Considering we all were just introduced to the concept of Tribal Combat last week, it’s understandable that Roman Reigns and Jey Uso may need some time to prepare for such a monumental matchup. WWE says some of that prep time may take place tonight on SmackDown in New Orleans.
On the surface, Tribal Combat is simply another name among many for WWE to describe a match where weapons are allowed and anything goes. Certainly, Jey hinted as much a week ago when he described things he may use or at least would consider using to beat his cousin down.
But there also appears to be a deeper, almost spiritual aspect to Tribal Combat. Maybe that’s where one of the men could gain an advantage tonight at the Smoothie King Center, where WWE assures us both will be on hand.
Another centerpiece of tonight’s show will be the United States Championship Invitational Finals between LWO teammates Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar. Will a legend and surefire future WWE Hall of Famer get one more shot at glory? Or will Escobar put himself more firmly on the map and earn a U.S. title opportunity? More importantly, will they still be friends when it’s over?
Plus we’ll see Karrion Kross take on Karl Anderson as Kross continues his ongoing issues with The O.C. He already defeated AJ Styles, but we suppose there’s value in proving your superiority over the entire group.
In any case, we’ll be making our own mental preparations for Tribal Combat while watching WWE SmackDown tonight. Let’s get into it.
WWE SmackDown results from New Orleans:
Main Event Jey Uso is now in your city … but so are Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman, who quickly make their way out. Reigns says the only reason people like The Usos is because of him, and that if the Tribal Chief is scheduled to appear, he gets to open up the show.
“Because I made you that,” is what Reigns says about most of what Jey is or has been, and he questions whether Uso believes he is now the Tribal Chief. However, Jey says he didn’t want any of that, and only supported Roman with no questions asked.
Jey accuses Roman of breaking everything, forcing him to do what he has to do. Reigns fires back that once Jey loses, he’s done, as he’ll be erased from everything.
And what if Jey wins? That means he takes everything from Roman … except he’ll always be Roman Reigns, and can do anything he wants to do. Mostly, he’s incredulous that Jey thinks he can win.
Before he leaves the ring, Jey simply says he beat Roman once — and he’s going to do it again.
Jey Uso seems to be feeling good after that segment, but his smile disappears when he runs into Grayson Waller. He doesn’t laugh but smacks Waller instead.
Santos Escobar def. Rey Mysterio by referee stoppage in the United States Championship Invitational Finals
The LWO teammates shake hands before they start locking up, so there’s every reason to think they’ll keep this respectful. United States Champion Austin Theory is shown watching from a skybox high above the action.
Wade Barrett thinks it behooves Santos to slow the pace, utilizing his size and power advantages. Escobar also knows Mysterio very well, which makes for fun framing for this bout. He hits a nice tope suicida right before a commercial break, but Theory continues to look unimpressed.
When the broadcast returns, however, a replay of that dive and the hard hit that Rey took is shown, and the ringside physician is checking on Rey. The ref is informed that Mysterio can’t continue, and Escobar gets a big but bittersweet victory.
Bianca Belair wants to talk about the Triple Threat match at SummerSlam, but Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville crash the interview to complain about their lack of a championship celebration. They also talk smack about Charlotte Flair, who offers to join forces with Belair to take on the tag champs. Bianca isn’t with it, but Charlotte says that makes her want to do it even more, and heads off to find Adam Pearce.
LA Knight def. Ashante Thee Adonis by pinfall
If you guessed Knight’s mic time might be about as long as the actual match, you got it. Blunt Force Trauma seals it up.
Pearce tells Jey Uso that Waller has been bugging him for a match against Jey tonight. Uso says since Waller was running his mouth, it’ll be over nice and quick.
Bobby Lashley is still wining and dining the Street Profits, who he says should be treated like and dress like stars. Angelo Dawkins is in sweats, but he seems cool with wearing dressier clothes after Lashley says he’ll pick up the bill.
Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair def. Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville by pinfall
Barrett questions how well Belair and Flair will work as a team, but they actually function fairly well as a unit. Charlotte may smirk seeing Bianca take a thrust kick to the face, but she’s right there when Belair needs a hot tag out.
Belair tags herself in when things start going south for Flair, and now Green is in trouble. And then the faces start squabbling: Belair has Green up for a KOD, but Flair tags herself in, kicks Green and gets the pin.
Bayley tries to explain leaving IYO SKY behind last week, but she gets freaked out finding another note from Shotzi. As they try to depart in a hurry again, Asuka stops by to warn SKY not to cash in at SummerSlam, but she seems to be suggesting that’s exactly what she’s planning to do.
After hearing about the SummerSlam Battle Royal, both Knight and Sheamus exchange pleasantries in front of Pearce. Adam ends up putting both of them in the match and sounds like he wants them to go head to head next week to see who might go into the Battle Royal with some momentum.
Waller says Uso is so consumed with Reigns that he should be easy pickings tonight for the Grayson Waller Effect.
Even though Karl Anderson is appreciative of the fact that The O.C. has his back, he tells his teammates that he needs to do things alone tonight, and they reluctantly agree.
Karrion Kross def. Karl Anderson by pinfall
Anderson gets off to a quick start, but unlike him, Kross made no vows to do this alone, and that means Scarlett is there to provide assistance and encouragement from the outside.
A Kross Hammer knocks Anderson for a loop, then the Final Prayer closes the show as Kross gets the dub.
After the bell, the Kross Jacket has Anderson in agony until The O.C. rushes down and Karrion retreats.
Jey Uso def. Grayson Waller by pinfall
Interesting to hear the announcers mention Waller going back and forth a little on social media with The Rock, but no real reason not to mention it, really. Just as Jey has things rolling, Roman’s music hits and the Bloodline wanders down the ramp.
Waller capitalizes and lays out Uso heading into a commercial break. He tries his own twist on The People’s Elbow when he has Uso down, but his theatrics take too long and give Jey a foothold to get back into the match.
After hitting a spear on Waller, Jey stares down Roman and takes flight with an Uso Splash and the pinfall.
Right after the bell, Sikoa attacks Uso, and when that doesn’t work, Reigns invades the ring himself. Uso ends up spearing Reigns, but when he goes up top, Solo pushes Jey off the turnbuckles.
Now the Bloodline is in control, and Uso ends up taking a spear/Samoan spike combo. As the fans give it to Reigns, he gets upset and they hit the combo move on Jey again. Roman poses in the corner with both the title belt and the necklace as the show comes to a close.