Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Finn Balor taking on Tama Tonga, United States Champion Trick Williams clashes with Carmelo Hayes in non-title action, and new Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk returns. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk returns
- Finn Bálor vs. Tama Tonga
- Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes
WWE SmackDown Results:
Highlights from Monday Night Raw’s Undisputed WWE Championship match air as the show kicks off.
SmackDown GM Nick Aldis is in the ring. Aldis notes that he feels completely justified in his actions, and he recognizes the harm caused. After mediation, Aldis announces he has been reinstated as GM. Aldis introduces the new Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk. Cult of Personality blares through the PA system as the champion makes his way to the ring.
And NEW!
Punk joins Aldis in the ring. Aldis welcomes Punk to SmackDown and gives him the floor. The crowd chants for Punk as he paces in the ring. Punk is sporting a black eye. Punk tells the crowd he missed them. The past few months, he’s been negotiating with Aldis and USA Network to join the brand. That was escalated when Aldis called and told him they needed a championship contender. Punk hypes the crowd. Punk intends to be a champion-champion and defend the championship week in and week out. He’s going to make this simple for anyone in the back: If they think Punk has something that belongs to them, come get it. Punk is going to defend the championship with his blood, sweat, and tears for the people. If Sami Zayn wants a shot, he can have a shot.
Punk mentions taking on Gunther, Finn Bálor, Royce Keys, and Trick Williams. Cody Rhodes‘ music hits. Rhodes asks Punk how his eye feels. Punk quips that’s not why Rhodes is here. Punk mocks Rhodes by asking what he wants to talk about. Rhodes goes in a big circle to get to the idea of Rhodes vs. Punk. Punk says they are friends, and he thought if this match ever happened, it would be in the main event of a WrestleMania, but they can’t wait for that. Rhodes notes that the last time they were in the ring, he told Punk to just say when. Punk gets in Rhodes’ face and says when. Rhodes responds, “SummerSlam”. Aldis makes the SummerSlam match official.
Grade: B-
Good opening promo. Aldis’s mention of his HR issues made this writer chuckle. Punk and Rhodes are a money match, so it’s no shock they are fast-tracking this for SummerSlam.
Finn Bálor vs. Tama Tonga
Bálor is all over Tonga as the match kicks off. Tama lands a lariat. Bálor rolls through on a sunset flip and lands a basement dropkick. Tama is sent over the top rope by a clothesline. Bálor sets up a dive, but Talla yanks Bálor’s leg. While Bálor is distracted, Tama clobbers Bálor from behind. Tama works over Bálor. Bálor fires up and lands a slingblade.
Bálor goes up top for his finish. Tama distracts Bálor. Bálor misses his double stomp. Tama lands Cut Throat, followed by a modified Angel’s Wings! Bálor kicks out! Bálor sends Tama over the top again. A big dive from Bálor takes out Talla and Tama. Bálor lands the Coup de Gras for the win.
Winner- Finn Bálor
Grade: B
This was a great TV match with just enough outside interference that it didn’t take away from the main action; it added to the story of the contest. Solid pro wrestling here.
Read More: WWE SmackDown Star Wants to Revive Former NXT Gimmick
Backstage, Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu are looking for Solo Sikoa. They ask R-Truth if he’s seen him. Truth says no. Fatu asks if Truth has seen Royce Keys. Truth says he hasn’t seen Keys before in his life. Damian Priest walks in and tells Fatu they saw Keys earlier. Truth looks terrified. Fatu tells Jimmy they are going to head to the ring. Truth asks Priest why he did that. Priest says he doesn’t care about Keys. Keys isn’t their friend.
Royce Keys vs. Jimmy Uso
Keys tosses Jimmy all over the ring. Jimmy manages to send Keys into the ring steps. Dive by Jimmy. After the break, Siko appears and clocks Jimmy. Sikoa calls for the Samoan Spike. Jacob Fatu makes the save. Fatu and Sikoa end up crashing over the barricade. Back in the ring, Keys eats a Spear from Jimmy. Jimmy pins Keys.
