The Velocity intro package begins before Tom Phillips and Titus O'Neil welcome everyone to Velocity on the WWE Network. A quick replay was shown of last week's Velocity match where Ember Moon lost to Carmella, because Ember Moon is featured again on Velocity this week!
Peyton Royce vs. Ember Moon
Ember Moon fell short last week against Carmella but makes the most of this Velocity match, beating Royce with the Eclipse.
Renee Young is reporting Kurt Angle has a big announcement at the top of the SmackDown episode so stay tuned, regarding the conclusion of SmackDown last week. This leads to a replay of Edge defeating Jeff Hardy to retain the World Heavyweight Championship in his hometown of Toronto, only to find Christian is at Edge's home in Asheville, NC.
Some highlights air from WWE Heat last night as Rubi Riott beat Mia Yim, but Gunther upset Alberto Del Rio.
Michael Bennett w/Maria vs. Keith Lee
NXT's Keith Lee gets to extend Bennett's losing streak after Keith Lee hits the Spirit Bomb.
Keith Lee lets out a roar after beating Bennett. O'Neil and Phillips remind Lee won Andrade's SmackDown prospect spot last month, so we could see Keith Lee on SmackDown very soon. The commentary duo thanks everyone for tuning into Velocity on the WWE Network, and tells people to switch the channel because SmackDown starts on the USA Network now!
Tuesday Night SmackDown! #994
September 4, 2018
Detroit, Michigan
SmackDown begins with a replay of the horrifying events from last week's SmackDown, where Christian invaded Edge's residence in Asheville. Kurt Angle stands in his office to explain Edge was granted leave for tonight to be home with his family, and the World Heavyweight Champion will join via satellite for his response to what happened last week. Angle also mentions he's suspended Christian until further notice due to his heinous actions.
Tom Phillips and Corey Graves react to Angle's news and immediately go into tonight's match card before Bayley's music hits and she comes out for her semifinals match against Tessa Blanchard right now!
Bayley vs. Tessa Blanchard in the Universal Women's Championship Tournament Semifinals
What a way to kick off this show! Bayley and Blanchard take up majority of the first 20 minutes of the show going back and forth. Graves mentions Bayley and Banks have history so he looks forward to a potential title match in the finals at Payback, but while Bayley's swinging Blanchard around for a Bayley-to-Belly, Blanchard's leg accidentally swings out and takes out the official, sending the official outside the ring. Bayley notices, so she goes to wake the official, but can't. Bayley sees Blanchard stirring so she slides back in the ring but doesn't notice Carmella coming from the side with a kendo stick to the ribs and then the back! Carmella lost to Bayley in the quarterfinals and got out in time for Blanchard to scale the top, measure Bayley and hit Magnum! Carmella nudges the official and gets him back in the ring to count the 3 for Tessa.
Blanchard is going to the tournament finals at Payback to win the Universal Women's Championship back after she originally lost to Charlotte in July, but thanks to Carmella. Phillips and Graves show the bracket, advertising the other semifinal matchup tonight in Naomi versus Sasha Banks.
UNIVERSAL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
Bayley vs. Carmella -> BAYLEY
Nikki Cross vs. Tessa Blanchard -> BLANCHARD
Naomi vs. Peyton Royce -> NAOMI
Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks -> BANKS
--
Bayley vs. Blanchard -> BLANCHARD
Naomi vs. Sasha Banks
As Phillips and Graves advertise, they're interrupted... and it's CHRISTIAN! Christian is here with no music and has a microphone in his hand as he has enough time to call out Kurt Angle for the blatant disrespect to a former WWE Universal Champion, a former World Heavyweight Champion, all because he retired Angle at WrestleMania! Christian says he won't be suspended and won't leave, but Angle comes out hastily with security guards to remove Christian from the building... back from the commercial, the cameras are following Angle and Christian outside the arena as Christian is being shoved into a car and being escorted out of the building, but Christian makes note he doesn't regret a DAMN thing he did last week... and he'd do it again!
Tom Phillips and Corey Graves can't believe what they saw, but try flipping the script before they're interrupted again, this time by Dean Ambrose! Ambrose comes out and acknowledges Seth's wishes of "ending things with a cinderblock." Ambrose says he nearly ended the career of Seth Rollins by dropping Rollins through a cinderblock at WrestleMania, and there was a moment he second-guessed his actions... and then.. Ambrose drops the mic mid-sentence and pulls a cinderblock from under the ring and slides it into the ring. Ambrose gets back in, picks up the mic and says he thought back to SummerSlam when Rollins was about to end his career without a second thought. Dean claims Seth knows the pain and the consequences of going through a cinderblock firsthand and his attack was very calculated, and now he wants to have a Cinderblock Match? Dean tells Seth, he's ON and demands Kurt Angle make the match!
