Tonight on SmackDown, we have four Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Matches: Randy Orton takes on The Miz, Damian Priest battles Solo Sikoa, Matt Cardona collides with Trick Williams, Ilja Dragunov goes up against Sami Zayn, Carmelo Hayes continues his United States Title Open Challenge, Drew McIntyre is set to appear and more!
Check back for live results at 2/1 C.
We kick off this edition of SmackDown with clips of Randy Orton, The Miz, Damian Priest, Solo Sikoa & The MFTs (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo & Talla Tonga), Matt Cardona, Trick Williams, Ilja Dragunov, and Sami Zayn all arriving to SmackDown.
We then cut to clips from last week's SmackDown, highlighting the Three Stages of Hell match where Jacob Fatu returns and Drew McIntyre beats Cody Rhodes to become champion.
Back to ringside, a bunch of dudes play bagpipes and Drew McIntyre makes his way out showing off his Undisputed World Championship belt. McIntyre says he prayed for this and it happened. McIntyre says the first and only British WWE Champion and the crowd roars for him. McIntyre talks about getting cheered all through Europe and he wants to say "Screw you" to everyone. He says he isn't doing the bad guy wrestler bit - so screw everyone. He asks where everyone was when he got fired, or when Roman Reigns and CM Punk screwed him over - where was everyone. He says he is the only one who believed in himself so he can only thank himself and asks for a "Thank You Drew" chant. McIntyre wants to address the former champion and repeats the word "former" several times. McIntyre says he had something added to the contract which is that Cody Rhodes gets no rematch and the Drew McIntyre era begins tonight. Randy Orton's music plays and he makes his way out to the ring. McIntyre asks if Orton is out here to congratulate him. Orton tells McIntyre that they don't like each other so he's not out here to congratulate him. He reminds McIntyre that he's beaten McIntyre before and will RKO McIntyre to get the title. Jacob Fatu's music hits and he comes out to join the party. Fatu gets in the ring and attacks McIntyre. McIntyre rolls outside and Fatu slams his head into the announce desk. McIntyre throws Fatu into the ring post and runs away and Fatu chases after him. In the ring, The Miz runs in and hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Orton and we cut to a commercial.
Match 1 - Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Match: Randy Orton -vs- The Miz
The match is underway when we come back from a commercial break. The Miz DDT's Orton and covers him for a two count. Orton wobbles to the outside of the ring and The Miz comes out to beat him up. Orton smacks The Miz and goes to slam him on the desk. The Miz counters and slams Orton onto the announce desk. Back in the ring, The Miz stomps on Orton and delivers some punches in the middle of the ring. Orton fights back and clotheslines The Miz a couple times and hits a scoop powerslam. Orton goes for his draping DDT but The Miz runs outside the ring. Orton then slams The Miz onto the announce desk and does it again. Orton slams The Miz onto the announce desk again and sends The Miz back into the ring. Orton slams The Miz down with a draping DDT and goes for The RKO but The Miz counters and gets Orton down with The Skull Crushing Finale and Orton kicks out at two. The Miz goes for his finisher again and Orton counters but gets rolled up and Orton kicks out at two. Orton hits The RKO and pins The Miz.
Winner: Randy Orton
We see Drew McIntyre running out of the arena. Ilja Dragunov stops him and tells him after he's beaten Sami Zayn tonight he's coming for McIntyre's belt. McIntyre says he doesn't care and tells Dragunov that if he is to win, he'll knock his teeth out if and when they face off.
A video promo for The Wyatt Sicks plays. They talk about their lantern being stolen by Solo Sikoa and how powerful the lantern actually is.
Backstage, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair talk. Bliss asks Flair if she was actually sick last because she was left on her own. Flair talks about Bliss having a title match without her. They talk about having each other's backs. Bliss leaves, Nia Jax and Lash Legend come in and tell Flair not to trust Bliss. Flair tells them she doesn't want unsolicited advice and leaves.
Match 2: Giulia & Kiana James -vs- Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair
James and Bliss start the bout. James pushes Bliss and Bliss slaps James back. Bliss slaps James some more and dropkicks her. James knees Bliss and suplexes Bliss to the mat. Flair is tagged in and James elbows Flair. James kicks Flair and Flair kicks James back and tags in Bliss. James is double teamed and Giulia is tagged in. Bliss is beaten down by Giulia and James and we cut to a commercial break.
