WWE SmackDown live results: Night of Champions fallout
A wild Night of Champions main event last Saturday saw Sami Zayn pull off a miracle and become Undisputed WWE Champion after beating both Cody Rhodes and Gunther to do so.
Tonight on SmackDown, Zayn makes his return as a world champion.
Also tonight, Rey Fenix defends the AAA Cruiserweight title against El Hijo del Vikingo, Brie Bella takes on Lainey Reid in singles competition, and Chelsea Green teams with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton against the team of Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin.
The lineup for tonight’s show includes:
- Sami Zayn returns to SmackDown the new Undisputed WWE Champion
- Charlotte Flair, Tiffany Stratton and Chelsea Green combine to take on Jade Cargill, B-Fab and Michin
- Rey Fenix defends the AAA Cruiserweight Title against El Hijo del Vikingo
- Brie Bella takes on Lainey Reid
Tonight’s episode of SmackDown was taped on Monday at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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– Our night kicked off with a recap of the Night of Champions main event that saw Sami Zayn win the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Sami Zayn kicks off SmackDown as Undisputed WWE Champion
The new Undisputed WWE Champion Sami Zayn opened the show, with a mix of cheers and boos, and lots and lots of pyro.
“It seems to me that a lot of folks here tonight came to ride ro die with the ‘Last Real Good Guy’,” said Zayn to begin his opening. He said he appreciated the love from the past few days, but it was funny because the people booing for the past few months turned their backs on him. Zayn said he could be petty and tell everyone of those single those people to kiss his ass… but he won’t. Because Zayn said he was a good guy. It is the same reason he is the World Champion, because he has always been the same. Zayn claimed that he won the belt the right way without being as cutthroat as people told him to be. Zayn said he could be petty to those who doubted him and tell them to again kiss his ass, but he won’t, because this was a celebration.
Zayn said that he would be forever now known as a WrestleMania main eventer, Grand Slam Champion and until the day he died, he will be forever known as a WWE Champion. And that no amount of hate or noise would take that away from him.
Cody Rhodes’ entrance music interrupted Zayn as the former Undisputed WWE Champion made his way down to to the ring, looking a bit more serious than usual. Rhodes introduced himself to Zayn, who mocked his “what do you want to talk about” starter. Rhodes said that Zayn talked about how when Cody won the world championship that he was the first to congratluate him. Rhodes then mentioned how he wanted to be the first to congratulate Zayn as the new world champion. Rhodes and Zayn shook hands, as the latter told him to stay right put. Zayn said that Rhodes wasn’t just here to be congratulate, and it had something to do with what Rhodes used to hold (i.e. the Undisputed WWE Title). Before things could escalate, Jey Uso walked down to the ring, wanting to tell Zayn that he wanted a shot at the title.
The two friends exchanged their handshakes as Jey said that he was so proud of Zayn for earning what he deserved. But, Jey said that he was out here on Bloodline business, as this was his warning shot to Zayn. Jey said he needed to bring the gold back to “The Family”.
Rhodes interrupted and said that Jey was out here running errands for Roman Reigns. Zayn said that Rhodes had his chance and now it was his time to become the WWE Champion. Zayn pointed out that the title was still “in the family” and that nobody would touch the World Title. Zayn told Rhodes and Jey to stay away from him.
Adam Pearce interrupted due to Nick Aldis being sent home after a dustup with Gunther following Night of Champions, as the acting SmackDown GM. Pearce said that we’d be doing things his way, with Zayn defending his Undisputed WWE Title this Monday on Raw. As for tonight, we’d see Jey Uso vs. Cody Rhodes with the winner facing Zayn this coming Monday.
Fun opening segment, but I’m not sure about having Cody Rhodes hovering in the world title scene once again. The potential alternative of Jey Uso facing Sami Zayn on Monday isn’t that enticing either, since it’d be more Bloodline nonsense. It’s a no-win scenario, and I’m sure I’ll have a lot more to say on this at the conclusion of the main event.
