Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for October 16, 2020

The SmackDown locker room is on the stage as Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are in the ring to start tonight's show. Stephanie McMahon welcomes everyone to tonight's show, and Triple H announces Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship as tonight's main event. Stephanie McMahon announces The New Day's (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) farewell match against Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura and Sheamus, while Triple H announces that Jeff Hardy will face Lars Sullivan. Stephanie also announces that Daniel Bryan will make his first appearance in months. Kevin Owens, Aleister Black, Sami Zayn and Otis are introduced as new faces, and Triple H announces that The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) will defend the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships tonight before the Profits are attacked by Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. This leads to the entire SmackDown locker room getting into one big brawl in the ring, which leads to Lars Sullivan showing up and cleaning house in the ring with whoever is left standing. Suddenly, Jeff Hardy attacks Lars Sullivan and throws him out of the ring, which leads directly into their match that is coming up next.

Jeff Jarrett is seen on the Thunderdome screens before the next match.

Lars Sullivan - now known as "The Freak" Lars Sullivan - beats Jeff Hardy by grabbing him as he goes for a Swanton Bomb and hitting him with the Freak Accident.

We see a vignette for Bianca Belair.

Before the next match, Big E says that after the last six years, The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) found something more powerful than the power of positivity: the WWE Draft. Xavier Woods mentions the split-up of The New Day, and Kofi Kingston thanks the fans for the support. The New Day look back on their best moments in the last six years, and Xavier Woods thanks Big E and Kofi Kingston for giving them a chance. Big E looks back on the trips to Waffle House, and Kofi admits The New Day re-energized his WWE career. Kofi also says that he also made the two best friends in his life in Big E and Woods. Woods then says they are here to "get it done one last time."

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Sheamus, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura. Sheamus says it will be an honor to beat The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) one last time, and Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura look forward to putting an end to The New Day for taking their tag team titles once and for all.

Fox Sports analysts predict who will win between Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship tonight.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) beat Sheamus, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura in their farewell match. (This is the first time Sheamus and Cesaro have teamed up since The Bar was broken up in the 2019 Superstar Shake-Up.) After the match, The New Day spend one last moment in the ring together.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Otis, but Sami Zayn shows up and says Otis has "lost to Raw" and will lose to The Miz in his current lawsuit. When Sami says "there are winners and there are Otises," Otis shoves Sami back several feet.

Daniel Bryan shows up. Daniel Bryan says that he loves his time at home, and mentions that Brie and Birdie are in the Thunderdome, then says that there are some new faces that he is excited to see on SmackDown, like Bianca Belair, The Riott Squad, Kevin Owens, Aleister Black and Apollo Crews. As Daniel Bryan states that he cannot wait to get in the ring with Owens, Black and Crews, Seth Rollins shows up and says that Brie Bella "let [him] off daddy duty" and that Daniel Bryan left his name out as he says he will lead SmackDown into the future. Seth Rollins then asks Daniel Bryan which side of history he is on, and says that he is either with him or against him, and says that Daniel should be smart enough to stand with him and build the future in his image. Daniel Bryan tells Seth Rollins his vision is a little short-sighted, self-indulgent, self-centered and "a little bit dumb." This leads Rollins to attack Daniel Bryan, who soon fights back and sends Seth Rollins running. As Rollins retreats, Rey and Dominik Mysterio walk down the ramp. Rollins wants Daniel Bryan to fight alongside him, but Daniel Bryan leaves. Murphy runs into the ring, stands with Rollins, then attacks him. Rollins then extends his hand to Rey and Dominik, but neither man trusts him and they both leave.

We hear from Fox Sports analyst Jay Glazer regarding SmackDown's gains in the WWE Draft.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) retain the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships against Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode by disqualification when they refuse to heed the referee's five-count as they attack Angelo Dawkins in the corner. During the match, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is seen on the Thunderdome fan screens.

Sasha Banks shows up, followed by Bayley. Adam Pearce moderates the contract signing between them for their Hell In A Cell Match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship. Sasha Banks signs the contract first, then says she has been waiting for this moment for a long time. Bayley says she has as well as she signs the contract, and says she wants to get this out of the way and stay champion. As Bayley says she stayed champion for a year all by herself, Sasha dares Bayley to repeat herself to her face, but Bayley says Sasha has been waiting to turn on her all this time and that she is upset that she beat her to the punch. Sasha says that if she wanted to turn on her, she would have done it years ago, and reminds Bayley that she was by her side during her first accomplishments on the main roster and that she helped her stay champion all this time. Sasha tells Bayley her name is bigger than Bayley's title, and that taking the title will be the icing on the cake. It almost gets physical between Sasha and Bayley, but Bayley leaves. Sasha tells Bayley to run like a coward, which Bayley does without signing the contract, and that there will be nowhere to run when she is locked in Hell In A Cell.

Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, and George Kittle wish WWE luck on the season premiere of SmackDown.

"The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry and Fox Sports Analyst Rob Stone are seen on the Thunderdome screens for the next match.

Roman Reigns retains the WWE Universal Championship against Braun Strowman with a guillotine choke. Goldberg is seen on the Thunderdome screens during the match. After the match, Jey Uso - who has been watching the match from backstage - shows up. Strowman gets up, but Roman hits him with a Spear before daring Jey Uso to get in the ring with him. Jey looks at Strowman, and Roman says that this how the family eats, then tells Jey that if he can do this to Strowman, to imagine what he can do to him. He then strikes Strowman multiple times with a steel chair before officials intervene. When officials leave, Roman strikes Strowman with the steel chair again, and Jey Uso gets in the ring. Roman tells Jey he has forced his hand after embarrassing the family, then tells Jey to attack Strowman with the steel chair. Jey grabs the steel chair, then throws it down. Roman smiles, then Jey smacks Roman in the face before superkicking him and hitting him with the steel chair.. Officials run into place to stop Jey, but Roman gets up and Superman Punches Jey. Roman Reigns then leaves the ring to end the show.