WWE SmackDown live results: Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther title rematch
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Gunther in the main event of tonight’s WWE SmackDown with Sami Zayn as special referee.
The bout is a rematch from Clash in Italy with Zayn being added at Gunther’s request as part of a stipulation he chose. The match will also be presented ad-free on USA.
Oba Femi’s opponent for next weekend’s King of the Ring finals will be decided as former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso faces Je’Von Evans for the first time ever.
IYO SKY’s opponent for the Queen of the Ring finals will also be decided as WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan takes on former multi-time champion Charlotte Flair in their first televised match since April 2020.
The WWE Tag Team titles will be defended as Damian Priest & R-Truth defend against Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga.
In a number one contender’s match for Trick Williams’ United States title, Ricky Starks goes one-on-one with Carmelo Hayes.
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.
**********
– From Kansas City, MO, it’s the 1400th episode of SmackDown. We got the arrivals from the King and Queen of the Ring competitors, as well as the players in the Undisputed WWE Championship match tonight. From there, we were welcomed by Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett, who informed us that the Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther match would kick off tonight and it would be commercial free.
Undisputed WWE Championship Match (Guest Referee: Sami Zayn): Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther
The Gunther-appointee guest referee, Sami Zayn, was first out for this match. Challenger and champion soon followed.
Following the official ring introductions, this match finally got underway. A technical start between Rhodes and Gunther as the challenger chopped down the champion. In the corner, Rhodes had a wrist lock applied on Gunther until Zayn got him to break it up as the crowd booed. Gunther took over with another chop to the chest and a big boot, but Rhodes fought back. As “QB1” drilled Gunther with strikes in the corner, Zayn forced Rhodes out of the corne, which gave Gunther the opening to flatten his foe with a big boot. Gunther continued to punish Rhodes with a seated chinlock as Zayn did the five count tjat he failed to administer on Rhodes. Suddenly, Rhodes struck with a Cody Cutter on Gunther, followed by the powerslam. Gunther responded with a big boot, followed by the figure-four in the middle of the ring. Rhodes struggled as Gunther used the ropes for leverage. Zayn took his sweet time to get Gunther to break the hold. Gunther argued with Zayn, as Rhodes nearly rolled him up for the cover.
Rhodes countered the powerbomb of Gunther into Cross Rhodes. The cover, but Zayn stopped it as he spotted Gunther’s foot on the ropes. Rhodes and Zayn argued as it led to Rhodes being pushed into the sleeper hold of Gunther. Rhodes tried to fight out of it and reached the ropes. Zayn forcibly pulled Gunther off of Rhodes, which led to a shove from the Austrian. Slap to the face by Zayn, as Gunther then blasted him with the Powerbomb. Rhodes recovered and hit Gunther with the Super Cody Cutter. Cross Rhodes, as a new referee ran in. One, two…. 2.9999999999!!!!!! Rhodes to the top rope, but Gunther intercepted him. A leap, and the dropkick by Gunther. Powerbomb made no mistake. The cover, but the referee gets pulled out by Zayn! Gunther held on to the ropes, as Zayn kicked it away. Roll-up by Rhodes and the WWE 2K quick count on Gunther and this one’s done with more questions than answers.
Cody Rhodes def. Gunther via pinfall to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship
Your standard guest referee bout, but Zayn’s anger at Gunther powerbombing him playing into the finish worked for me, at least.
***********
– After the break, emotions were still high as Gunther argued with Sami Zayn and Nick Aldis. Cody Rhodes demanded the match to be restarted as the match was indeed rebooted.
With the match begun ranew, Gunther had Rhodes in the sleeper, but had it broken. Zayn ran in and attacked Gunther with a Helluva Kick to cause a Disqualification. Zayn snapped and hit the official, as well as Rhodes with the Undisputed WWE Title. The “Sami Sucks!” chants rained down as Zayn left and ripped up a fan’s sign on the way out.
I imagine that this will be what sets up the triple threat match for Night of Champions next week, even if this was clunky.
***********
– Gunther shouted at Nick Aldis to have a match made for him at Night of Champions.
