Smackdown Review – 06.12.26

Time keeps on spinning into the future: AAA Noche de los Grandes Night Two | Raw | NXT | Evolve | Impact

Smackdown is LIVE and on the USA/Netflix airwaves from the Amica Mutual Pavillion in Providence, RI. The announcing team for tonight’s show consists of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett on match calls and analysis, Mark Nash on ring introductions, and Cathy Kelley on interviews and breaking news. We will know all of the King and Queen of the Ring semi-finalists after tonight’s show, and the question remains – will Smackdown be able to produce a representative in those contests? Raw is six for six so far in qualifiers for the semis! Keep your fingers crossed for the blue brand, and let’s watch some wrestling!

Then, Now, Forever….TOGETHER

Here’s some highlights from last week‘s episode centering on the GUNTHER-Cody Rhodes situation that tangentially involves Sami Zayn as well. Nick Aldis explains to Rhodes that GUNTHER will be naming his stipulation for the title match. Back live, here’s WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes entering the building in Providence and immediately encountering Smackdown GM Nick Aldis. Aldis hasn’t heard from GUNTHER yet, so Rhodes brushes it off and wishes Aldis a good Smackdown. Rhodes continues on and runs into Main Event Jey and Big Jim Uso. Fist bumps are exchanged and Jey reminds Rhodes that he’s going to win tonight, and he’s coming for Cody at Summerslam. Rhodes says he hopes Jey is right, but he hopes that Jey’s decision to target Rhodes’s title is his own and “not Roman’s”. Rhodes leaves and the Usos stare after him.

More arrivals include: Los Angeles Knight, Royce Keys, and Finn Balor, all of whom will face Jey Uso in the King of the Ring fatal-four-way tonight!

Tessitore and Barrett mention that WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is being evaluated for a knee injury right now and everyone is hopeful that the early treatment she’s received will allow her to compete soon. They throw to highlights of last week’s contest between Jade Cargill and Michin taking on Charlotte Flair and WWE Women’s US Champion Tiffany Stratton. Cargill pinned Stratton to end that contest. Cathy Kelley is with Jade Cargill who’s flanked by Michin and B-Fab, and Cargill tells Kelley that she’ s not feeling any pressure regarding her participation in the upcoming Women’s Queen of the Ring four-way. Cargill says she’s won it once, she can win it again. B-Fab also puts the stink-mouth on Tiffany Stratton, and Cargill says she’ll see Rhea Ripley at Summerslam. Charlotte Flair’s entrance music kicks in and Cargill seems unhappy to hear it.

Women’s Queen of the Ring Fatal Four-Way: Charlotte Flair vs Jade Cargill vs Lyra Valkyria vs WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Sol Ruca

Cargill is the only one out with friends, as B-Fab and Michin accompany her. Cargill’s snow machine is less than impressive tonight as it’s sitting to her right and just sort of limply pushing fake flakes at Michin. Everyone comes at Cargill to start and Flair and Ruca want a double-team suplex, but Cargill reverses impressively before nipping up. Cargill catches a Valkyria second-rope leap and uses Valkyria as a weapon to toss her in a fall-away slam at Ruca. Flair and Cargill have a showdown and Fliar chops away before dropping Cargill with a bridging German. B-Fab and Michin interfere and start stomping on Flair, and this brings out Alexa Bliss who flies in to immediately get overwhelmed by the numbers. Here’s WWE Women’s US Champion Tiffany Stratton out to help Bliss. Stratton and Michin fight into the WWE UNIVERSE while B-Fab and Bliss fight up the aisle to the back. Cargill seems happy with this until she turns into a Flair cross-body that gets two. We go to commercials.

