Tonight on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa are set to appear, The Last Time is Now Tournament Finals - LA Knight takes on Gunther, Jade Cargill battles Alba Fyre, Alexa Bliss collides with Kairi Sane, Ilja Dragunov continues his United States Open Challenge and more!
Check back for live results when the show airs at 8/7 C.
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane), LA Knight, Gunther & Drew McIntyre are shown arriving. As McIntyre gets out of his truck, Nick Aldis comes by and reminds McIntyre he's suspended. Aldis tells McIntyre to leave. McIntyre gets in his truck and Cody Rhodes is in there and starts beating him up. Rhodes is ejected from the truck, McIntyre leaves and Rhodes heads to the ring.
Cody Rhodes marches to the ring and gets on the mic. He asks Nick Aldis to reinstate Drew McIntyre. Rhodes calls McIntyre a cockroach and asks why McIntyre is always crawling around his feet. Rhodes says once McIntyre is reinstated he will stomp on McIntyre like a cockroach.
DIY is backstage. Tommaso Ciampa says he's going to be the United States Champion and Carmelo Hayes walks by and tells Ciampa he's next.
Damian Priest cuts a video promo and lets us know that Rhea Ripley is on his side to even out the playing field and will equalize Zelina. Next week Zelina and Aleister Black will take on the Terror Twins.
Match 1 - WWE United States Championship Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov(c) -vs- Carmelo Hayes
The men charge each other at the bell and grapple around the ring. They lock up again and Hayes gets Dragunov in a headlock but is taken down with a shoulder check. Dragunov chops Hayes in the corner, Hayes does the same and chops Dragunov several times in the corner. Dragunov boots Hayes to the mat and hits a running knee. Hayes kicks Dragunov on the chin and Dragunov rolls out to the apron. Dragunov chops Hayes and boots him in the middle of the ring. Dragunov is slammed off the top rope and Hayes climbs to the top rope and Dragunov runs to him and strikes him. Dragunov boots Hayes off the top rope tumbling to the mat outside the ring and we cut to a commercial.
Back to the match, Dragunov covers Hayes who kicks out at two. Dragunov locks Hayes in an armbar and Hayes contorts out of the hold. Hayes knees Dragunov but walks into a German Suplex. Hayes elbows Dragunov and Dragunov hits another German Suplex and Dragunov doesn't let go as Hayes tries to break free. Dragunov drives his elbow into Hayes' face and Hayes breaks free and punches and chops Dragunov. They trade punches and chops and Hayes knees Dragunov in the face. Hayes hits a springboard clothesline, after Dragunov misses a Constantine Special and then hits a facebuster and covers Dragunov for a near fall. Dragunov catches Hayes and powerbombs him. Dragunov sets up for the H-Bomb but Hayes gets his knees up and rolls up Dragunov for a near fall. Dragunov connects with a jumping kick and slams down Hayes. Dragunov climbs to the top turnbuckle and Hayes kicks him off the top turnbuckle and Dragunov falls outside the ring. Hayes DDTs Dragunov on the apron and slams Dragunov into the barricades. Back in the ring, Hayes climbs the ropes and Tommaso Ciampa runs in and knocks Hayes off the top rope. Dragunov hits Torpedo Moscow and the H-Bomb and gets the win.
Winner and STILL United States Champion: Ilja Dragunov
Cathy Kelley talks to Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss. They talk about their win at Survivor Series. Flair says she did this all for Bliss and Bliss would be lost without her. Bliss says that WarGames helped with Flair's social skills. They're looking forward to winning the tag titles back.
Cathy Kelley talks to LA Knight and asks him about what it would mean to him if he beats Gunther tonight. Knight says all he cares about is cementing his legacy and one man is standing in his way - Gunther. He talks about the things Gunther has accomplished but what Gunther isn't ready for is the unstoppable Knight.
