Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for April 19, 2024

Natalya beats Xia Li with the Sharpshooter.

Ludwig Kaiser beats Otis.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for March 1, 2024

Ivy Nile beats Xia Li by submission.

Ivar beats Apollo Crews.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for February 2, 2024

Xia Li beats Gigi Dolin.

Julius Creed beats Luca Crusifino.

Generation NXT - NXT recap for November 21, 2023

Noam Dar retains the NXT Heritage Cup Championship against Chad Gable with one fall apiece (1-1). Noam Dar scores the first fall with :39 (thirty-nine seconds) left in Round 2 with a Nova Roller following a cheap shot by Oro Mensah. Chad Gable scores the second fall with 2:49 (two minutes, forty-nine seconds) left in Round 5 with a Chaos Theory suplex, but Noam Dar hits Chad Gable with a cheap shot after the bell. In Round 6, Noam Dar taps out to Chad Gable's ankle lock, but it is after the bell. After the match, Lash Legend shoves Maxxine Dupri, then Oro Mensah does the same thing to Otis only for Otis to not even budge. Otis then wiggles in front of Lash Legend, then Maxxine gets up. When Lash turns around, Maxxine slaps her, then Otis catches Lash, who then runs away.

JBL picks Carmelo Hayes vs. Josh Briggs for the men's Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier and Blair Davenport vs. Thea Hail for the women's qualifier.

At a restaurant, Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo agree that they are not done with Chase University, then D'Angelo says tonight is about them. D'Angelo and Stacks then meet with some old friends, including the family, whom they did not expect, and the family has a toast to another tag team title reign before having dinner.

Backstage, Trick Williams tells Carmelo Hayes that tonight is his night. Carmelo says he has to get into the Iron Survivor Challenge, and Trick says "[Josh] Briggs is a bad boy...but you 'Melo." Carmelo then says that he has to do this himself, and Trick reminds him to focus on tonight.

Xia Li attacks Lyra Valkyria from behind before the next match.

Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza beat Malik Blade and Edris Enofe.

Backstage, Fallon Henley and Brooks Jensen hope that Josh Briggs qualifies for the men's Iron Survivor Challenge. Briggs says he has waited his entire life for this opportunity, then heads to the ring.

Josh Briggs beats Carmelo Hayes to qualify for the men's Iron Survivor Challenge following the distraction by Lexis King.

Backstage, Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Lyra Valkyria, who says that her match is still happening and that even if she was at 10%, she would not let Xia Li - who she owes a kick to the face - leave with her title tonight.

Von Wagner shows up to Mr. Stone's home for dinner with some brownies and meets Mr. Stone's wife and two sons. Von Wagner and the two kids rip through the spaghetti, then Wagner offers to help the kids with some bullies before brownies.

Wes Lee heads to the ring. Wes Lee says that him losing the North American Championship caused The Judgment Day to start holding all the gold, then says looking at Dominik Mysterio makes him see red. He says he felt like he belonged as a champion and that everybody respected him, and he wants that back. Wes Lee then says he wants one more shot at Dominik at Deadline, then Dominik shows up. Dominik says the one thing Wes Lee better than anyone is make the fans feel bad for him, because he was beaten by Ija Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes, took two months off, lost to Baron Corbin and thinks he deserves a title shot because the fans love him. He says that Wes Lee's opinion is worthless and that he made the North American title more relevant than he ever did, but Wes Lee says The Judgment Day saved his ass at every possible moment and is the only reason he is still champion. After Wes Lee says he will do anything to take his title back, Dominik Mysterio tells Wes Lee to prove himself by facing three other former North American Champions to get to him at Deadline. He also says that if Wes Lee does win, it will be his last shot at the North American Champion. Wes Lee accepts the challenge.

We see a video package regarding the Chase University scandal. Next week, Andre Chase will break his silence.

Backstage, Thea Hail waits for Andre Chase and Duke Hudson, but Jacy Jayne says there is a good reason they are not here tonight and tells Thea she can get the job done tonight and that she has her back.

Backstage, Josh Briggs is met by Tiffany Stratton, who says that she will she him at Deadline. Brooks Jensen and Fallon Henley congratulate Briggs, but Henley is surprised that Tiffany talked to Briggs.

Blair Davenport beats Thea Hail to qualify for the women's Iron Survivor Challenge after Davenport gets the knees up on a springboard senton.

We see a video package regarding the feud between Baron Corbin and Ilja Dragunov. In this video package, Baron Corbin makes Ilja Dragunov's life sound miserable compared to his own and how it was easy to get what he wanted out of Dragunov.

Eddy Thorpe beats Charlie Dempsey by pinning Dempsey's shoulders to the mat as Dempsey has him in a submission hold. After the match, Drew Gulak and Myles Borne attack Eddy Thorpe.

After the D'Angelo Family dinner, Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo are jumped by Huberto Carrillo and Angel Garza.

We see a vignette for Arianna Grace, who says that real beauty queens fix each others' crowns. She says that she was the victim of an attack by Karmen Petrovic that has gone unnoticed and unpunished, and says she find it a struggle to find the beauty in Karmen. After telling the fans to get mental help and shower, she then says that Karmen Petrovic is "an incurable disease" and that she is the cure.

Lyra Valkyria retains the NXT Women's Championship against Xia Li.

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

Raw Deal - Raw recap for November 20, 2023

Drew McIntyre is in the ring to start tonight's show. McIntyre says he has been called a coward and a backstabber, but he has been the same person the entire time and he has not been lying, and that he does not need to explain. He also says anyone who turned him was never a fan in the first place. McIntyre says he nothing to apologize to "Main Event" Jey Uso for after Jey never apologized to him while he was in The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa, Paul Heyman), especially after he cost him the Undisputed WWE Championship in front of his own family. He says that everything leading up to this should be the focus, but everyone is focused instead on whether or not he has joined The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) before clearly stating that he has not despite being on their team at WarGames. He says that this is because Rhea Ripley has given him something nobody else has: Jey Uso in a cage. As he says that he will drop him the next time he sees him, Jey Uso shows up. Jey proposes that Drew McIntyre "catch a yeet-down" from him when The Judgment Day shows up and backs up McIntyre. Suddenly, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, Sami Zayn and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes show up. General Manager Adam Pearce shows up with security and stops a brawl before one can happening, and announces that whoever throws a punch costs their team the advantage at Saturday. He also tells Jey's team that they need a fifth member and that they need to find them by tonight, and in less than an hour, he wants to know who will fight in the advantage match which will be "one-on-one, with no shenanigans" before he picks for them.

Backstage, as The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) convenes, Damian Priest tells Rhea Ripley that they should have discussed making Drew McIntyre part of their WarGames team. Rhea admits Drew is unpredictable, but he made the right decision, and does admit that they should have been able to discuss this. She also says that Drew McIntyre will be soon, then Damian Priest proposes that he be in the advantage match tonight. Rhea tells Damian this will be discussed as a group.

Nia Jax beats Raquel Rodriguez when Raquel is unable to lift Nia Jax off her feet and slam her.

We see footage of Xia Li training to face Becky Lynch tonight.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre meets with The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) and wants to be in the advantage match. He admits that he does not like The Judgment Day, and Priest tells McIntyre he does not like him, either. Priest then gives McIntyre the match and tells him to show his worth.

Backstage, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes gets with the rest of his team. Jey Uso wants Drew McIntyre, and the rest of the team agrees. As for their fifth member, SmackDown Superstars are not off limits, and Sami Zayn and Seth "Freakin'" Rollins have a few ideas for their fifth member.

Lyra Valkyria is seen in the front row.

