Tag: Triple H

WWE SmackDown results 02/09/24: Triple H lays down the law, McIntyre, Orton win Chamber spots

WWE SmackDown confirmed that the Elimination Chamber winner will face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania.

Sometimes it’s been a whole week since we have something important to discuss going into a new episode of WWE SmackDown. Other times it’s been just the four days since Raw. And every once in a blue moon, like for tonight’s edition from Charlotte, it’s been just 24 hours.

The WrestleMania XL Kickoff event (which didn’t really turn out to be a press conference) was … kind of bats–t crazy, no? WWE pivoted from The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania to Cody Rhodes vs. Roman, but not without some entertaining, confusing and even awkward (The Rock’s family tree reveal) moments along the way.

Here’s what we know for now: Thanks to Triple H taking to social media afterward, necessary because the end of the show itself didn’t make it clear, we know Cody vs. Roman is official for Philadelphia. That still leaves The Rock, now apparently rolling with The Bloodline, without a defined role at the Showcase of the Immortals.

The same is true for Seth Rollins, who was something of a bystander Thursday night and was in turns amused and furious (which honestly could have summed up the reactions of some fans as well). And Drew McIntyre is still lurking on the outside of this whole picture, making amazing memes and social media posts.

Amidst all this is tonight’s SmackDown, which doesn’t figure to feature any of the the most important players in this drama. Rock and Reigns are still out on the town together for all we know, and Rollins and Rhodes are on Raw. But Triple H is scheduled to appear in Charlotte, and perhaps he’ll lay out more of a map to this whole situation.

Or maybe not. There should be some good wrestling as well, including a tag team title contenders match. Off we go.

WWE SmackDown results from Charlotte:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • As you might expect, the show begins with a highlight package from WrestleMania XL Kickoff in Las Vegas
  • Triple H addresses Kickoff confusion, and the GMs tell us about the Elimination Chamber qualifiers
  • Drew McIntyre cuts a promo before his qualifying match, taking some credit for “saving WrestleMania” and saying he’ll save the world title too
  • Drew McIntyre def. AJ Styles in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match, getting some accidental help from LA Knight in the process
  • Kayla Braxton talks to Sami Zayn about his qualifier against Randy Orton, and he correctly says he can’t worry about his WrestleMania window closing, and if he has any path, he’ll take it
  • NASCAR Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney paid a visit to the arena earlier today
  • Pretty Deadly are still mad at Pete Dunne but not enough to stop them from a healthy “Yes Boy!”
  • Bianca Belair def. Michin by pinfall in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match
  • Bron Breakker asks Triple H for advice on which brand he should join, but The Game is less excited to see Paul Heyman, who says he’ll be back next week with Roman Reigns … and The Rock
  • Bayley discusses the end of Damage CTRL with Dakota Kai, who apparently chooses friendship with Bayley over IYO SKY and the Kabuki Warriors
  • Randy Orton talks about missing WrestleMania last year and how it taught him patience, but now he’ll have to go through the Elimination Chamber to make the big show
  • Bobby Lashley, the Street Profits and B-Fab are ready for Lashley to beat Bronson Reed Monday to make the Elimination Chamber
  • Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate def. #DIY by pinfall, earning a shot at The Judgment Day’s tag team titles at Elimination Chamber
  • Dominik Mysterio brags about how The Judgment Day will keep rolling, and he isn’t worried about his Elimination Chamber qualifying opponent … until he finds out it’s Kevin Owens; R-Truth also shows up and confuses KO for The Miz as the fans chant for Truth
  • Logan Paul is upset that he has to go through an Elimination Chamber qualifier and even less happy when Aldis tells him his opponent will be The Miz
  • Randy Orton def. Sami Zayn by pinfall in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match
  • As the show ends, Drew McIntyre joins Orton in the ring for a staredown

Triple H makes it clear who’s calling the WrestleMania shots

Raw GM Adam Pearce and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis accompany the CCO to the ring, where the fans greet him with some hearty cheers. Also, there’s a big Rock head sign in the crowd like we were back in the Attitude Era.

