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Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
Welcome to the English version of Solowrestling Read more
Today we will once again enjoy a new live coverage of WWE SmackDown, which this time will be broadcast live from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. This will be the first episode of the blue brand after WWE Crown Jewel and will feature several segments and matches of interest, highlighting a one-on-one match between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre.
Additionally, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss will defend the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against ZaRuca. On the other hand, it is expected that Sami Zayn will issue a new open challenge for his United States Championship. As always, we invite you to comment on the article to give your opinion on what happens in the show.
WWE SmackDown on Netflix begins!
We see a video recap of WWE Crown Jewel and WWE Raw, where Seth Rollins was betrayed by his Vision teammates.
Nick Aldis is in charge of opening tonight's show. The SmackDown General Manager welcomes the fans before informing them that the main event of the night, the match between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre, will be for an opportunity for the WWE Undisputed Championship. With that said, Aldis introduces "The American Nightmare."
A suited Cody Rhodes makes his entrance. The champion is greeted with a great ovation. Cody heads towards the ring while greeting the fans in the front row. Fireworks resonate in the arena as Rhodes takes his position in the center of the ring. "Cody, Cody!" chants the audience. With a serious face, Rhodes recalls that Seth Rollins defeated him last weekend for the WWE Crown Jewel Championship. Now he could say that he doesn't need to face him again, but that's not how things work in this business. However, at this moment, Rollins has problems he needs to deal with. So he will take care of his own on SmackDown. Cody wonders who his next opponent will be: Drew McIntyre? The fans boo. Or maybe Jacob Fatu? "Fatu, Fatu!" chants the audience. Rhodes doesn't know who will get that opportunity. All he knows is that he will be ready for whoever his opponent is and that the road to Saturday Night's Main Event goes through San Jose. Cody raises his championship to end his promo.
We see MFT arriving at the venue. Solo Sikoa interrupts a photo session with Rey Fenix, demanding the photographer to now take pictures of him. The masked wrestler asks the Samoan to wait a bit, as he hasn't finished yet. Sikoa insists he won't wait. "What's your problem?" asks Fenix. "I don't have any problem, but you do," replies Solo. Suddenly, his men launch an assault on the Mexican, who ends up on his knees on the ground. "If I say you're done, you're done," says Solo before ordering Talla Tonga to remove the masked wrestler from his sight. Talla throws Rey against some production boxes. Several officials appear on the scene to assist Fenix and order MFT to leave the place. This brings us to the end of this brief segment.
We see Blake Monroe in the front row to witness the next match.
WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria
Charlotte and Sol start the match with an initial feeling-out phase. Both women exchange holds and kicks (with Zaria taking one on the apron). Alexa gets the tag to take down Ruca with a hurricanrana. Zaria gets the tag. Bliss manages to surprise the Australian. She blocks a Sister Abigail to respond with a chokeslam. Alexa ends up on ringside.
Zaria goes after Bliss. Zaria throws her opponent against the apron before bringing her back into the ring. Zaria covers her. 1..2..NO. Zaria throws Alexa against one of the corners, where later she applies a sleeperhold from the second rope. Zaria has to release her by order of the referee. Zaria covers a knocked-out Alexa. 1..2..NO.
Bliss hits Sol in her corner before launching herself at Zaria, on whom she unleashes a flurry of punches. The Australian quickly recovers. Zaria and Ruca team up to punish Alexa, applying two corner splashes, followed by a dropkick from Sol assisted by her partner. 1..2..NO. Alexa tries to escape from the clutches of the challengers, but Ruca prevents her from reaching her corner. Sol hits Charlotte before tagging in Zaria.
Zaria and Sol perform a double elbowdrop on Bliss. 1..2..NO. Zaria traps Alexa in a headlock. Bliss frees herself, only to fall victim to a new sleeperhold from the second rope of one of the corners. Ruca gets the tag to take down Bliss with a spinning facebuster. Zaria assists Sol to execute a splash, but Alexa moves just in time, causing the NXT North American Champion to land face-first on the mat. Bliss escapes from Zaria to tag in Flair.
