Opening Segment Sparking Tension
This week’s show opened with exciting highlights from last week. Fans saw Gunther defeat Royce Keys before Cody Rhodes launched a surprise attack on the Ring General.
Soon after, Rhea Ripley entered the arena to address her rivals. She claimed that Jade Cargill and her crew failed to intimidate her. Instead, their actions simply made her angry. Ripley then announced that she is fully back and ready for a fight. She offered Jade a championship rematch at the upcoming Clash in Italy premium live event.
However, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss interrupted her speech. Flair reminded Ripley that they must focus on their upcoming six-woman tag team match first. Bliss emphasized the need for teamwork, but Flair quickly brought up an ongoing issue. She asked Ripley why she failed to help them during last week’s ambush.
Ripley explained that she traveled home to visit her family. Although Flair understood the excuse, she noted that they desperately needed her presence. Ripley counter-argued that Flair previously claimed she did not need any assistance against Fatal Influence.
Furthermore, Ripley pointed out that Bliss took the majority of the damage during the attack. She questioned how she could trust Flair if Flair could not protect her own best friend.
Fatal Influence Interrupts the Drama
As the tension escalated, Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid walked out. Jayne stated that she loves watching the women’s division fall apart. According to her, this downfall started the exact moment Fatal Influence arrived on SmackDown. She bragged about their quick rise to the top of the division.
Consequently, Flair challenged two members of the group to a tag team match. Jayne accepted the offer immediately, setting up a major bout for later in the night.
Backstage Bloodline Business
Behind the scenes, interviewer Cathy Kelley stopped Solo Sikoa, Talla Tonga, and Tama Tonga. Solo declared that Talla Tonga was completely prepared to face Shinsuke Nakamura. Therefore, he demanded that the entire world watch the upcoming match.
Suddenly, Royce Keys interrupted the conversation. He angrily told Solo that the group cost him a major title opportunity last week. Solo responded by reminding Keys that he threw a chair at his face. Because of that action, Keys was lucky to walk away without a beating. Solo mockingly offered to watch his back later in the evening before walking away.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Talla Tonga
The opening match started with high energy as Nakamura connected with quick right hands. Talla Tonga answered with a powerful knee to the face. Nakamura quickly avoided a second knee strike and clotheslined his opponent to the arena floor. Outside the ring, Talla Tonga gained control and threw Nakamura hard into the security barricade.
Following a brief break, Talla Tonga executed a heavy bodyslam. Nakamura managed to escape a second lift and landed on his feet. Next, he climbed the ropes and delivered a sequence of sharp kicks.
Solo Sikoa jumped onto the ring apron to cause a distraction. Nakamura struck him down, but the moment allowed Talla Tonga to hit a massive Chokeslam. He covered Nakamura to secure the pinfall victory.
Damian Priest Makes a Big Save
After the match, Solo Sikoa prepared to deliver a Samoan Spike to Nakamura. Tama Tonga stopped him so he could strike Nakamura from behind instead.
Fortunately, Damian Priest ran down to the ring carrying a steel chair. The Bloodline chose to retreat through the crowd rather than fight the armed superstar.
Main Event Challenges are Issued
Backstage, General Manager Nick Aldis talked with a referee before the lights went out. When they flickered back on, Cody Rhodes appeared in the room. Aldis informed the champion that Gunther had not arrived to sign their match contract yet.
Cody walked away, and Sami Zayn entered the office to complain about his current position. He claimed that Cody always receives whatever he wants from management.
Cody overheard the comment and stepped back into the room. He offered to be Zayn’s opponent for the night, and Zayn accepted the challenge.
Alexa Bliss Makes a Strategic Change
Later in the backstage area, Charlotte Flair discussed strategy with Alexa Bliss. Bliss claimed that she was not medically cleared to compete and pretended to feel sick.
In reality, she admitted she was simply tired of standing between Flair and Ripley during their arguments. As a result, she informed Flair that Ripley would be her tag team partner for the night.
