November 15, 2024
Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results via Alex Kahrs of WrestleView.com
Quick Match Results
- WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament First Round Triple Threat match – Bayley defeated B-Fab and Candice LeRae via Roll-up (pinfall)
- WWE United States Championship Open Challenge match – LA Knight (c) defeated Berto via BFT (pinfall)
- WWE Tag Team Championship – Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns (c) went to a No Contest
- WWE Women’s Championship – Nia Jax (c) defeated Naomi via Annihilator (pinfall)
In-Ring: Cody Rhodes, Nick Aldis
“It’s because of me.”
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
.@CodyRhodes wants payback for @RandyOrton! 👊#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/jEkCbOjBdP
We open with a shot outside the Fiserv Forum as Michael Cole hypes up the title matches set for tonight’s show, with shots of champions Nia Jax and Motor City Machine Guns alongside their respective challengers, Naomi and The Street Profits.
We then go to ringside as we’re reminded that “wrestling has more than one royal family”…signaling the arrival of the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. The champ heads to the ring to a big reaction from the Milwaukee crowd, as we get a look back at the fight between Kevin Owens and Randy Orton from last week culminating in a piledriver that had Orton stretchered out to an ambulance.
Back in the ring, Cody has a microphone to call out Kevin Owens after he crossed a line last week. The lack of response has Cody flustered as he calls Owens out again, but out comes Nick Aldis instead. The GM of SmackDown understands the anger, talking about the damage Orton took last week after being away for so many months. Aldis also acknowledges the hazard involved in the use of a piledriver last week, saying it was banned to keep our generation from being stuck in wheelchairs twenty years down the line.
This all leads to Aldis telling the champ that the line Owens he crossed means that he cannot be allowed to be here…but Cody tells the GM to let him handle this, calling Owens indignant among other things. Aldis says this is not about money, this is about the roster knowing that Nick knows that if you give them an inch, they will take a mile. He can’t let the inmates run the asylum, so this situation with Owens must be resolved internally. Cody can’t stand the phrasing here, saying he understands where Aldis is coming from…but that he is still a wrestler, so put himself in Cody’s shoes. Imagine being the one to tell Orton’s family he’s the one being blamed for what happened.
He then talks about Orton giving him respect backstage at WrestleMania XL, and how much it means to him to get this situation resolved. If he can’t get this handled in a WWE ring, what do you expect him to do? He knows Nick doesn’t want Cody handling things outside the ring, but the ball is in the GM’s court…and Cody won’t be waiting very long. With that, Cody drops the mic before heading up the ramp staring down the GM still in the ring.
Backstage: Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn
Backstage, Jimmy Uso is on the phone with Roman Reigns when he checks in with Jey Uso and Sami Zayn. He says the four of them are going to talk strategy for War Games, but Jimmy points out that they still need a fifth member for the match. Sami has an idea of who to reach out to, walking away as the Usos confer over who it could be.
WWE Women’s United States Championship Tournament First Round Triple Threat Match
Bayley vs. Candice LeRae vs. B-Fab
B-Fab is showing out tonight! 🔥#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/CBBEJiiN0h
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
Candice goes after Bayley at the jump, sending her out of the ring with a dropkick before B-Fab goes on the attack with some strikes and a body slam. Sliding clothesline gives B-Fab a nearfall before she mounts up for some punches on LeRae, who fights back to her feet to take B-Fab to the mat…only for B-Fab to respond with a thrust kick! Bayley catches her on the ropes as Candice attacks from behind, but B-Fab takes them both down with a clothesline as we…go to a break? Not even picture-in-picture, USA? Oh, boy.
Oh, there we are!
Picture-in-Picture reveals that Bayley is in control now, taking down B-Fab as we return to full action to see the former Women’s Champ hit a middle rope elbow drop for a nearfall before Candice breaks up the pin.
B-Fab and Bayley back to their feet, going after LeRae which leads to all three women down on the canvas. Candice is back to her feet however, taking Bayley down for a nearfall before rushing over to B-Fab for a cover…but she too kicks out. LeRae heads to the turnbuckle, but is intercepted by B-Fab who is shoved to the mat. Bayley’s back up now, catching the Poison Pixie for a superplex attempt…but B-Fab comes in for a powerbomb, sending both her opponents to the canvas! Candice hooks the leg of Bayley, but B-Fab manages to stop it.