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– Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, and Tiffany Stratton had a bit of a tense argument of sorts before their six-woman tag match against the Baddies.
Charlotte Flair, Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton vs. The Baddies (Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab)
Stratton and Cargill kicked this match off with a test of strength that Cargill easily won. Stratton with a dropkick that sent Cargill to her corner as Michin tagged in. Floatover Alabama Slam was reversed by Michin as she took advantage and tagged in B-Fab. Double suplex by B-Fab and Michin as Stratton kicked out at two. Stratton escaped a move from B-Fab as Charlotte tagged in and delivered a crossbody to B-Fab. Charlotte then struck Cargill and Michin with big boots before she went to work on B-Fab with a fallaway slam. Chops to the chest by Charlotte to B-Fab as she followed with a boot to the face, followed by a cannonball to Michin on the outside. Cargill then struck Charlotte with a clothesline as we took a break.
Back from commercial as B-Fab and Michin were still in control against Charlotte with a double team. Cargill tagged in and hit the fallaway slam and kip-up on Charlotte. The showboating seemed to cost Cargill as she whiffed on a running attack to the corner. This allowed Charlotte to get away from Cargill. Double down for Charlotte and B-Fab as Chelsea Green tagged in.
Green connected with a barrage of armdrags on Michin, followed by the face slam. Rough Ryder by Green wasn’t enough as B-Fab broke the count up. Chaos unfolded with all four six women getting involved. Green leaped off the rope with a hurricanrana as she avoided Cargill’s pump-kick. Un-Pretty-Her reversed into Jaded, but that became a roll-up. B-Fab provided a distraction, which allowed Cargill to pick up the win with Jaded on the second go.
The Baddies def. Chelsea Green, Charlotte Flair, & Tiffany Stratton via pinfall
I’m still trying to wrap my head around a bit on how strongly booked the Baddies have been since their formation, but it is a testament to how WWE views Cargill in the food chain.
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– We got a recap of an altercation Gunther and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis had following Night of Champions. WWE’s official statement was that Gunther and Aldis were sent home, with the latter being sent on administrative leave pending an investigation into Saturday’s incident.
– Elsewhere, Adam Pearce was confronted by Sami Zayn, who was upset that he had to defend his Undisputed WWE Title on Monday’s Raw. Pearce said that Zayn should be honored that he’s defending his title on a great show and maybe he’d invite some SmackDown superstars to Chicago to make it a true “supershow”. After Pearce left, Zayn had a chat with Johnny Gargano, as he celebrated his win with his best buddy.
AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fenix (c) vs. El Hijo del Vikingo
Vikingo attempted a quick roll-up to start, but Fenix kicked out. Vikingo then took the champ for a ride with a hurricanrana. Fenix flexed on the middle rope as he shelled Fenix with a kick, and another one followed by the Cristiano Ronaldo “siuuuuuu” pose. Fenix responded with a crossbody from the top rope for a near-fall. Fenix mised with his spinning kick, but he made no mistake with the handspring backwards cutter for the two-count.
Fenix attempted a baseball slide, but Vikingo used the ring apron to trap him, as he then hit Fenix with a dropkick, followed by the springboard standing moonsault, which took us to the commercial break.
Back from commercial as Fenix connected with the Goodbye, Amigo kick across the ropes. Frog splash from Fenix, but Vikingo somehow kicked out at two. Fenix missed with the meteora as he was met with a kick from Vikingo afterwards. This led to a meteora from Vikingo instead. Vkingo hit an amazing hurricanarana from the corner for a near-fall. This was followed by a spinning kick that hit Fenix on the button. Vikingo went up top, but Fenix got him with the kick to the side of the head. After a scuffle, Vikingo hit an amazing poison rana from the ropes. One, two…. 2.99999999!!!!!!!! Vikingo missed with the springboard 450 splash, which gave Fenix the opening to hit his foe with the meteora into the corner, followed by M.M.B. for the one, two, three.