After the commercial break, Phillips and Graves recap what's been an eventful SmackDown before this upcoming tag match.
BoogeyZAYN vs. The Vaudevillians
Boogeyman is such a wild card in this match because Aiden and Simon still aren't sure what to think but Boogeyman got a hot tag from Sami, allowing Boogeyman to go off and hits the Boogeyslam on Aiden, who pops up and gets hit with a Helluva Kick by Zayn and BoogeyZAYN gets a victory!
Sami Zayn stops for a moment and looks at Boogeyman, after what Corey Graves says was their best chemistry moment. Sami goes on the microphone and admits he's not sure what this dynamic is, but he wants some gold and feels like he can trust Boogeyman to have his back. Sami asks Boogeyman if he wants to help him win the WWE Tag Team Championships, but you see Maple Leaf Mafia jump Sami from behind and double-team Boogeyman. Tye Dillinger and Tyler Breeze are beating them down before Sheamus jumps the barricade and Cesaro runs from the ramp to attack Maple Leaf Mafia, sending them out the arena. Cesaro and Sheamus look at each other before heading to the next commercial.
Renee Young interviews Jeff Hardy for his thoughts about losing to Edge in the World Heavyweight Championship match last week. Jeff begins to give Edge his flowers but Jinder Mahal comes mocking Jeff Hardy. Mahal just calls Hardy washed up and said he should've went to Edge for the title match rather than the "Geriatric Enigma." Jeff gets in Mahal's face and challenges Mahal, saying if he wanted a match with him tonight with the title, he'll get the ass-kicking without the title.
William Regal is shown arriving at the arena with Pete Dunne and Intercontinental Champion Neville. Regal's scheduled to speak later tonight after Pete Dunne assisted Neville in retaining the Intercontinental Championship last week.
A video package airs for Fenix, touting him as the next star of lucha libre, before his entrance and match next.
Fenix vs. Local Talent
Fenix is competing against a local talent and the commentators can't seem to remember their name. Fenix introduces a new move called the Black Fire Driver and wins this match rather quickly!
Dean Ambrose is lifting up and getting a feel for cinderblocks when SmackDown's GM Kurt Angle comes up from behind and almost spooks Ambrose, who jokes and says he almost smashed it over his head before setting it down gently. Angle reaffirms what he told Rollins last week, saying he will not sanction a cinderblock match. Ambrose saying he's not asking for the match, he's telling Angle that Seth's head is going through a cinderblock again. Angle firmly reminds Ambrose who the GM is and the match will NOT happen! Ambrose shrugs his shoulders and says fine. Angle's shocked how Ambrose backed down and Angle nodded, moving along.
The newer SmackDown additions and WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos come out to a huge ovation! The Usos take time to share they are making SmackDown their home. They love the tag team division and are here to elevate it with the goal of main eventing PPVs. Maple Leaf Mafia comes back out after they attacked BoogeyZAYN earlier. They mock The Usos not having anyone in their "bloodline" who wanted to chase the WWE Trios Titles, so they came here, but the MLM won't let it happen... and they'll kick their tails back to Raw right now.
The Usos vs. Maple Leaf Mafia
MLM wanted to show the world they could go, and they did against the tag team champions. We didn't really see how this match was leaning as it was split 50/50 before Cesaro and Sheamus re-emerged, running down together this time, for Sheamus to pull Dillinger off the apron and attack him, as Cesaro tugs Breeze out of the ring and attacks him, causing the DQ.
The Usos are left throwing up their hands, watching Cesaro and Sheamus brawl as Maple Leaf Mafia try to flee, but The Usos are then attacked by Depths of Despair! The team that lost their titles in the triple threat tag lay The Usos out with the Super Collider, raising the tag titles they just lost, showing they haven't forgotten about their titles.
Naomi and Sasha Banks face each other tonight in the other semifinal matchup, so we see a video of the backstory between Naomi and Sasha Banks with their association with Team BAD.
Jeff Hardy vs. Jinder Mahal
Jeff Hardy took exception to Mahal's comments the last couple of weeks and is taking it out now on the Modern Day Maharaja. Hardy finishes Mahal off with the Twist of Fate and a Swanton Bomb, restarting his win streak after the World Heavyweight Championship loss last week.
