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WWE SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (Sept. 11, 2020) with a show from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Tonight’s lineup includes an explanation from Bayley, Jeff Hardy vs. AJ Styles for the Intercontinental title, a new member in the Firefly Fun House, and more!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on FOX. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR SEPT. 11
What did I do? What did I say? What must I pay to get you to talk to me? Just until the night is over, and I’m done liveblogging this here pro wrestling show for these folks.
The show opens with a graphic commemorating the September 11 attacks.
We get a video package hyping up Roman Reigns’ new alliance with Paul Heyman and his Universal Championship victory, and Jey Uso becoming #1 contender to that title.
Roman Reigns makes his entrance, Paul E at his side.
Heyman gets on the mic and says our tribal chief has authorized him to enlighten us about some recent history. He talks about the events of the last two weeks leading to Jey Uso stepping up and becoming #1 contender to the Universal Championship and says he has the honor and privilege of introducing Jey right now.
Uso comes out and says Paul goes way back with his family and he loves him, so he wanted to thank him to his face, because now he gets to compete against his blood, his cousin, Roman Reigns. Heyman says he doesn’t owe him any thanks and the appreciation should actually go to Roman. When Big E got taken out, it was his idea for Jey to replace him in the fatal four-way.
Reigns says he doesn’t have to thank him, they’re blood and they’ve thought about this for years. He’s proud of Jey and the whole family is proud of him for earning this. He’s about to be in the main event of Clash of Champions and take a huge payday home to his family, so this is his moment. At Clash of Champions, it’s not gonna be his moment, because he’s gonna whoop his ass just like when they were kids, and the title has to stay on his shoulders, understand?
He’s gonna whoop his ass, and then it’s gonna be all love. Uso says they’re not kids, they’re grown men, and it’s different now.
Enter King Baron Corbin.
He comes out kvetching about how this was a setup all along, alleging that Uso’s contendership is a classic case of nepotism, and there’s nothing he despises more than watching someone walk around and abuse their power.
Enter Sheamus.
He talks about beating Big E down last week and complains that the match should have become a three-way as a result. Jey asks him if he wanted more time to prepare, so how about this? He pitches a tag team match, Blood vs. Butt Mud. Sheamus attacks, Jey sends him to the floor, Corbin eats a right hand and gets posted shoulder-first!
Commentary hypes up an appearance from Bayley later as well as a four-way #1 contender’s match to determine who she’ll wrestle at Clash of Champions and an Intercontinental Championship match between AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy.
Sami Zayn is shown in the TV truck complaining about that match, ordering the production crew to delete the graphic and accidentally sending us to break.
Back from commercial we get a hype reel for Connor’s Cure.
AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy (c) (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
Sami Zayn interrupts during introductions and says this match isn’t for the title because he’s the champion. He recounts the story of winning the title and taking time off and says if they want to beat each other up, fine, but it’s an exhibition match and he wants it on the record.
Five-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce rolls up with security and says he’s not here to decide if the title match is legitimate, he’s here to escort Zayn out. Sami leaves, complaining all the while, and Styles cheap-shots Hardy in the ring! Referee Dan Engler calls for the bell!
Twist of Fate in the corner right away, Jeff headed up top, nobody home on the Swanton Bomb and we go to break!
Back from commercial, Hardy runs the ropes but Styles throws him out through the ropes! AJ putting boots to him on the floor, Jeff manages to put Styles into the steel steps for breathing room and follows it up with a leaping leg lariat! Back inside, off the ropes, elbow, Manhattan Drop but Styles gets the knees up on the double leg drop!
Back and forth, into the corner... WHISPER IN THE WIND! NO DICE! Twist of Fate countered into the Ushigoroshi, only two! Styles Clash blocked, reversed, double leg drop and the basement dropkick, big splash, just a nearfall for the Charismatic Enigma! Catch the kick, elbows to the injured knee but Hardy fires back with the leg-feed mule kick!
