SmackDown's SummerSlam fallout episode takes place tonight from Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
Roman Reigns is still Undisputed WWE Universal Champion after retaining against Brock Lesnar in a Last Man Standing match in the main event of SummerSlam. Tonight, Reigns will address Drew McIntyre. The two are set to face off for the Undisputed title at Clash at the Castle next month.
Liv Morgan is also still SmackDown Women's Champion after retaining against Ronda Rousey at SummerSlam. Raquel Rodriguez, Aliyah, Shotzi, Xia Li, Shayna Baszler, Natalya, and Sonya Deville will take part in a gauntlet match tonight to determine Morgan's Clash at the Castle challenger.
Rousey won't be one of the gauntlet match participants. She's currently suspended in storyline after attacking the referee following her match against Morgan. The referee missed that Morgan had tapped out to a Rousey armbar.
Plus, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ludwig Kaiser is set for tonight. If Nakamura wins, he'll become the number one contender to Gunther's Intercontinental title.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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They aired a SummerSlam video package recapping the event.
Outside the arena, Roman Reigns and The Usos arrived at the building.
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Pat McAfee and Michael Cole discussed McAfee defeating Happy Corbin at SummerSlam. McAfee was hilarious narrating footage from his match with Corbin.
McAfee noted he kicked balls his whole life. He then showed footage from SummerSlam of McAfee kicking Corbin in the balls. McAfee showed the footage over and over. The fans broke into a "McAfee" chant.
In the back, Happy Corbin watched the footage on the screen. A bunch of roster members laughed at Corbin. He was furious, but Ricochet stood up to him. He made fun of Corbin and challenged him to a match right now.
Ricochet defeated Happy Corbin (11:48)
Ricochet and Corbin had a really good match. Ricochet looked strong, and this was probably one of Corbin's best matches. The fans loved it and popped big for Ricochet winning.
The fans love McAfee, who was awesome on commentary. It's also the second straight week without a long talking segment to open.
Ricochet had the early advantage as he sent Corbin to the floor. He followed up with a dive wiping out Corbin. Corbin avoided a springboard clothesline and hit the around-the-ring post clothesline to take over.
Corbin kept looking over at McAfee. The fans broke into a loud "McAfee" chant. Ricochet fought back and rocked Corbin with a kick to the face. Corbin avoided a moonsault off the apron. He then threw Ricochet into the ring post.
Back from the break, Corbin was firmly in control with a chin lock. Ricochet broke free, but Corbin gave him a massive back-body drop. The fans broke into a loud "You suck" chant.
Ricochet fired up and hit a handspring elbow and flying clothesline. He followed up with a standing shooting star press for a near fall. The fans broke into a "Ricochet" chant.
Ricochet went for the hand spring elbow again but Corbin caught him and hit a spinning neck breaker. Ricochet briefly fought back. Corbin recovered and hit the deep six for a close near fall.
They fought on the top rope. Ricochet tried slipping out, but Corbin pulled him back up. Corbin then threw Ricochet onto the apron. Corbin looked over at McAfee again.
Ricochet took advantage and crotched Corbin on the top rope. Ricochet then hit the recoil and shooting star press for the win. The fans popped big for the finish. As Ricochet went up for the shooting star press, McAfee noted Ricochet's going to do something he didn't do at SummerSlam: do the move smoothly.
After the match, McAfee and Ricochet threw a football. McAfee signed the ball and kicked it into the audience.
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They recapped Liv Morgan defeating Ronda Rousey at SummerSlam. Cole mentioned Rousey's suspension.
In the back, Sami Zayn knocked on The Bloodline's locker room door.
They showed SummerSlam highlights.
Back from the break, Zayn was still knocking on the door. The Usos finally came out but wouldn't let him talk to Reigns. They revealed that Paul Heyman's not at the show tonight and recovering at home. The Usos promised Zayn he could talk to Reigns later.
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Shinsuke Nakamura made his entrance.
The SmackDown flashback featured Stone Cold Steve Austin destroying the McMahon-Helmsley faction's bus.
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Ludwig Kaiser (w/Gunther) (8:44)
Nakamura and Kaiser had another good match.
The stipulation was If Nakamura wins, he gets an Intercontinental title shot against Gunther next week.
Kaiser backed Nakamura into the corner with kicks. The fans broke into a brief "USA" chant. It didn't catch on. Nakamura recovered and rocked Kaiser with a running knee. Kaiser picked up Nakamura in the backbreaker position but dropped him on his face.
Back from the break, Nakamura was firmly in control with a sliding German suplex in the ropes. Gunther distracted Nakamura, allowing Kaiser to take over for a second. Nakamura regained control and went for Kinshasa. Kaiser rocked Nakamura with an uppercut for a near fall instead.
Kaiser was in total control, but Nakamura caught him in the armbar. Kaiser broke free, but Nakamura hit the Kinshasa for the win.
Nakamura takes on Intercontinental Champion Gunther next week. After the match, Gunther and Nakamura went face-to-face.
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They recapped The Viking Raiders beating The New Day last week and injuring Xavier Woods.
In the back, Megan Morant interviewed Kofi Kingston. He noted Woods is good as he recovers at home. He promised to get revenge for Woods.
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Back from the break, Cole and McAfee talked about all the news coverage for SummerSlam.
In the back, Sami Zayn knocked on The Bloodline's door again. He noted he didn't get a text from them. Zayn tried to talk to Roman Reigns again.