Becky Lynch beats Xia Li. After the match, Damage CTRL (Bayley, Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Asuka) shows up from out of the crowd, but Charlotte Flair, Shotzi, and Bianca Belair show up and attack them, starting a brawl that General Manager Adam Pearce and security has to break up.

Backstage, Ludwig Kaiser gets upset with Giovanni Vinci for getting on Gunther's good side, but Vinci says he is doing what it best for Imperium (Gunther, Kaiser, Vinci). Kaiser tells Vinci that Gunther made him his responsibility, and what he says goes. He tells Vinci to stay backstage for his match with Johnny Gargano tonight.

We see a video package for Zoey Stark vs. Rhea Ripley for the World Women's Championship at Survivor Series WarGames.

Johnny Gargano beats Ludwig Kaiser after Giovanni Vinci shows up, which distracts Kaiser and allows Gargano to hit One Final Beat for the win.

In footage from earlier today, Chelsea Green and Piper Niven make demands of General Manager Adam Pearce when Natalya and Tegan Nox show up wanting a women's tag team title shot. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance show up also wanting a title shot, as does Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae. Adam Pearce gives all three teams an opportunity, and when Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile show up, he puts them in the match and makes the match a Fatal 4-Way for a women's tag team title shot.

Backstage, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio find Zoey Stark and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler in their clubhouse. Bazler leaves, then Zoey says Rhea is focused on everything else but her and that the Women's World Championship will belong to her. Rhea respects Zoey for being bold enough to be in the clubhouse, then tells her she will get her beating at Survivor Series.

Chelsea Green and Piper Niven guest on commentary for the next match.

Natalya and Tegan Nox beat the team of Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri, the team of Katana Chance and Kayden Carter and the team of Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell in a Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match to earn a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.

Backstage, Gunther encounters Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci arguing. Kaiser tells Gunther that he told Vinci not to be at ringside, but Gunther says Kaiser cannot listen and does not uphold Imperium's (Gunther, Kaiser, Vinci) ideals. Gunther then applauds Vinci's efforts and says he put the wrong person in charge. He then tells Kaiser to watch him and learn a thing or two, and puts Vinci in charge of Kaiser.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce sees a bunch of men's tag teams wanting a tag team title shot, and Pearce makes a Tag Team Turmoil match for next week. Adam Pearce then looks for Nick Aldis and finds him, and tells him they need to have a conversation.

The Miz heads to the ring. Miz brings up the subject of respect as well as Gunther's lack of respect towards everything he has accomplished. Suddenly, Gunther arrives. Gunther tells him that is not because he does not respect what he has done, it is that he has no respect for Miz at all, and that the ring is a sacred ground for competition while Miz is "just an entertainer." Miz says he gets it done in and out of the ring just like the Superstars he grew up watching, as they all held the Intercontinental Championship, and he trained and battled for twenty years to hold that title. He then says his heroes are still rememebred because they are not "a one-not robot" like Gunther. Gunther admits that he is amused by Miz at this point, then Miz says he has been at the top and knocked down time and time again and has adapted and survived. Miz then says not much is known about Gunther because he has not hit the bottom, and only then will he and the fans know if he is deserving of their respect and if he will climb his way back to the top. He then says that if Gunther does not respect him now, he will beat respect into him and become a nine-time Intercontinental Champion. Gunther says that from his point of view, he is facing someone who is just like everyone else in the building and "a little weirdo" who was bullied for being a wrestling fan and bullied by his heroes who believed he does not belong in this sport. He says that things have not changed in twenty years and that Miz does not belong in this sport or in his ring, but behind the guardrail with "the other weirdos who are just like [him]." This leads to a "USA!" chant from the crowd, and Gunther mocks the crowd for doing that before calling them weak, simple and insecure like The Miz. He then says The Miz has not been bullied enough and shoves him. Miz eventually strikes back, but Gunther hits him with a big boot. When Gunther tells him to take a look at the Intercontinental Championship while he grabs him from behind, Miz kicks him in the groin and hits the Skull Crushing Finale.

Backstage, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins meets with Jey Uso. Seth says that he meant no disrespect earlier tonight, that they need to win the advantage and that Jey Uso knows how to get the win. Seth asks Jey to win the advantage and come back in one piece, Jey tells Seth he has got this.

We hear from Ivar and Valhalla. Valhalla tells "Big" Bronson that if he sticks his hand in a wolf's mouth, the wolf will eat it. Ivar says he has weathered the Tsunami and still stands, and that Bronson has disrespected him and the gods. He says that in a week, the earth will shake when he challenges him.

Shinsuke Nakamura beats Chad Gable with a sit-down pin after Gable manages to avoid running into an exposed turnbuckle.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre is met by The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh). McIntyre tells Priest he does not need their help, and Priest says they were not offering. Rhea tells McIntyre to get the advantage, and McIntyre tells her that Jey Uso is getting the boot.

We hear from "Big" Bronson Reed. He tells Ivar he was not the one who backed away and had Valhalla battle for him, and says Ivar is a coward and cosplayer, not a real warrior. He says that next week, Ivar will not survive him.

Backstage, Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn meet with Jey Uso. Jey says he will handle business tonight and leaves, then Cody shows up asking about their fifth members. Cody says his pick has picked up the phone and that "he is in."

Drew McIntyre beats "Main Event" Jey Uso to give his team the advantage in the men's WarGames Match. After the match, Drew McIntyre continues to attack Jey Uso as Rhea Ripley applauds him. When Jey fights back and goes for a chair, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) gang up on him. "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins and Sami Zayn come out with metal folding chairs and lay out The Judgment Day with them, then Cody grabs a microphone. Cody says he is glad The Judgment Day have the advantage, then says they are not alone and have a fifth member that he has a legacy with. He says that they are not prey and that their fifth man is an apex predator, then says the fans are not just hearing voices in their heads and that the voices are right.

This week on Raw Talk: Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci! Natalya and Tegan Nox! Zoey Stark!

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

Raw Deal - Raw recap for November 13, 2023

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Cody says that he has many memories in tonight's arena and that he plans to make a new one with "Main Event" Jey Uso when they win back the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships tonight. Cody also focuses his attention on his upcoming WarGames Match before introducing his team of Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Cody then says they are all in the ring for one reason - The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) - regardless of whether or not he has gotten along with the members of his team. Suddenly, The Judgment Day show up. Finn Balor says Cody's team cannot look each other in the eye and have no hope at WarGames, and Damian Priest says The Judgment Day is a family while Cody's team is "a bunch of randoms" who have no idea what they are in for. He then says The Judgment Day will be done with each and every one of them at Survivor Series WarGames, then Finn mocks Rollins for standing near Cody while Priest mocks Cody for not being a champion. Finn calls Sami "nothing but a loser" who claims to be world championship material, then Priest asks Sami, Seth and Cody if they can trust Jey after he screwed each and every one of them. Dominik tries to speak only to get booed out of the building, but Sami says nobody wants to hear Dominik talk and that his team can put their personal issues to the side as this is all about power. He says The Judgment Day has gotten a lot of power from cheating and helping each other out, and that they have no idea what they are in for, which is the most brutal match of their lives. Sami then says the real power lies within his team, not The Judgment Day, then Cody admits that he is shocked that The Judgment Day made it to the ring without Rhea Ripley, whom he calls "their leader." Cody then mockingly asks who the leader is when Rhea is not around, and Priest declares himself the leader. Rollins then says he is tired of the talk and that they are dressed for a fight, then challenges McDonagh and Dominik to a fight. Priest accepts, and this makes a tag team match official.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins and Sami Zayn vs. The Judgment Day ("Dirty" Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh) ends with Finn Balor and Damian Priest coming out of the crowd alongside Rhea Ripley to jump Seth Rollins at ringside. After the match, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso jump into the brawl, and officials and security have to stop the brawl. General Manager Adam Pearce says he is sick of another ruined match and more games and that the championship match is too important. He not only bans everyone involved in the WarGames Match from tonight's main event, but also from the arena. After the commercial break, Rhea Ripley becomes furious with General Manager Adam Pearce, who says that he does not give a damn and that he is the one who runs the show before Zoey Stark shows up. Zoey says that she is inside Rhea's head and that Rhea is spread too thin, then says that she earned her title shot and that Rhea is overlooking her. Rhea says she has not overlooked her and has watched her since NXT, and knew it was a matter of time before they were both in the same ring after everything she accomplished in her first year in WWE. Rhea then says that Zoey reminds her of herself and is a future champion, but the only way she will be champion is if she is on the brand opposite her, for she is always on top. She then says she can handle everything on her plate right now because she is "Rhea bloody Ripley," and now that Zoey has said her peace, she can leave the ring so she can handle her business. Zoey says she nearly took her title from her at Crown Jewel, and that she will become champion at Survivor Series before tossing her microphone at her. Rhea tries to attack Zoey, but Zoey gets the upper hand.