AJ trips him up in the corner and draws himself up on the apron, but Sami Zayn is back at ringside and pulls him off the apron! Engler has no choice...
AJ Styles wins by disqualification.
Post-match, Zayn hits the Helluva Kick on Hardy and stands tall with his title!
We’re informed that Bray Wyatt will introduce his new friend later tonight.
We cut backstage where Jey Uso is excitedly talking strategy for their tag match tonight while Roman Reigns sits, pensive.
We see Jeff Hardy leaving under his own power before stumbling and falling on the ramp.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, an interviewer is hanging out outside of the trainer’s room, saying that final reports aren’t in, but Jeff Hardy collapsed due to dehydration.
AJ Styles rolls up to complain that Hardy cheated and Sami Zayn showed up after months off, so he’s the real champ and he’s going to prove it.
Commentary recaps the Raw vs. SmackDown tag segment from last week and we cut to Street Profits showing up backstage here on SmackDown.
Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura say they have a match next and they don’t have time for their nonsense, and the Profits say they’ll keep the championship lounge nice and tidy for them while they watch their match and scout them for next week.
Lucha House Party get an inset promo where Kalisto talks up his partners.
We cut backstage where AJ Styles is attacking Jeff Hardy before the match can begin.
Artist Collective (Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura) vs. Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik & Kalisto)
Cesaro and Metalik to start, Swiss Superman with a knee lift, whip to the corner, charge in, sidestep. Gran off the ropes, duck a lariat, satellite headscissors sets up a side kick, walk the ropes, Frankensteiner connects and he makes the tag! Nakamura in as well, and he starts isolating Kalisto and working him over in the corner.
Quick tags, but Street Profits interrupt throwing a party in the championship lounge, Cesaro is distracted...
Lucha House Party win by pinfall with a schoolboy from Kalisto on Cesaro.
We see Bayley walking backstage and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we go in the champions’ lounge with Street Profits and their party as Lucha House Party join the fun and celebrate their victory.
Bayley makes her entrance and we get a recap of her vicious turn on Sasha Banks.
She gets on the mic and says after all that, everybody’s asking how Sasha is and when she’s going to be back, but nobody’s asking her how she feels. Do you think she enjoyed destroying her best friend with a steel chair? Well, ding dong hello, yes she did, she loved every single second of it.
Now she’s out here because everybody wants answers, and she asks Sasha if she’s some kind of idiot, because nobody knows her better, and she knows Banks was waiting for the perfect time to turn on her. She pretended to be her best friend, but all along, she was using her, and how does Bayley know? Because she was using her, too.
She never cared about her or their friendship, she used her every single step of the way, and thanks to her she became Bayley Dos Straps. But after last week, she’s completely useless to her.
She leaves, Nikki Cross makes her entrance... AND BAYLEY RETURNS TO BLAST HER WITH A STEEL CHAIR BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK!
Back from commercial, Alexa Bliss and trainers are checking on Nikki Cross.
Alexa Bliss vs. Lacey Evans vs. Nikki Cross vs. Tamina (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match)
Down to Tamina and Evans after the initial chaos, Lacey uses a handful of hair to choke Snuka out in the ropes! Bliss back in, throwing strikes, circling on Evans, Insault to Injury gets cut off after the knees when Tamina lays her out with a lariat! Drawing her up, whip to the corner, body avalanche into a choke but Lacey scrapes Snuka’s eyes across the top rope!
Senton de la Muerte countered with a kick to the ribs and Evans falls to the floor! Alexa and Tamina out with her, Cross dives on them with a crossbody and pays for it! Bliss, almost on autopilot, draws Nikki up and hits Sister Abigail on her to send us to break!
Back from commercial, Tamina is in control on Evans and we’re informed that Bliss walked out during the break. Snuka with a shoulder thrust, sidestep, knees from the apron, drop toehold puts Tamina into the corner and Lacey hits the Senton de la Muerte! Headed up top, double jump moonsault... NIKKI CROSS BREAKS IT UP!