The Usos asked Zayn to take over Paul Heyman's duties tonight, including taking care of Regins' entrance. Zayn was reluctant, but eventually, he agreed. The Usos glared at Zayn as he walked off.
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SmackDown Women's Champion Liv Morgan Segment
Kayla Braxton interviewed SmackDown Women's Champion Liv Morgan. Braxton recapped the controversial finish and Ronda Rousey's suspension. Morgan had her arm in a sling due to Rousey's attack of the match.
The fans booed Morgan and broke into a loud "You tapped out" chant. She claimed she only tapped when she thought the referee counted three. The fans booed Morgan loudly again.
Sonya Deville interrupted and said Morgan shouldn't be the champion. Some fans cheered. Deville mocked Adam Pearce and promised to win the gauntlet match.
Gauntlet match: Sonya Deville defeated Aliyah (2:20)
This was a typical WWE gauntlet match. They had a bunch of short matches, with Rodriguez lasting the entire gauntlet until losing in the last match. The gaunlet took about 30 mins with several commercial breaks.
Mogan sat at ringside to watch the match. The fans broke into a "Ronda Rousey" chant.
Deville took over and slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Aliyah broke free and hit a crossbody off the second rope for a near fall. Deville recovered and pinned Aliyah for the win.
Gauntlet match: Raquel Rodriguez defeated Sonya Deville (2:04)
Deville gave Rodriguez a chop block for the early advantage. Rodriguez recovered and hit the Vader Bomb into an elbow drop. She followed up with the powerbomb for the win.
Gauntlet match: Raquel Rodriguez defeated Shotzi (1:21)
This match started during the commercial break. Shotzi was firmly in control, but Rodriguez reversed into a fallaway slam. She followed up with the Vader Bomb elbow and powerbomb for the win.
Gauntlet match: Raquel Rodriguez defeated Xia Li (2:27)
Li targeted Rodrigeuz's injured knee with a half-crab. Rodriguez caught Li in mid-air and hit the fallaway slam. She followed up with the Vader Bomb elbow and hit the powerbomb for the win.
Gauntlet match: Raquel Rodriguez defeated Natalya (2:22)
Natalya attacked Rodriguez's knee and locked on a submission. Rodriguez escaped and reversed into a suplex for a near fall. Natalya recovered and locked on the sharpshooter. Rodriguez fought back and made it to the ropes. Rodriguez recovered and hit the powerbomb for the win.
Gauntlet match: Shayna Baszler defeated Raquel Rodriguez (3:04)
The match started during the commercial break. Baszler was firmly in control and continued to attack the injured leg. Baszler attacked Rodriguez's arm and looked over at Morgan.
Baszler tired to go for the kirifuda clutch but Rodriguez avoided it. Rodriguez recovered and went for the Vader Bomb elbow again but Baszler locked on the kirifuda clutch. Rodriguez broke free. Baszler took advantage and rolled up a weakened Rodriguez for the win.
Baszler takes on SmackDown Women's Champion Liv Morgan at Clash as the Castle. After the match, Baszler and Morgan had a staredown.
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In the back, Sami Zayn knocked on the Bloodline's door again. He did everything the Usos asked, but they still wouldn't let him talk to Reigns. Zayn was frustrated, but the Usos yelled at him. They told him he had to start pulling his weight or take off the Bloodline shirt.
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The Viking Raiders defeated Tommy Gibson & Jim Mulkey (1:31)
This was a total squash with the Viking Raiders destroying their opponents. The finish came when Ivar gave Gibson a slam off the second rope. They then gave Mulkey a double powerbomb on Gibson for the win.
After the match, Kofi Kingston ran out and attacked the Raiders with a kendo stick. He cleared the ring, and the fans erupted in a loud "Kofi" chant.
Kofi Kingston defeated Erik (w/Ivar) (3:45)
Kingston and Erik had a good short match.
Pearce made the match during the break. Back from the break, Erik rocked Kingston with a kick to the face. He slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Kingston fought back and hit a flying crossbody for a two-count.
Kingston went for SOS, but Erik slammed him down for a near fall. He followed up with a full nelson into a knee. Kingston recovered and sent Erik to ringside. He followed up with the trust fall dive.
Ivar tried to hit Kingston with the kendo stick, but he missed. Back in the ring, Kingston rolled up Erik for the sudden win.
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Cole and McAfee announced the WWE Women's Tag Team title tournament starts this Monday. The fans popped for the announcement.
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WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos made their way to the ring.
Back from the break, they showed a Gunther vs. Nakamura video package.
Roman Reigns addresses Drew McIntyre
The big news is that Karrison Kross and Scarlett returned. At first, the fans seemed confused, but eventually, Kross and Scarlett got a good reaction. This was a good closing segment to a good SmackDown. The fans were buzzing at the end. The Triple H era continues.
Reigns and The Usos got a good reaction. Reigns demanded South Carolina acknowledge him, and the fans popped. Reigns noted they're on SmackDown to brag about winning at SummerSlam. The fans popped again and cheered.
Reigns mentioned Brock Lesnar, and the fans booed. Reigns added that he hates Lesnar because he tried to kill Paul Heyman. Reigns sent out prayers for Heyman when Drew McIntyre's music interrupted.
McIntyre noted he can't wait until Clash at the Castle. He was about to jump in the ring.
Suddenly, Karrion Kross's music hit. Kross returned and attacked McIntyre at ringside. Scarlett returned as well and placed the hourglass in the ring. Reigns and The Usos watched. Kross and Scarlett posed the end a good SmackDown.
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Next Week: Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Shinsuke Nakamura.
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