Tonight on SmackDown, The Irresistible Forces (Lash Legend & Nia Jax) defend their WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie), Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) take on Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin), Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre collide, MFTs (JC Mateo & Tama Tonga) put their WWE Men's Tag Team Championship on the line against Damian Priest & R-Truth, Kit Wilson calls out Jelly Roll, Randy Orton explains why he attacked Cody Rhodes and more!
Check back for live results when the show airs at 8/7 C.
We start the show with clips from last week's SmackDown with Randy Orton turning on Cody Rhodes. We then see Lash Legend & Nia Jax, The Bella Twins, MFTs, Damian Priest & R-Truth, Kit Wilson, and Jelly Roll arriving at the arena or hanging out backstage. As Jelly Roll arrives we see officials run to another area in the parking lot. Drew McIntyre attacks Jacob Fatu as he is in his car. Fatu is left all bloody and McIntyre is taken away.
We cut back to ringside and Drew McIntyre comes out to the ring with a mic and says he's here to fight and anyone who crosses him, their ass belongs to him. Nick Aldis comes out and asks McIntyre what his problem is and why he keeps screwing himself over. Aldis tells McIntyre that he's super close to being fired. McIntyre tells Aldis that his son should be ashamed to have a dad like Aldis. Jacob Fatu runs out and Fatu and McIntyre start battling. Fatu sends McIntyre into the ring post and then into the steel steps. Fatu tosses McIntyre over the announce desk and then Fatu clears off the announce desk. McIntyre gets headbutted and officials now pull Fatu off of McIntyre and take him away through the crowd. Fatu breaks free and runs back to McIntyre and jumps off the barricades onto McIntyre who is laid out on the announce desk. Fatu leaves ringside as Aldis and officials check on McIntyre.
Match 1 - WWE Men's Tag Team Championship Match: MFTs (Tama Tonga & JC Mateo) w/Talla Tonga, Tonga Loa & Solo Sikoa -vs- Damian Priest & R-Truth
Mateo charges at Priest at the bell and Priest punches out Mateo and slams him down. Tonga runs in and Truth comes in and they both take out Tonga. Priest slams into Mateo and knocks him down with a boot. Talla Tonga attacks Truth and pulls him off the apron distracting Priest. Mateo clotheslines Priest over the ropes and we cut to a commercial break.
Back to the match, Tama Tonga beats on Priest in the middle of the ring with forearms to Priest's neck. Mateo is tagged in and Priest is double teamed and Mateo covers Priest and Priest kicks out. Mateo chops Priest in the corner and Priest fires back with some strikes to Mateo. Mateo slams into Priest in the corner and then knocks him down in the ring and hits a standing moonsault and covers Priest for a two count. Mateo splashes into Priest and then knocks Truth off the apron. Priest kicks Mateo down with a spinning kick and both men are laid out. Truth and Tonga are tagged in. Truth takes down Tonga with running shoulder tackles and then hits the five knuckle shuffle. Truth goes for the attitude adjustment but Tonga counters and tags in Mateo and Truth is double teamed and covered and Priest breaks the pin. Tonga tosses Priest out of the ring and Truth hits a stunner on Tonga and he rolls out of the ring. Priest comes off the steps and clobbers Tonga. In the ring, Truth locks in an STF on Mateo. Sikoa gets on the apron distracting the ref. Talla Tonga pulls Truth out of the ring and slams him on the apron. Mateo covers him and Truth kicks out. The Wyatt Sicks come out and Tall Tonga and Tonga Loa go after Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy and Erick Rowan. At ringside, Uncle Howdy attacks Sikoa and Mateo makes the save. Sikoa tells Mateo to get back in the ring and Truth takes him out and Priest takes out Tonga. Truth hits the Attitude Adjustment on Mateo and gets the win.
Winners and NEW WWE Men's Tag Team Champions: R-Truth & Damian Priest
Candice LeRae is backstage with Johnny Gargano who is laying on a crate. Danhausen comes by and LeRae asks him if he can help and before she knows it Danhausen vanishes. Alex Shelley comes by and before he can get a word in Chris Sabin shows up and tells Shelley that they have a match to focus on. Shelley and Sabin leave and we get a commercial break.