Rey Fenix def. El Hijo del Vikingo via pinfall to retain the AAA Cruiserweight Championship
A terrific, terrific AAA Cruiserweight Championship match. Fenix has been having these kind of matches as of late and I’ve been enjoying them immensely. Vikingo looked quite good in this one and gave as good a fight as possible. Highlight of the night thus far.
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– Giulia wanted to fight Blake Monroe, but Kiana James interrupted her. This led to Monroe ambushing Giulia from behind. As James tried to smack talk Giulia while she was down, Monroe threw her into the crates as well, clearly wanting to make a name at both Giulia and James’ expense.
– We got a recap of Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns making it official for SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Title.
– Backstage, Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu were met by Royce Keys. Jimmy said that Roman Reigns sent him and Fatu on a mission to find Solo Sikoa. Keys said that he and Fatu knew each other for fourteen years, and that made him his family as far he was concerned. Jimmy flatly told Keys “not no more” as he and Fatu left.
Trick Williams addresses his Night of Champions victory
Flanked by his good buddy Li’l Yachty, U.S. Champion Trick Williams made his way down to the ring with the crowd loudly supporting him by way of “whoop that Trick” chants.
Before Williams or Yachty could say anything, Carmelo Hayes interrupted them and marched down to the ring with a purpose. Once Hayes got into the ring, he took the mic and said it was time to get to business. Ricky Saints couldn’t get the job done, which meant that it was time to run back Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes for the U.S. Title. Williams didn’t say anything, which Hayes expected. Hayes said that Williams seemed unstoppable, because he didn’t decide him to stop him yet. Hayes declared that Williams made the U.S. Title an accessory, and it was wrong for him to do. Hayes called the U.S. Title the workhorse championship. Hayes told Williams to prove him wrong by putting that title against someone who can prove that they’re the best.
Yachty butted in and called Williams “nothing short of pure greatness”. Yachty asked the Atlantic City crowd if Hayes should get a match for the title. Yachty said that next week, Hayes has that match, but it’s not for the title. Yachty said that when things get “tricky” next week, he won’t have any excuses for why he can’t get the job done.
Williams said that with all the history he and Hayes had, he really did know him like the back of his hand. He then gave Hayes the backhanded slap, stating “mind your business when the grown folks were talking” as he and Yachty left.
Hayes didn’t take that lying down as he hit Williams with the Fosbury Flop just as the U.S. Champion and Yachty were outsidfe the ring.
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– Backstage, Danhausen was in his laboratory as Matt Cardona talked to him. Danhausen said that he had backup against the Judgment Day at Saturday Night’s Main Event as he told Cardona to try on a new experiment. Cardona did the experiment as Kit Wilson and the Miz were being electrocuted. This was Danhausen’s cue to go as the experiment continued to go off. Cardona rattled off his old Zack Ryder catchphrases at the stunned Wilson and Miz to end the segment.
Brie Bella vs. Lainey Reid
Reid tried to go for a shot early, but Brie dodged it and then went after with some strikes of her own. Reid got her with a shot to the left chin, but that only seemed to anger Brie, who went after the shoulder of her foe. Reid responded with a belly-to-back suplex to Brie. Elbow dropped was missed by Reid, who got sent to the corner by Brie. Another whip to the corner, shoulder-first for Reid by Brie.
Reid countered and attacked Brie in the corner before she lifted her up and for a superplex. Brie pushed her off the perch and then landed the missile dropkicks. The “Yes” Kicks from Brie to Reid, but Fatal Influenced caused a distraction at ringside. But, that didn’t seem to help as Brie applied the Yes Lock on Lainey. Fallon Henley tried to get invovled, but Paige got into it with Henley and Jacy Jayne. Brie Bella tried to get involved, but that opened her up for the running knee by Reid for the three.
