From Kevin Owens’ brutal assault on Cody Rhodes to Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa’s cunning victory over the Motor City Machine Guns, here’s what went down on WWE SmackDown this week.
The show kicked off with the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, making his way to the ring to address the WWE Universe. However, he was quickly interrupted by Chad Gable and American Made. Gable brought up the upcoming draft season and revealed he had talked with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis.
The two exchanged heated words, with Rhodes mocking Gable’s past as “Shorty G” and Gable firing back by claiming Kevin Owens deserved a better friend than Rhodes. The tension culminated in Rhodes challenging Gable to a match in the main event, which Gable eagerly accepted.
The first match of the night saw Tiffany Stratton, Naomi, and Elektra Lopez face off in a triple-threat bout as part of the ongoing Women’s U.S. Title Tournament.
Minnesota’s own “Ms. Money in the Bank” Tiffany Stratton had the crowd firmly behind her as she showcased her athleticism and cunning. Naomi seemed poised to win after hitting a Rear View on Stratton and setting up for a Split-Legged Moonsault on Lopez. However, Candice LeRae’s interference derailed Naomi’s momentum.
Stratton capitalized on the chaos, hitting a Swanton Bomb on Naomi and following up with her signature Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Lopez to secure the victory. With this win, Stratton advanced to the semifinals of the tournament.
Backstage tensions between Bianca Belair and Piper Niven boiled over into a singles match after a confrontation involving Jade Cargill. Chelsea Green accompanied Niven to ringside, serving as a constant distraction for Belair.
Niven targeted Belair’s ribs throughout the match, leaving the former three-time world champion visibly struggling. Despite the pain, Belair used her signature braid to regain control and eventually lifted Niven for an incredible K.O.D., slamming her onto Green, who had been pulled into the ring.
The new United States Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura, came to the ring to celebrate his Survivor Series victory. However, LA Knight interrupted, demanding a rematch. Before the confrontation could escalate, Andrade made his way to the ring, staking his own claim for a title shot.
The situation took a chaotic turn when the Bloodline’s Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu ambushed Knight and Andrade. Interestingly, they chose not to attack Nakamura, who forced the Bloodline to retreat by spewing black liquid from his mouth.
In one of the night’s most dramatic moments, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, collectively known as #DIY, challenged Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley of the Motor City Machine Guns for the WWE Tag Team Titles.
The match was intense from the start, with Ciampa showing a newfound aggression. However, cracks in #DIY’s partnership began to show as Ciampa and Gargano argued mid-match. At one point, Ciampa accidentally knocked Gargano off the apron, leaving himself vulnerable to the Machine Guns’ offense.
Just when it seemed like the champions would retain, Gargano and Ciampa revealed their true strategy. Gargano delivered a low blow to Shelley while the referee was distracted, and Ciampa tagged himself in with a sinister smile. The duo hit their finisher to secure the pinfall and win the WWE Tag Team Titles, cementing their status as one of the most cunning teams in WWE history.
The main event saw Cody Rhodes take on Chad Gable in a non-title match. Wrestling in his home state of Minnesota, Gable had the crowd on his side and focused his attack on Rhodes’ left knee, exploiting the injury throughout the match.
Despite Gable’s relentless offense, including multiple Ankle Locks and a moonsault attempt, Rhodes fought back. After hitting a Cody Cutter and a Cross Rhodes, Rhodes secured the victory in a grueling contest.
However, the celebration was short-lived. Kevin Owens stormed the ring and launched a vicious assault on Rhodes. Officials rushed to the ring to separate the two, but Owens continued his attack as the show went off the air, leaving fans in shock.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Women’s US Title Tournament | Tiffany Stratton def. Naomi & Elektra Lopez |
| Bianca Belair def. Piper Niven | |
| WWE Tag Team Championship | #DIY def. Motor City Machine Guns (c) |
| WWE Undisputed Championship | Cody Rhodes (c) def. Chad Gable |
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