WWE SmackDown live results: Cody Rhodes responds to Solo Sikoa

Before moving back to USA Network next week, SmackDown closes out its five-year run on Fox with tonight’s episode from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Cody Rhodes retained his Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens at Bash in Berlin last Saturday. Tonight, Rhodes will respond to Solo Sikoa’s challenge for a title match. Rhodes defeated Sikoa at SummerSlam last month, but he got help from a returning Roman Reigns. Sikoa, along with his Bloodline stablemates, took out Reigns on SmackDown a few weeks ago.

Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa & Jacob Fatu are scheduled to face The Street Profits & DIY in an eight-man tag match tonight.

For the first time since losing the WWE Women’s Championship to Nia Jax at SummerSlam, Bayley will be in action tonight against Jax’s cohort Tiffany Stratton.

Finally, after weeks of vignettes, Giovanni Vinci will make his return.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Michael Cole welcomed everyone into the show as live shots of Edmonton were shown outside the building.

– Bayley and Giovanni Vinci were shown backstage, arriving to the venue. Cody was then shown signing autographs backstage.

– A recap video of the stuff between Cody and Kevin Owens from Bash In Berlin aired. Cody’s music hit and we went to the first segment.

The Cody Rhodes/Bloodline segment

It felt like Sikoa vs. Cody was where we were headed once Roman Reigns was (supposedly? maybe?) pulled from the first SmackDown on USA (at least from the promotional materials). And so, to paraphrase Tina Fey, we go to there. That doesn’t necessarily mean Reigns won’t be there, but perhaps it’ll be booked as a surprise. Anyway, this was formulaic, especially considering how many show-opening segments we’ve seen Cody lead – and especially considering how many show-opening segments we’ve seen Cody lead with the Bloodline, no matter the incarnation. I hope WWE took note of how positive the crowd responded to the potential of Cody facing Jacob Fatu instead of Sikoa. We’re slow-walking our way there, but here’s hoping after the steel cage match next week, we’ll feel significantly closer to that eventual match.

The crowd chanted Cody’s name and Cody soaked it in before asking Edmonton what they wanted to talk about. Cody noted how it’s an extremely large crowd and he told everyone to say hello to each other. Cody said “Canada’s own” Kevin Owens had a hell of an outing at Bash In Berlin. Cody then welcomed Michael Cole back to SmackDown. The crowd chanted Cole’s name. Cody said he could go on, but he knew he’d get interrupted. Instead, he extended an invitation to the Bloodline. On cue, Solo Sikoa’s music hit and Sikoa walked out flanked by the rest of the Bloodline.

Sikoa stepped into the ring while the rest of the faction stayed outside of it. Sikoa asked Cody if he was done running his mouth. Sikoa asked Cody if he was done playing around as the crowd chanted “We want Roman!” Sikoa asked Cody if he was ready to defend his title against a real challenger. Sikoa said he could have been champion and he had Cody beat at SummerSlam, but Roman Reigns got in the way. As a result, Sikoa said he deserved a rematch.

Cody said on the season premiere of SmackDown next week there should be an Undisputed WWE Championship match. The crowd responded in kind by chanting “We want Roman!” louder. Cody called Sikoa unhinged and the No. 1 contender and said Sikoa does deserve a title match. But twist! Cody said he wasn’t talking to Sikoa; instead, he was talking to Jacob Fatu. Cody told Fatu to step up. Fatu did just that as the crowd chanted “Step up!”

Sikoa mouthed something to Fatu off mic and while Fatu stood on the apron, Fatu shouted he loved Sikoa and Sikoa was his Tribal Chief. Fatu then hopped down off the apron and the crowd booed. Cody said it was worth a shot. Cody noted how every second and every minute, Sikoa gets better. Cody said the WWE revolves around Cody’s championship. The Bloodline hopped into the ring and looked like they would attack Cody, but #DIY and the Street Profits ran in to save Cody. Nick Aldis popped up and told everyone to settle down. Aldis proclaimed the eight-man tag match the main event for later. Aldis then said next week’s main event will be Cody vs. Sikoa for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Aldis said the title match next week will be best for business, which means the match will be in a steel cage. Cody’s music hit to end the segment.

**********

– Pretty Deadly were backstage with Tiffany Stratton. Next week, Pretty Deadly hopes to premiere “Pretty Deadly: The Musical.” Nia Jax walked in and asked Stratton about how it looked like she wanted to cash in on Jax last week. Stratton said Chelsea Green was spreading those rumors about her and Stratton would never lie to Jax. Stratton asked Jax to be in her corner tonight and Jax said she would be there for Stratton.

