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WWE SmackDown opened with a recap of the Hardy-Sheamus incident from the last two weeks. A contract signing was set between the two for tonight and Sheamus came out to the ring with a shady looking doctor and some security guys carrying a barricade of some sort. Jeff Hardy came out and they started bickering just like on last week's SmackDown.
Sheamus said that Jeff had to take a drug test before he would sign the match contract and called him a junkie yet again. Jeff agreed to the test and Sheamus said Dr. whatever-his-name-was had a rapid test ready.
Jeff did what was asked of him and Sheamus kept mouthing off on him while the doctor was doing his thing. While Sheamus was going on with his PSA about drug use, Jeff took the beaker and threw the amber liquid in Sheamus' face before walking out of the SmackDown ring.
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Backstage on SmackDown, Sheamus was washing his face when the doctor came in to tell him that Jeff's test came back negative.
The New Day vs. Cesaro & Nakamura on SmackDown
Cesaro and Kofi kicked off the first match on tonight's SmackDown before Nakamura was tagged in early and the tag champs looked to be in trouble. Kofi managed to make the tag to Big E who tossed his teammate over the ropes onto Nakamura outside.
Cesaro hit an uppercut at ringside and took out Big E as we cut for commercials. Back to the ring, Kofi hit a dive after fending off attacks from Nakamura but the Artist got his knees up in time. Nakamura went for an awkward roll-up and got the pin rather unceremoniously on SmackDown.
Result: Cesaro & Nakamura def. The New Day
Match rating: C
Tucker and Otis were back to their shenanigans backstage while Sheamus and Jeff hardy came in brawling.
Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles - Intercontinental Championship Tournament Final on SmackDown
Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles were out next on SmackDown for the IC title tournament final. Bryan took control early with a hold and AJ reversed it before taking a dropkick. Bryan sent AJ outside and hit a huge dive as we went to commercials on SmackDown.
We returned to see Styles take down Bryan with a dropkick before continuing to work on Bryan's arm and shoulder. Bryan locked in an inverted surfboard of sorts before hitting knee strikes to AJ. They traded roll-ups before knocking each other out by crashing into one another.
Bryan was now damaging AJ's arm and Styles had to struggle to get out of the hold. AJ dodged a big move and locked up Bryan on the ropes before he was dropped on the top rope by Daniel. Bryan hit a Frankensteiner but missed the Yes kicks before both men took each other down once more with clotheslines, leading us to another ad break on SmackDown.
Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles - Intercontinental Championship Tournament Final on SmackDown (contd...)
SmackDown resumed as the match was heating up again and AJ went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Bryan reversed it into an armbar. AJ reversed the armbar into a calf crusher and Bryan reversed once more into the armbar before breaking the hold.
Bryan got a near fall off a kick and Styles went up top but Bryan met him there for a back suplex. It was looking like this match was going to take up most of tonight's SmackDown as we went to commercials once more.
We returned to see AJ hit a Pele kick and a brainbuster for another near fall. Bryan went from the Ankle lock to a German Suplex but AJ kicked out. Bryan went for the Yes Lock but AJ got his foot on the ropes.
Bryan was going for the running knee but AJ caught him in the Styles Clash before hitting The Phenomenal Forearm. He got the three-count and became the new WWE IC Champion.
Result: AJ Styles def. Daniel Bryan to become the new Intercontinental Champion
Match rating: A+
After the match on SmackDown, AJ Styles said he was the best champion WWE has ever seen and reminded us that he was still phenomenal.
We got a recap of Braun's feud with Miz & Morrison before Strowman came on and said that if Tucker and Otis tried anything, they were going to get obliterated.
Sasha Banks and Bayley were out next on SmackDown to celebrate their tag team title win and were being booed by the 'audience'. They gave a short speech about being unstoppable before Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross interrupted them.
The IIconics were on the Titantron to say that they were going to end Sasha and Bayley's title reign on Sunday before the champs were attacked and driven out of the ring by Bliss and Cross.
Miz & Morrison were about to unveil their new music video on SmackDown but Braun Strowman cut it short by making his entrance for the upcoming six-man tag team match. Braun was set to team up with Otis and Tucker to face the team of Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and John Morrison.
Braun Strowman & Heavy Machinery vs. Dolph Ziggler, Miz & Morrison
Otis still has the Money in the Bank briefcase and could attack Braun at any point during or after the match on SmackDown. Ziggler was up first and Otis wanted to come in but Ziggler ran outside and gave Miz the tag to start the main event of SmackDown.
Otis tagged in Tucker early and Morrison came in as well who was taken down off a counter from a springboard move. Ziggler came in and Tucker tagged in Otis as the Machinery sent Braun crashing into Dolph in the corner.
King Corbin showed up on the Titantron and was talking to Mandy when Otis ran out fight Corbin as we headed for a commercial break on SmackDown.
Back to the match, Team Strowman was outnumbered but Otis came back after a bit. Ziggler was sent out by Otis before Braun ran into him and tossed him back in for Otis to get the win off the Caterpillar elbow drop.
Result: Braun Strowman & Heavy Machinery def. Dolph Ziggler, Miz & Morrison
Match rating: A
Episode rating: A
An amazing title match was the highlight of SmackDown tonight while Jeff and Sheamus' opening segment was quite hilarious. The main event did not disappoint either. Overall, it was a short but decent go-home episode before Backlash.
An unexpected name just challenged Randy Orton RIGHT HERE.
