We are live from the WWE Thunderdome at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL, as Kevin Owens is ready to open his KO Show for the first time on Smackdown.
Owens introduces his guest, Daniel Bryan.
Owens thanks Bryan for joining him, and for mentioning him last week when naming new SmackDown Superstars he’d like to face. Owens would like to do the same. They mention pushing each other to their limits in the past. Owens asks Bryan where he sees SmackDown going. Bryan wants SmackDown to highlight the absolute best Superstars in the world and he thinks they’ve nailed it with the current roster, naming guys like Big E and Jey Uso. Bryan wants to see who will step up next. He thinks it would be great if SmackDown has a title defended each week, and he thinks that should be the Intercontinental Title. Owens says that’s a great idea.
Owens is pumped Bryan brought up titles, and says that’s exactly why he brought Bryan out here. He wants to talk to Bryan about the Tag Team Titles. Owens says he’s accomplished a lot in WWE, but he’s never been a tag team champion. Bryan says Owens has betrayed a lot of friends. Owens says Bryan is focusing on the wrong part, and should imagine how good of a tag team they would be together. Owens says they could be Team Hell KO. Bryan says that would be Owens teaming with Kane. Owens says they can talk about the name later, but he thinks they would be an unprecedented tag team. The music interrupts and out comes Dolph Ziggler with Robert Roode.
Ziggler says there’s no way Bryan could be talking about hot, fresh new talent and not be talking about he and Roode. Ziggler feels slighted they weren’t invited to this party. Roode says if talking about tag teams, they should be talking about the greatest tag team on the planet, and the best SmackDown talent acquisitions in history. He goes on but the music interrupts and out come the SmackDown Tag Team Champions – Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, The Street Profits. They get pyro on the stage as it starts raining red cups. Ford and Dawkins start taking shots at how Roode and Ziggler look. They haven’t forgot what Roode and Ziggler tried to pull last week. The Profits are excited to be on SmackDown because they are up and they want the smoke. The music interrupts and out comes the team of Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Cesaro talks about how they’ve been carrying the SmackDown brand for months. The Profits are in the ring with Owens and Bryan now. Roode and Ziggler are still at ringside. Bryan says he and Owens should test the theory of how good of a tag team they’d be. Cesaro, Nakamura, Roode and Ziggler hit the ring as a big brawl breaks out. The timekeeper starts ringing the bell over and over but the brawl keeps going. WWE Producer Adam Pearce comes running down the ramp, calling for an official to come behind him. We go to commercial.
Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford, Daniel Bryan, and Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Robert Roode
The match is joined in progress and Nakamura kicks Owens but Owens with punches. Owens with a kick and reverse atomic drop and clothesline. Owens with a back senton. Dawkins tags in and Nakamura with knees. Cesaro tags in and they hit a Bar Kick for a near fall. Roode tags in and sends Dawkins into the corner and Roode with kicks. Roode misses an elbow drop when Dawkins moves. Ford tags in and Dawkins with a shoulder tackle and then Dawkins flips Ford onto Roode for a near fall. Roode goes for a suplex but Ford lands on his feet. Ziggler tags in and hits a drop kick for a near fall. Nakamura hits Ford from the apron.
Roode tags in and hits a back breaker for a near fall. Cesaro tags in and kicks Ford in the midsction. Cesaro with a kick and European uppercut. Nakamura tags in and he kicks Ford in the corner. Nakamura with a snap mare and knee drop. Cesaro tags in and kicks Ford in the midsection. Cesaro with an arm bar and chin bar combination. Ford with a boot to Cesaro and Ford fights out of the corner and lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt and Ford with a drop kick.
