:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49310537/CesNat.0.0.png)
Tonight's episode of SmackDown was filmed on Tuesday night in San Diego. We've got a spoiler report for you here. If you just want to get ready for the show without knowing who wins and loses, read on!
The Headliner
Booty-Os, and their spokesmen, WWE Tag Team champions The New Day, are holding a tournament to answer a question we've been asking for a good little while... who are the #1 contenders for those titles?
After Monday, there's still a decent chance the next challengers will be one of the teams who Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods have fought several times in the past few months, since the Dudleyz and Usos both advanced. If Jimmy & Jey are healthy after the beating Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows put on them after the defeated Social Outcasts, that is.
Back to tonight, however, we have the last two first round match-ups, featuring two of the newest groups on the main roster scene. A team that never held NXT tag gold will square off against the duo who held those belts the longest when Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady face The Ascension. A second round showdown with Enzo & Cass' microphone rivals, Bubba Ray & D-Von awaits the winners.
Meanwhile, R-Truth & Goldust are FINALLY supposed to climb in the ring as tag partners when they battle the Vaudevillains for the right to face the Usos.
Do not, however, expect positive shenanigans, unicorn-themed or otherwise. New Day boarded the early plans for Europe on Monday night along with about the half the roster.
The Title Scene
Among those already in Italy is WWE World Heavyweight champ Roman Reigns, but the man he'll face at Payback is on tonight's show (and not injured!). AJ Styles will look to continue building momentum after a big win over Sami Zayn on Monday night.
Having his lady by his side and the Intercontinental title around his waist aren't the only things Miz has gained since WrestleMania - he also has a new challenger. The recently returned Cesaro took down Kevin Owens on Raw, and will now be gunning for Miz's belt at the next pay-per-view (PPV).
Talk show host and psychologist Dr. Phil might have raised some doubts in Women's champion Charlotte's mind about her father's dirty tricks, but those were likely erased when Ric Flair provided the distraction which means her submission to Natalya from Monday night went unnoticed. It does give the Total Divas star a justification for a rematch, however.
The red, white and blue United States title is still Kalisto's, but since defeating Ryback on the Grandest Stage of Them All, he's been back with his tag partner Sin Cara. But their loss to the Dudleyz in a round one match-up, and some confusion which lead to an injury scare for the champ, could be setting the duo up as future rivals.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- Kevin Owens had to be kicked out of the building by Shane McMahon to keep him from interfering in Sami's match with AJ, so it's safe to say they still dislike each other.
- The rivalry between Emma and Becky Lynch may not have gotten any TV time Monday night, but it sure did get a lot more personal.
- After losing his talk show to Dean Ambrose, Chris Jericho probably hates the Lunatic Fringe even more than he did last week. Maybe even more than he hates babies.
- Unfortunately, one injury scare which didn't turn out to be nothing befell Bray Wyatt, and just after he found his calling as a hot tag and firer of human bullets.
(Note: I know some folks have come looking for a more definitive match listing - that will be posted behind spoiler text in the comments. If WWE.com releases more information on anything that's officially going to take place on tonight's show, that'll be updated here)