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Welcome to this week's WWE Smackdown report. The show was filmed last Friday in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are on the call.
They recapped everything that went down last week.
Gunther came out to the ring and said he’d been looking for Sami Zayn all day, but he knew Zayn was hiding. Gunther added that the show wouldn’t move forward until Zayn came out to confront him. Zayn eventually appeared behind the fans on the main floor and told Gunther he was keeping his distance because he still had a broken hand. Zayn claimed he was the last true good guy left in WWE before turning his attention to WWE Champion CM Punk. Zayn called Punk a “snake in the grass” who shouldn’t be allowed to breathe the same air as him.
Zayn said all he wanted was an opportunity to win the WWE Championship back. He pointed out that Gunther was given a spot in last week’s match while he wasn’t. Zayn warned Gunther that if he didn’t like what happened last week, he should “buckle up.” Zayn added that nobody was going to get what they wanted until he got what he wanted. Gunther responded that if Zayn wasn’t willing to come to the ring, then he would go to Zayn. Zayn reminded him that he still wasn’t medically cleared to compete. Finn Balor then appeared in the crowd and briefly addressed Zayn before chasing him toward ringside. Zayn entered the ring but immediately rolled out the other side.
Kevin Owens’ entrance music then hit. Owens came out and chased after Zayn, who ultimately escaped from the arena floor.
Backstage, CM Punk was shown watching the segment. Nick Aldis approached Punk and complained about Zayn’s actions. Punk told Aldis that he had an idea. Punk then spotted Johnny Gargano planking while his wife, Candice LeRae, stood nearby. Punk said he knew “Johnny Wrestling” was still in there somewhere and played up Gargano’s connection to Cleveland. Punk then offered Gargano an opportunity to challenge him for the WWE Championship later that night on SmackDown. Gargano initially didn’t budge. Punk began walking away with Aldis, but LeRae stopped them. “Oh my God,” she said as she looked toward her husband, who had finally gotten to his feet. “Let’s do it,” Gargano replied, accepting Punk’s challenge.
Tessitore confirmed that CM Punk would defend the WWE Championship against Johnny Gargano later in the show.
Backstage, Charlotte Flair spotted Alexa Bliss and questioned why she wasn’t dressed for their scheduled match. Flair pointed out that they had an opportunity to earn a shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Bliss explained that there had been a change in plans. Tatum Paxley then appeared and was visibly excited about teaming with Flair. Charlotte, however, did not share her enthusiasm.
WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Fatal Influence vs. Charlotte Flair & Tatum Paxley
Paxley was isolated early as Henley and Reid worked her over before a commercial break less than 30 seconds into the match. Paxley tagged in Charlotte Flair, who hit both members of Fatal Influence with a crossbody before unloading chops on Reid and Henley. Flair applied the Figure Eight to Reid, but Henley broke it up and took a fallaway slam. Charlotte then hit Henley with Natural Selection before tagging Paxley, who dove onto both opponents at ringside. Jacy Jayne tried to interfere, but Alexa Bliss sent her into the ring post. Moments later, Charlotte blasted Reid with a big boot from the apron, knocking her into Paxley’s Cemetery Driver for the three count. After, The Baddies, led by Jade Cargill, attacked Flair, Henley, and Bliss. Fatal Influence stood by as The Baddies took control.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Nikki Bella and asked what she would say to those who felt she had taken things too far with Paige. Nikki blamed Paige for ruining her return and causing Brie Bella’s injury. Paige then joined the interview and said she wasn’t going to put her hands on Nikki. She said she realized Nikki had disliked her from day one and believed it was because Paige built her career on “hustle, loyalty, and respect.” Paige warned Nikki to bring it next week in Mexico City, or she would end their match quicker than Nikki’s last relationship.
