On the eve of Bad Blood, WWE SmackDown takes place from Nashville tonight.
The WWE Tag Team titles will be on the line in a triple threat ladder match. Champions The Bloodline (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) are defending their belts against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) and DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommasso Ciampa).
The Bloodline have held the titles since August 2, when they defeated DIY for the championship.
Another stipulation is set for tonight with Michin and Chelsea Green facing off in the first-ever women’s dumpster match.
Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton has also been announced, and AJ Styles will make his return to WWE programming.
Plus, in advance of Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns teaming together against Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu in the main event of Bad Blood, SmackDown will feature a “special look” at how the match came to be.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– Michael Cole welcomed everyone into the show as shots of Nashville aired. Scenes of The Bloodline, #DIY and The Street Profits entering the building from earlier in the day also aired.
– Country singer Hardy was then introduced and he was already in the ring. Hardy then introduced “The Phenomenal Forearm” (his words, not mine) AJ Styles.
The AJ Styles/Carmelo Hayes/LA Knight segment
I get a kick out of turns like this. “Hey, everybody. The last time you saw me, I was feuded with the beloved World Champion and I even lied about retiring just to get a match with him. But, shoot. I went away for a couple months and I’m sorry, so bring out the bad guys!” I tend to like AJ Styles, so I didn’t mind this all that much, but that doesn’t mean it’s not all so silly. Anyway, it’s good to have Styles back and I’m curious if he’ll be worked into the U.S. title picture after this. You have to think he doesn’t have a lot more towns left in him.
Styles received somewhat of a babyface response from the live crowd. Styles was also wearing his ring gear. Styles soaked in cheers after his music cut off. The crowd thanked him with “AJ!” chants. “Welcome back” and “AJ Styles!” chants followed that initial chant. Styles said he had “missed you guys so much” and talked about how it was fitting that they were in Nashville because that’s where it all started for him. Styles said he’s done a lot of things he regrets over the last few months, but he was there to rebuild the legacy of AJ Styles. Styles said it is still “The House That AJ Styles Built.” On cue, Carmelo Hayes’s music hit and Hayes walked out.
Hayes said he wasn’t surprised that there weren’t a lot of guys in line to welcome him back. Hayes stepped into the ring and introduced himself to Styles and said he’s been holding it down on SmackDown while Styles has been gone. Hayes called Styles an old-timer and said Styles was probably out there to announce a legends contract. Melo said a guy like Melo, who deserves to be the U.S. Champion … and then Styles interrupted Melo to say that LA Knight is relentless, “yeah!” Styles recalled how Knight went to Styles’s house and how Styles and Knight had a match at WrestleMania.
Melo chimed back in and said he didn’t need advice from Styles because Hayes doesn’t take advice from quitters. Styles said if Melo was actually “him,” he would be the U.S. Champion. Melo said if Styles actually phenomenal, Styles would be world champion. Styles challenged Hayes to a match on the spot. Hayes said, “Nah, I’m good,” and tried to walk away, but LA Knight’s music hit and Knight walked out to a good pop. The crowd broke into “LA Knight!” chants. Knight said, “Let me talk to ya!” Knight mocked Hayes and noted how Styles had misled the entire world when he said he was going to retire a few months ago. Knight said Hayes will get stomped out and there are two options – one is that Knight could punch Hayes and walk down to Broadway to have a good night. The second choice is that if Melo can beat Styles, Melo could have a shot at the U.S. title. Without Melo saying anything, the match was made and the segment ended.
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Carmelo Hayes defeated AJ Styles via ref stoppage [8:34]
Welp. I was wondering how they’d get out of Styles losing in his return, considering the pop-up stipulation that Knight added, and I guess this was the best way? Maybe? Probably? I don’t know. The match was fine while it lasted, but the truth is that I’d like to see these two get five more minutes and no commercials. We got what we got. I’ll reiterate perhaps the biggest question coming out of the first half-hour of this show: Where does Styles go from here? I’m genuinely curious.
Knight sat at ringside for the match. Hayes took Styles down early and then Styles returned the favor. Hayes kept control early, led by some chops. Styles fought back with chops of his own and a nice-looking standing dropkick. Hayes rolled to the outside and hopped back on the apron before hopping back off the apron. Hayes stalled, which incited boos from the crowd. Hayes finally stepped back into the ring and had the edge, complete with a springboard clothesline and two-count. Hayes threw Styles to the outside and joined Styles outside the ring, where Melo threw Styles into the commentary table. The show then went to a commercial break.
The show returned and Melo was working a half-crab inside the ring. Styles made it to the ropes for a break. Styles then fired up and landed a fury of strikes, taking Hayes down. Styles then hit a pop-up neck-breaker, but after Melo came down on Styles’s leg, the ref called the match off due to an injury that Styles suffered to his leg earlier in the match. As Melo was announced the winner of the match, Knight stepped into the ring and hit a BFT on Hayes.