Triple H says somewhere last night, we took a hard left turn and now the Road to WrestleMania is on fire. He wants to clear up one thing, he says before a pretty loud “Rocky sucks” chant breaks out.

Oh, now it’s a couple of things he wants to clear up. “Maybe some people don’t know their role,” he says, saying the answers come from only one person, and you’re looking at him.

Roman Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes. Hence the graphics, right?

Triple H says some people “back there” might be disappointed, but “it doesn’t matter if you don’t like that decision.” Shots at The Rock, indeed.

Aldis says the next order of business is to find a challenger for Seth Rollins, which will be done in the Elimination Chamber, and that begins with qualifying matches tonight. He hands things over to Pearce, who refers to a graphic showing all 12 men who will compete in said qualifiers: Randy Orton, Bronson Reed, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul, AJ Styles, The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Ivar, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Dominik Mysterio and LA Knight.

And those qualifying matches kick off right now.

LA Knight accidentally helps Drew McIntyre qualify for the Elimination Chamber

LA Knight joins the announcers for this match, much to the delight of Wade Barrett, who threatens to jump out of his underpants because of it. Really.

The Megastar has a great seat to see Drew catch AJ coming off the top rope and suplex him back overhead. Styles is back in wrestling trunks, though still black, instead of the work pants he’s been sporting as of late.

The Phenomenal One works on taking out his foe’s legs, which is smarter than standing toe to toe with him. That doesn’t save him from being hurled into the timekeeper’s area, alas.

After commercials, Styles is faring better, but that’s relative against the Scottish Warrior. AJ does do a nice job countering a White Noise attempt from the middle turnbuckle to hit a powerbomb for a near fall.

McIntyre is selling damage to his knee but still lines up for a Claymore, which Styles ducks. AJ grabs the Calf Crusher but sees Drew crawl quickly to the ropes for a break.

A big right hand sends Styles from the top rope to the floor. He’s also launched over the announce table, barely missing Knight, who pours some water on AJ. Drew shoves the two men into each other, knocking the Megastar down.

Styles looks like he has McIntyre beaten with an inside cradle, but the ref is distracted by Knight on the apron. Of course, McIntyre benefits, as he connects on a Claymore to win it.

Bayley and Dakota Kai might still be OK

The fans cheer for Bayley as she enters the ring, which she says makes her feel better about coming out there. She says she’s been in denial about what happened with Damage CTRL and thought maybe some people thought she had it coming.

The group meant everything to her, with Bayley noting that she put it before herself many times, but the group just kept taking from her. The Role Model knows they were always talking about her behind her back, and she’s not stupid.

Out comes Dakota Kai, who says she didn’t know what was going down last week, and when Bayley expresses her skepticism, Kai claims she always agreed with what Bayley created. Kai says IYO SKY did too until the Kabuki Warriors arrived.

Bayley understandably wonders why Dakota didn’t say something, but Kai says she misses the days when it was only three of them. Dakota insists she was quiet because Bayley’s plan was working, and that the situation with Asuka and Kairi Sane would blow over, but it didn’t.

OK, so where does Dakota stand now? She doesn’t get to answer before SKY and the Kabuki Warriors head to the ring. Kai leaves to get a chair, looking like she might use it on Bayley before instead sending the other three running.

The fans want them to hug it out, but they just stand there anxiously instead, though Bayley cracks a smile at the end.

Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate get by #DIY, earn tag team title shot

Johnny Gargano and Bate smile at each other as they get off to an even start, and Dunne and Ciampa are roughly the same with less smiles. Dunne gets thrown into the announce table and Johnny takes flight to take out his partner as commercials arrive.

DIY has caught fire during the break, with Ciampa running side to side dishing out offense and nailing Bate with an inverted DDT for a near fall. All four men get into the flow, with Dunne getting dumped outside and the other three men all ending up down.

Bate lives up to his Big Strong Boy moniker by hoisting Gargano into a fireman’s carry while sending Gargano for a giant swing. Johnny ends up fighting one on two, but Ciampa returns just in time to nail Bate with a big knee. Project Ciampa is next, but Bate kicks out at two.