Bryan tags in and connects with European uppercuts. Bryan with a kick and Cesaro goes over the top rope when Bryan moves. Bryan with a suicide dive and a kick to Cesaro. They return to the ring and Bryan goes up top. Bryan with a cross body and Cesaro catches Bryan. Bryan gets to his feet and hits a drop kick into the corner. Bryan flips out of the corner on an Irish whip but hie knee gives out and Cesaro with a European uppercut. Cesaro kicks Bryan in the back of the leg.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Cesaro works on Bryan’s leg but Bryan kicks Cesaro away. Roode tags in and he hits an atomic drop to the knee and then he sits on the leg. Ziggler tags in and wraps the leg in the ropes. Cesaro kicks at the leg. Bryan with a European uppercut and Ziggler goes for the knee and takes Bryan down. Cesaro tags in and applies a single leg crab. Cesaro with a giant swing holding on to the leg. Ziggler tags back in and Bryan blocks a drop kick and he catapults Ziggler into the ring post.
Roode tags in and he stops Bryan from making the tag and he drives Bryan’s knee into the apron. Roode knocks Dawkins off the apron. Roode puts Bryan on the turnbuckles. Bryan knocks Roode off the turnbuckles and Bryan with a missile drop kick but he holds his knee after landing on the mat. Dawkins and Nakamura tag in and Dawkins with clotheslines and a flying back elbow. Dawkins with drop kick to Csearo and ZIggler. Dawkins with a twisting splash into the corner followed by a bulldog on Nakamura for a near fall.
Nakamura kicks Dawkins and hits a lungblower for a near fall. Cesaro tags in and he knocks Ford off the apron. Nakamura with a knee off the turnbuckles followed by a gutwrench suplex by Cesaro for a near fall. Owens iwth a kick to Nakamura and a stunner to Roode. ZIggler with a DDT to Owens. Cesaro with a rollup and feet on the ropes. Dawkins with a Lo Down. Owens takes care of Roode and Ziggler. Ford with a frog splash for the three count.
Winners: Montez Ford, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, and Angelo Dawkins
Law and Otis:
The announcers explain the recent Money In the Bank situation between Otis, The Miz and John Morrison. We go to a “Law & Otis” court room segment, which starts off as a spoof for the “Law & Order” TV show. The Miz and Morrison are in court with their lawyer. Otis is representing himself, and has his MITB briefcase. WWE Hall of Famer Ron Simmons is the court deputy, and introduces the judge – WWE Hall of Famer JBL.
JBL says Miz is suing Otis for emotional distress, wanton destruction of property, creating an unsafe working environment, and Money In the Bank negligence. Miz’s lawyer goes to give her opening statement but Miz cuts her off and speaks on his own. Miz makes his case, saying Otis has victimized him emotionally and physically, and has not held up his Money In the Bank responsibility. As a previous briefcase winner, Miz says he must take the briefcase and put it in possession of an honorable Superstar – himself. Your honor, that is the truth.
JBL asks Otis for his opening statement next. He thinks he should have the briefcase because he won the Money In the Bank match. That’s it. Miz’s lawyer tells him that Otis has a good argument. Miz fires his lawyer. We go back to the announcers. Graves says he hopes we get a verdict tonight.
— We get a video package for Bianca Belair.
— We go back to the ring and out comes Bianca Belair. She hits the ring and twirls her hair around as we go back to commercial.
Backstage:
Back from the break and we see The Street Profits celebrating with Daniel Bryan and Kevin Owens backstage. Bryan is left alone and WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn walks up. Sami says he heard Bryan bad-mouthing him earlier, saying his title should be defended each week. Sami doesn’t share the vision and says the title is special, and it’s his, which means he dictates the terms, how often it’s defended and against who. Sami brings up their WrestleMania 36 match and tells Bryan to keep his ideas to himself. As long as Sami is champion, he will defend his way. Sami walks off. We go back to the ring and out comes Zelina Vega.
Bianca Belair vs. Zelina Vega
They lock up and Vega goes to the turnbuckles and Belair with a clean break but Vega with a slap and Belair sends Vega to the mat. Vega kicks Belair while Belair poses. Vega with a boot to the arm and a wrist lock. Belair with a slam and boot to the back. Vega with a head scissors and Belair with a shoulder tackle. Belair with a moonsault. Vega grabs the ring skirt and Vega with a kick to the midsection and head followed by a rolling kick. Vega with a boot in the corner.
