Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live opens up from The Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. Greg Hamilton is in the ring and he asks the crowd to stand for an 11-bell salute and a moment of silence to remember the victims of The September 11th, 2001 attacks. Fans start chanting USA after the salute and the moment of silence.
We go right to the ring for tonight’s opening match as Jeff Hardy heads out. Tom Phillips welcomes us to tonight’s show and he is joined by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton. Jeff Hardy makes his way down to the ring as the commentary team plugs tonight’s matches.
Jeff Hardy gets on the mic and talks about how we all face our demons and how he has overcome his, but on Sunday, he faces his most venomous demon. A serpent that he will confront in his own paradise, Hell in a Cell. Hardy then says that Randy Orton doesn’t know what it’s like to fight somebody that’s cast out their own demons, and additionally he’s a daredevil and he has no fear.
Hardy then says that he is going to beat Randy Orton until he fades away and classifies himself as obsolete, but first he has to cleanse a demon of his recent past, Shinsuke Nakamura, and after that he is going straight to hell. Hardy then says to enjoy the show.
Jeff Hardy vs. WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (Non-Title Match): Jeff starts off strong with a jawbreaker, and things quickly fall out to ringside. Jeff springboards off the ring steps for a splash on Nakamura against the fan barricade. Back in the ring, Nakamura fights back and tries to keep Hardy grounded with a chin lock. Hardy fights up and repeatedly slams Nakamura’s head into the turnbuckles. Jeff looks for a jawbreaker, but Nakamura stops him with a knee to the face. Nakamura lays into Hardy now with knees to the body. Hardy starts to fight back, but Nakamura shuts him down with a spinning kick to the head. Nakamura looks for a shot in the corner, but Hardy dodges it and hits the Sling Blade, and both men are down. They fight into the corner and Jeff hits the Whisper In The Wind. Jeff goes back up for the finish, but Nakamura gets up and knocks him out. Nakamura sends Hardy crashing down out to ringside, and Nakamura takes a breather in the ring. Nakamura brings Jeff back inside and then lays into him with kicks in the corner. Nakamura follows up with a running knee to the face, and Hardy looks hurt. Nakamura looks for the Kinshasa, but Jeff dodges it. Nakamura misses a couple of kicks, and Jeff capitalizes with a Twist of Fate. Jeff goes up top for the Swanton Bomb, but then Randy Orton comes from nowhere and knocks Hardy down to the ringside floor. Winner via DQ: Jeff Hardy
After the match, fans continue to boo as Orton beats up on Hardy on the outside. Orton slams Hardy’s head into the steps and ring post several times. Orton rolls Hardy into the ring and grabs a steel chair. Orton brings the chair into the ring and stalks Hardy. Hardy gets up and Orton smacks him in the back with the chair. Orton with a chair shot to the ribs and another over the back. Orton poses and plays to the crowd but the boos get louder. Orton drops to the mat and waits for Hardy to get back up. Hardy blocks the RKO and goes for a Twist of Fate but that’s blocked. Hardy grabs the chair and unloads on Orton with it as fans pop. Orton falls down and the chair shots continue. Hardy nails a Twist of Fate next. Hardy goes to the top rope and hits a Swanton Bomb next. Orton rolls out of the ring in pain as Hardy stands tall while his music hits.
Commentary hypes up our main event of Brie Bella vs. Maryse and we go backstage for an interview with The Miz and Maryse.
The Miz objects to being introduced first since Maryse has the spotlight tonight. Maryse says that it took Daniel Bryan three years to come back and it only took her five months after giving birth, so yeah, she thinks she’s ready and she’s gonna make her husband proud and show her daughter how good she is at punching Brie in the face. The Miz scoffs at Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella being called The Yes! Couple. The Miz then says that they’re more like The “Sure” Couple. The Miz then says that Bryan just wants to pick berries and save the environment and if he thinks he can intimidate Maryse she’ll slap the taste out of his mouth and that will be… Awesome.
Commentary hypes up The Charlotte Flair vs. Sonya Deville Match as well as an appearance from WWE Champion AJ Styles and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and commentary sends us to video footage taped earlier in the day of WWE Champion AJ Styles in an empty arena.
He says that Samoa Joe knows his biggest weakness is his temper and the quickest way to provoke his temper is to involve his family. Styles then says that Joe brought his wife and daughter in, and figure if he attacks his heart he can mess with his head and get the advantage, and maybe he’s right, but after twenty years of friendship, he knows a lot about Samoa Joe, too.
