WWE SmackDown live results: Two championship matches

A pair of title matches are set to take place on tonight’s WWE SmackDown from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

On the heels of defeating DIY for a shot at the WWE Tag Team titles, The Street Profits will face off with champions The Bloodline tonight. It will feature Jacob Fatu wrestling for the first time since SummerSlam. He returned last week and helped lay out Roman Reigns.

The United States Championship will also be defended as LA Knight squares off against Santos Escobar. This is Knight’s first defense of the belt since winning it from Logan Paul at SummerSlam.

Also, after a quick social media exchange, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will be a guest on the Grayson Waller Effect. Rhodes is set to defend his title against Kevin Owens at Bash In Berlin next weekend.

After recently aligning herself with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Unholy Union, Blair Davenport will team with them to take on Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair & Naomi. The Unholy Union successfully defended their tag titles on Raw this Monday, defeating Damage CTRL.

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

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– The show began with a video recapping last week’s Bloodline developments. Video of the Bloodline entering the building then aired. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller were introduced and The Grayson Waller began.

The Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes

This was fairly formulaic, but it did the job. This long, slow walk towards Waller and Theory breaking up has more than overstayed its welcome – so much so, that to me, it’s almost already come back around and is beginning to be mildly interesting again. I could do without teasing tension between Cody and KO in the main event, just because it feels so predictable. Hey, here’s an idea: Owens fully turns on Cody and goes full-on bad guy. That’d be fun. Speaking of fun, I got a kick out of seeing Jericho on a WWE video package the weekend of All In.

Waller introduced Cody and Cody came out to a loud pop. Cody tried to pose on the top rope and Waller cut everything off, telling Cody it was an interview and Cody needed to sit down. Cody grabbed a microphone and said “So …” but Waller finished with “Washington, D.C., what do you want to talk about?” Waller said everything in the WWE is about Cody Rhodes. The crowd chanted Cody’s name. Waller said, “These idiots don’t know the real you,” while referencing the crowd. Waller asked Cody what kind of friend Cody is and mocked him.

Cody jumped in and asked Waller if he thought he was a bad friend. Cody referenced Kevin Owens and said Owens could and has beaten everyone on the SmackDown roster. Cody said Owens has been fighting the Bloodline since before Cody came back. Cody said Owens has not stopped fighting and he followed that up by saying he has never used Owens. Cody asked Waller if Waller could say the same thing and insinuated that Waller was using Austin Theory. Cody called Theory “Magic Mike,” which was funny, and told Theory that Waller was using Theory and everyone is waiting for Theory to do something about it.

Waller chimed in and said they would never turn on each other. Waller said he prepared something for Cody to watch and introduced a video package on Kevin Owens. The video package chronicled all the times Owens turned on his friends. That package included, among others, his program with Chris Jericho. Back in the ring, Waller said that didn’t look like a good friend to him, and just like that, Owens’s music hit and Owens walked out with a mic. Owens soaked in “KO” chants.

Owens said they are trying to convince Cody he’ll turn on him, but Owens said everyone in the video had it coming – except for Kofi Kingston. Owens said everyone knows what’s going to happen … and eventually Nick Aldis will make a tag match with the four. Aldis walked out and Owens asked Aldis if he could make a tag match for tonight. Aldis said it’s a done deal and the main event will be Kevin Owens & Cody Rhodes vs A-Town Down Under. Owens asked Aldis if he could still punch Waller right now and Aldis told Owens to make it quick. The four briefly brawled until the heels retreated and Cody’s music hit to end the segment.

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LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar to retain the U.S. title [9:05]

This was ostensibly a home game for Knight, who once called Hagerstown, Maryland, home, and Hagerstown, Maryland, isn’t all that far from Washington, D.C. That said, it was nice to see him get the win in front of (presumably) his family and friends. There was very little suspense about the outcome because this was Knight’s first title defense and … well, come on. Still, both guys showed up for work and Escobar can look to run it back without the rest of LDE being banned from ringside. All the crowds love LA Knight anyway; they loved him a little more tonight.

As the introductions began, Berto and Angel pulled Knight to the outside and attacked him before the bell rang. Escobar stood in the ring, smiling. As a result, referee Jessika Carr sent Berto, Angel and Elektra Lopez to the back. The bell finally rang and Escobar leapt at Knight, but Knight moved and rolled Escobar up for a two-count. Escobar went right back on the offensive and slammed Knight for a two-count. The show then went to a break.

Back from that break, Knight landed a neck-breaker to take control. The two went to the outside and Knight slammed Escobar onto the commentary table repeatedly. Knight cleared off the table, but Escobar threw Knight into the table. Escobar then went to the barricade and hit a double-knees onto Knight, onto the commentary table. Escobar went to the top rope and landed a frog splash on Knight inside the ring and got a two-count out of it. Escobar went to work on Knight’s shoulder/arm. Escobar went for an elbow drop, but Knight moved and before long, followed that up with an inverted atomic drop.

