SmackDown Live time! Jordan Huie of the Overtimer coming at you with some recaption yet again, and for once we’re opening with a match!
The New Day vs. Randy Orton & The Revival
Big E gets an early overhead belly to belly sending Dash flying. Out on the apron, E gets his big splash in, brutal stuff. Xavier and Dawson tagged in, short heat segment begins but Xavier quickly chops his way out of it. Whip to the corner, tag to Kofi. Double axe handle off the top to Dawson’s arm. Dawson manages to tag to Orton, and the two double team Kofi with a chop. But a whip to the corner sees Kofi bounces right off with a dropkick. Kofi and Xavier with a series of running kicks, springboard splash from Kofi, springboard elbow drop from Woods, E comes in with a splash of his own and a belly-to-belly! New Day dominating! Kofi looks to finish with a Trouble In Paradise to Orton but he scampers away at the last second and we go to break.
Back from commercials, Revival and Orton have taken the advantage, isolating Xavier in the ring. Dash gets him in a Toe Hold, torquing on the injured knee. Dawson tags in and continues working it over. Orton comes in and adds some stomps to the target leg. Xavier fights to his feet and starts laying in chops and Orton simply pokes him in the eye to cut him off. Works him over in the corner with chops of his own. Dawson tags back in, gets an Indian Deathlock in. Xavier with palm strikes to the chest and punches to the head to try and escape. Eventually he manages to kick him away, sending him out of the ring! He crawls over to his corner, but Wilder tosses Dawson into the ring to make the tag and swings around in front of Woods! Xavier gets him with a sunset flip, Wilder kicks out, tags Orton, Xavier tries to get him with a Tornado DDT but Wilder tosses him right to the floor! Orton grabs Xavier up and hits his usual Back Suplex onto the announce table!
Commercials come up but the match remains in the inset. Orton takes his time helping Xavier up, and another back suplex onto the table commences! He goes into the ring to try for the countout win as he and Revival gloat. Seeing Xavier get to his feet, Orton breaks the count, goes out to retrieve him. Tosses him into the ring and pins but Xavier kicks out. Tag to Dash. Grabs the leg once more to continue working it over with a spinning toe hold. Xavier with up kicks from the mat, Dash has to back off as Xavier struggles to his corner, but Dawson tags in and cuts him off! Takes him to a neutral corner and gets him up top. Goes up there with him, but xavier punches him down! Xavier climbs up – missile dropkick! Both sides struggle to their sides… simultags to Kofi and Orton!
Kingston is a house of fire with Blade Chops, Dropkicks and Flying Clotheslines! Orton tries to cut him off with a Back Suplex, but Kofi reverses, SOS! Dawson comes in to break up the pin though. Dawson with a whip, but Kofi reverses to send him outside! Out there, E plows through Dawson, Dash gets him with a Tornado DDT on the floor! Xavier hops up onto the apron to try and run after him but Dash trips him, only to get caught with a baseball slide from Kofi! Kofi hits the ropes to try for a tope, but Orton grabs him, throws him into the ropes for an Elevated DDT! And now the stalking begins… but instead of the RKO Orton tags to Dash who tags to Dawson! They seem to be looking for the RKO Machine, but E pulls Orton out and posts him! Kofi gets a Double Tornado DDT on the Revival! Xavier comes off the top with his long distance elbow drop to Dash! Kofi gets Dawson with the Trouble In Paradise and that is that!
Winner: The New Day
Really strong match, especially compared to most WWE six-man tags. This has been a fun feud and if it’s ending now it’s going out on a high note.
…As New Day celebrate, Brock Lesnar’s theme hits. I’m genuinely stunned, wow. As Lesnar slowly walks down the ramp, Kofi sends his New Day buddies away to stand alone in the ring. Lesnar and Kofi have a staredown from across the arena. Brock finally makes his way up the steps to the apron. Heyman of course is flanking him and has a microphone. He introduces himself as always as the two enter the ring. He says that Lesnar not only stands in front of Kofi tonight but stands in the way of the longevity of his title reign. Paul informs us that it’s a bad day for the New Day, yes it is. He makes it official: Lesnar challenges Kofi to a match for the WWE Championship on October 4th; SmackDown’s premiere on FOX!