– Jacob Fatu was with Solo Sikoa and reminded him that he was only here to help Jey Uso later tonight. Fatu also noted that Sikoa was making the wrong choice, mentioning that it wasn’t up to him to decide. Tama and Talla Tonga instructed Sikoa to let them go for the titles alone.
– Blake Monroe said in vignette form that we shouldn’t cry when she passes us by, as she was coming soon… again, despite the fact we saw her in a backstage segment over a month ago.
WWE Tag Team Championships: R-Truth and Damian Priest (c) vs. The M.F.T.s (Talla and Tama Tonga)
Priest and Talla got it started with a collar and elbow tie-up. Priest was thrown into the corner by Talla, as he answered with a couple of right hands, followed by running forearm strikes. Those had little effect on Talla, who flattened Priest with a shoulder block. Priest was left isolated in the MFT corner, but Tama was clobbered by a flying elbow from Priest. after a barrage of strikes from Priest, Truth tagged in and got Tama with the John Cena tribute combo. AA attempt was stopped as Talla distracted Truth. This allowed Tama to dump his foe over the top rope as Truth got destroyed by a Talla big boot. Chokeslam to the apron on a leaping Priest by Talla sent us to the commercial break.
We returned from break with Truth avoiding a clothesline from Tama and hitting him with the dropkick. The hot tag to Priest, who blasted Tama with the spinning kick. Flying elbows into the corner by Priest was followed by the Flatliner. Cover, but Tama kicked out. Talla entered to prevent Priest from hitting the lariat. Instead, Priest got him with it, but the snap neckbreaker by Tama left him reeling. Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa appeared at ringside, much to the dismay of Talla. Priest ended up causing Talla to crash into the ringpost, as Truth rolled up Tama in the ring to get the pin and win.
After the match, the Tonga brothers left Sikoa high and dry, angered that his appearance cost them the Tag Titles.
R-Truth & Damian Priest def. The M.F.T.s via pinfall to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships
I feel like the rift between the MFTs has been teased forever and doesn’t feel as impressive as it may have been before.
************
– Nick Aldis read the riot act to Sami Zayn for his disruption of the WWE World Title match, but Zayn said he didn’t ask for any of this and that he wasn’t going away that easy.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints (Winner faces Trick Williams for the U.S. Championship at Night of Champions)
Our Sonic-sponsored match got underway with Hayes getting ahead of Saints’ attempted cheapshot and hitting him with a few shots to the face, followed by the bread-and-butter springboard clothesline. Saints avoided the no-look leg drop, but his Old School attempt was turned into an inverted Atomic Drop by Hayes. Saints took a retreat to the outside, but that didn’t save him from the Fosbury Flop from Hayes. On the top rope, Saints avoided a Frog Splash and hit Hayes with the running uppercut into the corner, followed by a bulldog. Chop to the chest by Saints as he kept Hayes grounded with the elbow to the face.
Hayes had Saints on the apron as he leapt over the rope for the DDT that planted Saints right on the hardest part of the ring. That took us to the commercial break.
As we returned from the break, Saints had Hayes trapped deep in a chinlock that would make Davey Boy Smith proud. However, Hayes battled out of it, but he was soon dropped with a back suplex by Saints. Near-fall as Saints punished Hayes with stomps and strikes to the face. The former U.S. Champion rallied back as he countered Saints’ bulldog with a back suplex of his own. Both men staggered to their feet, but it was Hayes who seemed to have the advantage. On a kneeling Saints, Hayes hit an amazing no-look springboard DDT that nearly had this match won for him.
Sunset flip attempt was nearly turned into a Boston Crab by Saints, as he then caught Hayes for a flapjack from the fireman’s carry position. Hayes reversed the Roshambo, as we then got a double down with both Hayes and Saints taking each other out with the clothesline. Both men staggered back to their feet as Hayes caught Saints by surprise with the Dirty Diana, followed by the modified lifting cutter for a close two. Hayes went up top and went for his leg drop, but Saints got out of the way and attempted the Revolution DDT. Hayes countered that and in the ensuing fray, the turnbuckle got pulled off as Hayes and Saints exchanged pin attempts.
