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Before SmackDown kicked off, Adam Pearce ensured that security was beefed up after what had happened at SummerSlam and with RETRIBUTION looming over the show. Vince McMahon was present backstage and sent Adam Pearce on a mission to get Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and The Fiend Bray Wyatt's signatures on the match contract for the Universal Title bout at Payback.
Jeff Hardy kicked off yet another night at the WWE Thunderdome, only two days away from Payback. Hardy got on the mic and was talking about his first title match after his win last week. AJ Styles interrupted him and called him a cheater for using his knee brace in the match.
AJ said he was not cleared to compete and Hardy said he was going to give a title shot to anyone but him. AJ shoved Hardy and Jeff punched him down before proceeding with the open challenge on SmackDown.
Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura - Intercontinental Championship match on SmackDown
We returned after a break to see Shinsuke Nakamura in the ring with Hardy. Nakamura was hit with a snapmare takedown and Hardy was in control of the match. Nakamura hit the injured knee of Hardy and took him down as AJ cheered him on from the SmackDown commentary table.
Backstage, Cesaro was not happy about Shinsuke facing Hardy without letting him know first. In the ring, Hardy dodged a knee strike and sent Nakamura outside before tossing him into AJ over the announce desk. Back after another break on SmackDown, Hardy hit the Whisper in the wind.
Hardy hit Nakamura with the knee brace and followed up with a Twist of Fate and the Swanton Bomb to get the win on SmackDown.
Result: Jeff Hardy def. Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the Intercontinental Championship
After the match, Sami Zayn returned with the original Intercontinental title belt and called Jeff an impostor before kicking him down on the ramp. What will this mean for our current champ?
Match rating: B
Sami Zayn was backstage on SmackDown and didn't want to say why he was missing for so long.
Back at the Firefly Funhouse, Bray Wyatt held up his Universal Title and said he was happy to see Roman again. The doorbell rang and Wyatt signed for the Fiend on the match contract for Payback. He was very cryptic about the whole ordeal and called it "signing a couple of death warrants".
Matt Riddle vs. Shorty G on SmackDown
Riddle came out and called King Corbin out to face him on SmackDown. Corbin came out but had Shorty G attack him from behind before accepting the challenge, but on behalf of Shorty G.
Gable got the Dragon Screw in but Riddle replied with a Gutwrench Suplex. Riddle hit the Bro Derek for the easy win. Corbin attacked Riddle as the match ended and Riddle fought him off.
Result: Matt Riddle def. Shorty G
Match rating: C
We learnt that last week Talking Smack was back on the WWE Network and Miz and Big E had a heated exchange on the show last time. Earlier in the night, Miz had a fight with Big E backstage on SmackDown that resulted in a six-man tag match to be set up for later.
Backstage on SmackDown, Pearce was trying to get into Roman's locker room before King Corbin said hat he was going to break Matt Riddle's toes at Payback. A little excessive but okay...
Sasha Banks and Bayley were out next on SmackDown and Bayley blamed herself for Banks losing the RAW women's title but then reminded herself that Banks has never succesfully defended a RAW title.
They were interrupted by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler before talking about how their gonna beat the tag champs on Sunday while cutting each other off. Banks said there was no way she and Bayley were losing.
Braun Strowman was backstage on SmackDown and Gulak hit him with a steel chair. Strowman told Pearce that he will only sign the match contract if Gulak faces him in a match.
Backstage on SmackDown, Cesaro and Nakamura were reunited with Sami Zayn. They weren't too happy to suddenly see him after four months without even a phonecall and Cesaro politely told him to go away. Clearly his former teammates did not want Sami around anymore.
Braun Strowman vs. Drew Gulak on SmackDown
Gulak was being tossed around right off the bat and the Monster hit a splash in the corner. Braun hit a senton before hammering away at Gulak and grabbed him by the beard. Braun then hit the running powerslam for the quick win on SmackDown.
Before leaving, Strowman signed the match cotract for Payback and Reigns was the only one left to sign.
Result: Braun Strowman def. Drew Gulak
Match rating: C
The Lucha House Party was backstage on SmackDown and were attacked and taken out by Cesaro and Nakamura after Kalisto left.
Kalisto vs. Cesaro on SmackDown
Cesaro was dominating early on and Kalisto went for the sunset flip. Cesaro countered caught Kalisto for a powerbomb but Kalisto popped up on Cesaro's shoulders for a big DDT, following up with a basement rana.
Nakamura ran a distraction before Metalik and Dorado ran towards him and took him down at ringside. Cesaro rolled up Kalisto during the confusion and got the three-count. After the match, Kalisto and Dorado got into a fight again.
Result: Cesaro def. Kalisto
Match rating: B-
Vince McMahon told Pearce backstage on SmackDown that two out of three wasn't good enough and that he had to go get Roman's signature by the end of the show.
Alexa and Nikki were talking to Tamina and Bliss had got her old hairstyle back and was sporting a dreadlock. Nikki said it might not be the best idea since it reminds her of the Fiend but Alexa got really mad. She smashed Nikki's favorite cup, the first gift she had ever given Cross.
Backstage, Roman was looking over the match contract after Pearce got into his locker as SmackDown continued.
Heavy Machinery & Big E vs. Sheamus, Miz & Morrison on SmackDown
Otis and Morrison started us off and Otis was dominating early on. All three men tagged in for Heavy Machinery to send Big E into Morrison. Tucker was in before Miz and Morrsion hit a double team and tagged in Sheamus.
Tucker took down Sheamus but was kicked out of the ring by Morrison. Tucker took Morrison down and Sheamus got into the timekeeper's are and rang the bell before we headed for commercials.
Heavy Machinery & Big E vs. Sheamus, Miz & Morrison on SmackDown (contd...)
Back on SmacKDown after a break, Morrison was beating up Tucker in the ring before tagging Miz in. They traded tags to keep Tucker in control before Sheamus took the tag by force.
The referee missed the tag and was yelling at Sheamus before he got into a fight with Miz and walked out of the match. Big E and Miz were in before the New Day member hit belly to belly suplexes and then a splash on the A-Lister.
Miz dodged the Caterpillar after Otis tagged in and hit the Skull Crushing Finale. Big E tagged in and hit the Big Ending to pin Miz.
Result: Heavy Machinery & Big E def. Sheamus, Miz & Morrison
Match rating: B
Backstage, Roman Reigns guaranteed that he will win back his Universal Title before revealing that Paul Heyman was now his manager!
Episode rating: B
Tonight's SmackDown was the second go-home show in two weeks with SummerSlam and Payback being only a week apart. WWE Payback's headline match was made official while Sami Zayn made his triumphant return after four long months.