Cross fired up, bulldog combo gets two! Tamina sidesteps a charge, Cross with a back elbow, tornado DDT connects! Arm wringer, Regal Cutter takes Evans out but Snuka breaks the pin up! Woman’s Right takes Tamina out, Cross ducking and dodging, dragon screw neck whip... SNUKA BREAKS IT UP! Fireman’s carry, Nikki slips out...
Nikki Cross wins by pinfall with a folding press on Tamina to become #1 contender to the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Otis Dozovic makes his entrance, he’ll be in action after the break.
Back from commercial, we get a vignette of a lady putting her bra on, pulling stockings up, putting her heels on, putting some kind of sparkly skirt and top, and having a fur coat put on her before the camera snaps away with no further indication of her identity.
John Morrison vs. Otis Dozovic
Miz is on commentary for this one.
Otis in control, off the ropes, Morrison floats over but Dozer nails him with an elbow. Jawbreaker for separation, Johnny SmackDown with kicks but Otis shrugs ‘em off and gets rolling. Spinning body slam, Morrison sidesteps a charge and passes the Money in the Bank lunchbox that actually holds the contract to Miz, who runs off with it.
Dozovic with a Stinger Splash, it’s Caterpillar time! Up top...
Otis Dozovic wins by pinfall with a Vader Bomb.
Commentary hypes up our new Firefly Fun House and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Heavy Machinery are chasing after Miz backstage, but Otis stops Tucker and opens his briefcase.
He reveals that Miz might have A lunchbox, but he doesn’t have the Money in the Bank contract. Dozer nibbles on the contract and we cut away.
Miz has the lunchbox and Morrison says the Money in the Bank contract is non-transferable. Miz says he talked to his lawler and there’s loopholes, but when he opens the lunchbox, he finds only an apple core. Miz calls a favor in and we cut away.
Bray Wyatt welcomes us to Firefly Fun House and says there’s something he’s been meaning to get off his chest. As we can see, thanks to Roman Reigns, something very special is missing from the Fun House. But it’s okay, and everyone experiences loss, and that defines the person you become.
Now for some fun! He goes over to Huskus and says the newest member of the Firefly Fun House is in a hat box on the counter. He’s very special and an inspiration to all of his Fireflies. Please join him in welcoming Pasquale the Perservering Parrot! He checks on the box and we cut to a technical difficulties screen.
We cut back and we find out that Pasquale is dead because he didn’t cut air holes into the box. Devil Vince shows up to berate Bray for losing the title, the parrot, and his trust, and says he can’t handle the responsibility of the Firefly Fun House by himself, and he better fully cooperate or he’s... he’s...
Bray cuts him off and Vince introduces the new special advisor to the Firefly Fun House... a walrus that’s clearly meant to be Paul Heyman. His name is Wobbly Walrus, you see.
Butt Mud (yes, I’m running with it) make their entrance to send us to break.
Butt Mud (King Baron Corbin & Sheamus) vs. the Bloodline (Jey Uso & Roman Reigns)
Butt Mud attack Jey Uso during his entrance and work him over while they wait for Roman Reigns! The bell rings, Uso lights ‘em up, fighting them both off until Corbin hits Deep Six for two! Working him over, but Jey’s wrestling IQ keeps him right on the cusp of being in the fight. Superkick sets up a Samoan Drop and he gets right back into it!
Ode to Rikishi sidestepped, Sheamus in, White Noise... NOPE! The Big Dog is here and Jey rallies! Up top, diving crossbody caught, Uso slips away and heads up top, Reigns tags in, diving splash but Jey doesn’t realize he’s not legal! Roman waits for him to clear out and for the Celtic Warrior to rise...
The Bloodline win by pinfall with a spear from Roman Reigns on Sheamus.
Reigns and Uso share an uneasy moment in victory on the stage.
That’s the show, folks.