With WWE Survivor Series: WARGAMES a week away from Saturday in San Diego, tonight’s WWE SmackDown in Denver, Colorado, at the Ball Arena is set to further the storylines heading into next week’s PLE. This past Monday saw the return of both Roman and Brock, but there are still plenty of storylines left to further.
This time of year is usually responsible for cross-brand action, and tonight is no different. There are plenty of WARGAMES segments booked, but this is the time when surprise crossovers are planned.
LOGAN PAUL’S VISION… THE USO’S NIGHTMARE
The Men’s Wargames match received a huge boost in booking after this past Monday saw Brock Lesnar join Heyman’s team of heels, while Roman Reigns also made his return to help his family despite their alignment with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes. The numbers game has benefited the heel team heading into SS: Wargames, and the gap between the two sides remains a significant advantage for the ‘bad guys.’
The heel side of Wargames was out for the first segment of the show, and all members apart from Lesnar were in the ring as Paul cut a highly effective promo, getting over each Vision member. Jey and Jimmy Uso eventually interrupted the segment as they played around with Heyman on the mic by reminding him that they were the ones left standing tall to finish RAW.
Heyman reminded the USOs of what he taught them during their time in “The Bloodline” and how the ‘numbers advantage’ is the key to victory. That is when Jey and Jimmy acknowledged that they did not show up alone as Cody Rhodes’ music hit, complete with pyro.
Only, Cody never made his way out to the ring, and instead, the truck cut to a shot of Drew McIntyre walking out of Cody’s tour bus as Cody was left bloodied and beaten on the steps of his bus. The USOs ran out to check on Cody while the suspended Drew pulled up in a truck to laugh at the faces before peeling out from the scene.
To make things worse, Heyman played the smartass role responding to GM Aldis by claiming Drew never broke the rules of his suspension because he ‘never entered the building.’ The face team was already a man down before Roman returned on Monday; now it is worth questioning whether Cody will make it to next Saturday’s main event.
LAST TIME IS NOW TOURNAMENT
BRONSON REED VS CARMELO HAYES—ROUND ONE
The Melo-Reed match has been promoted since it was announced a few weeks ago, and he seemed very determined to win this first-round matchup as the underdog. Reed, who learned of his place in the tourney on the same night he received a world title match against Cody, a match that ended in DQ, so it was important for Reed to find individual success to add to his successful faction.
Reed is the only member of the faction to never win a title in the company, but Hayes has been behind the 8-ball since he debuted on the main roster. The match script followed the same pace as the rest of the tourney’s first round, with the ‘underdog’ being given a chance to showcase. This was no squash match, even with The Vision ‘helping out.’
Jey Uso made his way out to ringside to help with the numbers disadvantage, and when it seemed like Breakker would break both Jey and Melo in half, Cody came out to help further. The assistance allowed Hayes to regain his composure while Reed stumbled outside the ring until he was eventually counted out, giving Hayes the win and advancement in the tournament.
PENTA VS FINN BALOR—ROUND ONE
Penta was able to pick up the win on Finn Balor as The Judgment Day went 0-2 tonight. It was a solid matchup, though it felt like business as usual for Penta. The win by Penta concluded the first round of action in the “Last Time Is Now” tourney.
As it stands, the bracket shapes out as the following matches take place next:
Jey Uso vs. Rusev
TBD (SHEAMUS OUT) vs. LA Knight
Penta vs. Sikoa
Gunther vs. Hayes
The final spot is being kayfabe discussed by GMs Aldis and Pearce, who are deciding on how to replace Sheamus in his match with Knight—who had to face a mystery opponent in his round one matchup as well.
ILJA DRAGUNOV(c) VS JD McDONAUGH—U.S. Championship (OPEN CHALLENGE)
Dragunov claimed he would continue the ‘open challenge’ gimmick that Sami Zayn brought back with the approval of John Cena, but he might be regretting it now after another Friday banger. The idea of the open challenge means anyone at any time, and tonight meant a red-brand challenge from ‘The Judgment Day’s’ own JD McDonaugh.
McDonaugh has been incredible since returning from a devastating head injury at the beginning of the year, and he was equally responsible for the incredible TV match for the title tonight. Dragunov was able to secure the title retaining pinfall victory, but he was confronted by Tama Tonga (out of his face paint) and Ciampa in the back following his match with JD.
Dragunov has been beefing with Ciampa, but the Tama Tonga program has been incredibly slow-played, and it is unclear which direction the champion will have to defend from first.
OTHER TIDBITS/IN-RING ACTION
- Women’s Survivor Series: Wargames received a rare, prerecorded video vignette package, set up with a live lead-in by Alexa Bliss. The story between Rhea and Flair kept the face team from being a cohesive unit, but they shook on it after a forced powwow set up by Bliss and Sky. The entire storyline filled out the main event segment, which helped officially set up AJ Lee as the final member of the face team, though she did little to help when Becky Lynch made her spot on the heel team final.
- Sami Zayn cut a Survivor Series promo in the backstage area as he united Motor City Machineguns, Rey Fenix, and Nakamura ahead of their classic 5V5 Survivor Series elimination style match against Team MFT next Friday night on the eve of SS: Wargames.
- DIY picked up the win over Fraxiom, and they not only left with the win but also with Axiom’s mask.
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