Bash in Berlin was indeed a banger to behold that I’m glad I didn’t miss it. There were far too many funny things to laugh at, such as the Judgment Day’s attempt at thwarting Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley’s chances of winning.
Ha! JD McDonagh did the death drop, something fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race would understand, after he got punched by Priest right off the apron. You cannot convince me otherwise. Even Damian looked baffled. I decided to film it for your pleasure.
During Cody and Kevin’s match, I felt sorry for Owens not being able to capture gold like he wanted, he looked devastated despite hugging Rhodes on his retention. I was surprised to hear that Owens hasn’t held singles gold in over seven years. This had to be a must win. Regardless of that, Kevin did amazingly.
And speaking of amazing, Jade and Bianca getting their Tag Team Championships back made me happy. But this is no discredit to the Unholy Unison, they were stupendous as well.
Onto tonight’s proceedings, instead of waiting to be interrupted like he knew he would be, Cody invites Solo to the stage. Once he enters the ring, Sikoa motions the rest of the Bloodline to remain outside of it.
Sikoa knows what he wants in the Undisputed Championship, so he reckons he deserves a rematch given the nonsense that transpired at SummerSlam at the hands of Roman Reigns. The fans continue to foolishly chant that man’s name… completely forgetting what happened while Reigns held that title.
However, color me shocked when Solo assumed that Cody was talking about him when Rhodes mentions someone stepping out of the Tribal Chief’s shadow, and it wasn’t Sikoa he was referring to. It was Jacob Fatu? Hmm. Sikoa looked bewildered.
We can either see this as a manipulative tactic, or a genuine attempt at offering Fatu an opportunity. Jacob looks to calm Solo’s suspicions by telling him he loves his Tribal Chief. Anyway, Cody denies Solo’s chance. Alas, Sikoa understood something else. Ha! Ha! We might not have to wait till next week, but God knows when this will officially take place.
In typical Bloodline fashion, they surrounded Cody 4-on-1, yet those were the odds before DIY and the Street Profits showed up. They just kept sliding in… Ha! Unfortunately, Nick Aldis gets in between these men in order to sanction an 8-man Tag Team match main event where the Bloodline go up against the Profits and DIY.
Also, to add more sweetener to the menu, Aldis has officiated a title match with Sikoa and Rhodes next week in a Steel Cage to prevent the Tongas and Fatu from interfering. Great call, Nick! He knows it’s getting old. It’s a shame that he just realized this NOW.
Backstage, Nia Jax confronts Stratton about her actions of last week when she appeared to have wanted to cash-in her contract on a fallen Jax. With that in mind, Nia cautions Tiffany while also informing her that she might be at ringside during her upcoming match with Bayley.
Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton
Although Stratton had Bayley trapped in the corner, that upper hand didn’t last long once her opponent got out of there and yanked on her arm. Tiffany kicks out at two after suffering that running clothesline.
Stratton was looking for the Alabama Slam on the main floor, yet Bayley managed to escape it. However, she couldn’t protect herself from Tiffy’s massive double stomp on the apron. That changed the momentum of the match in her favour. Stratton was in control of Bayley until that sudden collision in the middle. Tiffy hit the mat hard.
Stratton decides to focus her attacks on Bayley’s left arm by slamming it against the post. Bayley fights back by suplexing Stratton on the floor. Tiffany kicks out of Bayley’s flying elbow.
The damage Stratton caused to Bayley’s arm began to show, but Nia’s presence added to that as well. Because of that, Stratton pinned Bayley with the Alabama Slam. The Role Model returns fire with a belly-to-belly suplex, yet she took her eye off the ball when she suicide dived after Jax.
Bayley was still able to win, though, due to Jax’s miscalculated interference as she delivers a successful Rose Plant. Ha! Sucks to be Tiffy.
Winner: Bayley
Elsewhere, Kevin Owens somehow managed to bamboozle Grayson Waller and Austin Theory into entering a Triple Treat match with him later tonight after they thought they were being smart for talking smack to Owens. Ha! I love him!
While Owens is having a chat with Aldis, Grayson tries to convince Theory that this could just end up being a Handicap match since they’re friends. That implosion is coming, I guarantee it.
Giovanni Vinci vs. Apollo Crews
Okay… well, given how much Giovanni enjoyed flaunting himself knowing this was his big comeback, he lost in a matter of three seconds as Apollo drags him from behind into a stacked pin.
Dear Lord, that was embarrassing. Ha! Ha! Ha! “Great debut, man!” shouts Crews
Winner: Apollo Crews
The one line that came out of Chelsea Green’s mouth that I actually liked was when she was complaining to Aldis about what happened to her on NXT this past Tuesday as she said, “Did you see what Giulia did to me at NXT, or are you too busy shopping on uglypocketsquare.com?” Ha! Ha! That’s a great line. Aldis seemed unbothered.
But like all her appearances, she manages to say or do something absolutely stupid like getting herself in a match against Michin. Bravo!
Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory vs. Grayson Waller – Triple Treat/Handicap match?
