Tonight’s live WWE SummerSlam go-home edition of SmackDown on FOX opens up from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, which has been transformed into WWE ThunderDome.
The pyro goes off and the lights start up all over the arena as Michael Cole welcomes us. He’s joined by Corey Graves. ThunderDome is live and fans are on the LED boards as the crowd.
– WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon is introduced, waiting in the ring. He welcomes us to WWE ThunderDome. He says no one brings thunder like WWE, which is why we’ll never see it coming this Sunday at SummerSlam. Which is also why every week… Vince is interrupted with the lights starting to go down. Vince looks around as the red lights and lasers shoot across the arena. The entrance of “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt begins as virtual fans watch from the ThunderDome LED boards.
Vince stares as The Fiend enters the ring and stares back, facing off with him in the middle of the ring. The Fiend toys with Vince and sticks his tongue out, laughing at him. There’s some fan noise in the background from ThunderDome. The music interrupts and out comes WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman. The Fiend turns around, taking his attention from Vince to The Monster. Strowman climbs into the ring and we see The Fiend’s head lantern sitting on the edge of the apron.
Strowman enters the ring and stares The Fiend down. Vince has left the ring. It looks like the fans have been taken off the LED boards now, but they re-appear. Strowman tells The Fiend his door is open, it sounds like. RETRIBUTION members suddenly appear on the apron, distracting Strowman and The Fiend.
More RETRIBUTION members rush the ring and surround Strowman and The Fiend, on the apron. The Fiend keeps staring at Strowman and starts nodding his head. Strowman nods and smiles back at The Fiend. The lights suddenly go out and it’s black in the arena. The lights come back up and The Fiend is gone. Strowman is alone in the ring. RETRIBUTION rushes the ring and attacks Strowman. He fights some of them off but there are too many of them. Big E, Shorty G, Jey Uso, Matt Riddle, Sheamus and many others rush the ring but RETRIBUTION tries to keep them from entering. Another wave of Superstars run down now – King Baron Corbin, Drew Gulak, Otis, WWE Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles and many others.
The SmackDown Superstars, male and female, finally start to make progress in clearing the ring of RETRIBUTION. The SmackDown Superstars look on from the ring as RETRIBUTION retreats into the crowd. Gulak helps Strowman to his feet, as does Uso. Strowman recovers and drops Gulak, then tosses Uso over the top rope. A furious Strowman marches out of the ring to the back. The other SmackDown Superstars regroup in the ring as we go to commercial.
Big E vs. Sheamus
Back from the break and this match begins after Big E and Sheamus argue in the ring. The ring is surrounded by Superstars to prevent another RETRIBUTION attack.
They lock up and Sheamus wraps Big E’s arm in the rope. They lock up and Big E with a side head lock and shoulder tackle but Sheamus stays on his feet. Sheamus with forearms to the back. Big E clotheslines Sheamus over the top rope and then Big E with a shoulder tackle that sends Sheamus into the ring steps. Big E with forearms across the chest while Sheamus is on the apron. Big E goes for a splash and hits it. Sheamus drops Big E on the top rope. Sheamus goes up top and hits a clothesline off the turnbuckles. Sheamus with forearms across the chest. Sheamus with a uranage back breaker for a near fall.
The lights flicker and Sheamus looks around as we go to commercial.
We are back and Big E with two overhead belly-to-back suplexes followed by a belly-to-belly suplex. Big E sets for the Warrior Splash and hits it. Big E goes for Big Ending but Sheamus escapes and connects with a boot. Big E goes for a power bomb but Sheamus escapes. Sheamus with a knee for a near fall. Sheamus punches Big E. Sheamus with a kcik and he gets Big E up but Big E gets to his feet. Big E with a UranagE for a near fall. Big E goes for a spear through the ropes but Sheamus with a knee. Sheamus with a forearm but Big E blocks it and goes for a Big Ending but misses. Big E goes into the ring post and then Sheamus hits White Noise.
Baron Corbin hits Matt Riddle and they brawl and everyone joins in and that distraction allows Big E to get a three count with the rollup.
Winner: Big E
After the match, Big E stands tall as his music hits. Tucker and Otis enter the ring to dance with Big E as Sheamus fumes on the ramp.
– Cole says there is a developing story in the back. He sends us to the trainer’s room and we see Jeff Hardy getting his leg checked out. He says someone fell on him from behind but that’s all he knows. He asks the medic if they can give him a brace or something because he can’t miss tonight’s match.