Neither Bate nor Ciampa flinch while trading blows, but Tyler ends up in the middle of the ring. Dunne pops back up to snap Ciampa’s fingers and Bate manages to hit DIY with a double clothesline.

Bate takes flight to the floor to take out Ciampa, leaving Dunne to hit the Bitter End on Gargano to win it.

Randy Orton punches his Elimination Chamber ticket by defeating Sami Zayn

Orton opens up with a shoulder tackle before grabbing a side headlock. Zayn sends him to the outside, then manages to acrobatically slam on the breaks when he sees the Viper walking away.

Orton cautiously returns to the ring, backing Zayn into the corner for some mounted punches. The two men go back and forth with more of the same until one final right hand sends Sami to the floor.

An Irish whip into the barricade manages to be just a setup for a Sami moonsault, but his next move is a suicide dive that his foe sees coming. They battle by the announce table, where Sami drops Randy hard on his back.

Zayn still has the upper hand after an ad break, connecting on a DDT for a two count. The announcers think Orton hasn’t looked the same since his table bump.

They fight to the middle rope for a huge superplex by Orton, and even he’s a bit slow to pop back up. Zayn tries to capitalize, backing him into the corner but getting nailed by clotheslines and driven down with a snap powerslam.

Orton wants the hanging DDT but gets chucked outside, where Zayn finds him with a suicide dive. This time, however, it’s Sami who get back dropped on the announce table.

An elevated DDT has Orton coiled, but Zayn nearly steals a win with a schoolboy, then gets another two count with a Blue Thunder Bomb. After getting whipped into the ropes, Orton manages to execute the RKO, and that is enough to win it.

WWE SmackDown preview 02/09/24: Triple H talks Kickoff fallout, #DIY or Dunne and Bate?

We’ll also hear form Bayley and see Bianca Belair vs. Michin in an Elimination Chamber Qualifier on WWE SmackDown from Charlotte.

There’s never a dull moment on the Road to WrestleMania, but this particular thoroughfare appears to be more winding than ever as we approach WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. While there’s usually just an episode of Raw to follow up on each week, tonight’s WWE SmackDown in Charlotte also has to follow up the wild WrestleMania XL Kickoff event last night in Las Vegas.

Speaking of which …

Will Triple H provide more WrestleMania clarity?

When the Kickoff went off the air Thursday night, it wasn’t 100% clear if Cody Rhodes’ challenge to Roman Reigns was set in stone. Triple H went to social media afterward and made it official: It will be Rhodes vs. Reigns II in Philly.

But there were other people involved in the Kickoff, including a couple who cursed out Triple H and/or others. We’re talking about The Rock, who seemed to end up siding with Reigns, and Seth Rollins, who was left without a challenger for his World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H is scheduled to be on tonight’s show, and we can’t help but wonder if he’ll sort through some of the confusion left over from last night.

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Who will emerge to challenge The Judgment Day?

Damian Priest and Finn Balor are waiting to see who will try to take their tag team titles away at Elimination Chamber, and we’re down to just two candidates. #DIY will take on Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate in Charlotte to see who gets a championship opportunity Down Under.

A case could be made for either team: Both are fan favorite duos who would play well off The Judgment Day, and both have momentum heading into tonight. The guess here is that it’s #DIY who emerges from this, but we wouldn’t be shocked either way.

What will Bayley say about her former teammates in Damage CTRL?

Jealousy can be a powerful thing, and it doesn’t always manifest itself in the expected manner. To wit: It looked like Bayley might be too jealous of IYO SKY holding a championship to coexist, when all along it was SKY who resented Bayley leading Damage CTRL and was making moves to have her overthrown.

The Role Model can get the ultimate revenge by defeating SKY at WrestleMania, but before she gets there, she’ll get a chance to talk tonight on SmackDown. Perhaps she’ll answer a question about the fate of Dakota Kai as well.

