'%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)
Bayley & Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross hyped the SmackDown Women's title match between Cross and Bayley while Big E talked about facing the Miz tonight. Lacey Evans and Naomi were looking forward to their match as well while AJ Styles was confident in his title defense tonight against Gran Metalik.
SmackDown finally kicked off with Bray Wyatt and the FireFly Funhouse. Wyatt said the Fiend wanted Braun Strowman's title and was looking for him at the swamp. He added that no one would be safe until Braun was found.
AJ Styles (c) vs. Gran Metalik - Intercontinental Title match
SmackDown kicked off with the first title match of the night and AJ looked to have the upper hand early on as Metalik was being knocked about by the champ. AJ hit a huge backbreaker and then a stalling vertical suplex as he controlled the pace of the match.
We returned after the commercials to see Metalik in control as he hit a top rope move but was dropped by some kicks from AJ. Metalik got a near fall from a DDT before hitting a missile dropkick, continuing to wear down the champ.
Styles countered an attempt at a top rope move before locking in the Calf Crusher for the submission victory. After the match, Lince Dorado was helping Metalik up but Styles attacked Dorado and hit a Styles Clash.
Result: AJ Styles def. Gran Metalik to retain the Intercontinental Title
Match rating: A
Backstage on SmackDown, King Corbin was pretending to be friends with Shorty G to get him to fight Matt Riddle for the 'king's ransom'. Gable didn't look too convinced.
We got a recap of last week's bar fight between Sheamus and Jeff Hardy before SmackDown continued with Hardy arriving backstage.
Jeff Hardy was out on SmackDown and celebrated his win against Sheamus. He said he was grateful for everyone's support in his personal challenges with addiction. King Corbin interrupted him and said that he was sick of Jeff's whining.
Corbin said that he was losing his mind and Jeff fired back at him saying that the real problem was Corbin himself. Corbin called him sad and pathetic before Drew Gulak attacked him from behind.
Drew Gulak vs. King Corbin
We returned to SmackDown after a break to see that Gulak and Corbin were in the ring. Gulak was holding his own against his opponent early on but was caught with a right hook for a near fall. Corbin tried to keep Drew down with a half-crab submission, but Gulak got the crossface in, off a counter.
Corbin broke the hold and hit the Deep Six before Matt Riddle made his entrance as a distraction. Corbin was almost caught in a pin but hit the End of Days to get the three-count.
Result: King Corbin def. Drew Gulak
Match rating: B
Matt Riddle attacked Corbin after the match on SmackDown and as Riddle was setting up to finish off Corbin, Shorty G rushed in and hit him with the Chaos Theory German Suplex. What a heel turn!
Big E vs. The Miz
Big E's renewed singles run begins with a match with The Miz on SmackDown. Big E taunted Miz before tossing him in the ring and the Miz ended up slapping E in the face. E took Miz outside and tossed him into the announce desk, the barricades and Morrison took him down while the ref was looking away.
Big E recovered and used the apron before hitting a dive but Miz moved away at the last second. We returned to SmackDown after a break to see Big E caught in a headlock. E broke out of it and hit a series of Belly to Belly Suplexes followed by a splash.
Miz hit the It kicks and attacked Big E's leg in the corner before Morrison interfered again and Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale for a near fall.
Big E vs. The Miz (contd...)
The ref caught Morrison's interference the third time and sent him off. The Miz tried to convince the ref to let John stay at ringside before Big E caught him with the Stretch Muffler. Miz eventually tapped out and Big E picked up the win on SmackDown.
Result: Big E def. The Miz
Match rating: B+
Backstage on SmackDown, Cesaro and Nakamura were celebrating their SmackDown Tag Team Championship win but were interrupted by Lucha House Party. They told them it was a champions only party before sending the LHP on their way.
Sheamus was backstage on SmackDown and said that his mistake was fighting Jeff in a bar, where Hardy felt the most at home. He said Jeff was not his problem anymore before walking off.
Naomi vs. Lacey Evans
Evans had the upper hand early on and hit a powerbomb before planting her on the canvas face first. Lacey trapped Naomi's hair in the steel steps and waited for a count out but Naomi got out of it.
Naomi vs. Lacey Evans (contd...)
Naomi tossed Evans outside and then dodged the Women's Right before catching Evans with the backslide pin and getting the three-count on SmackDown.
Result: Naomi def. Lacey Evans
Match rating: C
Otis and Mandy Rose were talking about going on a date before Sonya Deville sneaked in from behind but they had already left.
Back on SmackDown after a break, Mandy Rose was getting ready for her date but Sonya attacked her and messed her makeup off before chopping off part of her hair. She then picked up some clippers before officials stepped in and sent her off.
Miz and Morrison came in to add fuel to the fire and make things worse by making jokes about Mandy before Tucker chased them off.
Bayley (c) vs. Nikki Cross - SmackDown Women's title match
Nikki Cross started off strong and tossed Bayley across the ring and hit a neckbreaker early on. Bayley fled the ring before Nikki used the apron and then tossed her back in the ring.
Bayley (c) vs. Nikki Cross - SmackDown Women's title match (contd...)
Bayley got a near fall before she was sent into the ring post as we headed for a break on SmackDown. Cross was taking a beating when we returned and managed to plant Bayley on the apron but missed the drive-by.
Nikki stole Banks' ring but tossed it back at Sasha before getting a near fall. Bayley was tossed into the barricades outside before Banks interfered but was hit with a dropkick from Nikki.
Cross hit a crossbody off the top but only got a near fall. Cross tried for a backslide but was sent into the mat with a facebuster for the pinfall.
Result: Bayley def. Nikki Cross to retain the SmackDown Women's title
Match rating: A
Alexa was trying to console Nikki after the match but she shoved her aside before the lights went out. The red lights were on as The Fiend stalked Alexa in the ring and hit the Mandible Claw on her before SmackDown ended.
Episode rating: A
Bray Wyatt made a big announcement and we got two major title matches on tonight's SmackDown. Mandy Rose suffered a brutal attack while Shorty G made a shocking heel turn...who could have seen that coming?
