Tonight we will enjoy a new live broadcast of WWE SmackDown, which this time will be recorded from the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The show will feature several attractions, including four title matches. Of note is a defense of the WWE Undisputed Championship that will see CM Punk facing Sami Zayn.
In addition, Chelsea Green will put the WWE Women's Interim Championship on the line against Nia Jax. On the other hand, Rey Fenix will defend the AAA Cruiserweight Championship against Ricky Saints, and War Raiders will do the same with the AAA Tag Team Titles against Damian Priest and R-Truth. As always, we invite you to comment on the article to give your opinion on what happened in the show.
WWE SmackDown begins on Netflix!
We see the arrival at the venue of two of tonight's protagonists: Sami Zayn and CM Punk.
Randy Orton is in charge of opening tonight's show. The Mexican audience welcomes "The Viper" with a great ovation. Fans sing the chorus of "Voices" as Orton heads to the ring. Randy poses for the fans in one of the corners before asking for a microphone. "Randy! Randy! Randy!" chants the audience. "Well, what do you want to talk about?" asks Orton. He wants to talk about Cody Rhodes, who last weekend showed the world what he already knew: that he is not a "killer", but a good man. Randy describes "The American Nightmare" as a good father, a good husband, and a good friend. "The Viper" assures that it takes a lot to end a legend. He knows it very well. Being a "Legend Killer" comes with a price, which is nothing but losing a piece of your soul, and Cody is too good to end up like that. Orton, for his part, doesn't care if others don't consider him a good person. He is who he is and he will end anyone who stands in his way to his fifteenth world championship. Randy finishes his promo by sending a direct message to CM Punk and Sami Zayn. He doesn't care who of them ends up with the championship around their waist tonight, because he will go after it. Orton throws the mic and heads back to backstage. And so we reach the end of this segment.
Nick Aldis talks with Chelsea Green backstage. The SmackDown General Manager reminds the Canadian that she must wear her protective mask at all times. Otherwise, he cannot be held responsible for what happens to her. Green assures him that she won't lose it. Chelsea thanks Aldis for everything he has done for her, especially for not forcing her to resign from the WWE Women's Interim Championship, as it means everything to her. Nick points out that she doesn't owe him anything, as she has earned it. Aldis leaves, and at that moment, Tiffany Stratton appears. Chelsea thanks her for coming tonight. Stratton assures her that she wouldn't miss her first title defense for anything in the world. Also, she will be in her corner to prevent Lash Legend from trying to intervene in the match. A smiling Green asks her to wait a moment, as she needs to make some final touches before the match. The Canadian leaves, thus ending the segment.
We see a video in tribute to the victims of the 9/11 attack.
AAA Cruiserweight World Championship Match
Rey Fenix (c) vs. Ricky Saints
Fenix surprises Ricky with a hurricanrana to start his offense. "Let's go, Fenix!" chant the fans. Saints takes down Rey with an armdrag before posing. Fenix takes advantage to surprise him with a poisonrana. 1..2..NO. Saints throws Rey out of the ring before launching himself with a converted suicide dive into a DDT. Ricky returns to the ring, ready to launch himself again, but suddenly stops in the center of the ring to pose once more, earning the boos of the audience.
Saints takes Rey back inside the ring, where he tries to take off his mask. The fans boo the heel. "The Absolute" takes the champion to ringside to continue punishing him. Ricky applies several chops to his rival next to the audience barrier before dropping him on it. Saints takes him back inside the ring to launch himself with a diving double elbow. Ricky punishes Fenix with the help of the ropes. The fans continue to boo him.
Saints applies an Old School on Rey before looking for a superplex. The champion blocks it to execute a Frankensteiner. Fenix continues to attack Ricky, to whom he applies a moonsault. 1..2..NO. Ricky seeks refuge on the apron. Rey kicks him with a Tightrope P.K. Saints falls to ringside, where he receives the impact of a new moonsault. Rey takes him back inside the ring to finish him off with a frog splash. 1..2..NO. Rey seeks height to jump on Saints, but he receives a powerbomb out of nowhere! 1..2..NO.