Charlotte dives onto ZaRuca with a diving crossbody. "The Queen" unleashes a rain of chops on both. Charlotte takes down Zaria with a handspring clothesline before executing a superkick, followed by a suplex. Zaria tries to recover, but ends up being hit in the corner. 1..2..NO. Sol gets the tag. Ruca comes in strong, hitting both champions before taking down Charlotte with a german suplex.
Flair blocks a diving dropkick to apply a boston crab, but the NXT champion frees herself. Ruca blocks a Figure Four Lock to respond with a Sol Snatcher. 1..2..NO. Bliss interrupts the count. Zaria throws Alexa out of the ring. After that, she tries to hit her with a sliding dropkick, but the tag team champion dodges it. Alexa gets on the apron to dive onto Zaria, but she stops her in mid-air to hit her against the audience barrier.
Charlotte quickly gets off the ring to knock down Zaria with a big boot. Meanwhile, Sol performs a moonsault on Charlotte. Blake Monroe applauds Ruca, who quickly approaches her to confront her. The distraction from the Brit allows Flair to surprise Sol with a chop block. Charlotte takes Ruca back into the ring, where she applies a Figure Four Lock on her. Sol resists as much as she can. Flair adds more pressure with a Figure Eight Lock, forcing her opponent to submit.
Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss
Cody Rhodes meets Jacob Fatu backstage. "The Samoan Werewolf" welcomes him to San Jose before promising him that tonight he will "walk Drew McIntyre like a dog." "I'll show you the real me. And you'll know that Jacob Fatu is all gas and no brakes. Yaddiahmean," says the Samoan as he shakes the champion's hand. "I hope you're right," Cody replies before leaving.
Aleister Black and Zelina Vega carry out a video promo. Aleister is proud of a plan he has been carrying out for months. "The reality is that everything I've done has been calculated moves on my part," says the Dutchman, showing satisfaction for partnering with his wife. "This is not something new," says Vega. "This was always part of the plan," adds Black. "We are not the infection. We are just the mirror that reflects it," says Zelina. "Look, I'm not in favor of laying all the cards on the table, but I'll tell you something: we are what you call a necessary evil. We are the balance," states Aleister. "The poison is not toxic. It is salvation," says Vega to end the video.
The Miz talks with Nick Aldis in the General Manager's office. "I want it to be big. Big. Think big," says Mizanin. Aldis promises him that he will think about it (whatever they were talking about). They shake hands. Sami Zayn appears on the scene. Zayn asks Nick why he is not on the card for tonight's show. Aldis understands how he feels. Nick also wants Shinsuke Nakamura to have his rematch for the United States Championship after what happened last week. However, "The King of Strong Style" is not here tonight, but in Japan. Those who are here are MFT, and after what happened seven days ago, he prefers Zayn not to take risks. In addition, the faction led by Solo Sikoa is already causing problems tonight. Sami asks Aldis if he is suggesting that he hide from some thugs, because he won't. Zayn reminds him that the United States title means something to him, to the fans, and to a locker room hungry for opportunities. "Nick, I'm sorry. I'm going out there to defend this United States Championship. And anyone who wants this knows where to find me, because I'll be in the center of that ring," says Sami before leaving. The Miz remains in the office, attentive to the conversation that just took place. Nick asks if he needs anything else. "No. I'm fine. Very well," replies The Miz with a big smile on his face as he leaves the office.
Sami Zayn makes his entrance into the ring, ready for a new open challenge for the United States Championship. The Miz answers the challenge. With a microphone in hand, Mizanin addresses the champion. "I'm tired of these open challenges, treating that championship as if it were charity. I'm so...", says The Miz before being attacked from behind by Carmelo Hayes. Several officials have to intervene to restore order. At that moment...
