WWE SmackDown live results: Fallout from Gunther’s attack on Nick Aldis
WWE SmackDown is live from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York, tonight.
It will be the go-home show for Saturday Night’s Main Event, where CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are scheduled to team together against Sami Zayn and Gunther.
Rhodes is scheduled to “react to teaming with Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk” on tonight’s show.
Also booked for SmackDown is a singles match between Finn Balor and Talla Tonga.
We will also learn more about the fallout from Gunther’s attack on SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis on last week’s show. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is set to fill in as general manager tonight and says he will have “a ton to address.”
The advertised lineup is listed below:
- Cody Rhodes reacts to teaming with CM Punk
- Finn Balor vs. Tama Tonga
- Fallout from Gunther’s attack on Nick Aldis
- Adam Pearce fills in as SmackDown general manager
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– We got a recap of last week’s SmackDown, where Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk for SummerSlam was made, as well as Gunther brutally attacking Nick Aldis to end the show.
Gunther kicks off SmackDown
The self-professed “Ring General” opened the show to address his actions from last week. As Gunther got into the ring, the crowd loudly booed him before he addressed everyone.
Gunther said that his career prided himself on being an outstanding professional, but he felt that he’s been mistreated since joining SmackDown. He didn’t know what it as with Nick Aldis, but the truth was that Gunther should be the WWE Champion now. Gunther blamed Aldis for making this personal by forcing him to team with Sami Zayn tomorrow night at Saturday Night’s Main Event against CM Punk & Cody Rhodes. Gunther said that Zayn was beneath him until interim GM Adam Pearce interrupted.
Pearce said that on the subject of Nick Aldis, Gunther should be thanking him for saving his job. Pearce pointed out what Gunther did to Cody Rhodes and Mr. Aldis in the past few weeks. And if it was to Pearce, he would’ve fired Gunther… but someone high up made a decision that was above both Pearce and Gunther. We then found out the stakes for the tag match tomorrow: if Gunther and Zayn win, they get added to the Undisputed WWE Title match at SummerSlam.
This announcement brought out Cody Rhodes, who walked down the ramp with pomp, circumstance, and a fight. He ran right into the ring to fight Gunther as he drove him out of the ring. Rhodes shouted “ENOUGH!” as he talked about the stipulation and how the road to Saturday Night’s Main Event runs through Albany. He challenged Gunther to a one-on-one match tonight, with Adam Pearce making the match official.
The stakes for the SNME tag match tomorrow does add some interesting implications if Gunther and Zayn win, but it’s clear that they ain’t winning, unfortunately.
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– A video from Adam Pearce talked about how Rhea Ripley’s injury has left her unable to compete at SummerSlam, which meant that beginning tonight, qualifying matches will determine the five women who will compete in a ladder match in Minneapolis to crown a new interim WWE Women’s Championship while Ripley is injured. Tonight, we’ll see Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne & Nia Jax vs.Jade Cargill in two such matches.
Finn Balor vs. Talla Tonga
Balor sized up Talla to begin the match as he found himself cornered. Balor avoided Talla and tried to get on the offensive. Balor chopped Talla, who withstood it, so Balor went after the legs. Talla took Balor down with a clothesline as he then gained momentum. The throw to the corner put Balor on the ground as Talla grabbed his head from behind afterwards. Balor attempted to strike back in the centre of the ring as he avoided a slam from Talla. Balor sent him out of the ring, then attempting to push Talla to the ground. Talla blocked the offense and sent Balor into the turnbuckle, which sent us to the commercial break.
Back to SmackDown as Talla dropped him with a running powerslam that only got a two-count. Talla swung and missed on the running splash as Balor dodged, which allowed the Balor Club leader to fight back with a big drop. Instantly, however, Talla hit a Samoan Drop on Balor, which sent him to the apron. Balor recovered and drove his shoulder into Talla’s rib and knocked him down with a kick. Balor looked for the Coup-de-Grace, but Talla had him for the T-Bomb. Balor reversed that into a DDT as Tama Tonga ran interference. This gave Talla the opportunity to hit Balor with a big boot.
Talla found himself trapped on the top rope as Balor shook the ropes to give him a most painful ride. Tama was taken care of with a Slingblade at ringside. Balor then put an end to this with a double-double of Coup de Graces for the pin and win.
Finn Balor def. Talla Tonga
i can’t say this match was anything to write home about, but Balor picking up the win here was the right call, especially if the play is to make him a key player on SmackDown. For years, fans have asked for Balor to be booked with importance, so this is a step in the right direction at least.
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– After CM Punk chatted with Adam Pearce regarding tonight’s Gunther vs. Cody Rhodes main event match, he was met by Damian Priest, who called his shot for Punk’s Undisputed WWE Title if he got past Rhodes at SummerSlam. Punk teased that maybe he and Rhodes might go after Priest and R-Truth’s WWE Tag Titles when the time was right.
– We got an excerpt from WWE Unreal where Cody Rhodes was shown visiting the WWE Warehouse.
Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Tiffany Stratton vs. Jacy Jayne
Fatal Influence unleashed a three-on-one attack on Stratton before the bell could even ring as Paige and Brie Bella ran in to even the odds. Paige and Brie fought with Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid all the way up the ramp to keep Stratton vs. Jayne an even match.
As the bell finally rang, Stratton went on the attack against Jayne in the corner with a chop to the chest. Jayne hit Stratton with a kick to the face, but that only got her a hip attack from Stratton. The shotgun dropkick by Stratton took us to the commercial break.
We returned from commercial as Stratton kicked out of a slam by Jayne. Stratton’s back was clubbed by Jayne, but she avoided the running senton. The double down between the two women came after a criss-cross double crossbody. Stratton and Jayne recovered as the two exchanged strikes. Superkick by Jayne was followed by a nice enzuigiri. Stratton responded with a pair of clotheslines, the spinning elbow, and the floatover Alabama Slam. Stratton to the top rope, but Jayne intercepted her at the pass, which left Stratton at the mercy of an elevated swinging DDT for the near-fall.
Jayne went for Rolling Encore, but Stratton dodged it and connected with the springboard Stunner. Rolling senton by Stratton was followed by the PME and the three, which qualified Tiffy for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match.
Tiffany Stratton def. Jacy Jayne via pinfall (Qualifies for Interim WWE Women’s Championship Ladder Match)
This was an okay match. Not sure if I’m feeling Stratton in the World Title scene, but I guess it’s fine.
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– We got remarks from Baron Corbin, who had some words for Trick Williams, as he stated that he was coming for it all. After Corbin’s comments, we heard from Williams, who called Corbin a “big, bald-headed bitch”. Williams’ rant was interrupted by Carmelo Hayes. Williams was once again told by Hayes that he was better than him. The two talked trash to one another, as per usual.
WWE SmackDown recapper. Former NXT PLE/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/fill-in recapper.