Knight hit a running clothesline and a neck-breaker before stomping a mud hole in Escobar. Knight then landed a clunky Side Effect for a near-fall. Knight set up for a BFT, but Escobar countered with a super-kick. The two battled on the second rope until Knight pushed Escobar off and hit an elbow from the top. From there, it was the BFT and the end.

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– Carmelo Hayes cut a promo in a barber shop and was talking trash until Andrade barged in and challenged Hayes to a match next week.

– Legado Del Fantasma were fighting backstage and Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews walked into the scene. Escobar said he would not tolerate disrespect and he would talk to Aldis to “sort this out next week.”

Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair & Naomi defeated Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn & Blair Davenport [9:35]

This was better than I expected it to be, though I’m not even quite sure I know what I expected it to be. Good work from all women involved. The pretzel-like submission that Fyre worked midway through the match on Belair was fantastic – and Belair sold it accordingly, too. Cargill gets just a tiny bit better each time she’s out there and this was no exception. There’s a lot to be said about the way WWE has used her since she came over from AEW, but things kind of/sort of feel like they are starting to work with her. Naomi getting the win was a nice touch. Davenport taking the loss, meanwhile … eh. She could use some booking love on Friday nights.

Belair and Dawn began the match with Dawn getting the best of Belair early on. Belair came back with a slam and a springboard moonsault. Belair kicked Dawn and Dawn rolled to the outside. From there, Belair landed a splash on Dawn on the outside and the show went to a commercial break. Back from the break, Blair Davenport had tagged in and was working over Belair. The three heels landed an impressive sequence of triple-team moves on Belair for a two-count.

Dawn ran in and taunted Cargill. With the referee distracted the heels posed for the crowd. Dawn was the legal woman for a split second until Fyre tagged in and the two front-suplexed Belair. Fyre worked a submission on Belair until Belair worked her way out of it with a back-breaker. Dawn tagged in and cut off a hot-tag attempt, but Belair wasn’t having that and landed a vertical suplex on Dawn and got the hot tag to Cargill.

Davenport tagged in as well, but Cargill took out all three heels, complete with a powerbomb and fallaway slam. The heels fought back, but Naomi tagged in and hit a cross-body on Davenport and Dawn. Naomi then landed dueling draping DDTs on Davenport and Dawn. Cargill then kicked the hell out of Fyre. Things broke down and went to the outside, where Belair took everyone out with a cross-body. Back inside the ring, Naomi hit a split-legged moonsault on Davenport and got the win for her team.

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– A Bash In Berlin video aired and Natalya narrated it. The Hart family was featured heavily in the video – including Bret, Owen and the British Bulldog.

– The Bloodline made their entrance. Jacob Fatu was in a walking boot. Solo Sikoa had a microphone and said, “Washington, D.C., acknowledge me.” Sikoa said he had a lot to talk about and he asked the crowd, who was booing him loudly, to keep it down. Sikoa said their “O.T.C. is D.O.N.E.” The crowd still chanted “OTC!” Sikoa said whoever wins the title match at Bash – Cody or KO – Sikoa has next. Sikoa said he will bring the undisputed title back to his family. “We want Roman!” chants broke out. Sikoa reminded everyone that Roman wasn’t there. Sikoa then said there is something wrong with the tag team titles. Sikoa told Fatu to step up. Sikoa told Fatu to give Sikoa his title. Fatu went to hand it over, but Sikoa told Fatu to give it to Tanga Loa. Fatu obliged. “You can’t wrestle!” chants began and it was very, very funny. Fatu was promoted as the “personal enforcer” for Sikoa. Fatu and Sikoa embraced and Fatu screamed he loved Sikoa repeatedly. The Street Profits walked out and mocked the Bloodline. Dawkins yelled that the Profits want the smoke and walked to the ring for their title match.

– LA Knight cut a promo backstage and talked about how he was home. Knight said he was going to cross the ocean and defend his title in an open challenge at Berlin next weekend.

The Bloodline (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) defeated The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles [9:12]

I don’t know what the hell the deal is with Jacob Fatu and if he’s injured, or how much he’s injured, or if this is all a work, or if … whatever. But him throwing around super-kicks like that – I like it. I also like the fact that somehow, someway, we don’t really know for sure one way or another what the deal is with Fatu. I guess we’re supposed to assume that he isn’t cleared to wrestle because he’s not a tag champion anymore … but if he wasn’t cleared to wrestle, how can he get away with all the physicality? Whatever it is, this adds a nice wrinkle to the act and this match was pretty good. The “You can’t wrestle!” chants beforehand had me cracking up, but Tonga Loa was fine here. I’m interested to see how these tag champs work out. #DIY still being involved in an unexpected – but welcome – development. Does the Bloodline hold on to these belts until the Lucha … oh, never mind.