– We see Lucha House Party walking backstage to their match. SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura drop Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik from behind. Kalisto checks on his partners as the champs walk off. Back to commercial.
Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
Metalik and Nakamura start things off and Metalik with a head scissors and Nakamura with a knee. Nakamura sends Metalik into the turnbuckles and Cesaro tags in. Cesaro with an elbow drop for a near fall. Metalik with a satellite arm drag take down. Metalik goes for a springboard rana but Cesaro blocks it and hits a sit out power bomb for a near fall.
We see The Miz and John Morrison in the back.
Nakamura with a knee to Metalik for a near fall. Nakamura with a snap mare and knee drop for a near fall. Cesaro with a slam and leg drop for a near fall. Nakamura knocks Dorado off the apron. Cesaro tags back in and he punches Metalik. Cesaro drops Metalik on the top rope. Cesaro goes to the turnbuckles and Metalik with punches and they fight on the ropes. Metalik with a Frankensteiner to Cesaro. Dorado and Nakamura tag in and Dorado with a cross body and kicks. Dorado kicks Cesaro to the floor. Dorado with punches and kicks to Nakamura. Dorado floats over and flips out of the way. Dorado avoids a round kick and Dorado with a kick. Dorado with a rising series of moonsaults and ges a near fall.
Dorado with a head scissors to send Cesaro to the floor and Metalik leaps over the top rope and hits a rana. Nakamura with a reverse exploder to Dorado and then he kicks Metalik. Nakamura goes for Kinshasa but misses and Dorado with a rollup for a near fall. Dorado with a handspring cutter. Cesaro tags in and he hits a sunset flip but Dorado rolls through and gets a near fall. Dorado with a rana but Cesaro rolls through for the three count.
Winners: Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro
After the match, Cesaro and Nakamura exit the ring with the titles as the music hits. Dorado looks on and Kalisto checks on him. Dorado almost pushes Kalisto away and they have words. Metalik gets in the middle of them and Kalisto gets knocked down. Kalisto and Dorado continue arguing as Metalik holds them back from each other.
– We go back to Jeff Hardy getting work done on his knee.
– We take a look at what happened to Jeff Hardy during the pandemonium and it was AJ Styles who kicked Jeff in the back of the leg.
Backstage:
AJ is watching on a monitor and Kayla Braxton ambushes AJ. AJ says he was trying to get rid of Retribution but Jeff got in the way. It is a shame that Jeff will not be able to wrestle for the title. Jeff wasted another opportunity. Jeff said he was on his own two feet, but apparently that is not true.
Sasha Banks and Bayley are standing in the back and AJ sees them and they have a moment of championship unity. We go to commercial.
Backstage:
Kayla is with Mandy Rose in the back now. She asks about Sonya Deville. Rose mentions this has been a rough week, a possible reference to the incident she was present for at Deville’s house. She says SummerSlam is in two days and she doesn’t know what is in Sonya’s head, but she knows how she feels. She goes on about how they once were friends, for the good and bad. Rose says she needs to speak directly to Sonya. She turns to the camera and says they have been through a lot. She mentions the “vicious” Hair vs. Hair match coming up at SummerSlam. Rose goes on and says she wants to put this all behind them, and get back to where they were. Rose says she chooses to see the good in Deville.
In the Arena:
Sasha Banks and Bayley make their way to the ring to be interviewed by Corey Graves.
Corey welcomes them to Thunderdome. Corey asks if they are splitting up. Bayley and Sasha say no at the same time. He asks about their matches at SummerSlam against Asuka. Bayley says there are only two women capable of holding two belts at the same time and that is them. Corey points out that Asuka has beaten Bayley and Sasha needed help from Bayley to win the title. Sasha says they will destroy Asuka and she tells Corey not to stir the pot.
Corey asks about the logic of their decisions. Bayley says everything they does is for a reason and that is why they have all the gold. Corey says Bayley was willing to face Asuka first even though that doesn’t seem logical. She beat Bayley two weeks ago and then there is the vengeance for what Bayley did to Kairi. Bayley says it was a suggestion on Monday. Sasha asks if Bayley is trying to make her go first.
The music interrupts and out comes Naomi, sliding down the ramp with a mic in her hand.
Naomi proposes that she faces both banks and Bayley tonight. They agree. Naomi asks which one will feel her wrath first. They argue some and Graves suggests something like a Beat The Clock Challenge. Naomi likes that. She asks again, which wants to go first. Banks and Bayley talk it over but Naomi attacks and kicks them both out of the ring to the floor. Naomi celebrates in the ring as her music hits. Banks and Bayley are upset now as they recover on the floor. Back to commercial.
