"Friday's "SmackDown" felt like a "reset" episode, where big moments and plot points occurred with different WWE superstars -- a launch pad for new things coming. We saw a new champion crowned, a returning talent, and the world title picture turned at least half a page (or progress further than just Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre). The U.S. Championship open challenge continues to be a lot of fun and we have new challengers for the Women's Tag Team Championship."
"The match between Rhodes and Aleister Black ended in a no contest after McIntyre (who Rhodes said he's moving on from earlier in the night) hit the referee with a Claymore. "SmackDown" general manager Nick Aldis promptly suspended McIntyre as a result -- a sequence of events that probably removes him from the title picture for now ... unless we get a Fatal 4-Way in the near future, as Damian Priest also joined the party at the end."
SmackDown functioned as a reset, delivering title changes, returns, and storyline shifts that advance the path to Survivor Series: War Games and beyond. Chelsea Green defeated Giulia to win the Women's United States Championship while Ilja Dragunov retained the United States Championship against Johnny Gargano. Nia Jax beat Charlotte Flair and Talla Tonga defeated Rey Fenix. Cody Rhodes's non-title match with Aleister Black ended in a no-contest after Drew McIntyre struck the referee with a Claymore. General manager Nick Aldis suspended McIntyre, potentially removing him from the world title picture for now while Damian Priest entered the fray, creating multi-man possibilities.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]