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SmackDown kicked off after a recap of last week's attack by the Retribution and we learned that security had been beefed up at every entry and exit to the arena to prevent future attacks. Big E was out first for the first match of the night against John Morrison.
The lights were malfunctioning before the match even began and members of the Retribution attacked the two contestants as the announcers fled. After a beatdown, Big E and Morrison were left lying at ringside and The Miz came out to check on his tag partner.
Big E and Morrison were backstage on SmackDown and King Corbin tried to rally the locker room into fighting back against the unknown enemy. Sheamus came up and took jabs at E but he shrugged it off and said he will get his match with Morrison later tonight.
Sasha Banks and Bayley were back on SmackDown and Bayley said that even the McMahons couldn't keep them down right now. They kicked the triple-brand Battle Royal off.
Battle Royal to decide the No.1 Contender for the SmackDown Women's title
The IIconics were working on the Riott Squad and managed to eliminate Ruby very early on. Liv Morgan was eliminated following The IIconics and the two teams started fighting outside. Nikki Cross was dominating in the ring and Tamina took her out of the match by sending her over the ropes.
Bianca Belair managed to pick up Tamina and drop her outside before Naomi was taken out by Evans with the Women's Right. Shotzi took out Evans and Lacey helped Shayna eliminate Blackheart from the outside. Belair was sent over the ropes by Nox but Baszler dumped her outside while Dana Brooke helped.
Brooke took the hip attack from Asuka and was eliminated before Baszler and Asuka were the only ones left on SmackDown.
Battle Royal to decide the No.1 Contender for the SmackDown Women's title (contd...)
Baszler sent Asuka outside but her feet did not touch the floor since she landed on the champs. Asuka was caught in the Khirifuda Clutch and managed to reverse it and throw Shayna out of the ring to win the Battle Royal on SmackDown.
Result: Asuka won the Battle Royal and will face Bayley at SummerSlam
Match rating: A
Asuka attacked Banks & Bayley backstage on SmackDown before Mandy Rose challenged Sonya Deville to a hair vs. hair match.
Sheamus was backstage and sent some of the extra guards off, saying that the Retribution would not attack while Sheamus was in the ring.
Alexa Bliss was backstage on SmackDown and said that she had some answers to get from Braun Strowman.
Sheamus vs. Shorty G
Gable started off strong but was slowed down by big chops from Sheamus. Gable tried for some ground offense but was wiped out by an axhandle. Shorty hit chops of his own and hit a missile dropkick, taking down Sheamus for a near fall.
Sheamus vs. Shorty G (contd...)
Gable went for an ankle lock but Sheamus managed to get out of it and hit the White Noise. Sheamus followed it up with a Brogue Kick and picked up the win on SmackDown, distraction-free.
Result: Sheamus def. Shorty G
Match rating: C
What is AJ Styles planning for SmackDown?
AJ Styles came out on SmackDown with a guy in a suit and plugged his Twitch channel before saying that people have been throwing statistics at him. AJ teased a new rating system and unveiled it to show that AJ was the only one on the chart.
Jeff Hardy interrupted his announcement and asked for a title match. AJ said he respected Jeff but that Hardy hasn't earned the shot. Jeff beat up AJ Styles and his associate before signing his name on the blank spot on the list and left.
Backstage on SmackDown, The Lucha House Party stole Nakamura and Ceasro's tag team titles and ran away.
Backstage, AJ Styles was furious after the attack and vowed to 'erase' Jeff Hardy.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Gran Metalik
Metalik and Shinsuke kicked us off with some fast action and Metalik was in control early on. Nakamura managed to hit the Inverted Exploder and set up the Kinshasa before Kalisto made his return to SmackDown after months.
Cesaro was taken out on the ramp by the LHP and Metalik used the opportunity to pick up the three-count off a top rope elbow drop.
Result: Gran Metalik def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Match rating: C
Matt Riddle was in an interview backstage on SmackDown when Shorty G came and apologized to him. Riddle said that he understood and accepted the apology before Corbin took him out with his scepter, thanked Gable, and left.
Alexa Bliss was backstage, being interviewed about The Fiend and Braun Strowman. She said she and Strowman were close but then Braun said last week that he didn't care about Alexa which made her upset. A little cringe if I'm honest.
Sonya Deville was backstage on SmackDown and said that she accepted the challenge and called her a 'baldie'.
Big E vs. John Morrison
Big E and Morrison were back to it and Morrison was doing well early on but was sent over the ring post to the outside. E hit a huge splash on the apron before Miz ran a distraction and handed John the comeback in the match on SmackDown.
Otis came out and confronted the Miz before the lights were going out and we headed for a break. We returned to SmackDown as the Retribution attacked and destroyed the backstage area.
The entire roster was out at ringside to protect the match and by the time they got backstage, the group had left. In the ring, Big E locked in the Stretch Muffler and got the win.
Result: Big E def. John Morrison
Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on Big E but then Braun's music hit and everyone ran off.
Match rating: B
Braun Strowman was out and said that he would "feast on the entrails of the Fiend". Alexa Bliss interrupted him and Braun said that he still didn't care about Alexa. Bliss slapped Braun and Strowman attacked her, picking her up and throwing her but the lights went out and The Fiend appeared right when it happened.
Watch our exclusive interview with Sonya Deville as she opened up about a lot of topics including her feud on SmackDown with Mandy Rose.
Episode rating: B+
A fun episode of SmackDown as we saw Strowman and a former US Champion make their returns. Retribution continue their destruction on the Blue brand as well.