We come back from a break and Cathy Kelley talks to Sami Zayn. Kelley asks for Zayn's thoughts about Cody Rhodes being attacked. Zayn says he should be thinking about his match against Aleister Black but all he's doing is thinking of Rhodes. Zayn says Rhodes tries to be good and he gives the fans everything. Zayn says it got Rhodes nowhere after the attack from Randy Orton and Orton does what he wants and he's on top. Trick Williams walks by and asks Zayn about what he thinks about Williams coming out on top over Jacob Fatu. Zayn gets in Williams face and Williams says he will see if he has some time, he'll check out Zayn's match and maybe even give Zayn pointers. Zayn tells him to get a good look.
Match 2: Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) -vs- Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
Frazer and Shelley start the match and lock up. Frazer whips around the ring and kicks Shelley. Axiom is tagged in and Sabin is tagged in and Axiom is double teamed and Sabin covers Axiom and he kicks out. Shelley is tagged back and Axiom kicks and punches them. Sabin is kicked down and Axiom tags in Frazer. Shelley is double teamed and Sabin and Shelley are kicked out of the ring and we cut to a break.
We come back from a commercial break and Sabin and Shelley double team Axiom and Axiom is kicked out of the ring. Shelley is taken out by Axiom on the floor and then Axiom trips Sabin. Axiom tags Frazer and Frazer flips over the ropes and takes out Sabin and Shelley and then back in the ring, Frazer hits a crossbody from the top rope on Sabin and covers Sabin. Shelley comes in and Frazer takes him out. Axion is tagged in and Sabin is double teamed and covered and Sabin kicks out at two. Frazer is tagged back in and Axiom climbs the ropes with Sabin. Sabin pushes both Frazer and Axiom off the ropes and cross body's onto them. Shelley is tagged in and Frazer is double teamed and covered and Frazer kicks out. Candice LeRae comes out and stands in the entryway and watches the match. Sabin is tagged in and Frazer is double teamed. Axiom comes in and kicks Shelley and Frazer sends Sabin out of the ring. Axiom and Frazer take turns diving out onto them. Frazer rolls up Sabin and Sabin kicks out. LeRae clocks Frazer and Sabin covers Frazer and gets the win.
Winners: Motor City Machine Guns
Randy Orton is seen walking in the parking lot and he's coming out next to talk about the shenanigans he pulled with Cody Rhodes.
With the first hour of SmackDown behind us, Randy Orton's music hits and he makes his way out to the ring. Orton grabs a chair before getting in the ring. Orton sits in the chair in the middle of the ring with a mic. Orton says for years when his music hits, the fans sing along. He talks about having the power to change lives because of his job and how he knows he's changed lives and affects fans' lives by shaking hands and this feeling of doing all this leaves him empty. He says when he retires he doesn't want his legacy to be with how many high fives and hugs he's given, but rather how much gold he's won in the WWE. Orton talks about how Drew McIntyre was originally his opponent and he knew who he had to be to beat McIntyre. Now that Cody Rhodes is the champ and he asked Orton to be the best version of Orton he can be and Rhodes told Orton to listen to the voices. Orton says the problem with listening to the voices, he doesn't always have control. He says he needs his killer instinct to add to his legacy and he'll do it with the three most dangerous letters in professional wrestling - RKO. Orton recites the first lines of his theme song and he says the voices tell him he'll beat Rhodes at WrestleMania.
Randy Orton walks by some superstars backstage and comes face to face with Matt Cardona. Cardona says he's known Rhodes and Orton for years but what he did to Rhodes was out of line. Orton gets pissed and tells Cardona off and goes to leave. Orton comes flying back and punches Cardona and tells him to stay out of his business.
Match 3: Aleister Black w/Zelina -vs- Sami Zayn
Before the match can start the lights go off and Trick Williams comes out to watch this match. The bell rings and Black takes Zayn down and punches him in the middle of the ring. Black kicks and strikes Zayn and punches Zayn in the corner. Zayn chops Black and punches him several times in the corner and we cut to a break.