We hear from Shinsuke Nakamura, who says that he is frustrated and that the opportunity is now his, and that win or less the next battle, his next target will only be less than. He then says that is not his problem and that he will wait for now, for he knows it all ends by his hands.

Backstage, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes have a word. Cody tells Seth that he needs him for one night, and that they can refuse to stand each other for the rest of the year. Seth admits he does not know if he will ever like Cody, but he respects him, and promises that they are good for WarGames.

Shinsuke Nakamura beats Otis with three Kinshasas. After the match, Nakamura taunts Chad Gable.

We see a video package about the WarGames Match.

Backstage, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins is met by Drew McIntyre. McIntyre tells Rollins that he was right, then offers to shake his hand. Rollins shakes McIntyre's hand, and McIntyre tells Rollins to keep being a champion while he works his way back to a rematch.

We see a video package for Tegan Nox, who says the last year of her career has been the craziest of her life after stepping into the ring some of the best in the ring right now and knowing she can handle the best of them.

Tegan Nox beats Piper Niven with a backslide pin after avoiding being squashed in a match that also Natalya shoves Chelsea Green on the ring apron.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews The Miz. The Miz says that respect is what drives him to face Gunther, who keeps calling him a clown, and win the Intercontinental Championship for a ninth time. Ivar and Valhalla shows up, and Ivar says that The Miz is not only a clown, but is not making it to Survivor Series. "Big" Bronson Reed tells Miz and Ivar that they are both lucky they are standing, and that Gunther is lucky to escape him. Ivar says he does not see the Intercontinental Championship around his shoulder, and Bronson Reed threatens to send Ivar back to Viking times. Miz and Jackie Redmond high tail it before both men shove each other, which stops when Valhalla steps in.

Ludwig Kaiser beats Tommaso Ciampa after Giovanni Vinci - who was ejected from ringside earlier in the match - blasts Gargano with a boot to the face from out of nowhere at ringside.

Backstage, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominic Mysterio) meet. Rhea says the focus needs to be on the tag team titles. Priest admits he got hot and did not mean what he said, but Rhea admits that Priest is "the man for the job" at WarGames, and puts him in charge of it. JD McDonagh is then addressed, and it is agreed upon that JD McDonagh will be made a member of The Judgment Day. Priest states that he will handle that himself, as McDonagh has earned that.

Xia Li beats Indi Hartwell by referee stoppage following a kick to the head. After the match, Becky Lynch thanks Xia Li for hitting her in the head last week, then says they will do this on her time and not Xia's and that she has come around for a fight. Becky almost hits the Manhandle Slam on Xia Li, but Xia Li is able to escape it and retreat. Becky then says that if Xia wants to run, she only has seven more days, for next week, they will be in the ring.

Backstage, The Miz is met by Gunther, who congratulates Miz for winning last week before saying the fun and games are over. Miz tells Gunther to watch his match tonight, as he has no idea who he is dealing with and that he does whatever it takes to win. He then says that at Survivor Series, Gunther will learn the difference between longest-reigning and greatest ever. Gunther says he knows who he is dealing with, then wishes him luck for tonight because it will not compared to the beating of a lifetime he will give him.

Backstage, Zoey Stark chats with "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler with last week's match and the match at Crown Jewel, then says she looks forward to seeing Zoey beat Rhea for the Women's World title. Raquel Rodriguez shows up to also wish Zoey luck, saying Rhea will have her hands full. Nia Jax then shows up and calls everyone pathetic for wishing Zoey the best of luck, then says she has squashed Zoey and that she should be facing Rhea. Raquel says nobody has tested or pushed Nia and that she is not scared of her, and that she knows she will beat her. Nia tells Raquel to keep thinking that and leaves.

The Miz beats Ivar. During the match, "Big" Bronson Reed shows up, grabs a metal folding chair and decides to watch the match from ringside. Later in the match, Bronson Reed distracts Ivar as Ivar is on the top rope, and The Miz brings Ivar down and stacks him up while putting his feet on the top rope for leverage to win. After the match, Bronson Reed attacks Ivar and hits him with the Tsunami.

Backstage, Damian Priest meets with JD McDonagh, and while he admits he does not feel ready and that he is annoyed by him, he is someone he can stand with and go to war with. He then gives McDonagh a spiked leather kutte and welcomes him to The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio). Finn Balor then shows up and says the celebration will have to wait, and that he needs to find Dominik Mysterio and get out before General Manager Adam Pearce goes nuts.

Backstage, Gunther congratulates Giovanni Vinci on a job well done and "for winning the match for Imperium," (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) much to the irritation of Ludwig Kaiser, whom Gunther briefly stares at disappointingly. Kaiser soon runs into Indus Sher (Jinder Mahal, Veer, Sanga) as they are on their way to see General Manager Adam Pearce, and Jinder Mahal tells Kaiser to choose his next move wisely.

Backstage, Chad Gable thanks Otis for doing his best. As The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) offer to help Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) out and Brutus Creed mentions the tag team titles, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xiaver Woods) show up. Ivy Nile and Maxxine Dupri, watching from nearby, realize they did well in last week's battle royal and talk business. Akira Tozawa then dances.

The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and Damian Priest) retains the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championships against "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and "Main Event" Jey Uso after Drew McIntyre hits Jey Uso with a Claymore on the outside. Everyone involved in the WarGames Match that are not part of this match are banned from the building for the match. After the match, Rhea Ripley shows up and shakes hands with Drew McIntyre on the stage to end the show.

This week on Raw Talk: Tegan Nox and Natalya! Xia Li! The Miz!

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

Raw Deal - Raw recap for October 30, 2023

JD McDonagh, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio head to the ring to start tonight's show. Rhea Ripley brags about Damian Priest shattering "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes' ankle before stating that Dominik will put Ricochet down and teach him to respect The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Priest, Rhea, Dominik) and that JD McDonagh will remind Seth Rollins what it is like to be their enemy. She also says that whoever makes a deal with The Judgment Day between Rollins and Drew McIntyre will dictate who will become the next World Heavyweight Champion. Rhea then admits that while the deck is stacked against her, she will retain at Crown Jewel. Suddenly, Sami Zayn heads to the ring and tells Rhea he is sick of hearing her talk about power and championship and running Raw, then reminds her that he has fought people like The Judgment Day his entire life and career. He says that if one wants to do whatever they want in the name of power, then he is rebellion and resistance and that he will fight The Judgment Day for as long as there is a breath of air in his body until they are no more. Rhea says Sami can resist all he wants, for it does not matter, for The Judgment Day do not need the numbers when it comes to him. She then proposes a match between Sami Zayn and Damien Priest. Dominik proposes they teach Sami a lesson right now, and as Rhea, McDonagh and Dominik surround Sami, Ricochet shows up and stands beside Sami. McDonagh tries to go after Ricochet, but Ricochet sends him falling over the top rope. Dominik tries to go for a cheap shot, but Ricochet sees it coming.

