WWE Friday Night Smackdown Live Coverage - August 9th, 2024

[Kemo]

Roman Reigns roars back to SmackDown

The Tribal Chief is back. Roman Reigns shocked the entire WWE Universe when he returned at SummerSlam to attack his former enforcer Solo Sikoa, leaving his former rival Cody Rhodes to retain the WWE Championship. What will Reigns have to say in his first appearance on SmackDown since before WrestleMania XL?

Your announcers are Corey Graves and Wade Barrett.

We take a look back at highlights from SummerSlam.

Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring.

Cody asks the people of Tulsa what do they want to talk about. He says he doesn't want to delve into the past. He says as grand as SummerSlam was, everyone is looking at what is next. This is the North Star of the industry and the lodestar for everything. Cody says he has been thinking about who he would like to defend his title against at Bash in Berlin. He says this guy . . .

Solo Sikoa makes his way to the ring with Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa.

Solo says he wants to stop Cody. He says he doesn't care what Cody wants to talk about. He doesn't care what these people want to hear. He wants to talk about SummerSlam. He says they both know if it wasn't for Roman Reigns, he would have been champion. Before you say or do anything, you will give him a rematch.

Cody says he doesn't want to talk about the past but if Solo does, he will do it. You couldn't win on your own and you got Jacob Fatu injured. You got Roman Reigns angry because you were cosplaying like the Tribal Chief. Cody says he pinned Solo in the middle of the ring. He says that Solo is delusional if he thinks he deserves a title match. He asks Solo what does he want to talk about.

Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa get on the apron with Solo and . . .

Kevin Owens comes to the ring from the other side and he has a chair for himself and Cody.

Solo and friends get off the apron.

Solo says he will deal with Cody later . . . after he finds Roman.

Cody says he will be waiting on Solo.

Cody asks Kevin to come back into the ring and he wants to talk to him about something, and he doesn't want it to be awkward.

Cody says if he knows Kevin, you will likely say no. Cody says before he was interrupted, he was talking about who he would like to face for the championship. Cody tells Kevin that he would like to face him.

Kevin says as much as he appreciates it, he says he does not deserve a title match. He says title matches need to be earned. Look at his record over the last year and he does not deserve the match. He says he is not the guy.

Cody asks Kevin if he hears the crowd chanting 'you deserve it'. He says he figured that Kevin would say no. He hasn't forgotten the sacrifice that Kevin made. You were in the trenches with him. You are still the prize fighter in the prime of your career. You might be one of his closest friends. Cody says he is going to go to the back and talk to Nick Aldis about why you should face him at Bash in Berlin. Cody tells Kevin he is pretty sure that Nick will see what he sees and what everyone else sees. Cody says after that conversation, he hopes that all he has to say to Kevin is that he will see him at Bash in Berlin.

Backstage:
Byron is with Montez, Angelo, and B Fab. B Fab interrupts and she says they are more than eager. They are determined and on point. Ford says the Bloodline won the titles, but they can't get it together since Roman came back. Dawkins says it has been three long years and they are on the journey for gold.


Number One Contenders Qualifying Match
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory vs Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins (w/ B Fab)

Dawkins punches Waller on the apron but Theory hits him from behind. Waller with an elbow into the corner and he punches Dawkins. Theory tags in and Waller with a baseball slide to Ford to knock him off the apron. Dawkins punches Theory many times. Dawkins with an Irish whip and a twisting splash into the corner. Dawkins misses a shoulder into the corner and Waller tags in. Waller with a baseball slide to the floor and a clothesline to Dawkins. Theory and Waller focus on B Fab and Ford with a flip dive onto both of them.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Theory with a drop toe hold into the corner and a slingshot rolling drop kick to Dawkins. Waller tags in and he gets Dawkins up on his shoulders but Dawkins escapes and he sends Waller into Theory and he punches Waller. Dawkins with a suplex to Theory. Ford tags in and hits a cross body and clotheslines to Waller. Ford with a flapjack to Theory. Ford lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt and Ford with one of his own to Waller. Ford with a moonsault for a near fall. Ford goes up top and Waller moves out of the way so Ford lands on his feet. Theory tags in and they hit a double forearm to the head for a near fall.

Ford with a back elbow and he hits a super kick on Waller on the floor. Dawkins POUNCES Waller into the time keeper's area. Ford with an enzuigiri from the apron and Dawkins tags in. Dawkins gets Theory on his shoulders for the Doomsday Blockbuster for the three count.