Ilja Dragunov returns to television programming to answer Zayn's challenge!
United States Championship Match
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov
"Welcome back!" chant the fans. Sami and Dragunov shake hands as a sign of respect before starting an exchange of punches. Ilja takes down Sami with a shoulder tackle. Zayn responds in kind. Sami throws a punch at the Russian, who counters with an enzuigiri. Dragunov continues kicking the champion. Ilja applies a chop before knocking him down to the mat. Dragunov performs a senton. 1..2..NO.
The Russian continues to dominate the match. Dragunov executes a powerslam before seeking height. Sami goes after him to deliver a direct punch to the face. The Russian falls to ringside. Zayn goes after him to bring him back into the ring. The Canadian grabs him in the apron to execute a suplex towards the inside of the ring. 1..2..NO.
Zayn continues to hit the challenger. Both exchange attacks in one of the corners. Sami takes down the Russian with a flying tackle. 1..2..NO. Both men start a new exchange of attacks. Sami surprises Dragunov with a tornado DDT. Ilja avoids a Helluva Kick with a Big Boot. 1..2..NO. Dragunov catches the champion. He throws several elbows to free himself, but nothing can prevent a german suplex.
Zayn frees himself to respond with a german suplex from his own arsenal. Dragunov tries to escape, but receives a second german suplex. Ilja finally frees himself to respond with a flurry of punches and elbows, followed by a slam. 1..2..NO. Dragunov seeks a diving senton, but Sami dodges it to respond with a Michinoku Driver. 1..2..NO.
An exhausted Ilja hits Sami before seeking refuge on the apron. The champion goes after him. Both struggle, with Zayn hitting the Russian against the ropes. Champion and challenger end up on ringside. Both return before the referee's count reaches ten. Too tired to get up, Dragunov challenges Sami to hit him. Zayn kicks him in the rope area. Sami and Dragunov exchange attacks in one of the corners. Furious, the Russian unleashes a rain of chops.
Sami and Ilja go all out. Dragunov surprises the champion with a powerbomb. 1..2..NO. Both men lie on the mat. The fans go wild. Ilja and Zayn don't wait to get up to continue hitting each other. Dragunov seeks height. Sami goes after him. Both exchange attacks from the second rope. Dragunov makes him fall before diving with a diving senton. 1..2..NO.
The action moves to the nearby corner. Dragunov and Zayn exchange attacks. The Russian executes a superplex before diving with an H-Bomb, but Sami stops it with a kick. Dragunov dodges a Helluva Kick to respond with a Fisherman's suplex. 1..2..NO. The action continues. Ilja takes down Sami with a knee strike. 1..2..NO.
The action doesn't stop. Dragunov surprises Sami with a discus clothesline. Sami stops a Torpedo with a big boot to respond with a Blue Thunder Bomb. 1..2..NO. Sami prepares for the Helluva Kick when the fans start booing. Sami realizes that Solo Sikoa is on the entrance ramp. After observing the scene for a few seconds, Sikoa decides to return backstage.
Ilja tries to surprise Zayn, but he stops him to execute an Exploder Suplex. The Russian lands against one of the corners. Sami runs to the opposite corner to prepare for his final attack. The Canadian is about to execute a Helluva Kick, but Dragunov stops it with a Torpedo. An H-Bomb puts an end to all resistance from Zayn. 1..2..3.
Winner and NEW United States Champion: ILJA DRAGUNOV
Dragunov poses with the title in one of the corners as fireworks resonate in the arena. Ilja approaches Sami, at which point both are attacked by MFT. Exhausted and outnumbered, they can do nothing against the faction led by Sikoa. Rey Fenix runs to the ring to help Sami and Ilja, but soon becomes another victim of the attackers. Sikoa enters the ring with a microphone in hand. "Have you forgotten? Then let me remind you: MFT rules SmackDown. They will regain everything my family has lost, and I will make MFT champions again," says Solo. Suddenly, the lights in the arena go out.