B-Fab goes after LeRae, taking her down for a nearfall before Candice rolls out of the ring. Bayley gets caught with an inverted neckbreaker into a face buster, but it’s only good for a two count. Candice slides into the ring, forcing Bayley out only to be cradled by B-Fab for a close nearfall. LeRae back on the attack, until Bayley sends her into the corner, only to be dropped down by B-Fab…but LeRae is right there to break it up!
B-Fab turns her attention to Candice to send her out of the ring, but is rolled up by Bayley who gets the win and advances in this tournament!
Winner: Bayley via Pinfall.
We get a graphic for the tournament brackets, which culminate at Saturday Night’s Main Event from Nassau Coliseum on December 14.
Backstage: Sami Zayn, LA Knight
Backstage, we see Sami Zayn talking to LA Knight, presumably trying to recruit the fifth member for OG Bloodline…but up next is an open challenge from the United States Champion!
Video: The Rock
Back from commercial we get a look at The Rock’s appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, as well as a shoot with GQ Magazine and the upcoming film Red One.
Backstage: Street Profits, B-Fab, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Michin
Watch your back,@ImChelseaGreen and @PiperNivenWWE! 😡
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
Michin has B-Fab’s back 💪#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/H8DjOLrP6K
Backstage, B-Fab finds herself dealing with Chelsea Green and Piper Niven, who make fun of her for not advancing in the tournament. She points out the issue of what happens if Chelsea and Piper face each other in the finals, before Michin comes in with a kendo stick to run the pair off.
In-Ring: LA Knight, Legado Del Fantasma
“That ain’t my fight.”@RealLAKnight turned down @SamiZayn‘s offer and isn’t concerned about The Bloodline. YEAH! 🗣️#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/zB7Rme1kte
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
We head back to ringside as LA Knight makes his way down the ramp to a big pop from the crowd, while commentary puts over his recent appearance elsewhere. Knight has a microphone as he addresses Sami Zayn talking to him about the Bloodline civil war, but Knight says he has bigger things to focus on…like this United States Open Challenge. Yeah!
Legado del Fantasma make their way out in response, with the question raised of which member might be challenging. Santos Escobar has made it clear he’s interested in a shot at the title before, as the group enters the ring. Escobar grabs a microphone, saying the champion’s name which draws a “Yeah” chant from the crowd. Escobar makes fun of this, as well as the Milwaukee crowd, before saying it’s time for someone to shut Knight up.
Santos addresses the opportunity for Elektra Lopez to become the first-ever Women’s United States Champion, and says he wants a chance to bring two titles to the group…but Knight says the two of them have been there, done that, before saying Berto has been staring a hole in him this whole time. He offers the opportunity to Berto, running down Santos and Lopez before Berto attacks him! He stomps away at the champ as a ref enters the ring, pulling him back to set up for this United States title match up next!
WWE United States Championship Open Challenge Match
Berto vs. LA Knight (c)
No way!!! 😱@ShinsukeN is back and he just took out @RealLAKnight!! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Uicli4Ew1N
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
Back from break, the action is already in progress with Berto getting the upper hand on the champion as he goes up on the turnbuckle…shoving Knight away to hit a dropkick that gets him a nearfall. Berto stays on the attack with some right hands before going to work on the head and neck of the champion, but the crowd wills him back into this as Knight fights back to his feet with some punches.
Berto heads to the ropes but is intercepted by Knight, who sends him over the top rope to the outside. Leaving the ring, Knight slams Berto’s head against the announce table before sending him back in the ring for a two count. Berto fights back for an O’Connor roll for a two count, and a nearfall shortly after despite his best efforts. Berto goes up top for a moonsault, but the champ blocks it before hitting a body slam followed by an elbow drop…but the challenger manages to evade it!
Berto’s back in control as he sends Knight to the corner, setting him up on the turnbuckle for a superplex. Knight fights him off, sending him to the mat before going up top for an elbow drop. Berto’s back to his feet but is driven face first to the mat with a BFT that gives the champ the win to retain!
Winner: LA Knight via Pinfall to retain the WWE United States Championship.
Knight celebrates the win as we get a replay of the finish, but that celebration is short-lived as Shinsuke Nakamura returns to WWE with an attack on the United States Champion! Nakamura leaves the ring, with the champ still down as we cut away.
Backstage: Sami Zayn, The Usos
“You gotta make the call, Uce.”