Nick Aldis was on the phone in his office when Gunther arrived. Aldis wrapped up a call with a doctor as Gunther complained about Johnny Gargano receiving a WWE Championship opportunity. Danhausen could be seen doing Danhausen things in the background. Gunther accused Aldis of making questionable decisions to keep the spotlight on himself after getting a taste of it during their match. Aldis told Gunther he could take up his concerns with CM Punk before excusing himself to deal with an issue involving the WWE Women’s Championship. Danhausen then tried to sympathize with Gunther, putting a hand on his back and telling him he knew exactly how he felt. Gunther grabbed Danhausen by the wrist and warned him never to touch him again before leaving. Danhausen then placed a framed picture labeled “Employee of the Month."
After the break, Nick Aldis stood in the ring with Dr. Woodruff and said they were there to discuss Chelsea Green’s injury situation with full transparency. He then introduced Green. WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green made her entrance and slapped hands with fans, but looked concerned. In the ring, Green said they had already done this and there would be no tears this time. Instead, she was a pissed-off champion. Green said she wasn’t worried about her safety, she was worried about her legacy. Aldis said he liked Green, but only because it was his job to do so. He then deferred to Dr. Woodruff, who revealed that Green had a fractured orbital bone that had not fully healed but was healing properly. The doctor cleared Green to compete as long as she wore a protective face mask. Nia Jax and Lash Legend interrupted. Jax demanded an immediate title shot and threatened to break Green’s other orbital bone if she didn’t get one. Tiffany Stratton then ran out and hit Legend with a Backstabber. Aldis booked Green vs. Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship next week in Mexico City, then made Jax vs. Stratton official for later in the night. Stratton hit Legend with a baseball slide, but Jax quickly dropped her with a clothesline.
Tiffany Stratton vs. Nia Jax:
Jax cinched in a chinlock. Stratton broke free with a jawbreaker before dropping Jax with a dropkick. Jax answered with a standing spinebuster for a two count. Jax went for an Annihilator from the top rope, but Stratton kicked her foot out from under her. Stratton followed with a stacking pin for another near fall before rocking Jax with running shoulder blocks and a pair of wheelbarrow stunners. A crucifix bomb finally took Jax off her feet, but only for a two-count. Lash Legend got on the apron, but Stratton knocked her off with a dropkick. The distraction allowed Jax to hit a Samoan Drop and follow with the Annihilator for the win.
Your winner, Nia Jax!
Jax grabbed Chelsea Green’s protective mask and mocked the WWE Women’s Champion alongside Legend. Green entered the ring and confronted them, but they backed off.
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviewed Kevin Owens and noted that Owens could relate to Johnny Gargano getting a WWE Championship opportunity in his hometown. Owens said he was happy for Gargano but warned that CM Punk didn’t make the offer out of the kindness of his heart. Owens said Punk never does anything without something in it for himself, suggesting Punk was trying to draw Sami Zayn out. Owens added that if Zayn did show up, he had a feeling he wouldn’t be alone.
Corey Graves was about to begin a sit-down interview with Cody Rhodes when Randy Orton barged in and got in Rhodes’ face, reminding him of the things he said last week. Orton again called Mama Rhodes “trailer park trash” in an attempt to provoke Cody into hitting him. He also mocked Brandi and Pharaoh, but Rhodes refused to respond. Orton said Rhodes was such a “good guy” that he wouldn’t lay a finger on him to protect his family. Orton then called Rhodes an “addict” for loving the WWE Championship more than his family. That finally got Rhodes to his feet. Cody admitted Orton might be right, but said that meant Orton was screwed on Sunday at SNME.
Trick Williams and Lil Yachty were talking backstage. Yachty said he was going to “whoop that trick” when he faces Baron Corbin at Sunday Night’s Main Event. Trick told Yachty he just needed to survive five minutes. Yachty played a video for a song about a “bald head buster” and promised to beat Corbin once he caught him. Trick smiled and said it was nice, but admitted he thought Yachty was showing him a workout video. Yachty confirmed that it was. WWE U.S. Champion Baron Corbin then entered and warned that what he does to Yachty in front of his friends and family wouldn’t be a joke. Trick said Yachty would survive the five minutes, and then he would get his title back. Corbin remained confident that Yachty wouldn’t be able to survive five minutes with him.