"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio beats Ricochet after grabbing the tights and using the middle rope for leverage on the stack-up pin after Rhea Ripley distracts the referee and JD McDonagh distracts Ricochet. After the match, Ricochet takes out McDonagh and Dominik, and Rhea is forced to save Dominik from a top rope 450 splash.

We see a video package for #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa).

We hear from Raquel Rodriguez, who says that she is going up against four of the baddest WWE has to offer and that none of them have the fight that she does, and that it will be so much sweeter when she beats them at Crown Jewel and becomes champion.

We see a video package for The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed).

The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) beat Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis).

Backstage, Finn Balor and Damian Priest are trick-or-treated by The New (Judgment) Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), then Balor and Damian talk business when The New Day leave and Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh show up. Priest says he has a lot to focus on and that he has a lot of options to cash in on, but wants to know why a match is being made for him. Rhea says Priest is "the punishment" of The Judgment Day, then Priest says tonight is about The Judgment Day (Finn, Priest, Rhea, Dominik), not him.

We hear from Nia Jax, who says that she has done everything she has said she would do since her return and that she has squashed everyone, and that she will show she is the most dominant woman on Raw become the next World Women's Champion.

It's time for Miz TV. Tonight's guest is Gunther. Gunther fails to show, and Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci show up. Kaiser says Gunther will not show up just because The Miz tells him to, as The Miz is "literally everything wrong with the WWE Universe today." He also calls The Miz an embodiment of what Imperium despises and also calls him "a clown." Miz says he has been called a lot of things, but he has never been another man's sidekick. Vinci asks The Miz if he was the sidekick on Total Divas, but Miz says it was Miz &amp Mrs. Miz is amazed that Vinci talked, but Kaiser wants him to stay silent and tells him that he only speaks when he or Gunther allows him to. Gunther then shows up and tells Miz he is not his guest. He also makes two things clear to him: that The Miz running a talk show is ridiculous and that the ring is sacred to him, and that The Miz and everything he does is beneath him. Gunther then declares he does not respect The Miz. The Miz states that interviewing an invisible John Cena was more entertaining than Gunther, then tells Gunther that he is the biggest star that WWE has. Gunther says this is Miz's issue, for when the bell rings, Miz is a talk show host while he is a champion. Miz says he can be serious when he wants to be and has won main events and championships when he was, and that he was serious when he made the Intercontinental Championship relevant again. He then tells Gunther that he has no problem doing it again, and Gunther laughs. Kaiser then drops one of the jack-'o-lanterns on the mat, but when Kaiser throws a chair out of the ring, Miz fights him and Vinci but gets chopped by Gunther. Gunther says Miz is not even in his league, and Miz strikes at Gunther only to be overpowered by Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci). #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) then shows up for the next match.

Backstage, The Miz demands a match with Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship from General Manager Adam Pearce. Pearce says he will give Miz an opportunity to earn a match, then tells him that "Big" Bronson Reed currently has a title opportunity against Gunther. Bronson shows up, and Miz lets Bronson have his championship match before letting him know that he is taking the title in the end.

#DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) beat Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) after Vinci lands on his stomach after a backlip off the top turnbuckle and #DIY hit the double-team knee strike.

We hear from Shinsuke Nakamura, who says he is still looking for the next sacrifice and wants to know if the next person will choose him or be chosen. He dares his next challenger to awaken him, and asks what they are afraid of. He dares the next in line to poke the lion and show what they are made of, and that he is waiting.

We see a video package for Candice LeRae.

We see a video package for Xia Li.

Xia Li beats Candice LeRae by referee stoppage after Xia Li kicks Candice LeRae in the head so hard that Candice cannot continue.

Backstage, Sami Zayn is met by "Main Event" Jey Uso, who wishes Sami luck with Damian Priest. Jackie Redmond interviews Jey Uso, who says that he will handle Finn Balor soon and hopes that he and Cody Rhodes can win the tag team titles one more time.

We hear from "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler, who plans on ripping and tearing four women who parade around like they are worthy competition and unaware of what she is capable of limb from limb on her path to becoming Women's World Champion.

We see a video package of Drew McIntyre's road to the World Heavyweight Championship match at Crown Jewel.

We hear from Zoey Stark, who says that the Fatal 5-Way Match for the Women's World Championship is made for her and that her opponents are her prey. She says the Women's World Championship is her destiny and hopes to prove she is the most dominant.

Before the next match, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins says he is feeling a little loose tonight and that he has agreed to beat up JD McDonagh tonight in preparation for Crown Jewel, then tells Drew McIntyre to cry him a river because everyone was suffering in 2020. He then says McIntyre blames everyone but himself on his shortcoming and tells McIntyre to get in line, then says that if McIntyre can beat him at Crown Jewel, he will be the first to shake his hand and call him champion. He then says that he is not the same person he was in 2020, then he is suddenly attacked from behind by JD McDonagh. Despite the attack, Rollins still wants to fight.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins beats JD McDonagh. Damian Priest shows up during the match with the Money In The Bank Briefcase and watches from the announce desk. After the match, Rollins confronts Priest and dares him to make a move, and Priest tells him that the cash-in is inevitable.

Backstage, Ricochet meets with WWE official Adam Pearce and offers him an opportunity at the Intercontinental Championship, which Ricochet likes even though he still has a bone to pick with Dominik Mysterio. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven show up dressed as Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart to complain about tonight's match, then Ivar and Valhalla wish to met Pearce in his office regarding the Intercontinental Championship.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Becky Lynch. Becky says she may be lighter in the waist and heavier in the heart, but if anyone wanted to take the NXT title, it would have to be someone who eats, sleeps and breathes the business, and it had to be Lyra Valkryia. She also says that she has defended more times in 42 days than Rhea Ripley and Roman Reigns have all year, and that the title needs her, not the other way around. Suddenly, Xia Li shows up and asks Becky if she is scared of giving her a title match before losing the title. Becky says they can fight right here, right now, but Xia Li says it will be on her time. Becky says it has been three weeks and asks when Xia Li's time is.

Chelsea Green beats Natalya in a Trick-Or-Street Fight. During the match, Nikki Cross' head is seen coming out of a table after initially being hidden underneath a jack-'o-lantern.

We hear from Rhea Ripley, who says that all of her opponents think they can make a name for themselves, but this is her chance to prove she can beat all of her opponents all at once and prove she is the most dominant while walking out champion.

Damian Priest beats Sami Zayn by disqualification. During the match, Finn Balor and "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio show up and get involved in the match, then "Main Event" Jey Uso shows up and fights them off before thrust kicking Priest in the face, ending the match. After the match, Finn and Dominik gang up on Sami and Jey, then "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up and brawls with Damian Priest, and Jey Uso and Sami Zayn make quick work of Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio. JD McDonagh shows up and saves Priest only to eat a Helluva Kick from Sami. Cody then drills McDonagh onto the announce table with the Cross Rhodes not once, but twice before telling Damian Priest he was unsuccessful in taking him out before calling Priest a "walk-behinder" of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio). Cody then says he is back on his path and that his path goes through Priest at Crown Jewel.

This week on Raw Talk: The Miz! Ivar and Valhalla! "Big" Bronson Reed!