Ricky executes a tornado DDT on the champion. 1..2..NO. Champion and challenger struggle. Saints pushes Fenix against the referee. The Mexican stops just in time to avoid colliding with the official. Ricky takes advantage to kick the masked man. He responds with a handspring cutter. 1..2..NO. Saints seeks refuge in one of the corners. Rey goes after him to kick him. After that, he carries him on his shoulders to finish him off with a Mexican Muscle Buster. 1..2..3.
Winner and STILL AAA Cruiserweight World Champion: Rey Fenix
Rey Fenix approaches "The Absolute" to extend his hand as a sign of respect. However, Saints leaves without shaking it. The fans bid him farewell with boos.
Cathy Kelley interviews Sami Zayn backstage. The Canadian knows that the world is judging him, but everyone must know that this is not about him or the WWE Undisputed Championship. It's about justice. Sami recalls that he tried to help Kevin Owens and Johnny Gargano win the title, but it didn't work. And that's okay because it has allowed him to realize something: that he is the one who must take the belt from CM Punk. Sami addresses the camera directly to promise "The Best in the World" that tonight he will regain what belongs to him. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae appear on the scene. Zayn is glad to see his friend. Sami asks him if everything is okay for tonight. Gargano replies yes. But, just as Sami asked him last week, he also wants the Canadian to promise him that he will grant him the first title defense when he wins the championship. Sami seems to hesitate. "Sami, if you beat Punk, I'm next," insists Gargano. Zayn promises him that it will be so. Johnny and Candice leave to end the segment.
Paige vs. Nikki Bella
Paige throws herself on Bella with a Lou Thesz. The British woman unleashes a rain of attacks on Nikki. Paige executes a superkick on her rival, who ends up at ringside. Paige doesn't take long to go after her to continue hitting her. Paige throws Bella onto the Spanish commentary table before kicking her head. The British woman spits her gum on Nikki before taking her back inside the ring.
Paige kicks Bella in the ropes. Nikki seeks refuge at ringside once again. Paige approaches the ropes, at which point her opponent surprises her by grabbing her legs. Bella pulls the British woman out of the ring. Paige quickly recovers to throw Nikki against the audience barrier. Paige pushes her against the metal stairs. After that, she takes her back inside the ring.
Paige tries to crush Bella in one of the corners, but her opponent grabs the referee's arms to use her as a human shield. Paige stops to avoid colliding with the official. Nikki takes advantage of the British woman's distraction to push her against the corner and cover her with a roll-up. Bella puts her legs on the ropes to exert more pressure. The referee counts to three without noticing the trick. 1..2..3.
Winner: Nikki Bella
Nikki quickly flees to the entrance ramp as a furious Paige glares at her.
Cathy Kelley interviews Nia Jax and Lash Legend backstage. Nia points out that Chelsea Green should never have been champion. In fact, she considers her reign nothing but a farce. "I am known for boosting careers when I break someone's face, but tonight, when I break Chelsea's, I'm going to end hers," says Jax. Lash, for her part, promises to shatter Tiffany Stratton's ribs if she tries to interfere in the match. Both women leave to end the interview.
Trick Williams makes his entrance. "Whoop that Trick" chants the fans to the rhythm of "Whoop that Trick". A fan hands the United States Champion a soccer ball, which he takes with him into the ring. Trick takes the microphone to address the audience. Williams explains to viewers that the Mexican audience is chanting "Quiñones," the name of the best footballer currently in Mexico. And he finds it a fitting chant, as he is the best superstar SmackDown currently has. Trick takes the ball, which he compares to Baron Corbin's head, whom he kicked last Sunday to regain his United States Championship. To complete the metaphor, Williams kicks the ball towards the stands.
With the championship back around his waist, Trick is ready for his next goal, which is to participate in Money in the Bank. And who knows? Maybe soon he will have to change his nickname from "Tricky Two Times" to "Tricky Two Titles." However, tonight he has not come out to talk about his future but about the most recent past. Tonight he wants to introduce the fans to the man who survived five minutes in the ring with Baron Corbin: his great friend Lil Yachty. However, he does not appear on the scene. Trick imagines that the rapper wants a grand presentation, so he emphasizes it more... but Yachty still doesn't show up.
