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Sasha Banks kicked off SmackDown and Adam Pearce was in the ring for the TLC match contract signing between Banks and Carmella. Banks was about to sign the contract before finding that Carmella had stolen the document and after showing up on the Titantron, 'Mella signed the contract and sent it to Banks via a helper.
Pearce and Banks were still in the ring when the contract was delivered and after a tense exchange between Carmella and Banks, The Boss said she wanted to face Mella tonight. Pearce loved the idea and made the match official. Sasha took out Carmella's helper to end the segment.
The Street Profits were backstage and made fun of Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler before Ford's match.
Montez Ford vs. Dolph Ziggler on SmackDown
Ford took a neckbreaker early on but popped back up to his feet before hitting a dropkick, taking down the former World Heavyweight Champion. Roode pulled his partner to the floor as the Street Profits celebrated. Their music hit, and a shower of cups rained down on them in the ring but the match was not over yet; instead, we went to commercials.
Ford moved up for his Frog Splash finisher but Robert Roode sent Angelo Dawkins into the steel steps at ringside, allowing Ziggler to take Ford from the top. After tumbling to the mat, Ford was hit with a nasty superkick before Ziggler picked up the win on SmackDown.
Result: Dolph Ziggler def. Montez Ford
Match rating: B
Sami Zayn was backstage on SmackDown and was furious that he didn't have new merch when Big E came in wearing his own new merch and this annoyed Sami further. E called in Apollo Crews who showed off a version of Sami's merch t-shirt they hand drew as a joke.
After a break, Sami Zayn was out on SmackDown and was complaining about having no merch yet before Big E made his entrance.
Sami Zayn vs. Big E on SmackDown
Big E was dominating off the bat and Sami got little offense in early on. Big E set him up on the apron and hit the splash before we headed for a break on SmackDown. Back from a break, Sami was starting to fight back and got a knee strike in before hitting an elbow drop from up high.
Big E recovered and hit a barrage of belly-to-belly suplexes and a splash before setting up for the finish. Sami rolled out of the ring but came back for a clothesline. Sami tried to roll E up and hit a crossbody before getting caught.
E reversed a Helluva kick and Sami faked an injury mid-match, using the opportunity to run outside and under the ring where E followed. Zayn came out the other side and beat the 10-count but E was too slow and the match ended in a count-out.
Result: Sami Zayn def. Big E
Match rating: B-
Bayley was backstage on SmackDown and wished Carmella luck in her match with Banks before trashing on Bianca Belair who sneaked up on her mid-promo. Belair handed her a list of her accomplishments but Bayley walked away.
Roman Reigns and Jey Uso were backstage on SmackDown, watching as Kevin Owens came out to the ring and started bringing out a table, a ladder, and chairs into the ring. Owens got on the mic and accused Roman of using his family to fight his battles.
Owens said he too had a few friends, pointing at the chairs, tables, and ladders. Uso attacked Owens from behind and set him up on a table but Owens grabbed a chair and went to work on Jey.
Owens sent Uso into the ladder and then hit a powerbomb through the table. Reigns and Heyman walked into the stage and Owens tried to taunt Roman into battle but the Heyman talked him into being patient and they walked out. Owens limped his way backstage with a chair, chasing them before we headed for a break.
Back on SmackDown, we saw Owens taking a beating from Roman Reigns who then faced the camera and introduced himself to Owens' family on SmackDown and told them to convince him to back off, for his own good.
Billie Kay & Natalya vs. The Riott Squad on SmackDown
Riott and Kay started off the match on SmackDown and Morgan got a sneaky tag in right away before tagging Riott back in for what looked like a botched double team move. Kay took Morgan down and tagged in the BOAT who unloaded on Morgan and went for a quick tag.
Natalya and Kay kept Morgan from making the tag and Nattie hit the slingshot atomic drop but she made it eventually. Morgan and Riott hit their combined finisher to take out Kay and pick up the win on SmackDown.
Result: The Riott Squad def. Billie Kay & Natalya
Match rating: C
Chad Gable was teaching Otis to be an alpha before Cesaro and Nakamura showed up to make fun of them on SmackDown.
Chad Gable & Otis vs. Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown
Chad and Cesaro kicked off the match but Otis wanted to step in so Gable obliged. Otis and Chad were making hot tags, keeping the pressure on Cesaro but he took Gable out and tagged in Nakamura.
Chad Gable & Otis vs. Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown (contd...)
Otis was in and took Cesaro down before setting up for the Caterpillar but Gable wanted to finish the match so Otis let him tag in on SmackDown. Instead, Cesaro put Gable in the Swing and tagged in Nakamura who hit the Kinshasa on him and picked up the win.
Result: Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura def. Chad Gable & Otis
Match rating: B
After the match on SmackDown, Gable revealed that it was all a test, and Otis wasn't meant to tag him in at the last moment but instead should have finished the match.
Baron Corbin was backstage with his new security detail and said that they were called the 'Knights of the Lone Wolf'. Corbin threatened Murphy and the Mysterios once more before we headed back to the ring for the main event on SmackDown.
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Carmella - SmackDown Women's Championship match
Banks was in trouble as the match began and Carmella was yelling at and taunting Banks while holding her by the hair. Banks dodged the Code of Silence and tried for a backstabber but missed.
Sasha Banks (c) vs. Carmella - SmackDown Women's Championship match (contd...)
Carmella had Banks in the corner before Sasha managed to hit a knee and a Meteora but was dropped face-first on the apron by 'Mella. Back on SmackDown after a break, Banks got a near fall before missing the Backstabber once more.
Carmella used an upside-down hold using the ropes before hitting a top-rope crossbody. Carmella went for the submission and Banks turned it into the Banks statement. Carmella's helper tossed a champagne bottle in the ring and dragged Banks outside.
Banks was furious and unloaded on Carmella before the match was called off. Carmella's helper came in but Banks hit him with the Banks Statement. Carmella recovered and took her out before taunting her and putting her face in the ice bucket meant for the champagne before finally breaking a bottle on her back.
Result: Carmella def. Sasha Banks via DQ
Match rating: A
Episode rating: B+
Tonight's show was a little underwhelming in term of big moments but the main event and Kevin Owens' promo stole the spotlight. We're less than ten days away from TLC and things are heating up with Bayley vs. Belair scheduled for next week as well as Roode & Ziggler's tag title shot on SmackDown.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