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
Will the OG Bloodline find a fifth member to join them at #SurvivorSeries? 🤔#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ThMMKXoAYX
Backstage, The Usos are still trying to figure out their situation as Sami joins them, and the trio enter the dressing room of Roman Reigns as we get an ad for WWE Live’s upcoming dates before going to commercial.
Backstage, the OG Bloodline convenes inside the dressing room of Roman Reigns. Sami Zayn addresses the fact they don’t have a fifth member, before Jey asks Roman if he’s made that call. We see Solo Sikoa making his entrance on the television inside the dressing room, an honestly pretty cool little trick to transition to Sikoa making his way down the ramp as we head back to ringside.
In-Ring: The Bloodline, OG Bloodline, Bronson Reed
IT’S GOING DOWN! 🔥
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
The OG Bloodline vs. The New Bloodline 👊😤#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/lamHl3WbLw
The, uh, “new” Bloodline enters the ring to a chorus of boos as Solo raises the microphone to speak to the people of Milwaukee. He tells them to acknowledge him, to which his Bloodline obliges despite the boos of the crowd…but this is interrupted by the music of the OTC, as Roman Reigns and the OG Bloodline step out to the stage. This leads to a stare down between the two sides of this civil war, before the OG Bloodline make their way down the ramp toward the ring. They get on the apron to stare their foes down before entering, and chaos ensues as all eight men go at it!
Tama and Loa are sent to the outside where Jimmy Uso hits a dive as Jacob Fatu goes on a rampage before going after both Usos on the floor. Back in the ring, Solo sets Sami up for the Samoan Spike but is cut off with a spear by Roman. The two nod before Sami hits a dive on the outside…as we see Roman and Jacob stare each other down in the ring.
This is interrupted by Bronson Reed blindsiding the OTC, giving a look to Fatu before the two take turns beating down Reigns. The OG Bloodline try to even the odds here as they enter the ring, but Solo’s group takes the upper hand as they lay waste to the Usos and Zayn. After a big Tsunami on Jimmy Uso, we hear Solo yelling at Loa to get Roman…but Reigns is able to fend him off, only for Tama to blindside him and send him into the ring.
Roman sends him to the floor with a Superman Punch and starts to fend off Bronson Reed, but Solo Sikoa catches him from behind to keep the OTC down. Jacob attacks the OTC next, followed by a Tsunami by Bronson before security rushes out to finally break things up. Solo and his Bloodline stand tall over a fallen Roman Reigns, much to the chagrin of the crowd as the crew make their exit up the ramp.
We get a replay of what went down before seeing Solo and his crew celebrate the damage that’s been done. We hear Jey telling Roman once more to make the call as the two men recover in the ring, and with that we go to commercial.
Video: Kevin Owens
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
We come back from break with an ad for WWE Shop followed by a look back of the chaos between the two Bloodline factions, with Solo’s squad standing tall when all was said and done. This brings us to commentary asking who it is Roman could call to join their team for War Games, before looking back to what happened between Cody Rhodes and Nick Aldis earlier tonight. We find out Kevin Owens has posted a video to social media, and we get look at that…where Owens says he simply did his job last week.
Despite being turned away from the arena tonight, he just got a call from Nick Aldis to come to Salt Lake City because Cody Rhodes wants him there. He promises he will be there despite feeling he shouldn’t be, because he loves the mountains of Utah, and that he will do what the people want him to do…his job.
WWE Tag Team Championship
Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) (c)
Motor City Machine Guns are doing whatever it takes to remain WWE Tag Team Champions! 👊#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/fcCCgTj26e
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
We start things off with Sabin and Ford going at it, the action going back and forth before Montez picks up a nearfall over the champion. This ends with a standstill between the two, before Sabin takes Ford to the mat with a couple arm drags. Tag made to Shelley as the Guns double-team Ford for a nearfall. Shelley tries again but only gets a nearfall all the same, before Montez fights back taking Alex down with a shoulder tackle forcing him to the outside…where Dawkins catches him with a pounce to the announce table! The challengers are in control of things as we go to commercial break.
Back from break, the Profits have Shelley in the corner as they exchange tags to get Ford back in…but Shelley manages to get the tag to Sabin, leading to the Guns getting one over on the challengers with a pair of dives to the floor. Back in the ring, Shelley makes a tag for a double-team by the champs, who get a nearfall in the process. Despite making a tag back in, Sabin gets attacked by the Profits on the ropes…until Tommaso Ciampa rushes to the apron, attacking all three men to bring this match to a screeching halt!
