'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
AJ Styles, Miz & Morrison, Braun Strowman, Cesaro, Nakamura, and The New Day, among others, hyped tonight's matches before SmackDown kicked right off with Big E vs. Cesaro in the ring.
Big E vs. Cesaro - Winner will pick the stipulation for Extreme Rules
Big E ran into the corner after Cesaro sidestepped before sending the tag champ into the ring post outside. Back in the ring, Cesaro was dominating but got caught in a belly to belly suplex and then a second before Big E followed up with the splash.
Big E hit a huge splash on the apron before we headed for a break on SmackDown. We returned to see Cesaro back in control but missed the neutralizer before locking Big E in the sharpshooter.
Nakamura attacked Kofi on the outside before hitting a big kick to Big E from the apron while the referee was down. Cesaro took advantage of the distraction and hit the neutralizer before getting the three count.
Result: Cesaro def. Big E
After the match, the heels were going for a table from under the ring but Kofi hit a huge dive and took them out before setting Cesaro up on the table but Nakamura saved Cesaro from being sent through the table.
Match rating: B+
Backstage on SmackDown, King Corbin said there was no way Matt Riddle would be able to beat AJ tonight.
Cesaro and Nakamura were debating before deciding on a Tables Match for Sunday's tag title bout.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were out for A Moment of Bliss and Bliss made some predictions about Riddle beating AJ tonight and the winner of the Swamp match before trying to introduce her mystery guest on SmackDown. SmackDown Women's Champion, Bayley, and Sasha Banks interrupted her and picked a fight with Bliss and her bestie.
Bliss finally managed to bring in her guest, Asuka, before a brawl broke out between the two teams and the Empress joined in as well on SmackDown. Bliss was mad about her show being ruined and called for Asuka and Nikki to settle things with Banks & Bayley in the ring.
Asuka & Nikki Cross vs. Bayley & Sasha Banks
We returned to SmackDown to see Sasha and Nikki in the ring and Bayley was tagged in as they unloaded on Cross. Cross was caught in her opponents' corner as they tagged in and out but Cross still managed to get a near fall on Bayley.
Asuka tagged in and demolished both tag champs before Cross caught both of them in the apron and unloaded on them before dancing on the announcers' desk. We returned after another break to see Asuka take the double knees in the corner before Bayley was tagged in.
Cross was tagged in and missed a top rope move before hitting a Tornado DDT on the outside on Bayley using the SmackDown announce table.
Asuka & Nikki Cross vs. Bayley & Sasha Banks (contd...)
Banks broke the pin and Asuka took her out with a big kick on the outside. Bayley used the ropes in the ring to get a dirty pin on Nikki and picked up the win on SmackDown.
Result: Bayley & Sasha Banks def. Asuka & Nikki Cross
Match rating: A
Backstage on SmackDown, Miz was hyping Morrison up for his match with Strowman but he wasn't convinced.
The Firefly Funhouse was back on SmackDown but this time Bray Wyatt was at his swamp. He talked about the horrors that lay underneath the swamp where Braun Strowman had arrived like a 'lost lamb'. Wyatt vowed to confront the monster that Strowman has become before disappearing from our screens.
John Morrison vs. Braun Strowman
Braun said he was ready to 'slap the devil in his face' on Sunday before heading to the ring where Morrison was scared out of his wits. Morrison was pummeled right way and took a clothesline that turned him upside down before stepping on his face with all his weight.
John Morrison vs. Braun Strowman (contd...)
Morrison was being rag-dolled in the ring as Braun tossed him about before hitting the Running Poweslam for the win on SmackDown.
Result: Braun Strowman def. John Morrison
After the match, he said that he hoped Wyatt was watching before leaving the ring. Miz called in a stretcher to get Morrison out of the ring but he refused it and limped out of the SmackDown ring with Miz.
Match rating: C
Naomi vs. Lacey Evans
Naomi had the upper hand early and slapped Lacey but took an elbow drop for a near fall as the match went on. Naomi hit the split and got a near fall of her own before dodging the Women's Right.
Lacey tied Naomi's hair onto the middle rope before hitting the Women's Right on her as she got free and picked up the win on SmackDown.
Result: Lacey Evans def. Naomi
Match rating: C
Jeff Hardy was backstage on SmackDown before he was attacked by Sheamus who joked around about 'cleansing his demons' and walked out.
Backstage on SmackDown, Bayley & Banks made fun of Cross and walked off. Nikki was losing confidence in her abilities before she attacked the tag champs, mainly targeting Bayley.
AJ Styles vs. Matt Riddle - Intercontinental Title Match
Matt Riddle started off strong and hit two Gutwrench Suplexes followed by a knee strike, sending AJ Styles into a fit of rage. Riddle mocked AJ's angry antics and got him even more worked up before taking him down as we headed for a break.
We returned to SmackDown to see Riddle hit a Fisherman's Suplex before Styles managed to gain some control with a big move. Styles hit a Dragonscrew before trying for the calf crusher.
Riddle hit a powerbomb and a running knee for a near fall before another break. Back on SmackDown, Styles was getting desperate as he hit a superkick but couldn't get the Styles Clash. Riddle hit the ripcord knee but missed the floating bro.
Riddle hit a the Bro-ton and but was locked in the calf crusher. Styles managed to roll up Riddle in the following struggle and got the win.
Result: AJ Styles def. Matt Riddle to retain the Intercontinental Title
The two men shook hands after the match but King Corbin attacked Riddle from behind and hit the End of Days before SmackDown ended.
Match rating: A+
Episode rating: B+
We got another great episode of SmackDown before we head to Extreme Rules on Sunday. We got a great title match to close things out while Asuka and Cross put on a great match with the tag champs.