Back to Smacky, James suplexes Bliss and covers her for a near fall. James gets rolled up by Bliss and she kicks out at two. Bliss tries to tag but James sends Bliss to the corner. James hits a shoulder check in the corner and tags in Giulia. Giulia hits a missile dropkick on Bliss and covers her but Bliss kicks out. James is tagged in and Bliss is double teamed. Bliss tags out to Flair and Flair takes out both James and Giulia. Flair hits a walkover clotheslines and then kicks Giulia and James again. Flair comes off the top rope and hits a cross body on James and covers James for a near fall. James kicks Flair and Flair superkicks James. Flair goes to climb the ropes and Giulia attacks her. James knocks Flair down and Flair hits a neckbreaker. James spinebusters Flair and Giulia is tagged in and covered but kicks out. In the ring, Giulia kicks Flair and Flair elbows Giulia. Giulia fires back with one as well. Flair kicks Giulia and James tags in. Bliss tags in and hits Sister Abigail on James and covers her for the win.
Winners: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss
After the match, Lash Legend and Nia Jax run in and take out Bliss and Flair. Giulia gets in Jax's face and James holds Giulia back and tells her they're good with Jax and Legend but Giulia still tries to attack Jax.
Solo Sikoa and The MFTs reply back to the Wyatt Sicks via video promo.
Back at ringside, Cody Rhodes' music plays and Rhodes comes out to the ring. Rhodes talks about how his entrance was being episodic with him being a champ but now that he's lost his championship belt - this is all different. Rhodes talks about how he was not just the company's champion, but our champion and that's why he always asks what do you want to talk about because he wanted to include everyone. Rhodes asks if he fell into a routine and lost or is Drew McIntyre just that good. Rhodes says he's won back to back Royal Rumble and Rhodes wants to win it three times in a row and officially enters the Royal Rumble. Rhodes talks about Jacob Fatu and says Fatu knows the meaning of receipts. He tells Fatu that he has a receipt to collect and is out to get him for costing him his Undisputed Title.
Cathy Kelley talks to Matt Cardona backstage. Cardona says he goes way back with Drew McIntyre and that he's back to be at the top and to be the new WWE Champion.
Match 3 - Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Match: Trick Williams -vs- Matt Cardona
We get the bell and the men lock up. Williams strikes Cardona and then poses. Cardona slams Williams into the corner and Williams smacks Cardona again. Cardona punches Williams a few times and Williams comes back with a kick and slams down Cardona. Williams takes down Cardona with a bodycheck and then hammers on Cardona's back. Cardona dropkicks Williams and takes down with a facebuster. Williams is sent out of the ring and Cardona kicks him through the ropes. Cardona dropkicks Williams off the apron and we cut a commercial break.
Back to the match, Williams chokes out Cardona in the corner and then hits a neckbreaker. Williams has Cardona on the mat and Cardona punches Williams. Williams kicks Cardona and covers him for a near fall. Cardona is mounted and Williams punches him out. Williams slaps Cardona in a headlock and Cardona stuns Williams with a Jawbreaker. Williams and Cardona trade kicks and Cardona drops Williams with a back drop. Williams gets to his feet first and gets in the corner. Cardona punches Williams in the corner and then kicks Williams in the corner. Cardona hits a ZigZag and covers Williams who kicks out at two. Cardona rolls up Williams and Williams kicks out. Williams slams into the corner and rolls out of the ring. Cardona kicks Williams through the ropes. Back in the ring, Williams hits a Trick Kick and covers Cardona who kicks out at two. Cardona DDT's Williams and Williams counters The Rough Rider. Williams throws Cardona across the ring and hits The Trick Shot on Cardona and gets the win.
Winner: Trick Williams
After the match, Kit Wilson comes out and walks to the ring. He attacks Cardona as he's leaving the ring. Wilson throws Cardona into the steel steps and gets in the ring and celebrates.
Cathy Kelley talks to Damian Priest about his match tonight. Priest says the only issue is if this match isn't one on one because of The MFTs. He says he can take them all on and he needs to get to Drew McIntyre and tonight it's whatever it takes.
