbin and refers to him as King Corbin first, but changes her mind and calls him just Baron Corbin. Corbin says he’s lost it all, not just his crown. A very sad and disappointed looking Corbin asks, what’s the point? He then walks off as we see the coronation celebrating continuing in the ring.
– The camera catches Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville backstage in their office, rocking out to Boogs and Nakamura. Seth Rollins walks in. He says now is the time. Pearce asks how they can help. Rollins says it’s not what they can do for him, it’s the other way around. He brings up Roman Reigns’ State of the WWE Universal Title Address for later on, and says he’s Reigns’ next challenger. Rollins makes a case for being Reigns’ next challenger and says he’s never been more prepared in his life – mentally, spiritually, physically and more importantly, no one on the roster deserves the chance like he does. Pearce says they’re not ready to make that decision yet, and Deville says they will take it under advisement. Rollins says the time is now. He then walks off.
Big E vs. Apollo Crews – Money In The Bank Qualifier
Commander Azeez attacks Big E when his back is turned. The ref throws Azeez outs and Apollo tries to roll up Big E from behind. Big E kicks out and hits the Big Ending for the win.
Winner: Big E
Sami Zayn is backstage with Kayla Braxton and he’s excited. He’s thinking about the world being a twisted place with the chaos and injustice that he’s experienced without rhyme or reason. But after his victory at Hell In a Cell, he knows everything is by design. And he’s the messenger of what the universe is tr
Kayla says he will be in a Money In the Bank qualifier against Owens next week. Sami goes back to ranting about conspiracies and how we’re messing with karma and his life. He got the justice he wanted at Hell In a Cell, and this isn’t right. Sami walks off ranting.
– Sonya Deville comes to the ring as Hamilton introduces her. Cole says Deville will make her first selection for the Women’s Money In the Bank Ladder Match. She marches to the ring as we go back to commercial.
Back from the break and Jimmy Uso vs. Dolph Ziggler is announced for tonight.
– Sami Zayn approaches Adam Pearce backstage and he’s not happy with having to wrestle Kevin Owens in a Money In the Bank qualifying match next week. Sami is looking for an easy way out but Pearce denies him, and says it will be a Last Man Standing match. Sami warns Pearce that he is playing a very dangerous game with karma. Sami walks off and Pearce looks a bit surprised.
– We go back to the ring and Sonya Deville has a mic. She introduces her first selection for the Women’s Money In the Bank Ladder Match. The music hits and out comes Carmella.
Carmella takes the mic and reminds us she is a two-time Money In the Bank winner. She also says she is the most beautiful woman in WWE and fans boo. She gives Deville a chance to re-do her introduction but the music interrupts and out comes Liv Morgan with a mic. Morgan mocks Carmella and enters the ring, reminding everyone she beat Carmella last week. Morgan says she knows she belongs in the Money In the Bank match, way more than Carmella. Carmella laughs at her and says this match is for the real stars. Carmella shows off some and then taunts Liv.
Morgan slaps her. Carmella goes to fight back but Deville gets in between them, telling them to relax. Deville says that is a way for Liv to make a statement, but if she thinks she deserves a spot in the match, she can prove it by facing Carmella now. Deville tells Carmella not to worry because she’s not removing her from the match. We go to commercial with Morgan and Carmella arguing.
Liv Morgan vs. Carmella
Morgan rolls Carmela up for the win.
Winner: Liv Morgan
After the match, Liv heads to the floor and taunts a frustrated Carmella, who looks on from the ring. We go to replays. Carmella calls Hamilton over and has him introduce her as “still the most beautiful woman in all of WWE.” Carmella dances around as her music starts back up. Liv’s Money In the Bank spot was not confirmed.
– Kayla is backstage with Jimmy Uso now. He admits the pressure is on but he’s not avoiding it. He dedicates this match to the family and Jey Uso. He says he hopes Roman Reigns is watching.
Jimmy Uso vs. Dolph Ziggler
Uso wins with the super kick.
Winner: Jimmy Uso
After the match, Jimmy heads backstage where Roman and Paul is waiting. Jimmy is excited about the win. Roman and Paul smirk. Roman’s music hits as he’s about to hit the ring. Jimmy wants to join them but Paul taps his chest and subtly tells him to stay but that he did good.
We go back to the ring and out comes WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns with Paul Heyman. Reigns stands tall on the stage as pyro goes off. Reigns stops at the bottom of the ramp as Hamilton introduces him and fans boo, and Heyman raises the title belt behind him.
Reigns slowly makes his way into the ring to give his State of the Universal Title Address. Reigns stands tall in the middle of the ring and raises his title in the air as more pyro goes off. Fans boo and chant “Roman sucks!” now as we go back to commercial.
Back from commercial, Heyman goes over the dominance of Roman in the past year and runs down the list of names he’s run over and conquered. He said that it’s gotten to the point that Roman may have to do the unthinkable because there’s no one left. Roman requests the mic from Paul. As Roman is about to speak, Edge makes his return.
He attacks Roman viciously and attacks him relentlessly on the announce table. Roman hits the Superman Punch and goes for the chair before Edge counters with a spear. Edge goes for the con chair to before Jimmy comes out to save him. Edge reverses an Irish Whip into the steel steps and spears him through the barricade.
Edge puts on a menacing look in the ring and asks Roman where he’s at, because if he’s looking for someone, he’s right here. Edge stares into the camera and Roman retreats as SmackDown goes off the air.