Vega goes to the turnbuckles and hits a head scissors. Vega goes for a codebreaker but Belair with a punch and then she curls and presses Vega over her head and hits Snake Eyes. Belair with KOD for the three count.
Winner: Bianca Belair
— We have a video package for Lars Sullivan and then we pan up to see Lars standing in the back as we go to commercial.
Lars Sullivan vs. Shorty G
We are back and Kayla Braxton asks Shorty G why would he accept this match. Shorty says he has had it up to here and he says he wasn’t drafted by Raw or Smackdown so he is going to right this ship. He is going to prove he belongs here.
Gable comes off the turnbuckles and Sullivan catches him and hits a Fallaway Slam. Lars sends Gable face first into the mat. Lars picks up Sullivan but Gable with a rake of the eyes. Gable with forearms followed by a rolling Liger Kick. Sullivan avoids a second one and Gable goes into the turnbuckles. Sullivan biels Gable across the ring. Sullivan with a short arm clothesline. Sullivan with Freak Accident for the three count.
Winner: Lars Sullivan
After the match, Kayla Braxton asks Gable how does he feel. Gable says he quits.
Backstage:
Seth Rollins is asked about his match with Buddy Murphy. Seth points out he plucked him out of obscurity and he was disrespected by that man. Do you call that fun? What I am going to do to Murphy tonight is going to be fun. I asked for this match. Buddy’s emotions are pulling him apart. Seth says the Greater Good is all of us. We all have a role to play and Murphy has to know his. Seth says he is a Messiah and Murphy is a disciple. Seth says he is a savior and Murphy is a walk behinder. Tonight, I will define Murphy’s role for him and that sounds like a lot of fun to him.
— Roman Reigns is in his locker room and he shuns a fruit plate and a charcuterie plate as we go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Shorty G is in the back getting his shoulder iced down. Adam Pearce checks to see if Gable quit. He says he quit as Shorty G. He is done being a smiling little punching bag. They can’t achieve what they want and neither can Shorty G. There is only one person who can achieve what he wants. An Olympian and a man with a list of accomplishments so long it has to be believed. His name is Gable. . . . Chad Gable.
In the Arena:
Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley is in the ring.
Bayley says she cannot believe she has to come out to talk about this but she had 4 interviews and they kept asking her about Sasha Banks. Bayley says she cannot get away from Sasha. Bayley says they asked her if she was afraid of Sasha. Bayley says Sasha does not deserve this and she will not give Sasha what she wants. Bayley says she did what she did because she wanted to be done with Sasha but Sasha has become a bigger pain in the ass to her.
Bayley says she won’t sign the contract so you better burn the damn thing. Bayley tells Sasha Ding Dong, you are not the boss of me.
Sasha Banks’ music plays and she has a contract with her. Sasha enters the ring and she tells Bayley to sign the contract and Bayley says she won’t sign it.
Bayley swings and misses with the chair and Sasha takes the title belt. Sasha tells Bayley to sign the contract and she will get the title back. Bayley goes for the belt and they have a tug of war and Sasha with a knee. Sasha gets the chair and puts it around Bayley’s head. Bayley kicks Sasha. Sasha puts Bayley in a chin lock while in the chair and she tells Bayley to sign the contract. Bayley signs the contract.
Sasha tells Bayley she will take the title on Sunday and finish what Bayley started.
Law & Otis:
We go back to the court room with Otis, The Miz, John Morrison, JBL and Ron Simmons. Morrison is testifying about how Otis assaulted him and assaults a lot of things. Morrison gets emotional and Miz hands him a handkerchief. Rey Mysterio is on the stand now. He was also in that Money In the Bank match and Otis walked out. As far as he’s concerned, Otis won the title shot straight up. RAW Women’s Champion Asuka is on the stand next. She just rants some in Japanese. JBL asks someone if they got that… it’s WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long. He understood every single word, playa.
