Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for July 31, 2020

We hear from Bayley and Sasha Banks. Bayley says she will beat Nikki Cross and leave Nikki with more to cry about than cracked ribs. Nikki says she has beaten someone better than them and that she will knock Bayley off her high horse to become champion. We also hear from Big E, who tells The Miz that he will feel the power as he has The New Day in his heart and ind. Meanwhile, The Miz and John Morrison laugh at the idea of Big E having a singles career, and Miz says he does not have what it takes. Lacey Evans says she will give Naomi what she deserves, while Naomi says she deserves to beat Lacey senseless and have her feel the glow. Gran Metalik says he will become Intercontinental Champion tonight. "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles says that Metalik's high flying is impressive, but it is not phenomenal, and this is the house that he built. We then hear from Bray Wyatt, who says that he was trying to find Braun Strowman, but Strowman is probably still in his swamp and that a part of him will be trapped in the swamp forever. Bray says he only wanted to help Braun, not hurt him, but now, "he" is awake and "he" wants something that Braun has. Until then, nobody is safe.

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Gran Metalik with the Calf Crusher. After the match, Styles stomps on Lince Dorado as he checks on Gran Metalik, then hits Dorado with the Styles Clash.

Backstage, Baron Corbin walks up to Shorty G, saying it must hurt for him to sit on the sidelines. Shorty G does not buy into Corbin being a nice guy, and thinks that Corbin wants him to take out Matt Riddle when Corbin mentions the king's ransom on Riddle. Corbin reminds Shorty G that he has plenty of talent, but no opportunities, and that the king's ransom is still on the table if he is interested.

Jeff Hardy shows up. Jeff says he has not felt this good in a long time, and that the last few months with Sheamus have been tough, as he has been a constant reminder of how dangerous his demons can be. He says he needs these reminders, as sobriety is an uphill climb, but he knows he is on the right path. Jeff says he is more than an alcoholic and that he loves to perform in the ring for everyone, and that the love of family and friends has gotten him here. He says that his love makes him not want to let everyone down ever again, and that he is grateful to be alive and well today on SmackDown. Suddenly, King Corbin shows up. Corbin says his head will explode if he continues to hear about Jeff's sobriety, and says that Jeff is just whining and crying about recovery. He says that Jeff's life sucks and that he should shut up and deal with it. Corbin says he is losing his mind as he is looking for a Matt Riddle who cannot find his shoes and that he has a match with Drew Gulak, and that his kingdom is turning into an insane asylum. Jeff tells Corbin the problem is him, not those around him. Corbin says he would have offered Jeff the king's ransom to take out Matt Riddle, but he would not take it as he is more interested in sitting in a circle and collecting coins in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Suddenly, Corbin is attacked from behind by Gulak.

King Corbin beats Drew Gulak with End of Days despite the distraction from Matt Riddle, who shows up to get a closer look. After the match, Riddle attacks Corbin. Suddenly, Shorty G runs into the ring and hits Riddle with a German Suplex. He glances satisfactorily at Corbin, then the two of them leave together.

Big E beats The Miz with a Stretch Muffler after John Morrison is ejected from the match by the referee.

Backstage, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura are having a "champions' party" when The Lucha House Party (Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik) shows up. They are told the party is for champions only and that Metalik blew his chance at championship gold earlier tonight. Metalik has to hold Lince back as they leave.

Backstage, Sheamus says the mistake he made in fighting Jeff Hardy in a bar was fighting Jeff Hardy in a bar, as he gave him home field advantage. He says that Jeff was fueled by alcohol despite not one drop touching his lips. He calls last week's bar fight "a handicap match," then says what's done is done and that it is only a matter of time before nature takes its course, as Jeff is not his problem anymore and that is bad for the locker room, because he is now their problem.

Before the next match, Lacey Evans says if people want to feel sorry for Naomi so badly, she will make them feel sorry for her tonight.

Naomi beats Lacey Evans with a backslide pin after blocking the Woman's Right.

Backstage, Mandy Rose tells Otis that she has booked them a reservation at his favorite barbecue joint, complete with a private table and an all-you-can-eat buffet. She proposes they get ready, then meet up again. Meanwhile, Sonya Deville has been spying on them.

Backstage, Sonya Deville attacks Mandy Rose as she gets ready for her date with Otis, then grabs a pair of scissors and cuts some of her hair off before kicking her in the face. She then grabs an electric razor, but referees and officials stop her doing anything else.

We hear from Kayla Braxton, who says that Mandy Rose is conscious. The Miz and John Morrison show up and make hair jokes about Mandy as Heavy Machinery (Tucker and Otis) tend to Mandy, and Tucker chases Miz and Morrison off.

Bayley retains the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship against Nikki Cross. After the match, a distraught Nikki shoves Alexa Bliss before leaving. Suddenly, the lights go out, then the arena is red. Bray Wyatt is behind Alexa, and he circles around her before putting her in the Mandible Claw.

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