Also scheduled for tonight’s SmackDown:

  • Bianca Belair goes one-on-one with Michin in an Elimination Chamber Qualifier

A SmackDown that is sure to be eagerly anticipated after the chaos of the Kickoff comes our way tonight at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live coverage throughout.

Royal Rumble winners list: Every wrestler to win a WWE Royal Rumble

Check out a full list of WWE Royal Rumble winners over the years, plus fun stats on entry number, most eliminations and more.

There’s nothing in pro wrestling quite like the Royal Rumble. While there have been and always will be other battle royals, WWE has distilled the over-the-top extravaganza into something that has withstood the test of time.

Since 1988, the promotion has had at least one Royal Rumble a year, with one for men and women held annually since 2018. Not only have fans fallen in love with the core concept, to the point that they enthusiastically count down from 10 each time a new wrestler enters the fray, they’ve also come to expect legends and surprises — which WWE generally delivers.

Another great aspect that has become part of the Royal Rumble’s DNA over time is the prize: an opportunity to challenge for a world championship at WrestleMania, making the Rumble the official kickoff on the road to WWE’s biggest show of each calendar year.

Naturally, that means it’s quite an honor to win a Rumble match. Even with the event heading toward its 40th anniversary later this decade, the list of Royal Rumble winners is still a pretty exclusive club.

Let’s take a look at every Royal Rumble winner ever, year by year.

Gerald Brisco on Triple H’s rise to WWE head of creative: ‘I always knew that Paul would a lifer in the business’

Even while stuck with a “funky gimmick,” Triple H had what it took to lead a company like WWE, says Gerald Brisco.

There’s little debate that WWE is on a roll at the moment, racking up new attendance and financial records at a furious pace while enjoying widespread critical acclaim as well. Paul “Triple H” Levesque deserves a lot of the credit, ushering in this new era in what could have been a turbulent time as WWE merged with UFC to form TKO.

While his Hall of Fame career trajectory and marriage into the McMahon family makes his rise seem obvious now, it sure didn’t seem that way in the mid-90s when Levesque was trying to get his “Connecticut Blueblood” gimmick over without a ton of success.

Yet even then, the seeds for his future leadership roles were being planted if you knew where to look. And one person who was in position to do so was Gerald Brisco, who explained what he saw to Under the Ring host Phil Strum during their recent chat.

“The intelligence that he had … Not only the intelligence that he had but you watch him in the locker room,” Brisco said. “How they either become a follower, a guy who gets left behind, or how they become a leader. And Paul immediately became that leader, even though he wasn’t a top guy at the time, even though he had a funky gimmick, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and he took that gimmick and he grew with the gimmick.”

Brisco credited Levesque for not only his ability to understand the dynamics of the roster but also the lessons he learned from Killer Kowalski, who prepared him for life both in and out of the ring. That made him a good bet to succeed over the long run.

“I always knew that Paul would be a lifer in the business, in what role … I never dreamed that he would marry the boss’ daughter,” Brisco added while laughing. “But I always knew that he would be a guy like a Pat Patterson or a Gerald Brisco who was in the business forever in some way.”

You can check out Sturm’s full conversation with Brisco above, which includes fascinating stories about his work as a talent scout and how he helped discover Hulk Hogan. And you can find this and more episodes of Under the Ring on YouTube as well.

The biggest professional wrestling stories of 2023: CM Punk, TKO and more

From WWE to AEW and beyond, here were the things that stood out most in an eventful year in pro wrestling.

Take a deep breath, wrestling fans. The year 2023 is almost over.

It is understandable if you haven’t done that a whole lot over the last 12 months, as the industry has not provided many opportunities to take in a soothing sigh of relief.

There were many ups, quite a few downs, but all in all, 2023 was a banner year for professional wrestling that in hindsight will be fondly remembered as one of the most impactful in the history of the industry.

But before we look ahead to 2024, let’s take one last look back on the year’s biggest stories in professional wrestling.

Triple H on CM Punk WWE return: ‘It’s where he belongs’

Triple H provided some details after WWE Survivor Series on how CM Punk’s return came together.