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

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for October 27, 2023

Xia Li beats Katana Chance.

Tyler Bate beats Damon Kemp.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for September 29, 2023

Indi Hartwell beats Kayden Carter.

Nikki Cross beats Xia Li.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for September 22, 2023

Nikki Cross beats Indi Hartwell.

Tegan Nox beats Xia Li.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for August 4, 2023

Dana Brooke beats Xia Li.

"Big" Bronson Reed beats Apollo Crews.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for July 14, 2023

Natalya beats Xia Li with the Sharpshooter.

Indi Hartwell beats Dana Brooke after sitting down on a Sunset Flip attempt.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for June 23, 2023

Dana Brooke beats Xia Li.

Apollo Crews beats JD McDonagh. After the match, McDonagh headbutts Crews and hits him with the Devil Inside.

Friday Night's Main Event - Main Event recap for June 9, 2023

Candice LeRae beats Xia Li.

Apollo Crews beats Akira Tozawa.

Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for March 24, 2023

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Ludwig Kaiser. Paul Heyman shows up early in the match to watch from the stage, and later on, Solo Sikoa shows up and heads down to ringsde with Heyman. After the match, Heyman and Solo get on the apron, and Heyman tells Cody that he is owed an apology and that ring announcer Samantha Irvin did "a lousy job" of announcing Cody's victory before doing it himself, calling Cody a challenger as he does. He says that Cody will see his road to WrestleMania with a pothole in front of him on Monday night when he faces Solo Sikoa, and if Cody survives against Solo, all roads will lead to Roman Reigns, who will see Cody one final time face-to-face next week. Cody asks Heyman if he is moving the goalposts for him before calling him out for interrupting the fans as they sang his entrance theme, and tells Solo once again that he is not ready. Cody then tells Heyman that at WrestleMania, Roman Reigns will find out that he is not ready, either.

It is announced that John Cena will kick off WrestleMania weekend with his match against Austin Theory for the WWE United States Championship at the beginning of Night One.

WrestleMania 39 is eight days away!

Charlotte Flair heads to the ring. Charlotte says becoming a 14-time world champion was not built by fear, insecurity or nepotism, as this business was built on respect - not on fear - and that she respects, not fears, Rhea Ripley, and that she only feared her own potential. After stating that she respected all of her opponents, she admits that she has her insecurities, and that she has built her house on all the bricks that people have thrown at her. As for nepotism, she states that she loves her father and that she will never apologize for building on the greatest legacy in sports entertainment before declaring that diamonds are forever and that so is she.

Las Vegas magician Piff the Magic Dragon is seen in the crowd.

LA Knight beats Rey Mysterio. Before the match, it is noted that Rey Mysterio's wife and their daughter Aliyah are in the front row. Later in the match, Dominik Mysterio shows up, distracting Rey. Near the end of the match, Dominik trips Rey on the outside as he goes for the 619, allowing LA Knight to win with a schoolkid pin. After the match, Dominik asks Rey if he is going to give him what he wants while proceeding to shove him around. Rey says no and rolls out of the ring, and Dominik tells Rey to walk away like he always does before asking his mother in the front row what it is like to be married to a loser who cannot stand up to his own son.Dominik then tells his mother that she married a deadbeat and that she sat there every night while Rey was gone, and that makes her a deadbeat mom. Aliyah confronts Dominik, who tells her that she does not understand. Dominik then tells his mother to shut up and sit down, and Rey approaches Dominik and punches him out. Dominik then tells his mother to shut up and sit down, and Rey approaches Dominik and punches him out. Rey then tells Dominik that he pushed him to this point by disrespecting his mother, and if he wants a fight at WrestleMania, he has it.

Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez watch the next match from ringside.

Natalya and Shotzi beat Xia Li and Lacey Evans with a Sharpshooter from Natalya to Xia Li to qualify for the women's WrestleMania Showcase match. After the match, as Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez confront Shotzi and Natalya on the apron, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey show up. Shayna says Natalya and Shotzi have a reason to fight them, and they might as well fight them tonight. Ronda then says that they have given Las Vegas, Nevada more than they deserve and that it is not happening tonight, then Baszler announces that she and Ronda have been added to the women's WrestleMania Showcase match.

WWE official Adam Pearce moderates a contract signing between Drew McIntyre, Sheamus and Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania. McIntyre appears before the commercial break, and Sheamus shows up with Butch and Ridge Holland after it. Sheamus says he is angry with Drew McIntyre because he has worked towards a goal for the last fifteen years and told McIntyre about it only for McIntyre to go behind his back and go for it before he could. He then says that he gets the chance to smash his face in at WrestleMania, but McIntyre tells Sheamus that he keeps trying to guilt trip him when they should be friends, but Sheamus cannot separate what is business from what is personal. McIntyre says he has beaten Sheamus and that he can beat Gunther while Sheamus cannot. Pearce reminds both men that he needs signatures on the contract right now, and both McIntyre and Sheamus sign the contract. Gunther then heads to the ring and demands Pearce to justify the decision of a Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship to him, but Pearce tells him to sign the contract, which Gunther does. Gunther then says that whatever he does to keep the Intercontinental Championship will be justified, and as he threatens to beat everyone up as well as Ridge Holland and Butch, Butch jumps Gunther, who then takes his anger out on Pearce, demanding a match against Butch.

Gunther beats Butch after Drew McIntyre fights Sheamus and Ridge Holland. After the match, Sheamus confronts Gunther, then dodges a Claymore Kick from McIntyre that hits Gunther. McIntyre and Sheamus then have a staredown.

We hear from The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), who hype up the men's WrestleMania Showcase match before Braun Strowman and Ricochet show up and say they will prove they are the better team.

It's time for The Kevin Owens Show. Tonight's guest is Sami Zayn. Sami asks Kevin if he knows what they are on the verge of doing, then says they are on the verge of winning the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania, which he says feels different this year. Owens says he has not lost sight of that, but he know what they are about to do. He then gifts Sami with a "KO Mania Goes Hollywood" shirt, but Kevin Owens is on the back while "WrestleZaynia Goes Hollywood" is on the front. Both men hug it out, but they are both attacked by The Usos, who hit Sami with the 1D before Owens chases them out of the ring with a chair.

Here are the full highlights from tonight's show!

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

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: LA Knight! Shotzi and Natalya! Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, GIovanni Vinci)!

Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for January 13, 2023

Gunther retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Braun Strowman.

Backstage, Sami Zayn is met by Paul Heyman, who tells him that he is the only other person here, as Roman Reigns wants Sami Zayn to beat Kevin Owens on his own. Sami tells Heyman to tell Roman that he made the right call and will get the job done tonight.

Rey Mysterio heads to the ring. Rey says the holidays are always exciting and special to him, especially after being on the road for so many years and away from family. He then says he did not have a very merry Christmas, due to Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley showing up again. He says that Dominik is running around like some hardened criminal and that it breaks his heart as a father, and as a man, he is pretty fed up. Rey says he came to SmackDown for a fresh start and that he will not let Dominik provoke him, and to get back on track, he must enter and win the men's Royal Rumble match. Suddenly, Karrion Kross and Scarlett show up. Kross says he has heard Rey talk about goals and says that Rey needs them if he needs to tear himself out of bad, then brings up Rey winning the 2006 Royal Rumble and how it was a special moment for Rey's son Dominik. He then says Rey was never around for Dominik when he was a kid, then asks him who he hates more: Dominik for not being the man he wants him to be, or himself because Dominik is not like him. This starts a brawl. Scarlett grabs Rey's feet as he goes for a 619, then Kross puts Rey in the Kross Jacket.