Naomi vs. Sasha Banks in a Beat the Clock Challenge to Determine who faces Asuka first at SummerSlam
Sasha with a double leg take down and punches for a near fall. Naomi with a side head lock and a slingshot into a rollup for a near fall. Naomi with a sit out Bubba Bomb for a near fall. Naomi rolls Sasha around the ring for a near fall. Naomi slaps Sasha. Sasha avoids a clothesline and Naomi with a headstand head scissors to send Sasha to the floor. Naomi with a pescado. Naomi sends Sasha back into the ring and Bayley distracts Naomi and Sasha hangs Naomi in the ropes and kicks her and hits a double knee drop for a near fall. Sasha gets a near fall.
Sasha with a rear chin lock. Naomi with a spinning sit out jaw breaker and then she is sent to the apron. Naomi with a round kick and cross body but Sasha rolls through for a near fall. Naomi drops Sasha on the top rope and then hits a drop kick and a springboard round kick for a near fall. Sasha with an arm bar take down into teh Banks Statement. Naomi taps out.
Winner: Sasha Banks (3 Minutes 39 Seconds)
Naomi vs. Bayley in a Beat the Clock Challenge to Determine who faces Asuka first at SummerSlam
Bayley attacks Naomi as the bell rings and she gets a near fall. Bayley with a suplex for a near fall. Bayley with kicks and an Irish whip. Bayley with a snap mare and she gets a near fall. Bayley with a sliding clothesline for a near fall. Naomi with a bulldog into the turnbuckles. Bayley with a clothesline for a near fall. Naomi with Rear View for the three count.
Winner: Naomi
After the match, Naomi stands tall as her music hits. Cole confirms that Banks will defend her title after Bayley defends her title against Asuka on Sunday. Naomi exits and Banks tends to Bayley but Bayley is in a bad mood. The music interrupts and out comes Asuka to the stage with a mic. Asuka rants and taunts the champs from the stage. Asuka says she will be The Empress of Every Title at SummerSlam because no one is ready for her. Asuka drops the mic and dances around on the stage. Banks exits the ring and runs up the ramp but Asuka drops her. Asuka then runs down the ramp and hits the ring, unloading on Bayley. Bayley retreats up the ramp but runs back to grab her titles from the apron. Bayley runs back up to the stage but goes right past Banks, who is still down on the ramp. Asuka dances around and taunts from the ring as her music hits. We see Bayley checking on Banks now.
– Jeff Hardy finally has a knee brace put on and he checks on his mobility. The doctor says he looks stable enough so he will clear him. Hardy says this one legged man will become the Intercontinental Champion again.
– Kayla approaches Sonya Deville backstage and asks if she has anything to say in response to what Mandy Rose said earlier. Deville says she has nothing to say to Braxton and will say anything she does have to the entire world. Deville turns away and Dana Brooke walks up. Dana apologizes for what Deville went through this past week. Deville says it’s nothing she can’t handle. Deville then delivers a hell of a slap to Brooke’s face and calls her disrespectful. Deville walks off as we go to commercial.
In the Arena:
We are back and Sonya Deville makes her way to the stage. She tells Mandy she heard what she had to say and I get it. You are second guessing your own challenge. That is exactly what I said you would do. What I don’t understand is what do you want? What is it what you want? You are going to face me one way or another. It is going to be me versus you at SummerSlam. Since it doesn’t matter if I am bald or not, let’s raise the stakes. It will be a No Disqualification match and the loser leaves WWE. Hair or no hair, I am sick of looking at your face. You need to wipe those tears and bring your A Game… Bitch!
– We see what happened in the past between Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt.
Backstage:
Nikki Cross says her and Alexa have been friends for quite a while. When they spoke on Tuesday, Alexa seemed a bit off. She can’t put her finger on what it was, but she is different. She talks and acts like Alexa, but the Alexa she knows is warm and caring and funny. That person she talked to was not Alexa Bliss. Nikki says it scares her and she has a feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
– AJ Styles makes his way to the ring. During the entrance, we see a pre-recorded video where Daniel Bryan says we are seeing the type of champion AJ Styles wants to be. He wants the accolades and face challengers but when they are not at the best. Daniel says that by the end of the first night in THUNDERDOOOOOOOOME, that Jeff Hardy gives us the Intercontiental Champion we deserve. We go to commercial.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Jeff Hardy vs. AJ Styles
Styles goes for the injured leg but Hardy backs Styles into the ropes. Hardy limps at Styles and kicks him. Hardy with a back body drop. Hardy with a forearm to the back but Styles backs Hardy into the corner. Hardy with a kick and he goes to the turnbuckles but Styles with a shot to the knee and Hardy goes down. Styles rips the pants and prepares to go for the knee brace. Styles with kicks to the injured knee. Styles with an Irish whip and Hardy’s knee gives out. Styles stomps on the back of the knee.
