Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 21, 2020

The Thunderdome - with digital screens displaying people watching from home where the audience should be - is unveiled at the start of the show.

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon welcomes everyone to the show and to the Thunderdome. He says that nobody brings the thunder like WWE, then the lights go out as The Fiend makes his presence known. The Fiend stands in Vince's way and even sticks his tongue out at him, then Braun Strowman shows up. As Braun confronts The Fiend, Retribution shows up and completely surrounds the ring. Braun and The Fiend shake their heads "yes," then The Fiend waves goodbye and the lights go out. When they come back on, The Fiend is gone. Braun tries to fight Retribution, but he is very easily outnumbered. The SmackDown locker room runs into the ring to save Braun Strowman, and Retribution retreats when they realize their numbers are not enough. Afterwards, Braun lays out Drew Gulak and tosses King Corbin out of the ring before leaving.

Big E beats Sheamus with a schoolkid pin when Sheamus is distracted by King Corbin and Matt Riddle brawling outside of the ring as members of the locker room stay behind in case Retribution returns.

Jeff Hardy is in the trainer's room. He mentions that somebody attacked his right leg from behind and that he does not know who it is.

Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura attack The Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Lince Dorado, Gran Metalik) from behind backstage.

Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura retain the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Lucha House Party (Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik). After the match Kalisto confronts Lince Dorado for getting pinned, and both men suddenly get physical. Gran Metalik has to keep both men from hurting each other.

We see footage from earlier tonight where "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles kicks Jeff Hardy in his right leg from behind as Retribution was in the ring.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles says that it is not looking like Jeff Hardy will be able to face him tonight, then says that Jeff has wasted his career and that he is not standing on his own two feet. Styles then briefly meets Bayley and Sasha Banks.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Mandy Rose, who says that it has been a rough week and that all she knows is how she feels. Despite feeling bad and ugly, she needs to know that there is still good in this world. Mandy then speaks to Sonya Deville, saying they have been through a lot and that she believes that the Sonya she used to know is still out there. She says she does not know how Sonya is feeling, but she wants to put this behind them and go back to how they were. Mandy then says she chooses to see the good in Sonya.

Corey Graves interviews Bayley and Sasha Banks in the ring. When asked if they are splitting up, Bayley and Sasha both say "no." Bayley then says she and Sasha are the only two people capable of carrying two titles at the same time, and Sasha says that they will destroy Asuka at SummerSlam. Bayley says she and Sasha are the most logical people in WWE, and that they have all the women's gold because of it. On the subject of who goes first, Bayley says that Sasha going first against Asuka was just a suggestion, and that nobody can beat them both in one night. Naomi shows up and proposes she faces both Bayley and Sasha tonight. Sasha accepts the challenge, and Bayley questions how they go first. Corey Grave proposes a Beat The Challenge, but Naomi asks which of them want to go first before drop kicking them both.

Sasha Banks beats Naomi with the Banks Statement in a Beat The Clock Challenge in 3:39 (3 minutes, 39 seconds).

Naomi beats Bayley with the Rear View in a Beat The Clock Challenge with 1:44 (1 minute, 44 seconds) left on the clock. As per pre-match stipulation, Sasha Banks faces Asuka second at SummerSlam. After the match, Asuka shows up and says that at SummerSlam, she will be "the empress of every title," because no one is ready for her. Sasha runs at her but gets laid out, then Asuka runs into the ring and attacks Bayley.

Jeff Hardy gets a brace around his right leg in the trainer's room. He is told that he is cleared as long as he can withstand the pain, then Jeff says that AJ failed like a one-legged man in an ass-whipping contest and that he is the next WWE Intercontinental Champion.

Backstage, Sonya Deville tells Kayla Braxton that if she has anything to say, it will be to the entire world. Dana Brooke shows up and says she is sorry for everything that happened in the last week, then Sonya says it is nothing she cannot handle before slapping her. Sonya then calls Dana Brooke "disrespectful" before walking off.

Sonya Deville shows up. She says that she has heard what Mandy Rose has to say, and that she is second-guessing her own challenge, which she predicted she would do. Sonya then asks Mandy what she wants, as they will have to face each other one way or the other. Sonya decides to raise the stakes for SummerSlam, and says that the match will be a no-disqualification match where the loser leaves WWE, because she is sick and tired of looking at Mandy's face. Sonya then tells Mandy to wipe her tears and bring her A-game.

We hear from Nikki Cross, who says that she and Alexa Bliss have been friends for a while now. She says that Alexa felt "off" last week and she cannot put her finger on why, and that she does not seem warm, funny or caring. She says that this scares her and that she has the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.

Jeff Hardy beats "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles with a right knee to the face during the Styles Cash to become the WWE Intercontinental Champion! After the match, Kayla Braxton interviews Jeff Hardy in the ring. He says that he was in a tough spot a year ago, but now he stands with hope that things will get better for everyone who is struggling. He says he could not do this without the fans.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, who says he was sure he would beat Jeff Hardy and that Hardy cheated with the knee brace.

Talking Smack will be returning and available tomorrow morning on the free version of WWE Network.

It's time for Firefly Fun House. Bray Wyatt says that love can be a terrible thing, as it can be a way to trick you into a burden and can make the most glorious angel crash down with broken wing, and can turn a field of sunflowers into a grotesque wasteland. Bray then uses Braun Strowman and Alexa Bliss as an example, with Huskus as Braun and Ramblin' Rabbit as Alexa. "Alexa" says there is still something special between them, then Bray says that is not how it happened at all. Bray then tells them to get lost, then says that love can only lead to pain and suffering and that we should all be more like The Fiend, who is built on rage and fueled by anger. After Bray says that The Fiend cannot wait to get his hands on Braun Strowman, he is suddenly attacked by Strowman and dragged out by his feet.

Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt are brawling backstage. Referees try to stop Strowman from tossing Bray into a loading dock, but he throws him several feet to the concrete below. An ambulance backs up as referees and officials tend to Bray, who is soon put on a stretcher. As the ambulance moves, it suddenly stops and backs up, much to the frustration of the officials. When it stops, the inside of the ambulance glows red, and The Fiend emerges from the ambulance. The Fiend looks at the ambulance, sticks his tongue out and laughs.

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

Talking Smack: Things get heated between The Miz and Big E.