WWE SmackDown live results: Reigns Tribal Chief ceremony

Tonight’s SmackDown features the brand’s fallout from Clash of Champions.

In a ceremony hosted by Paul Heyman, Universal Champion Roman Reigns will officially be crowned as the Tribal Chief of the Anoa’i family. Reigns defeated his cousin Jey Uso at Clash of Champions to retain the Universal title. Reigns viciously beat down Jey until Jimmy Uso ran out and threw in the towel. After the match, Jimmy acknowledged Reigns as the Tribal Chief. 

New Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defends his title against Jeff Hardy. Zayn defeated Hardy and AJ Styles in a brutal triple threat ladder match at Clash of Champions to become the undisputed Intercontinental Champion. After the match, Zayn claimed he retained the title because he never lost the championship in the first place. 

Raw’s Kevin Owens hosts the KO Show with Alexa Bliss as his guest. Bliss went into another trance last week and attacked Lacey Evans. After the match, Bliss stared at Roman Reigns as he posed with the Universal Championship. Owens’ appearance on SmackDown is because of the brand-to-brand invitational rule. 

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. 

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SmackDown started with a recap of the Roman Reigns and Jey Uso match from Clash of Champions. 

Michael Cole opened up the show and noted they’re celebrating their one-year partnership with FOX. 

Roman Reigns Crowing As Tribal Chief 

Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman made their way down to the ring. Heyman apologized because he’s a little nervous tonight. He pointed out that he’s known Reigns since the day he was born. Heyman said they’re here tonight to declare Roman Reigns as the Tribal Chief of the WWE Universe. 

Heyman mentioned Peter Maivia, Afa, and Reigns’ father, Sika. Reigns grabbed the mic from Heyman. He doesn’t want to be acknowledged as the Tribal Chief because Jey Uso didn’t. He wants Uso to acknowledge it first. Reigns called out Uso to the ring. 

Jey Uso’s music hit, and he made his way to the ring. Uso pointed out that he never gave up, and if his brother Jimmy didn’t throw in the towel, he would be the Universal Champion. 

Reigns asked Uso if he thinks he’s proud of what he did. He said Clash Of Champions was the worse night of his life professionally and personally. Reigns didn’t want to do what he did. He just wanted to help Uso get in the main event and get a huge payday. 

Reigns has known Uso since day one. All he wanted to was help Uso. He just wanted Uso to acknowledge him as the Tribal Chief. Reigns was born to be the Tribal Chief. He told Uso that he embarrassed the family and broke his heart. 

Uso looked at the belt on Reigns’ shoulder. Reigns pointed out that Uso is still looking at the belt. He offered Uso another shot at the title at Hell In A Cell. However, there is more at stake this time, and it’s the highest consequence. 

Reigns walked off, but Uso didn’t back down and promised to defeat Reigns. Michael Cole and Corey Graves wondered what stakes Reigns was referencing. Cole and Graves noted the match takes place in the Hell in a Cell cage. 

A.J. Styles music hit, and he confronted Uso in the ring. Styles thinks somebody like him should get the next title shot. Styles continued to mock Uso. Uso heard enough and rocked Styles with a superkick that sent him to the floor. Uso followed up with a cross body off the announce table. 

Jey Uso defeated A.J. Styles

Uso and Styles had a good match with a surprising ending. Uso needed the win if he’s challenging for the title at Hell In A Cell. It could also mean Styles is being traded to Raw next week in the Draft.

Styles continued trash-talking Uso. Uso fired up and was briefly in control.

Styles regained control and hit a big knee for a near fall. He went for the Styles Clash, but Uso countered with a backdrop.

Uso attempted a suicide dive, but Styles cut him off. Styles was standing on the floor as Uso dangled over the middle rope. Styles then gave Uso a suplex from the ring onto the announce table. 

Back from the break, Styles was firmly in control. Uso fought back and hit a Samoan drop for a near fall.

Styles avoided a superkick and rocked Uso with a Pele kick. Uso sent Styles to the floor with an enziguri and followed up with a suicide dive. 

Uso attempted the splash off the top, but Styles got his knees up. Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Uso cut him off and rocked him with a superkick. Uso then hit the splash off the top for the win. 

They recapped the triple threat ladder match from Clash of Champions. 

In the back, Sami Zayn discussed winning the ladder match. He had bought belts and noted everyone expected him to gloat. Zayn was upset with management, but the blame is on the fans. He talked about the tournament and Styles and Hardy winning the title. Zayn then took Hardy’s I.C. title and threw it in the trash. He promised to defeat Hardy later tonight. 

Otis defeated John Morrison 

They recapped The Miz getting Mandy Rose traded to Raw and the lawsuit. Otis promised not to let them steal the Money In the Bank briefcase from him in court. Therefore, he’s going to represent himself next week in the court case. 

The Miz and Tucker are not allowed at ringside. 

This was pretty much a squash match. Otis rocked Morrison with a hard forearm to take over. Otis was firmly in control and dominated the match.

Otis hit a splash in the corner and followed up with the Catapillar. He then hit the Vader Bomb for the win. 

They showed Sasha Banks in the back. 

Michael Cole and Corey Graves briefly discussed NXT Takeover this Sunday night. 

Sheamus defeated Shorty G 

They showed a video Big E posted to Instagram. He noted the draft is coming up and challenged Sheamus to a pinfalls count anywhere match next week on SmackDown. 

