Rhodes vs. Sikoa cage match to kick off WWE SmackDown’s USA Network return

A steel cage match is kicking off WWE SmackDown’s return to USA Network.

After finishing its run on Fox last week, SmackDown returns to USA Network this Friday night. Paul “Triple H” Levesque posted a video today announcing that Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa’s steel cage match for the Undisputed WWE Championship will open the episode.

Tomorrow night, LIVE from Seattle, @CodyRhodes vs. Solo Sikoa in a Steel Cage for the Undisputed WWE Championship will kick off #SmackDown’s monumental return to @USANetwork at 8/7c.

As for the rest of the show… you’ll just have to wait and see. pic.twitter.com/l32zCEvdwc

— Triple H (@TripleH) September 12, 2024

Rhodes vs. Sikoa is a rematch from SummerSlam, where interference by the returning Roman Reigns helped cost Sikoa the match. Reigns has not appeared on WWE programming since being powerbombed through the announce table by The Bloodline on SmackDown four weeks ago.

At Bash in Berlin on August 31, Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens to retain the Undisputed WWE title. Sikoa cut a promo on SmackDown the night before the PLE declaring that he was coming after whoever won.

SmackDown is back on USA Network as part of a five-year deal between WWE and NBCUniversal. The deal also calls for WWE to have four prime time in-ring specials on NBC per year.

This Friday’s SmackDown episode is taking place from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Here’s everything that’s been announced:

WWE SmackDown (Friday, September 13) —

• Steel cage match: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Solo Sikoa
• Kevin Owens and a mystery partner vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
• Andrade vs. Carmelo Hayes