Back to SmickDown - that's how Vickie Guerrero used to say it. Black knocks Zayn to the mat and elbows him a few times and then hits a leg drop and covers Zayn who kicks out at two. Black and Zayn trade elbows and Zayn kicks Black in the corner and sunset flips over him and covers him but Black reverses the pin and Zayn kicks out at two. Black now kicks Zayn in the chest and elbows him. Zayn punches Black and Black knocks Zayn to the mat with a spinning back elbow. Black hits Zayn with a knee and covers Zayn who kicks out again. Zayn gets locked in a pretzel type submission and Zayn rolls out of the hold. Black kicks Zayn again. Zayn goes for a Helluva kick and misses. Black hits Zayn with a middle rope meteora and covers Zayn for a near fall. Black elbows Zayn and Zayn clotheslines Black over the ropes sending him outside the ring. Black is thrown into the barricades and does it again and then throws Black back in the ring. Zayn sends Black into the corner with an Exploder and then sets up for a Helluva Kick. Black rolls out of the ring before Zayn can connect. Zayn goes out to get Black and pushes Williams' feet off the announce desk. Williams spills a drink on Zayn and Zayn decides to attack Williams instead of going back to the match. Zayn gets in the ring after beating up Williams and Black hits him with Black Mass and gets the win.
Winner: Aleister Black
Matt Cardona talks to Nick Aldis and he wants a match with Randy Orton. Aldis says it won't happen and Cardona leaves. Carmelo Hayes approaches Aldis and asks why the open challenge is closed. Aldis says it's because someone came to him and made a case to be the next challenger. Aldis leaves and Ilja Dragunov is standing there and he says he's the guy who spoke to Aldis.
Jade Cargill walks backstage and she's up next to discuss her road to WrestleMania.
A promo for the Irresistible Forces play. Lash Legend and Nia Jax talk about how they're the center of attention and how The Bella Twins are trying to stay relevant. They talk about all the tag teams who are looking to take their gold. Jax says they'll demolish The Bella Twins.
Back to ringside, it's storming and Jade Cargill comes out to the ring. Cargill says she's not here to waste time and she knows Rhea Ripley is backstage and tells her to come out. Ripley obliges and comes out to the ring. Cargill and Ripley circle each other and Ripley asks Cargill what she wants and if they're actually going to do something because they've said all that needs to be said. Cargill says Ripley needs the title she has and she doesn't. She says she doesn't need the fans or anything and tells Ripley she's that bitch and she's not here to make friends, she's here to make money. Ripley says he goal to not have friends has been successful and tells Cargill she's right. Ripley says she needs the title because she lives for this. Ripley talks about her sacrifices and Cargill says it's another sob story and she doesn't care. Cargill says wrestling didn't make her and even without wrestling she's someone. Ripley stops Cargill and says she won't let Cargill disrespect wrestling. Ripley says since Cargill has the title, the title needs Ripley. Ripley says she wants Cargill's championship belt and she will take it and Ripley asks if they're done talking and if Cargill will actually do something about it and urges Cargill to strike her. Cargill says she will, but on her time and drops the mic and leaves the ring. As Cargill is leaving, Michin and B-Fab appear. Cargill walks backwards and both B-Fab and Michin get in the ring and they start beating down Ripley. Cargill superkicks Ripley as Michin and B-Fab hold her. Cargill hits Jaded on Ripley and Michin, B-Fab and Cargill stand tall in the ring.
Kit Wilson talks to The Miz backstage and The Miz isn't present. The Miz says his week has been terrible and talks about a sunburn on his back. Danhausen comes by and pats Wilson and The Miz on the back. The Miz says he won't mentor Danhausen and Danhausen tells The Miz to stay cursed and a ladder almost falls on The Miz. Danhausen leaves and The Miz tells Wilson to do this on his own and Wilson leaves, and a ladder falls on The Miz.
