WWE heads to Detroit as Little Caesars Arena hosts tonight’s episode of SmackDown.
The show will feature a second chance fatal four-way match to determine which team will replace Toxic Attraction in WWE’s Women’s Tag Team title tournament. Four eliminated teams (Dana Brooke & Tamina, Shotzi & Xia Li, Nikki A.S.H. & Doudrop, and Natalya & Sonya Deville) will compete for a chance to get back in the tournament.
Toxic Attraction defeated Natalya & Deville in the first round but had to be pulled from the tournament due to Gigi Dolin suffering an injury. The team that wins tonight’s four-way match will advance to face Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah in the semifinals.
Also on SmackDown tonight, Drew McIntyre takes on Sami Zayn, Ricochet faces Happy Corbin, and The New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods will return for the first time since being attacked by The Viking Raiders last month.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Ricochet defeated Happy Corbin (12:18)
Ricochet and Corbin had a good match, mainly because of Ricochet. He pulled off several impressive moves. But, the focus of the match was Corbin continued his losing streak.
Earlier today, Corbin mocked Ricochet and promised to beat him tonight. On commentary, Michael Cole pointed out Corbin suffered an injury to his funny bone.
Ricochet had the early advantage with a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Corbin rocked Ricochet with a right hand to take over. Ricochet fought back and sent Corbin to the floor with a cool sequence.
At ringside, Corbin launched Ricochet in the air, but he landed on the corner. He then hit a corkscrew moonsault to the floor.
Back from the break, Ricochet was firmly in control until Corbin slammed him on the commentary table. Corbin dropped Ricochet face first on the turnbuckle for a near fall. Ricochet tried fighting back and went for a handspring elbow. Corbin recovered quickly and rocked him with a forearm.
Corbin went for End of Days, but Ricochet countered into a DDT. Ricochet fired up and did a back flip off of Corbin. He rocked Corbin with a knee to gain control briefly. Corbin responded with Deep Six for a near fall.
Ricochet knocked Corbin off the top rope. He went for a 450 splash, but Corbin moved out of the way. Corbin then dropped Ricochet for another two-count. Ricochet went for the recoil, but Corbin avoided it.
Ricochet rocked Corbin with a boot to the face. He followed up with the shooting star press for the win.
After the match, Pat McAfee made fun of Corbin by doing a play-by-play breakdown.
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Hit Row approached The Street Profits backstage. They acted like they had a problem with each other. Instead, they all agreed they wanted the smoke and walked off together.
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They aired a great Drew McIntyre video package. It covered the beginning of his career, his WWE debut, his mother’s passing, getting fired, and making his return.
Karrion Kross and Scarlett Interview
It was a short interview done in black and white. Kross didn’t say much, but it had a cool look. Kross mocked McIntrye’s story in the video package and warned him.
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Last Chance Fatal Four-Way: Sonya Deville & Natalya defeated Shotzi & Xia Li, Nikki A.S.H. & Doudrop, and Dana Brook & Tamina (3:08)
This was not good, and felt rushed. They tried to cram a lot into three minutes. The highlight was Brooke giving Nikki a superplex to ringside onto the other women. The finish felt anti-climatic.
Tamina rocked Natalya with a superkick to knock her off the apron at the bell. Everyone jumped in a hit a big move. Shotzi and Li gave Doudrop an assisted sliced bread.
Natalya rocked Shotzi with a discus clothesline, but Brooke knocked her out from behind. Everyone ended up on the floor as Brooke and Nikki fought on the top rope.
Deville made the blind tag as Brooke gave Nikki a superplex to the floor onto the other women. The pile caught Brooke and Nikki, but it was still a scary-looking spot. Deville threw Nikki in the ring and pinned her.
Deville and Natalya take on Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah in the semifinals later tonight.
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They recapped Sheamus winning the fatal five-way last week to earn a match against Intercontinental Champion Gunther at Clash at the Castle.
The Brawling Brutes made their way to the ring as they went to a break.
Back from the break, they previewed SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan vs. Shayna Baszler at Clash at the Castle.
The Brawling Brutes and Gunther Segment
This was a fine segment. Sheamus took on the role of the babyface.
Sheamus discussed taking on Gunther next Saturday. He promised to defeat Gunther and leave Cardiff as the new champion.
Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser interrupted and walked to the ring. Kaiser started to do Gunther’s introduction, but Sheamus cut him off. He claimed to be the real ring general and noted he has wins over Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns, John Cena, and Triple H.
Sheamus noted they have some similarities. He promised to drag the title off of Gunther into the red belly of the dragon. Gunther took the mic and claimed they’re nothing alike. He vowed to chop Sheamus and break him. The fans tried giving Gunther the “What” treatment, but he ignored them.
Gunther and Sheamus went face to face in the middle of the ring. Kaiser started brawling with Butch and Ridge Holland. Gunther and Sheamus kept staring at each other as they brawled around them. Eventually, Kaiser and Butch knocked each other down.
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Megan Morant interviewed Natalya and Sonya Deville about their match later. They promised to defeat Rodriguez and Aliyah and advance in the tournament.
During the interview in the background, Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop had a heated but unheard argument.
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Bayley, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai walked toward the ring as they went to a break.
