Good evening Fight Fans, and welcome to our coverage for tonight's edition of Smackdown on FOX headlined by a match for the Universal Championship!
- The entire Smackdown roster is on the ramp before we go to the ring to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Triple H and Stephanie break down tonight's show which includes the return of Daniel Bryan. They then talk about several new additions to the Smackdown roster before everyone starts brawling and Lars Sullivan takes out several Superstars before Jeff Hardy sends him out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Jeff Hardy vs Lars Sullivan
Jeff kicks the legs of Lars and rocks him with a dropkick before Lars runs him over and hits him with clubbing blows. Lars tosses Jeff across the ring before missing a diving headbutt before Jeff hits a jawbreaker and an inverted atomic drop. Jeff hits the Whisper in the Wind for a one count before Lars blocks a Twist of Fate. Lars then slams Jeff onto the apron before Jeff hits a Twist of Fate and Lars hits Jeff with the Freak Accident for the pin and the win.
Winner: Lars Sullivan defeats Jeff Hardy via pinfall.
-We get a graphic for the Universal Championship match later tonight as well as a graphic for the return of Daniel Bryan.
- New Day are in the ring before their match where they have an emotional farewell while reminiscing over their time together as a stable before we get a backstage interview with their opponents tonight who mock the trio splitting up.
New Day vs Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro & Sheamus
Xavier and Shin start things off before Cesaro and Kofi come in, Kofi dropkicking Cesaro before New Day triple team Cesaro for two. Cesaro drops Xavier with an uppercut before tagging in Sheamus and The Bar reunite by teaming up on Xavier. Xavier gets the hot tag to E before New Day triple team Sheamus for two off of a diving splash by Kofi. Shin sends Kofi over the top rope when Kofi runs the ropes before Cesaro, Shin and Sheamus triple team Kofi, slamming him onto the floor. Back in the ring Shin gets two before hitting Bad Vibrations and Cesaro and company isolate Kofi and cut the ring in half.
Kofi is then dumped out of the ring and down onto the floor as we go to commercial.
Kofi gets two off of a crucifix before getting the hot tag to E who gets hit with a gut wrench suplex and uppercuts by Cesaro. New Day hit Cesaro with Morning Woods for two before Shin comes in and hits a sliding German suplex for two. Everyone then hits a move before New Day hit the Midnight Hour to Sheamus for the pin and the win.
Winner: New Day defeat Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro via pinfall.
- We get a graphic for the contract signing for the Smackdown Women's Championship Hell in a Cell match.
- Otis is interviewed backstage before he's interrupted and mocked by Intercontinental champion Sami Zayn before Otis growls and shoves Sami down before leaving.
- Daniel Bryan comes out to the ring after returning for the first time in over four months before he talks about tonight's title matches and the new faces on the Smackdown roster. Daniel is interrupted by Seth Rollins who mocks him and says that he forgot to mention him. Daniel criticizes Seth's vision for Smackdown before dropping him with a right hand and stomping him. Daniel comes back with a flying clothesline and Yes Kicks before Seth leaves and gets chased back by the Mysterios. Daniel leaves before Seth is cornered and Murphy comes out and gets between Seth and the Mysterios.
Murphy then attacks Seth before sending him out of the ring before Murphy tries to shake hands with them, but they leave instead.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match
Street Profits (c) vs Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Dolph and Dawkins kick things off for their respective teams with Dolph in control early before Roode comes in and cheap shots Ford. Roode and Ziggler then beat Ford down until the referee calls for the bell after taking out Angelo.
Winner: The Street Profits retain their Smackdown Tag Team titles by defeating Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode via disqualification.
- We get this week's Progressive Match Flo recapping Sasha and Bayley's feud ahead of their contract signing for their Smackdown Women's Championship Hell in a Cell match as we go to commercial.
- We come back with Sasha already in the ring with Adam Pearce before Bayley comes out and Sasha signs the contract before Bayley says that she turned on Sasha before Sasha could turn on her. Sasha says that friends don't turn their backs on each other before talking about all of the times she helped Bayley. Sasha shoves the belt to Bayley before Bayley takes her steel chair and belt and leaves without signing the contract. Sasha then calls Bayley a coward before saying that she'll sign the contract one way or another.
- We go backstage to see Braun getting ready for his title challenge against Roman Reigns up next in our main event as we go to commercial.
Universal Championship Match
Roman Reigns (c) vs Braun Strowman
They lock up before Roman dumps Braun out of the ring and knocks him off of the apron with a Superman punch. Roman hits a drive by and tosses Braun back into the ring for two as Jey Uso looks on from backstage. Roman drops Braun with a pump kick for two before headbutting him and smashing his face into the steps and the announce table. Braun then sends Roman over the announce table before knocking him over the barricade as we go to commercial.
Braun tosses Roman across the ring as we return to the ring before going shoulder first into the post. Braun dodges a Superman punch and slams Roman before chokeslamming him for two. Roman low blows Braun when he kicks out before spearing Braun for a near fall and following up with guillotine choke. Roman then forces Braun to tap for the win.
Winner: Roman Reigns retains his Universal Championship by defeating Braun Strowman via submission.
- Jey Uso comes out after the match before Roman spears Braun again and tries to convince Jey to back out of their match at Hell in a Cell. Roman hits Braun repeatedly with a chair before he's stopped by officials and agents only to do it again. Jey gets into the ring as Roman tells Jey that he's embarrassing their family and its legacy before kicking the chair to Jey. Roman turns his back on Jey and beckons him to hit him with it before Jey throws the chair down and punches Roman before superkicking him. Jey then hits Roman with the chair before they're separated and Roman drops him with a Superman punch as we go off the air.