Guerrillas of Destiny … er … the Bloodline had control early over Dawkins. Ford ultimately tagged in and landed a standing moonsault on Tonga for a two-count. Ford followed that with a clothesline and another two-count. Loa tagged in and the two hit a combination neck-breaker on Ford. Loa kept control until Ford landed an enziuri and tagged in Dawkins. The Profits worked over the Tongans and Dawkins hit a Sky High before tagging on Ford, who hit a frog splash on Loa for a two-count that was broke up by Tonga. Tonga tagged in and on the outside of the ring his some type of modified Cross-Rhodes on Ford on the outside. The show went to a break.

The show returned and Loa and working over Ford inside the ring. Ultimately, Loa went for a pop-up move on Ford, but Ford countered with a DDT. Dawkins received the hot tag and Tonga tagged in. Dawkins went on a tear and Tonga was the recipient. Dawkins landed a Silencer and tagged in Ford, who helped out with a pop-up neck-breaker. Dawkins tagged in again and shoulder-blocked both Loa and Tonga on the outside of the ring. Ford followed that up with the leap over the ring post spot. Still, Fatu ran over and super-kicked both Profits with his walking boot. As a result, Tonga covered Dawkins for the win.

After the match, the Bloodline worked over the Profits, but #DIY’s music hit and Gargano and Ciampa ran out. The Bloodline got the better of them with Fatu landing his pop-up Samoan Drop on Ciampa. Sikoa then hit the Samoan Spike on Gargano and Ciampa. To end things, the Bloodline stood tall.

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– Cody and KO were talking backstage. Owens said they want to shut Waller and Theory up. Owens referenced the video from before where Owens turned on all his friends and Owens told Cody he’s not that guy anymore. Owens said he didn’t ask for the tag match to set Cody up. Cody said he’ll just take Owens at his word and be ready for what happens next.

– Saxton was shown backstage and B-Fab walked out of the trainer’s room. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell showed up and were concerned. Everyone was scared about what condition #DIY and the Profits were in.

– A Michin vignette aired and it was very good.

– Pretty Deadly was shown gluing on pink diamonds onto Nia Jax’s crown, which was messed up last week by Michin. Tiffany Stratton asked Jax if there was anything she could do for Jax and Jax said she could start by fixing Jax’s crown. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven were shown talking around the corner from Jax and they speculated about Stratton cashing in on Jax eventually. Jax shut Niven and Green up and said she was in no mood tonight. Next week, Michin and Jax will wrestle in a street fight for the WWE Women’s Championship.

Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens defeated A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller & Austin Theory) [11:38]

Like I said earlier in this recap, I was hoping for a hard turn from KO, but it was not to be. Still, this was all right. Not terribly offensive. Not terribly inspiring. Pretty much the kind of WWE television main event one would expect on their way to a PLE. At some point, Waller and Theory’s run on SmackDown like this is going to have to be studied. They keep showing up. They keep working main events. They keep losing. They keep … seem lesser than the main event? That sounds harsh, but I’m not sure how else to put it. Either way, it always works, even if it working means it’s also kind of boring. For now, it’s on to the go-home show.

Cody and Waller started the match. Cody had control early and tagged in Owens, who chopped Waller and tagged Cody back into the match. Owens quickly tagged back in and the babyfaces had the upper hand, continuously working over Waller. Theory tagged in and hit a rolling dropkick on Owens. Theory pummeled Owens as the show went to its final commercial break.

The show returned, and Owens and Waller were battling on the top rope. Owens got the best of it, punched Waller off the top and hit a frog splash. Owens got the hot tag to Cody and Cody unleashed on Waller, complete with a Disaster Kick. Waller went to the outside and Cody tried to run the ropes, but Theory cut Cody off. As a result, Waller landed a rolling Flatliner on Cody for a two-count. Theory tagged in and kept control over Cody.

While Theory worked a head-lock on Cody, Owens fired up the crowd. Before long, Cody managed to hit a Cody Cutter to even things out. Cody went for a hot tag, but Theory cut Cody off with a back-drop and a two-count. Waller tagged in, but Cody took care of the heels and crawled towards Owens. Cody got the hot tag to Owens and Owens clotheslined both heels on the outside of the ring. Owens also hit a pair of Sentons on the heels. Back inside the ring, Owens landed a Cannonball and a Swanton Bomb on Waller, but Theory broke up a pin attempt. Cody then hit a Cross-Rhodes on Theory and Owens followed that up with a pop-up powerbomb on Waller for the win.

The commentary team ran down the Bash In Berlin card. Owens looked like he was going to hit Cody with the belt, but instead gave Cody his belt back. The show closed after that, and it was a bit of a fun way to end things.