Solo Sikoa yells at JC Mateo and Tama Tonga about losing the titles. Tama Tonga tells Sikoa to give the lantern back to the Wyatts because Sikoa has changed and is starting to sound like Roman Reigns. Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre crash across the screen and they are still fighting. They're separated backstage after a brawl.
Match 4 - WWE United States Championship Match: Carmelo Hayes(c) -vs- Ilja Dragunov
Hayes and Dragunov lock up at the bell and they lock up again and end up in the corner. Dragunov pushes Hayes and Hayes chops Dragunov back. Dragunov slams into Hayes in the corner and then headbutts Hayes over and over again. Dragunov chops Hayes and then kicks Hayes. Hayes gets chopped and Dragunov is kicked and Dragunov hits Hayes with the Constantine Special and we cut to a commercial.
Back to the show, Dragunov has Hayes in a submission hold. Dragunov elbows Hayes to the mat and Hayes elbows Dragunov back. Dragunov lifts Hayes and slams him down and covers Hayes for a near fall. Hayes and Dragunov reverse moves and Hayes hits Dirty Diana and covers Dragunov and Dragunov kicks out. Hayes slams into Dragunov in the corner and chops Dragunov. Dragunov is clotheslines over the ropes and Hayes flips over the ropes and takes out Dragunov but Hayes slams into the announce desk. Back in the ring, Hayes hits a cross body on Dragunov and covers Dragunov who kicks out at two. Dragunov catches Hayes and hits a back suplex. Dragunov climbs the ropes and hits a Senton on Hayes and covers Hayes for a near fall. Dragunov goes for a coast to coast and Hayes catches him and hits 1st 48 and tries to pin Dragunov but Dragunov reverses as he falls and hits an H Bomb and goes for the pin and Hayes gets his foot on the ropes and we get another commercial break.
Back to the match, Dragunov stomps on Hayes and Hayes chops Dragunov and hits a springboard clotheslines and both men roll out to the apron. Hayes gets back in the ring and jumps over the ropes and tries for a DDT and Dragunov catches him and hits a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron winding Hayes. Dragunov is bleeding, like he does in every match. Dragunov goes for a superplex and Hayes reverses it to a swinging cutter off the top rope. Hayes covers Dragunov and Dragunov kicks out at two. Hayes chops Dragunov and Dragunov asks for more. Hayes kicks and chops Dragunov and Dragunov chops and punches him back. Dragunov chops Hayes several times and they're no selling each other's moves and going back and forth. Dragunov powerbombs Hayes and covers him and Hayes kicks out. Dragunov hits a backbreaker and covers Hayes again and Hayes kicks out. Dragunov runs to Hayes with Torpedo Moscow and Hayes hits a 1st 48 and covers Dragunov who kicks out at two. Dragunov connects with Torpedo Moscow and goes for a powerbomb but Hayes counters with a sunset flip and gets the win.
Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Carmelo Hayes
Jelly Roll talks to Damian Priest and R-Truth backstage and Jelly Roll congratulates them and they leave. Randy Orton approaches Jelly Roll and apologizes for last week. Jelly Roll says he knows what it's like to be judged for the worst decision he's made and he reminds Orton that he lights up the WWE and that Orton became a better man. Jelly Roll says he doesn't know why Orton is going back to the monster he once beat. Jelly Roll that fame, the title and all this stuff comes and goes, but friends and family stay forever. Jelly Roll tells Orton to go apologize to Matt Cardona. They hug and say they love each other.
Back at ringside, Kit Wilson comes out to the ring to call out Jelly Roll and we cut to a commercial break.
We come back from a commercial break and Kit Wilson calls out. Jelly Roll storms out and tells Wilson he wants to fight him right now and to get a ref. Wilson says he wants to settle this like civilized men and not like toxic men. Wilson says he fights with words and not his fists and calls Jelly Roll toxic. Jelly Roll asks if he was called here to have a rap battle with Wilson. Wilson tells Jelly Roll to not compare him to a rapper because he's better than rappers and he's better than Jelly Roll. He says tonight they'll have slam poetry. Jelly Roll makes fun of Wilson's poetry book. Wilson starts reciting a poem that makes fun of Jelly Roll and his weight loss. Jelly Roll recites his poem and takes a shot at Wilson's mom and Wilson gets pissed and hits Jelly Roll from behind. Wilson slams into Jelly Roll in the corner and then comes off the top rope and hits a flying corkscrew elbow on Jelly Roll who screams in pain in the middle of the ring.