Winners: Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford


Backstage:
Cody is in OFFICE with Nick Aldis and Kevin shows up and says he doesn't deserve the title match. They mention Randy facing Gunther. Nick says he is waiting to discuss a championship match with Roman Reigns. Kevin asks Nick if he is kidding. Kevin says he is man enough not to says he doesn't deserve it. Nick mentions how long Roman was champion. Kevin says someone always helped Roman keep the title. Does he deserve it? There is the rematch clause, but that hasn't been enforced in years. Kevin tells Nick to look in the locker room and he will see someone who deserves it more. Nick says he doesn't have to go into the locker room. He is looking at the person who faces Cody at Bash in Berlin. Kevin tells Cody he guesses he will see Cody in Berlin.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at Nia Jax beating Bayley for the championship at SummerSlam.

Backstage:
Tiffany is yelling at a production worker about next week's championship celebration. Pretty Deadly emerge and Kit asks Tiffany if she can plan their party when they win the title. Elton and Kit talk about casting the musical. Tiffany says she has to go. Chelsea and Piper stop Tiffany and she asks if those are the plans for Nia's celebration. Green suggests that Tiffany let her plan things. She tells Tiffany that Nia doesn't like pink and they know it is ploy for Tiffany to cash in. Tiffany calls Green delusional.

We take a look at last week's Women's Tag Title match.


Jade Cargill (w/ Bianca Belair) vs Alba Fyre (w/ Isla Dawn)

Alba with a kick to the leg. Alba with a waist lock and Jade powers out of the hold and applies a wrist lock. Jade lifts Alba in the air and Alba goes for a sunset flip but Jade blocks it and she punches Alba. Jade with another punch. Jade misses a hip in the corner and Alba with a kick and super kick. Alba with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Fyre with forearms to the back. Alba with a satellite into an Octopus. Dawn tries to give Alba some help but Bianca stops that. Jade escapes with a tilt-a-whirl slam. Jade with a super kick and Jaded for the three count.

Winner: Jade Cargill

After the match:
Blair Davenport attacks Jade from behind and all three work over Jade and Biana. Naomi's music plays but Dawn and Fyre forget to stop attacking Bianca. Naomi with Thesz Presses. Alba and Isla grab Naomi but Jade kicks Alba and then Bianca with a spinebuster to Dawn. Naomi with a drop kick to Blair and she clotheslines Blair over the top rope to the floor.


We are back with a look at LA Knight's title win at SummerSlam.

United States Champion LA Knight makes his way to the ring.

Lou Ferrigno is in the crowd tonight

Knight wants to talk to ya. He says SummerSlam has come and gone. With all the answers one question remains. He says people asked him if it was extra sweet to beat Logan Paul in his home town. He says all he cares about is that he said call him what you want, but you will call him champ. Knight says that he has arrived. He says this title makes him a marked man but he has been a marked man since he walked onto Smackdown. He will walk in, hit it, and quit. Then he moves on to the next. Knight says he cannot stop being the US Champion with everyone yelling . . .

Santos Escobar's music interrupts and he comes out with Elektra Lopez, Humberto Carrillo, and Angel Garza.

Santos congratulates Knight. He says he means it. Santos says the crowd and Knight suck. Santos says not every day do you get someone like Knight to finally get the taste of gold. Santos says this whole LA Knight as Champion thing. He doesn't buy it. Enjoy your time in the spotlight because it is fleeting. All of your grit and glory will be nothing but an opening act to his reign. Santos says this is a fact of life. Santos says he truly deserves to be US Champion.

Knight says he didn't hear a damn word that Santos said because Tulsa said that Santos sucks. You deserve to get the brakes beaten off you again. You must be sick of that. The problem is that to get a shot against him, you have to qualify and your opponent will be out soon. You won't take the title off of him because he won't let you.

Giovanni Vinci says there are no losses. Nobody should think success ia given and he knows that it is his destiny. A man who know no limits accepts no shortcomings. He says he does everything with style. He says he will bring that same relentless style to Smackdown.


Number One Contender's Match for U'S Championship
Santos Escobar (w/ Elektra Lopez, Humberto Carrillo, and Angel Garza) vs Andrade

The match is joined in progress and Andrade with a shoulder tackle and a second one. Santos rolls to the floor and Andrade with a pescado onto Santos. Andrade sends Santos back into the ring and Angel pulls Andrade off the apron and then back into the ring. Santos with a jumping knee for a near fall.

Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews attack Garza and Carrillo and they fight into the crowd.

