Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for August 28, 2018

The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) show up to start tonight's show with a replica of the Stanley Cup, which is placed on a podium. Xavier Woods said that The New Day did what they said they would do and became WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Kofi admits The Bludgeon Brothers were ferocious, but they had them out like a light. Big E says he has waited a long time to do this, and before he can announce that they are five-time tag team champions, Booker T - as King Booker - shows up. The New Day get down on one knee, and makes a royal decree where he grants "Lord Xavier the Wise," "Sir Kofi the Brave," and Big E access to the most royal club of them all, but Big E demands a royal name. Booker T says he already has "Big" in his name, but Big E says he just "Saxoned" him. Booker T says he should be on his knees, and says there is only one who is deemed worthy of "The Five-Timers Championship Club..." until now. Booker welcomes them into the club. Afterwards, The New Day help King Booker out with the cape and crown, and he performs the Spinaroonie in the middle of the ring. Xavier Woods then does one of his own, followed by Kofi and Big E, the latter of whom has to be spun around the middle of the ring. It is then announced that The New Day will guest on commentary for the next match with their own custom commentary table, complete with pancake platters and boxes of Booty-O's.

The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro) beat Gallows & Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) and The Colons (Primo and Epico Colon) in a Triple Threat tag team match. After the match, The Bar confront The New Day at their custom commentary table.

General Manager Paige meets with Rusev, Lana and Aiden English backstage. She tells Rusev and Aiden English they will face SAnitY and The Usos in a Triple Threat Match next week where the winner faces The Bar to decide #1 contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. As Rusev thanks Lana for this, Lana says it wasn't her, and it is revealed that Aiden English got them this chance at a title shot.

Jeff Hardy shows up. Jeff says that since he has returned to SmackDown Live, Orton has been messing with him both physically and mentally. He credits Orton making him believe he can fly for his actions towards him last week. He says Orton may be some object of affection or an obstacle in his career, but when Orton did what he did to him, he felt like the Jeff Hardy of old. He calls Orton out so he can finish what Orton started. Orton shows up, and congratulates Jeff for rediscovering himself and giving him the credit for all of that. He then says he is not finished working on him yet, and this this version of Jeff Hardy is the identity he is going to take away and the career he will end. He plans to leave Jeff Hardy as a heap of lifeless bones in the ring, and says Jeff can call him whatever he wants, but Jeff Hardy tells Orton he will take him to Hell in Hell In A Cell. Orton then drops the microphone and backs away.

Backstage, Renee Young interviews Carmella. She says that the attention she brought the blue brand women's division made Evolution possible, and says that Charlotte Flair never pinned her. Tonight, she will beat Charlotte, and the buzz will be back on her when she is champ again. Suddenly, R-Truth shows up looking for Carmella, but "The Perfect Ten" Tye Dillinger tells him to let it go. R-Truth takes this as a matter of timing, and in a matter of time, the truth shall set Carmella free.

Before the next match, Billie Kay says she can see the future, just like when she said that Peyton Royce would beat Naomi. She also says that the Toronto Raptors will have a dismal season and Naomi having nightmares about losing again tonight. Billie and Peyton then begin to make fun of how Naomi looks before saying that the future is IIconic.

Billie Kay beats Naomi with an assist from Peyton Royce.

Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella show up. Daniel Bryan talks about how The Miz mocked his retirement as well as how he is a very poor actor, saying that Miz could not even act like a tough guy and used Maryse as a human shield. When that happened, Brie Bella ran into the ring. Brie says Daniel doesn't need her to fight his battle, but Maryse is always helping Miz cheat to win, and while she was out there to go after Maryse, it felt good to punch Miz in the face. Daniel Bryan also says that it was pretty hot before putting Brie over as a supermom and saying Maryse and Miz won't be able to hide behind each other at Hell In A Cell. Suddenly, Zelina Vega and Andrade "Cien" Almas show up. Zelina calls it an honor to be in front of two legends before declaring herself and Almas as legends. After a brief introduction where she boasts that Almas put Sin Cara on the shelf permanently, took AJ Styles to the limit and destroyed Rusev, she says that The Miz outsmarted Daniel Bryan and that it is time that Almas out-wrestled him. Almas says Daniel Bryan can have his battle, but he is the only star in the ring. Daniel Bryan says he would like to make this match official, but he is no longer General Manager and wishes there was somebody who could make this match. General Manager Paige shows up a little late due to her office being on the other side of the building and running in heels. Paige says she does not want to give the fans a match they don't want, and asks the fans if they want to see the match. The fans chant "Yes!", and Paige brings out a referee to make the match official.

Daniel Bryan beats Andrade "Cien" Almas by disqualification. During the match, The Miz shows up, after having watched the match backstage with Maryse, and tries to distract Daniel Bryan, but it does not work. After a distraction from Maryse that sees Brie Bella beat her up, The Miz then gets in the ring and attacks Daniel Bryan, ending the match. After the match, Almas hits the Hammerlock DDT, then Miz puts Daniel Bryan in the Yes Lock while Maryse forces Brie Bella to watch as Zelina hits Brie with the double knees. Maryse and Miz then celebrate with a kiss after Maryse hits Brie Bella with a DDT.

Backstage, Renee Young interviews Charlotte Flair, who says that Becky Lynch does not deserve anything that she did not win, and wants to blame her for not winning the big one. She refuses to apologize for giving her all every night and won't let anybody take that from her. After she goes through Carmella tonight, she plans to give Becky Lynch just what she deserves.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles shows up. Styles says his match with Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship at Hell In A Cell is now official, and that Joe is good with mind games as he has him right where he wants him. He then says Joe has proved he is not man enough to take the title from him. He also says that Joe will not look him in the eye and face him like a man because he is not a man, and that he will end his mind games right here and now. Styles says he is the WWE Champion and that he makes the rules around here, and that they do not have to wait until Hell In A Cell. He demands Joe get in the ring with him right now so he can knock his teeth down his throat. Samoa Joe is seen backstage on the Titantron instead, and says he will not be coming out tonight before bringing up Styles' family again. He then pulls out his cellphone and calls AJ's wife Wendy, who is not exactly happy to hear from him. He tells Wendy that he will send AJ Styles back home, then asks if they are on for the back-to-school barbecue next week and to save him a plate. An irate AJ Styles then runs to the back.

Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton in a Hell In A Cell Match is now official for Hell In A Cell.

Backstage, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles searches frantically for Samoa Joe, and nearly beats up a security guard.

Charlotte Flair retains the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship against Carmella with the Figure Eight. After the match, Charlotte is attacked from behind by Becky Lynch, who then takes a microphone. She grabs the SmackDown Women's title, kisses it, then tells Charlotte that when she gets her way, come Hell In A Cell, she is taking the title back. She then calls her a bitch before throwing the microphone down on her and raising the title up in the air.