Hardy barely gets his hand raised before Ambrose jumps on Mahal and throws down hands. Everyone's confused as Jeff Hardy gets out of the ring and Ambrose stomps away. Ambrose slides out and everyone's confused, until he slides out a cinderblock and slides it in the ring. You go backstage where Kurt Angle is talking to Zelina Vega, presumingly about what Zelina's tried the last several weeks, but someone whispers in Angle's ear and he immediately drops the conversation with Zelina. Ambrose gets set up as he's getting Mahal in Dirty Deeds above the cinderblock and Angle rushes security out, who are convincing Ambrose to let Mahal go. Ambrose shouts he wants Rollins and if he doesn't get him, he'll send Mahal through the cinderblock. While Ambrose has Mahal, Seth Rollins music hits! Ambrose smiles and drops Mahal, but security has to hold both Ambrose and Rollins back from each other. Both superstars are putting Angle in a position to succumb to the "yes." Ambrose and Rollins smile, before Ambrose goes to grab Mahal again and put him through the cinderblock, so the security from Rollins run into the ring, where Rollins follows them and leaps over to jump on Ambrose. The two brawl before more security comes out to separate the two and it appears we'll have the first ever CINDERBLOCK match at Payback!
After a commercial break, Zelina Vega tries approaching Kurt Angle again but she's shooed away because Angle has a lot to handle right now, as Angle's phone is buzzing.
William Regal stands in the ring with Pete Dunne and new Intercontinental Champion Neville. Regal explains the Intercontinental Championship's lineage with Pat Patterson, Pedro Morales, Mr. Perfect, and Shawn Michaels holding this title. Regal says his job is for Neville to be the man listed among those greats. Regal then takes time to mention his gratitude for building the next generation in NXT, so he introduces Pete Dunne, a former NXT Champion. Regal says Dunne and Neville remind him a lot of himself, but more importantly, an upgraded version to lead this new generation, which he'll introduce to SmackDown whether Kurt Angle is ready for it or not.
Jason Jordan's watching backstage before Renee Young comes to him. Jordan admits he wanted nothing more to run down to the ring and slap the taste out of every one of their mouths, but he understands the number's advantage. Jason Jordan says Neville has a friend and a mentor, but Jordan mentions he also has a friend and a mentor. Jordan excuses himself from Renee while he makes this next call.
Tom Phillips and Corey Graves mention last week's main event win for Edge being spoiled because of Christian at Edge's residence in Asheville, NC. Thus, Edge has been granted a week at home to be with his family, but has agreed to join via satellite. First things, Edge's asked how he and his family's doing. Edge says his family is fine but bluntly says Christian will not be. Graves tells Edge that Christian's been indefinitely suspended for his actions, but Edge says he's been watching the show tonight and saw that, but wants to talk to Kurt Angle. Edge believes Christian doesn't need to be suspended. Edge says he invaded John Cena's home and slapped his dad back in the day. Edge then credits Cena for turning around and slapping him back. Edge says he doesn't want Christian suspended, he wants Christian at SmackDown next week.
After the call, Phillips and Graves note what next week could look like! Will we see Christian and Edge face-to-face next week? Who was Jason Jordan calling? They mention matches could get announced for next week's show, so stay tuned on WWE.com and their social media for more news. But now we're about to go into our semifinal matchup with Naomi and Sasha Banks main eventing SmackDown!
Naomi vs. Sasha Banks in the Universal Women's Championship Tournament
Phillips and Graves mention this being a historical SmackDown with the first time two women of color main event SmackDown. Both hold nothing back with the chance to go to Payback to become the new Universal Women's Championship. Midway through, Tessa Blanchard decides to pop into commentary right before the final commercial break of the night. Blanchard's saying she isn't losing sleep over whoever wins, but says both are two of the three best women on the SmackDown roster, only behind The Diamond. Naomi got on a roll and tried hitting a Rear View, but Banks stops herself in her tracks and counters with the Banks Statement instead! Naomi in the submission is ready to tap, but rolls over, to almost pin Banks, but Banks rolls out and Naomi's able to reach her foot to the ropes. Banks pulls Naomi out for a frog splash, but before Banks can get up to the top rope, Naomi's back up and tries knocking Sasha off, but Banks kicks Naomi away to the center of the ring. Banks launches off the top rope, but goes straight into a REAR VIEW! The crowd leap to their feet as Naomi falls into a cover and pins Sasha!
Naomi gets to celebrate a big win tonight, and after seeing a replay of the final move, Naomi sees Sasha Banks getting to her feet. Sasha goes up to raise Naomi's hand out of respect before Sasha Banks exits one side of the ring, and who is waiting on the other side? Tessa Blanchard. Naomi locks eyes with Tessa as the Universal Women's Championship match is set for Payback: Naomi versus Tessa Blanchard to crown the new champion. Two SmackDowns away from this match!
Upcoming Schedule:
9/11: Tuesday Night SmackDown! in Lafayette, LA
9/18: Tuesday Night SmackDown! in Tulsa, OK
9/23: Payback (SmackDown exclusive PPV) in San Antonio, TX
9/25: Tuesday Night SmackDown! in Denver, CO