Suddenly, we see Corbin dragging the rapper's body down the entrance ramp. Furious, Trick runs towards them. Baron doesn't take long to escape. Several officials come to assist Lil Yachty. Williams is concerned about his friend, whom he helps to stand up. At that moment, Baron returns, this time armed with a kendo stick, to hit the champion's back. He and Yachty end up on the ground. "We're not done!", exclaims Corbin as he poses over his victims. The fans boo "The Lone Wolf." "Asshole! Asshole!" chants the audience. And so we reach the end of this segment.
We move to the office of Nick Aldis, where he is having a conversation with Finn Bálor. The Irishman insists that the line to challenge for the WWE Undisputed Championship starts behind him. That's why whoever comes out tonight as the WWE Undisputed Champion should defend the gold against him. Aldis understands Finn, but now they must focus on Money in the Bank. Danhausen (who is cleaning the office) intervenes upon hearing the word "money." Nick tells him that it's not what he's imagining. Danhausen continues with his tasks. Gunther appears on the scene. Aldis reprimands him for interrupting him again. Gunther doesn't think Nick should waste time with a man who is no longer at his best. In fact, if he had a bit of common sense, he would have retired by now. Still, he has no problem giving him a beating to make him understand. Gunther leaves. Nick apologizes to Finn. He downplays it, as Gunther is nothing but a "whiny bitch." Furious, Gunther reappears to grab Bálor by the shirt. The Irishman responds with a punch that knocks down "The Ring General." Aldis and Finn leave the office. A pained Gunther stands up. Danhausen approaches the Austrian with the intention of putting a hand on his shoulder, but soon changes his mind after remembering what happened last week. Danhausen disappears again as Gunther mutters.
Match for the WWE Women's Interim Championship
Chelsea Green (c) (with Tiffany Stratton) vs. Nia Jax (with Lash Legend)
Green surprises Nia with a dropkick. Green throws the challenger out of the ring before launching herself with a suicide dive, but Jax stops her in mid-air. Nia throws Chelsea onto the Spanish commentary table, where she hits her again. Jax takes the champion back inside the ring to continue her offense. "Let's go, Chelsea!" chant the fans. Green surprises Nia with an enzuigiri before applying a Missile Dropkick. Jax ends up at ringside. Chelsea stands on the apron. From that position, she prepares to kick her opponent. However, she stops the kick to make her fall.
Nia throws Chelsea against the audience barrier. Jax takes Green back inside the ring, where she applies an uranage, followed by a senton. 1..2..NO. Nia traps her rival in a submission hold. "Chelsea! Chelsea!" chant the fans. Jax takes Green to one of the corners to strangle her from the second rope. Chelsea kicks her opponent before throwing her to the mat. Green knocks down Nia with a hurricanrana before kicking her in the ropes. Jax stops a stomp from the champion to apply a samoan drop. 1..2..NO.
Nia takes off Chelsea's protective mask before throwing her out of the ring. Jax distracts the referee so that Lash can play her part. Legend throws a punch at the champion. Tiffany intervenes just in time by pushing her partner aside to receive the attack instead. Green pushes Lash against one of the posts before returning to the ring, where she is crushed with a corner splash.
Green dodges the impact of an Annihilator to recover her mask. Nia approaches the Canadian, but she surprises the challenger with a Rope Guillotine. Chelsea puts on her mask before seeking height in one of the corners. Jax goes after her opponent. She surprises the challenger with a headbutt before finishing her off with an Unprettier. 1..2..3.
Winner and STILL WWE Women's Interim Champion: Chelsea Green
Tiffany applauds Chelsea from ringside while her partner celebrates in the center of the ring her first successful title defense as WWE Interim Champion.
Cathy Kelley interviews CM Punk backstage. "The Best in the World" points out that sometimes bad behaviors must be punished. That's why tonight he will have to teach Sami Zayn a lesson. CM Punk knows that there are many men behind his championship, but Zayn won't be the one to take it from him. CM Punk assures that he didn't come to Mexico to lose the gold but to beat Sami. Thus, he won't be able to make excuses anymore. CM Punk addresses the Canadian directly to promise him that tonight he will understand why he is "The Best in the World."