Cargill and Ruca are battling in the ring when the show returns, and Valkyria flies in with a dropkick on Cargill to break it up. Valkyria hits Flair with a leaping enziguri and then drops a charging Ruca with a Fisherman’s suplex. Cargill walks into a Valkyria dropkick, and Flair charges over to hit Natural Selection on Valkyia. Ruca breaks up Flair’s cover at two with a senton. Flair and Ruca stand off and Flair goes to the apron. Flair ascends but gets caught by a Ruca kick. Valkyria comes back in to send Ruca into the corner which upends Flair. Valkyria disposes of Ruca and then wants a suplex on Flair, but Cargill sneaks underneath for an avalanche Samoan Drop. Cargill covers Flair for two, and then starts bullying Flair around. Flair fires up with some rights and then crushes Cargill with her walkover clothesline. Ruca flies in with a missile dropkick on Flair as she was trying for the Figure Eight on Cargill. Ruca slips a Cargill charge and gets rolled up for two by Valkyria. Valkyria dumps Ruca off the apron and then mashes Cargill with a between-the-ropes dropkick. Ruca ascends and wipes everyone out with a moonsault to the floor. Ruca dumps Valkyria back in and hits a springboard splash for two. We go to commercials.

Ruca walks into a Cargill spinebuster that gets two when the show returns. Cargill positions Ruca and ascends but Flair comes in with a right to prevent further Cargill damage. Ruca and Flair pull Cargill off the top turnbuckle and mash her with a superplex. Valkyria comes in to start fighting with Ruca, and Ruca catches Flair with a kick when she charges. Ruca hits a springboard flip into a double lariat on Valkyria and Flair before turning right into a Cargill pump kick. Cargill kicks Ruca a bit and then yanks Flair up for Jaded. Valkyria flies in with a dropkick to break up Cargill’s cover at two. Cargill dumps Valkyria to the floor and walks right into a Sol Snatcher from Ruca. Valkyria yanks Ruca off her cover of Cargill and out to the floor at the ref’s count of two. Valkyria ascends and hits her leaping legdrop on Flair. Flair hits Natural Selection on Valkyria, but Valkyria reverses into a crucifix on Flair that gets two. Valkyria wants Nightwing on Flair but Ruca charges in with a thrust kick. Flair mashes Ruca with a thrust kick of her own and then slaps the Figure Eight on Valkyria who taps immediately.

Man, that was ALL ACTION at the end, with even Tessitore commenting on the pace they had during the finishing sequence. From an individual perspective, here’s what I took from this. Valkyria is a pesky little shit-stirrer in these types of matches because she doesn’t care who she’s dealing with to try to get her win. Cargill is pretty vain in assuming that her power game will just overmatch everyone else. Ruca looks for her spots and tries to take as much advantage of her athleticism as she can (tonight’s Sol Snatcher was perfectly timed and Cargill took it like a champ). Flair is just always where she needs to be and knows when to work her high impact stuff like a 14 time world champ should. Other than the ridiculous length of this, I don’t really have any major flaws to point out. This was well-agented until the chaotic finish when the selling kind of went away, but overall this was pretty good for a multi-person match and the crowd was with them the whole way. Smackdown gets its first entrant into the semi-finals! 3.5*

Winner – Charlotte Flair (Figure Eight on Valkyria)

Flair makes sure to shake Ruca’s hand before celebrating mid-ring. Flair shows the crowd some love as Barrett talks over the highlights. Flair will face Liv Morgan in one semi-final, while IYO Sky faces Raquel Rodriguez in the other.

Here’s a super-pissed Tiffany Stratton backstage talking with Cathy Kelley about how no one wants Cargill to get back to the title. B-Fab and Michin arrive to put the stink-mouth on Stratton before Chelsea Green flies into the scene wielding a kendo stick. Green bellows at Michin and B-Fab and Stratton seems impressed.

Here’s the Usos in a locker room getting hyped for Jey’s match when in walks Jacob Fatu who mentions that he’s not here to help Jey, he’s here to speak with Solo Sikoa. Jim says he’s there to make sure nobody gets involved in Jey’s business, and Fatu tells him to handle that while he deals with his responsibilities. We go to commercials.

Here’s Carmelo Hayes at New England Patriots mini-camp when the show returns. Shockingly not present in the short highlights package is Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, and you might be able to guess why if you follow the news at all. There’s a bunch of Patriots players at ringside and they get a nice pop from the Rhode Island crowd.

Here’s a Blake Monroe pre-taped promo and this time she’s chatting about Charlotte Flair and her friendship with Alexa Bliss. Monroe advises them to hold on to each other tightly because the GLAMOUR is coming to Smackdown.