Emma and Maxinne Dupri talk with Liv Morgan, saying going out at #1 is not the best idea. Raquel Rodriguez shows up and says Liv is better going into the women's Royal Rumble match at #30, then Liv says she got a palm reading before smacking Raquel in the face and challenging her to a match. Raquel accepts, and says she is tired of people forgetting she is the biggest woman in the division.

Tegan Nox beats Xia Li.

We see The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) and Valhalla near a fire. Valhalla says the gods speak and she listens, and the Raiders say they obey. Valhalla and the Raiders say that suffering awaits for Drew McIntyre and Sheamus.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre demands a tag team match against The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik), but Sheamus is focused on The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) as he and McIntyre smack each other around. WWE official Adam Pearce tells them that he is starting a tag team tournament where the winners get a shot at The Usos. Pearce also tells them that they will face The Viking Raiders in the first round. Pearce also gets smacked around in the process.

Bray Wyatt heads to the ring and sits in his trademark rocking chair. Bray says it is wild how people forget who they are and what made them in the first place, and all it takes is a push in the right direction to realize that one must revel in what they are, and then it all comes back to them. Bray says he has realized he is the color red in a world of black and white, that he is the eater of worlds, and that he is Uncle Howdy, that he is him and that he is Bray Wyatt. He says he knows who he is, then asks "Who are you?" before declaring Royal Rumble a rebirth and a baptism in the dark. He then warns L.A. Knight that when the lights go out, he should run.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Kevin Owens. He is soon joined by Sami Zayn, who asks him if he is happy about everything and what he is making him do. Sami says he should have left him alone on SmackDown, but Owens says The Bloodline kept coming to Raw and that Roman Reigns, not him, asked for all of this, because Roman is using him. Sami says Roman is not using him and that they are family, and that he is proud to take care of business tonight.

Kayla Braxton interviews Imperium in the trainer's room. Ludwig Kaiser says momentum is essential, and Giovanni Vince says Gunther proved what it means to be a true champion. Gunther says today is a glorious day as he has overcome his greatest challenge so far in Braun Strowman. He then says it is time to continue on to the men's Royal Rumble match and throw body after body over the top rope to main event WrestleMania.

Raquel Rodriguez beats Liv Morgan with the Tejana Bomb after avoiding being put through a table by Liv Morgan.

Backstage, Sonya Deville demands a rematch with Charlotte Flair from WWE official Adam Pearce, who refuses to give it to her as she gets it into her head to win the women's Royal Rumble match. Sonya says she will find a way to make the rematch official.

Backstage, referees and security have to break up a brawl between Charlotte Flair and Sonya Deville, and even WWE official Adam Pearce has to get involved.

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens ends in a no-contest after The Usos and Solo Sikoa show up suddenly and attack Owens. After the match, Owens tries to fight back, but the numbers game takes over, and Solo Sikoa splashes Owens through the announce table from the barricade. The show ends with Sami Zayn, Solo Sikoa and The Usos standing over a downed Kevin Owens.

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

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Rey Mysterio! Raquel Rodriguez! Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci)!

Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 26, 2022

Ricochet beats Happy Corbin.

Backstage, The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) meet Hit Row (B-Fab, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Top Dolla. Both teams immediately get along.

We see part one of a video package of Drew McIntyre.

We hear from Karrion Koss and Scarlett. Kross says that it may or may not be Drew McIntyre's time, then tells McIntyre to take the time and savor the moment, for at any moment, he could put his hand through the back of his and make it all for nothing.

Natalya and Sonya Deville beat the team of Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop, the team of Dana Brooke and Tamina and the team of Xia Li and Shotzi Blackheart in a "Last Chance" Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match to advance to the semi-finals of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament after Dana Brooke hits Nikki A.S.H. with a Superplex to the outside of the ring onto everyone else. Sonya then drags Nikki A.S.H. into the ring and pins her to get the win.

We see a video package for "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler.

The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch) head to the ring. Sheamus says that next week, they will be "starting fights and drinking pints" when he becomes Intercontinental Champion and the first-ever "ultimate Grand Slam Champion." It is not long before Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser show up. Sheamus says Gunther calls himself a ring general, but he is the real ring general after facing and beating the best of the best in a WWE ring, and he has says nobody has had "banger after banger" like him. He says he has seen a lot of himself in Gunther and that it has been a long time since he has seen brutal qualities in someone like him who also likes going to war in the ring like he does, then says Gunther has something he wants: the Intercontinental Championship. Sheamus says he will drag the Intercontinental Championship out of the belly of the best and into the red dragon, then Gunther says Sheamus is a man to be respected. Gunther then says Sheamus is nothing like him, and that to protect the title, he will show him what violence really means. He promises to not only keep his title, but chop his chest into bloody bits and break the man who supposedly cannot be broken in Sheamus. As Sheamus and Gunther have a staredown, Butch attacks Ludwig Kaiser, and when Ridge Holland tries to separate them, he also gets beaten up. Sheamus and Gunther pick their respective seconds up and hold them back. Kaiser and Gunther then leave.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Sonya Deville and Natalya. Natalya says that they are starting to find their groove, and that Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez should be concerned tonight. Meanwhile, Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop are arguing in the background.

Backstage, Sami Zayn meets with The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso), then meets with Roman Reigns. He brings up Sami Zayn's loss from last week and that sometimes bad things happen, then thanks him for his assistance from last week. When Sami says Roman can count on his for anything, Roman asks Sami for a favor and asks Sami to help take care of Drew McIntyre. Sami thanks Roman for the opportunity.

Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai guest on commentary for the next match.

Aliyah and Raquel Rodriguez beat Natalya and Sonya Deville to advance to the finals of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament. After the match, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky have a staredown with Aliyah and Raquel.

Backstage, Maximum Male Models (Max Dupri, Maxine Dupri, Mace, Mansoor) have a photoshoot when loud music comes out of Hit Row's bus nearby. Max Dupri is angry, but this give Maxine Dupri an idea. After the commercial break, Maxine Dupri brings out Los Lotharios, who have a solution: vandalizing the bus with spray paint.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) are in the ring. Xavier Woods is in a wheelchair and wearing a blanket. Woods mentions how they have been making fun of The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) and that they underestimated them. Kofi says that The Viking Raiders have been kicking their asses and that one of them cracked his ribs a couple of weeks ago. Woods says that they have to face a harsh reality after seeing the Viking funeral and the burning of New Day merchandise from last week and says that they may be done. As Kofi says that they have gotten to do a lot of great things as a team, The Viking Raiders show up. Erik says they gave them a proper sendoff and a warrior's rite, and Ivar says they are out here sniveling instead of leaving. Erik says the one thing a Viking despises more than anything is weakness, and that their groveling makes them sick. After Erik says that they are groveling like wounded animals, Ivar says the best thing for a wounded animal is to put it down. Kofi distracts The Viking Raiders, then Woods stands up and tosses Kofi a Kendo stick hidden in his blanket. The New Day then tee off of The Viking Raiders with the Kendo sticks, forcing them to retreat, and Woods tosses the wheelchair out of the ring.

Backstage, Maximum Male Models (Max Dupri, Maxine Dupri, Mace, Mansoor) and Los Lotharios (Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza) are near Hit Row's (B-Fab, Ashante "Thee Adons, Top Dolla) bus. Hit Row shows up and says they can handle things in the ring next week, then says that is not their bus. Suddenly, The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) come out of the bus. Maximum Male Models and Los Lotharios run away.

Backstage, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) meet with Sami Zayn, and Jey tells Sami not to mess up again and to handle his business, and that he knows about Sami talking about him behind his back.

We see part two of a video package of Drew McIntyre.

