Written by
John Canton• Published 10th August 2024
This week’s WWE SmackDown featured the return of Roman Reigns to the blue brand.
It was SmackDown at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Corey Graves & Wade Barrett on commentary.
Cody Rhodes, the WWE Champion, did an in-ring promo saying that as grand as SummerSlam was, all eyes are on what happens next. Cody said this is the Undisputed WWE Champion and he has been thinking about who he would like to defend his championship against at Bash In Berlin. Solo Sikoa interrupted with Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa (no Jacob Fatu). Solo said he wanted to talk about SummerSlam saying if it wasn’t for Roman Reigns, Solo would have been champion. Solo said before Cody says or does anything else, Cody will give him his rematch. Cody said he didn’t want to talk about the past, but if you want to talk about SummerSlam, Solo didn’t get the job done and Solo caused Jacob Fatu to get hurt. Cody said that Solo was cosplaying as the Tribal Chief. Cody told Solo that he beat him right here in this ring so Solo is delusional if he thinks he has a claim for a rematch. The Bloodline teased an attack, but Kevin Owens showed up with two steel chairs for the save, so The Bloodline left.
Cody said he wanted to talk to Owens about something. Cody said he was talking about who he wanted to face for the WWE Championship. Cody told Kevin he would like to face him. Owens said he didn’t deserve it considering his win-loss record over the last year. The fans chanted “you deserve it” so Cody told Owens that. Cody said that he hasn’t forgotten and the fans haven’t forgotten how Owens has been there in the trenches to help Cody. Cody said that Owens is still the Prizefighter, Owens is still in the prime of his career and he is one of Cody’s best friends. Cody said that he’s going to talk to Smackdown GM Nick Aldis about why Owens deserves a title. Cody said that after that conversation, all he will have to say to Owens is he’ll see him at Bash in Berlin. Cody left to cheers while Owens looked unsure about it.
Match #1: The Street Profits – Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins (w/B-Fab) defeated A-Town Down Under – Austin Theory & Grayson Waller by pinfall. Dawkins put Theory on his shoulders, so Ford hit a Super Blockbuster leading to the victory.
Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens were backstage talking to Smackdown GM Nick Aldis. Owens said he didn’t deserve a title match. Aldis said he was going to talk to Roman Reigns about a title match. Owens didn’t like that. Aldis said that Reigns held the title for over 1300 days. Owens said that he had Reigns beat so many times. Owens didn’t like the idea of Reigns getting a title shot so he kept on ranting about it while also mentioning there’s no rematch clause like when Owens lost the Universal Title and never got a rematch. Owens told Aldis to look into the locker room and find somebody who deserves it. Aldis said he didn’t have to do that because he found somebody right here. Aldis told Owens he’s getting the WWE Title shot against Cody Rhodes at Bash in Berlin because Cody sees it, the fans sees it and Aldis sees it. Owens said I guess he will see Cody in Berlin. Cody was happy about it.
A video aired about Nia Jax beating Bayley at SummerSlam to become the WWE Women’s Champion.
Tiffany Stratton was talking to some random guy backstage about needing balloons for Nia Jax’s championship celebration next week. Stratton said she’ll handle it. Pretty Deadly walked in saying that maybe Stratton can plan their party when they win the Tag Team Titles. They wondered if Stratton wanted to apply for their musical. Stratton left so Chelsea Green and Piper Niven interrupted. Green mocked Stratton for her outfit while saying Jax doesn’t like pink. Green thinks this is all a ploy for Stratton to cash in Money in the Bank on Jax. Stratton told Green she was delusional and left. Toodles.
Match #2:Jade Cargill (w/Bianca Belair) defeated Alba Fyre (w/Isla Dawn) by pinfall. Jade won with her Jaded slam in about two minutes.
After the match, Blair Davenport went to the ring and helped Fyre & Dawn attack Jade & Belair. Naomi made the save for the faces. Cargill hit a jumping kick, Belair hit a spinebuster and Naomi hit a dropkick along with a clothesline out of the ring. The trio of Cargill, Belair & Naomi stood tall in the ring.