Here’s Nick Aldis ending a phone call as GUNTHER enters the scene with a huge grin on his face. GUNTHER tells Aldis he can’t trust Aldis’s choice when it comes to referees for the match so he’s going to pick his own. Aldis wants to know who it is and GUNTHER says he’ll tell everyone later.

Here’s Finn Balor chatting with Cathy Kelley, and he’s excited to be on Smackdown. Balor has old friends and foes on the brand, and here’s WWE Men’s Tag Team Champion R-Truth wandering in to welcome Balor. Truth is still under the assumption that the Judgement Day is all together and is excited, but when WWE Men’s Tag Team Champion Damian Priest joins the scene the mood changes drastically. Priest grumpily welcomes Balor to Smackdown while eyeing him up, and Balor thanks Priest through gritted teeth. Truth says they can build a clubhouse inside the castle behind the moat. Truth tells Balor he loves him when Balor leaves, and Priest tells him that the only thing that matters is their partnership. They have the MFT’s for the titles next week and Priest emphasizes they’ll still be champs when it’s over. Priest leaves as Truth continues to dream about the Judgement Day reunion.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige make their entrance as we go to commercials.

Here’s some breaking news when the show returns – Chelsea Green and Tiffany Stratton will be in tag action against B-Fab and Michin later.

Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid) vs WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige

This is non-title, and Jacy Jayne is out with her Fatal pals. It’s Henley and Bella to start and Henley uses some Reid distraction to put a boot into Bella’s mid-section. Henley runs into a Bella lariat and then gets caught by a Bella Side Russian leg sweep. Paige tags in and her and Bella bully Henley around before hitting a double bulldog. Paige hits a running knee on Henley and covers her for one. Reid tags in and Paige wallops her with a headbutt. Bella tags back in for some Yes kicks, and Henley tries to break it up. Bella drops Henley with a dropkick and returns to hitting Reid with Yes kicks while Paige works over Henley along the ropes. Jayne trips up Bella during some rope running with Reid and Reid takes advantage with a double stomp and a bunch of rights. Reid runs Bella into the Fatal corner and tags in Henley. Henley and Reid hit some double team stuff and Henley gets a two count after a lariat. Henley drops Bella with a gut shot and the ref misses Paige tagging in. Reid tags in and her and Henley continue assaulting Bella. Reid hits a rolling Blockbuster and covers Bella for two as we go to commercials.

Bella and Henley are fighting it out when the show returns. Bella fights her way out of the heel corner and finally tags in Paige. Paige runs over Reid and Henley with clotheslines and then she leaps on Reid to start pounding away with rights. Paige snaps off a German and a Fisherman’s suplex before hitting a reverse thrust that gets two. Paige wants the Paige Turnah but Henley breaks it up. Paige sends Henley to the floor and crushes Reid with Rampaige, but Henley again breaks up the cover at two. Bella ascends for a missile dropkick on Henley, but Reid mashes Bella with a running knee. Paige grabs a roll up and visual three count on Reid but the ref is distracted by Bella and only counts two. Reid springs up to waffle Paige with a superkick before tagging in Henley. Henley hits a Flapjack on Paige while a charging Reid gets dumped to the floor by Bella. Paige slaps the Paige Turnah on Henley and when the ref turns he sees Jayne pulling Henley to the safety of the ring apron. The ref ejects Jayne and Henley grabs a small package on Paige. Bella flips Paige into the top position and then ducks out of the ring. A stunned Reid is unable to prevent the ref from finally counting three.

Fatal are no strangers to internal bickering so I’m guessing this finish might lead to some of that. I’m a little surprised at this finish only because I suspected a Fatal win here to set up a title defense, but we’ll see what happens with the other two hours of this show. Brie Bella continues to wildly underwhelm me and Paige’s offense is very limited at this point, but they’re making it work and the crowd is enjoying the ‘member berries, so we’ll just leave it alone. 2.5*

Winners – Bella/Paige (Paige small package on Henley)

Tessitore has more highlights of Cody Rhodes and Sami Zayn’s chat before GUNTHER attacked Rhodes from behind. A three-way brawl broke out and Rhodes ended up hitting a tope on Zayn when GUNTHER pulled him into the line of fire.

