The show starts off with Jeff Hardy talking to some people in the back. We see what happened last week with Jeff and Elias.
Back at the WWE Performance Center, Jeff Hardy makes his way to the ring.
Jeff thanks WWE Management and Fox for giving him this time to get things off his chest. Last week, the WWE Universe witnessed something that was harmful. Elias suffered injuries that could have been worse. Jeff says he wants to paint a portrait from his perspective.
Jeff says he pulled up to the parking lot, excited about the show and he got out of the car and it felt like he was hit with an anvil. The next thing he knew, he was surrounded by police and he couldn’t answer the questions that were asked of him. He reeked of alcohol and his hands were cuffed. Jeff says he started to go back into that dark place. He says he was thinking about everything that happened over the last eight months. He wondered how could he look at his wife and daughters. How many times can he beg for forgiveness.
Jeff says he is here for a reason. He is in the WWE for a reason. Jeff says it is good that he is not alone on this path. He knew that he did not slip last Friday. Jeff says he was in the police station and he was thrown all of the sobriety tests and he passed them. Jeff says the witnesses told the police what happened and the person had red hair and a red beard. Jeff says he couldn’t wait to get back because he knew who it was.
Jeff says the anger in him can only be expressed with action. Jeff says he will be damned if he will let Sheamus get away with it.
Sheamus’ music plays and he comes out.
Sheamus tells Jeff to stop pointing fingers at him and blaming others for his problems. Why are you not willing to admit your faults. You are always blaming someone else. Those fans of yours are worse than you are. They are in denial. They are enablers. Sheamus tells Jeff to be a man and admit what he did. Sheamus says Jeff is not a man, he is a junkie.
Sheamus walks to the back, but he stops. He tells Jeff not to worry about being a disappointment to his wife and daughters because they are used to it.
Jeff heads up the ramp to fight. He ducks a Brogue Kick and they go at it. Sheamus gets the upperhand on the stage and beats him down. Sheamus ends up hitting the big kick and sending Jeff into the Plexiglas barriers over and over. Sheamus stands over Hardy at ringside as referees check on him. Sheamus yells “Fella!” and stands tall as his music plays.
Backstage:
Otis is walking backstage with Mandy Rose. They come up on the cape and crown of King Baron Corbin. He asks if he should try it on and she tells him to go for it. Otis puts the crown on and goofs off as they walk off together. We briefly go to the announcers and then back to Corbin, who is furious about his crown going missing. A crew member tells him Otis walked off with it. Corbin is furious as he heads to the ring for their match and we go to commercial.
Otis vs. King Baron Corbin
Corbin unloads to start the match. Otis comes back and sends Corbin to the floor. Corbin comes right back in but Otis sends him right back out. Otis follows but Corbin knocks him into the apron and then sends him face-first into the ring post as Mandy cheers her man on. Corbin brings it back in and sends Otis into the corner, then runs out and back in. Otis side-steps a clothesline but Corbin comes right back with a big side-slam for a close 2 count.
Corbin keeps control and rocks Otis with strikes in the corner. Corbin with body shots and more offense in the corner. Otis kicks out at 2. Corbin keeps Otis in the corner and manhandles him some by the neck now. The “fans” chant for Otis now. Otis keeps fighting and looks to turn it around but Corbin kicks away. Otis just takes them and hulks up. Otis starts to mount some offense now. Otis with a big overhead suplex. Otis goes on and hits a corner splash. Otis calls for the Caterpillar but Corbin rolls to the floor.
Corbin stalls some as Otis approaches. Corbin grabs a steel chair and sends it into Otis’ gut for the disqualification as the referee calls the match.
Winner by DQ: Otis
After the bell, Corbin delivers more chair shots. They bring it back in the ring but Otis comes back and drops Corbin. Otis does the Caterpillar and drops the elbow on Corbin. Otis celebrates with Rose as his music hits.
– Still to come, AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan face off. Also, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross will defend in tonight’s main event.
– We see The Miz and John Morrison outside in some type of surveillance or production fan. They’re going to mess with WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman tonight. They watch Strowman drive into the parking lot and park his car. Strowman gets out and wheels his luggage into the building as Miz and Morrison watch, laughing at what they have in mind. We go to commercial.
– Back from the break and we see The Miz and John Morrison outside in their van. They talk about how everyone has criticized them since they challenged WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman to a Handicap Match. It comes as no surprise because these same people have doubted them for years. They go on and say Strowman came to work without a care in the world tonight but that’s about to change. They warn that some people won’t like what we’re about to see, some will think it’s low brow and juvenile, but it’s actually strategic. By the time they get to Backlash, Strowman’s life will be a living hell. The camera shows Strowman inside filling up his cup with water but it sends liquid flying everywhere. Was that milk? Strowman fumes as Miz and Morrison laugh in the van. “Wash these hands!” That’s the end of the segment.