Lainey Reid def. Brie Bella via pinfall
This was certainly a match that happened. But, I will say it’s good that Fatal Influence got to look strong here at least.
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– R-Truth and Damian Priest were backstage enjoying a hotdog contest with Fraxiom when the War Raiders interrupted. Truth said that this would be a hotdog eating contest, but it’ll actually be a title-for-title match on SmackDown.
– We got a recap of the tomfoolery between Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar that led to a Hell in a Cell match being made at SummerSlam, which meant Femi’s guaranteed title match at SummerSlam will not be happening.
– As Cody Rhodes walked down for his main event, he met with Finn Balor. Rhodes was told by Balor that one of the reasons he came to SmackDown was to face him. Balor wished him luck in getting back the title. As Rhodes left, Tama Tonga told Balor that he went to the elders for advice, which led to a Talla Tonga ambush. Tama said that he was closing the books on everything in the past, and this meant tha Balor was next.
Cody Rhodes vs. Jey Uso (Winner faces Sami Zayn for Undisputed WWE Title on 7/6 Raw)
Rhodes and Jey faced off on opposite corners before they got into a lock-up battle to start. After that ended on a stalemate, Jey went for a superkick, but that got countered into a Cross Rhodes attempt by Rhodes. Jey countered it but he got hit with an elbow to the back of the head. Rhodes went after Jey’s arm as he got deposited over the top rope. Suicide dive by Jey as we took a commercial break.
Back from commercial as Jey went for his signature punches. Rhodes responded with the drop-down right to the face. Jey’s superkick was block, which led to a Cody Cutter from Rhodes for a two-count. Samoan Drop by Jey, who apparently tweaked his ankle on the suicide dive before the break. Outside the ring, Jey’s spear was blocked by Rhodes, as the commentary table was re-arranged. Jey tripped up Rhodes to sent him slamming down. Another suicide dive attempt by Jey, but Rhodes intercepted with a right hand. Jey was sent over the barricade as Rhodes barreled into him.
As the action spilled back into the ring, both men took each other out with a clothesline as we took another commercial break.
Our main event returned just as Jey hit the Uso Splash on Rhodes, but that wasn’t enough to put the match away. Cody Cutter from Rhodes couldn’t get the job done either as “QB1” tried to hype himself up. Disaster Kick attempt was met by a superkick from Jey, followed by the Spear. One, two… NO! Jey pulled himself to his feet and headed to the top. Rhodes rolled out of harms way and hit Jey with a Spear, followed by Cross Rhodes. One, two…. 2.9999999!!!!!!! Rhodes made his way to the top rope for a high-risk move as the splash was blocked by the knees of Jey Uso. The subsequent cover couldn’t get the three, however.
Both men struggled back to their feet as they exchanged strikes. Jey applied a sleeper hold on Rhodes, as he looked for a roll-up. The sleeper hold was again locked, but Rhodes backed into a corner to block it. In the ensuing moments, Rhodes turned that into Cross Rhodes for the win and a chance to regain his Undisputed WWE Title on Raw this coming Monday.
Cody Rhodes def. Jey Uso via pinfall
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This was a pretty mediocre main event, if we’re being honest. Both guys felt like they were just going through the motions and the prospect of Cody Rhodes hovering over the World Title picture like that zit that just won’t go away doesn’t interest me in the slightest.
The likely outcome, given that we’re in Chicago, will be Cody winning and a returning CM Punk confronting him to set up their SummerSlam Title match. And that unfortunately means that Sami Zayn will be the odd man out once again, and I’m not sure if that’s really ideal.
As for tonight’ show, this felt like one of the SmackDown episodes of all time, and certainly not just because it was a taped show due to the Fourth of July weekend. Aside from Fenix vs. Vikingo, nothing really stood out for me and it made for a rather dull show, all things considered.
WWE SmackDown recapper. Former NXT PLE/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/fill-in recapper.