Here’s Sami Zayn backstage airing his grievances to an uncaring and possibly-comatose Sad John Wrestling, while a bored Candice LeRae stands in the background checking Instagram. LeRae wants to know when Gargano is actually going to do something, but Zayn assumes she’s talking to him and leaves to go do something. We go to commercials.

Here’s Danhausen in his lab and in walk Los Garza who I could have sworn were released. They offer Danhausen a bag full of money to curse the New York Knicks because they’ve bet big on the Spurs. Danhausen takes the money but doesn’t actually curse anyone as Angel and Berto leave, and here’s Matt Cardona in to offer up his watch in trade for Danhausen NOT cursing the Knicks. Here’s Kit Wilson in with The Miz who appears to be in a catatonic state while repeating his various catchphrases. Wilson manages to electrocute himself, and Danhausen leaves while Wilson writhes in pain on the floor. LOVE THAT DANHAUSEN.

Here’s Sami Zayn out to address the crowd, who don’t seem too enthused to hear him at first before a small “Sami, Sami” chant breaks out. Zayn says he’s not comparing the European crowds to the US crowds but he had full support of the ride-or-dies while there. Zayn says the crowd could boo him or ride or die with the last real good guy (Zayn has new merch with that catchphrase on it – hit up wweshop.com for further details). Zayn wants to clear the air with Cody Rhodes right now and calls him out. “Kingdom” hits and here’s WWE Men’s Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes out to a massive pop. Zayn is annoyed by Rhodes trying to get the crowd into things and just wants to talk to Rhodes like a man. The Euro “Cody, Cody Rhodes” chant breaks out to Zayn’s further annoyance and Zayn says Rhodes deserved it when GUNTHER choked him out and Zayn decided to let it happen. Zayn says when he helps Rhodes he keeps ending up taking the brunt of the damage inflicted, and just wants the truth from Rhodes. Rhodes says Zayn is asking him to explain pro wrestling to him and can’t believe that a veteran like Zayn can’t understand this entire thing. Rhodes says two years ago he shares the memory of beating Roman Reigns for the title with Zayn being the first guy to be there for Rhodes. Zayn says he’s still happy for Rhodes to this very day in finishing the story because Zayn is a good guy. Zayn wonders how many others from that night are still Rhodes friends at this point, and thinks that the actual problem in all of this might be Rhodes. Rhodes says when the title gets involved, he couldn’t be honest with Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, and John Cena because of the immense nature of the title. Rhodes fires up and says the crowd is chanting “Sami sucks!” because lately, he does suck and is very desperate. Rhodes says they shouldn’t pretend the current beef is about anything other than the title. Rhodes says he’s sorry he has the title because it means Zayn never will. (The crowd: “OOOOOOOHHHHH”) Zayn slaps Rhodes dead in the face for that remark and then wants to apologize while Rhodes shakes with fury. Zayn tries to calm the waters and Rhodes returns the slap with full force. Zayn takes this and heads to the floor to think about things. Zayn grabs a chair and goes to the apron while Rhodes stands impassively in the ring. Zayn thinks better of things and leaves without looking back.

Here’s Solo Sikoa being confronted by Jacob Fatu. Fatu has a message from the OTC and says that Roman Reigns wants Sikoa to come home. Sikoa says it’s not a home, it’s a dog house, and Fatu is now a lapdog. Sikoa says Fatu used to be a killer and someone who everyone was afraid of, and now he’s just an errand boy. Sikoa says Reigns has done nothing but embarrassed and humiliated Fatu by making him kneel down in front of the family to acknowledge him. Sikoa tells Fatu to tell Reigns to go to hell. Fatu says he understands where Sikoa is coming from but he’s made his decision and he’s standing on business. Fatu says the OTC ordered it so he’s coming for Sikoa. Sikoa laughs that off and says if Reigns wants him to come home then he should come do it himself. Sikoa leaves as Tessitore talks up the gravity of what we just saw.

Tessitore throws to highlights of Rey Fenix winning the AAA Cruiserweight Championship from Laredo Kid at Noche de los Grandes. Fenix makes his entrance as we go to commercials.

WWE is auctioning off El Grande Americano Original‘s signed mask from the immense Mask vs Mask match and you can bid on it RIGHT HERE. The proceeds will to go the Sonrisas Foundation in Mexico, and their mission is to help young children with life-threatening conditions.

AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fenix (C) vs Axiom

Nathan Frazer comes out with Fenix but then exits to the back. Fenix hits a dropkick and then mashes Axiom with a tope suicida. Axiom gets dumped back in and Fenix leaps into an Axiom sleeper. There’s a series of reversals and Axiom snaps off a gnarly looking German. Axiom hits a running kick to the chest and covers Fenix for two. Fenix throws some chops but wanders into Axiom trying to put on La Mistica. Fenix makes the ropes and dumps Axiom to the apron for a dropkick. Fenix ascends and misses his jump before running headlong into an Axiom dropkick. Axiom hits a springboard moonsault and we go to commercials.

Axiom grabs a rear naked choke when Fenix leaps on to him. Fenix rolls Axiom over for two and they start slugging it out mid-ring. Axiom eats a reverse thrust from Fenix, and Fenix gets caught ascending by an Axiom enziguri. Fenix headbutts Axiom away and hits the Adios Amigos running ropewalk kick. Fenix hits a high cross-body and covers Axiom for two. Fenix hits a couple of kicks and a back elbow. Axiom slides through Fenix’s legs to the floor while simultaneously dropping him with a release German. Axiom ascends and hits a long missile dropkick for two. Axiom lines up Fenix but misses the Golden Ratio. Fenix hoists Axiom up for a sheer drop brainbuster that gets two. They crash into each other with lariats, and Axiom wants an armbar. Fenix escapes that and ducks an Axiom charge. Fenix hits a springboard reverse thrust kick and mounts Axiom on a top turnbuckle. Fenix has some trouble ascending and eventually eats a Spanish Fly from Axiom that gets two. Fenix hits a superkick and a springboard reverse kick. Fenix pulls Axiom into the Mexican Muscle Buster and that finishes things.

Axiom is so much more fun to watch when he’s not tagging with Nathan Frazer. He works at a normal pace, there’s transition moves and psychology, and it feels like a fight instead of an exhibition of AWESOME COOL WRESTLING STUFF. I thought this was good even if the crowd took some time to warm to it. Fenix has found his lane, it feels like, and working solo with cruisers is a good use of him as a mid-carder. Axiom did well here. 3.25*

Winner AND STILL AAA Cruiserweight Champion – Rey Fenix (Mexican Muscle Buster)

Here’s Nick Aldis with GUNTHER again, and GUNTHER says his decision has been made. GUNTHER mentions the “human factor” and says the Last Real Good Guy should be the referee – Sami Zayn. Aldis seems upset by this as GUNTHER chuckles and leaves.

Here’s a swank Porsche pulling into the lot and out pops WWE Men’s US Champion Trick Williams and his good friend Lil Yachty. We’ll hear from Trick after commercials.

Yachty is toting the diamond-encrusted kendo stick as Tessitore helpfully points out. Trick finds a little kid dressed as him with the sunglasses and white fur and seems very happy to see him. Yachty introduces Trick as “the real champion of Smackdown” but Trick says tonight is not going to be a party like it normally is when they come out. Trick is upset about losing in his King of the Ring four-way last week but says it woke something up in him. Trick says he wants to bring Smackdown to new levels and sees that there’s questions about who’s going to lead Smackdown. Trick says he’s the “leader of the new school” and he’s pissed about losing last week, but his name is Trick Williams and he’s still the US Champion, still a star, still Mr. Lemon Pepper Steppers, and he’s Trick James, bitch. Here’s Ricky Saints out to interrupt, followed immediately by Carmelo Hayes. Hayes walks right past a stunned Saints and joins Yachty and Trick in the ring. Saints flies in and wants a mic. Hayes says Trick needs to pick someone to fight and stop doing catchphrases, and Saints says he beat Hayes and should be the number one contender. Hayes and Saints bicker enough to make Trick grumpy, and he says Saints and Hayes need to figure things out, not him. Saints pushes Hayes into a retreating Trick, and they start fighting. Hayes hits Dirty Diana and goes to ground and pound, and a grumpy Trick comes in to clean house on everyone. Trick and Yachty stand tall as the segment ends.