Women’s United States Championship Open Challenge
Tiffany Stratton walked out to defend her title against Lash Legend, who brought Nia Jax to ringside. Legend started strong with a right hand, but Stratton responded with a dropkick. The champion then dived over the top rope to wipe out her challenger on the floor.
Legend recovered quickly and slammed Stratton onto the hard ring apron. During the action, Chelsea Green walked down to observe the match.
Following the commercial break, Legend hit a clothesline but failed to get the three-count. Stratton escaped a headlock with a jawbreaker and forced Legend to spear the steel ring post. The champion followed up with a clothesline and a stunner.
Legend kicked out and answered with a powerful powerbomb. She attempted her finisher, but Stratton countered into a crucifix pin.
Finally, Stratton climbed the top rope while Nia Jax tried to distract the referee. Chelsea Green pushed Nia into the ring post, which distracted Legend instead. Stratton capitalized with a quick roll-up to retain her championship.
Danhausen Causes a Power Outage
Nick Aldis searched for the source of the arena’s recent power issues. He tracked the problem to a storage room and discovered Danhausen conducting a strange scientific experiment.
Aldis told him to stop because the building kept losing power. Suddenly, a fuse box exploded, and Danhausen disappeared into thin air. Aldis noticed a mysterious body covered by a white sheet, but Danhausen’s voice echoed out, warning him not to touch it.
The Miz Dismisses the Curse
Cathy Kelley interviewed The Miz and Kit Wilson regarding the ongoing bizarre events. The Miz insisted that he does not believe in curses, even though his favorite basketball team was losing their game.
Fraxiom interrupted the interview and argued that The Miz is absolutely cursed by Danhausen. The Miz challenged Axiom to a match next week in his hometown to prove them wrong. Axiom accepted the challenge in Spanish and walked away.
Trick Williams Confronts Carmelo Hayes
Trick Williams and musician Lil Yachty entered the ring to address the crowd. Trick praised The Miz as a future Hall of Famer, but Lil Yachty argued that Miz was always carried by his partners.
Carmelo Hayes interrupted the celebration and stepped into the ring. He accused Trick of screwing him out of the championship. Hayes claimed there is a major difference between holding a title and being a true champion. Therefore, he demanded an immediate United States Championship match.
Lil Yachty looked at a notebook and claimed Trick was too busy with hair and nail appointments. Hayes insulted Trick for letting a secretary dictate his schedule.
Trick grew angry and stated that he does not play with his leftovers. He officially accepted the challenge and called for a referee to start the match immediately.
United States Championship: Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
Hayes started the title match with a dropkick and multiple chops to the chest. Trick responded with a heavy slap and a side kick to the face. He followed up with a slam and a suplex, but Hayes kicked out of the pin attempt.
Trick missed a second kick and fell to the outside of the ring. Hayes attempted a dive, but Lil Yachty stood in the way to protect the champion.
After the break, Trick executed a neckbreaker to regain control. Ricky Saints walked down to ringside to observe the match closely. Hayes connected with a springboard clothesline and hit his signature Dirty Diana move.
Trick survived the pin and hit a kick of his own. Hayes answered with a First 48 strike for another near-fall.
As Hayes climbed the ropes, Saints approached the apron and distracted him. Trick pushed Hayes to the floor and attacked Saints.
The referee became distracted by the chaos on the outside. Hayes struck Saints, but turnabout is fair play. Trick hit a definitive Trick Shot to get the pin and retain his title.
Backstage Retaliation
Sami Zayn encountered Johnny Gargano backstage and praised him for being a genuinely good person. Zayn expressed frustration about his upcoming match with Cody Rhodes before walking away.
In a separate area, Carmelo Hayes brutally attacked Ricky Saints for interfering in his championship match. He warned Saints to stay completely out of his business.
Charlotte Flair & Rhea Ripley vs. Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid
Flair started the tag team match by hitting a clothesline on Henley and knocking Reid off the apron. Ripley immediately tagged herself into the match, which caused an argument between the partners. Reid entered the ring, but Ripley controlled her with a dropkick and a fallaway slam.
Flair tagged back in aggressively by tapping Ripley on the head. Henley turned the tide by slamming Flair into the announce table.