Backstage:
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Shorty G, congratulating him on last week’s win over Cesaro. Mojo Rawley appears and taunts Shorty. He says we have bigger things to talk about this week, like his boy Rob Gronkowski getting robbed for the WWE 24/7 Title. Mojo picks on Shorty’s height and he’s not impressed. He turns to leave but Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura attack him. Mojo joins in until SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day make the save.
Sonya Deville vs. Lacey Evans
We go back to the ring and out comes Lacey Evans. Sonya Deville suddenly attacks her before she can get to the ring, dropping her at ringside. Deville enters the ring and is all smiles as Evans recovers at ringside. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and they lock up to go at it. Evans takes Deville down and they talk some trash. Deville goes behind and they trade holds. Deville with an elbow to the jaw and a takedown to ground Evans. They break and Deville taunts Evans some more. More back and forth now. Evans sweeps Deville from the apron and launches herself over the top rope with an elbow drop for a 1 count.
Evans takes Deville from corner to corner. Evans climbs onto Deville with a leg around the neck submission. Deville fights out of the corner and slaps Evans while talking trash. Deville drops Evans in the corner and mocks her some more as the “fans” boo. Deville uses the middle rope on Evans as the referee warns her. Deville with a big kick to the knee. Deville with a knee in the corner and a clothesline. Deville stands on Evans’ hair now to keep control. Deville with a kick to the face but Evans sends her face into the turnbuckle. Evans takes Deville down and delivers knee strikes to the head on the apron.
Evans launches herself in with a roll-up. Deville rolls into the referee and he’s selling a leg injury now. The referee tells them both to back as he calls for help. We go to commercial with the referee unable to stand.
Back from the break and a new referee has joined the match, replacing the injured official. Deville continues to dominate Evans and place her foot down on the steel steps with a boot. Deville brings it back into the ring but Evans kicks out at 2. Deville scoops Evans on her shoulders but she fights free. They go on and collide, both going down in the middle of the ring but it looks like Evans connected with a clothesline.
Deville gets up first but Evans clotheslines her twice. Evans with a series of knee strikes and a kick to the back of the head. Evans flattens Deville with a running knee. Evans with more offense in the corner now. Evans goes back to the middle rope and springboards up to the top for the moonsault but Deville still kicks out. Evans runs into a knee and a right hand. Evans sends her back into the ropes as the referee warns her by the count. Deville sends Evans back down with trash talking. Deville charges with the running knee and another 2 count. Deville is frustrated now.
Mandy Rose appears on the big screen. She talks trash to Deville and says she’s a failure, not a fighter. Deville screams back at Rose and dares her to come to the ring, calling her a Barbie Doll. Evans takes advantage and drops Deville with a Woman’s Right. Evans covers for the pin to win.
Winner: Lacey Evans
After the match, Rose looks on from the big screen and smiles as Evans celebrates the win. Deville rolls to the floor clutching her neck.
– Still to come, Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross in the main event. Also, Shorty G and The New Day vs. Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura and Mojo Rawley. AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan will meet next. Back to commercial.
– We are back with a Matt Riddle video package. He says he is at the top of the food chain. Matt says you will always remember his name.
Backstage:
Kayla Braxton is in the back and she is with Braun Strowman. Braun says those two dorks are trying to mess with him. They messed with his protein drink. We cut to Frick and Frack in the van and they ask if they have everything set up. Braun says the magic catchphrase and Kayla is hit with green slime. Braun says he knows that Miz and Morrison did it and he says it was supposed to be for him. Miz and Morrison argue about what side it was to be on and Kayla calls them bastards. Miz and Morrison consider it a victory since some got on Braun.
– We are told that Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles will be the Grand Marshals for the NASCAR race on Wednesday on FS1.
In the Arena:
Renee Young is in the ring and she is with the Intercontinental Title Belt. She brings out the two men who will battle for that title. Out first is Daniel Bryan. Out next is AJ Styles.
Renee wants to ask Daniel a question and AJ interrupts and says Daniel will call him a coward for taking a bye to the finals. AJ says if Jeff Hardy didn’t get involved last week, Sheamus would be standing where Daniel is.
Renee asks Daniel if AJ is a coward. Daniel says AJ is and each have their ways of thinking.
Renee asks AJ if he took the bye because he never won the IC title. AJ says he did the smart thing. He sees the greatest champion WWE has seen when he looks in the mirror. Daniel is all heart and it is noble he is doing the right thing, but it is stupid.
