WWE SmackDown Notes: Wade Barrett Fills In for Michael Cole, Jey Uso Appears, MCMG Makes Official Debut, DIY & MCMG Advance in WWE Tag Titles #1 Contender Tourn., Randy Orton Wants Kevin Owens Match for Crown Jewel, 10/25 Card

WWE
Oct 18, 2024

Wade Barrett Fills In for Michael Cole on Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Columbia, South Carolina featured RAW brand commentator Wade Barrett filling in for Michael Cole.

At the start of the show, SmackDown commentator Corey Graves announced that Cole was absent from tonight’s show due to him being off on a “special assignment.” Graves then welcomed Barrett who was seated next to him as Cole’s replacement for tonight’s show.

The exact reason for Cole’s absence is currently not known.

Jey Uso Makes Surprise Appearance on Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured RAW brand talent Jey Uso making a surprise appearance on the SmackDown brand.

During the show, The Bloodline came out to the ring and Solo Sikoa grabbed a microphone. Sikoa talked to the crowd stating that they are looking at the present and the future. Sikoa stated that they are looking at The Bloodline and the Tribal Chief. Sikoa then stated that he is the man who created a bigger and stronger family and he created a bigger and stronger Bloodline and Roman and Jimmy can’t do anything about it. Sikoa then stated that even Jey doesn’t want anything to do with them. Sikoa stated that the beat downs on Roman will continue unless he comes down to the ring by the end of the night and acknowledges him.

This led to Uso’s music playing and him coming down from the crowd “yeeting” his way causing him to be out of breath by the time he grabbed a microphone and started talking. After some words, Uso stated that he promises he is not here to fight because he still cares about Sikoa and Sikoa is his little brother. Uso then stated that Jimmy and Roman are not here yet and he came out to talk to him one on one. Uso then asked Sikoa to think about what he is doing to the family and The Bloodline. After some more words, Uso told Sikoa that fighting over the ula fala is not it and that is earned not taken and Sikoa knows better. Uso stated that if Sikoa wants to end Roman’s power, then to do it but not to divide the family while he does it.

Sikoa responded asking him if he was done wasting his time. Sikoa stated that he is not trying to divide the family and instead he is trying to unite the family. Sikoa then told Uso to stop calling him his little brother and he is his Tribal Chief now. Sikoa stated that he will always have a place for Jey and Roman in his Bloodline and all he has to do is acknowledge him. Sikoa then asked Uso if he was in or not.

Uso responded taking offense with Sikoa bringing in Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu and got involved in a heated standoff with Fatu after telling Fatu that he will have to knock his ass out if he keeps looking at him. Uso then stated that the next time he sees Solo, it will be different. Uso then yelled out “Yeet” and tossed the microphone down before leaving the ring.

In a follow-up backstage segment, Reigns and Jimmy Uso were seen arriving at the venue and met up with Jey. After some words by Reigns being proud of Jey for standing up to Sikoa, Jey responded back stating “No Yeet” to the idea of him reuniting with Reigns against The Bloodline and proceeded to walk away. Reigns then looked at Jimmy and told him “I told you so.”

In another follow-up segment, Reigns and Jimmy were seen in their locker room backstage talking about their situation with Jey. Reigns stated that he is going to solve their problems with Sikoa and The Bloodline by acknowledging Sikoa.

In another follow-up segment, Reigns came out to the ring and responded to the fans chanting “OTC” that maybe for the last time, to acknowledge him. This led to Sikoa’s music interrupting and him coming out to the ring. After some words between the two over Sikoa talking earlier tonight about how their family is stronger now and Reigns saying he doesn’t see that and instead they are divided, Reigns stated that all he wants to do is put them back in the promise land and wants titles around their wastes and their family to be the priority. Reigns then asked Sikoa what he can do to fix this, which Sikoa responded stating all he has to do is acknowledge him. Reigns responded acknowledging him and asked Sikoa if that makes him feel better. Sikoa responded back stating no and that is not good enough since he needs to acknowledge him as his Tribal Chief. Reigns looked at Sikoa and yelled out “No” which Sikoa responded back demanding he do so or else. Reigns responded back stating “or else what?” and Sikoa responding stating he knew it and Roman has never changed and he always wanted the ula fala. After some more words, Sikoa snapped his fingers and the rest of the Bloodline came out dragging a knocked out Jimmy. This led to a brawl breaking out between Reigns and the Bloodline that ended with Reigns getting the upper hand at first and placed the ula fala over his head only to get hit with a low blow and The Bloodline getting the upper hand in the end.

MCMG Makes Official WWE In-Ring Debut on Friday’s SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured The Motor City Machine Guns’ Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin making their official in-ring debut in WWE.

WWE Tag Titles #1 Contender Tournament Announced, DIY & MCMG Advance to Finals for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured the announcement of a new #1 Contender’s tournament for the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Two qualifying matches were held with the winners announced to be facing off on next week’s show to determine the next official challenger for The Bloodline’s tag titles.

The first qualifying match was DIY defeating Pretty Deadly and The Street Profits.

The second qualifying match was Motor City Machine Guns defeated Los Garzas and A-Town Down Under.

As a result of their victories, DIY and MCMG will be facing off in the Finals on next week’s SmackDown show in Brooklyn, New York.

Randy Orton Challenges Kevin Owens for Match at WWE Crown Jewel 2024

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured Randy Orton issuing a challenge to Kevin Owens for a match at WWE’s Crown Jewel 2024 event, which takes place on November 2nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the show, a video aired featuring Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes being involved in a heated confrontation following WWE’s Bad Blood 2024 event that turned into a beat down by Owens to Rhodes.

In a follow-up video, Owens was seen in his car and talked about WWE officials telling him to stay away from SmackDown and tonight’s show due to his recent attack on Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. Owens then talked about how he can’t get over Orton betraying him and picking Rhodes’ side instead of his. Owens also stated that between WWE disrespecting him and Orton breaking his trust, he does not know “if or when” he can come back.

In another-follow up segment, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was seen in his office and got interrupted by Orton who walked in. Orton demanded a match against Owens at Crown Jewel 2024 only to be denied his request by Aldis, who stated that he can’t grant that match due to the order coming from up above. Orton responded stating that he knows who he needs to talk to make it happen then.

Current Card for Next Week’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured two new matches announced for next week’s show on October 25th in Brooklyn, New York.

These matches were all setup following promos, storyline angles, and match card graphics shown throughout the show.

Current card for October 25th WWE SmackDown show:

  • WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Tournament Finals – DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
  • Best of Series, Match 7 Special Guest Referee match – Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade (with special guest referee LA Knight)
  • Cody Rhodes & Gunther to go face-to-face
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