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SmackDown: May 8th, 2024
Two Raw Superstars make their presence on the blue brand! Dominik Mysterio tests Imperium! + Raquel faces a twist of fate!
SUMMERSLAM IS ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW!
(this episode was meant to be published on August 12th but was delayed)
🔵 Stephanie McMahon and the WWE Universe give thanks to Mr. McMahon: 5min*
WWE SmackDown kicks off with Stephanie McMahon in the ring. She welcomes everyone to SmackDown. She says earlier tonight, her father Vince McMahon retired from WWE. She says this is the company that he created, founded and he wanted to make sure in his retirement that he thanked the WWE Universe.
The fans chant “Thank you Vince”. She says that is everyone, the crew, those who hang the rings, designs the graphics and even Pat McAfee and Michael Cole. She says this is the WWE Universe and they are eternally grateful but since Vince had the opportunity to thank them, this is the opportunity they should take to thank him. She starts a “Thank you Vince” as the entire arena chants it.
🔵 Bianca Belair will put Asuka down at SummerSlam: 9min*
SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair makes her presence known on Friday Night SmackDown! The EST of WWE opens the show right after Stephanie McMahon's address looking all business to address Asuka, her opponent at SummerSlam.
Bianca Belair and Asuka's issues go back to Hell in a Cell in February, nearly three months ago. On that day, Bianca Belair was ambushed by Asuka during a Six Pack Challenge for a shot at the Undisputed WWE Women's Title. Bianca Belair ended up winning the match anyway but threatened Asuka to stay away from her.
The stubborn and fearless Asuka would continuously meddle in the SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair's business and their rivalry reached a whole new level when their common friend, Raw Women's Champion Liv Morgan was forced to pick sides in this conflict.
After Belair's first championship defense a couple of weeks ago, she was sprayed with green mist by Asuka.
Last week, Bianca Belair and Asuka came face-to-face to agree to a SmackDown Women's Championship match at SummerSlam but things escalated quickly when the face-to-face became a confrontation and then a brawl in which The Empress of Tomorrow Asuka sprayed the champion with green mist again!
Tonight, Bianca Belair promises her fans she won't let Asuka put her down again and vows to be careful not to be sprayed again with the green mist.
🔹 BACKSTAGE: Dominik Mysterio doesn't like being underestimated by his father.
Rey Mysterio is set to have a future U.S. Title match against the champion Gunther. Meanwhile, his son, Dominik Mysterio feels like he has became a third-wheel for his father ever since the pair lost to The Usos at Hell in a Cell.
When Dominik Mysterio mentioned his feelings to his father Rey, the legendary Luchador mistakenly said that he doesn't think Dominik Mysterio can beat Gunther which Dominik took offense to.
As a result, Dominik vowed to prove his father wrong when he faces the Ring General U.S. Champion Gunther tonight!
🔵 Viking Raiders vs. ma.cé & mån.sôör: 6min*
Backstage on SmackDown two weeks ago, Max Dupri visited a corner where The Viking Raiders were making some weird viking-themed moves.
Max Dupri asked The Viking Raiders to join the Maximum Male Models so they could add some "viking goriness" to their agency thus captivating more people and ultimately titillating the juices of their guilty pleasures!
The Viking Raiders offered Maximum Male Models to join the Raid which Dupri declined. The Viking Raiders mauled Max Dupri and left him crushed on the ground for Maxxine Dupri to find him later and call for help.
Then last week on SmackDown, Maximum Male Models' ma.cé & mån.sôör were on the hunt for The Viking Raiders to get revenge for Max Dupri but their journey came to an end when the vicious Viking Raiders pummeled them with their size!
Tonight, Maximum Male Models are all about vengeance when they take on The Viking Raiders!
The Viking Raiders win.
*Still to come: The Bloodline's Paul Heyman and The Usos are HERE! + Raquel Rodriguez gets a rematch against Sonya Deville! + Gunther vs. Dominik Mysterio! + McIntyre, Styles, and Rousey have something to say to The Judgment Day!
🔹 BACKSTAGE: The Street Profits to find a partner to take on The Bloodline tonight.
The Street Profits cross paths with The Usos, Sami Zayn, and Paul Heyman before they were going out to the ring.
The Street Profits made a challenge for the Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos & Sami Zayn tonight which they accepted but pointed out the disadvantage in a three-on-two. However, The Profits revealed they can manage to find a partner to help them out in defeating The Bloodline.
🔵 Paul Heyman weighs in on Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns: 8min*
With Universal Champion Roman Reigns and WWE Champion Brock Lesnar set to battle in The Biggest SummerSlam Match of All-Time on SummerSlam on May 16, The Beast and The Head of the Table were scheduled to meet in the ring to make the Winner Take All Championship Unification Match official in a contract signing on SmackDown last week. With numerous security guards present in the ring, Paul Heyman first pontificated on how Reigns matchup against Lesnar was truly The Biggest Fight of All Summer.
Before the guards could attack Lesnar, though, The Beast engaged the entire force as The Bloodline took their exit. The Conqueror laid waste to Reigns' security team and sent a message to Reigns on The Road to SummerSlam.
Tonight, The Special Counsel Paul Heyman weighed in on the SummerSlam match between Lesnar and Reigns and said that Brock Lesnar can not beat this confident, dominant, and unstoppable Roman Reigns, especially after The Head of the Table beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
Paul Heyman added that Roman Reigns will conquer the Conqueror Brock Lesnar when the two meet in one week from tomorrow at SummerSlam.