WWE Survivor Series made it all the way to the trademark logo at the end of the broadcast without the much hoped for return of a certain Chicago favorite. But almost unbelievably, what happened next was something that hadn’t taken place for nine years.

CM Punk walked out to the familiar strains of Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality,” dressed in a white t-shirt and soaking in the reaction of an absolutely bonkers crowd at the Allstate Arena just outside Chicago.

A comeback that had been kept a secret from just about everyone, and one that seemed highly improbable as recently as a few months ago, actually happened. How did it come together after lots of signs that it wouldn’t?

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said during the post-show press conference — after leading off with a joke about the big return of the night belonging to R-Truth — it’s because it happened fast.

“This is one of those lightning in a bottle moments that came together very quickly,” Levesque said. “But we are incredibly excited about it. It’s been a long time. In some ways, it’s been a long time coming.”

“This came together super quick, which is why I’m sure it stayed tight,” he added. “There’s a lot of speculation at that point. It was nothing but speculation for most of the time. It didn’t really start to come to fruition until everyone stopped thinking it was going to happen. Then, all of a sudden, it was happening.”

Levesque also mentioned that a lot of time had passed since things went south between Punk and WWE, who famously had a falling out that led to his release in 2014. It seemed for years that a reunion was unlikely, with Punk accusing the company of ignoring his medical issues at the time and firing him on his wedding day.

Yet Levesque said that no one, not him, not WWE, and presumably Punk, are the same as they were 10 years ago. Everyone, as he sees it, is “on the same even starting ground.

Punk didn’t do much except walk out on stage, so the obvious follow-up was what would be next for him. On that note, Triple H didn’t tip his hand, secure in the knowledge that whatever it is, the wrestling world will be buzzing about it.

“That’ll be interesting, won’t it? I’m interested to see that myself. I know whatever it is, it’ll be talked about, it’ll be exciting, and it’ll be a thrill ride for the WWE Universe no matter what it is. I’m thrilled, we’re all thrilled, to have him back here in WWE, cliché to say to have him back home in WWE. It’s where he belongs.”

NBA star Joel Embiid fined for WWE DX crotch chop, Triple H invites him to WrestleMania

Break it down! Just do it at WWE WrestleMania and not on an NBA court, as Joel Embiid discovered.

While running rampant in WWE, D-Generation X popularized the “crotch chop” gesture to taunt opponents, which quickly became a fan favorite during the group’s ascent in the Attitude Era. It’s still occasionally used by other pro wrestlers today in the occasional comedic moment.

The “crotch chop” has also transcended pro wrestling, making its way into other sports. It happened earlier this year when UFC star Derrick Lewis did it to celebrate his win at UFC 291, and on Monday, a prominent NBA player followed suit.

In the third quarter of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid made the gesture after taking a length-of-the-court pass to the hoop for a layup. However, ESPN reported that the NBA fined Embiid $35,000 for the act.

Triple H, wasting no time, invited Embiid on X to WrestleMania 40 — a safe haven for using the “crotch chop.” The event will take place at Lincoln Financial Stadium in Philadelphia, which is just a short walk away from the Sixers arena.

It’s anyone’s guess whether this will result in Embiid appearing at WrestleMania, but the Grandest Stage of Them All is known for hosting celebrities and athletes. Triple H is just trying to make that tradition continue.

However, WrestleMania 40 takes place during the NBA season. While Embiid could still make an appearance, it would be unexpected to see him engage physically in the ring like other celebrities. Nonetheless, maybe this interaction gets him in the building next April.

Rey Mysterio reacts to Triple H being in charge of WWE creative: ‘He’s been doing incredible’

Rey Mysterio praised Triple H’s creative work in WWE in an interview with The MMA Hour.

Since Vince McMahon stepped down in 2022, only to return and take back control from Paul “Triple H” Levesque and make changes remotely, people have been debating who is the true leader of WWE creative. This conversation only intensified when Triple H reclaimed control when the UFC-WWE merger finalized in September.

It’s obviously a significant change to the fabric of WWE, and the results are continuing to play out with more superstars being featured on Raw and SmackDown and feuds having a different look and feel to them entering the end of 2023.

