WWE SmackDown Results (May 29th, 2020): Winners, Grades, and Video Highlights
Tonight was set to be an epic edition of SmackDown. The two semi-final matches in the Intercontinental Championship Tournament were to take place, with AJ Styles battling Elias and Daniel Bryan facing Jeff Hardy.
However, we opened the show with what looked like a car accident. A rental car had run into a stop sign, and Elias was out on the ground. It was revealed that the car belonged to Jeff Hardy, and it was covered in bottles of alcohol.
Braun Strowman was an eyewitness to the accident but didn't know who was responsible. Hardy was found moments after the show opened, severely banged up and reeking of alcohol. Jason Jordan and Jamie Noble attempted to get him inside, but he was arrested and taken away for questioning and blood tests.
This is not a good way to kick off the semis, Bro. Backstage, Adam Pearce lets the SmackDown locker room know that both Elias and Hardy were out of the tournament. AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan argued over how they would handle this. Would they move onto the finals immediately, or would Bryan and Styles be given new opponents?
Styles refused, demanding a BYE to the finals. The entire locker room wanted to face Bryan, leading to a battle royal to determine who would face the G.O.A.T.
SmackDown Intercontinental Tournament Battle Royal:
Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, Jey Uso, Drew Gulak, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, Lince Dorado, Cesaro, Gran Metalik and Shorty G all took part in the match. Ziggler hung out on the edge of the apron for the first few minutes, near elimination for quite some time.
Eventually, he made it back in but was targeted by the Swiss Superman. Ziggler barely hung onto the ropes following a military press. On the other side of the ring, Sheamus attempted to dump Dorado to the floor, but the Golden Lynx held strong.
Shorty G nearly eliminated Sheamus as he jaw jacked with Michael Cole, but prevented the Olympian from making the elimination. Baron Corbin earned the first elimination of the match, knocking Dorado to the floor with a strong right haymaker.
Gulak ran in to knock off the King but was dumped over the ropes with a hip toss. That's two for the King of the Ring. Corbin teamed up with Ziggler to take out the other half of the Lucha House Party. A superkick stunned Gran Metalik, and Corbin launched him over the ropes.
Ziggler immediately tried to eliminate Corbin, but the big man ducked and sent the former 6-time IC Champ to the floor instead. As Corbin turned around, a superkick from Jey Uso eliminated him from the match.
In a short Bar reunion, Sheamus and Cesaro took on Shorty G together. Cesaro broke off to focus on Jey Uso while Shorty G spiked Sheamus with a tornado DDT. Uso rocked Cesaro and Nakamura with a pair of superkicks.
Nakamura responded with a wheel kick but was taken to the apron by Shorty G. Cesaro made the save, but was dumped to the floor for his troubles. Cesaro took the SmackDown announcer's desk apart in a fit of rage while Nakamura went back in on the former SmackDown Tag Team Champion.
Shorty G eliminated Nakamura as well, dumping him overhead with a belly-to-belly suplex. As he celebrated, Cesaro ran in from behind and sent him to the floor while the ref's backs were turned. And then there were two.
Jey Uso and Sheamus battered one another with big shots. Uso was sent to the apron but fought out with a backbreaker in the ropes. Back inside, a Superkick nearly took out the Celtic Warrior. They both found themselves out on the apron. Uso's superkick was blocked, and after getting bounced off the ring post, was eliminated with a Brogue Kick.
Results: Sheamus eliminates Jey Uso last to advance to the IC Tournament semi-finals.
Grade: C-
Sonya Deville was backstage getting ready for her match with Lacey Evans. Deville was still riding high over her wins against Mandy Rose, and demands Evans put her hair up and square up. Evans appeared and knocked her to the floor before heading to the ring.
Backstage on SmackDown, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura were harassing Shorty G. Cesaro gave him the opportunity to "walk away" before patting him on the head.
Shorty G responded by hitting him in the mouth. So uh...game on?
Lacey Evans vs Sonya Deville
Lacey Evans, upset at Sonya Deville's comments, gave her a chance to prove she could out-wrestle a state wrestling champion. Evans outwrestled Deville but was knocked to the mat with a shoulder tackle. They both put their hair up so they could "square up" and Evans caught Deville with a roundhouse kick.
Evans stated that Mandy Rose would always be better than Deville before throwing her handkerchief at her opponent. Deville fired up off of this, sending her into the ring post and battering her in the corner.
Deville was taken over with a headscissors takedown and planted face first with a facebuster. Evans gator rolled Deville to the apron, where she hung her up inside it and battered her, Fit Finlay style.
The two Superstars brawled for a bit too long on the floor, leading to a double count out on SmackDown.
Results: No contest.
Grade: B-
Evans launched Deville into the table and rolled back inside, demanding she get in and fight. Deville said she fights on her own terms before leaving SmackDown.
Another Forgotten Sons promo on SmackDown, this time with Wesley Blake in the speaking role. We've seen a lot of threats from the trio lately. Eventually, they'll need to put up or shut up.
It's time for a Moment of Bliss! Tonight was a major meeting of top tag teams, as the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions introduced their guests, SmackDown Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Big E, The New Day.
Nikki Cross was eager to give the New Day a gift, Scottish Pancakes! Big E and Kofi responded by giving them coffee beans from Djibouti, pulled right out of Big E's trunks. Kingston poured some water in a mug with them, and E stirred it with a spoon, again pulled out of his trunks.