Bo Dallas appears on the stadium screen to deliver a message to MFT. "Seek and you shall find. Knock on the door and it shall be opened. But... are you ready for what awaits on the other side?" asks Dallas before laughing. Suddenly, the rest of The Wyatt Sicks appear on the apron. Both factions stare each other down. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan enter the ring to confront MFT. After a few seconds, Sikoa retreats with his men. And thus, we reach the end of this segment.
We see a highlight video of the match between Tiffany Stratton and Stephanie Vaquer at WWE Crown Jewel.
Cathy Kelley interviews Tiffany Stratton backstage. The WWE Women's Champion is disappointed by her loss in Australia, but now she must focus on what's next. Kiana James appears on the scene to mock Tiffany. James claims she always knew Stratton didn't have what it takes to be victorious at WWE Crown Jewel. And that's why she only represents real winners like Giulia. Tiffany believes Kiana represents women who can get the job done because she herself can’t cut it in the ring. James insists that’s not true. "Then prove it. Face me next week," says Tiffany. "It'll be my pleasure," replies James before walking away.
We see a pre-taped segment. In it, Motor City Machine Guns cut a backstage promo. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley recall that it's been a year since they joined WWE, and that they became Tag Team Champions just two weeks after their debut. What better way to celebrate than by winning the gold again? Los Garza show up to mock them. Angel and Berto say Sabin and Shelley landed in the company like a Ferrari. However, now they look more like their grandfather’s lawnmower. Alex and Chris recall that their first opponents in WWE were Los Garza — whom they beat — so they propose doing it again tonight, as if it were an annual tradition. The Mexicans accept without hesitation, hoping they’ll enjoy their gift.
Tag Team Match
Los Garza (Berto and Angel) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
Angel and Alex start the match. Berto distracts Shelley, allowing his cousin to surprise his opponent. Alex quickly turns things around, teaming up with Sabin, first sending Angel out of the ring with a diving dropkick and then taking care of Berto with a knee strike. Chris dives onto both of them with a suicide dive.
Sabin brings Angel back into the ring. However, as he tries to return, Berto grabs his leg. Angel takes advantage to kick Sabin in the face. "Happy anniversary!" shouts Angel as he unleashes a flurry of punches on his opponent. Los Garza continue to dominate the match.
Berto hits Shelley at ringside before bringing him back into the ring. Berto kicks his opponent over and over, forcing the referee to intervene. Berto and Alex struggle near the ropes. Angel and Berto kick Shelley simultaneously with a double team attack inside and outside the ring. Angel smashes his opponent’s face before unleashing a barrage of punches.
Angel hits a Penalty Kick on Alex. 1..2..NO. Angel locks his opponent in a submission hold. Shelley breaks free, only to eat a dropkick. Angel punishes Alex in the ropes area. The referee steps in to separate the Mexican from his opponent. Berto takes advantage and kicks Shelley. Angel locks him in a Leglock.
Angel tries to hit Chris, but he steps out of the ring to avoid it. Angel goes back for Alex, but gets caught with a neckbreaker. Shelley escapes Berto and tags in Sabin, who comes in with full force. Chris and Alex team up against Berto. Angel returns to knock Shelley down, but quickly gets hit with a superkick from Sabin. Berto surprises Chris with a one-handed sit-out powerbomb. 1..2..NO.
Los Garza double team Sabin, and Berto brings him down with a facebuster. 1..2..NO. Shelley breaks the pin. Chaos breaks out at ringside. Berto dives onto Motor City Machine Guns with a tope. Los Garza set up for their combined finisher on Alex, but Sabin stops it. Shelley and Sabin take out Berto, then finish Angel with the Skull And Bones. 1..2..3.