Hardy with a forearm but he falls to the mat. Styles with a kick to the leg. Hardy with punches and Styles with a forearm. Hardy with a sit out jaw breaker. Hardy sends Styles to the apron and AJ falls off the apron and goes to the floor.. Hardy goes for a drop kick thorugh the ropes and Styles catches Hardy and drives the leg into the apron.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Styles with a knee bar. Hardy kicks Styles to get out of the hold. Hardy has a kick blocked but Hardy with a mule kick. Hardy with a reverse atomic drop followed by a leg drop and drop kick for a near fall. Hardy with a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall. AJ avoids a Twist of Fate and hits a Pele Kick. Hardy goes up top and he slips on the turnbuckles. AJ goes to the apron and sets for the Phenomenal Forearm and Hardy with a punch. Hardy goes for a hesitation drop kick into the corner but Styles moves and Hardy’s knee buckles. AJ with a Calf Crusher and Hardy gets to the ropes.
AJ grabs the knee and Hardy with punches. AJ with a kick to the knee and he tries for the Styles Clash but Hardy kicks AJ with the brace. Hardy with a kick and Twist of Fate. Hardy goes to the turnbuckles. Hardy with a Swanton for the three count.
Winner and NEW Intercontinental Champion: Jeff Hardy
After the match, Kayla congratulates Jeff on his victory and what does it mean to be crowned champion. Jeff says he would have thought you were crazy to suggest a year ago that he would be Intercontinental Champion. He says life is a challenge. He is here to show proof that there is hope.
– We see Huskus and Ramblin Rabbit dressed like Alexa Bliss as we go to commercial.
– We go to the Firefly Funhouse.
Bray wants to tell everyone something. He says he loves you. Bray says don’t be fooled. Love can be a terrible thing. I can trick you into a financial burden. It can make an angel fall with broken wings. Too much love can turn a field of sunflowers into a grotesque wasteland. Bray mentions Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss. He calls it a modern Shakespearean Tragedy. Huskus plays Braun while Ramblin Rabbit plays Alexa. Bray stops the performance and he says that is not how it went down. Bray tells them to get lost. Bray says love can only lead to pain and suffering. We need to be more like HIM. He is fueled by anger. HE cannot wait to get his hands on you, Braun. Bray asks waht took you so long…
Braun attacks Bray and punches him. Braun says he isn’t finished with Bray and he drags him out of the funhouse. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and the announcers are talking about how they’re trying to get cameras together for the big brawl happening backstage between Bray Wyatt and WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman right now. They wonder how Strowman was able to get into the Firefly Fun House, something most people can’t do.
Cameras finally catch up backstage and we see Strowman dominating Wyatt, talking trash while beating him down. A group of referees walk up and try to talk Strowman out of it but he goes ahead and launches Wyatt from a loading dock down to the concrete floor. Strowman yells at the officials to get out of his way, and then walks off.
WWE officials rush down to Wyatt, who is laid out on the concrete. An ambulance backs up while referees and WWE producers check on Wyatt. Medics load Wyatt onto a stretcher but he’s still not moving. Wyatt is loaded into the ambulance as we see a replay of Strowman throwing Wyatt to the concrete. WWE Producer Adam Pearce yells at the ambulance to hurry up and drive off. It slowly drives away but then stops. The officials are yelling and wondering what the hold up is, telling the ambulance to get out of here. The ambulance starts backing up now, back to the loading dock.
The doors of the ambulance swing open but we can’t see what is there yet. Pearce is shocked and stuttering as he backs up against the other officials standing there. They’re all stunned and can’t believe what they’re seeing. The camera goes back to the ambulance and we see The Fiend standing on the step of the back of the ambulance. There’s a red glow in the back of the ambulance and fog billowing out. The camera gets closer to The Fiend and he sticks his tongue out, then starts laughing uncontrollably. Flashes of The Fiend then quickly go across the screen as the final SmackDown on FOX before SummerSlam goes off the air.
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