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– A dumpster was rolled to ringside for the next match.
Michin defeated Chelsea Green in a Dumpster Match [10:25]
This was a blast. Plus, it’s a great example of a very good mid-card program that built over a series of weeks in a low-key way and then ultimately had a payoff that worked in all of the ways. A good WWE-style brawl that incorporated comedy – and in this instance, actually warranted comedy – while offering up a way to get both wrestlers involved to the next level. It worked. Kudos to Michin, who continues to build her bad-ass-ery, and kudos to Green, who has no shame (in the best way) and has no problem being a ham in the name of entertainment. This was as perfect as it could be.
Both women had kendo sticks to start the match and that led to Michin hitting a suicide dive on Green on the outside. Michin then grabbed a chair and a trashcan from under the ring. Michin also found a table. Green ran at Michin, which meant Green ran into a baking sheet shot from Michin. Michin went to the top and landed a dropkick from the top rope. The two went outside and Green slammed Michin into the dumpster. The show then went to a break.
The show returned and Green and Michin were battling on the apron. Michin got inside the ring and landed a Tornado DDT and a German Suplex. Michin went for Eat Defeat, but Green countered and hit a Canadian Destroyer. Green then threw Michin into the dumpster, but Michin stopped Green from closing the lid. Michin then beat Green with a bunch of garbage bags. Back in the ring, Michin finally hit Eat Defeat and put Green into a trashcan and hit a splash onto Green with Green in the can. Michin then grabbed another table and draped it across the dumpster.
Out of nowhere, Piper Niven showed up and attacked Michin. Niven then ran at Michin, but Michin moved and Niven hit the dumpster. With the two on the apron, Green tried to suplex Michin, but Michin blocked it and power-bombed Green through the table into the dumpster. Michin then closed the lid on the dumpster and won the match. Green popped out of the dumpster out of the match and had garbage all over her.
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– AJ Styles was shown in the trainer’s room in the back. Corey Graves said Styles was transported to a hospital.
– Naomi was shown in the back and Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill walked up to her. Naomi menitoned how Belair and Cargill won their tag titles. As it goes, Naomi will now also be a host, along with Belair and Cargill, at Bad Blood. Bayley walked into the scene and reassured Naomi that they are friends, which means Naomi will be the No. 1 contender should Bayley win the women’s title at Bad Blood.
The Bayley/Nia Jax segment
Bayley showed good fire here. Or, well, at least more than she has in recent weeks. The Stratton/Jax stuff continues to be fun in a weird novel WWE way. And I only say that because I was dreading the will she/won’t she dynamic that the Jax/Stratton story was obviously going to have from the jump. Instead, the creative minds have done a great job keeping things fresh between those two. As a result, this should be a fun segment when it comes to the PLE. Everyone involved has stepped up enormously in the walk up to all this.
Bayley said she wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time and she called out Nia Jax right away. Jax’s music hit and Jax walked out with Tiffany Stratton. Jax said if Bayley had something to say, she should say it to Jax’s face. Bayley said Jax never understood the importance of the women’s championship. Bayley referenced a lot of WWE women’s legends and said they made the title seem larger than life. Bayley said Jax doesn’t do that for the title. Bayley said even so, none of them have had the dominant championship run that Jax is on right now.
Bayley noted that she plans to take the title off Jax’s shoulders. The only other person who wants to take Jax’s title is Tiffany Stratton. Bayley said Stratton will cash her briefcase in on Jax … and then Stratton chimed in because Bayley said Stratton isn’t good enough. Stratton said she didn’t need the briefcase to beat Jax. Jax said, “Excuse me.” Stratton was flustered and called Bayley “Pam,” which was kind of fun, and told Bayley to bow down to Jax. Bayley said at least she could respect Jax’s dominance, but meanwhile, Stratton is a “stupid bi%!” From there, Stratton tried to hit Bayley with the briefcase, but Bayley moved and Bayley took out both Jax and Stratton. The segment ended with Bayley holding the title and draping it over Jax.
But it didn’t. Because Stratton creeped her way over to Jax sith the briefcase in hand and a referee appeared. The crowd chanted “Cash it in!” But Jax left the ring and Naomi’s music hit for the next match.
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– Niven and Green were walking backstage and they ran into Pretty Deadly, who sold how bad Green smelled. Ditto for Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. Again for Berto and Angel. And finally, Nick Aldis, who apologized and used a bunch of puns. Melo walked up to Aldis and said he wanted his U.S. title match. Aldis said they’d talk next week about it because Aldis has to see how Styles is doing.