They showed a Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns video package.
Roman Reigns, Usos, and Sami Zayn Backstage Segment
This was another great segment between Reigns and Zayn.
In the back, Sami Zayn approached Roman Reigns’ locker room. The Usos answered the door and mentioned Montreal was on fire last week. Zayn wanted to talk to Reigns, but The Usos stopped him. However, Reigns heard Zayn and called him into the room.
They talked about last week when Zayn took the claymore from McIntyre. Reigns thanked him and said that’s something family would do. Zayn looked over at The Usos and agreed with Reigns. Zayn was thrilled to hear that. Reigns needs Zayn to keep McIntyre occupied, so he takes his eye off Clash at the Castle. Zayn said it was a piece of cake and promised to get in McIntyre’s head.
Zayn was hoping they could do it together as a team. Reigns convinced Zayn to do it on his own. Jimmy and Zayn had a special handshake. Jey wouldn’t shake Zayn’s hand and kicked him out.
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WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinals: Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah defeated Natalya & Sonya Deville (8:25)
This was an okay match. They took Aliyah out of the match early, so Rodriguez fought on her own.
Bayley joined Cole and McAfee on commentary. Sky and Kai stood in the background.
Natalya had the early advantage with a side headlock. Aliyah briefly fought back, but Natalya responded with a Michinoku Driver on the floor. Rodriguez ran over to check on her partner.
Back from the break, Rodrguez fought Deville and Natalya on her own. She caught Deville and Natalya with a double suplex. The heels regained control and backed Rodriguez into the corner.
Deville slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Rodriguez fought back and slammed Deville onto Natalya. Rodriguez recovered and ran wild on the heels. She hit a corkscrew elbow on Deville for a near fall.
Rodriguez went for the Texana bomb, but Natalya broke it up. Rodriguez broke free from the sharpshooter. Deville caught Rodriguez with a knee for a two-count. Rodriguez fought back and hit the Texana bomb for the win.
After the match, Aliyah jumped back in the ring to celebrate with Rodriguez. Rodriguez & Aliyah take on Sky & Kai in the finals on Monday’s Raw. Sky& Kai got in the ring and faced off with Rodriguez & Aliyah.
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Maximum Male Models were in the middle of a photoshoot when Hit Row’s bus started playing their theme song. Max Dupri was furious, but Maxine had a solution.
Back from the break, Maxine shows up with Los Lotharios, who had spray paint.
Later, Maximum Male Models and Los Lotharios vandalized Hit Row’s bus. Hit Row showed up and challenged them to a match next week. Hit Row then revealed that it’s not their bus. Street Profits stepped off the bus, and the heels ran off.
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New Day Returns
This was a good segment.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were in the ring. Woods was sitting in a wheelchair. Woods noted they usually smile and joke around. However, things are different. They were serious and addressed The Viking Raiders.
New Day talked about The Viking Raider’s funeral from last week. Woods and Kingston teased it was the end of New Day. Suddenly, The Viking Raiders interrupted and mocked New Day. They jumped in the ring and were ready to end the New Day for good.
Kingston rolled Woods into the corner. He begged The Raiders to leave them alone. He got them to turn their backs on Woods. Woods stood up, revealing he wasn’t hurt and had kendo sticks. He tossed one to Kingston and beat down the Raiders until they ran off.
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The Usos approached Sami Zayn in the back. They got in Zayn’s face and noted he better win tonight. Zayn didn’t like the negativity. That comment set Jey off, and he yelled at Zayn again.
They showed the second part of the Drew McIntyre video package.
McIntyre walked to the ring as they took a break.
Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn (10:23)
McIntyre and Zayn had a good match.
McIntyre had the early advantage and dropped Zayn on the commentary table. Zayn took over briefly with a chop block. McIntyre recovered quickly with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker.
McIntyre went for a superplex, but Zayn poked him in the eyes. He followed up with a sunset bomb.
Back from the break, Zayn caught McIntyre with a tornado DDT to take over. McIntyre fought back with a Glasgow kiss. McIntyre fired up and ran wild. He caught Zayn with a belly-to-belly suplex and set up for the claymore.
The Usos ran out to cause a distraction. Zayn took advantage and hit the blue thunder bomb for a near fall. The Usos tried to interfere again. McIntyre recovered and hit the claymore for the win.
After the match, Roman Reigns ran out and attacked McIntyre. McIntyre recovered, but The Usos jumped back in the ring. McIntyre fought back again, but Reigns took him out with a spear.
The Usos destroyed McIntyre with chair shots. They tossed him into the barricade at ringside. Zayn got back to his feet and hit the helluva kick.
The Usos hit McIntyre with the stairs repeatedly. Back in the ring. Reigns screamed at McIntyre and locked on the guillotine. Reigns sat on a chair over McIntyre and posed with both belts to end a good SmackDown.
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Next Week: Roman Reigns celebrates two years as champion. Plus, Ronda Rousey’s final judgment after being arrested last week. Karrion Kross makes his SmackDown debut as well.
Hit Row takes on the Maximum Male Models. Plus, Butch goes one-on-one with Ludwig Kaiser. Also, The Viking Raiders take on New Day in a Viking Rules match.