Bayley defeated Tiffany Stratton [10:12]

I didn’t think I’d like how they’re stretching out the Stratton vs. Jax stuff, but I’m not not entertained so far. Plus, the Stratton/Pretty Deadly pairing makes way more sense than anyone ever imagined, so once Jax and Stratton have their day, Stratton should be fine flanked by those two guys. As for this match, it was pretty good. Stratton was consistent and clean while Bayley was … well, Bayley, which is a good thing. With Charlotte out, Becky gone and Sasha in AEW, it has fallen to Bayley to carry on that wave of women who got to the main roster around the same time and she’s been carrying that flag admirably. Plus, she was in need of a win, so as Michael Cole said, weirdly (considering their storyline history), it was nice to see something good happen to Bayley. Indeed.

The two locked up to begin the match. Eventually, Bayley roughed Stratton up and messed up Stratton’s hair. Bayley then worked Stratton’s arm and landed a running forearm for a two-count. Bayley went to the top, but Stratton cut her off. Stratton then kicked Bayley and hit a basement dropkick on Bayley, who was on the apron. The show went to a commercial break after that.

The broadcast returned and Stratton still had the upper hand, complete with her back handspring splash spot. Stratton ran at Bayley and Bayley clotheslined the hell out of her. Stratton responded with a dropkick and a draping hip attack for a two-count. Stratton dragged Bayley to a corner and worked on Bayley’s arm until Bayley ran Stratton into a ring post. Bayley then supplexed Stratton on the outside. Back inside the ring, Bayley landed a clothesline and a belly-to-back suplex before a running knee got Bayley a two-count.

Bayley went to the top rope and connected with a flying elbow, which was good enough for a near-fall. Jax then walked down the aisle without music. Jax’s appearance distracted Bayley and Stratton took advantage of that with an Alabama Slam. A handful of seconds later, Bayley hit a Bayley-To-Belly and Stratton rolled to talk to Jax. Bayley then hit a suicide dive on Jax. Jax was mad jawed at the referee. In the meantime, Stratton rolled up Bayley, but the referee was too busy being distracted. From there, Bayley followed it up with a Rose-Plant and got the win.

**********

– Kevin Owens was shown backstage and Grayson Waller and Austin Theory walked into the frame. Theory mocked Owens for losing to Cody at Bash In Berlin and they noted how Owens didn’t help Cody earlier in the show. Owens said he and Cody are fine and called Theory and Waller idiots. Owens called Waller and Theory a great team repeatedly and asked them if they wanted to have a triple threat later in the show. Waller noted how it would basically be a handicap match and Theory and Waller reiterated that they were best buds, so the match shouldn’t be a problem.

– A Legado Del Fantasma vignette aired. Santos Escobar didn’t appear happy while the rest of the faction was excited. Escobar asked why Berto and Angel were happy with their win last week because their win last week didn’t involved titles. Escobar told them not to be happy with merely success. Escobar said they make their own success and everyone agreed everything is falling into place for the faction, and man, if they concluded that after one win against Apollo Crews & Baron Corbin … . Anyway, they were happy as the segment ended.

Apollo Crews defeated Giovanni Vinci [0:03]

Wow. What?

The crowd didn’t really know what to do with Vinci as he took his time before starting the match, mugging for the camera. The bell rang and Crews rolled him up for the surprise win. Vinci was indignant.

– Chelsea Green was shown talking to Nick Aldis backstage and Michin walked in. Green called Michin trash and Michin recalled out Green got a knee to the face on NXT this week. Aldis made a one-on-one match between Green and Michin for later. Green pouted and walked away.

– Corey Perry, an Edmonton Oiler, was shown in the crowd.

Kevin Owens defeated Grayson Waller and Auston Theory [9:44]

You know what? Since Kevin Owens fancies himself the Meta Wrestler on these shows, why wouldn’t he just leave the match and force Theory and Waller to fight each other? That team’s dissolution has been teased now for months. Owens does so many things with a wink and nod these days. Why not just let the two heels go at it and laugh at them? Anyway, the match was fine. The A-Town Down breakup is really overstaying its welcome, but perhaps there is something big planned for one (or both) of those guys. Owens gets a win back after losing to Cody last weekend, but he got it from perpetual losers, and those losers are losers he constantly runs into week after week. Can we get Owens away from A-Town Down Under? Can we get A-Town Down Under away from each other? Please?