Owens shoots out of the gates blazing through his challengers with ease, but that’s only because it’s the early flurries these kinds of matches normally have. Soon after, Waller and Theory double teamed against Owens. Luckily, Kevin plants Grayson through a table he set up.
It has become a one-on-one match between Owens and Theory since Waller hasn’t gotten up yet. Kevin has been pounding away at Austin. Unfortunately, Theory was able to turn things around with a big elbow. That streak was squashed once he got caught by Owens’ DDT plus a Cannonball.
Waller was finally able to get up in time to thwart Owens’ cover attempt on Austin. Kevin fights back with a huge forearm to the face. Just as Theory strikes Kevin as well, he got mad when Waller decided to cover him, so he pulled him off.
Even with the obvious voice of reason closing in on him, Theory remains brainwashed by Waller. As we move on from that, they try to superplaex Owens, unfortunately for them, Kevin bangs their heads together. He also catches Theory by surprise with a rolling Senton from the top.
It’s Grayson’s turn at attempting to superplex Owens, and he failed as he collides with a Fisherman’s Buster. The way this match ended was the funniest thing. Theory looked like a cartoon character when he got Stunned. Why the living hell…? Ha!
Of course, that didn’t sit right with these two babies as they inflict further destruction on the Prize Fighter.
Winner: Kevin Owens
Now, we welcome the US Champion LA Knight to the stage. It’s only natural for Carmelo Hayes and Andrade to interrupt, it felt fitting given they’ve been vining for that title, too. Hayes doesn’t think LA Knight’s bragging should be credited since he claims to be carrying SmackDown on his back for the past several weeks. I’d say months, but who cares?
Knight notes that his two title defences were more than his predecessor ever had while he was Champion, which shows how much care the Megastar is putting into this belt. So, it very well matters despite Hayes’ opinion on the subject.
Although most of Andrade’s words later on were in Spanish, I understood one word: El Campeòn. He wants to be Champion. But, never mind all that, a brawl commences between the men.
Michin vs. Chelsea Green
In the early goings, Michin leaves Chelsea in a daze, constantly swerving around like a snake. Even with the slight injury to her ribs from last week’s Street Fight Championship match versus Nia, Michin is doing well enough.
Green uses the separation to kick Michin in her injured ribs to gain the upper hand. She continues her assault and focus on the ribcage. Michin fights back by dragging Chelsea down to the mat by spinning her around from the neck.
Chelsea nearly had Michin due to that distraction Piper Niven provided. Michin follows suit with a suicide dive onto Green. That was good until it fell flat later on.
Michin was far too swayed by Piper’s presence that she got knocked out by Green. While she laid on the floor, Niven delivered a Senton to Michin’s already painful ribs. So, Chelsea annoyingly wins with the Unprettier.
Winner: Chelsea Green
On the season premiere of SmackDown moving to USA TV programming, Waller and Theory have issued a Tag Team match against Kevin Owens and whoever wants to tag with him for next week. Andrade and Carmelo Part Five with 2-2 apiece is happening for our viewing pleasure. And of course, the Steel Cage match for the Undisputed Championship is a must see.
The Bloodline vs. The Street Profits & DIY – 8-man Tag Team match
Both teams wasted little time as soon as DIY entered the ring, they started throwing fists in a matter of seconds. Despite wanting the same thing, DIY and the Street Profits have to be on the same side at least for tonight. You know they mean business when Ciampa and Gargano don’t do their usual pandering with the fans.
Once things begin to die down, Dawkins and Loa go after one another inside the ring. The Profits already have Loa reeling. At some point, Loa was able to deliver a clothesline to Ford and tag his brother in, so they could perform a double team.
Gargano comes in with a slingshot spear to Tama Tonga. DIY were doing fine for the most part, but the moment Jacob tagged himself in, he ploughed Ciampa down so hard that I thought he either severed his head or broke his jaw and nose. Oof…
Fatu brings in Sikoa as he flings Ciampa over the commentary desk. The Bloodline have been dominating most of this match, yet Tommaso was able to buy himself some space when he dodged an incoming bullet known as Jacob Fatu as he collided with the post.
The Bloodline kept trying to prevent Ciampa from making a tag, however, Tama was met with a suplex. The weirdest thing was that when Ciampa was able to tag his team, he brought in both Dawkins and Gargano at the same time. They worked well together despite the confusion. Ford flies and down goes Fatu.
Dawkins, Gargano, Ford and Ciampa nearly got the win with Angelo’s neck breaker on Solo, which would have been a shock. For that to never happen, Sikoa surprised Tommaso with the Spinning Solo.
Everything starts to break loose the moment that Ciampa superplexes Tama onto everyone outside the ring. Ford tried to help Tommaso back inside.
Montez covered Tama with the 450, yet Jacob came out of nowhere with a Senton. Barely a two count.. Fatu wrecks shop as a one one-man wrecking crew. The Impellor shut Ford quickly, then it became very easy for Sikoa’s Samoan Spike to finish the job.
Winners: The Bloodline
TOP PHOTO: Sikoa and Rhodes talking. Courtesy of WWE
