Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include Interim WWE Women’s Championship Qualifying matches featuring Charlotte Flair clashing with Nia Jax and Chelsea Green battling Kiana James, Gunther addressing SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, and Cody Rhodes and CM Punk on their Saturday Night’s Main Event confrontation. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California.
WWE SmackDown Card:
- Interim WWE Women’s Championship Qualifying Match | Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax
- Interim WWE Women’s Championship Qualifying Match | Chelsea Green vs. Kiana James
- Cody Rhodes and CM Punk on their Saturday Night’s Main Event confrontation
- Gunther to speaks
WWE SmackDown Results:
Highlights from Saturday Night’s Main Event air as the show kicks off.
Contract Signing
Raw GM Adam Pearce is here to oversee the contract signing for SmackDown GM Nick Aldis and Gunther. Aldis is in the ring with Pearce. Pearce says there are a few things that he needs to make clear before the contract is signed. Gunther joins them in the ring. Pearce notes that once Aldis puts his name on the contract, he will forfeit his position as SmackDown GM and his duties will be given to Pearce. Also, there is a “Hold Harmless” agreement; WWE isn’t liable for anything that happens to Aldis during this match. Aldis says he knows exactly what he’s getting into, and if that means relinquishing his executive powers, so be it. Aldis signs. Gunther is in a t-shirt and jeans. Gunther notes all of this is beneath him, and he doesn’t understand why Pearce and Aldis are taking this so seriously.
The only reason he isn’t focused on winning the world championship is that Aldis doesn’t know how to do his job. Aldis is jealous of Gunther, and it doesn’t matter if Aldis is a former NWA Champion. Gunther is going to grant Aldis’ wish and add him to the list of legends whose career he’s ended. Aldis says he’s figured Gunther out. Gunther didn’t think it would come to this; Gunther got himself in this position. Aldis quips he has nothing to lose. When Aldis beats Gunther at SummerSlam, he goes from “The Career Killer” to “the guy who got made a b*tch by his boss!” Gunther takes a swing at Aldis. Aldis and Gunther brawl. Gunther kicks Aldis below the belt and powerbombs him through a table.
Grade: B-
Both Aldis and Gunther did well selling their match at SummerSlam. These two have created what feels like legitimate heat in short order. That’s impressive. Aldis can not win this match; that said, there is no reason he can’t look damn good in a loss. On the other hand, Gunther has been beating the snot out of Aldis leading up to this match, so maybe there is a small chance Aldis can win…
Side note: This could lead to Aldis having to face Pearce at Mania to get his GM job back.
Brie Bella w/Paige vs. Women’s Tag Team Champion Lainey Reid w/Fatal Influence
On the way to the ring, Jacy Jayne declares she is coming after Tiffany Stratton’s United States Championship since Brie and Paige cost Jayne her SummerSlam ladder match spot. A brawl breaks out. After the break. Brie lands Brie mode for a near fall. Jayne hops up on the barricade; Paige pulls Jayne off the apron. Brie counters a roll-up into a roll-up for the win.
Winner- Brie Bella
After the match, Fatal Influence attacks Brie and Paige. Nikki Bella’s music hits, and Nikki runs to the ring and makes the save. Nikki challenges Fatal Influence to a six-woman tag.
Grade: C
Standard stuff here. Nikki’s return means Paige can finally go off and do her singles thing, and the Bellas can feud with the tag champs. That’s a win-win. Jayne declaring for the United States Championship pre-match was bizarre. The booking of Jayne since coming to the main roster has been the definition of odd. All that heat coming in has already started to turn to apathy.
Read More: AEW’s Thunder Rosa Believed To Be Done With Busted Open After WWE Radio Rebrand
Interim WWE Women’s Championship Qualifying Match | Chelsea Green vs. Kiana James
After a brief bit of back and forth, Green lands the Unprettiher for the win.
Winner- Chelsea Green
Grade: C
This one was way too fast. Both Green and James can go, and this wasn’t the best showing for either of them. Nowhere near enough time to develop in this one.
Cody-Cody RHODES!
Former Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes asks the WWE Universe what they want to talk about. Rhodes doesn’t want to waste any time, so he invites the current champion CM Punk to join him in the ring. Rhodes goes to hand Punk a mic, but he drops it on the mat. Rhodes quips that it was an accident. Punk takes off his jacket and gets in Rhodes’ face. Punk grabs a mic from a stagehand. CM Punk tells Rhodes that it’s a shame that this is where they are. Punk doesn’t feel comfortable turning his back on Rhodes in fear of a sneak attack. Punk says Rhodes is paranoid. Rhodes tells Punk that he has to beat Punk for himself.
They may be friends, and they may love each other, but Rhodes doesn’t like Punk. Rhodes says he followed Punk’s pipebomb promo to a T. Rhodes doesn’t sweat any of the wrestlers in the back except Punk. For this story to have the proper ending, Rhodes has to beat Punk at SummerSlam.
This event is ongoing. This information will be updated as the event progresses.
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