Waller came out wearing a Florida Panthers jersey. The camera kept cutting to Perry (angle alert!). Owens quickly got out ahead, beating both Waller and Theory up on the outside of the ring. Theory and Waller eventually fought back and Waller brought out a table from under the ring. Waller went to do something with it, but Owens instead powerbombed Waller through the table. Owens posed on the ring apron and the show took a commercial break.

Back from the break, a highlight was shown of Perry holding Theory while Owens punched Theory. Waller sold pain from the table spot and Owens pounded on Theory. Owens clotheslined Theory and hit a Senton on Theory. Owens followed that up with a cannonball and went to the top rope. Owens landed a Swanton and covered Theory, but Waller finally got involved again and broke up the pin attempt. Waller pounded on Owens. Waller ran into a right hand from Owens, but Theory came back with a Rolling Blockbuster on Owens. Waller tried to pin Owens, but Theory broke up the pin attempt and the heels argued.

Theory and Waller put the beef aside and worked over Owens in the a corner. Owens fought back with a noggin knocker, but Theory came back … only for Owens to hit a Rolling Senton on Owens. Waller broke up a pin attempt, but Owens suplexed Waller from the second rope and Theory broke up the ensuing pin attempt. Theory was first to his feet, but Owens hit a Stunner on Theory and that was enough for the win. After the match, Waller attacked Owens. Before long, Theory joined in and and hit A-Town Down on Owens. Waller followed that up with a Rolling Flatliner. A-Town Down celebrated to end the segment.

**********

– An Andrade/Carmelo Hayes vignette aired.

– Michael Cole spoke from the commentary table about being on FOX for five years. Corey Graves, alongside Cole, echoed Cole’s sentiment, referencing the Thunderdome era! Graves spoke about being grateful for being the lead commentary man on Friday nights the last bunch of months. Cole then thanked FOX for all they did and set up a video recapping the show’s run on FOX, which was a really nice touch from WWE.

The LA Knight/Andrade/Carmelo Hayes segment

This was pretty good. It never occurred to me that perhaps Melo and Andrade could work their feud into a title picture, but I like that idea, and good for them for turning their thing into this thing. In some ways, I hope they stay away from a triple threat (even though that seems inevitable), but if they go that route and Knight retains his title, perhaps that leads to even more heat on the Andrade/Melo program. Andrade received mixed reactions from the live crowd, which surprised me a little, but nobody wants to see anyone get mouthy with Knight, so … well, wrong place, wrong time, I guess. Still, this was a welcomed surprise segment.

LA Knight’s music hit and out came the guy to another loud pop for the 793rd week in a row. Knight soaked in cheers after his music faded out. The crowd then chanted his name until Knight hit them with the “Let me talk to ya!” Knight said he’s about 30 days into his U.S. title reign and he’s had two successful title defenses. Knight referenced D.C., Berlin and Edmonton, saying he’s international.

He was rambling about how nobody can beat him and Carmelo Hayes’s music hit. Hayes walked out with a microphone and said if anyone should be bragging, it should be Hayes because Hayes keep stealing the show with Andrade. Hayes got into the ring and reminded Knight that he’s beaten Andrade two-straight and that means he’s next in line for a U.S. title shot. Knight said he isn’t worried about having the match of the night; he’s worried about winning. Hayes was talking and wouldn’t you know it: Andrade’s music hit. He walked out with a microphone.

Andrade said he knows Hayes beat him twice, but he also beat Hayes twice, too. Hayes said nobody remembers that and Andrade said not only does he remember, but everyone else does, too. The crowd cheered. Andrade said he deserves a shot at Knight’s title. Knight said he didn’t have time to listen to Hayes and Andrade argue. Andrade reminded Knight that Andrade was once a U.S. Champion. Andrade spoke in Spanish and Knight said he didn’t understand a word Andrade said, but Andrade needs to check his tone. The three got physical and Knight hit a BFT on Andrade. Hayes jawed at Andrade and Knight, naturally, gave Hayes a BFT as well to end the segment.

**********

– Waller and Theory were walking backstage and ran into Aldis. Waller asked Aldis for a tag match between A-Town Down and Owens and a partner of Owens’s choice.

Chelsea Green defeated Michin [3:56]

Tough beats for Michin these last couple weeks. First, she takes that finisher from Jax inside a trashcan; then, she loses to Chelsea Green in the middle of the ring. More importantly, that crowd was doing nothing for Michin, no matter how hard she tried to get them engaged. It was tough to watch. Still, Green and Michin getting television time like this is a good thing and it spreads out the women’s division outside of a title picture, which, again, is a very good thing. The women worked hard here and attention should be paid, even if it was for only four minutes. This leads to Michin vs. Niven, right?

