Friday Night SmackDown emanated this week from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois as the blue brand lands on American soil once again following WWE’s tour of Europe.
Becky Lynch was seen arriving to the venue in a long black car. It was mentioned that her and fellow Raw wrestler/Chicago native CM Punk were in the building, coming after Lynch helped her husband Seth Rollins retain his World Heavyweight Championship at Clash in Paris last Sunday.
Cathy Kelley was backstage with the WWE Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton, who would be competing in a championship rematch from SummerSlam against Jade Cargill on next week’s episode. Asking Stratton for a response to Jade’s argument that her foot was on the rope, the Buff Barbie says that Cargill says a lot of things. Stratton thought she liked the sound of her own voice, but it turns out that Jade loves to run her mouth, saying that nobody’s on her level, that she’s going take the title, that she’s The Storm, but all that talk ends next week once that bell rings, and Jade won’t have to worry about her foot having to be on those ropes because her foot is going to be stuck right up her ass “eye of the storm”. She then bids Kelley goodbye, and the roving reporter wishes her good luck.
Jade Cargill was watching from the locker room when Nia Jax walks in, with both mentioning how the other woman has lost to Stratton. Jax says that Cargill doesn’t deserve to be the #1 contender, getting very lucky with an easy victory when Becky ditched her a few weeks back in Dublin. Cargill retorts and states that when she wins the Women’s Championship from that “blown up Barbie”, the Irresistible Force can come get her shot, but until then, advises her to get out of her way or catch her hands. Jax says “we’ll see about that” and leaves.
Becky Lynch was in the office of general manager Nick Aldis, scrolling and swiping on her phone when the boss of the blue brand walked in. Aldis says that he was not aware that he was going to see her tonight. He has been dealing with a lot and knows that CM Punk is in the building, so it is no surprise that she is here, but cannot have any more issues. Lynch says that she never causes issues, but will give him some space and walks away.
Announced only hours before the show went on the air, Giulia was set to defend her Women’s United States Championship against Michin in her second overall defense.
The two start with punches, with Michin keeping the action fast-paced in the early goings, trying to stay one step ahead of The Beautiful Madness. Michin would go for a baseball slide, at which point Giulia would hit a neckbreaker to the floor before the first commercial break. When the show returned, the two remained neck-and-neck, punching away at each other. Michin would hit a headbutt that dazed Giulia, but the champ wouldn’t stay down as the two hit German suplexes on each other. The two continued employing more strikes but would soon fall to the mat.
Eager for a victory, Michin would execute a cannonball on Giulia, but would not put her away as she kicked out at 2. An attempt at Eat Defeat was countered into a Northern lights bomb from Giulia, but Michin wouldn’t let up and also kicked out.
As Kiana James grew frustrated from the outside, the legal representative would get up on the ring apron, with Michin sending Giulia into the ropes and sending James onto the floor. Whether one could consider that a distraction or an accident, it doesn’t matter, as the commotion was enough for Giulia to hit the Arrivederci knee on Michin and pin her to retain the Women’s United States Championship.
With Giulia raising her title up high, James would attack Michin, seemingly in revenge for last week’s roll-up victory, only to be pulled away by referee Daphanie LaShaunn.
Charlotte Flair was in the trainer’s room, tending to her leg, which was still hurt after last week’s attack by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre. The Queen was upset and wondered why nothing good ever happens to her when she’s in Chicago, but her overdramatic self-talk ended when Alexa Bliss walked in. Mentioning that “Dr. Lilly” will see her now, Bliss brought a stethoscope, even though Flair told her to get a real doctor, as she was supposed to be cleared yesterday. Bliss told her not to worry as she checked her heartbeat, adding that they will get revenge, but now is not the right time because she needs to relax, rest, and let the power of friendship heal her pain. Bliss walked away, but left Lilly behind, with Flair lastly asking the doll, “So what, am I not cleared? Seriously?”.
Seth Rollins crashed the show to introduce the “greatest female wrestler in the history of planet Earth”, the current Women’s Intercontinental Champion, and his “sexy, brilliant, incredible, Irish wife”, Becky Lynch.
Lynch would then make her way out, chastising the Chicago crowd, criticizing the local sports teams and of course, saying that CM Punk sucks. That would bring out the Voice of the Voiceless, who grabbed a mic to bring attention to her “coward of a husband” Rollins, who was standing at a flight of stairs next to all the paying fans in attendance. The Man says that their problem is her problem, asking him if he’s embarrassed. Punk says that he has nothing to be embarrassed about and reiterates that Rollins is a “coward of a husband” who hides behind Paul Heyman, his teammates in The Vision, and Lynch. Punk states that their problems have nothing to do with her.
Lynch continues to mock Punk, asking him how his face and pride are feeling. The crowd begins to chant for a name we haven’t seen in 10 years, but Lynch loudly yells at them to shut up. Punk encourages it, though, and tells Lynch that if it bothers her so much, she shouldn’t have stuck her nose in his business. They are in Chicago, as he mentions that he could pick just about anyone to beat her ass – one of his sisters, Bayley, Rhea Ripley. Lynch does not take his words seriously and begins to slap him repeatedly, intending to provoke some sort of reaction.
Punk doesn’t give in and leaves the ring, as Lynch gloats and calls him an embarrassment to the city of Chicago. Punk replies and says that he wanted to avoid this situation, because they both know he would never put his hands on a lady. Thankfully, he’s got somebody who will…
A familiar piece of music fills the arena, and the crowd roars because this can only mean one thing: the long-awaited and much anticipated return of AJ Lee. After 10 years away from WWE, she’s back!
The “crazy chick” appears on the stage, and it’s obvious that some things just never change. Donning her spider shirt, ripped jean shorts, and classic Vans, Lee skips to the ring and sits on the middle rope, standing eye-to-eye with a flustered and fearful Lynch. Tackling Lynch to the ground, Lee throws a series of punches to a loud ovation. Rollins and Lynch soon retreat, realizing that their attempt to undermine Punk backfired badly.
And based on what happened once the show was off the air… well, perhaps there’s a title she’d like to add to her collection… and she may just be the next Diva to challenge for it.
Friday Night SmackDown airs next week from inside the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, with the following set to take place:
Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
As always, make sure to share your thoughts on this week’s episode of SmackDown in the comments below.