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Kevin Owens kicked off SmackDown with the KO Show and Daniel Bryan was his first guest of the season. The two were discussing the future of SmackDown and Bryan suggested that the Intercontinental Championship should be put on the line every Friday. Owens had other plans and suggested that he and Bryan should team up to challenge for the tag titles.
Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode came out and declared that they were the greatest tag team in the world. The tag champs, The Street Profits, came out and made fun of both teams before Nakamura and Cesaro came out as well to join the confusion. The four teams headed for a brawl and a match was declared as we headed for commercials.
The Street Profits, Daniel Bryan & Kevin Owens vs. Ziggler & Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro on SmackDown
We returned from commercials to see Cesaro in control and Dawkins was taking a beating while Roode tagged in. Ford got the tag and the champs hit a double team move on Roode before Ziggler came in with a dropkick.
Daniel Bryan tagged in and hit a huge dive to the outside on Cesaro but was caught in the ring. Bryan hit the running knee on Cesaro but injured himself trying to do his signature flip of the top turnbuckle. Cesaro went for the weakened knee and sent Bryan outside before we headed for another break.
We returned to SmackDown to see Bryan still in the ring and Cesaro, Roode & Ziggler took turns bullying him. Bryan fought back and hit a missile dropkick on Roode before tagging in Dawkins who cleaned house and got a near fall on Nakamura.
Cesaro and Dawkins were in the ring on SmackDown and we saw a quick sequence of moves as Bryan took down Shinsuke from the apron and KO hit a cannonball on Roode & Ziggler.
The Street Profits, Daniel Bryan & Kevin Owens vs. Ziggler & Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro on SmackDown (contd...)
Ford got the pin off a frog splash after Dawkins set Cesaro up with the Spinebuster in the middle of the ring on SmackDown.
Result: The Street Profits, Daniel Bryan & Kevin Owens def. Ziggler & Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro
Match rating: B+
We were in a Law and Order parody called 'Law and Otis'. Otis was being charged by Miz's lawyer for emotional and physical damages and JBL was the judge. Otis and Miz made their opening statements before Miz fired his lawyer.
Backstage on SmackDown, The Street Profits, Daniel Bryan and KO were celebrating their win before Sami Zayn came up and told Bryan to not mess with the Intercontinental title.
Bianca Belair vs. Zelina Vega on SmackDown
Vega was being tossed around in the ring by Belair and went for a hurricanrana but was countered. Belair was taunting Vega before Zelina came back with some kicks and took control with a rana.
Bianca Belair vs. Zelina Vega on SmackDown (contd...)
Belair countered a move from Vega and lifted her before tossing her aside and then hitting the KOD for the easy win on SmackDown.
Result: Bianca Belair def. Zelina Vega
Match rating: C
Lars Sullivan vs. Shorty G on SmackDown
Shorty G was set to face Lars Sullivan to prove that he belongs on SmackDown. Gable was being thrown around like a ragdoll early on but he went for Sullivan's eyes. Gable got a few shots in but it only angered The Freak.
Sullivan hit the Freak Accident in the middle of the ring and picked up the quick victory. After the match, Shorty G crawled out of the ring and said "I quit."
Result: Lars Sullivan def. Shorty G
Match rating: C
Backstage on SmackDown, Seth Rollins was planning to take revenge on Murphy during their match tonight.
In the doctors room, Gable revealed that he merely quit being Shorty G and wanted to go back to being Chad Gable.
Bayley was out and mocked Sasha Banks before she came out with the Hell in a Cell match contract.
Sasha Banks was trying to get Bayley to sign the match contract but the champ attacked her with her steel chair. Sasha snatched the title and then used the steel chair to trap Bayley's head, forcing her to sign the contract on SmackDown.
Back to Law and Otis, Morrison was testifying against Otis while Rey Mysterio was in support of the MITB winner. Asuka was there too and Tucker was the last witness and testified against Miz who almost got into a fight with him. JBL called a recess and said he will reveal his verdict when we return.
Back on SmackDown, JBL said that he had no choice but to rule in favor of Otis because he did nothing wrong but the Miz gave him a briefcase as 'evidence'. JBL looked inside it and immediately changed his decision and offered Miz a match for the Money in the Bank contract.
Murphy vs. Seth Rollins on SmackDown
Rollins was taunting Murphy off the bat and the Australian took control of the match early on. Rollins went for a headlock and Murphy returned the favor by sending Rollins outside the ring and over the announce desk.
Murphy vs. Seth Rollins on SmackDown (contd...)
Murphy’s Meteora injured Rollins' arm but Rollins took advantage by catching Murphy with a dive as he was recovering on the floor on SmackDown. An arm breaker on the apron dropped Murphy as Aaliyah looked on from backstage.
Rollins hit a buckle bomb after commercials and got a near fall. Rollins hit a Falcon Arrow for another near fall while Rollins was getting angrier. Rollins went for the stomp twice but Murphy countered it before taking it the third time and going down for good.
Result: Seth Rollins def. Murphy
Rollins was getting ready to attack Murphy with a kendo stick and Aaliyah came out to stop him. Rollins went after him anyway before Dominik tried to get Aaliyah to leave.
Rollins attacked Dom and Rey Mysterio came out before the SmackDown Saviour retreated.
Match rating: A+
Roman Reigns was out next with Paul Heyman and Jimmy Uso showed up on the Titantron to tell Roman that he had lost touch with reality while Jey ambushed Reigns from behind. Jey got a steel chair but took a big boot. Jey hit a Superkick and then the splash.
Reigns got on the mic and said that if he lost the 'I Quit' match, he would just lose the title but if Jey lost, both the Usos and their families would be kicked out by The Tribal Chief from the Anoa'i family.
The Hell In A Cell came down and Jey climbed it to threaten Reigns as SmackDown ended.
Episode rating: A
SmackDown's go-home episode saw Daniel Bryan's return to action, a powerful display from Sasha Banks, and Roman Reigns' big announcement.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