Match for the AAA Tag Team Championships
War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) (c) vs. R-Truth and Damian Priest
War Raiders attack the challengers as soon as the bell rings. Erik lifts Ivar to crush R-Truth in their own corner. Erik gets rid of Damian at ringside, allowing Ivar to crush R-Truth once again, this time with a diving splash. 1..2..NO. War Raiders continue punishing R-Truth, this time in the champions' corner. R-Truth escapes from Ivar and Erik to tag in Priest.
Damian unleashes a barrage of punches on Ivar. Erik returns, only to fall into Priest's grasp. He continues attacking the champions. Damian throws Erik out of the ring before hitting a Flatliner on Ivar. 1..2..NO. Priest tries to hit a fully loaded clothesline on Ivar, but Erik gets his partner to safety at ringside. Priest gets out of the ring. The Puerto Rican uses the steel steps as a springboard to dive onto the champions.
Priest takes Ivar back inside the ring. Erik grabs Damian's leg to prevent him from getting back into the ring. Ivar takes advantage to strike the Puerto Rican, who ends up lying on the floor. Erik catches Ivar to hit a powerslam onto Damian. War Raiders take Priest back inside the ring to continue punishing him. Ivar strikes R-Truth in his own corner to prevent him from receiving the tag. Damian kicks Ivar before sending him crashing to the mat with a Frankesteiner. R-Truth receives the tag.
R-Truth emulates John Cena to perform his classic combination on Erik, finishing with a Five Knucke Shuffle. Erik tags in Ivar, who ends up in R-Truth's grasp. He lifts him onto his shoulders to hit an Attitude Adjustment. 1..2..NO. Erik breaks up the count with a knee strike. Damian returns, only to fall victim to a combined attack from the champions. R-Truth receives a spinning kick from Ivar. Finally. War Raiders hit their combined finisher on R-Truth. Erik covers him. 1..2..3.
Winners and STILL AAA Tag Team Champions: War Raiders
Damian approaches a hurting R-Truth to help him back to his feet. The two embrace in the center of the ring. Priest asks a production crew member to hand him the Mexican hat R-Truth was wearing during his entrance. R-Truth puts the hat on to celebrate with Damian and the fans, when suddenly... Priest hits a clothesline on R-Truth! The fans boo the Puerto Rican. Damian finishes him with a South of Heaven. "¡Culero! ¡Culero!", the crowd chants. Priest leaves the ring to bring the segment to an end.
Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair talk backstage. Alexa tells her partner that they still have a lot to work on. Flair disagrees with her. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) appear on the scene to mock them for their loss at Sunday Night's Main Event. Charlotte steps toward Jacy to ask if they have a problem with them. Jayne points out that they will when Fatal Influence has the Money in the Bank briefcase in their possession. Tatum Paxley appears on the scene. Paxley apologizes for being late before reminding Jayne that she and Charlotte defeated her teammates last week. That's why they should hold on tight to their tag team championships if they don't want to lose them. Jacy tells her teammates that it's time to leave, pointing out that Tatum is Flair and Bliss' problem. Paxley approaches Charlotte to apologize for the loss last weekend. Flair assures her that she trusts both her and Alexa, but hopes what happened last Sunday was just a rookie mistake. With that, Charlotte leaves. Tatum tries to follow her, but Alexa asks her to stop. Bliss assures her that Charlotte will be fine and that she just needs a little time. And with that, the segment comes to an end.
Cathy Kelley interviews Rey Fenix backstage. The Mexican is excited about this big week in his homeland. He will defend the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship at Triplemanía 34. Meanwhile, his brother Penta will defeat Roman Reigns to become World Heavyweight Champion. Ricky Saints interrupts the interview. "The Absolute" just wants to apologize for his behavior tonight, claiming that he hates losing. Ricky extends his hand toward the masked man, acknowledging that he was the better man tonight. Rey shakes Saints' hand, who then leaves the area. Fenix prepares to continue the interview, when suddenly Ricky attacks him from behind! "The Absolute" throws the Mexican into a shutter. Ricky crouches beside his victim. "¡But tonight, I was the better man!", Saints exclaims before leaving.