Naomi defeated Tiffany Stratton [10:01]
This result only makes me believe more and more that Stratton gets a successful cash-in this weekend. Look at all the opponents they have set up for her at this point. Naomi, for her part, pretty much has a promised title match against Stratton or Bayley, no matter how this weekend shakes out. As for this match, it was pretty good. Two professionals working a professional wrestling match. Nice stuff.
Naomi had control early, complete with a running clothesline and a running head-lock. Stratton fought back and went for a clothesline, but Naomi ducked it and kicked Stratton before hitting a knee to the face. Naomi face-planted Stratton for a two-count and then set up for a draping DDT, but Stratton got out of it. Still, Naomi hit a suplex for a two-count. Stratton found herself on the apron and that resulted in a springboard double-knees onto Naomi for a two-count. The action spilled to the outside, where Naomi hit a split leg-drop onto Stratton on the apron. The show then went to a commercial break.
Back from the break, Naomi was on the defensive until she took back control and the two then traded blows. Naomi ended that exchange with a series of kicks and a spinning bulldog. Naomi landed a sliding slap and got a two-count out of it. Stratton came back with a counter face-plant into a shotgun dropkick. Naomi was on the top rope and hit a cross-body, but Stratton rolled through and picked Naomi up, but Naomi worked out of it and went for a split-legged moonsault, but Stratton moved and tried the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but missed that. The two traded roll-up attempts, but Naomi was the one to get the best of it for the win.
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– The Bloodline were walking backstage and Jacob Fatu yelled into the camera, calling out everyone, including Roman Reigns. Fatu went on and on about worshipping his Tribal Chief. It concluded with Fatu saying Solo Sikoa is the true Tribal Chief. The faction then made their entrance.
– Stratton was walking backstage and Jax showed up. Jax brought up Stratton teasing cashing in her briefcase and suggested Stratton cashes in on Liv Morgan at Bad Blood. The other option for Stratton, Jax said, was that Stratton promises she will never cash in on Jax. Stratton said she would never do that to Jax.
– The commentary team ran down the Bad Blood card for Saturday.
The Bloodline (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) defeated #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommasso Ciampa) and The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles. [19:56]
The best part of this was the idea that Tonga and Loa could have actually lost because it was an easy way to get the belts off them without actually taking a loss … and then they didn’t lose. I like it. In the meantime, everyone looked great, especially the two babyface teams, who both feel like they are on the verge of breaking through to the next level in their own ways – mostly as a result of this match. The point here is that everyone won, really. Coming away from it, it was a net positive for all the wrestlers involved. Really good stuff and most definitely main event worthy for a WWE TV show (and no, I don’t say those last five words patronizingly).
The match started with everyone brawling, the four babyfaces attacking the two heels. The two babyface teams were alone in the ring, but all that meant was the four kept working over the two. The show went to a commercial break. The show returned and the teams were battling on ladders. Things were broken up and Tonga and Loa hit everyone with a ladder. Dawkins was suplexed onto a lader and the Bloodline duo stood tall for a moment as the crowd booed. Loa and Tonga worked over Ciampa on the outside of the ring until Dawkins took out Loa and Tonga … until Gargano took everyone out with a suicide dive … until Ford took out everyone with a dive. “This is awesome!” chants began.
B-Fab told Ford to get a table from under the ring. Ford obliged to the delight of the live crowd. The show then went to a commercial break. Back from the break, Tonga was a victim of a Shatter Machine from #DIY. Loa found himself with his head in the middle of a ladder and a #DIY hit him with a Meet In The Middle. Gargano set up a ladder and climbed a bit, but Dawkins cut him off. Gargano came back with a spear and Ciampa hit a knee on Dawkins. Ciampa tried to climb the ladder, but Dawkins cut Ciampa off. Ford then hit a Blockbuster over a ladder on Ciampa, who was held by Dawkins, and things reset.
“This is awesome!” chants broke out. Dawkins climbed a ladder, but Tonga pushed the ladder over. The Bloodline pushed a ladder into Dawkins’s head. B-Fab grabbed a chair from Tonga’s hands and as a result, Gargano and Ciampa hit The Bloodline with chairs. Gargano and Ciampa worked over The Bloodline with the chairs and put Loa on a table. Ford went to the top rope and hit a Frog Splash on Loa through said table. Gargano and Ciampa cleared the commentary table and with Dawkins hit a triple power-bomb on Tonga.
#DIY took out Dawkins after that and pushed another ladder into the ring. Ciampa climbed the ladder, but Ford jumped onto it. The four babyfaces fought on the ladder. Loa appeared and pushed the babyfaces onto other ladders. The crowd booed loudly. Tonga held the ladder and Loa climbed to the top to get the belts and win the match.