WWE SmackDown live results: Saturday Night’s Main event contract signing
The final WWE SmackDown before Saturday Night’s Main Event will see WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre interact one final time before their title bout.
Last week, McIntyre defeated Jimmy Uso in a no DQ match and then got the upper hand on Rhodes after a post-match altercation. The champion and challenger will have a contract signing tonight as the Scotsman hopes to gain one last bit of momentum ahead of taking on Rhodes.
Jade Cargill will address her actions from last week when she attacked WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton after fending off Giulia and Kiana James. Cargill is challenging Stratton for the title tomorrow night.
Alexa Bliss will face Nia Jax after she took exception to Jax’s insinuation that she’d be disloyal to her WWE Women’s Tag Champion partner Charlotte Flair.
After Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson accused Carmelo Hayes of giving off “toxic masculinity” backstage, Hayes and Wilson will go one-on-one.
Plus, Ilja Dragunov issues a United States Championship open challenge.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
**********
– Following the WWE signature, we went to shots of Salt Lake City, as well as shots of Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, as well as Jade Cargill (dressed as the Punisher).
– We went to a recap of Jade Cargill’s attack on WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton from last week. Michael Cole and Corey Graves then welcomed us to tonight’s show before Stratton interrupted.
Tiffany Stratton opens SmackDown
Stratton demanded that Jade Cargill come out to fight her now until SmackDown GM Nick Aldis asked that she back down as there was to be no physical contact before tomorrow night.
Cargill appeared as GM Aldis had security come out to prevent physicality. She said that she tasted her own blood last week and it only made her hungry to become the WWE Women’s Champion. Cargill vowed to end “Tappy Time” tomorrow night as Stratton tried to come at her. Security got in the way and prevented any physicality to happen.
Kind of a nothing segment and didn’t really do anything to build towards the Cargill/Stratton title match for tomorrow.
**********
–
U.S. Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Nathan Frazer
As Fraxiom was entering for the Open Challenge, Tommasso Ciampa stormed past the two and was upset about not getting picked. Dragunov interrupted and told Ciampa that Frazer would get the opportunity as he got him to leave.
Once the match started, Dragunov struck Frazer in the corner but found himself floored by an enzuigiri. Frazer followed that up with a suicide dive on Dragunov. Back in the ring, Frazer used his agility to briefly stymy the U.S. Champion, but a Dragunov chop put a stop to that. We went to commercial after Frazer went face-first onto the commentary table.
We returned from the break with Dragunov connecting with the repeated German suplexes on Frazer. He managed two before Frazer landed on his feet on the third. Frazer leapt off the middle rope with an amazing reverse DDT followed by a shooting star for the near-fall.
Frazer’s kick was blocked by Dragunov, who dropped him with a standing uranage. That wasn’t enough to end this Open Challenge. Dragunov tried to jump at Frazer, but found himself flying over the top rope. A missed senton by Dragunov allowed for Frazer to land a frog splash, but that only got a near-fall as we took a second break in the action.
Action resumed with Dragunov attempting a powerbomb, but Frazer managed to stun him with a kick. On the top rope, Frazer had Dragunov set up for a Frankensteiner. After a struggle, Frazer nailed it as he had Dragunov on the backfoot with a dropkick outside the ring. He then took off from the top with a Phoenix Splash. One, two…. Dragunov barely kicked out!
After he battered Dragunov with punches, Frazer tried to go to the top rope again. The U.S. Champion chopped at Frazer’s knee, which let him connect with a middle rope suplex. Frazer miraculously kicked out at two after that high-risk move. This war of attrition ended with Dragunov finishing Frazer off with a powerbomb, followed by the H-Bomb for the three.
Post-match, after Dragunov showed respect for Frazer’s effort, Tommasso Ciampa attacked the defeated challenger outside the ring. Axiom and Johnny Gargano made their way down to the ring as a brawl erupted between the teams.
Ilja Dragunov def. Nathan Frazer via pinfall to retain the United States Championship
A fantastic Open Challenge match as Frazer got his time to shine and looked incredibly strong in defeat.
*********
– Backstage, as Fraxiom and #DIY were brawling, Dragunov was confronted by Tama Tonga, who did his signature “yeah yeah yeah” taunt while he had the U.S. Title in hand.
Kit Wilson vs. Carmelo Hayes
Wilson got the advantage early with a flying elbow to Hayes, as he pulled at his head and then stomped on the back of the head. Wilson hit a swingng DDT.
Hayes fought back with a chop followed by a hurricanrana. Wilson retreated from the ring, but got dropped by a vaulting press from Hayes. Outside the ring, The Miz threw Hayes into the ringpost with the ref distracted. This allowed Wilson a temporary advantage, but Hayes won out with the First 48.
Post-match, The Miz snuck up on Hayes and delivered a Skull-Crushing Finale.