Michin had control early but sold stomach pain from last week’s match with Nia Jax. Green quickly took note of that and went after Michin’s midsection. Cole noted how both women are both former TNA Knockout Champions. What a time. Green hit a shotgun dropkick for a two-count and followed that up with a body-scissors. Michin came back with a head-scissors takedown and a shotgun dropkick of her own. Michin tried to fire up the crowd, but the crowd wasn’t very kind.

Michin set up for her finisher, but Piper Niven got on the apron to distract Michin. This eventually led to Green being on the outside and Michin hit a suicide dive onto Green. Michin went to get back in the ring, but Niven distracted Michin again. Green kicked Michin off the apron and Niven hit a running Senton on Michin on the outside. Back in the ring, Green hit the Un-Pretty-Her for the win.

**********

– A video recapping the Cargill & Belair tag title win from Bash In Berlin aired.

– Next week, that A-Town Down Under vs. Owens and a mystery partner will take place. Also on tap, Andrade vs. Melo No. 5 will go down. And, of course, Sikoa vs. Cody in a steel cage will headline the show.

– Byron Saxton interviewed the babyface team for the main event in the locker room. Johnny Gargano said that #DIY and the Profits aren’t family, but they have a lot of respect for each other. Ciampa said the Bloodline have held the tag titles hostage before. Dawkins chimed in and said if teaming with #DIY means they can stop the Bloodline, they like it. The Bloodline made their entrance for the main event.

The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Jacob Fatu & Tonga Loa) defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) & #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) [11:00]

Predictable, but affecting nonetheless. Sikoa isn’t going into his world title match a loser next week, and the Bloodline needed a strong comeback moment after kind of being buried in the mix over the last couple weeks. Jacob Fatu, man. The money is in him vs. Cody (nee, Roman or The Rock), but I have a feeling we’re going to take a long, winding road to get there. Fatu has exceeded every single expectation I had for him in WWE, and boy, I had a lot of them. Maybe this sets up #DIY vs. the Profits? Probably. They made a good point before the match, saying the Bloodline held those tag belts hostage for a long time a few years ago; I hope that’s not the case this time. In the meantime, it’s on to USA. I very much appreciate that because if nothing else, SmackDown won’t be pre-empted by AHL hockey or Philadelphia Eagles preseason games on USA and I won’t have to annoy my coworkers here more than I already do. It’s been fun, FOX. Onward, we go.

All eight men brawled to start the match. The babyfaces got the best of the exchange and the heels retreated to the outside. Dawkins and Loa started the match proper in the middle of the ring. Ford tagged in and shoulder-blocked Loa to the ground. Ford then kicked Loa and hit a standing frog splash for a one-count. Tonga tagged in before long and worked over Ford with a series of strikes. Gargano tagged in and slingshot-speared Tonga. Ciampa tagged in and hit a running knee on Tonga. Fatu executed a blind tag and elbowed the hell out of Ciampa. Fatu tagged in Sikoa and Sikoa ran Ciampa into the commentary table. Sikoa posed on top of the table to take the show to its final commercial break on FOX.

Back from that break, the heels were working over Ciampa until Ciampa suplexed Tonga. Sikoa then tagged in, but Ciampa kicked Sikoa and tagged both Dawkins and Gargano, who hit a bunch of double-team moves on Sikoa. Nobody knew who the legal man was. Things broke down and Ford landed a splash on Fatu on the outside. Gargano took out Tonga. Dawkins hit a neck-breaker on Sikoa. Ciampa then tagged back in, but Sikoa caught Ciampa and slammed Ciampa for a good near-fall. Tonga went to the top, but Ciampa crotched Tonga. Ciampa went to the top and suplexed Tonga onto the other six guys in the match in a very fun spot.

The crowd chanted “Holy sh–!,” which was muted. Back in the ring, Ford tagged in and went to the top to hit a 450 splash on Tonga, but Fatu broke up the pin attempt and drove Ford into a ring post. Fatu dragged Tonga to the corner to tag in and then Fatu hit a fury of moves on all the babyfaces. Fatu landed an Impaler on Ford and tagged in Sikoa, who landed the Samoan Spike on Ford – twice! – for the win. The Bloodline posed in the middle of the ring to end the show.