WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome in the Yuengling Center in Tampa. The Intercontinental Championship and the SmackDown Tag Team Championships were defended on this week’s show.
SmackDown Results (6/4)
- Rey & Dominik Mysterio def. The Usos to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
- Carmella def. Liv Morgan
- King Corbin def. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Apollo Crews def. Kevin Owens to retain the IC Title
- Rey & Dominik Mysterio def. The Usos via DQ to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Here are the takeaways from this week’s SmackDown:
Rey & Dominik Retained In A Controversial Finish
Universal Champion Roman Reigns kicked off the show and made his way to the ring with Paul Heyman. Roman said he believes in being direct about how he is feeling and is not happy about the end of last week’s SmackDown. However, Reigns has changed his position on The Uso’s title shot after some time and council from Paul Heyman.
Roman added that he is still the centerpiece and everything revolves around him, but he is going to allow this to happen. Reigns noted that Jimmy Uso said that they are going to win and that he better win tonight. Roman said that he has a lot on his plate and shouted for The Usos to come to the ring for their match.
Jey acknowledged Roman and called him The Tribal Chief. Jimmy just stood there and the Universal Champion told Jimmy that it was his turn to acknowledge him. Jimmy said he already did at Hell in a Cell when he joked Jey out. Jimmy stated that tonight was about making the family proud and becoming 7-time tag team champions.
Roman told Jimmy that he called his shot and he better deliver because the whole family is watching. Reigns added that he wanted The Usos to bring him the titles when they get the job done. Rey and Dominik Mysterio then defended the SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Usos in the first match of the night.
The Usos took control of the match early and sent Rey into the announce table with a Samoan Drop as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, The Usos had Rey isolated in the corner and beat him down. Rey eventually sent Jimmy and Jey into the ring post and got to the corner to tag in Dominik.
Dominik connected with a Neckbreaker and went for the cover but Jimmy kicked out at two. Dominik followed it up with a Tornado DDT for another near fall. Jey tagged in as The Usos hit a double Samoan Drop but Dominik was able to kick out. Dominik sent The Usos out of the ring and Rey hit Jey with a Senton. Dominik went for the 619 but Jimmy countered with a Superkick. Jimmy went for the Splash but Dominik got his knees up. Dominik then transitioned into a roll-up for the pinfall victory. Dominik & Rey are still SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
It was shown during replays that Jimmy kicked out in time and the referee made a mistake. Universal Champion Roman Reigns was pissed off backstage and told Heyman to bring The Usos to him. Reigns told The Usos that they embarrassed the family. Roman demanded that they go find Adam Pearce or Sonya Deville and fix this tonight. Reigns started ranting about how The Usos made it to WrestleMania once but in less than a year he had Jey Uso closing shows. Roman asked Jimmy if he understands his position but didn’t realize he was looking at Jey. Jey pointed out and Reigns joked that it doesn’t even matter with the way things are going.
Seth Rollins Didn’t Want To Talk About Cesaro
Kayla Braxton interviewed Seth Rollins backstage tonight on SmackDown. Rollins was sporting another ridiculous suit and smirked as highlights of his attack on Cesaro a couple weeks ago were shown. Braxton noted that Cesaro is someone that does not give up and asked if Rollins was ready for his return. Seth said he knows what Kayla is trying to do here and removed his microphone. Rollins then tossed it at Kayla and laughed to end the interview.
Carmella def. Liv Morgan
Liv Morgan faced Carmella tonight on SmackDown. Carmella slapped Liv and then ran away. Liv caught up to her and sent her into the barricade outside the ring. Carmella battled back with some elbows to the face and started trash talking. Liv connected with a Backbreaker and charged towards Carmella but she countered into the Code of Silence for the submission victory.
Belair Will Face Bayley At Hell In A Cell
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair said that Bayley should realize that the WWE Universe isn’t laughing with her, they are laughing at her. Belair noted that Bayley’s laugh was actually getting to her but people have been trying her since she was 3ft tall. Bianca boasted about leaving those people in the dust but never has had someone laugh in her face. Belair called it disrespectful and said she will not stand for it.
Bianca then challenged Bayley to a match at Hell in a Cell and added that Bayley will not be laughing then. Bayley’s laugh started echoing throughout the ThunderDome until she appeared on the screen. Bayley said she has been laughing at people like Belair he whole life and was revealed to be sitting in a room full of pictures of herself. Bayley claimed that the room was her sanctuary where she sound peace. Bayley accepted the challenge and then all the screens in the ThunderDome flipped to Bayley laughing.
King Corbin def. Shinsuke Nakamura
King Corbin faced Shinsuke Nakamura again tonight. Corbin beat Nakamura down in the corner of the ring to begin the action. Shinsuke battled back with an Enziguri and went for an Armbar but Corbin was able to reach the ropes. Corbin rolled out of the ring and leveled Rick Boogs with a Clothesline but Nakamura greeted him with an STO for a near fall when he got back in the ring. Corbin then hit a Clothesline on Nakamura and rolled him up for the pinfall victory. Boogs was able to grab the crown and keep it away from King Corbin after the match.
Apollo Crews Retained
Apollo Crews defended the Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens with Commander Azeez barred from ringside. Kevin Owens was shown walking backstage before the match and Azeez attacked him. Azeez went for the Nigerian Nail but WWE officials stopped him. Crews was then shown smiling as WWE officials checked on Owens.
The match began after a commercial break and Apollo dominated early. Crews hit a knee to the midsection and followed it up with a Suplex. Owens battled back with a Clothesline and then a Senton that sent the Intercontinental Champion to the outside. Owens bounced off the ropes but stopped and grabbed his ribs. Crews capitalized with an Olympic Slam on the ring apron as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Crews and Owens traded German Suplexes in the ring. Owens knocked Apollo to the canvas with a headbutt and followed it up with a Senton but couldn’t get to the cover due to the rib injury. Crews hit a German Suplex and followed it up with a standing Moonsault. Apollo went for a Frog Splash off the top rope but Owens got out of the way at the last moment.
Owens hit a Superkick and then the Pop-Up Powerbomb but Apollo was able to kick out. Crews and Owens then battled on the turnbuckle. Crews connected with a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron for the pinfall victory. Apollo Crews is still the Intercontinental Champion. After the match, Sami Zayn rushed the ring and hit Owens with the Helluva Kick. Sami stomped on Owens’ midsection before exiting.
Roman Reigns Attacked Rey & Dominik
Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville concluded that the referee got it wrong and gave The Usos another shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships in the main event. The Usos isolated Dominik in the corner to start off the action. Jey planted Dominik with a slam and went for the cover but Mysterio was able to kick out at two. Dominik tried to regroup outside the ring but Jey hit him with a Splash as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Rey tagged in and unloaded some kicks to Jimmy Uso. Rey followed it up with a Crossbody for a two count. Jey tagged in and went for a Powerbomb but Rey countered into a Frankensteiner. Jimmy tagged in and Mysterio hit him with a 619. Dominik tagged in but Roman Reigns showed up and hit him with a Superman Punch. The referee called for the bell and Reigns leveled Rey with a Spear.
Reigns then continued to beat the hell out of Rey and hit him with the steel steps outside the ring. Roman got Dominik in the Guillotine choke as Jimmy told him that was enough. Jimmy left the ring and asked Jey to go with him. Jey went to leave the ring but Roman stopped him. Jey didn’t look up as Reigns got pissed and planted Dominik with a Powerbomb to close the show.