Carmelo Hayes def. Kit Wilson via pinfall
Nothing really to write home about in terms of a match, and this Miz/Hayes feud is alright, I suppose.
**********
– Sami Zayn asked to have the Motor City Machine Guns’ back, but Nick Aldis told him to stand down. Cody Rhodes showed up and had some friendly words with Zayn before Mr. Aldis asked Rhodes bluntly if he had something to do with the attack on Jacob Fatu two weeks ago. Rhodes denied it, and was then asked by Aldis if he read the contract for the Saturday Night’s Main Event match.
Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss
Jax took a cheap shot at Bliss while she was conversing with Flair to start off the match. Jax crushed Bliss in the corner as she held the upper hand to start off here. Jax missed on an elbow, which gave Bliss an openingS
Bliss got caught and thrown into the ringpost by Jax. A missed running hip charge across the apron caused Jax to crash into the ringpost. However, outside the ring, Jax took control once again by tossing Bliss into the barricade. This took us into commercial.
The match continued from the break as Bliss dodged a running hip strike in the corner. Bliss chopped away at Jax’s leg and kept her grounded with a kick to the head. Jax ran into the steel post again, which stunned her. Bliss headed up to the top rope, but was caught for the Samoan Drop by Jax for the near-fall.
Bliss was dragged into the corner as she was in the drop zone for the Annihilator, but Charlotte Flair got on the apron and created a distraction, this let Bliss drop Jax with a kick and pick up the win.
Alexa Bliss def. Nia Jax via pinfall
Just a standard underdog vs. giant match as Bliss got the win with the help of her tag partner.
**********
– Rey Fenix challenged Solo Sikoa to a match. Instead, Sikoa offered Talla Tonga to face him next week instead. Fenix slapped Talla in the face afterwards.
– The WrestleMania 42 teaser was shown.
– Damian Priest said that Aleister Black will feel his punishment soon enough.
Saturday Night’s Main Event Card:
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
- Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta vs. Rusev
- World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso
- WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
The M.F.T.s (JC Mateo & Tama Tonga) (w/ Talla Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Solo Sikoa) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)
The Machine Guns had the upper hand early with a double team assault that kept Mateo and Tama on their toes heading into the commercial break.
We returned from the break as Tama held Shelley in a resthold as the MFTs held the advantage now. Shelley escaped with a Flatliner to the middle turnbuckle to Mateo, which allowed him to tag Sabin in.
Sabin was a force as he held his own against Mateo and Tonga. Shelley had the clear for the suicide dive. A Solo Sikoa distraction allowed Tanga Loa to dump Shelley from the top rope, followed by the not-so-hidden blade of Tama Tonga’s Cutthroat for the MFT victory.
Sikoa had the MFTs attack the Machine Guns after the match, as Rey Fenix and Shinsuke Nakamura tried to make the save, but fell victim to the MFTs’ numbers game.
The MFTs def. Motor City Machine Guns via pinfall
Standard tag match followed by a standard beatdown by the “Bloodline with a new hat” afterwards. Not much home to write about.
*********
Next Week on SmackDown
- Talla Tonga vs. Rey Fenix
- Ilja Dragunov’s U.S. Title Open Challenge
- Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax
Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre contract signing
Nick Aldis introduced Rhodes first to the ring. Once Rhodes entered, he took the microphone as he wished Salt Lake City a Happy Halloween. Aldis then introduced Rhodes’ Saturday Night’s Main Event opponent, Drew McIntyre. Once both men were in the ring, Mr. Aldis asked them to sign the contract.
McIntyre refused to do so, while Rhodes did so without question. The Scotsman said he would not sign such a “lopsided” contract as he complained that if he were to be disqualified or counted out, Rhodes would keep the title.
Aldis stated that he had enough of McIntyre’s whining as there were many others in the back that would gladly do it. As McIntyre walked out, Rhodes called him out and said that maybe McIntyre wants it where if he were to be counted out or disqualified, the title will change hands.
Despite Aldis’ protestations, he agreed the new terms. McIntyre again boasted about how he was the “real” American Dream as opposed to Rhodes. The Undisputed WWE Champion admitted that McIntyre may have created the blueprint that many followed. Rhodes said where he and McIntyre differ was when he was fed up with WWE, while Drew got fired. “Nice guys used to finish last, ‘til I showed up,” said Rhodes.
McIntyre again whined and riled up Rhodes by invoking his daughter’s name. In the chaos, Rhodes was again blasted by a Claymore from the Scotsman. McIntyre then powerbombed him through the table. McIntyre talked trash some more as the Levesque & Fitting producer credits ended the night.
*********
A fine enough contract segment to end a rathee weak SNME go-home show. McIntyre standing tall does not bode well for his chances of winning.
The rest of the show was just there, but seek out the Dragunov vs. Axiom Open Challenge match. That was my highlight of the night.
WWE SmackDown recapper. Former NXT PLE/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/fill-in recapper.