WWE Undisputed Championship Match
CM Punk (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Both men begin exchanging punches. Sami seeks refuge at ringside, where he quickly takes the impact of a suicide dive. CM Punk sends him back inside the ring. Zayn waits for CM Punk to go underneath the rope before kicking him repeatedly. Sami hits several corner spears on the champion in one of the corners. CM Punk responds with a chop before hitting him with a suplex. CM Punk throws Zayn into one of the corners.
Sami surprises CM Punk and sends him crashing into one of the corners. He then takes him down with a clothesline. "¡Sami, Sami, chíngate a tu madre!", the fans chant. The Canadian continues attacking CM Punk in one of the corners. CM Punk breaks free to hit two consecutive Electric Chair moves on the challenger, finishing him with a neckbreaker. CM Punk pushes Zayn into the ropes to hit him with a knee on the rebound, but the champion hurts himself on the move.
CM Punk seeks refuge at ringside, where he grabs his left knee. The referee is concerned about "The Best in the World's" condition. Sami takes advantage of the situation to surprise him with a chop block from ringside. Zayn drives the champion's injured knee into one of the ring posts. Sami pulls down CM Punk's kneepad to throw punches at the injured area. The referee reprimands the Canadian, who quickly gets in the official's face.
CM Punk recovers and takes Sami down. "The Best in the World" gets his revenge by targeting Zayn's left hand, the same hand he has been dealing with an injury to over the past few weeks. CM Punk tries to remove the protection from that hand. Zayn blocks a GTS and responds with a Figure Four Leglock. CM Punk screams in pain. CM Punk rolls across the mat toward the ropes, forcing his opponent to release him.
Both men exchange attacks targeting their opponent's injured limbs. Sami confronts CM Punk, daring him to keep attacking him. CM Punk responds with a kick straight to the face. Both men are left lying on the mat. CM Punk climbs one of the turnbuckles, ready to launch himself with a diving elbowdrop. However, Sami strikes his legs, throwing him off balance. Zayn executes a superplex on CM Punk. Once again, champion and challenger end up lying on the mat. "¡This is wrestling!", the fans chant.
The action moves toward one of the corners. Sami pushes CM Punk into the referee. CM Punk stops just in time, allowing Sami to surprise him with a Blue Thunder Bomb. 1..2..NO. Zayn hits CM Punk with an Exploder Suplex. Zayn tries to finish him with a Helluva Kick, but the champion stops him with a clothesline. CM Punk finishes him with a GTS. 1..2..NO. At that moment...
¡Johnny Gargano appears on the scene to distract CM Punk!
Sami takes advantage of the situation to surprise the champion with a roll-up. 1..2..NO. Zayn traps CM Punk in a Figure Four Leglock. CM Punk grabs Sami's injured hand, forcing him to release his hold. CM Punk immediately traps him in an Anaconda Vise. Sami can no longer withstand the pain and taps out... but the referee is distracted arguing with Candice LeRae on one side of the ring.
Johnny enters the ring with the WWE Undisputed Championship in his hands. CM Punk prevents Gargano from attacking him. Instead, Johnny takes a GTS. The referee notices Gargano's presence and tries to get him out of the ring. Meanwhile, Sami crawls toward the championship. ¡Kevin Owens appears out of nowhere to stop him!
With the title belt in his possession, Owens is about to strike Sami in the head, but Sami ducks, causing the metal to strike "The Best in the World" instead. Kevin flashes a slight smile before going after his initial target once again, namely Zayn, but Zayn surprises him with a low blow. Sami throws the championship out of the ring before finishing CM Punk with a Helluva Kick. 1..2..3.
Winner and NEW WWE Undisputed Champion: SAMI ZAYN
Zayn poses with the championship on the entrance ramp as fireworks accompany the moment. And with that, this week's episode comes to an end.
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