Winners: Motor City Machine Guns
Fraxiom (Axiom and Nathan Frazer) are talking backstage. The Europeans are trying to come up with a strategy to get back into WWE's Tag Team Championship picture. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) and Candice LeRae show up. Gargano reveals their two-month absence was intentional: they wanted to let The Street Profits fail as expected, without being blamed for it. "They showed the world exactly who we thought they were!" shouts Tommaso. Now that they're back, they see that the tag division hasn’t changed one bit. Los Garza are still losers, and The Wyatt Sicks keep running around the brand like every week is Halloween. Speaking of which, the heels wonder where they can get some masks. "Where can we find some stupid masks?" asks Gargano. "He has a stupid mask," replies LeRae, pointing at Axiom. Johnny reaches out to grab it, but the Spaniard quickly swats his hand away. "Keep your hand to yourself. You're getting on my nerves," says Axiom in Spanish. The masked man is tired of being disrespected, so he suggests they settle it in the ring. "Why don't you try it in the ring? Maybe then you'll see who's really behind this mask," he says before leaving with his partner.
Jacob Fatu's entrance music begins to play, but the wrestler doesn’t appear on the entrance ramp. Suddenly, cameras cut backstage, where we see "The Samoan Werewolf" lying on the ground with a steel structure crushing his back. Fatu spits blood and a few teeth from his mouth. Several officials rush to help the wrestler. Nick Aldis asks Fatu who attacked him, but the Samoan remains silent.
A smiling Drew McIntyre makes his way to the ring. The Scotsman grabs a mic to address the fans. Laughing, McIntyre points out that Fatu won’t be able to compete tonight. That’s why he demands the referee raise his arm and declare him the new number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The official refuses. Nick Aldis storms out, saying what happened to Jacob is serious. "I swear to God, if I find out you had anything to do with this..." says the General Manager before being cut off by the Scotsman. Drew insists he had nothing to do with it. With that said, he demands Aldis do the right thing and name him the new contender. "Give me the match right now!" he yells.
"That’s enough!" shouts Cody Rhodes as he storms the scene. "We're done with all this! Of course! You know what you did! And you think these people want to sit here and listen to you talk? They wanted a match to determine the number one contender. I think we should give them something right now. You want your title match, Drew McIntyre? Let’s do it here and now! Come and get it!" yells Rhodes. Drew leaves the ring to confront the champion. The two begin to brawl on the entrance ramp, and the fight quickly spills into the stands.
Cody takes control, hitting McIntyre and even choking him with his pocket watch. Rhodes throws Drew over the barricade and brings the fight to ringside. McIntyre recovers and starts exchanging blows with the champion. Cody brings the Scotsman into the ring, where the referee rings the bell.
Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre dodges a charge from Cody in the corner and responds with a belly-to-belly suplex. Rhodes recovers, only to fall once again to the Scotsman. Cody unleashes a flurry of punches on McIntyre, even biting his head. Drew brings the champion down with an elbow. McIntyre surprises Cody with a Future Shock DDT. 1..2..NO. McIntyre mocks the crowd before landing several chops on Rhodes.
Drew unleashes a barrage of attacks on Cody in one of the corners. Both men trade strikes. McIntyre surprises the champion with a Glasgow Kiss. Rhodes counters with a Drop Down Punch, followed by a Cody Cutter. McIntyre ends up at ringside. Rhodes attempts a suicide dive, but Drew catches him with a punch. McIntyre throws Cody over the barricade. Drew follows him, but Rhodes hits him in the face with the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Winner by disqualification: Drew McIntyre
An enraged Cody clears off the commentary table. Rhodes drags his opponent onto it, ready to hit a Cross Rhodes, but a swarm of officials rush in to stop him. Nick Aldis tries to calm Rhodes. He returns to the ring — only to launch himself with a tope onto Drew and the guards escorting him! Tension remains high as McIntyre is escorted backstage. Cody stares him down as the show comes to an end.
