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Night 1 of the WWE Draft was as exciting as expected as the company delivered a few surprises on this week’s SmackDown. In the first picks of the night, RAW retained the WWE Champion while SmackDown immediately picked their Universal Champion.
The red brand drafted the RAW Women’s Champion, Asuka, early on, while Seth Rollins moved to SmackDown. The Hurt Business will also remain on RAW, but Rey and Dominik Mysterio followed Rollins to SmackDown later.
Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair were among the other big picks for SmackDown. Meanwhile, AJ Styles, The Miz, and John Morrison moved to the red brand.
In one of the biggest surprises of the night, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made their return and won a big title match before RAW drafted them. Bayley and Banks had their first match to kick off their new rivalry, and Lars Sullivan made his way back to SmackDown.
Let's look at the five things WWE got right on the first night of the draft on SmackDown.
#5. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion ended in a disqualification
Sasha Banks came out on WWE SmackDown to take on her former best friend, Bayley, for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The Legit Boss looked as confident as ever as she rushed The Role Model in the corner right from the start.
She got the better for The Role Model early, and the champion decided to roll out of the ring and try to leave the arena. Banks brought her back to the ring to prevent the count-out and lock in The Bank Statement before Bayley countered.
The two women then went back and forth as both looked to get the better of their competitor in this deeply personal match. After a few big moments, Bayley grabbed a steel chair and used it to get herself disqualified.
The Boss then got hold of the chair and used it to teach her former best friend a lesson. The Role Model narrowly escaped as Banks attempted to crush her neck with the chair. The Boss obviously didn't look pleased with the way the match ended.
This was a decent first match in this highly-anticipated rivalry that will allow WWE to build a few more pay-per-view matches. In fact, the finish will give WWE a chance to produce a more definitive outcome at WWE Hell in a Cell.
#4. Big E defeated Sheamus in a Falls Count Anywhere Match on WWE SmackDown
Big E came out for the opening match of WWE SmackDown where he took on Sheamus in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. While this rivalry seemingly came out of nowhere, it has to highlight Big E's rise as a singles competitor and gave Sheamus some screen time to develop his heel character.
The two men started the match with some big moves. The Celtic Warrior tied Big E up in the ropes and struck him with a kendo stick repeatedly. Big E managed to break free, wrapped Sheamus’ legs in duct tape, and unleashed some strikes with the kendo stick of his own.
The two men then took the fight backstage where The Celtic Warrior slammed Big E on a table and dumped flour and eggs on top of his head. Then, Big E got his hands on some weapons and took the fight back to Sheamus.
Sheamus used a tire iron as a weapon and delivered White Noise onto the windscreen, but Big E managed to kick out. He put Big E into a trunk and tried to slam his arm, but Big E managed to save himself. He then powerbombed Sheamus onto the hood of the car and hit the Big Ending through a table to pick up the victory on SmackDown.
Both men did a great job in this match, and Big E got a chance to shine once again. Sheamus needs another new direction on SmackDown, but this was a fun match that elevated both wrestlers.
#3. Jey Uso found out the stipulation for his match against Roman Reigns on WWE SmackDown
Jey Uso called out Roman Reigns on this week’s WWE SmackDown and demanded to know the stipulation his cousin had in mind for their Hell in a Cell match. Instead of the Universal Champion, Paul Heyman appeared on the big screen and informed Jey that Reigns would only reveal that information when he wanted to.
A little while later, Reigns appeared and said that the only way the match would end would be if Uso accepted Reigns as The Tribal Chief. He then revealed that their match at Hell in a Cell would be an I Quit Match.
The seemingly delusional Universal Champion reiterated that he loved his cousin and simply wanted to help him. He also informed Uso that he would suffer the consequences for not bending the knee to The Tribal Chief.
This was an impactful promo that once again added significance to this unexpected rivalry. Hell in a Cell is only a few weeks away, and WWE is doing an excellent job building up this rematch for the event.
Reigns seem to be very comfortable in his new character, and Uso has become one of the best Superstars on SmackDown.
#2 The New Day returned to become the new WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions
After Big E picked up a victory over Sheamus, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods returned to surprise the big man. Kingston and Woods were out with injuries, and it looked like they were ready to hit the ring once again. Stephanie McMahon soon announced that The Purveyors of Positivity would challenge Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships later in the night.
Woods and Kingston picked up from where they left off and gave the SmackDown Tag Team Champions a run for their money. While Cesaro tried to dominate the duo with his strength, he couldn't keep them down for long.
After Woods made it back to the ring for the second time, he took out Nakamura with ease and nearly picked up the victor with a DDT. Later, Woods saved Kingston from a tag team maneuver to set up a Kinshasa by holding Nakamura’s leg.
Kingston then connected with Trouble in Paradise and Woods hit a flying elbow drop to pick up the victory and win the SmackDown Tag Team Championships in their return match.
It was good to see The New Day back together on SmackDown. However, Stephanie announced that the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions is heading to WWE RAW while Big E would remain on SmackDown.
This came as a surprise as fans expected to see the trio tear it up on the same brand again. However, this could allow Big E to get the most out of his singles run, and also turn heel if required as he won’t be tied down by The New Day character.
#1 ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt felt no pain against Kevin Owens on WWE SmackDown
Kevin Owens got a chance to headline a show after months as he took on "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in the final match of WWE SmackDown. This was the first time The Fiend competed in a non-pay-per-view match.
KO took a lot of punishment from The Fiend early on but he managed to make a comeback nevertheless. However, The Fiend pulled him out of the ring and hit an urinagi and Sister Abigail to lay him out.
Back in the ring, he snapped Owens’ neck and laughed at him. He went for another Sister Abigail but KO broke free and nailed him with a Superkick. However, the move had no effect on The Fiend and it took two more to take him off his feet.
KO tried to take control and hit him with two Popup Powerbombs, but The Fiend kept coming back for more.
Finally, he ensnared Owens with the Mandible Claw, but KO countered with a Stunner. Again, it did not affect the sinister being and he took KO down with the Mandible Claw as the referee counted the pin to award him the victory.
This was a good television match that allowed KO and Wyatt to perform in the main event of SmackDown. It will be interesting to see if the outcome of the match changes KO in any way, or will he be back to his usual self on WWE RAW.
Wyatt and Alexa Bliss's storyline continued as they stared at each other after the match to end this week's episode of SmackDown.