WWE talent are now reacting to the ongoing changes backstage as the fallout continues. In an interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Rey Mysterio was asked about McMahon’s lesser role (h/t Fightful for transcription).

“That is wild. It’s wild not to see him. Even though we got used to him not being there, it’s just crazy to go to Gorilla and not see him there,” he said.

Asked if he could text Vince, Rey replied, “I’ve had texts and emails with him, not too many.”

Asked how things are going under Triple H’s leadership, Rey said, “He was part of the roster, so he understands what we do and go through. I don’t think they could have picked a better person to take that role. He’s been doing incredible. From the whole writing team, and him, and whoever the final person that gives the authorization to say, ‘that’s a go,’ it’s been doing really good. To a certain extent, we would have times where things would be changed last minute. Right now, things are flowing very smoothly, very very smooth. It’s a good atmosphere.”

McMahon had been the main man in charge during Mysterio’s multiple WWE runs, so it’s understandable that it’s seen as a noticeable shift. However, the admiration for Triple H is also noteworthy, and an obvious indication that he is now the one in charge.

Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel reportedly behind WWE creative shift from Vince McMahon to Triple H

Should Triple H actually be in charge of WWE creative if that’s what his job title claims? It appears Endeavor’s CEO thinks so.

When Vince McMahon engineered his return to power in WWE earlier this year, it was with the explicit purpose of exploring a potential sale of the company. That’s not exactly what happened as WWE ended up merging with UFC under Endeavor to form TKO instead, but the end result was similar in one way: McMahon ended up in a situation where he’d have to answer to others.

Specifically, there’s someone above him in the Endeavor hierarchy in the form of CEO Ari Emanuel. And while there was plenty of speculation about whether Emanuel, who said glowing things about McMahon while the merger was in its early stages, would allow Vince to run the pro wrestling side of TKO as he saw fit, it appears that might not be the case.

While McMahon had reintegrated himself into the WWE creative process earlier this year by calling in changes remotely, Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been the nominal head of creative throughout. Just last week, reports began circulating that it was Levesque and not McMahon who had been calling the shots as far as creative direction for WWE shows, and that morale was up backstage because of it.

It’s now become more clear who’s behind that change: Emanuel. Both Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio and Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated are reporting that the Endeavor CEO wanted Levesque heading up creative. Barrasso noted that Emanuel “has long been a firm believer that, in order for an organization to be as effective as possible, people need to do the job they are assigned,” meaning if Triple H is head of creative, he should be the one with whom the buck stops.

The question, one that perhaps will never truly be answered, is whether McMahon will mind that he’s been marginalized. He’s now 78, and though many fans and industry observers assumed he’d attempt to run WWE until he died, it’s possible he’s finally ready to let go of the reigns.

WWE president Nick Khan, for one, suggested as much during the time the company was looking for a buyer, saying McMahon wouldn’t block a sale just because his role might change. The TKO merger apparently made that hypothetical into a reality, which will make the next six months until WrestleMania 40 potentially as interesting behind the scenes as on TV.

WWE SmackDown results 10/13/23: Roman Reigns returns, Triple H names new General Managers

Roman Reigns’ return, the trade pick being revealed, and a Triple H announcement headlined this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown.

WWE never takes a break, though the Oct. 13 episode of SmackDown has been dubbed the “season premiere” of the show. Two big appearances have been announced in advance, making it anything but an ordinary show.

Triple H will make an appearance during the show, likely to announce something meaningful as he did when he announced the WWE Draft earlier this year. We can only speculate what he has in store, but whatever it is, will it impact the upcoming busy month that includes Crown Jewel and Survivor Series?

Going one step further, Roman Reigns, the long-lost Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, will grace the blue brand for the first time in two months. The Bloodline has experienced plenty since his last appearance, including Jey Uso’s defection to Raw and Jimmy Uso’s return to the group following a dramatic breakup.

The Tribal Chief will surely have plenty to say as Crown Jewel approaches, and his title could be challenged by a fresh face. A few weeks ago, LA Knight dropped Reigns’ name as someone he’s chasing, which might hint at what’s to come.