Drew McIntyre beats Sami Zayn despite the distraction by The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso). After the match, Roman Reigns runs in and attacks McIntyre. McIntyre fights back by throwing Roman into the ring post, then The Usos get back into the ring and attack McIntyre. Roman gets back in the ring and hits McIntyre with a Spear. The Usos then get back in the ring with chairs and hit McIntyre with them, then beat McIntyre up again behind the announce table, throw him into the barricade, and allow Sami Zayn to hit McIntyre with a Helluva Kick. The Usos then repeatedly strike McIntyre with the ring steps before rolling him back into the ring, where Roman tells McIntyre that the top of the mountain is his and that he will never have it before putting him in a guillotine choke. Roman then places a chair over McIntyre and sits in the chair with both the WWE and Universal Championships on his shoulders to end the show.

Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for August 12, 2022

Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah beat Shotzi and Xia Li to advance in the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship tournament. Natalya and Sonya Deville are seen watching the match from ringside.

We hear from Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Kross says opportunity presents itself in the midst of the chaos, then says that Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns are "the chosen ones" while he and Scarlett are "cast out of paradise" and "forgotten." He says they prepared and waited for the perfect time to strike, and says The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso) will be replaced by "the new timeline." The two of them then eavesdrop on McIntyre as he heads to the ring.

Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. McIntyre addresses Karrion Kross' attack on him from last week, and he tells Kross that his hands are full, but when he is finished, he will give Kross the option of a knockout, the hospital or the graveyard. He then says that Roman Reigns is not here tonight, and says Roman had to get help from his family and Paul Heyman to beat Brock Lesnar while he was able to beat Lesnar with his bare hands. As McIntyre says that "the island of relevancy" is not a real place, Scarlett shows up, and as McIntyre is distracted, he is attacked from behind by The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso). McIntyre tries to fight back, but The Usos hit him with the 1D as Scarlett watches. The Usos then notice Scarlett, then tells her that if Kross steps up to Roman, then Roman will put him down. Scarlett replies "That's funny...he has the same message for you."

We see a video package about the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Shinsuke Nakamura, who tells Megan to tell Gunther "Come on!"

Kofi Kingston attacks The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik) from behind with a Kendo stick before the next match can begin, but he is soon overpowered. Ivar then hits Kofi with a splash off the barricade.

Backstage, Sami Zayn contemplates knocking on Roman Reigns' door and ultimately does so. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) answer, and Sami tells them that they are right. Suddenly, all three men are attacked by McIntyre, and McIntyre threatens to beat The Usos up whenever they get involved.

Hit Row - Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Top Dolla and B-Fab - return to WWE for the next match.

Hit Row (Ashante "Thee" Adonis and Top Dolla) beat Brandon Scott and Trevor Irvin. After the match, B-Fab, Top Dolla and Adonis re-introduce themselves to the fans.

WWE acknowledges the passing of Gene LeBell (1932 - 2022).

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Ludwig Kaiser and Gunther. Gunther tells Braxton to tell Shinsuke Nakamura that he will suffer at the hands of "The Ring General."

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey shows up from out of nowhere out of the crows with a bag despite being indefinitely suspended. Ronda then dumps money out of her bag, saying she was fined a lot of money and has delivered the money, because it will not be the last time and being the baddest is expensive. Suddenly, security and referees show up to remove her. Ronda puts a female security guard in a judo throw, but does not break her arm. As Ronda leaves, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler shows up and says that this is not how to get what one wants. Ronda tells Shayna "You used to be a killer," then leaves. Shayna Baszler heads to the ring. She says that last week, everybody watched her win against the women's locker room, and that Liv will not only be the next on the list, but the next to fall. She signs the contract on the table. She then says Liv Morgan looks good with a target on her shoulder, and says she cannot wait to tear her limb from limb at Clash at the Castle and step over her lifeless carcass as she walks out SmackDown Women's Champion while she calls her out. Liv Morgan shows up and tells Shayna she will not beat her before calling her "a bootleg Ronda Rousey" after having beaten the real deal twice, then says she will beat her at Clash at the Castle before signing the contract. Shayna then attacks Liv Morgan's injured arm and twists it before stomping on the elbow. She then continues to work on the hurt arm, but Lov Morgan fights back with a bulldog through the table off the corner.

Backstage, Sami Zayn is confronted by The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso). Sami says he was trying to get security, but Jey warns him that he will get left behind if he does not pull his weight. He then says that they will head to the ring to call Drew McIntyre out.

We see footage from the WrestleMania 39 Launch Party.

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) head to the ring. Jey Uso tells Drew McIntyre to show up with a tag team partner of his choosing and head to the ring to "get this work." McIntyre shows up to face The Usos alone.

Drew McIntyre and Madcap Moss beat The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) in a two-on-one handicap match that becomes a tag team match despite interference from Sami Zayn. During the match, Madcap Moss shows up to become Drew McIntyre's tag team partner. After the match, McIntyre fights Jimmy, but Sami Zayn takes the Claymore for Jimmy.

Backstage, Maximum Male Models (Max Dupri, Maxine Dupri, Mace, Mansoor) have a photoshoot. Los Lotharios (Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza) shows up wanting to be a part of the company, but Max Dupri says they are not Maximum Male Models material. Angel Garza says they were talking to Maxine Dupri, and tells Maxine to give them a call.

We see a video package of the events leading up to Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

We look back on Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance on the November 11, 1999 episode of SmackDown.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Ricochet. Ricochet says he has been more "locked in" now than he has even been before and feels like he has been shot out of a cannon. He says he is ready to take on what is ahead of him, and whoever wins, he will go for the Intercontinental Championship. Suddenly, he is attacked from out of nowhere by Happy Corbin, who says it is not over between them and that he is just getting started.

We get a special look at Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark.

Gunther retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura.

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

This week on The SmackDown LowDown: Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah! Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser! Madcap Moss!

Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for June 10, 2022

Backstage, Drew McIntyre confronts - and throws back - Butch, and Sheamus has to catch Butch and hold him back.

Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus in a Money In The Bank Ladder Match qualifier ends with both men hitting each other with chairs. After the commercial break, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre to brawl with referees and officials trying their best to stop both men as the brawl spills into the crowd.

It is announced that Cody Rhodes will be out of action for up to nine months.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Lacey Evans. Lacey says the Money In The Bank contract changes lives, and if she wins, she can face any champion, any time, any place. As for Xia Li, she only sees her as a doubter and says we can either wallow in self-pity or wake up, work and win.

Lacey Evans beats Xia Li in her first match in months to qualify for the women's Money In The Bank Ladder Match.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce is met by Drew McIntyre, who demands that he be put in the men's Money In The Bank Ladder Match.

We see a vignette for The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik).

Backstage, Sheamus and Butch meet with WWE official Adam Pearce. Sheamus also demands a spot in the men's Money In The Bank match.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey heads to the ring. Ronda says that Money In The Bank is in three weeks and that three weeks is not soon enough to prove that her arm breaker is better than Natalya's Sharpshooter. Suddenly, Shotzi shows up. Shotzi says that while she may not be like Ronda or Natalya, she has serious aggression and a killer instinct, then tells her not to wait until Money In The Bank for a fight when she has no problem fighting her right now. Ronda accepts Shotzi's challenge for a match.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey beats Shotzi with an arm breaker. After the match, Ronda is attacked from behind by Natalya, who puts Ronda in the Sharpshooter. Multiple referees have to get Natalya to break the hold, and Natalya eventually does.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Matt Riddle. Riddle says he thrives under pressure and that he is motivated by how Randy Orton got hurt, and says that he will do whatever it takes to get payback for him. He says the juice is worth the squeeze, and if he beats Sami Zayn, he will get his vengeance.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton announces that "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey suffered a serious injury and that Ronda's ability to compete at Money In The Bank has been thrown into question.