Crowd chants for “Kofi” as Kingston says that when he won the WWE title at WrestleMania, he made a promise that he would be a fighting champion. So he accepts. Lesnar comes in like he’s gonna offer a handshake, than shoots in for a wild F-5!
Backstage we hear from Bayley and Sasha Banks. Interviewer Girl #2 asks about Sasha’s oncoming HIAC match. Sasha says she’s the star of the women’s division and she’ll take on any challenge. She notes that she’s been in a Cell match before and Becky hasn’t. Bayley interrupts a question about Charlotte to say that Sasha will answer all questions in the ring. We’re told Cole is standing by for an interview with Erick Rowan and presumably Luke Harper as well.
We cut to the interview where Erick Rowan seems surprised Cole knows his name. Cole asks about Harper and Rowan demands that he ask Harper if he has a question for him. Cole then asks about the attacks on Roman which some have called attempted manslaughter. Rowan says he just wanted to scare him; Cole indignantly says “You tried to kill him!” and Rowan demands he lower his voice as no one can talk to him like that anymore. He says for far too long he’s been overlooked and underappreciated, but most of all, he’s been disrespected. People like Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, the entire WWE Universe, they think he’s just a grunt, a goon meant to do someone else’s bidding. Asks if he looks like a puppet to you. Cole asks why he betrayed Daniel Bryan after all the opportunities he’s given him. Rowan says the problem with Bryan was thinking they were intellectual equals, because he’s smarter than Bryan ever could be. Everyone will learn to never disrespect him ever again.
Bryan will be appearing for the first time since Rowan put him through an announce table later tonight.
Ali comes out for a match against Shinsuke Nakamura. Sami Zayn comes out first to introduce him, still in his neckbrace. Zayn notes that Ali managed to somehow defeat Nakamura months ago, though luck probably had to do with it… and that was before he paired up with Sami Zayn. So this is not the same man he faced weeks ago. As Nak enters the ring and Ali keeps his eyes on him, Sami notes that he respects him, super athletic and inspiring… but the one thing he’ll never be is a champion.
Eventually Nak gets too close and Ali gets him with a forearm, but Sami attacks him from behind and Nakamura tosses him into a turnbuckle pad. Kinshasa follows, Ali is laid out.
As they celebrate, the crowd rises to see Kevin Owens trek down the steps and take a seat in the crowd. We’re doing with the bought-his-ticket angle. Backstage a referee informs Shane McMahon that someone’s come to see him. He steps out and his served some papers. He reads them and walks off, mildly discontent.
After a commercial break, Shane McMahon makes his way out and sics security on Kevin Owens. Owens is laying back nonchalant as Shane gets on the mic. “Really, Kevin?” he says. He says this is no coincidence, all of a sudden he gets served and now Kevin’s in the audience. He tells security to escort Owens to the ring and give him a mic. Owens jumps the barrier all his own and rushes up the steps. Security rushes into the ring to stay between Kevin and Shane. Shane explains that what he’s holding in his hand is the largest wrongful termination lawsuit in history, where if Kevin Owens wins he would be awarded 25 million dollars. That’s a very big number and he’s swimming where he shouldn’t be swimming- Owens cuts him off and says if he wants him to talk, maybe he could listen, dumbass! Big pop for that.
Owens brings up the first time he brought up what everybody thinks of Shane, that he ruined SmackDown by making it his own personal playground. He brings up being fined for $100,000 for beating the hell out of the crooked referee Elias. But what happened last week when he was the referee against Chad Gable? Shane couldn’t get the job done so he attacked him from behind like a coward, exactly what he was fined for! A chant of “You Tapped Out” starts. Owens says that Shane fired him on the grounds of being insubordinate, and that’s where his case lays. Because he held that fine over his head for weeks and last week he thought of what was best for his family, and as sick as it made him, he tried to help him. But Shane couldn’t get the job done because he tapped out, guiding the chant to start back up.
