Wow Friday Night Smackdown Has a new home on the USA Network After 5 years on Fox, WWE’s Blue Brand has its season premiere on the USA Network in Seattle, WA, opening with a WWE Championship match, as Cody Rhodes retained his WWE Championship against Solo Sikoa In a bruising and intense steel cage match.
Bloodline swarmed the champion after the bell, earlier Roman Reigns returned To set up a tag team match between himself and Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sioa and Jacob Fatu at Bad Blood. Elsewhere, Randy Orton arrived to be Kevin Owens’ mystery tag team partner in a victory over A-Town Down Under, Michin made quick work of Piper Niven, Bayley and Naomi challenged Women’s World Champion Nia Jax, and Andrade established a US Shot against LA Knight by beating Carmelo Heyes in their last encounter.
Cody Rhodes
And then your WWE Champion
What an opening to the new era of SmackDown! Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa In a grueling and physical steel match, before he loudly declared that he was done with the new tribal chief. however, The bloodline is far from done with Cody. As Tonga Loa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu entered the cage and began to maul the WWE Champion, Roman Reigns’ music hit to a thunderous reception and the duo cleared the house.
Cody initially refused to be Reigns’ tag-team partner at Bad BloodAlthough a second Bloodline assault attempt was enough to cause him to reconsider. Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu is the perfect next chapter in the Bloodline story, and with Survivor Series on the horizon, the future looks white-hot at the top of SmackDown.
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Roman Reigns
The road to redemption begins now
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend” is great in principle, however Roman Reigns has spent the last few years torturing the entire male half of the WWE roster. His corruption plumbed such depths that it is impossible to think of who would stand alongside the OTC. Cody Rhodes may have appreciated his help in the cage, but he immediately shut down the idea of ​​helping Reigns. This is certainly a recurring feature of Roman’s future. Rhodes could have covered quickly. Others will not be so quick.
It was an understated return of WWE’s most popular performer since he appeared at SummerSlam. His stock remains sky-high despite his 2024 attendance record. The intrigue about where he goes as a babyface who is completely over for the first time is at a fever pitch. The real road to recovery starts now. Heaven help everyone.
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Kevin Owens and Randy Orton
Even “Ricky” can’t stop their momentum
Is there a more likable duo in WWE right now than Kevin Owens and Randy Orton? After it initially looked like A local wrestler called Ricky Was to be KO’s mystery partner against A-Town Down Under, Randy Orton made his way to the ring. After KO delivered a stunner to Ricky for his troubles (poor Ricky!), the tag match that followed was a lot of fun. A double “vintage Randy Orton” spot, before stomping the canvas in unison before hitting a double stunner and RKO combo for the win.
It’s easier to imagine a feud in their future than a tag team title run But, right now, Owens and Orton are a blast. Tough and fun in equal measure, it’s going to be an interesting few weeks ahead for the couple.
Andrade
To win an excellent series with Carmelo Hayes brings its reward
For pure in-ring spectacle, The series of five technical wrestling clinics put on by Andrade and Carmelo Hayes was incredible viewing.. The series was tied at two apiece in this final match-up, where Andrade would snatch the victory to earn a shot at LA Knight’s American Championship. Yes.
It was a few years for him, however This is the most buzz Andrade has Did in a while. More of that kind of action and he can turn that buzz into something special. Still, it’s hard to imagine LA Knight being dethroned so quickly, so a loss in his first big title match could hurt Andrade’s future even more. Time will tell.
Mitchin vs. Piper Niven
Two of the rising stars of the women’s division are cut
Two minutes and four seconds was all it took for Mittin to pin Piper Niven. It was a great night for WWE and SmackDown but the incredibly short match between the two women felt way too rushed. Piper Niven’s style choices and screen presence as Chelsea Green’s confidante have improved greatly recently. However, a dominant heavyweight losing so quickly doesn’t make much sense, and it does the British star no favours.
If Michin can put it all together, she has all the tools to make a leap in the women’s division. She’s been featured basically every week lately, so it’s clear the company has plans for her, it’s just not clear what they are. Hopefully both stars can get bigger chances to shine in the weeks ahead.
Solo Sikoa
A terrible night for the head of the bloodline
It feels as if Solo Sikoa was One of WWE’s most controversial talking points this summer. Most episodes of SmackDown in recent months have ended with Sikoa and The Bloodline standing tall as the ultimate image of the show. He headlines the second-biggest show of the year in a match with the WWE Champion. despite this, The chatter of the online community constantly questions the legitimacy of SoloEven while the rest of the new bloodline gains momentum and acceptance among fans (yes, even Tonga Loa).
Solo was sensational in his first steel cage matchDespite coming up short to Rhodes, but a loss is still a loss, and he had too many of those. It’s hard to see him and Fatou overcoming two of the biggest stars in the company in Bad Blood, let alone defeating Roman Reigns to become the head of the table. It is a difficult moment for the tribal chief. Some wins between now and bad blood in Atlanta are much needed.
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Megan Thee Stallion Ft. RM of BTS ‘Neva Play’ is the 13th theme music for WWE SmackDown.
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Cody Rhodes signature jacket has a shine up, including golden eagles on his shoulders.
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Corey Graves with the reference from Camp Crystal Lake on Friday the 13th. Well played, sir.
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The muted sound still happens pretty prominently, despite being on a new network. bummer.
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Fatu vs Reigns will feel monolithic when we get there.
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“Ricky” is Ricky Gibson of the Midnight Heat tag team. They face FTR at the Roseland Theater in Portland on September 29th. Good luck, Ricky!
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Piper Niven’s last victory in singles competition came on October 16, 2023.
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“Your ring? Your WWE? Well…it was until WrestleMania”. Ice-Cold by Cody Rhodes.
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More “ding dong” in Bayley’s future, please.