Styles then says that like Joe has a family too, but AJ won’t mess with them because he’s got integrity. Styles then says that Joe’s strength is running his mouth, is intimidation, is being a real piece of sh– garbage. But all of those strengths will be his weakness, because when that bell rings, no one has the upper hand on AJ Styles, and at Hell in a Cell, the talking stops, the intimidation ends, and Samoa Joe got a reminder of what happens when you talk about his family at SummerSlam. Styles then says that last week he got another taste, and in five days, he’ll show Joe how Phenomenal he really is, because this is the House That AJ Styles Built, and it’s not for rent or for sale.
We go back to commentary and they say that Joe will have a special message for The Styles Family later tonight. Commentary then tosses us to a recap of last week’s Becky Lynch / Charlotte Flair interview.
Charlotte Flair is interviewed backstage. She says that she asked Paige for competition because she thrives on it, and she’s naturally competitive, but unlike Becky she doesn’t just talk about it, she goes out every night and does it, and if there’s one person she’ll bet on, it’s her and Lynch will learn it’s way easier to talk the talk than walk the walk, and she hopes Lynch is watching tonight. Flair delivers a “Wooooo!” and walks off.
Charlotte Flair makes her way down to the ring as her match against Sonya Deville will begin after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we get some hype for the announced card for Hell in a Cell and a video package for The Braun Strowman / Roman Reigns feud.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Sonya Deville (Non-Title Match): The opening bell sounds and they fight back and forth early on until Sonya grabs the hair for a cheap shot. Sonya continues the offense now until Charlotte fires back with a big boot. Sonya rolls outside for a breather. Back in the ring, Sonya tries to mount some offense, but Charlotte shuts her down with a back suplex. Sonya and Charlotte trade strikes now until Charlotte hits a backbreaker and slams Sonya down. Sonya comes back with some knees to the body and then she looks for a triangle choke. Charlotte lifts up Sonya and powerbombs her down for a two count. Charlotte follows up with the Figure Eight for the win via submission. Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match, Flair raises the title as her music hits. Flair shakes hands at ringside while heading to the back. She goes back to the fans and takes a selfie with a young girl. Flair is suddenly attacked by someone in the crowd. The woman takes off the disguise and it’s Becky Lynch. Becky comes over the barrier and unloads on Flair. Becky applies the Dis-Arm-Her on the ramp to a mixed reaction. Referees check on Flair as Becky talks trash about taking the title back on Sunday.
We cut to a Samoa Joe video where he is going to tell us a bedtime story with a hero and a villain and a happy ending. It’s called Night Night, AJ, and it’s, naturally, about AJ Styles and the house that he built, telling of how he defended it and came to believe he was ten feet tall and forgot his family until Samoa Joe showed up. Joe continues by saying that AJ’s family was frightened and distraught and, per Joe’s story, prayed for Styles to learn his lesson, and Joe’s solution was to become their new dad. The story goes on to predict that Samoa Joe will choke AJ Styles out with the Coquina Clutch and reduce him to the size of a mouse. The last photo of the story has Joe with the WWE Title and AJ’s family.
We see Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella backstage getting ready for the main event.
Commentary hypes up The SmackDown Tag Team Title #1 Contender’s Match to send us to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and Becky Lynch runs into an interview backstage.
She waves off the interview and says that she said she was going to break Charlotte’s arm, and she will, after she takes her title back.
We see that The New Day have once again joined the commentary desk. They toss to Kramer Kingsman (who is actually Kofi Kingston) backstage looking to interview The Bar. He surveys The Bar in their natural habitat and wonders if they’re going to make like spoiled milk and ruin everybody’s fun, and they walk off before he can actually head over and talk to them.
We get entrances for The Tag Team #1 Contender’s Match but go to a commercial break before the match actually begins.
Back from the commercial break and The Tag Team #1 Contender’s Match is underway.
