This week on SmackDown featured the return of Roman Reigns, a Triple H announcement, and a Cody Rhodes-Jey Uso Tag Team Title defense.
It was the “Season Premiere” of SmackDown even though there’s no offseason and no “season finale” to the show. SmackDown took place at the BOK Center in Tulsa, OK with Michael Cole, Corey Graves & Kevin Patrick on commentary.
John Cena did a promo welcoming us to the show, but he was interrupted by the return of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Cena made it clear that he wasn’t there to challenge Reigns, but he knew somebody who was…LA Knight. Knight said that Reigns was standing in his way. Reigns wondered what made Knight think he could stand there and Knight said he was Smackdown’s fastest rising star. Jimmy Uso attacked Knight from behind, but Knight threw Jimmy out of the ring. Reigns bailed and told Solo to take care of it. Knight and Solo agreed to a match later in the show.
Match #1: Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) defeated The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) by pinfall. Prince faked a knee injury, the referee believed it, Wilson kicked Ridge in the head and Prince did a rollup for the win.
Carlito was interviewed about his WWE return. Bobby Lashley interrupted, so Carlito challenged him to a match. Lashley said no since he was in a suit and that led to The Street Profits attacking Carlito from behind. Lashley liked that.
After a break, Carlito was being checked on by officials. Bayley and Zelina Vega got into an argument, so WWE Official Adam Pearce put them in a match.
Roman Reigns was in The Bloodline dressing room with Jimmy Uso, Paul Heyman & Solo Sikoa. Reigns wondered what Jimmy was doing and Jimmy said he was calling an audible. Reigns asked Jimmy what he wanted to do next, so Jimmy said he wanted to get Jey. Reigns said Jey was old news, but he didn’t like Jey being a Tag Team Champion with Cody Rhodes. Reigns sounded like he wanted Jimmy to go after the Tag Team Titles with Solo Sikoa. Reigns-Jimmy touched fists to show they are a cohesive unit.
Match #2: Bayley defeated Zelina Vega in about three minutes. Iyo Sky did a distraction on the apron, Vega took her out and Bayley capitalized to knock down Vega. Bayley hit the Roseplant for the pinfall win.
Triple H did an in-ring promo telling Adam Pearce he did a great job running Raw & Smackdown over the last three years as a WWE Official. Hunter said Pearce is getting promoted to the role of the General Manager of Raw. Hunter wanted to introduce a Smackdown GM, but Dominik Mysterio showed up to complain. After a few minutes of that, Nick Aldis was introduced as the Smackdown GM.
In his first act as the WWE Smackdown GM, Aldis introduced the man acquired from Smackdown due to Jey Uso moving to Raw. It was Kevin Owens. When Owens got into the ring, he hit Dominik with a KO Stunner. Owens shook hands with Aldis.
There was a backstage segment with GM Nick Aldis telling Charlotte Flair she’ll face IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Title next week on Smackdown. When Charlotte turned around, Jade Cargill was there. Triple H was there too and he was smiling about it. They exchanged pleasantries with Charlotte saying “it’s nice to meet you” with Jade saying “it’s my pleasure” and Flair said “oh, it will be.”
Match #3:Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso defeated Grayson Waller & Austin Theory to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles. Cody & Jey hit their 1D/Cody Cutter combo followed by Cody hitting a Cross Rhodes on Theory for the pinfall win.
After the match, the music of Roman Reigns hit as Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa walked out for a staredown. Reigns also walked out there and had a staredown with Roman Reigns. Nick Aldis, the Smackdown GM, walked out to tell them “not here, not tonight.” Cody and Roman kept staring at eachother.
Match #4: LA Knight defeated Solo Sikoa. Jimmy Uso went into the ring to try to help Solo, so John Cena was there and dropped Jimmy with an Attitude Adjustment. When Cena turned around, Solo hit Cena with a Samoan Spike. Knight took advantage to hit the BFT on Solo for the pinfall win.
LA Knight was celebrating the win on the turnbuckle. When he turned around, he was met by a Spear from Roman Reigns, who laid out Knight in the ring. Reigns stood tall over Knight with the Undisputed WWE Universal Title. End show.
Next week on WWE SmackDown:
* IYO SKY defends the WWE Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair.
* Santos Escobar vs. Montez Ford.
That’s all for this week.