Hayes’ First 48 was countered by Saints, as he was placed on the top turnbuckle. Saints tripped him up which caused him to fall onto the exposed turnbuckle. Saints couldn’t capitalize as he was hit with First 48. However, a well-timed kick to the gut of Hayes sent him crashing into the exposed turnbuckle. The cover, and this one was done.
Ricky Saints def. Carmelo Hayes via pinfall
These two have fantastic chemistry with one another and this match was another good one in their short series they’ve had. It was smart to have Saints win here by chicanery to setup the match with Trick Williams in Riyadh.
************
– Backstage, Cody Rhodes met with Nick Aldis and said that he was tired of catering to both Gunther and Sami Zayn. So, he had the solution for all this: a triple threat match for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions. With a handshake between Rhodes and Aldis, the match seemed to be made official.
– Danhausen was messing around with the Miz and Kit Wilson as Los Garza confronted him for not cursing the Knicks. Matt Cardona joined the party and told Angel and Berto to let Danhausen go. Los Garza left as Cardona touched Miz and it caused sparks to fly. Cardona said that he was okay as he left, with Danhausen turning to the camera with a mischievous smile on his face as the segment ended.
– Elsewhere, R-Truth tried to play nice with Finn Balor, thinking that they were still in Judgment Day as Damian Priest appeared. Priest said that whatever celebrations Truth had planned, he wanted to be counted out as he didn’t go to places with people he didn’t trust (i.e. Finn Balor).
King of the Ring Semifinals: Jey Uso vs. Je’von Evans
Evans and Jey opened things up as the O.G. used his speed to flummox his foe in this early point. The dropkick by Evans to Jey, who rolled out of the ring to catch a breath. Jey slid back in and immediately ate another dropkick. Evans soared and hit Jey with a big splash off the top rope as we took a break in the action.
Back from break as Evans flipped over Jey for a dodge, followed by an acrobatic suplex punctuated with the kip-up. Evans continued to trash talk Jey, but he paid for it with Jey hitting a huge pop-up Samoan Drop, shades of Jacob Fatu. Jey ripped off Evans’ shirt to expose the ribs that were damaged by Bron Breakker on Raw this past Monday. Jey targeted the ribs of Evans, who tried to fight back with punches to the face. Uso flattened Evans with a slap to the face, followed by the backbreaker right on the taped-up ribs.
Evans struggled to get up, but he got Jey with the elbow to the face. He headed up top, but Jey pushed him right out of the ring as he was sent flying into the barricade. We took another break at this stage.
Back to our match as Evans launched himself and Jey through the air for the Spanish Fly. One, two…. Uso managed to kicked out at two. We saw a replay of what happened during the commercial with Evans flying right into Jey over the into the timekeeper’s area for a fierce attack. The two traded strikes for a bit, until Evans got the best of Jey with the rebound single-legged dropkick. Evans got up and looked for his O.G. Cutter, but Jey avoided it and hit him with the superkick. The Spear by Jey, but somehow, Evans kicked out at two!
Evans dragged himself up and intercepted Jey’s spear attempt with a superkick. This was a followed by Evans’ Red Dot Kick. He looked for the O.G.C utter, but Jey tripped him up and got him with the Spear. The Uso Splash and that’s it, over. Jey Uso advances to the King of the Ring Finals to face Oba Femi.
After the match, Jey pulled Evans to his feet and raised his hand to show his respect for the efforts shown by his opponent.
Jey Uso def. Je’von Evans via pinfall
Jey Uso winning is certainly something that’s going to elicit a wide variety of reactions, as is the case with Jey’s booking in general as of late. That doesn’t take away the fact that this was an entertaining match, and Evans came out really looking good in this one.
************
– Jacob Fatu was confronted by Solo Sikoa, who said that Fatu was sent by Roman Reigns to mess with his family. Sikoa left by warning Fatu that if Roman was going to do this, then maybe he should do it himself.
– Chelsea Green tried to make peace with Tiffany Stratton, who didn’t seem convinced, especially after all that Green had done to her.