Kevin says he’s tried to reason with Shane, he’s tried to fight him, last week he even tried to help him… now all he wants to do is hurt him. To hit him where it hurts the most and that is his wallet and his pride. Owens says this is about a lot more than money and he knows it. He has a case and he knows it. Kevin says he must not have read through the paper very thoroughly. It’s not just taking millions away from him. When he wins, he’ll get to stand in this ring, look him in the eyes and say… “Shane McMahon, you’re fired!”
Owens leaves the ring, goes back up the barrier and up through the stands. Shane studies the paper. He’s selling this as little as possible.
Backstage, Charlotte is preparing for her match with Sasha… and Ric Flair is there with her!
Shortened replay of Monday’s AOP vignette plays, since we don’t know where they or anyone else will end up after the Draft.
Hiphop artist Offset is suddenly in the ring wearing a pink Flair robe. He introduces Charlotte Flair.
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair
Charlotte with a kick to the stomach of Sasha. She rams Sasha’s head into the turnbuckle pads. Stomps her in the corner. Suplex. Bayley looks to be messing with the turnbuckle like Clash of Champions, Charlotte notices this, Sasha tries to attack her from behind but she evades her and sends her to the floor. Charlotte follows, Bayley pops up again for the distraction and Sasha manages to post her. Commercial, but the match remains in the inset. They get back in the ring only for Sasha to dump her right back out. She distracts the ref and I believe Bayley got a stomp in on Charlotte. Charlotte rolls back in but Sasha clips her and puts the boots to her. Tries to ram her into the corner but Charlotte reverses and does it instead, Sasha cuts her off though, putting her back in the corner and grinding her against it.
Charlotte tries to fight back with an elbow but Sasha gets her with a snapmare and wears her down with a half-Straitjacket. Charlotte gets up to her feet but Sasha whips her to the mat. Back from break, Sasha whips Charlotte to the corner, Idiot Charge leads to her eating a boot. Charlotte unloads with chops to gain momentum. Whip to the ropes, Charlotte hoists Sasha up and gets a Fallaway Slam! Charlotte with a kneedrop against Sasha’s draped leg. Vertical suplex, Sasha lands on her feet but Charlotte gets her with a neckbreaker, their classic spot. Pinfall gets 2. Sasha goes for a spinning headscissor, Charlotte catches her in Powerbomb position! Sasha unloads with punches to try and escape but Charlotte powers her down into Boston Crab position! Sasha is being bent wickedly here! Sasha struggles to the ropes, Charlotte pulls her away before she can get them but Sasha counters with a cradle. Charlotte kicks out, takes Sasha to the apron, takes her to the floor with a Big Boot! Bayley tends to Sasha as Charlotte goes up top… Moonsault to the floor wipes them both out!
Charlotte rolls Sasha into the ring, tries to follow but Bayley grabs her leg. Charlotte kicks her away and comes in but Sasha clips her, only for her to turn it into a sunset flip, Sasha tries to counter with a jackknife cover but Charlotte gets her in the Figure Four! Bayley runs in to attack Charlotte for the DQ!
Winner: Charlotte Flair (by DQ)
Bayley and Sasha double team Charlotte… until Carmella surprisingly runs out for the save! She aids Charlotte in running Banks and Bayley off and they stand tall. Took them a while to give her an in-ring role again given she got fairly popular long ago.
Baron Corbin comes out in a suit for his King of the Ring coronation. We’ve got the red canvas and throne in the ring. Corbin takes off his jacket. The robe is placed upon him and the crown handed to him. Baron acts touched. He takes his time putting the crown on his head. He applauds himself, then takes up a microphone. Corbin claims that Baron Corbin as King of the Ring is just a breath of fresh air. He knows most of you wanted anyone else as your king, but now they’re finding he’s not only the king they wanted but the king they needed. He says he is dominant and strong, but also generous and fair. He won the tournament with honor and for that, he should be shown the respect and adoration he deserves. And if not you will see that he rules with an iron fist. As his first act he wants to recognize his opponent from last night, Chad Gable. He said all that really quickly for some reason, usually folks will pause.