🔵 Raquel Rodriguez vs. Sonya Deville: 7min*
It was over a month ago when Sonya Deville lost to Raquel Rodriguez & WWE Official Adam Pearce in a Mixed Tag Team Match, however, since then, Sonya Deville has gone on to qualify for the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match whereas Raquel Rodriguez failed to guarantee a spot in the match. Sonya Deville shoved this achievement in Rodriguez's face but ended up not winning the Ladder match anyway. Three weeks ago, an embarrassed Sonya Deville vowed to turn Raquel's life to hell and she made sure it happened during Raquel's biggest match of her career against multi-time champion Becky Lynch. Sonya Deville cost her that match and Becky Lynch ended up winning.
Then two weeks ago, Sonya Deville was out to address the WWE Universe and solidify herself as the backbone of Friday Night SmackDown who was behind the rise of its popularity when she was a WWE Official. Moments into her address, Raquel Rodriguez made her way out and used her feats of strength to toy with Sonya Deville, getting her revenge in the process!
Sonya Deville shockingly rolled up Raquel Rodriguez for the win in their match last week on SmackDown which prompted Raquel to demand a rematch to retaliate her defeat.
Raquel Rodriguez defeats Sonya Deville in a physical battle!
During the match, however, Ciampa ambushed Pat McAfee at the announcer's desk!
Two weeks ago on SmackDown, Ciampa was furious for losing a U.S. Title Shot against Rey Mysterio and began destroying the ringside area which led to Pat McAfee standing up to him especially when Ciampa started directing threats to Michael Cole at the announce desk. Ciampa delivered a low blow to McAfee and began verbally insulting him, Ciampa was later pulled away by security.
Last week, the rebellious Ciampa made his way out through the crowd in a public rant about his lost direction on SmackDown and called out the lie that "SmackDown is the land of opportunity" but it all came to a stop when Pat McAfee decided it was enough and asked him to shut up and step inside the ring. Ciampa refused to enter the ring and stayed among the crowd which led McAfee to issue a challenge to Ciampa for a match at SummerSlam! Ciampa accepted after pressure from the fans of the WWE Universe.
🔹 BACKSTAGE: Liv Morgan meets Bianca Belair on return to SmackDown.
While packing her bags backstage on SmackDown, SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair is surprised by her former friend, Raw Women's Champion Liv Morgan!
The two superstars hugged each other out and caught up with one another, from an unsuccessful team to becoming the faces of the Women's Division!
🔵 McIntyre, Styles, & Rousey call out Judgment Day: 9min*
Two weeks ago Friday on SmackDown, The Judgement Day of Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley made their way to the ring and offered out an invite to any superstar in the back to join them so they could revitalize their career but instead of someone new walking out to the arena, it was AJ Styles, Finn Balor's former friend! It was three weeks ago when Finn Balor laid waste to The Phenomenal One when he was demanding answers for Balor's sudden change of values and character. AJ Styles marched to the ring again and entered the ring to stand face-to-face with Finn Balor despite the clear disadvantage in numbers. When Finn Balor started threatening Styles again, the unfazed Styles asked The Judgement Day if they believed he would make the same mistake twice by coming out alone to confront them. A swish of a blade echoed in the arena before Drew McIntyre made his appearance to stand by AJ Styles! It is now 2-to-3 and Styles is still at a disadvantage but that did not last long as a suspended Ronda Rousey made her shocking return to fight Rhea Ripley!
The Judgment Day may have made it to their own judgment day because Styles, McIntyre, and Rousey are bringing in a fight and it became more true after McIntyre, Styles, and Rousey's united front speech on Raw two weeks ago, Monday on Raw.
Last week, the two parties enter the battleground when McIntyre and Priest went one-on-one where McIntyre won!
However, this past Monday on Raw, to the shock of the WWE Universe, Judgment Day made their ominous entrance to the ring but this time dragging AJ Styles' helpless body out with them. AJ Styles looked visibly beaten and injured, clearly at the hands of The Judgment Day. When they addressed the WWE Universe, Judgment Day revealed this is a message for McIntyre, Rousey, even Styles himself, and anyone that stands in their way. Judgment Day has regained their strength and SummerSlam will be a can't miss match between the two forces.
Tonight, McIntyre, Styles, and Rousey made it clear they're not afraid of Judgment Day's actions and they'll see them next Monday on Raw!
🔹 BACKSTAGE: Asuka sprays Liv Morgan with green mist.
Bianca Belair left Liv Morgan alone in the locker room which gave room to a feisty Asuka would make her way in and spray Liv Morgan with green mist to send a message to Bianca Belair!
When Bianca Belair heard the screams of Liv Morgan being ambushed, she ran to her rescue but Asuka had already left.
Bianca Belair vs. Asuka for the SmackDown Women's Title at SummerSlam couldn't come sooner!
🔵 Gunther vs. Dominik Mysterio: 9min*
En route to prove his father Rey Mysterio wrong, Dominik Mysterio takes on the United States Champion Gunther all on his own while The Ring General is accompanied by Giovani Vinci & Ludwig Kaiser!
Gunther defeats Dominik Mysterio, however, after the match, Imperium played out a three-on-one mugging of Dominik which brought out his father Rey Mysterio to come to the aid of Dominik!
The numbers game would play a huge factor and Imperium stood tall.
🔵 MAIN EVENT: The Usos & Sami Zayn vs. The Street Profits & Dolph Ziggler: 12min*
Having found a partner in Dolph Ziggler, The Street Profits look to take out The Usos and Sami Zayn just a week before SummerSlam when the two teams meet in a match for the Undisputed Tag Team Titles!
The Street Profits & Dolph Ziggler win when Ziggler hit a devastating ZigZag on Zayn!
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