This was another squash match. Shorty G had a brief advantage and hit a German Suplex for a near fall. Sheamus quickly gained control and hit two Brogue kicks for the win. 

Kevin Owens was standing backstage, going over his notes for later tonight. 

The KO Show

This was a good segment, mainly because of Kevin Owens. 

Owens is excited to be on the show because the draft is coming and SmackDown might be his new home. He was wearing a Street Profits shirt. Despite being a Raw superstar, he’s been paying attention to SmackDown. He has a lot of questions for his guest Alexa Bliss. 

They recapped Alexa Bliss going into a trance last week and attacking Lacey Evans. 

Owens said he sees something different in Bliss. She used to be happy and smiling all the time. Bliss isn’t the happy girl that Owens met five years ago. She’s similar to his rival on Raw Aleister Black. Bliss noted people could change and asked if Owens wants to change. He said this isn’t about him. It’s about Bliss changing and the darkness that’s taking over her. 

Owens thinks if he can understand what’s taking over Bliss, he can understand what’s going on with Black. 

Bliss talked about the feeling she gets from The Fiend. She described the chilling feeling he gives her. Owens thinks The Fined brainwashed her. 

Owens noted that The Fiend is here. Bliss said, Let him in. Owens jumped to his feet as the lights went out. The Fiend appeared in the ring and attacked Owens with the mandible claw. 

Bliss and The Fiend stared at each other. She finally stood up from her chair, and he held her hand. 

Matt Riddle, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado (w/Kalisto) defeated King Corbin, Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura

This was a fine six-man tag match.

Kayla Braxton approached Riddle and The Lucha House Party in the back. Riddle pointed out that the draft is coming up, so this might be his last time to tag with them. 

Braxton asked about Kalisto, who wasn’t there. Dorado mocked Kalisto and said his head is too big to put his mask on. 

The faces had the early advantage when Dorado caught Nakamura with a standing dropkick. Suddenly, Kalisto walked out and noted they forgot him in the back. 

Back from the break, the heels were firmly in control. They isolated Metalik and cut him off from his corner. Nakamura attempted the exploder, but Metalik landed on his feet and hit a tornado DDT. 

Riddle got the hot tag and ran wild on King Corbin. Riddle hit the broton and a running kick for a close two count. Dorado took out Nakamura with the handspring stunner. Metalik then took out Corbin with a huge dive. 

Dorado attempted the handspring stunner on Cesaro, but he blocked the move. Kalisto jumped on the apron and accidentally kicked Dorado in the face. Regardless, Riddle hit the Bro Derek on Cesaro for the win.

After the match, Dorado and Kalisto argued, but Riddle and Metalik broke it up. 

They recapped the Bayley and Sasha Banks feud. 

In the back, Carmella revealed herself as the mysterious blond woman from the last few weeks. She isn’t playing by your rules anymore and isn’t your princess. She’s untouchable unless she doesn’t want to be. 

Sasha Banks Promo 

Banks was furious and noted Bayley should have known she didn’t need medical clearance to attack Bayley. She pointed out that she helped Bayley keep that title for nearly a year. 

Banks knows that Bayley isn’t in the arena because she’s scared of her. Banks challenged SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley to a match next week and promised to win the title. Banks took off her neck brace at the end of the segment. This was a good promo by Banks. 

Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defeated Jeff Hardy to retain the title

Zayn and Hardy had a good match. They both worked hard and told a good story. 

Zayn had the early advantage, but Hardy took over by working over Zayn’s injured ribs. Zayn took back over and attempted to hit Hardy’s head against the exposed turnbuckle.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves were shocked the turnbuckle was exposed and didn’t know how it happened. Hardy blocked the move and set Zayn to the floor. 

At ringside, Hardy jumped off the steps, but Zayn moved, and he crashed hard into the barricade. 

Back from the break, Zayn was firmly in control as he beat down Hardy. He slowed the pace down with a chin lock. They showed footage of Zayn removing the turnbuckle pad during Hardy’s entrance. 

Zayn backed Hardy into the barricade and scored a near fall. He then hit an elbow drop off the second turnbuckle for a close near fall. Zayn climbed to the top, but Hardy cut him off and hit a superplex. 

Hardy and Zayn traded shots in the middle of the ring. Hardy fired up and took control.

Hardy hit a dropkick and splash for a two count. He attempted the twist of fate, but Zayn countered with a backslide for a near fall. 

Zayn attempted the blue thunder bomb, but Hardy rolled up Zayn for another near fall. Zayn regained control with the exploder suplex in the corner. 

Zayn attempted to whip Hardy into the corner with the exposed turnbuckle. Hardy avoided, but Zayn hit the blue thunder bomb for a very close near fall. 

Zayn and Hardy fought on the top rope. Hardy shoved off Zayn and attempted the Swanton Bomb, but Zayn got his knees up. 

Zayn attempted the Helluva kick, but he almost ran into the exposed turnbuckle. Hardy went for the twist of fate, but Zayn pushed him off. Hardy almost ran into the exposed turnbuckle but stopped himself. 

Hardy rocked Zayn with a back elbow. He went up for the whisper in the wind, but Zayn grabbed the leg and Hardy crashed onto the exposed turnbuckle. Zayn crawled over to Hardy for the pin.

Next Week: The WWE Draft begins next Friday night. Kevin Owens goes one-on-one with The Fiend. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley defends against Sasha Banks. Big E takes on Sheamus in a pinfalls count anywhere match. Plus, Otis represents himself in his court case with The Miz.