Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for September 9, 2022

It is announced that Corey Graves will be replacing Pat McAfee on commentary, as Pat McAfee has college sports obligations for the next couple of months.

Imperium (Gunther, Gionvanni Vinci, Ludwig Kaiser) beat The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch) in a six-man tag match.

WWE acknowledges the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Sami Zayn and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) head to the ring. After Sami Zayn gets the crowd fired up, Jey Uso proclaims that Roman Reigns has successfully defended the undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle, and that Drew McIntyre does not know how deep their bloodline runs. Jimmy Uso then introduces the man who helped Roman keep the undisputed WWE Universal title at Clash at the Castle: Solo Sikoa. Solo Sikoa says that if anyone comes for his family, he will come for them; if anyone causes problems, he will finish them. Solo then says that he is here to stay, and that the bloodline just got bigger and stronger. Drew McIntyre suddenly comes to the ring with a chair. Sami and The Usos leave the ring, but Solo Sikoa stands his ground and takes a chair shot. Drew aims for Solo's back, but Sami Zayn takes the shot for him. Solo, Sami and The Usos retreat. McIntyre tells Solo Sikoa that he wants him tonight, and Solo Sikoa tells McIntyre that if he wants a fight, he has it.

Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah beat Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne).

It is announced that "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey has been disciplined via an internal investigation, the results of which will not be disclosed, following what happened between her and WWE official Adam Pearce last week.

Drew McIntyre vs. Solo Sikoa is official for later tonight.

Liv Morgan is seen watching the next match from the skybox.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey beats Natalya, Xia Li, Lacey Evans and Sonya Deville in a Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match to become #1 for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.

Backstage, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) get Solo Sikoa pumped for his match with Drew McIntyre when Sami Zayn shows up. Solo thanks Sami for the help earlier, and Sami tells Solo that they all have his back. Jey Uso says that Solo needs to do this on his own, and Solo agrees. When Solo tells Sami that he would ask him if he needed help, Jey changes plans and says they are all going out to the ring as a foursome.

Backstage, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler meets with Ronda Rousey. Shayna gives Ronda good luck against Liv Morgan, and Ronda tells Shayna that the only thing better than winning is revenge and to let her know when she is ready to break some bones.

Hit Row (Ashante "Thee" Adonis and Top Dolla) and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat Maximum Male Models (Mace and Mansoor) and Los Lotharios (Humberto Carillo and Angel Garza) in an eight-man tag match that also sees B-Fab almost throw down with Maxine Dupri.

Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) head to the ring. Chad Gable announces that they are back on SmackDown and thanks the crowd for their warm response even though they are being booed, and says they are here to ruin Braun Strowman's return to SmackDown like he ruined their potential tag title opportunity on Raw. He says that they had the match won and that if Otis had seen Strowman coming, he would have left him laying. He also says that much like himself, Otis is a superior athlete, then says Seattle, Washington known nothing about superior athletes because they couldn't keep the Sonics, which causes the fans to rain down boos on Alpha Academy. Before Gable can say much else, Braun Strowman shows up and beats up Otis. Gable attacks Strowman from behind, but it has no effect and Gable gets booted. Otis goes at it with Strowman in the corner, but it does not faze Strowman for long. Gable gets powerbombed, and Otis suffers the same fate.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says Clash at the Castle should have been the biggest moment of his life after 21 years in the business and he should be standing undisputed champion, but he is not champion because of Solo Sikoa. McIntyre tells Solo Sikoa that Roman Reigns may be happy for him, but actions have consequences and he will not like the consequences of his actions.

Solo Sikoa vs. Drew McIntyre ends with The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beating up The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) and Sami Zayn for interfering and Karrion Kross suddenly putting McIntyre in the Kross Jacket to end the show.

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