Tucker is the next man on the stand to testify. He comments on Otis being sensitive and says Miz has everything his way because he had Otis’ girlfriend Mandy Rose sent to RAW. Miz and Tucker argue about Otis neglecting the briefcase. Tucker says Otis has only been thinking about beating the crap out of Miz, and now Tucker wants to do the same thing. A fight almost breaks out. JBL calls for order in the court. Simmons tells everyone to shut up. JBL says we will take a short recess and then he will announce the verdict. Long walks off and says he’s got to pee, playa. Back to commercial.
We are back and JBL is going to make his ruling. John says that something is missing and that is the truth. He is supposed to believe that Otis is responsible for emotional distress and a hostile workplace. That is part of being a WWE superstar. It is true that Otis has not cashed in yet, but that is not negligence, it is established that the contract winner has a full year to cash in. JBL rules in favor of…
Miz asks for one more thing and he says he forgot to submit a key piece of evidence. Miz says JBL wants to admit THIS evidence. Ron gives JBL the briefcase and it is full of money and John says in light of the new evidence, he rules in favor of The Miz. Otis is ordered to face Miz at Hell in a Cell and the winner keeps the briefcase.
— We have a video package for Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy.
— We go back to the ring and out comes Seth Rollins to boos. Back to commercial.
Seth Rollins vs. Murphy
Back from the break and out comes Murphy. We see Aalyah Mysterio watching backstage and she smiles. They lock up and Rollins takes it to the corner, taunting Murphy. Murphy locks back up and takes Rollins to the corner now. They break and Rollins shoves him back. Rollins yells in Murphy’s face about their roles but Murphy attacks and rag-dolls him to the mat by his arm.
Rollins turns it around and controls Murphy by his arm now. They tangle and Murphy gets dropped with a right. Rollins takes Murphy down with a headlock now, grounding him and talking trash. They go back and forth now. Murphy knocks Rollins to the floor and leaps out. Rollins tries to get the upperhand but Murphy back-drops him over the announce table, and to the floor against the barrier. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Murphy gets dropped to the floor. We see Aalyah backstage watching again. Rey Mysterio and Dominick Mysterio walk up and want her to leave with them. She says she’s watching Murphy and doesn’t want to leave. They insist but she says she can do whatever she wants. We go back to the ring and Rollins grounds Murphy. Rollins ends up slamming Murphy back into the turnbuckles. Rollins runs into a boot. Murphy with a missile dropkick from the corner. Fans rally now as Murphy clotheslines Rollins, and again. Rollins takes a dropkick as Murphy gets hyped up now.
Murphy clotheslines Rollins back to the floor and knocks him back again. Murphy runs the ropes and leaps out, taking Rollins back down but almost leaps too far. The referee counts while they’re both down. Murphy brings it back in and goes to the top. Murphy with a Meteora off the top but Murphy may have hurt his arm on the way down as he sells it. Rollins kicks out at 2. Murphy rolls to the floor for a breather as Rollins recovers in the corner. We see Murphy trying to pop his shoulder back in at ringside. Rollins runs the ropes and nails Murphy into the barrier. Rollins springboards back in with a leaping knee to the face for a close 2 count.
Rollins ends up slamming Murphy on the apron by his arm. We see Rey, Dominick and Aalyah backstage watching the match again. Aalyah is upset or concerned over Murphy getting hurt. We go back to commercial.
Back from the break and they’re tangling in the corner. Murphy’s arm goes out when he tries to bring Rollins from the top to the mat. Rollins takes advantage and delivers a Buckle Bomb to boos. Murphy blocks the Stomp with a jumping knee for a close 2 count. They’re both down again and struggling to get back up as the referee checks on Murphy. Rollins drops Murphy with an elbow as soon as they get back up. Rollins talks some trash about Murphy disrespecting him, as he slaps and beats him around out of frustration.
Rollins talks some more trash in Murphy’s face and drops him. The boos get louder. Murphy comes back with a big right to stun Rollins. Rollins drops Murphy. Murphy gets up and nails Rollins in the jaw. They trade big strikes in the middle of the ring now. Murphy unloads and delivers a few kicks. Rollins drops Murphy to one knee with a step-up enziguri but Murphy comes back with a roll-up for 2. Rollins with a big roundhouse right and a Falcon Arrow for 2. Rollins can’t believe Murphy is hanging on. Rollins wastes some time in the corner and continues to run his mouth as Murphy recovers.