Following his momentous NXT appearance, John Cena will be present. Does he have something to say about Tuesday night, or what happened at Fastlane?

Let’s see what the night has in store, and if the build to Crown Jewel continues.

WWE SmackDown results from Tulsa:

(please scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Roman Reigns returns to interrupt John Cena, who welcomes LA Knight as the next deserving challenger to Reigns’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
  • Pretty Deadly def. The Brawling Brutes by pinfall
  • A video package shows Carlito’s return at Fastlane.
  • Carlito says the only word to describe his return is “cool.” Bobby Lashley interrupts to welcome him back and references their past. But when Carlito asks for a match, The Street Profits attack him from behind.
  • While everyone tends to Carlito backstage, Bayley and Zelina Vega have a heated back-and-forth that leads to Adam Pearce granting them a match.
  • Roman Reigns says all that matters is the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship, and calls Jey Uso holding the tag titles with Cody Rhodes a disgrace and a slap in the face.
  • A highlight package shows IYO SKY retaining her WWE Women’s Championship at Fastlane.
  • Bayley def. IYO SKY via pinfall
  • Triple H announces Adam Pearce as the new Raw General Manager, but he names before SmackDown’s General Manager, Dominik Mysterio interrupts to complain about Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes defending their titles before they face Judgment Day. Triple H tells Mysterio to direct his complaints to SmackDown’s new General Manager, Nick Aldis, who immediately welcomes Kevin Owens as the blue brand’s newest superstar.
  • Reigns is upset with there being many people he doesn’t like now on SmackDown.
  • A video package plays for Dragon Lee.
  • Chelsea Green and Piper Niven tell Aldis to do something about their tag team titles being cursed. But Aldis says he has a meeting with Charlotte Flair. He tells Charlotte he saw what happened at Fastlane, and that she’ll go head-to-head with IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship next week.
  • When Charlotte turns to leave, Jade Cargill meets her face-to-face with Triple H. Flair says to save the intro because she knows who Cargill is.
  • Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso def. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller to retain the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship by pinfall
  • LA Knight def. Solo Sikoa by pinfall

John Cena welcomes LA Knight as Roman Reigns’ next challenger

With a raucous reaction, the fans are more than ready for “The Greatest of All Time” in Tulsa. He welcomes everyone to the season premiere of SmackDown, but Roman Reigns wastes no time, interrupting Cena, with Paul Heyman and his recolored hair and Solo Sikoa, to make his first WWE appearance in two months.

Reigns orders Cena to open “his show” properly and tells Tulsa to acknowledge him as a Tribal Chief. Reigns doubts Cena’s presence, claiming he only returned because Reigns is gone and questions Cena’s “Greatest of All Time” moniker. Reigns then proclaims himself to be “that guy” and warns Cena to leave or he will make him leave.

Cena hypes up being in the same ring as Reigns and acknowledges him. Despite not challenging Reigns tonight as he hasn’t earned it, Cena suggests someone who has and the crowd erupts for LA Knight’s music.

Knight rattles off a bunch of things about Reigns, questioning if a defending champion sits at home. Reigns tries to put Knight down, but when he retorts, Jimmy Uso attacks Knight from behind. However, Uso gets quickly disposed of. Knight then stares down Reigns and Sikoa, causing them to retreat, but not before Knight challenges Sikoa to a match for tonight.

Elton Prince returns with a victory

After months sidelined due to injury, Elton Prince is back in action with Kit Wilson.

Butch targets Prince’s rehabilitated shoulder immediately as he and Wilson struggle to get ahead on the Brawling Brutes, while also taking simultaneous punches to the chest to dampen the early stages of their return.

Returning from the commercial break, Wilson maintains control of Butch while Prince tags in to lay some punches on the former Pete Dunne.

A dropkick connects on both members of Pretty Deadly, allowing Ridge Holland to make the hot tag and lay body slams on Prince and Wilson. As Prince goes to the top rope, Holland picks up the formerly injured member of the tag team and slams him for a near-fall.

