Credit: WINC
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown on FOX opens up with The Usos backstage getting hyped for tonight’s ring return together. WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns walks up and they calm down. He asks if they’re ready and they are. Reigns wants to know the game plan, the end game. Jimmy Uso says the plan is to win, this is how they’re going to make the family proud. Jimmy goes on and says he can’t wait to be on. Reigns says Jimmy has got it all figured out, and he is happy for Jimmy. Reigns wishes them good luck. Jimmy walks off and tells his brother let’s go. Reigns says Jimmy is going to need it. Jey continues looking worried about something. Reigns asks Jey what’s wrong and if Jimmy speaks for him now. Jey looks in deep thought. Jey says even though he’s with Jimmy tonight, Reigns knows he’s with him also. You know I’m with you, I’m with you. Reigns says maybe Jey should tell Jimmy that. A worried Jey walks off.
– We’re live from the WWE ThunderDome at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida as Michael Cole welcomes us. He’s joined at ringside by Pat McAfee. We go right to the ring.
Street Profits vs. The Usos
The Usos win courtesy of a superkicks from Jimmy to Montez Ford.
Winner: The Usos
In the back Megan interviews Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. They admit they had a bad strategy for Backlash, noting Rey’s paternal instinct kicked in after they attacked his kid. They almost felt like they were in a handicap match against just Rey. But they’ve been back in the lab figuring out what went wrong and they will once again become tag team champions.
Natalya and Tamina head to the ring, their match is up after the break.
Natalya (C) and Tamina (C) vs. The Riott Squad – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
Tamina wins the match for her team with the Superfly Splash on Ruby.
Winners: Natalya and Tamina
After the match, The Riott Squad recovers in the ring as Tamina helps Natalya up at ringside. We go to replays. Liv and Riott are frustrated as the champs hold their titles at ringside.
– Adam Pearce is backstage when The Usos walk in. They brag about the win and Pearce says The Street Profits are great, but it’s hard to deny The Usos. Jimmy says they want the winners of tonight’s SmackDown Tag Team Titles match next week. Pearce makes it official. An excited Jimmy walks off as Jey watches, looking concerned like earlier.
Bianca Belair vs. Carmella
Belair wins with the KOD.
Winner: Bianca Belair
– After the match, Belair stands tall with the title as her music hits. Bayley stands on top of the announce table and yells at her. They stare each other down.
– Megan is backstage with Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio. They also have a game plan for tonight’s title defense. They go on about how their motivation is incomparable right now. Dominik says there is no way they will lose tonight and there’s no tag team in the world that can top this. They embrace and say they love each other to end the segment.
– We go back to the ring and out comes Seth Rollins to his remixed theme song as fans boo. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and Rollins is in the ring with a mic as the boos continue. He says he did not come to talk tonight, he came to fight. He calls Cesaro out to the ring so they can finish what they have going on.
Cesaro isn’t coming out and Rollins says he’s not here. Of course he’s not here to Swing him or disrespect him tonight, or look past him. Cesaro’s not here to ruin the greatest day of the year – Rollins’ birthday. Rollins goes on and shows us video of what happened last week. He says that was hard to watch but not the worst of it. He says he’s obtained some exclusive audio from Cesaro’s hospital room but it’s just a joke. Rollins laughs away but says in all seriousness, what happened to Cesaro last week was unfortunate. Cesaro pushed hi to a place he didn’t know, and Cesaro deserves part of the blame because he put himself in that situation.
Rollins goes on and says he’s a man of integrity and the truth is… we have to place some of the blame on you, he says looking at the camera. The boos get louder. Rollins says the fans watching at home are the ones who brainwashed Cesaro into believing it’s OK to disrespect Rollins, into believing he can look right through Rollins, into believing he deserves opportunities he simply did not earn. Rollins says if Cesaro never steps foot in the ring again, the blame is on Cesaro and the fans. Rollins says the blame is not on his hands as they are clean, but the fans’ hands are filthy. Rollins says Happy Birthday to himself again and starts singing. He tosses the mic as the boos get louder. Rollins’ music starts up as he makes his exit from the ring.
Apollo Crews (C) vs. Kevin Owens – Intercontinental Championship
Azeez hits KO with the Nigerian Nail for the DQ.
Winner by DQ: Kevin Owens
After the match, Owens gasps for air while down in the mat as his music hits. Crews is announced as still the champion as Azeez helps him up at ringside and hands the Intercontinental Title to him. Owens stumbles to ringside and he’s hurt, choking and gasping for air. Crews and Azeez look on from the ramp as officials check on Owens at ringside.
– Roman Reigns is backstage with Paul Heyman. Heyman introduces Jey Uso, who has walked in. Jey takes a seat. Reigns brings up the title shot The Usos have for next week and asks if that’s what he wants to do. Reigns asks why Jey told him earlier that he’s still with him. What happened to we? Reigns says everything they’ve been through over these months, he only wanted the best for Jey, that was all that mattered to him, doing right by Jey and the family. They will figure it out when it comes to Jimmy Uso, but Jey is Main Event Jey Uso now and when they go according to Reigns’ plan, Jey owns SmackDown but as soon as his brother comes back, they’re stuck in the opening match. Reigns just doesn’t want Jey to go back to a place where people look at him and say wonder which brother he is. Jey shakes his head and says he hasn’t thought about it like that, Uce. Reigns says maybe Jey should think about it like that because his brother isn’t. Fans in the arena boo as the segment ends.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Chad Gable
Nakamura wins with the Kinsasha.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
After the match, Nakamura stands tall as his music hits. He turns and sees Corbin standing on the ramp with the crown. Corbin rants about the crown belonging to him. He goes to put it back on his own head but Boogs attacks from behind and Corbin goes down, rolling down the ramp. Nakamura comes up and grabs the crown, putting it back on. Nakamura stands with Boogs and they pose together as Boogs plays his theme. Corbin looks on from the ramp and seethes.
We see what Commander Azeez did to Kevin Owens earlier. Owens is backstage with a trainer and Adam Pearce now. He is still gasping for air but he wants a title shot against Apollo Crews next week. Pearce makes the match and says Azeez will be banned from ringside.
– We see Rey Mysterio backstage praying it looks like. Dominik Mysterio walks up and they say a few words to each other. Dominik heads to the ring as we go back to commercial.
– Back from the break and Rey Mysterio has been attacked backstage. He’s being checked on by trainers and Dominik Mysterio.
Dominik Mysterio (C) and Rey Mysterio (C) vs. Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler – SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Dominik retains the titles for his team with the victory roll on Roode.
Winners: Dominik and Rey Mysterio
Jimmy and Jey Uso show up as soon as the match ends, all four men stand off in the ring as Roman looks on from his locker room with displeasure and the show ends.