Daniel says he sees that AJ is trying to get under his skin. We have known each other for a long time and we have two different world views and two different visions of what it means to be Intercontinental Champion. You will defend the title sparingly against a limited number of opponents because you see yourself as the greatest of all time. You couldn’t imagine someone coming up and shattering that vision. That is why you are a coward. Daniel says his vision is defending the title every week against anyone. He says he will do that because he wants to learn and grow. It is not about who he is but who he can be. Daniel says he wants to have everyone excited to tune in to see a title match and maybe their favorite can break through and beat him to win a title.
AJ says it sounds like you want him to give a hand out. AJ says he does not believe in hand outs. He believes in earning an opportunity. How did Drew Gulak get the opportunity to become your coach? An opportunity to work here in the WWE? It doesn’t sound like an opportunity, it sounds like a handout. If we can’t agree what our vision is. AJ says he will reach across the aisle and do something unexpected. Why not give Drew an opportunity tonight. AJ tells Drew to come to the ring and get his hand out, aka an ass whipping.
Drew comes to the ring and he takes AJ down with a double leg take down. AJ goes to the floor as we go to commercial.
Drew Gulak vs. AJ Styles
Styles with a kick and chop followed by punches and more chops. Styles with a back elbow. Styles with shoulders in the corner followed by a chop. Gulak with a jaw breaker and Drew holds on to the ropes when AJ goes for a drop kick. Drew with an arm bar submission and AJ gets to the ropes to force a break. Styles with a kick and chop in the corner followed by a forearm. AJ with a snap mare and kick to the back. AJ with an STO back breaker for a near fall. AJ gets Drew on his shoulders but Drew escapes and hits a head butt. Drew with a boot to AJ in the corner but AJ with a clothesline. AJ with a rear chin lock.
Drew with punches in the corner and the referee warns Drew. AJ with a chop and punch. AJ with an Irish whip and AJ misses a forearm into the corner. Drew with an elbow and drop kick followed by a clothesline in the corner. Drew with a suplex. Drew with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Drew gets AJ on his shoulders and AJ with a rake of the eyes followed by an enzuigiri. AJ with a reverse DDT and then AJ looks at Bryan. AJ sets for the Styles Clash as he turns to Daniel. Gulak with a double leg take down into a jackknife cover and the three count.
Winner: Drew Gulak
After the bell, Gulak immediately goes out to the floor to celebrate with Bryan as a shocked AJ looks on. AJ yells out at Bryan and Gulak as we go to replays.
– A security camera and regular camera shows The Miz and John Morrison outside walking over to Braun Strowman’s car. We also see security outside of the door. They walk over to Strowman’s car with weapons in hand. Miz says it’s a good thing he’s been working on his golf game. He yells “fore!” and smashes Braun’s windshield with a golf club. Morrison pulls out a wooden baseball bat and does more damage to the windshield as Miz cheers him on. They celebrate the damage and go back to their van so they can wait and watch the look on Strowman’s face when he comes back out. Back to commercial.
The New Day and Shorty G vs. Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura and Mojo Rawley
Back from the break and out come SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day – Kofi Kingston and Big E. They bring Shorty G out next and here he comes down the ramp. Shinsuke Nakamura’s music hits next and out he comes with Cesaro and Mojo Rawley. They head to the ring together.
The two teams have words as the bell rings. Cesaro and G start off. G charges but Cesaro catches him and lifts but G slides out for a roll-up 2 count. Cesaro powers up again but G takes him down again. Cesaro levels G with a knee. G avoids the abdominal stretch with a leg whip. Big E tags in but Cesaro uppercuts him. Mojo tags in and levels Big E with a crossbody for a 2 count. The New Day end up turning it around on Nakamura. G tags in and keeps Nakamura down. Big E tags in for a splash on Nakamura. Kofi follows up with a splash from the middle rope on Nakamura but he kicks out at 2.
Kofi runs the ropes and leaps out, taking Cesaro down on the floor. Kofi clutches his leg and sells a knee injury off the landing. Mojo runs over and runs through Kofi while he’s trying to recover. We go to commercial with Kofi back down on the outside with Cesaro.
Back from the break and Cesaro has Kofi grounded in the ring. Kofi fights out but Cesaro slams him over his knee to stop the tag. Kofi kicks out at 2. Mojo tags in and stomps on Kofi while talking trash. Mojo works Kofi over and taunts his other opponents for boos from the crowd. Mojo ends up on the floor but he comes right back in and knocks Big E off the apron while G ducks. Kofi takes advantage and drops Mojo on his head. G tags in and goes at it. G knocks Nakamura off the apron and unloads on Mojo with strikes. Cesaro runs in but G back-drops him and he rolls to the floor.
