Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for September 10, 2019

The Undertaker shows up to start tonight's show. He takes in the moment before stating that for the last 30 years, he has considered the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden his home. He doesn't know how often he will come home anymore, but he wants everyone to remember the titans that were born there, the legends that made their name there and the heroes who came here. He says that he took a little piece of their souls with him, but they will not be forgotten, for the echoes of their memories will go through its hallways for all of eternity. As he announces that a new era of Superstar is being ushered in, Sami Zayn suddenly shows up. He says that if he knows one thing about New York City, it is that they respect legends and that The Undertaker is a legend. He says that the most impressive thing about The Undertaker's legacy is selling out the Garden for 30 years, making it "his yard." Sami then states that while he has the most utmost respect for him, he says it should probably not be him opening tonight's show and that it should be him as Sami backs away while The Undertaker approaches. He asks when enough will be enough as he states that everything The Undertaker has done has shaped the future, then says the future is now and it is him. Sami then says the "unruly fans" would want nothing more than to see him take out The Undertaker, but that leads to the fans chanting "You suck!" at Sami, who says he is here out of respect to ask The Undertaker to turn around and leave the ring. He asks The Undertaker to leave the ring and pass the torch, and says the Garden and WWE is in good hands with him. The Undertaker hands his microphone to Sami, then teases waking away while Sami laughs. The Undertaker then gets back in the ring, much to Sami's surprise, and choke slams Sami Zayn.

Backstage, Shane McMahon is met by Chad Gable. Shane compliments Gable on his progress in the King of the Ring tournament, then tells him that Elias is injured and unable to compete in the semi-finals. Shane says he knows Gable wants to earn his way to the finals, and says his replacement opponent - who he has not decided on yet, but will be chosen soon - will be coming from either Raw or SmackDown.

Shinsuke Nakamura guests on commentary for the next match (and only speaks Japanese when asked any questions).

The Miz beats Andrade after countering a top rope moonsault into the Skull Crushing Finale, then gets attacked by Shinsuke Nakamura, who hits Miz with a Kinshasa.

Backstage, Shane McMahon asks Matt Hardy and Apollo Crews if they have seen Chad Gable. Gable shows up, then Shane tells Gable he has found his opponent, whom Elias approves of. His new opponent is none other than Shane McMahon.

Before the next match, Mandy Rose states that after last week, she would not be caught dead with Nikki Cross, since she is pretty and Nikki Cross is ugly. She says that Nikki looks like an oversized rat, then Alexa Bliss shows up with Nikki Cross.

Nikki Cross beats Mandy Rose with a schoolkid pin after Alexa Bliss yanks Sonya Deville off the ring apron.

Heavy Machinery (Tucker and Otis) make their own fruit smoothie in a blender backstage.

Backstage, Bayley is met by Ember Moon, who says that Bayley went against her word of elevating the women's division. Bayley says she is the same woman and that she attacked Becky to elevate the division. Ember Moon says this is more about Bayley struggling to stay relevant, and after saying that Charlotte Flair beat her last night, she tells her to save her energy for the ring.

Heavy Machinery (Tucker and Otis) beat Johnny Silver and Alex Keaton. (Johnny Silver and Alex Keaton are independent wrestlers John Silver and Alex Keaton, who will show up in AEW in just a few months' time.)

Backstage, Shane McMahon is met by Kevin Owens. Shane says he has been thinking for the last few weeks, and says he is willing to get rid of his $100,000 fine. Owens asks what the catch is, and Shane asks Owens to be the referee for his match with Chad Gable. Shane says that if he does the job "correctly," he will wipe away the $100,000 fine. Owens takes the shirt and reluctantly walks away.

Rowan - now known as Erick Rowan again - shows up. He says that all his life, people never seemed to get him or know him, and says all the fans thought he was controlled by somebody who told him what to do until last week. He then says the fans need to look deep in his eyes and see what he is capable of. Unfortunately, all the fans see is a brute who terrorizes and brutalizes. Suddenly, Roman Reigns shows up. Roman gets in the ring and immediately Superman Punches Rowan, then runs around the ring and tries to Spear him only for Rowan to strike back. Both men then brawl their way into the crowd. Roman makes it back to the ring, then Superman Punches Rowan a second and third time as officials, referees and security keep Roman away from Rowan. Rowan then grabs a fan and powerbombs him into Roman. Rowan then runs into Roman and hits him with a cross body, taking out Roman and everyone around him, before dragging him up the ramp. As everyone keeps him away from Roman, Roman hits another Superman Punch and proceeds to pound on Roman until he is held back. Rowan then grabs a camera and slams it into Roman before heading to the back. Roman gets up under his own power.

Backstage, Erick Rowan is seen pacing back and forth saying "Roman" repeatedly.

Charlotte Flair guests on commentary for the next match.

Bayley beats Ember Moon. After the match, Charlotte Flair enters the ring and points at the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship, telling Bayley it will be hers. Bayley backs away as Charlotte says she will be a ten-time champion.

Kofi Kingston shows up. Kofi says it feels great to be back in Madison Square Garden, and says that the building will always hold a special place in his heart as the place where his career changed forever when he stepped up to one of the top Superstars to prove he belonged in WWE. He talks about his battle with Randy Orton in the building in 2009 and how the people in the building chanted his name, and says he knew he would return one day as WWE Champion. He then says that day has come. After replaying footage of his match with Randy Orton from the November 16, 2009 episode of Raw, he calls it "a very small taste" of what he will do to Orton at Clash of Champions. Suddenly, Orton is seen and heard calling Kofi "stupid" in the crowd. Orton says he has done more in the last ten years than Kofi, then says none of that matters as he will be taking the WWE Championship from Kofi, as he was never deserving of it. After mocking Kofi's old Jamaican accent and dreadlocks as well as the more recent "power of positivity bullshit," Kofi gets in the crowd but is attacked with a steel chair by Orton. Orton almost DDT's on the floor, but Kofi battles back and pounds on Orton before grabbing the chair and smacking it into Orton's back. Kofi then tries to place Orton on a table. Orton fights back and has Kofi lying on it, but Kofi fights back and inadvertently breaks the table in the process. Kofi then readies another table. This time around, Kofi is able to get Orton on top of it, and he then climbs up some steps, stands on a steel guardrail and hits a Boom Drop onto the table and onto Orton.

Roman Reigns vs. Erick Rowan at Clash of Champions is now officially a no-disqualification match.

Cad Gable beats Shane McMahon to advance to the finals of the King of the Ring tournament...almost. After the match, however, Shane McMahon takes the microphone and states that the match is two-out-of-three falls. Despite Owens reluctantly being a crooked referee - and Owens also never calling for the bell - Gable wins the second fall with an ankle lock in the center of the ring. After the match, Owens tells Shane he did everything he can do and that he tapped out. Owens leaves, then Shane hits Owens with a chop block and proceeds to attack him. Shane then grabs a microphone and fires Kevin Owens.

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!