Gunther beats Ricochet to become the WWE Intercontinental Champion!

Backstage, Sami Zayn is met by Paul Heyman, who tells Sami that tonight is the greatest opportunity of his career and that if he wins, it will give him the ammunition to tell Roman Reigns that Sami belongs in The Bloodline. He then implies that the consequences will be dire if Sami loses tonight.

We see footage of John Cena meeting Misha, a fan of John Cena whose family escaped from their home in Ukraine after their town was bombed.

Tonight's classic SmackDown moment is "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Booker T in the supermarket from December 13, 2001.

Paul Heyman is acknowledged before the next match.

Matt Riddle beats Sami Zayn to face Roman Reigns for the WWE Undisputed Championship next week. (Had Riddle lost, he would have been barred from SmackDown.) After the match, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) rush into the ring and attack Matt Riddle, but Riddle strikes back with a Kendo stick and sends them into a retreat.

Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown recap for February 25, 2022

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania is officially announced as a title unification match.

Michael Cole interviews "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey in the ring to start tonight's show. Ronda says she broke her hand, rehabbed it, broke her other hand, rehabbed that hand, then had a daughter. She says that she wanted to punch her ticket to a second WrestleMania to set an example for her daughter after what her mother did to become a judo champion. Ronda also says she wants to be the first woman in two years to tap out Charlotte Flair, then Charlotte shows up after some still photos of Ronda at Elimination Chamber are shown. Charlotte tells Ronda she gave a little taste of a welcome back that she says was "so much fun" and gave her mercy at Elimination Chamber because she felt sorry for her, then says she will not do it again when she taps her out with the Figure Eight at WrestleMania. As Charlotte says that the bright side of it all is that Ronda will work on having a second child, Ronda is hit with a chop block by Sonya Deville. Charlotte then trips Ronda from the outside and rams her leg into a ring post. When Sonya gets in Ronda's face and asks her why she is such a failure, Ronda judo throws her out of the ring.

Backstage, Adam Pearce informs Sonya Deville that next week, she will go one-on-one with "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E) beat Los Lotharios (Humberto and Angel). Before the match, Los Lotharios kiss a woman in the front row for their kiss cam. (This woman is Kayla Sparks, who would appear on AEW Rampage later that night.) The New Day head to the ring on an ATV, and at the end of the match, The New Day hit the Midnight Hour on Angel after Angel has to beg Big E not to run over Humberto with the ATV.

Sam Roberts is seen with The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) backstage.

Shinsuke Nakamura and Rick Boogs are seen riding across northern California in a Toyota Tundra TRO PRO and going kayaking.

WrestleMania 38 is 36 days away!

Backstage, Sheamus and Ridge Holland stop The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E) on their ATV, telling them that if they show up for fight night, they will need the ATV to carry them out. The New Day laugh and drive off.

Backstage, Sam Roberts interviews The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso). Jey Uso says tonight's contract signing is for the biggest WrestleMania match of all time, and Jey Uso says that Roman Reigns will "put that work" on Brock Lesnar like they will "put that work" on The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik). As The Usos joke that they can smell The Viking Raiders a mile away, The Viking Raiders attack them and demand a SmackDown tag team title shot.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Xia Li. Xia Li says she has waited for this moment for his whole life after working hard in NXT, and while she is nervous, she is confident, for she is "The Protector" and Natalya will need protecting.

Xia Li beats Natalya in her main roster debut match.

Sami Zayn shows up in a gold tuxedo and heads to the ring. Sami Zayn says that justice is served, that you cannot keep a good man down, and that he is Intercontinental Champion again, and that he was the target of a large conspiracy to keep the title from him. He says that "they" will persecute him any chance he gets, but he knows that no matter what "they" throw at him, he can overcome all of it. Sami says he is more than happy to give Shinsuke Nakamura a title rematch, but he is too busy picking up the pieces of his knee cap that he shattered, and therefore, he has no problems with holding an open challenge. Johnny Knoxville suddenly shows up and says that since Sami Zayn crashed his celebration, he felt he should return the favor. Sami tells him to leave, but Knoxville reminds him that he threw out an open challenge. Sami tells Knoxville that he does not belong her and that while he is playing mind games with him, but he can through him. Knoxville asks Sami if he wants to be a fighting champion or if he does not have enough balls. Sami drops the mic as the crowd starts a "no balls" chant, then stares down Knoxville before teasing leaving. He then runs back into the ring and attacks Knoxville before hitting him with the Helluva Kick. Referees have to keep Sami from Knoxville afterwards, and Sami soon hits Knoxville with another Helluva Kick.

Backstage, Adam Pearce meets with Sami Zayn when Ricochet shows up and steps up for an Intercontinental title match. Sami tells him to get to the back of the line, but Adam Pearce makes it official for next week, much to Sami's chagrin.

Naomi guests on commentary for the next match.

Sasha Banks beats Shotzi with the Banks Statement. After the match, Naomi says that everyone is looking at the next WWE Women's Tag Team Champions in her and Sasha.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss. Corbin says Moss has the strongest neck in the world, or else Elimination Chamber would have been a disaster. He then says Drew McIntyre will have to deal with him in a WrestleMania-caliber match and it will happen tonight. He says that McIntyre swung a sword at him and disrespected him and Moss, and tonight, he will show McIntyre who the better warrior is and that is no joke.

Before the next match, Happy Corbin says the next match is a WrestleMania-caliber match and asks Drew McIntyre if he wants to embarrass himself in Hershey, Pennsylvania, then says Madcap Moss is tough as nails and an inspiration after landing on his head and continuing to fight. He then tells Moss to get on the apron and tells him that he has this match, as it is "only Drew McIntyre." Moss gets in the ring, but Corbin attacks McIntyre from behind and Moss joins in.

Drew McIntyre beats Madcap Moss.

Backstage, Megan Morant interviews "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey, who says that for all the times Sonya Deville messed with her and bullied Naomi, she will show what happens when authority figures step out of line.

Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) head to the ring. In the ring, Adam Pearce oversees the contract signing, and security guards are also present. Heyman says we have come to a point in history where there is no way to embellish or exaggerate the enormity of this year's WrestleMania main event, and that this match is the single-biggest match in history. He says that this is the biggest match on the biggest stage, and is bigger than Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Rock, and the night Brock Lesnar conquered The Undertaker's undefeated streak. Heyman says that Roman will solidify his "greatest of all time" status against Brock Lesnar in a title unification match, then gets down to the business at hand and states that security is here to protect Brock Lesnar from his own impulsiveness and from Roman Reigns. He then says "And this, ladies and gentleman, is what they call a cliffhanger," before the show immediately fades to a commercial break. After the commercial break, Brock Lesnar heads to the ring. Lesnar admits he has to contain himself and admits that he is impulsive, but says that if security will stop him from jumping across the table and kicking Roman and Heyman's asses, they have another thing coming. He says the only thing stopping him is himself and the contract, and that he will sign the contract so he can kick their asses and get paid for it. Lesnar then signs the contract and tosses it at Roman, then Heyman says he has had it with Lesnar's disrespect and that if he wants to make it personal, he will make sure Lesnar loses the WWE Championship next week at Madison Square Garden. Roman then signs the contract before stating that the WWE Champonship is his and that Lesnar does not even realize this because he will smash him at WrestleMania and absolutely everyone and everything around him is his. After Roman says all of the security in the ring works for him, Lesnar flips the table and lays out all of security.

This week on Talking Smack: The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik)! Sonya Deville!

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