The Miz & Kit Wilson vs. Bakusai (Shinsuke Nakamura & the debuting Kyoki)
Kyoki and Wilson opened the match with a fast exchange, with Wilson taunting his opponent in the corner before Kyoki answered with a pair of running crossbodies and a dropkick to a seated Wilson. Miz tagged in, but Kyoki stomped on his foot during a lockup attempt. Miz caught a crossbody, but Kyoki shrugged off a pair of chops and fired back with strikes of his own. Nakamura tagged in and caught Miz with a chest kick for a two-count before avoiding a corner clothesline and hitting a sliding German suplex. Miz answered with a low blow as Nakamura entered the ring, setting up a running elbow from Wilson on the floor. After a commercial, Miz kept Nakamura grounded with a rest hold. Nakamura fought free with strikes and nearly reached Kyoki before rolling up Miz for a near fall. Miz grabbed Nakamura’s foot, but Nakamura responded with a spinning kick that left both men down. Nakamura scored the tag, and Kyoki exploded into the match with a hurrancanrana on Wilson. He followed with a double noggin knocker on Miz and Wilson, then inadvertently sent Wilson into Miz with a hurricanrana. Kyoki later dove onto both opponents at ringside before hitting a Falcon Arrow on Wilson. Miz broke up the pin. Miz sent Nakamura out of the ring and attempted the Skull-Crushing Finale on Kyoki, but Kyoki blocked it. Nakamura then connected with a Kinshasa, allowing Kyoki to hit Wilson with a reverse stunner for the three-count.
Your winners, Bakusai!
After the match, WWE Tag Team Champions Tama and Talla Tonga appeared on the stage with Haku, staring down Bakusai.
A War Raiders video package aired as they promised to hurt Damian Priest and R-Truth.
Priest and Truth spoke, with Priest noting that the two of them had combined for eight tag team title reigns. “And so am I,” Truth added. Well, OK.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviewed Blake Monroe, who said the situation for her first match still wasn’t suitable. GIILIA again attacked her, and the two brawled onto the stag with Monroe being run into a LED board before several referees separated them. GIULIA laid out Monroe with a running knee.
Backstage, Johnny Gargano was looking into a mirror held by Candice LeRae when Sami Zayn pounded on the window and entered the room. Zayn hugged Gargano and said he was happy for him but if he won the title, Zayn wanted the first title shot.
WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Johnny Gargano
Punk bodyslammed Gargano early and was loudly booed, but Gargano fired back with punches and took control before an early commercial break. As they returned, Gargano hit Punk with a superkick and nearly caught him with the cover. A slingshot DDT earned another two count. Gargano went for another superkick on a kneeling Punk, but Punk blocked it and answered with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Punk was booed again as he signaled for the GTS, but he abandoned the move after hoisting Gargano up. Sami Zayn appeared at ringside, prompting Punk to leave the ring and unload on him with punches. Zayn escaped into the ring, distracting the referee long enough for Candice LeRae to hit Punk with a hurricanrana. Gargano followed with a suicide dive before hitting One Final Beat for another near fall.
Zayn grabbed the WWE Championship from its podium. Kevin Owens rushed in and attacked Zayn, setting him up for a powerbomb on the apron, but Gunther interrupted and booted Owens in the head before going after Zayn. Finn Balor arrived and hit Gunther with a Sling Blade. Zayn then started swinging the WWE Championship at everyone around ringside.
Punk hit Gargano with the GTS, but LeRae distracted the referee from making the count. Zayn entered and blasted Punk with the championship. Gargano covered Punk with one arm, but Punk kicked out at the last possible moment. Zayn then whispered something to LeRae. Nick Aldis and several referees arrived and forced Zayn from ringside. Gargano watched in frustration before turning his attention back to Punk. As Gargano approached, Punk hoisted him onto his shoulders and hit the GTS for the win.
Your winner and still WWE Champion CM Punk!
Aldis and Zayn argued on the stage. Punk grabbed a microphone and said he still loved Cleveland. Punk announced he would defend the WWE Championship against Zayn next Friday in Mexico City, promising he would Go To Sleep. Zayn shouted from the stage that Punk had no idea what he had just done.
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