Bliss abstained from drinking the trunk brew, and the New Day asked who Bliss-Cross Applesauce would be defending their titles against next. SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks interrupted.
Kofi went for a hug but was shot down by Bayley. Bliss targeted Sasha, asking her where her title was, as everyone in the ring already had gold. Bayley stated that The Boss was the leader of the women's division and its true blueprint.
Bayley was so confident, in fact, that she laid down a challenge for Bliss...involving Banks, not herself. Bliss accepted, and as Bayley ran back to get her gear, Banks was rocked with a dropkick.
Alexa Bliss vs Sasha Banks
Alexa Bliss rolled up Sasha Banks several times before slapping the taste out of her mouth. A judo toss and an elbow to the shoulder set up for a pair of double knees to the gut.
Banks sent Bliss face first into the turnbuckle and followed up with a vaulting double knee press to the jaw. Bliss kicked out. Banks stretched Bliss out in the corner before dropping her with a running meteora.
Nikki Cross and Bayley, both at the announce table, bickered over which one of their best friends was the better wrestler. Banks connected with a backbreaker. However, some trash talk allowed Biss to recover and plant her with a facebuster counter coming out of a head scissors attempt.
Banks was knocked out with a right hand, and Bliss set up for Twisted Bliss. Nikki Cross tried to prevent interference by Bayley, but wound up getting sent right into her friend. Banks took advantage, hitting double knees in the back of the head before rolling her up for the win.
Results: Sasha Banks defeated Bayley via pinfall.
Grade: B-
Cesaro w/Shinsuke Nakamura vs Shorty G
Cesaro had a hard time getting out the gate on SmackDown, as Shorty G ran in for several pitfalls, including an incredible top rope moonsault getting him a near fall.
Shorty G started to work on the leg of Cesaro, but the Swiss Cyborg shoved him off and clobbered him with a clothesline. Cesaro's pure strength managed to cut off any early attempts at a comeback, leading to Cesaro catching Shorty G running in for a rolling kick and getting planted with a falling powerbomb.
Cesaro took his opponent to the top for an avalanche German suplex Shorty G landed on his feet and locked in the ankle lock. Cesaro rolled through, sending him into the ropes and clobbering him.
They traded roll-ups, eventually leading to Shorty G catching Cesaro in a victory roll for the...well...victory.
Results: Shorty G defeated Cesaro via pinfall.
Grade: B-
Afterwards, we were shown some footage of Otis and Mandy Rose enjoying a pool day. Otis went to swim while Mandy enjoyed a nice nap. She began dreaming of Otis getting out of the water, Fast Times at Ridgemont High style, and she couldn't get enough.
She saw a vision of herself and Otis kissing beneath the rain, before being woken up by a splash from a cannonball. She wasn't too bothered by it, though, and entered the pool to make out with Mr. Money in the Bank.
Kurt Angle was brought in to talk about the next face of the brand, a man he worked with on NXT. It would be none other than Matt Riddle. We were shown a vignette of the Original Bro, the hard hitting, good time having MMA star.
The former NXT Tag Team Champion is the next Superstar to join the Blue Brand.
Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviewed Sheamus, who was upset about the brand being more excited about Riddle than himself. Sheamus said that his brand is no place for the weak, and went on to talk about Daniel Bryan, before Bryan himself came out to confront him and uh...kick him in the shin. Kind of rude.
Intercontinental Championship Tournament Semi-Final: Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus
Daniel Bryan was overpowered early by the Celtic Warrior on SmackDown. The power game prevented Bryan from going trough his regular grappling game. Several shots pelted Sheamus, but he responded with a big clothesline.
Bryan was able to send Sheamus to the floor where he rocked his long-time rival with a suicide dive. In the ring, Sheamus was able to break the grip of Daniel Bryan with a series of elbows to the jaw. Sheamus continued to batter Bryan, launching him shoulder first into the barricade near the SmackDown announcer's desk. He bullied Michael Cole into doing the "Yes Chants" before going inside for a diving clothesline.
An Irish Curse Backbreaker and the Texas Cloverleaf weakened Bryan's back, but he fought out of Sheamus's Ten Beats before moving to the top. Sheamus responded with a Brogue Kick to the foot, taking Bryan out momentarily.
Bryan blocked a superplex and sent Sheamus to the mat. A missile dropkick connected, and Bryan set up the Yes Kicks. The final one missed, allowing Sheamus to drop him with White Noise.
Sheamus responded with a drop toe hold into the turnbuckle and a series of dropkicks. Sheamus came out of the corner with a vicious double axe handle, setting up for the Brogue Kick. Before he could connect, though, Jeff Hardy returned to SmackDown, entering through the ramp.
Sheamus turned back around and was met with Knee Plus.
Results: Daniel Bryan defeated Sheamus via pinfall.
Grade: A
Immediately following the match, Hardy jumped on Sheamus, forcing him to run away. Was Sheamus the one who caused the accident earlier tonight? Looks like we'll find out on SmackDown next week.
Daniel Bryan has made it to the finals of the SmackDown Intercontinental Championship Tournament, and will face the Phenomenal AJ Styles.
Episode Rating: A
Easily, one of the best SmackDowns in recent memory. The opening segment clearly had the fans hooked on to the show and Hardy returned to ensure that Sheamus' night ended badly.
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