1. Opening Segment: Cody Rhodes Promo & Challenge
Cody Rhodes kicked off the show, referring to his recent win over Drew McIntyre and declaring he’s moving on to new challengers. Suddenly, Aleister Black and Zelina Vega appeared, Black saying he’s ready for the big title picture. Vega slapped Cody, setting up tension. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis came out and officially booked Cody vs. Black for the main event.
Takeaway: A fresh challenger has been positioned for Cody, and Black is being elevated into the title-scene.
2. Match: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Johnny Gargano — U.S. Championship
Result: Dragunov retained the Men’s United States Championship by defeating Gargano.
Short Summary:
Dragunov issued his open challenge, turning away Tommaso Ciampa and instead facing Gargano. Gargano made strong in-ring impacts, but Dragunov latched on with his German suplexes, a superplex and then the finishing “H-Bomb” to seal the win.
Takeaway: Dragunov remains dominant and is keeping his U.S. Title reign strong. Gargano once again falls short but remains credible.
3. Match: Nia Jax vs. Charlotte Flair
Result: Nia Jax picked up the victory.
Short Summary:
Flair came in looking to rebound, but Jax brought power and aggression. A surprise appearance by Lash Legend (making her SmackDown main-roster splash) took out Flair’s ally, Alexa Bliss, at ringside. That distraction allowed Jax to hit her “Annihilator” finisher for the win.
Takeaway: Jax is being re-established as a top threat in the women’s division, and Legend’s arrival suggests a new alliance.
4. Match: Chelsea Green vs. Giulia (c) — Women’s U.S. Championship
Result: Chelsea Green defeated Giulia to become the new Women’s United States Champion.
Short Summary:
The match featured interference from Giulia’s corner and other distractions. Green seized the opportunity, using a roll-up with her feet on the ropes (which the referee missed) to claim the pin. Post-match, Green celebrated her new title reign.
Takeaway: This is a significant moment for Green—she now holds the title and is positioned for more prominence in the women’s division.
5. Match: Talla Tonga vs. Rey Fenix
Result: Talla Tonga defeated Rey Fenix.
Short Summary:
The bout started with high-flying and counters from Fenix, but Tonga used his power to turn the tide. After the match, Sami Zayn (though not cleared to compete) came down with a chair to aid Fenix in chasing the MFTs away, hinting at ongoing faction warfare.
Takeaway: Tonga gets a win to bolster momentum; the stable-angle with Fenix and the MFTs continues to heat up.
6. Main Event: Cody Rhodes vs. Aleister Black — Non-Title
Result: The match ended in a no-contest due to interference from Drew McIntyre.
Short Summary:
Rhodes and Black battled back-and-forth with an intense sequence of strikes and counters. Near the climax, Drew McIntyre ran in and delivered a Claymore Kick to the referee. Then, McIntyre and Black ganged up on Rhodes until Damian Priest made the save. Immediately after, Nick Aldis came out and suspended McIntyre for his actions.
Takeaway: Chaos has been engineered into the storyline, elevating the angle between Rhodes, Black and McIntyre. The suspension opens narrative space for McIntyre’s next move.
7. Backstage / Miscellaneous Angles
Jade Cargill made a promo appearance as the new Women’s Champion, declaring her dominance. Nick Aldis announced further matches for the upcoming “Last Time Is Now” Tournament, including Jey Uso vs. The Miz and LA Knight vs. a mystery opponent.
Alliances forming: Nia Jax & Lash Legend aligned, Sami Zayn continuing his feud/top-story involvement despite being medically unavailable.
Overall Observations
Title-scene moves: Women’s U.S. title changed hands, Men’s U.S. held strong. Storyline momentum: The Rhodes/Black/McIntyre triangle is now full throttle. New faces/alliances: Lash Legend’s elevation, Jax’s partnership, Green’s title win all signal fresh directions.
The undercard continues to feed the larger faction/faction war narratives (MFTs, Zayn, etc.).