Prince feigns a knee injury, fooling the referee, while Wilson takes advantage and kicks Holland in the face. Prince quickly rolls a stunned Holland for the pin.

Zelina Vega falls to the numbers game

Zelina Vega gets the most of Bayley early, but after she attempts an Irish whip, Bayley clotheslines her to take control and nearly gets a pinfall after a leg drop.

As Bayley tries a Bayley-to-Belly, Vega counters and hits a 619 in tribute to Rey Mysterio. She hits a meteora for a near-fall, but IYO SKY distracts Vega, allowing Bayley to hit a Rose Plant for the win.

Charlotte Flair, running in heels, rushes down to make the save as Bayley and IYO SKY attack Vega after the match.

Triple H names Raw and SmackDown’s new General Managers

It’s a welcome sight when The Game arrives, but already in the ring is Adam Pearce, which is unusual. Triple H praises the crowd and says Crown Jewel and Survivor series are near, and the build all begins on the season premiere.

Triple H heaps praise on Adam Pearce, an unsung hero of WWE, and gives him an ovation while acknowledging his in-ring work too. He thanks Pearce for overseeing both Raw and SmackDown, a difficult job to do solo.

Dominik Mysterio interrupts Triple H’s announcement of SmackDown’s head honcho to say Fastlane wasn’t successful, but the boos drown out his words as Pearce gets promoted to general manager of Raw.

Triple H laughs at how loud the crowd is, but he acknowledges Mysterio’s words before telling him to direct his complaints to the new SmackDown general manager, Nick Aldis.

Aldis welcomes SmackDown’s newest superstar, Kevin Owens, as part of the deal that sent Jey Uso to Raw. Immediately, Owens enters the ring and hits a stunner on Mysterio, and Aldis holds his hand high to close the segment.

Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso remain successful fighting champions

Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso are making their second title defense of the week, and if they win, it’ll be three matches with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the line with Monday’s match against The Judgment Day.

Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, a recently formed tag team, answered an open challenger for this match, which is also their first title bout together.

Rhodes attempts an early Figure Four on Theory, but fails to lock it in, prompting Waller to tag in. Uso tags in and hits a few moves, but when he doesn’t spot Theory tagging in, the match takes a turn in the heels’ favor.

With Theory still in control, Uso tries fighting back, but an elbow from Waller from the second rope draws a near-fall.

Uso makes the hot tag to Rhodes, who hits a powerslam on Theory and a disaster kick. He takes Waller out of the equation, but it allows Theory to take advantage briefly.

Uso superkicks Theory, which sets up their Cody 1-Day move. The American Nightmare then hits Cross-Rhodes for the win to retain the tag titles.

Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa confront Jey and Rhodes after the match, with Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman not far behind. Reigns and Rhodes stare each other down before Nick Aldis breaks it up.

LA Knight topples Solo Sikoa, but Roman Reigns has something to say

As a potential match with Reigns brews, LA Knight must first conquer Sikoa.

The Bloodline’s muscle takes immediate control, but Knight counters the early offense with a neckbreaker for a quick kickout.

Knight fails to pick up Sikoa, who hits a nasty chop in the corner, but gets knocked out of the ring and brought to the ringside barricade. When Knight tries a suplex from the apron to the mat at ringside, Solo blocks it and shoves Knight into the ring post.

Knight breaks a hold from Sikoa, but when attempting to pick him up again, Sikoa drops an elbow and a belly-to-belly suplex to nearly score a pin.

Working his way back, Knight hits a bulldog from the second rope to get a two-count. But Sikoa fires back with a Samoan drop.

Missing Knight and going head-first into the turnbuckle throws Sikoa off his game and allows Knight to work his comeback, including a running knee. A sharp powerslam takes Sikoa down, but Jimmy Uso runs in to distract Knight.

However, John Cena saves Knight and hits an AA on Jimmy, but he takes a Samoan spike for his troubles. It’s enough for Knight to hit a BFT for the win.

Roman Reigns comes from out of nowhere to spear Knight. He holds the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship high to close SmackDown.