We come back from a commercial break and Kit Wilson is still in the ring. He says he is the solution to the problem and we all need him. Jacob Fatu enters the ring behind him as he gyrates. Wilson turns around and gets superkicked. Fatu sentons onto Wilson and then moonsaults onto him. Wilson rolls out of the ring and Fatu gets on the mic. Fatu calls out Cody Rhodes and tells him to bring his punk ass out right now. Rhodes' comes out to the ring and he and Fatu start fighting. Officials run out to separate the two. Nick Aldis is in the ring two trying to keep them separate and we cut to a break.
Match 4 - Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Match: Solo Sikoa w/The MFTs (Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo & Talla Tonga) -vs- Damian Priest
Priest and Sikoa lock up and Sikoa gets Priest in a headlock. Sikoa tries knocking Priest down and can't. Sikoa punches Priest several times and Priest takes Sikoa down with a forearm. Sikoa gets kicked out of the ring and Priest goes out after him. The MFTs stand in the way so the action gets back in the ring. Sikoa kicks Priest out of the ring and he's attacked by The MFTs and we cut to a commercial break.
We're back and Sikoa hits a running hip attack on Priest in the corner. Sikoa goes for another one and slams into Priest again. Sikoa goes for a third time and Priest gets up and hits a spinning heel kick knocking Sikoa down. Sikoa and Priest run at each other and collide. Priest and Sikoa trade punches and Priest slaps Sikoa and kicks him. Sikoa strikes Priest back and they now trade superkicks and spinning kicks. Priest drops Sikoa with a lariat and slams into him in the corner. Sikoa tries for a Samoan Drop but Priest counters and drops Sikoa and covers him for a near fall. Priest climbs the ropes and Talla Tonga pulls Priest down nutting him. The ref kicks Tall Tonga from ringside and back in the ring, Sikoa goes for a top rope Samoan Drop and Priest reverses it and slams down Sikoa with a Razor's Edge and covers Sikoa for a near fall. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa distract Priest. Sikoa hits the Spinning Solo and hits The Uso Splash and Priest kicks out at two. The lights go out and The Wyatt Sicks are up to no good and show up at ringside when the lights come up. The Wyatt Sicks attack The MFTs and the battle into the crowds. Sikoa attacks Uncle Howdy to stop him from taking the lantern. Back in the ring, Priest hits South of Heaven on Sikoa and gets the win.
Winner: Damian Priest
After the match, Uncle Howdy gets in the ring and takes his lantern. Talla Tonga shows up out of nowhere and kicks Howdy down and takes the lantern and Sikoa.
Drew McIntyre approaches Sami Zayn backstage and reminds Zayn that he said he didn't McIntyre to be champion. Zayn says he's now happy McIntyre won because he'll face McIntyre at Royal Rumble. McIntyre reminds Zayn he's beaten him eleven times so if Zayn makes it to the Rumble to face him it'll be no different.
Match 5 - United States Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes(c) -vs- Leon Slater
Hayes gets Slater on the mat at the bell and they take turns exchanging holds and flipping out of holds. Hayes and Slater trade pinning attempts and Hayes takes down Slater and starts to chop him. Slater chops Hayes back, Hayes kicks and chops Slater and Hayes lands after a roll and checks on his leg. Slater hits an enzuigiri and flies at Hayes with a fling back splash. Slater takes down Hayes outside the ring and back in the ring hits a cross body and covers Hayes for a near fall and we cut to a break.
Back to the match, Hayes is favouring his knee and goes for a suplex but Slater counters and sends him in the corner and kicks him. Slater covers Hayes and Hayes kicks out. Slater hits a Springboard Spanish Fly after they both take turns attempting springboard moves. Slater and Hayes trade chops and punches. Hayes is kicked and Hayes flips around Slater and hits a jumping neckbreaker and covers Slater for a near fall. Slater counters 1st 48 and kicks down Hayes and covers him for a near fall. Slater climbs the ropes and Hayes rolls onto the apron. Hayes chops Slater on the apron and Slater hits a leg drop on Hayes through the ropes. Slater comes off the top and Hayes catches him and they trade pinning attempts and roll ups. Slater hits a poinsonrana DDT and covers Hayes for a near fall. Hayes is tossed out of the ring and Slater moonsaults over the turnbuckles onto Hayes. Back in the ring, Slater misses his 450 Swanton. Hayes hits 1st 48 and covers Slater - Slater kicks out at two. Hayes and Slater fight in the corner and both sit on the turnbuckles. Slater goes to superplex Hayes who counters and hits a top rope cutter and gets the win.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Carmelo Hayes
Shinsuke Nakamura watches the match from the back. Tama Tonga comes up to him and tells him he had his chance and that the US Championship is his. He tells Nakamura to stay out of his way. Nakamura responds in Japanese and Tonga looks stressed.
Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano walk backstage with Axiom's mask. Axiom asks for his mask back, LeRae runs away with the mask. Nathan Frazer runs in wearing another mask and beats up Gargano and tells him they have a match next week.
Match 6: Chelsea Green w/Alba Fyre -vs- Jordynne Grace
Jade Cargill is at ringside for the match. We get the bell, Grace and Green go to lock up and Grace pushes Green to the mat. Green slaps Grace several times and Grace slaps Green back. Grace slams down Green with a spinebuster and then hits a stalled suplex. Green is covered and she kicks out at two. Green sends Grace into the corner and slams her head against the turnbuckles. Fyre kicks Grace behind the refs back and Green slams down Grace and covers her for a near fall. Grace slams Green sternum first into the corner and clotheslines Green. Grace elbows Green and slams into her in the corner. Grace slams down Green with a suplex and then hits The Direct Effect and gets the win.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
After the match, Grace gets on the mic and calls out Jade Cargill. She tells Cargill to get in the ring with her right now. Cargill gets on the apron and Green goes to attack Grace. Grace moves out of the way and Green crashes into Cargill who falls off the apron. Grace poses with Cargill's title and tosses it out to her.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley talks to Trick Williams. Williams says he's putting all of SmackDown on notice and says he's that dog. Williams gives a shout out to Randy Orton and Damian Priest for advancing. Damian Priest comes by and tells Williams to shut up. Priest suggests they battle the night before Saturday Night's Main Event.
Match 6 - Saturday Night's Main Event Four-Way Qualifying Match: Ilja Dragunov -vs- Sami Zayn
Both men trade punches right off the bat. Dragunov chops and strikes Zayn and Zayn takes Dragunov down with a clothesline. Zayn chops Dragunov in the corner and then punches him out. Dragunov kicks Zayn down to the mat. Zayn is slammed into the corner and chopped. Dragunov kicks Zayn in the corner and then comes off the middle rope and hits a diving knee on Zayn. Dragunov climbs the ropes again but Zayn gets out for the way and suplexes Dragunov and covers him three times and Dragunov kicks out all three times. Zayn chops Dragunov and then punches him in the corner. Dragunov knees Zayn in the face and then hits a German Suplex. Zayn reverses and suplexes Dragunov back. The men trade and switch suplex holds and Dragunov connects with a German Suplex. Dragunov climbs the ropes and Zayn gets there with him and chops him. Zayn superplexes Dragunov and we cut to a commercial break.
We return from a commercial break, Dragunov and Zayn trade slaps and Zayn DDTs Dragunov and covers him for a near fall. Zayn kicks Dragunov against the ropes and Dragunov grounds Zayn by holding his ankle. Zayn punches Dragunov and busts him open. Zayn climbs the ropes and Dragunov meets him at the top buckle. Zayn punches Dragunov and hits a sunset sitout powerbomb from the top rope and covers Dragunov for a near fall. Dragunov elbows Zayn and hits The Constantine Special. Dragunov comes off the top rope and hits a missile dropkick and covers Zayn who kicks out at two. Dragunov sets up for the H-Bomb but Zayn kicks Dragunov as he flies down onto him. Zayn gets kicked in the face and Dragunov runs at Zayn and clotheslines him against the turnbuckles. Dragunov repeats the clothesline and goes for a third and Zayn runs for a Helluva Kick and misses. The battle goes out onto the apron and Dragunov hits a Torpedo Moscow on the apron and both men are laid out outside the ring. Dragunov gets in the ring first and Zayn follows and Dragunov powerbombs Zayn and tries for a Senton but Zayn gets his knees up. Zayn hits an exploder in the corner and then connects with The Helluva Kick and gets the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn
After the match, Trick Williams shows up behind Zayn and takes him out and hits Trick Shot on Zayn and poses above a fallen Zayn as the end credits start to roll.