Gable comes out. Baron says it’s very BIG of him to come out here as he’s surely a LITTLE upset about last night, but as difficult as it is, he should try to hold his head up high. He motions to Gable’s lack of height and explains that he knows he’s been overlooked most of his career. But he’s the perfect example to all these people. He showed them that no matter how big you dream or how hard you work, well, in the end you just come up short. Gable has enough and double legs him right into the throne! He tears up the robe, takes up the sceptor and nails Corbin with it twice! He even kicks the mannequin over and destroys it. Corbin runs as Gable continues tearing up the robe. Finally he takes up the crown… Corbin is screaming as he sets it on the mat. The crowd chants for him to stomp it I believe… and he does just that, smashing it to bits.
Gable impressively managed to kick the remains of the crown over to Baron’s feet on the ramp. And indeed, he stood tall in this segment.
Heavy Machinery vs. B-Team
Otis out here in speedo trunks instead of a singlet to show off his ah, physique. Tucker starts off, waistlock slams aplenty to Axel. Drop toe hold, goes after Bo who bails off the apron, Axel clips Tucker from behind. Isolation starts as Bo shouts “B-Team, B-Team, go go go!” Bo whips Tucker into a DDT from Axel for a 2 count. Axel with a headlock. Tucker fights to his feet, Axel pummels. Whip to the ropes, Tucker vaults over him, then catches him with a clothesline. Tag to Ortis, clotheslines, lengthy spinning body slam to Bo, big body block to Axel! Bo with shots to midsection but Otis simply jiggles his stomach in retaliation. Fallaway slam takes Bo to the corner, avalanche… Bo falls to his back. Otis gazes into the crowd as they rise up. Caterpillar. Tag to TUCKY who gets a single leg dropkick to Axel in before the Compactor finishes off Bo.
Winners: Heavy Machinery
Another simple win, nice to see them getting more momentum.
Daniel Bryan is backstage, he’ll be making his way out next.
Out he comes. Bryan says the same people who are chanting for him now are the same people who accused him of attacking Roman Reigns. And he understands why, but he wants to be clear: good or bad, he has never lied to you. He stands before you exonerated of all the heinous attacks on Roman Reigns. But he’s not here to talk about that, he’s here to talk about Erick Rowan. He notes that Rowan claims he’s been disrespected and nobody saw him. But Bryan says he absolutely saw Erick Rowan. He saw his potential, his talent, his intelligence, how special he was. And when the two of them won the tag titles together, he didn’t just see him as an equal, he treated him as an equal. He treated him as a friend, because he is his friend.
Rowan comes out to interrupt. He says he’s sick and tired of hearing him speak. Talking like they were equals, but Bryan always made him stand behind him, never let him talk. Did he ever stop to ask how he felt about anything? Rowan gets into Bryan’s face and says he will not be disrespected. Bryan tells him if he feels disrespected he should do something about it, because there’s nothing he can do to him physically that’s worse than lying to him and breaking up their friendship. He offers Rowan swing at him, but Harper comes in from behind instead to take him down. As they begin to assault him, out comes Reigns! He ducks Harper’s clothesline on the ramp, in the ring for the Superman Punch to Rowan! Knocks Harper off the apron! Goes outside for a drive-by kick to Rowan, but a running big boot from Harper takes him down!
Harper throws him into the steps. Harper and Riwan outside hit an assisted powerbomb, driving him into the post! The two of them tear up the ringside mats to expose the concrete… security spills out to stop them but Harper and Rowan attack them! They slam a couple of the guards down onto the concrete! The top cover of the apron is torn off once more too and tossed into the ring. They bring Roman over towards the announce table, and Rowan kicks down a bit of barricade! He swings it like a weapon, nailing Roman. They clear the announce table. I think Phillips got taken out in the assault here. Bryan is pulled from the ring and to the table. They hoist him up together and slam him clean through the table!
Cut to black. Nice bit of carnage there.
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