The September 4th episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. Here are 6 takeaways from the show:
Daniel Bryan Defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas
Renee Young kicked off this week’s episode of SmackDown in the ring. She introduced Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella and they joined her for an interview. Footage of last week’s attack by The Miz & Maryse was shown and Renee asked for their reaction.
Bryan stated that they are here and ready for a fight. Brie then challenged The Miz and Maryse to come down to the ring and fight them right now. Renee Young told Bryan & Brie that The Miz and Maryse have already left the arena for the night. Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega interrupted and Vega said that Bryan will once again face Almas tonight.
The match started out back and forth. Bryan quickly applied the Yes Lock but Almas made his way to the ropes to break up the hold. Almas went for a running knee but Bryan dove out of the way and Andrade tumbled to the floor outside.
Bryan tried to capitalize with a Crossbody of the ring apron but Almas countered with a Dropkick while Daniel was in midair. The action returned to the ring and Almas once again took control with a Moonsault for a near fall. Daniel battled back with a series of Yes Kicks but Almas ducked under one and bounced Bryan’s face off the top turnbuckle.
Andrade followed that up with Double Knees and then went for the Hammerlock DDT but Bryan escaped. Bryan then quickly hit the running knee for the pinfall victory. After the match, Brie hit Zelina Vega with a running knee and celebrated with Bryan. The Miz and Maryse appeared on the jumbotron from “the best restaurant in Detroit”.
They informed Daniel and Brie that they will have to wait until Hell in a Cell to fight them. Bryan and Brie then headed backstage and said they were going to get dinner at the same restaurant as The Miz & Maryse.
Becky Lynch Vowed To Take The Title From Charlotte At WWE Hell In A Cell
Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch were interviewed in separate locations tonight on WWE SmackDown. Flair started off the interviewing by saying that she knows Becky deserved the SmackDown Women’s Championship but she wasn’t just going to lay down for her at SummerSlam.
Becky started talking but Charlotte quickly interrupted and told her that if anyone knows what it is like to live in someone’s shadow, it is her. Flair said that Becky could have come to her and asked for a title match and Becky responded by saying “screw you”.
Becky boasted about standing above Charlotte last week and raising the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Charlotte said that Becky attacked her from behind and dared her to come at her face to face because it would be a different story. Lynch promised Charlotte that she will and added that she is done playing around.
Lynch said that from now on she is taking what she wants and doesn’t care how that affects Charlotte. Lynch claimed that it was a full-time job being Flair’s friend and managing her insecurities. Becky stated that the only thing she cares about now is taking her spot back at the top of the SmackDown women’s division where she belongs. Lynch then vowed that Charlotte will never see the SmackDown Women’s Championship after they face each other at WWE Hell in a Cell.
Asuka Saved Naomi
Naomi battled Peyton Royce tonight on SmackDown. The IIconics cut a promo before the match and poked fun at Naomi. Peyton Royce tried to stall once the match started but couldn’t avoid a massive elbow to the face courtesy of Naomi.
Billie Kay bashed Naomi with a cheap shot while the referee wasn’t paying attention. Royce tried to capitalize with a boot to the face but Naomi dodged it and knocked Peyton to the canvas with an Enziguri.
Naomi took out Billie Kay at ringside and then got back into the ring and attacked Royce. Naomi then flipped onto Peyton with a Sunset Flip from the apron for the quick pinfall victory.
After the match, the IIconics went after Naomi and attacked her. Asuka sprinted for the ring and beat the hell out of Royce and Kay.
AJ Styles Attacked Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe came down to the ring and grabbed the microphone. Joe claimed that WWE Champion AJ Styles wasn’t here tonight because AJ’s family is taking his threats very seriously.
Joe wondered if AJ and his family were in lockdown out of fear of a home invasion. Joe added that he would never do something like that because he is not a monster. He claimed that he did AJ’s family a favor by forcing Styles to stay home tonight.
Joe vowed to Styles’ WWE Championship from him at Hell in a Cell and to also put him to sleep for good. Styles appeared on the jumbotron and blasted Joe for making threats to his family. Styles’ entrance music hit and Joe looked like he had just seen a ghost.
AJ emerged onto the entrance ramp and stared at Joe. Styles then sprinted to the ring and traded shots with Joe. Styles knocked Joe to the corner of the ring and beat the hell out of him. The action spilled out of the ring and Joe launched AJ into the steel steps.
Joe went for a chair but turned around into a Phenomenal Forearm off the steps from Styles. AJ tried to strike Joe with the chair but Joe got out of the way at the last moment. WWE officials rushed to the ring to try to break up the brawl but AJ was able to hit Joe with a Suicide Dive before he was taken backstage.
Rusev Day Is One Step Closer To A Title Shot
Rusev Day (Aiden English & Rusev) battled SAnitY and The Usos tonight on SmackDown in a Triple Threat match. The winner of the match will face The Bar next week to determine who will get a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at WWE Hell in a Cell.
The Usos and Rusev Day started off the match by trading shots. SAnitY tagged in and took turns beating down Jey Uso. Dain connected with a massive Dropkick that sent Jey flying out of the ring. Eric Young tagged in and followed it up with an elbow off the ring apron to Jey’s face.
Back in the ring, Jimmy Uso was able to tag in and beatdown Eric Young. Rusev tagged in and tried to apply the Accolade to Young but was distracted by Alexander Wolfe. Young capitalized on the distraction and planted Rusev with a Neckbreaker.
Jimmy Uso got back in the action and connected with a Splash. All hell broke loose and Jey Uso took out Dain and Wolfe with a Suicide Dive. English then planted Jey with a DDT on the ring apron. Rusev then hit Young with a big boot for the pinfall victory. The Bar came down to the ramp after the match and stared at Rusev Day.
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella Sent A Message To The Miz & Maryse
The Miz and Maryse returned to the arena after Bryan and Brie left. They pretended to be shocked that Bryan and Brie weren’t there and SmackDown GM Paige told The Miz that he had to find someone to compete against tonight or he would be fired. R-Truth was being his usual insane self throughout tonight’s SmackDown and was still searching for Carmella. He bumped into Maryse backstage and asked if she was Carmella. Maryse was offended that R-Truth mistook her for that “Staten Island trash”.
The Miz interrupted and wondered what the hell was going on. R-Truth was confused because he still thought Maryse was Carmella and The Miz responded by calling R-Truth a joke. Later on SmackDown, R-Truth finally found the real Carmella and told her that Maryse called her “Staten Island trash”. R-Truth called for a truce with Carmella and asked her to accompany him to the ring later tonight for his match against The Miz.
The Miz and R-Truth then battled in this week’s main event with Carmella and Maryse ringside for the match. R-Truth started off the match in control and connected with a Leg Drop for a near fall. The Miz battled back and planted R-Truth with a Neckbreaker for a two count.
Miz mocked Bryan’s Yes Kicks but R-Truth ducked under one and rolled up Miz for another two count. The Miz battled back and went for the Figure Four but once again R-Truth countered into a roll-up for a near fall. The Miz quickly took back control and was about to hit the Skull Crushing Finale when Daniel Bryan’s music hit. R-Truth capitalized on the distraction and rolled up The Miz for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella rushed down to the ring. Bryan attacked The Miz as Brie beatdown Maryse. Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega then joined the party but wound up getting beaten down as well. Bryan and Brie locked in the Yes Lock on Almas and Vega as Miz & Maryse retreated up the entrance ramp. The Miz cowardly made his way towards the ring but retreated once Bryan turned his attention towards him. SmackDown went off the air with Bryan and Brie leading a “yes!” chant from the crowd.