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Friday Night SmackDown kicked off with an Intercontinental Championship match between Roman Reigns and Shinsuke Nakamura. Sami Zayn was on the commentator's position as the match began.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Roman Reigns - Intercontinental Championship match
Nakamura kicked off the match with great intensity but Reigns took control early with a big boot. The champ was being knocked around before Sami pulled Shinsuke out of the way of a Drive-By. Roman almost hit a Superman Punch but the champ reversed it into an armbar before he was lifted off the mat with the hold still locked on.
Nakamura was down when Sami ran a distraction allowing him to land German Suplex on Reigns. Roman still landed a Superman Punch for a near fall. Roman was about to finish it but Baron Corbin came out and hit Reigns with his sceptre for a DQ finish before hitting the End of Days.
Result: Roman Reigns def. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ
Baron Corbin and Nakamura teamed up against Reigns when Daniel Bryan rushed the ring and hit a missile dropkick on Corbin. Sami caught Bryan by his legs while Nakamura hit a Kinshasa, taking him out.
Match rating: A
The New Day were backstage when Heavy Machinery came in to cheer them up. Otis mixed up a bowl of pancake batter and Tucker dumped protein powder in it before Otis chugged it down.
Shorty Gable vs. Curtis Axel
Bo Dallas was ringside and Gable took him out early on with a swift kick. In the ring, Gable locked in the Anklelock, making Axel tap out.
Result: Shorty Gable def. Curtis Axel
After the match, Gable gave an inspiring interview in the ring saying that his height is his strength and he will embrace what he has.
He said that he accepted who he is, naming himself Shorty G. Corey Graves was so impressed that he wanted to name himself Handsome G.
Match result: B
Hulk Hogan was on Skype and said that Team Hogan was ready to fight. He said Shorty G and Ali were both on his radar. He also said that the name of the leader of his team would be announced later in the night.
The New Day & Heavy Machinery vs. The Revival, Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler and Tucker kicked off the match and Otis was tagged in early on. He teamed up with Big for some great moves. Woods launched himself over the ropes for a huge dive before getting doubleteamed by the former tag champs.
Roode & Gable were being tossed in the ring by Otis before he hit the Caterpillar on Roode. Dawson couldn't lift Otis and instead Otis set him up for the Double Team from The New Day for the win.
Result: The New Day & Heavy Machinery def. The Revival, Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler
Match rating: A
Nakamura & Corbin vs. Roman & Bryan was announced as the main event of the night. Backstage, Bryan said that he didn't care about getting beaten up and was excited for his first match on Friday Night SmackDown.
Mix TV kicked off and Bayley was out next with Sasha Banks. The champ was sporting a brand new persona and the audience were loving the change. Bayley and Sasha celebrate being a Grand Slam Champion before the interview began.
The Miz rolled a vide package that showed Bayley's shocking heel-turn from last week and her fans reacting to it. Miz asked him 'why' and Bayley was quiet as the audience erupted and Miz kept antagonizing her.
Bayley said she made the change for herself because she was 'tired of giving to the audience' wjile a loser in the audience kept yelling 'What?'. He called her whole division lazy and said that she had outgrown her fans. She said "Life sucks and then you die", quoting Vince McMahon from many moons ago.
Segment rating: A
Nikki Cross came out and promised Bayley a great, big 'hug' after winning the Six-Pack Challenge match. Dana Brooke was out next and complained about being underutilized, followed by Lacey Evans, but she didn't have much to say.
Mandy Rose vs. Sonya DeVille vs. Nikki Cross vs. Carmella vs. Dana Brooke vs. Lacey Evans - Six Pack Challenge
Rose & Deville teamed up early on and took out Carmella, Cross and the rest before Dana came in from behind. Evans was waiting for her moment and struck as everyone else was down before Carmella hit a big move off the barricades.
Back from commercials, Carmella was dominating but Cross sent her outside before diving off the top. Brooke hit a huge senton from up top but the pinb was broken up. Carmella & Mandy threw down but DeVille came to the rescue. Amidst the confusion, Cross hit the spinning neckbreaker on Mandy for the win.
Result: Nikki Cross won the Six Pack Challenge
Match rating: A
We got a short recap of the feud between Braun Strowman and The Gypsey King, Tyson Fury before Braun's match. We also got a recap of Seth Rollins burning down the Firefly Fun House set.
Braun Strowman vs. Drew Gulak
Gulak had a little Powerpoint Presentation to show Braun but Strowman was not having any of it. Braun tossed Gulak around before hitting a big boot and sending him outside. Strowman hit the Running Powerslam in the ring for the easy win before Gulak could even get a move in.
Result: Braun Strowman def. Drew Gulak
Match rating: B
We learnt before the main event began that the leader of Team Hogan was Roman Reigns.
Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Baron Corbin
Roman Reigns began the match against Corbin and tagged in Bryan for an early double-team. He hit the Yes kicks before Shinsuke came in with a tag.
Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Baron Corbin (contd...)
Sami Zayn came in with a distraction before we headed for a commercial break. We returned to see Nakamura get tagged back in and the heels were dominating for the moment. Bryan sped things up and took Nakamura down as Roman waited for the tag.
Corbin sent Roman into the steel steps on the outside before Daniel Bryan took him out. Back in the ring, Nakamura was caught in the Labelle Lock but Corbin broke it up. Roman came in with a Superman Punch and hit a huge spear, sending both himself and Corbin into the barricades.
In the ring, Bryan hit the Yes kicks on Nakamura and hit the running knee for the win!
Result: Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan def. Shinsuke Nakamura & Baron Corbin
Match rating: A
Episode rating: B
A good episode overall. The IC title match between Reigns and Nakamura set the pace for the episode. There was some great character buildup from Bayley and an amazing Six-Pack challenge were the moments that stole the show!
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