Cathy Kelley is with Royce Keys, but he doesn’t get a word out to answer her question before Solo Sikoa arrives. Sikoa says the Bloodline is in the building tonight and he knows what play they’re going to run. Sikoa points out that Jacob Fatu is on orders to help Jey advance. Sikoa says Keys doesn’t have to fight for him or with him, he just doesn’t want to see Keys end up as a casualty in Roman’s war.

Chelsea Green makes her entrance followed closely by WWE Women’s US Champion Tiffany Stratton as we go to commercials.

B-Fab and Michin vs Chelsea Green and WWE Women’s US Champion Tiffany Stratton

It’s Stratton and Michin to start and Stratton lariats Michin down after some acrobatics. Stratton slips a couple of Michin charges and waffles her with an Alabama Slam. Green grabs a tag and pulls Michin over face-first before covering and getting two. Green eats an elbow and B-Fab tags in. They hit some double-team kicks on Green and B-Fab covers her for two. Green fires up and Michin tags in. They loft Green up for a facebuster. Michin smacks Stratton down off the apron and then covers Stratton for two. We go to commercials.

Green and Michin are slugging it out when the show returns, and Michin ends up hitting a top rope rana on Green that gets two. Green hits a Northern Lights but B-Fab charges in to try to prevent the tag. Green dumps Michin to the floor and then ducks a B-Fab charge that sees her go shoulder-first into a ring post. Jade Cargill comes in from outta nowhere to yank Stratton off the apron before she can tag in, and Green responds with an Unpretty-her on B-Fab. Michin flies in and yanks Green into a Styles Clash that finishes things.

I thought this was pretty underwhelming overall despite the obvious charm of Green and Stratton’s budding-but-awkward friendship. B-Fab and Michin just can’t generate enough heat as underlings to really get a crowd fired up and Stratton played very little part in this overall. It was short, which was a good thing, but not all that exciting. 2*

Winners – B-Fab/Michin (Michin Styles Clash on Green)

Post-match sees Stratton fly in to attack Cargill, but it goes to three on one in a hurry. Cargill hoists Stratton up for Jaded and then puts Stratton’s belt on top of her as she and the Baddies leave.

Tessitore and Barrett throw to highlights of last week’s Women’s QOTR four-way that saw the end of the partnership between Giulia and Kiana James. Cathy Kelley is backstage with Kiana James who says that her friend betrayed her and while that’s juicy gossip for Kelley, it’s James actual life. Giulia enters and the bickering starts, and Giulia says her English is much better and she has the words to say….before slapping James right in the mush.

Here’s Finn Balor running into Tama Tonga as he makes his way out. Tonga says it’s been a long time and welcomes Balor to Smackdown before telling him “Good luck.” We go to commercials.

Here’s Cody Rhodes questioning Nick Aldis about GUNTHER’s choice of Sami Zayn due to Zayn’s emotional state. Zayn wanders into scene and parrots Rhodes words about his emotions, and then wishes Rhodes good luck for next week. Tessitore talks about the card for Kansas City next week and mentions that the Rhodes-GUNTHER title match will be commercial-free. The tag titles will be defended as mentioned earlier, Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints will have a number one contender’s match to see who faces Trick Williams for the US title at Night of Champions, and Charlotte Flair will face Liv Morgan in the Queen of the Ring semi-finals. Damn, that is kind of a loaded card.

Cathy Kelley is with LA Knight and Knight knows the Bloodline is in the building, but he was clearly Knight-adamus in predicting they’d all show up. Knight calls Roman Reigns “Nostra-dumbass” before messing up who his opponent will be tonight by thinking it’s Big Jim in the four-way. Knight says he’s not making any promises about tonight but if he can defy the odds he’ll be wearing the King of the Ring crown while stomping Roman Reigns out. I have a shiny nickel that says that’s not happening, Los Angeles.

Jey Uso makes his way through the crowd to do some YEETing on the way to the ring. We go to commercials.

Men’s King of the Ring Fatal Four-Way: Jey Uso vs Finn Balor vs LA Knight vs Royce Keys

Barrett says Knight’s kevorka is “spurting out of his body” as Knight makes his entrance and Wade, we don’t have to hear everything that comes into your head, bud. We just don’t. Knight makes fun of Uso’s “run it back” thing with his entrance music and Uso attacks in response. Keys starts beating up everyone and Balor fires up with some kicks after Uso and Knight get dumped. Balor hits a tope con hilo on Knight and Uso and we go to commercials.