After the commercial, Fatal Influence controlled the match by isolating Flair. Jayne secretly tripped Flair from the outside while the referee was distracted.
Flair eventually fought back and tagged Ripley, who cleared the ring with clotheslines. She hit a German suplex on Henley and executed a Razor’s Edge on Reid.
Henley broke up the pinfall attempt, prompting Flair to level her with a big boot. Flair then landed a cannonball dive onto Henley and Jayne on the floor.
Inside the ring, Ripley delivered the Riptide to Reid. Flair tagged herself in at the last second and hit Natural Selection to score the victory.
Total Chaos Erupts
The victory celebration ended abruptly when Jade Cargill, B-Fab, and Michin stormed the ring. Fatal Influence joined the attack from behind, creating a massive brawl.
The segment ended with Jade Cargill lifting Rhea Ripley and dropping her with a devastating Jaded.
Cody Rhodes Plans for Accountability
Cody Rhodes spoke with Cathy Kelley about his main event match against Sami Zayn. He confessed that he no longer recognizes his friend due to Zayn’s recent passive-aggressive behavior.
Cody promised to hold Zayn accountable in the ring tonight. Furthermore, he stated that Gunther could watch from the commentary desk, but he will not control their future championship match.
The Women’s Leftovers
Cathy Kelley interviewed Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab regarding their violent actions. Michin explained that they simply demonstrated the absolute truth about who runs the division.
B-Fab suggested that their opponents should save themselves from embarrassment and stay home. Cargill concluded by warning Ripley that luck will not help her at Clash in Italy.
Damian Priest vs. Solo Sikoa
The priest did not wait for the bell to ring. He immediately attacked Solo Sikoa during his entrance and threw him into the steel steps.
Inside the ring, Sikoa fought back with a Samoan Drop after Tama Tonga distracted Priest.
Following the break, Priest hit a suplex from the second rope and followed up with a Broken Arrow. The Tonga brothers continued to interfere, allowing Solo to land a Spinning Solo Slam.
The priest escaped the pin and hit a flatliner. He knocked Tama Tonga off the apron, but the brief distraction allowed Solo to connect with the Samoan Spike for the win.
After the match, Royce Keys ran down to attack the Tonga brothers. Solo chose to retreat rather than face Keys.
Keys attempted to help Priest up, but Priest reacted aggressively and tried to execute a chokeslam. Keys pushed him away in anger.
Backstage Confrontations Continue
Chelsea Green met Blake Monroe backstage, but the pleasant interaction ended quickly. Nia Jax and Lash Legend ambushed Green, slamming her into heavy equipment. WWE officials rushed in to separate the women.
Meanwhile, Royce Keys confronted Damian Priest about his hostile attitude. Keys explained that Priest’s own partner asked him for assistance.
Priest replied that he did not care because someone grabbed him from behind during the chaos. Keys stated that anyone can get a beating from him before walking away.
Main Event: Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn
The main event began with a respectful handshake between the two friends. Cody applied a headlock, but Zayn escaped with a hip toss and offered another handshake.
The match grew more intense as Cody hit a snap powerslam. He attempted a Disaster Kick, but Zayn tripped him, forcing the champion to roll outside.
Following the final break, Cody connected with a suplex and a bionic elbow. However, his left knee appeared to be badly injured.
Cody managed to hit a Cody Cutter, but Zayn escaped a Cross Rhodes attempt. Zayn threw Cody into the announce table and targeted the injured knee with a figure-four leg lock.
Cody broke the hold and hit a Disaster Kick. Suddenly, Gunther appeared on the apron and locked Cody in a sleeper hold while the referee was distracted.
Zayn tried to help by pushing the referee and kicking Gunther off the apron. As Zayn turned around, Cody avoided a Helluva Kick and hit the Cross Rhodes to secure the pinfall.
After the match, Gunther entered the ring and dropped Cody with a powerbomb. Zayn stood face-to-face with Gunther for a moment but chose to leave the ring when Gunther applied another sleeper hold to Cody. The Ring General held the Undisputed Championship high in the air as the show concluded.