The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro) vs. Rusev Day (Rusev & Aiden English) (SmackDown Tag Team Title #1 Contender’s Match): The Bar starts off strong in this one against Rusev, trading frequent tags and keeping the Bulgarian Brute down. Rusev finally fights off Sheamus with a big boot, and then Aiden English tags in and hits a big cross-body off the top. English keeps control of the match until Cesaro causes a distraction and Sheamus knees English in the head from behind. Cesaro tags in and works over English now. Sheamus tags back in and they both stomp on Aiden in the corner. The Bar exchanges more tags, and Cesaro keeps English grounded now with a chin lock. Sheamus comes back in and looks for a spear in the corner, but English dodges it and Sheamus crashes into the ring post. Cesaro and Rusev get the tags, and Rusev unloads with right hands on Cesaro. Rusev hits a splash in the corner and then a spinning heel kick. Cesaro tries to fight Rusev off, but Rusev catches him with a kick to the head for a two count. Rusev locks in the Accolade, but Sheamus breaks it up. Cesaro uppercuts Rusev back down, then Sheamus tags in and they hit a double DDT for a two count. Sheamus hits a tilt-a-whirl powerslam for another two count. Sheamus goes for a big boot on Rusev, but English runs in and takes the shot for Rusev. Rusev comes off the ropes with a big boot on Sheamus and he covers for the three count. Winners & The #1 Contenders For The SmackDown Tag Team Titles At Hell In A Cell: Rusev Day (Rusev & Aiden English)
After the match, Lana enters the ring to celebrate with the new #1 contenders. The New Day applauds them. We go to replays. Rusev Day talks trash from the ring and The New Day fires back at them from their custom announce table.
Commentary sends us to a video package on Alexa Bliss vs. RAW Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey before promoting The WWE Network a bit.
Carmella and R-Truth make their entrance together to send us to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for the entrance of Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega.
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. R-Truth: The opening bell sounds and Almas immediately takes the fight to Truth and hits a series of strikes in the corner. Almas runs off the ropes and R-Truth catches him with a hurricanrana. Almas comes back with a springboard kick for a two count. Almas follows up with some knees to the head to keep Truth grounded. Truth fights back and Almas grabs on to the ropes, then Zelina Vega runs in the ring and distracts R-Truth. Carmella pulls Zelina outside, and Almas hits a cheap shot off the distraction and rolls up R-Truth for the three count. Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas
After the match, Almas and Vega leave as Vega talks trash to Carmella. We go to replays and come back to the two teams having words as Almas and Vega exit.
We head backstage for an interview with Asuka. Naomi rolls up before she can answer questions to ask why she came out to help. Asuka says that The IIconics are mean and she can’t understand their accents. Naomi then says that she likes Asuka’s attitude and she definitely feels the glow, to which Asuka thinks she told her to go. Naomi corrects her, Asuka’s into it, and then Naomi suggests that they go get some teriyaki together.
Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan make their entrance to send us to a commercial break ahead of the main event.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for the remainder of our entrances.
Brie Bella vs. Maryse: The opening bell sounds and Maryse avoids engaging early on by heading out to ringside repeatedly. Brie gets on a microphone and calls Maryse a coward. The Miz gets a microphone and yells at Brie for calling his wife a coward, and says Brie doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as his wife. The Miz says neither Brie nor this city deserve to see this match with Maryse in it. The Miz declares that this match is over, and they’ll see Brie and Daniel at Hell In A Cell. The Miz and Maryse start walking off, but Brie goes and grabs Maryse and takes her back in the ring. Daniel chases off The Miz, while Maryse hits a cheap shot on Brie for a two count. Maryse wastes some time and Brie applies the Yes Lock. The Miz reaches in and pulls Brie out of the ring down to the ringside floor, and the referee calls for the DQ. Winner via DQ: Brie Bella
After the match, Bryan immediately attacks Miz and starts beating him around, then back into the ring. Miz fights back and throws Bryan out of the ring, accidentally throwing him into Brie. Bryan checks on Brie but Miz comes from behind and attacks him. Miz sends Bryan into the ring steps. Miz tells Maryse to go over to Brie and she does, mounting her on the floor. Maryse sends Brie into the apron a few times now. Brie turns it around and mounts Maryse with strikes. Miz stops her and she goes to slap him but Maryse stops her. Brie blocks the French Kiss DDT. Bryan unloads on Miz in the corner with kicks. Brie has tossed Maryse out. Bryan talks down to Miz and tosses him out of the ring after Brie delivers a punch to the face. Bryan and Brie hit the corners to celebrate as Bryan’s music hits. Miz and Maryse look on from the ramp and they’re not happy. SmackDown goes off the air with Bryan and Brie leading the “yes!” chant in the ring.