WWE SmackDown featured Jacy Jayne challenging Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s United States Championship. CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, and Randy Orton meanwhile were involved in major storyline developments. Below are the complete recaps and WWE SmackDown results.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Carmelo Hayes vs. Baron Corbin | Baron Corbin retained the WWE United States Championship |
| Damian Priest & R-Truth vs. Viking Raiders vs. MFT | MFT won the WWE World Tag Team Championship |
| Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne | Jacy Jayne won the WWE Women’s United States Championship |
| Matt Cardona vs. Gunther | Gunther won after Cardona confronted him |
| Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn | No decision — Randy Orton attacked Cody Rhodes, ending the match before it could be completed |
General manager Nick Aldis opened the first real segment with an in-ring announcement. The new Interim WWE Women’s Champion Chelsea Green was called to the ring to address her broken eye socket. Aldis asked her to relinquish the title, something they didn’t ask of the current injured champion, Rhea Ripley. An emotional Green explained the legitimate reasons she deserves to keep it, giving examples of putting the company first.
Successfully blurring the line between reality and storytelling, Aldis agreed to return the belt, with the caveat that she must defend it within 30 days. The moment Green started to celebrate, “The Ring General” Gunther’s music hit. Gunther is fresh off defeating the general manager at SummerSlam.
Gunther disrespected Green, prompting her real-life partner, Matt Cardona, to rush to the ring, spurring their one-on-one match, in jeans at that. Consecutive powerbombs to the announcer’s desk and apron sent Cardona down for the ten-count. He rolled in at nine, only to take some vicious suplexes. Green tried to run interference, but The Ring General was far too dominant on this evening.
Green helped WWE officials roll Cardona out of the ring after his loss when Nia Jax and Lash Legend inserted themselves. Jax made it clear that she wants her championship when Tiffany Stratton ran to her aid, wasting no time before attacking. This, however, was at best a sacrifice, as she was left lifeless in the ring to end the segment.
Carmelo Hayes had a shot at Baron Corbin for his WWE United States Championship up next. It’s odd how WWE has Corbin carrying the white-shag gimmick title that Trick Williams used, but nonetheless. Hayes jumped him during his introduction, and the brawl was on.
Hayes had early control, but it didn’t take long for Corbin to catch him mid-air and just powerbomb his spine straight through the mat. There was some back-and-forth from there, but The End of Days ultimately led to the championship retention. Williams made his presence known during his celebration; Lil Yachty ran the smokescreen so that Williams could end up on top to end the segment.
After making his surprise return at SummerSlam to become the number one contender, Kevin Owens was scheduled for a face-to-face with Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk. Owens explained that 20 years ago, when wrestling for the same indie promotion, Punk disrespected him in the locker room, in front of his peers. He also listed reasons since then and called Punk a theatrical phony.
Owens had sharp personal digs, while Punk delivered fat jokes. The two face off next week on SmackDown.
WWE World Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth defended those titles in a triple-threat against Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar) and MFT (Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga). It was largely powerslams and superkicks, with chaos playing into the match. Tama picked up the pin over Truth, making MFT the new champs and bringing intensity back into titles that were turned into a gimmick.
It was time for the WWE Women’s United States Championship match: Tiffany Stratton (with Chelsea Green) vs. Jacy Jayne (with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid). It was a choppy, lengthy affair before getting to the finish. Stratton saved Green from the tag champs, only for Jayne to knock her out and take her title. Fatal Influence is now draped in gold.
“The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn were scheduled for a singles match to determine the number one contender, but “The Viper” Randy Orton blindsided Rhodes during Zayn’s entrance. Orton threw him to the outside and rammed the steel ring steps into his skull.
Orton and Rhodes battled throughout the crowd, as Zayn watched in awe. The brawl included garbage cans, tables, and other foreign objects, as WWE officials tried to separate them, but were unable to as the show came to an end.
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WWE SmackDown delivered major championship changes and several important storyline developments. Jayne captured the WWE Women’s United States Championship, MFT won the WWE World Tag Team Championship, and the rivalry between Punk and Owens intensified ahead of their upcoming confrontation.
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