Santos turns into an enzuigiri. Andrade goes up top and Santos stops him and Andrade hits the ring post on his way to the floor. Santos runs Andrade into the ring post and they return to the ring. Santos gets a near fall. Santos with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker and he works on the arm. Andrade with punches but Santos pulls Andrade down by the hair. Andrade with a chop and Santos runs into a boot. Andrade goes to the turnbuckles and Santos stops him with a forearm and kick. Andrade with forearms and Santos punches back. Andrade with forearms and Santos goes up top and sets for a superplex. Andrade stops Santos and Andrade counters with a sunset flip power bomb.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Santos with a camel clutch. Andrade with elbows and Santos with forearms to the back. Andrade with a back elbow and a dragon screw. Andrade with a flying forearm and Santos backs into the corner. Andrade sets for the running double knee strike but Santos moves. Andrade goes to the apron and hits a moonsault. Andrade with a cross body for a near fall. Andrade with a suplex and he holds on and rolls through for a second one. Andrade hits the third Amigo for a near fall. Andrade goes up top for the moonsault and Santos rolls to the apron to stop Andrade. Andrade with a forearm and he tries for a superplex. They exchange punches on the ropes and Santos with a super Poisonrana for a near fall.

Santos misses a double knee strike. Andrade with a super kick and a drop kick. Andrade goes up top for a moonsault and Santos moves but Andrade hits the Andradesault for a near fall. Andreade with a kick and Carmelo Hayes gets on the apron and Andrade goes after him. Santos with a forearm and he tries for a Phanton Driver but Andrade escapes and he hits a spinning back elbow for a near fall. Hayes pulls Santos out of the way while Lopez distracts the referee. Santos gets the three count.

Winner: Santos Escobar


We take a look back at last week's Smackdown Tag Title Match.

Backstage:
Ciampa and Gargano walk in the back and Ciampa says they walked into Bloodline Rules. They stole the titles from them last week. Gargano says he lost in his home town in front of his family and two year old son. They will do whatever it takes to win back the tag titles. Ciampa says this is day one of DIY The Redemption.

We take a look back at Kevin Sullivan's life with a video package. R.I.P


Number One Contender Qualifying Match to Qualify for a Number One Contender Match
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa vs Kit Wilson and Elton Brand

Johnny and Kit start things off. Elton makes the tag and all four get in the ring. Kit and Elton miss punches and Johnny and Ciampa with punches and they avoid a double drop kick. Elton is sent to the floor and Kit is catapulted over the top rope onto Elton. Johnny and Ciampa go for suicide dives and Kit and Elton with uppercut. Gargano and Ciampa with drop kicks to knock Kit and Elton off the apron and they hit stereo pescados.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Elton keeps Johnny from making the tag and he kicks Elton. Ciampa tags in and he clothesliens Elton a few times and then he does the same to Kit and it is time for clotheslines into the corner. Ciampa ends the infinity clotheslines with a double clothesline. Ciampa with a reverse DDT to Kit and a rolling elbow to Elton. Gargano tags in and they hit a spear and belly-to-back suplex combination for a near fall. Johnny is sent to the apron and he kicks Kit on the floor. Elton with a knee to stop a slingshot spear. Elton with a rollup for a near fall followed by a European uppercut. Kit with a bulldog while Elton has Ciampa in a double chicken wing hold. Kit with a rebound clothesline to Johnny. Ciampa with chops to Kit and Kit with an uppecut.

Elton tags in and they set for Spilled Milk but Gargano with a slingshot spear. Ciampa with a knee to Kit and Johnny tags in. They hit Shatter Machine on Elton and they set for the running knee and super kick for the three count.

Winners: Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa


Backstage:
Solo Sikoa is in Gorilla and Tama Tonga tells Solo they haven't seen Roman. Solo says Roman will be here.

Solo Sikoa makes his way to the ring with Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Solo is still in the ring with Tama and Tonga.

Solo tells Tulsa to acknowledge him. Solo says Roman Reigns, in case you haven't noticed, he is the tribal chief now. If you call yourself the tribal chief and you want these back . . . then come and get it from him.

Roman Reigns' music plays and he makes his way to the ring.

Solo tells Tama to go after Roman and Roman with a punch. Roman with another punch and Tonga goes after Roman but Roman sends Tonga into the ring steps. Roman slams the ring steps onto Tonga and Tama.

Roman looks at Solo and Solo takes off his jacket.

Roman gets on the apron and enters the ring.

Roman punches Solo but Solo kicks Roman. Roman with a Superman punch. Roman sets for a spear and Roman is pulled to safety by Tonga.

The ceremonial tribal ornament is on the mat and Roman stands over it and he is attacked from behind by Tama and Tonga. Tama grabs it and gives it back to Solo. Tonga backs Roman into the corner and connects with shoulders. Tonga runs into a Superman punch. Roman with one to Tama and then Roman with a spear to Tonga. Roman goes to the floor and he Wacky spears Tama through the ringside barrier. Roman gets a chair and he hits Tonga in the back with it. He hits Tonga a few more times.

Solo holds up the ornament and puts it around his neck as Roman tries to drive the chair through Tonga.

End of show.

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