Winner- Jimmy Uso
After the match, Fatu beats down Sikoa. Keys gets in Fatu’s face. Fatu superkicks Keys and crushes him with a senton. Sikoa ends up in the corner. Fatu wraps a chair around Sikoa’s head and calls for a hip attack. Fatu stops short and gets in Sikoa’s face to tell him to step off, or the next time he won’t stop. Sikoa looks on as Fatu tells him to meet the Bloodline on Raw next week.
Grade: C
Having Keys eat the pin here was a choice…
Alexa Bliss w/Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill w/Michin and B-Fab
A distraction from Flair allows Bliss to hop on Cargill’s back. Cargill gets distracted by Flair again, leading to her getting floored with a chop block. Cargill counters a head scissors into multiple backbreakers. After the break, Bliss is working over Cargill. Bliss almost gets a three count after Flair stuns Cargill on the top rope. Flair boots Michin in the face. B-Fab pushes Bliss into the ring post. Cargill hits Jaded for the win.
Winner- Jade Cargill
Michin brings Cargill a chair. Flair tries to save Bliss, but Flair ends up getting stomped in the corner by Michin and B-Fab. B-Fab and Michin hold Flair in place while Cargill uses the chair to “snap” Bliss’ arm.
Grade: C+
The match was short and was obviously just a vehicle to get to Cargill, “snapping” Bliss’ arm. Bliss doesn’t break (heh) this one out often, but her ability to bend her arm backward is utterly disgusting to see, but a great trick to get an angle over.
United States Champion Trick Williams w/Lil Yachty vs. Carmelo Hayes
Trick Williams is sporting his custom white fur legacy United States Championship on the way to the ring. Williams pushes Hayes to the mat. Williams stomps Hayes out in the corner. Ricky Saints is watching the match from the back. Hayes catches Williams with a dropkick, followed by a springboard clothesline. Hayes sets up a dive, but Williams counters with a Trick slap. After the break, Hayes lands Dirty Diana for a near fall. Williams fires up and hits a Bookend. Hayes kicks at two. Diving DDT by Hayes. Williams kicks out! Williams tries another Trick slap. Hayes blocks it.
Williams is incredulous, but he bounces back with a throat chop and a leaping neckbreaker. Hayes lands a frog splash after pushing Williams off the top. After a series of counters, Hayes superkicks Williams. Hayes misses a frog splash. Cyclone boot by Williams. Hayes kicks out! The fight spills out of the ring. Hayes pushes Williams into Yachty. Hayes lands the First 48 and goes up top. Baron Corbin teleports to ringside and stuns Hayes on the top rope. The referee calls for the bell.
Winner- Carmelo Hayes
After the match, Corbin drops Williams and Hayes with the End of Days. Corbin holds the US title and drops it on Williams chest. Corbin steps over Williams like this was a Lakers/76ers game.
Grade: B
Fun match with a bat-ish ending. Baron Corbin? Ok, screw it. Let’s see where this goes.
GUNTAH!!!!!
Gunther says he’s waited long enough and demands GM Aldis come out now. Aldis walks to the ring and says he’s thought about what Gunther had to say. Despite their issues, Aldis is going to give Gunther what he wants. If Gunther wants Rhodes and Punk, he can have them. Aldis books Gunther in a tag match against Rhodes and Punk at SNME. Gunther’s tag partner? Sami Zayn. Gunther goes nuts and beats the crap out of Aldis.
After a nasty lariat, Gunther locks Aldis in a rear-naked choke. Referees and officials pull Gunther off of Aldis. Aldis manages to get to his feet. Gunther obliterates Aldis with a big boot. Gunther goes back to the choke, lets go, then goes back to get some more. Cody Rhodes storms the ring, but the show cuts off before he makes it. Apparently, Rhodes challenges Gunther to a match, but Gunther walks away.
Grade: A
GUNTHER IS A MONSTER. This segment gave Gunther a lot of his lost heat back.
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