'%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)
The New Day kicked off SmackDown Live and Big E was still missing. Kofi Kingston got emotional while talking about his trip to his hometown of Ghana for the first time in 30 years and Dolph Ziggler interrupted him. Ziggler had a video package of his own and although he said he respected Kofi, he said that he deserved the title more than Kofi.
Kofi, in turn, played a video of Dolph leaving the United States Championship and walking out. Kofi said Dolph would have deserved it, but he was a quitter. The crowd chanted 'Quitter' over and over while Dolph showed us a video of his attacks on Kofi from recent weeks before saying, "Friday it will be me", and walking off.
The New Day vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn and Kofi started the match and KO was tagged in early. Kofi held his own but KO started to overpower him with vicious kicks. The match spilled outside and Woods was sent into the barricades by Owens.
Kingston was tagged in and he picked up the pace. He hit the boom drop on Sami Zayn and signaled for the end. Owens held his legs from outside and Woods took out KO. Kingston hit the Trouble in Paradise and put away the two former NXT Champions.
Result: Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods def. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Post match, Ziggler attacked Kofi from behind and took him out as well as Woods before walking out.
Match rating: A
Backstage, Shane McMahon said that anything Roman Reigns does, Shane McMahon can do better. He was set to go out to the ring later and call out Reigns to question if we'll see The Big Dog or a scared little puppy.
Up next was a very special epiosde of A Moment of Bliss on SmackDown for the first time.
A Moment of Bliss with special guest Bayley
The SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley came out after Alexa Bliss for the special Blue Brand episode of A Moment of Bliss. Alexa made a fuss about her coffee and Bayley got really mad for being ignored. Alexa got her second cup brought to her and Bayley slapped it out of her hand to get back at Alexa for ignoring her.
Carmella and then Charlotte interrupted and Flair announced that Shane McMahon had scheduled a match between Alexa, Carmella, and Charlotte.
Segment rating: B
Backstage, R-Truth's life was being ruined by the 24/7 title and Shane McMahon offered him a title match.
R-Truth (c) vs. Elias - Lumberjack match for the 24-7 Title
Elias sent Truth crashing out of the ring and Jinder Mahal and the other lumberjacks threw him back in. Elias hit a knee to the head and got the three count.
Result: Elias def. R-Truth and became the new 24-7 Championship
Match rating: C
After the match, the Lumberjacks were in the ring and closing in on the new champ, Elias who managed to sneak out amidst the confusion. R-Truth caught up with him, outside the ring and they went under the ring with a referee. The bell was rung and we found out that Truth pinned Elias under the cover of the ring and won back the 24-7 Championship.
Shane McMahon was out and used a lot of dog puns on Reigns before saying he will neuter Roman on Friday. Roman walked out and the Revival went after him. He went through the team but Drew McIntyre hit a claymore from nowhere and took Roman to the ring. Shane hit a spear and mocked Roman before walking out.
Segment rating: B
Up next was a triple threat match between Charlotte, Carmella & Alexa Bliss and the winner would get a shot at the SmackDown Women's title.
Charlotte vs. Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss
Carmella went for the Code of Silence on Charlotte early on but Flair got out of it. Mandy Rose and Sonya DeVille showed up ringside and distracted Carmella letting Alexa get a huge dropkick on her.
Charlotte was chasing Alexa around the ring when we broke for commercials. Carmella dropped Charlotte from up top as we returned and then went after Alexa. Charlotte came back with a Figure-Four and Alexa splashed on them.
Fire and Desire were trying to take out Carmella from outside when Alexa hit a huge DDT on 'Mella and got the win.
Result: Alexa Bliss def. Carmella & Charlotte
Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss is now confirmed for Stomping Grounds
Match rating: A
Lars Sullivan was being interviewed by Kayla Braxton and he refused to give straight answers. He said he had been called a freak his whole life and said his primary function is to hurt and maim people. He then recited three blind mice but with slight modifications as Kayla slowly backed away.
Segment rating: B
Andrade was out and Finn Balor rushed to ring, attacking Andrade. Selina Vega helped Andrade and he hit the Hammerlock DDT before walking out of the ring.
Segment rating: C
Goldberg was scheduled to appear on SmackDown for the first time ever and we saw a bunch of security guys posted outside his locker room before we broke for commercials yet again.
We returned to see Goldberg walk out to the ring. The crowd started chanting and Goldberg started talking about the Undertaker's appearance last night. He said 'Taker's words flipped a switch in his head and he decided to leave the 'family-man' version of himself at home. He said 'Taker will get the real Goldberg on Friday, the man who had a 173-0 winning streak.
He said Undertaker was next to 'Rest in Peace' and the lights went out. When they came back on, 'Taker was behind Goldberg and the two stared each other down before it went dark yet again. When we came back, this time, 'Taker had dissapeared into thin air.
Segment rating: A+
Episode rating: A
A couple of the matches were disappointing but the end made up for all of it.