Winner: None.
Ciampa continues the attack until Gargano rushes down to talk some sense into his partner, who shoves him aside before heading up the ramp talking about his frustrations. Back in the ring, the champs help the Profits back up for some sportsmanship…only to be attacked by Ford and Dawkins, frustrated with losing their opportunity for the titles as we get a graphic for the Women’s Championship match before going to commercial break.
Backstage: Naomi, Bayley, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair
We’re back from break with one more view of Milwaukee before highlighting the Signs of the Night, followed by a look back at Nia Jax facing Naomi last month leading to the latter earning a shot at the Women’s Championship in our main event.
Backstage, Bayley shows some respect to Naomi before addressing the situation from Raw…which brings out the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. The pair offer to help out if there’s any trouble from Iyo Sky and her crew, before we get a rundown of what’s coming next week including a triple threat with Bianca Belair, Chelsea Green, and Blair Davenport for the Women’s United States Championship Tournament and a face-to-face between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens.
WWE Women’s Championship
Naomi vs. Nia Jax (c)
This match is out of control! @itsBayleyWWE came to Naomi’s rescue, but @CandiceLeRae wasn’t having it 👊#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/tS3B2yWScU
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
Back from break, Naomi eagerly awaits the arrival of the Women’s Champion as Nia Jax makes her way out alongside Tiffany Stratton, MITB briefcase in hand as she lets the champion head down to the ring for this main event. Jax enters the ring, and we get ring introductions for the challenger and champion before this match gets underway!
Jax goes on the attack early, sending the challenger into the corner before using her power to swing Naomi around and to the mat. Naomi heads to the opposite corner but is taken down by the champ, before fighting back to her feet for a kick to Jax. Running splash by Naomi gets the challenger a nearfall as we see Bayley and Stratton watching on from separate rooms backstage.
Back in the ring, Jax sends her challenger through the ropes to the outside…but Naomi manages to fight back for a nearfall as she gets back in the ring. Jax takes control again, however, as she picks up a nearfall before focusing on a chin lock to wear Naomi down. Naomi back to her feet as she hits the ropes, catching the champ with a kick…but Nia drops her down to the mat once more, going back on the attack.
Naomi is sent to the ropes now, but manages to fight back before the champ takes her back down hard before we go to commercial break.
Back from break, Nia is firmly in control as she sends Naomi down for a nearfall, taking to the ropes for a headbutt followed by a half crab to keep the challenger trapped in the middle of the ring…only for Naomi to land a hard kick to break free! Naomi fights back and takes the champ to the canvas for a two count.
Naomi stays on top of things by hitting the ropes for a kick that keeps Jax at bay, followed by the Rear View for the cover…but the champ kicks out! Naomi brings Jax to her feet, only to be sent into the corner before Nia catches her with a Samoan drop to the mat. The champ brings Naomi to the corner for the Annihilator, but the challenger fights her off to hit a cross body sending both women to the floor!
Backstage we see Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez lay out Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill, before we go back to ringside where Naomi sends Nia back into the ring. As the ref checks on the champ, Tiffany blindsides Naomi before sending her back into the ring allowing Nia to get to the middle turnbuckle…but the challenger intercepts! The two go at it as Jax goes for an avalanche body slam, only for Naomi to counter it for a nearfall!
Tiffany tries to get involved before Bayley runs down to even things up, sending Stratton aside as Naomi gets another nearfall on the champ followed by a split-legged moonsault…but even this is not enough as Jax once again kicks out!
Naomi goes back up top as Candice runs down the ramp, sending Bayley into the ring post…which drops Naomi as well, allowing Jax to take her to the mat. Annihilator by the champ gets her the win to retain!
Winner: Nia Jax via Pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
Stratton and Candice enter the ring to celebrate alongside the champion, standing over Naomi who is recovering
Backstage: Roman Reigns
"The number you have reached is not in service." #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/CB8pDFvoq5
— WWE (@WWE) November 16, 2024
We go backstage to see Roman Reigns about to make a much-needed call…to the Wise Man. Except it seems that Paul Heyman has changed his number, leaving us with a confused and disheartened Roman Reigns pondering his next steps as SmackDown comes to a close.