Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for July 19, 2024

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Professional boxer Terence Crawford is seen in the front row. Cody says that he has the honor of calling Randy Orton a friend even when Orton was a mentor, and says he would not be Undisputed WWE Champion without him. He admits that he felt guilty when he watched The Bloodline put Orton through a table, saying Orton is family and a brother, and if he were here, he would not want him to wax poetic about their friendship. Cody then addresses Solo Sikoa, having told him before that he was not ready only for him to cost him the WWE Championship in response, telling him that he is once again not ready. Suddenly, Austin Theory and Grayson Waller show up, and blames Cody for Jacob Fatu for attacking him and leaving him with a swollen cheek, but Cody says the swollen cheek was from Grayson inadvertently hitting him. Grayson says Cody cannot take accountability for his actions and also blames Cody. Cody brawls with the two of them only to get beaten down and thrown out of the ring, but all of a sudden, Terence Crawford gives Cody a metal folding chair. Cody lays Grayson and Theory out with the chair, and Theory eats a Disaster Kick before rolling out of the ring.

We hear from Carmelo Anthony as he gets his hair cut. He says it is just him and Andrade and it is all about who will miss first, saying it will not be him.

Backstage, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes asks General Manager Nick Aldis for a match with Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. Aldis tells him he must have a tag team partner and that he has until the end of the night to find one.

Andrade beats Carmelo Hayes.

Corey Graves interviews Nia Jax and Bayley in separate rooms. Nia tells Corey to start feeling sorry for Bayley right now, as she will beat her for the WWE Women's Championship and put her down like an old, sick dog. Bayley says Nia is the same heartless woman with the same big mouth who walks around like she owns the place since day one and took her out of her SummerSlam match in 2017 and changed her career. She also says Nia hurt her because she is big, clumsy and reckless, and Nia says she is content being Queen of the Ring and queen of the women's division and that she is coming to take the WWE Women's title off of her. Bayley says that if Nia has changed, then she has too, and she is walking both in and out with the WWE Women's Championship and there is nothing Nia can do to stop her. Nia impatiently walks out of the interview.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are heading to General Manager Nick Aldis when Chelsea Green and Piper Niven confront them over who meets Aldis first. This leads to a tag team match.

Bianca Belair beats Chelsea Green by countering a roll-up with one of her own after Chelsea counters the K.O.D. After the match, The Unholy Union (Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre) show up on the TitanTron and says they will give Bianca and Jade Cargill a small glimpse of their titles - and their power - next week.

General Manager Nick Aldis moderates the contract signing between LA Knight and Logan Paul for the WWE United States Championship at SummerSlam. Aldis makes it known that both he and Knight have signed the contract before introducing Knight, then Logan. Logan Paul asks why he would give LA Knight a shot at the WWE United States Championship, and Knight says that every time they have come face-to-face, he has cooked Logan. He also mentions that Logan is the man around here as long as he is United States Champion, but when Logan refused to give him a shot, it led to him taking things into his own hands, which lead to Knight beating him again. Logan calls Knight "Shaun" as he says that Knight wants the match more than he does and that they are not the same, as Knight's entire existence is defined by what he does in the ring while he interviews former Presidents and builds million-dollar businesses. He also says that he likes Knight's gimmick, yet Knight wants his accolades while he is not him and has not had a single defining moment in the last 20 years, and calls him a gym bro with a spray tan and a catchphrase trying to be The Rock. Knight calls Logan a fraud who pretends to be a champion, and says Logan's brother Jake has more balls to jump in the ring with someone. Logan says that if Knight wants the match, then he will sign the contract and give Knight his shot at glory, and after SummerSlam, he will have nothing. Logan signs the contract, then tosses it at Knight, and Aldis has to stop a brawl. Logan Paul leaves the ring, but slides back in to get a cheap shot. This starts a brawl, and Logan retreats just before Knight can hit him with the BFT.

We see a video package for Tiffany Stratton.

Backstage, LA Knight is met by Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez. Santos congratulates Knight on getting his United States Championship match, then reminds Knight that he was not pinned in their Triple Threat Match which also had Logan Paul in it. Knight takes this as a challenge, which Santos is eager to answer.

"Michin" Mia Yim beats Tiffany Stratton with a schoolkid pin after Bayley shows up, distracts Tiffany, takes out Nia Jax and vandalizes the Money In The Bank briefcase.

We hear from Solo Sikoa, who says life is so good when you are the Tribal Chief on the Island of Relevance, but it is also business. Solo says he never has a moment to himself, and asks who will step up and disrespect him by teaming with Cody Rhodes tonight. He mentions the attack on Randy Orton, then says that anyone who it with Cody is against him and The Bloodline (Solo, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Jacob Fatu). Solo then wishes that the main event be a handicap match, or else someone will pay the price.

Backstage, Kevin Owens meets with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and tells him that he will see him in the ring before heading out to the ring for the next match.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens beat Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. After the match, The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa) show up. Cody and Owens somehow get the upper hand with Cody diving on Solo and Tanga Loa and Owens going for Tama Tonga's eyes, but Jacob Fatu suddenly shows up and goes on the attack. Once again, Cody Rhodes is forced to watch as Jacob Fatu lays out Kevin Owens, then Cody Rhodes is powerbombed through the announce table. A chair is then wrapped around Owens' neck before Tama Tonga throws Owens neck-first into the ring post, then The Bloodline stand over Cody to end the show.

Here are the highlights from tonight's show!

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

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: LA Knight! Grayson Waller and Austin Theory! #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)!