Rollins goes for the Stomp but Murphy rolls him up. Rollins misses another Stomp but nails a back elbow. Rollins goes to the top but Murphy kicks him in the face. Rollins slides off Murphy’s shoulder, drops him and then hits the Stomp for the pin to win in the middle of the ring.
Winner: Seth Rollins
After the match, Rollins stands tall as we go to replays. Rollins grabs a kendo stick now. We see The Mysterios backstage. Aalyah asks her dad and brother to go help Murphy but Rey says they have to stay out of it. She says if they won’t help, she will. Aalyah runs off to help Murphy. Rollins enters the ring and stalks Murphy with the kendo stick now, taunting him. Aalyah comes running down the ramp and Rollins spots her at ringside. She’s looking behind her, hoping for her family. Rollins asks where her back-up is, then starts hitting Murphy with the kendo stick. Aalyah enters the ring and tends to Murphy. Rollins exits the ring. Dominik comes in the ring and asks what she’s doing because this isn’t their business. Rollins enters from behind and attacks Dominik. Rey’s music hits and he runs out for a pop to stop Rollins. Rollins retreats and heads up the ramp. Rey checks on Dominik as Murphy gets back to his feet. Rey and Dominik have words over why she was out here. Aalyah has her arm on Murphy now, helping him stay up. They get closer together against the ropes as Rey and Dominik look over at them, wondering what the hell is going on.
— We go backstage to a staffer knocking on Roman Reigns’ door. Paul Heyman comes out and berates the man for his aggressive knock. Heyman says he will determine when it’s time for Reigns to come out. We go back to commercial.
— We are back with a video package on what happened last week between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso.
In the Arena:
et louder. Before Reigns can speak, Jey appears on the big screen. He’s backstage in Reigns’ VIP suite. Uso taunts The Tribal Chief and says Reigns has changed. He’s got his head so far up his Tribal Chief ass, he’s lost connections with himself and their family. Uso takes off his bandana and hat, and says don’t ask me… ask my brother, Jey. This was Jimmy Uso on the big screen all along. Jimmy reveals that Jey is right behind Reigns.
Jey unloads on Reigns as the crowd pops. Jey goes to swing a steel chair but Reigns drop him with a big boot. Reigns goes to use the chair now but Jey superkicks him down. Jey goes to the top rope and hits a big Uso splash. Jey is fired up as he exits the ring, yelling at Reigns while he’s down. Jey hits the stage to stand tall as his music hits. Jimmy comes out to join him as fans cheer them on. Heyman is in the ring now as Reigns gets back to his feet.
Reigns takes the mic and says this is funny to The Usos. He says if he’s forced to quit on Sunday, he’s not the Universal Champion, not the face of WWE, not the head of the table, not the Tribal Chief, not the provider for generations of their bloodline. If Uso can make Reigns quit, he can live with that but the question is… can Uso? Reigns asks if when he makes Jey quit, and he will make him quit, he will fall in line, take orders, acknowledge Reigns, respect him for who he is in WWE, and all that he does for their family. Reigns says if Uso can’t, then he’s just out. Not just Jey, his brother Jimmy too. Their wives, their children, their children’s children, they’re all out of the Anoa’i family. Reigns says they will all turn their backs on The Usos. Those are the consequences for Sunday. The boos get louder now. Heyman hands Reigns the title and he places it over his shoulder as the music starts up. The Usos are furious, looking back from the stage.
The Hell In a Cell structure starts lowering around Reigns in the ring now. The Usos come marching down the ramp. Jey climbs the Cell as Reigns looks on from the inside. Jey stares down at Reigns from the side of the Cell. Reigns holds the title up at him. They yell at each other as the Hell In a Cell go-home edition of SmackDown goes off the air.