Balor and Uso are slugging it out when the show returns. Balor hits a shotgun dropkick and covers Uso for two. Balor stomps on a returning Knight but gets caught by Keys when he approaches him. Keys smashes Balor around and trucks him down when Balor charges. Uso hits a superkick to Keys gut and then runs right into a Keys spinebuster. Knight breaks up Keys cover at two. Knight and Keys slug it out and Keys messes up a neckbreaker. Knight drops an elbow and then puts the boots to him in a corner. Keys mashes a charging Knight with a lariat and then yanks him into a rolling powerslam. Balor breaks up Keys cover at two. Balor works Keys over from the apron and then springs into a cross-body. Keys catches Balor and hits a backbreaker before mounting Balor in a corner for some clubbering rights. Uso and Knight charge over and each get clotheslined by Keys. Keys yanks up Balor for a second rope powerslam that gets two before Knight breaks up the cover. Keys and Knight go to the floor and Keys drives Knight back-first into a ring post. Uso wants a tope but Keys catches him and drops Uso on the apron. Keys runs Uso into the ring steps and turns back to see Big Jim Uso now at ringside. Here’s Solo Sikoa out to eye up Big Jim as we go to commercials.

Balor gets caught by Keys again while trying a cross-body, but an Uso superkick prevents further Keys damage. Knight hits a between-the-ropes dropkick on a staggering Keys and everyone is on the floor. Balor wants everyone to attack Keys so they clear off the announce table and they hit a Shield powerbomb on Keys through the table. Knight and Uso slug it out mid-ring and Balor grabs Uso for a quick roll up for two. Balor drops Knight with an elbow drop and Uso breaks up his cover at two. Uso runs into a Balor sling blade and wants a shotgun dropkick, but Uso rises up with a superkick. Balor shakes that off and rips off another sling blade. Balor hits the shotgun dropkick on Uso, and then ascends. Knight leaps up and gets dropped onto the prone Uso. Balor hits the Coup de Grace and covers Uso but a recovered Keys yanks him off at two. Keys runs Balor into Big Jim and they spill into the timekeeper’s area. Sikoa tries to gee up Keys but while he’s doing that Knight flies in with a dropkick that sends Keys careening into Sikoa. Knight dumps Keys back in and pulls him into a Side Russian. Knight drops Uso with a Death Valley Driver, but Keys rises up to drop Knight with an inverted neckbreaker. Knight is up first and he hits his springboard elbow drop on Keys before wanting the BFT. Keys denies it and while the ref is momentarily distracted Sikoa crushes Knight with a spike. Keys hits a spinebuster on Knight and his cover is broken up by an Uso splash. Uso crawls over top of Keys and covers Knight for three.

So Raw goes 7/8 in semi-finalists in both tournaments. Thank you Charlotte Flair, I guess. Anyway, I thought once again that the agenting here was solid, the work was decent, and other than some Keys/Knight awkwardness in the second segment, this worked pretty well overall. The stories within all stayed in place and advanced a bit, and the man who never shuts up but never wins anything in LA Knight takes another pin. I like Knight but he’s the definition of loudmouth loser at this point. This was good but never got anywhere near great, I guess is the best way to put it. 3.25*

Winner – Jey Uso (Uso Splash on Keys and Knight, covers Knight for the win)

Post-match sees Uso barking about how the crown is his while celebrating with Big Jim. Jey will take on Je’von Evans on Smackdown next week. The credits roll as Tessitore hypes up the Kansas City show for next week, and we’re out.

Two weeks in a row with decent Smackdowns? THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE, BRAIN?! All the in-ring stuff was decent-to-good tonight, and the show flowed decently enough. Other than the long and somewhat pointless yap sesh between Trick/Yachty/Melo/Saints, the promos were decent as well. The show at three hours still feels WAY too long but at least they’re making an effort to seem like they care right now. Smackdown is where it is though, and I’m annoyed that there’s only one representative in these upcoming semi-finals from the blue brand. So here we are two weeks out from Night of Champions with no card announced other than the K/QotR finals taking place and we don’t know those participants yet. Hunter has some work to do.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Enjoy your weekends.