– Jey Uso was congratulated by Cody Rhodes. Jey said that he was calling his shot against Rhodes, who reminded Jey not to look past Oba Femi. Sami Zayn confronted Jey and said that maybe it would be him facing Jey potentially at SummerSlam. Jey said that he was going to do what he was going to have to do. Zayn told Jey to say hi to the “family”.
Night of Champions Card:
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther vs. Sami Zayn
- King of the Ring Finals: Oba Femi vs. Jey Uso
- Steel Cage Match: Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
- Women’s U.S. Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
- Men’s U.S. Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Ricky Saints
- Queen of the Ring Finals: IYO SKY vs. Winner of Charlotte Flair vs. Liv Morgan
– After a confrontation with Jade Cargill and the Baddies, Charlotte Flair was assaulted by Cargill’s crew. The trio attacked Flair’s legs as the ineffectual cadre of road agents shooed them away. After the break, Charlotte Flair was being looked at as Liv Morgan made her way down for our main event.
Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Liv Morgan vs. Charlotte Flair
Morgan went right after the hurt knee of Flair just as she was entering the ring. Nick Aldis tried to convince Flair to not go through with the match, but she didn’t care about the risks. The bell rang as Flair had her leg clipped by Morgan to start. Outside the ring, Morgan slammed Flair’s leg against the LED apron before she threw her into the stairs as we took a timeout.
Back to our match as Flair punched Morgan out of the ring. However, Morgan continued to target the injured knee by slamming it across the LED ringpost before she hit the dropkick. In the ring, the suplex by Morgan on Flair caused the knee to impact against the bottom rope. Flair fought back with a suplex of her own. Flair headed to the dop rope and connected with the diving crossbody on Morgan for the near-fall. Flair and Morgan exchanged strikes until the former hit her opponent with the elbow to the face. Then came the signature chops to the chest of Morgan by Flair. The Women’s World Champion regained momentum with a violent-looking Irish Whip that caused Flair to crumple to her knees. Morgan’s leap from the middle rope was intercepted by a big boot from Flair for another two-count.
Flair hobbled to the top rope and looked for her moonsault, but she couldn’t get it as Morgan connected with the powerbomb for the near-fall as we took one more timeout.
This main event match returned from commercial as Morgan still had the clear advantage against Flair. Morgan headed to the middle turnbuckle and looked for the Frog Splash. Flair got her knees up to block it for the near-fall. Figure-four blocked by Morgan, followed by the Backstabber on Flair for another two-count. Flair gutted through the pain, but Morgan chopblocked her left knee again. Morgan trapped Flair across the top rope as she stomped on the hurt knee over and over again. Flair got around it with a throw, followed by the Natural Selection from the middle rope. One, two… NO!
Flair finally was able to lock in the Figure Four, but the busted knee allowed for Morgan to briefly reverse the leverage as she then got the rope break. One more chopblock by Morgan as she then took time to seriously apply a single-leg crab that would make Lance Storm smile. Flair battled hard just to get to the bottom ropes to break Morgan’s hold. Flair rolled outside as the medical crew and Alexa Bliss checked up on her. Morgan pulled at Flair and got dropped across the middle rope. Morgan connected with Ob-Liv-ion, but Flair somehow kicked out. Once more with the move known to some as the Canadian Maple Leaf and Morgan got the submission win to punch her ticket for the Queen of the Ring Finals.
Liv Morgan def. Charlotte Flair via pinfall
************
Pretty ho-hum way to end a decent week of action on SmackDown. I’m just not feeling this push for Liv. The actual main event match itself was just mid, and the idea of Liv consolidating the titles at SummerSlam doesn’t interest me at all. The fact that the match was met with a whelmed response from the crowd and the Triple H producer credits popping up not even a minute after the match concluded really speaks volumes on how mediocre it was.
The rest of the night had okay matches, and the Sami Zayn stuff continues to be one of the few things in WWE that’s got my interest. Other than that, this was certainly one of the SmackDowns of all time.
WWE SmackDown recapper. Former NXT PLE/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/fill-in recapper.