Giulia is backstage with Kiana James. Giulia is pissed James lost to Tiffany Stratton. Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre show up and Green says the enemy of her enemy is her friend and suggests they work together. Giulia says they don't need to work together, she and James leave. Green is beside herself with the disrespect from Giulia. Nia Jax pushes Green's wheelchair aggressively and sends her off screen and she and Lash Legend walk to the camera as they defend their titles next.
Jelly Roll comes up to Nick Aldis and says he wants Kit Wilson next week. Aldis agrees to make a match for SmackDown next week.
Match 5 - WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: The Irresistible Forces(c)(Nia Jax & Lash Legend) -vs- The Bella Twins (Nikki and Brie)
Jax and Legend attack The Bellas off the bell. Legend and Brie battle outside and Nikki and Jax go at it in the ring. Jax takes down Nikki with a shoulder check and then misses an elbow. Nikki chokes Jax against the ropes and tags in Brie. Brie hits Jax with a dropkick against the ropes and works on Jax's arm. Nikki is tagged back in and Jax gets double teamed and they take down Jax. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss come out and The Bellas get distracted. Legend is tagged in and she takes out both Bellas and we cut to a commercial.
Back to the Smacky smacks, Legend beats on Nikki in the middle of the ring. Flair and Bliss are sitting at ringside. Jax is tagged in and Nikki clocks both Jax and Legend. Nikki kicks Jax to the mat and tags to Brie. Brie comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick and Brie hits the Brie Mode kick. Brie kicks Jax with some yes kicks. Legend comes in and gets kicked out of the ring. Jax hits a headbutt on Brie and Brie then sends Jax out of the ring. Nikki is tagged in and she comes off the top rope and takes out Legend and Jax outside the ring. Back in the ring, Legend distracts Nikki and Jax hits Nikki and gets her on her shoulders. Jax tags Legend and then climbs the ropes and hits a top rope Samoan Drop on Nikki, Legend hits top rope splash and Brie breaks the pin. In the ring, Nikki gets Legend in the Fearless Lock. Flair attacks Jax outside and the ref calls for the bell.
Winners by Disqualification and STILL WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: The Irresistible Forces
After the match, Nikki and Brie fight with Flair and Bliss. Jax and Legend come in mid battle and beat up both teams. Legend shakes Flair like a rag doll and then Jax comes off the middle rope and leg drops onto Flair.
Randy Orton is backstage on the phone. He tells the person on the phone that they're right and he's going to go out to the ring to fix this.
We are back and at our final segment. Randy Orton comes out to the ring with a chair in hand. He high fives kids on his way to the ring and gets to the ring and slides the chair into the ring, high fives some more kids and then gets in the ring. Orton says he needs to apologize to Matt Cardona and calls him out to the ring. Orton asks Cardona for his forgiveness and Cardona does and they hug in the ring. Orton then low blow Cardona and hits an RKO and rips off Cardona's shirt and tosses him out of the ring. Orton punches Cardona on the announce desk and then grabs the steel steps like he did last week with Cody Rhodes. Officials run out and stop Orton. Orton backs away and acts like he's fighting the voices in his head. Orton gets Cardona and throws him in the ring and beats him up some more. More security surrounds Orton and pull him off Cardona. Orton had Cardona's arm in a chair and then he snaps and stomps on the chair and leaves the ring. Officials stop Orton as other officials check on Cardona. Nick Aldis yells at Orton and we see backstage, Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre are still fighting, this has been a three hour fight. Fatu and McIntyre are oon a scaffold up in the air outside the arena. Fatu and McIntyre fall from the scaffold and the show goes off the air.