LA Knight had a US Title celebration. Knight said that all that he cared about was that he stood there months ago saying that one day you will call him champ and he has arrived. Knight said he’s the US Champion because he made it that way. Knight knows he is a marked man as the US Champion, but he knows he has been a marked man when he came to Smackdown. Knight said he’s going to hit it and quit it referring to his challengers. Santos Escobar made his entrance joined by Legado Del Fantasma group members Angel, Berto & Elektra Lopez. Escobar and Legado got into the ring as the fans chanted “you suck” at Escobar. Santos said not every day you get a guy like Knight finally get a taste of gold. Escobar said that he doesn’t buy Knight as a champion. Escobar told Knight that his glory would be nothing but an opening act to Escobar’s reign. Escobar said that he’s the one who truly deserves to be the United States Champion with everybody saying “Escobar…si.” Knight said that he didn’t hear Escobar because all he heard was Tulsa telling Escobar that he sucks. Knight said that Escobar must be sick about getting beat by Knight repeatedly. Knight told Escobar he had to earn a shot at this title. Knight said you can’t take this title because Knight won’t let him do it.
Match #3: Santos Escobar (w/Angel, Berto & Elektra Lopez) defeated Andrade by pinfall. Lopez was on the apron, so the referee was distracted, Andrade charged and Carmelo Hayes pulled Escobar out of the way so Andrade hit the turnbuckle. Escobar did a rollup on Andrade to win.
A video aired about Kevin Sullivan passing away. The video put over Sullivan as an innovative mind and he was a tough wrestler. It also focused on his WCW run as The Taskmaster while mentioning his rivalries with Sting, Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan. They also mentioned that he was a family man while showing photos of him with his family. Kevin Sullivan was 74 years old. Rest in peace, Kevin.
Austin Theory & Grayson Waller walked into Nick Aldis’ office to complain about things. Waller said that they went to Raw to save that show and said if you complain about things here, you get a match. Theory suggested a match between Waller and Kevin Owens. Waller wondered what he was doing. Theory said that he’s got his back like Waller always has his back. Waller was frustrated about it.
Match #4: #DIY – Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano defeated Pretty Deadly – Kit Wilson & Elton Prince by pinfall. Ciampa & Gargano won with their Meet in the Middle running knee/kick combo for the win.
Solo Sikoa was shown backstage with Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa. Tama & Loa were holding the WWE Tag Team Titles. Tama said that they had looked for Roman Reigns and said he wasn’t there. Solo said he’ll be there. Solo walked out with his version of The Bloodline for a promo.
In the ring, Solo told Tulsa to acknowledge him, so the fans booed. Solo Sikoa said Roman Reigns should notice that Solo is The Tribal Chief now. Solo said if you call yourself The Tribal Chief and you want these back (the red lei Solo was wearing) then come and get it from him. Roman Reigns made his entrance to a new, modified theme song. The graphic on the video screen said “OTC” for Original Tribal Chief just like the shirt that Roman Reigns was wearing. Reigns made his entrance and there was an impressive pyro display as well. Reigns walked to the ring alone. Reigns nailed Tama Tonga with a clothesline. Tonga Loa attacked Reigns, but Reigns threw Loa into the steel steps. Reigns hit Tama and Loa with the steel steps to put them down and keep them down. The fans chanted “OTC” for Reigns.
Reigns got into the ring to confront his younger cousin Solo. That led to a fight with Reigns punching Solo followed by Reigns hitting a Superman Punch. Reigns set up for a Spear, but Tonga Loa pulled Solo out of the ring to save him. Reigns spotted the red lei in the ring. Reigns picked it up, but Tama hit Reigns from behind. Tama and Loa worked over Reigns while Solo got the red lei back. Reigns hit a Superman Punch on Loa and a Superman Punch on Tama as well. Reigns hit Loa with a Spear. The fans chanted “OTC” for Reigns. Roman ran around the ring and gave Tama a Spear through the barricade at ringside. Reigns brought a steel chair into the ring. Reigns hit Tonga Loa in the back with the steel chair. Solo put the red lei around his neck saying that he was the Tribal Chief now. Reigns beat up Loa with the chair again. The fans chanted “OTC” for Reigns as the show ended there.
Next Week On WWE SmackDown
Here is what WWE is advertising for next week’s Smackdown episode.
* Nia Jax gets a WWE Women’s Championship celebration hosted by her friend Tiffany Stratton.
* Naomi vs. Blair Davenport
* Kevin Owens vs. Grayson Waller
* #DIY – Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano vs. The Street Profits – Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.
