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Welcome to this week's edition of things WWE subtly told us on the SmackDown before SummerSlam 2020. It was a happening episode with a whole lot to unpack.
Without dragging it at all, let's jump right into SmackDown and what happened on the show:
#6 Sonya Deville makes the stakes much higher for SummerSlam on SmackDown
Many people have praised Sonya Deville and stated that her potential is yet to be seen well before her move to SmackDown. Always dubbed a future Women's Champion, Deville proved o the 21st August episode of SmackDown that she's capable of so much more than what was given to her - and it showed in that incredible promo she cut on SmackDown - the best of her WWE career.
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Mandy Rose cut a promo which seemed to be one where she seemed to be offering the olive branch, so to speak.
Sonya Deville not only rejected it, but she added the stakes to their SummerSlam match. Their match, which was already a Hair vs Hair match - will now be a No DQ contest where the loser will leave WWE. Not SmackDown - but WWE.
It's a shame that the last stipulation was added since it's great to have both women on the roster. Given how great Sonya Deville has been lately (and we already feel she's ready for a Championship feud), we would ideally like for her to be the one to win and stay in WWE. However, we expect Mandy Rose to win and for Sonya Deville to have an unexpected departure from SmackDown and WWE in general.
However, it could just be a hiatus. On that note, we love how Sonya Deville slapped Dana Brooke after the latter simply expressed her concern after the shocking attempted-kidnapping that happened this past week. Poor Dana Brooke.
#5 The end of a run for the Lucha House Party on SmackDown?
The Lucha House Party took on SmackDown Tag Team Champions Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro in a Tag Team title match - one that we feel should have happened at SummerSlam.
However, it was the first of two title matches on the show and as expected, it was Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura who won. It wouldn't make any sense for Lucha House Party to win anyway, but some felt that the return of Kalisto would be a boost to the team on SmackDown.
It was the complete opposite. After Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik lost the SmackDown Tag Team title match, there was instant tension between Kalisto and Dorado. It resulted in Dorado shoving Kalisto and Metalik had to be the peacemaker between the two - only this time, it doesn't seem like it will end in peace.
It wouldn't make much sense to separate them right away since the SmackDown Tag Team division is quite shallow as it is with injuries.
#4 Naomi sets herself up in a big way on SmackDown - A possible SummerSlam spoiler?
The Golden Role Models came out on SmackDown and it was a fairly standard promo where they spoke about their approach to SummerSlam and the fact that they both are facing Asuka at the Biggest Party Of The Summer.
It was Naomi who came out to be the party-pooper and she took a bold step - challenging both Bayley and Sasha Banks on the same night. In what turned out to be a Beat The Clock challenge, Naomi would first lose to Sasha Banks before proceeding to defeat SmackDown Women's Champion, Bayley.
As a result, Bayley will face Asuka first at SummerSlam 2020:
For Bayley, it's been 315 days since she won the SmackDown Women's Championship and we don't see that ending anytime soon. The story is that Bayley is the one faltering constantly, but that only means that Asuka will fail to gain the SmackDown Woman's title and in all likeliness - succeed in defeating Sasha Banks to reclaim the RAW Women's title.
#3 Big E stands tall on SmackDown - again
Big E has been having a successful month on SmackDown. Ever since he became a singles star due to Kofi Kingston's injury, his momentum has been picking up. His first appearance on SmackDown tonight was leading the charge against RETRIBUTION when they began their assault on Braun Strowman.
It's important that WWE mentioned that the locker room charge was being "led" by Big E, whose role is growing in importance every week. After the SmackDown locker room chased RETRIBUTION away, Big E would face Sheamus in a quick but entertaining bout.
Big E walked out the winner and it's a big indicator as to where he stands on the SmackDown roster. If his momentum continues as a singles star, we don't see any reason why WWE shouldn't put The New Day on a backburner or simply prioritize them less as a faction until Xavier Woods returns.
With that said, the bond between The New Day was pivotal in Kofi Kingston's rise last year. So we can't simply write them off just yet.
#2 Jeff Hardy's Intercontinental Championship win on SmackDown - what does it mean for the future?
Jeff Hardy faced AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Championship. During the previously-mentioned attack against RETRIBUTION, AJ Styles sneakily attacked Jeff Hardy's leg from behind, forcing him to spend much of the episode of SmackDown in the trainer's room trying to get cleared.
Jeff Hardy finally managed to convince the WWE trainer that he could be cleared and the match was official. It was a hard-fought battle for Jeff Hardy on SmackDown but he managed to overcome the odds - albeit, with the help of a knee brace. It was an uncharacteristic win for Jeff Hardy, but one could argue that it was poetic justice after AJ Styles' premeditated attack.
It's going to be interesting to see what the future of the Intercontinental Championship is and if he'll defend the title against AJ Styles at SummerSlam. That match hasn't been made official as of this writing, but we expect it to be. What would SummerSlam be without AJ Styles?
#1 Breaking down the Braun Strowman-Fiend segments on SmackDown
There's a lot to break down from all of this on SmackDown, but we'll try to make it as short and crisp as possible. Vince McMahon was out to kick off the ThunderDome festivities, only to be interrupted by 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt. Interestingly, McMahon disappeared and The Fiend was soon confronted by Braun Strowman.
One thing is clear as day - Braun Strowman is not a babyface anymore. He isn't a heel either, but he's certainly closer on the border to being a heel than he is as a traditional babyface. Either way, the two were interrupted by RETRIBUTION who surrounded the ring.
The Fiend disappeared, but Bray Wyatt appeared again later on in the Firefly Fun House. Braun Strowman became the third "outsider" to enter the Firefly Fun House (after Seth Rollins and John Cena) and it started a brawl that went backstage, resulting in Strowman shoving Wyatt down from a height.
After Wyatt was escorted into an ambulance, it stopped before it could leave and reversed back. The door opened and it was filled with smoke, with The Fiend emerging. SmackDown ended with The Fiend laughing hysterically. It was an odd ending, but it could be foreshadowing a title win for Bray Wyatt again.
Vince Russo answers who killed WCW HERE