G with the rolling kick to Mojo in the corner. G charges again with a running neckbreaker. G goes to the top for a moonsault to Mojo but he kicks out just in time. More back and forth. G blocks Mojo’s Hyper Drive and applies the ankle lock in the middle of the ring. G drops down on it but Nakamura runs in with a sliding knee to break it up. Nakamura counters the Big Ending from Big E. Cesaro uppercuts G to break his Sleeper on Mojo while the referee is distracted. Kofi leaps off the steps on the outside to take down Nakamura on the floor again.
Mojo goes on in the ring and nails the Hyper Drive but G still kicks out at 2. G knocks Cesaro off the apron to prevent him from interfering. Mojo tries to capitalize but G ducks and tags in Big E. G leaps out but Cesaro and Nakamura catch him. Kofi and Big E hit the big double team on Mojo while G holds the legs of Cesaro and Nakamura, preventing them from running in. Mojo gets dropped with the double team for the pin.
Winners: The New Day and Shorty G
After the match, G and The New Day stand tall as the music hits.
– We see The Miz and John Morrison in their surveillance van again. Braun Strowman comes out and is furious after seeing his windshield destroyed. He screams out about wanting to know where Miz and Morrison are. He asks a security guard where they are and he points to the van. Strowman, still wearing some of the slime from earlier, marches to the van as they lock the doors. Strowman yells for them to get out and starts beating on it. Strowman looks at the camera and says they are dead men. They laugh and think they’re protected by the van. Strowman starts rocking the van and they’re screaming out afraid now. Strowman tips the van up on its side. The camera shows Miz and Morrison falling all over the van as Strowman tips it over. Strowman says they’re not funny, that’s funny. He screams out and walks off as we go to commercial.
– Back from the break and Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy is confirmed for Backlash.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles Match: Sasha Banks and Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross
We go to the ring for tonight’s main event and out first comes WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley are out next.
The bell rings and Cross attacks Bayley to start. Cross goes right to work and tags in Bliss. Bliss slams Bayley to the mat and drops knees to the gut. Cross comes back in for a basement dropkick and a 2 count. Cross sends Bayley into the corner and keeps control. Bliss tags in and mocks Banks, then slaps Bayley to the mat in the corner. Bayley blocks a suplex and talks some trash to Bliss. Bayley rams her into the corner and in comes Banks.
Banks goes to work on Bliss now. Bayley tags back in and slaps Bliss in the face while she’s being held. Bliss rolls Bayley up for a 2 count at one point. Bliss rams Bayley into the corner and tags in Cross. Cross drops Bayley again for a 2 count. Bayley goes to the floor for a breather but Cross stays on her, then sends Banks into the ring post. Cross with a crossbody from the apron to Bayley on the floor. Bayley and Banks end up sending Cross to the floor from the apron. Banks tags in and delivers a Meteora to Cross on the floor. We go to commercial with Banks standing tall.
Banks and Bayley with a big double team to Cross after the break. Bayley covers for a 2 count. Bayley keeps control as Bliss tries to rally for her partner. Bliss finally gets the hot tag and unloads on both challengers. Bliss takes them both down with strikes and a dropkick. Bliss with knees and more knees to Bayley while she’s down. Bliss goes to the top for Twisted Bliss but Banks runs over on the apron. Bliss kicks her away but Bayley uses the distraction to rock Bliss up top.
Bayley climbs up and talks trash, then delivers a Bayley-to-Belly from the second rope. Banks comes in with a running knee to Bliss but she still kicks out at 2. Banks shows some frustration. Bliss turns it back around on Banks, sending her into the turnbuckle. Cross runs interference and ends up dropping Bayley on the floor with a big tornado DDT. Bliss drops Banks on her head with a Sunset Bomb for another close 2 count in the middle of the ring. Cross tags in and goes to the top for a crossbody on Banks. Banks kicks out at 2. Banks crawls for a tag but Bayley is still down on the floor.
Banks blocks Cross’ slingshot neckbreaker.. Banks with a Backstabber after Bayley tags in. Bayley comes in and there’s some miscommunication with Banks. Banks goes to the floor and looks shocked at Bayley as she tries to make Cross submit. Cross gets out and drops Bayley for a 2 count as Banks makes the save. More back and forth now. Banks with the Backstabber on Cross in the middle of the ring. Bayley stops Bliss from coming back in the ring. Cross and Banks tangle on the mat and it ends with Banks rolling Cross up with a Crucifix for the pin to win the titles.
Winners and New SmackDown Tag Team Champions: Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley
After the match, Banks and Bayley celebrate with the titles as the music hits. Bayley runs around with both titles and yells at the announcers like a fool. Bliss asks Cross what happened and she’s frustrated. Banks and Bayley continue celebrating with the titles. Banks holds her title in the air while Bayley screams about her titles being too heavy. SmackDown on FOX goes off the air.
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