Match 2: Kairi Sane w/Asuka -vs- Alexa Bliss w/Charlotte Flair
Sane and Bliss lock up and Sane kicks Bliss in the corner after pulling on her hair. Bliss tosses Sane onto the apron. Sane comes off the top and Bliss dodges her and Sane tries to roll up Bliss. Bliss kicks out and rolls up Sane who kicks out. Sane taps Bliss on the head and Bliss slaps and kicks Sane. Bliss slams Sane to the mat and hits a running flipping senton on Sane who rolls out of the ring. Asuka trips Bliss and Sane hits an Alabama Slam on Bliss onto the barricades outside the ring and we cut to a commercial break.
Back to Smacky, Sane hammers down at Bliss and then chokes her in the corner. Sane walks the plank and runs at Bliss and hits her with a forearm. Sane slams down Bliss and climbs to the top rope and Bliss meets her and punches her. Bliss is headbutted and gets caught on the ropes and Sane double stomps her and covers her for a near fall. Sane misses a Sliding D and both women are down. Bliss gets up and kicks and punches Sane. Bliss hits a basement dropkick and hits Natural Selection on Sane. Bliss sets Sane up for Sister Abigail. Asuka gets on the apron and Sane tries to roll up Bliss. Flair takes out Asuka and Sane knocks Bliss down in the ring. Sane climbs to the top and goes for the InSane Elbow but Bliss catches her and slams her down with Sister Abigail and gets the win.
Winner: Alexa Bliss
After the match, Lash Legend and Nia Jax attack Bliss and Flair. Bliss and Flair get flattened and then go to Sane. Asuka makes the save and takes out Legend. Jax catches Asuka and slams her down. Sane jumps onto Jax's back and is slammed down. Legend kicks Sane down and Jax goes to squish Sane with Annihilation but Asuka pulls her out of the way. Legend and Jax pose with the tag titles.
Nick Aldis talks to a ref and tells her to keep an eye on the parking lot. Cody Rhodes comes by and tells Adlis he's ready. They go to meet with Ricky Saints and Oba Femi. They ask what's up and Aldis says all will be revealed and lets Rhodes explain why they're here. Rhodes tells them whoever wins between them tomorrow fights him at Saturday Night's Main Event on Dec 13th.
Lash Legend and Nia Jax walk backstage. Cathy Kelley asks them about attacking Asuka and Kairi Sane. Jax says they paid Asuka back for misting Legend at Survivor Series. Legend says they're coming for the tag titles.
Match 3: Jade Cargill -vs- Alba Fyre w/Chelsea Green
Green is on the apron and distracts Cargill. Fyre dropkicks Cargill and throws Cargill into the corner and hits her with stomps. Cargill is superkicked and then choked out on the middle rope. Green slaps Cargill while Fyre distracts the ref. Giulia and Kiana James come to ringside and attack Green. Fyre gets distracted and Cargill gets on her feet. Cargill spinebusters Fyre and then hits her with a pumpkick. Cargill hits Jaded and gets the win.
Winner: Jade Cargill
Backstage, Fraxiom talk with Nick Aldis. Frazer tells him they want Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. Ilja Dragunov comes in and is pissed that Ciampa got involved in his match. Dragunov wants to battle Tommaso Ciampa and Aldis agrees to a match next week. Dragunov tells Frazer and Axiom they can have whatever is left with Ciampa. As he's leaving Tama Tonga gets in his face. Solo Sikoa comes into the screen with The MFTs and tells Tonga to let it go and they all walk towards the ring.
Jade Cargill walks backstage. B-Fab walks by her and Cargill bullies her. Michin comes in and tells Cargill that this is something they won't deal with. Cargill tells Michin to step up.
Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo & Talla Tonga come out to the ring. Sikoa leads the MFTs and gets on the mic. Sikoa says he told everyone that they would handle Sami Zayn and they did just that. He talks about how they can finally move forward - which brings them to The Wyatt Sicks. He calls out Uncle Howdy and says he knows Howdy is watching them, but he's been watching them too. He tells The Wyatt Sicks that this is his ring, this is his show and this is his family tree. He tells Uncle Howdy that his family has something his family wants, which is the tag titles. Sikoa tells Howdy that his family will hurt Howdy and Howdy's family. Sikoa says he will take everything from The Wyatt Sicks and he will show them that Howdy doesn't deserve the name Wyatt because all he has to do is Bo-Lieve. Sikoa drops the mic, MFT leave the ring as Sikoa beaks off. The lights go out and when they come up the Wyatt Sicks are in the ring. The MFT's come back and stand on the apron like the Wyatt Sicks are. Howdy and Sikoa are in the ring and start punching each other. Everyone else starts fighting too. Talla Tonga and Erick Rowan are left in the ring and they start punching each other. Tonga kicks Rowan, Rowan kicks Tonga who rolls out of the ring. Sikoa and The MFTs leave the ring as The Wyatt Sicks scream at them from the ring.
The Miz talks to Nick Aldis. The Miz is pissed he isn't fighting John Cena. The Miz wants to be featured at Saturday Night's Main Event. Bayley comes in and thanks Aldis for booking her on Saturday Night's Main Event and he tells her that she'll be facing Sol Ruca from NXT at SNME. Ruca comes in and says she's ready for Bayley.
Cathy Kelley talks to Gunther backstage. She wants to know how he's prepared for his match tonight. Gunther says he will demolish LA Knight and he understands that so many people wanted to be John Cena's last opponent but it will be him. He tells Cena to pay attention to how he beats LA Knight tonight.
We get a promo for Aleister Black and Zelina. They reply to Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley and basically tell them if they're looking to play with fire, they will guide them through it.
Match 4 - The Last Time is Now Tournament Finals: LA Knight -vs- Gunther
The bell rings, Knight and Gunther stand across each other and Knight smack talks Gunther. Gunther pushes Knight and Knight punches Gunther to the ground and then boots Gunther in the corner. Gunther smokes Knight and goes for a powerbomb but Knight counters and back body drops Gunther. Gunther rolls out of the ring, Knight baseball slides into him and we cut to a break.
Back to the match, Knight is chopped outside the ring and then slammed onto the apron. Back in the ring, Gunther knees Knight in the corner. Knight slams down Gunther and goes for an elbow but misses. Knight punches Gunther and Gunther slams Knight into the turnbuckle knocking him to the mat. Gunther stomps on Knight and then chops him to the mat. Knight is knocked down with chops as Gunther doesn't let go of Knight while hitting him. Knight breaks free and takes down Gunther and then hits a neckbreaker on Gunther. Gunther puts Knight in a waistlock and Knight breaks free and rolls up Gunther who kicks out and puts Knight in a sleeperhold. Knight hits an Attitude Adjustment and then hits a Burning Hammer on Gunther and covers Gunther for a near fall and we cut to a break.
We're back and both men are on their knees in the middle of the ring. Knight punches Gunther and Gunther punches Knight back. The men chop each other and Knight gets Gunther in the corner and stomps away at him. Knight hits a running knee on Gunther and then runs at Gunther again but Gunther catches him. Knight reverses and slams down Gunther. Knight climbs the ropes and misses an elbow. Gunther hits a dropkicks and goes to powerbomb Knight who counters and DDTs Gunther. Knight climbs the ropes and hits his top rope elbow and covers Gunther for a near fall. Knight goes for BFT but Gunther counters and hits a German Suplex. Gunther twists Knight's neck and then clotheslines him. Gunther climbs the ropes, Knight knocks him down so he's seated on the top rope. They trade punches, Knights climbs up and is knocked down. Gunther splashes down onto Knight and then climbs the other end of the ring and splashes onto Knight and covers him for a two count. Gunther powerbombs Knight and covers him again for a near fall. Knight hits BFT and Gunther gets his foot on the bottom rope. Gunther locks Knight in a sleeperhold. Knight breaks free and tries to slam Gunther. Gunther starts elbowing Knight and gets him to the mat. Gunther gets Knight in a submission hold and Knight tries to drag himself to the ropes but Knight taps out.
Winner by Submission: Gunther
After the match, Gunther talks to the camera and directs his comments to John Cena and says Cena will tap out and we cut to black.
