Welcome to WWE SmackDown on FOX with Michael Cole welcoming us. Pat McAfee is at ringside with him.
Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez vs Xia Li and Shotzi (WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles)
Tonight will get to see the first match of the First Round of Match for the vacant Women Tag Team Championship. Outcome Raquel Rodriguez and Samantha Irvin do the introductions. Her partner Aliyah is next, followed by Xia Li. The winner of this match will face either Natalya and Sonya Devilles’ team or Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark in a few weeks. On Monday Night RAW, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai defeated Tamina Snuka and Dana Brooke on Raw with help from 24/7 Champion Alexa Bliss. Next week we’ll see Nikki Aubry vs Sasha Banks, Bayley & Ruby Raze, Nikki Sky & Dakota Kai vs Nikki A&D Dubrop & Alexa Bliss since Raze is an old-time TNA wrestler (former FCW Knockout) who recently joined NXT UK as well.
Raquel kicks Shotzi as soon as the bell rings and rushes to apply a submission. Shotzi turns out of it and catches Raquel in an octopus-type submission hold.
After leaving an eye rake, Shotzi transitions into a submission hold of his own. Raquel flails out of it and lands on the mat hard.
All four competitors take out each other from ringside during the commercial break at Natalya and Deville. Aliyah nailed a cross body of Li, Shotzi kicked out of a pin due to Shotzi breaking it up, then Raquel and Shotzi fought each other during the commercial.
With Li back in control, Aliyah is dumped to the corner and tagged in by Li.
Shotzi manages to nail a DDT, but Li is back in for another double team. Shotzi nails a Bulldog.
before Li delivers a kick to Aliyah’s face. Before everyone enters the ring time Li grounds, Aliyah, with an abdominal stretch. Raquel has entered she gets tagged into the match by Li.
Li tags in and misses a cheap shot to Raquel on the apron, and Aliyah fights off both opponents out of their corner.
Li stops her from getting to Raquel, but Shotzi turns it around with a big vertical suplex and another as fans cheer her on.
Li distracts Shotzi levels, Raquel, with a close Two count to stall.
Shotzi spears Li. Aliyah stops the double team by hitting a Spear on Shotz. Li and Raquel now engage in a tight grappling match. As Raquel hits the Texana Bomb to Li in the middle of the ring for the pin to seal their victory, she’s grinning from ear to ear.
Winners: Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah
Ivar vs Kofi Kingston
The Viking Raiders emerge, as well as Kofi Kingston. Suddenly, Kofi attacks Ivar and Erik with a kendo stick. He then raises the kendo stick up high with a pop and jumps back down to the ring.
The Vikings then block kendo stick shots with a shield and level Kingston with a sword shot.
Erik then destroys Kingston on the stage, in front of his enraged fans.
Just when it looks like the fans are rallying for their fallen comrade.
Erik launches him into Vinland’s shield from far away and over the barrier. Ivar then stands on top of the barrier and delivers a big flying splash onto the field.
With a replay of Ivar’s big splash, the team heads to the back as fans boo.
The New Day shriek in horror. Doctors assess Kingston’s condition, as well as Kofi, who lay bleeding as the show goes back to commercial.
Hit Row vs Brandon Scott and Trevor Irvin
This match has come to the ring, where two local enhancement talents are fighting; Brandon Scott and Trevor Irvin. Out next comes Hit Row making their WWE returns – Ashante “Thee” Adonis and “Top Dolla” AJ Francis, led to the ring by “B-Fab” Briana Brandy.
Fans pop for Hit Row as they win. Dolla levels Scott with a big shoulder and then knocks the other opponent off the apron for a pop. Francis with a big running knee to the face in the corner while Scott is down. Adonis tags in and levels Scott in the face. Hit Row poses to show their accomplishment.
Dolla applies a double-team dropkick finisher. Irvin and Scott come in, but they are caught by Adonis and then slammed in the middle of the ring. Then, Adonis comes in hits the double team DDT for the easy win.
Winners: Hit Row
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos vs Drew McIntyre and Madcap Moss
The Usos come out to the ring and challenge special guest match challenger McIntyre to bring any tag team partner he wants for their non-title match. The music hits and out comes McIntyre by himself.
Drew starts off with Jimmy and the two brawls. Jimmy gets the upper hand and sends Drew all the way outside the ring. Drew sends Jimmy off the opposite side of the ring and stays in control. Drew sends Jimmy into the announce table, before getting himself back into his corner. Dre now works on Jimmy, who turns it around eventually and The Usos work on Drew now too as he’s down near their corner.
Winners: Drew McIntyre and Madcap Moss
WWE Intercontinental Title Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs Gunther
We stay in the ring to witness the first main event of the night comes Shinsuke Nakamura comes to a pop. WWE Intercontinental Champion Ludwig Kaiser then appears on the stage under a spotlight. He introduces Gunther’s outcomes. The Ring General. Samantha Irvin offers formal introductions from ringside before declaring it is time for us to return to the commercial.
Winner: Gunther
