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SmackDown: October 18th, 2023
SmackDown's Biggest Acquisition! + The Women's Tag Champs are HERE! and Rhea Ripley suspended!
ROYAL RUMBLE IS ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW!
(this episode was meant to be published on Jan. 21st but was delayed)
🔵 Edge to face Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble!: 15min*
Adam Pearce opens SmackDown to announce that Roman Reigns will be making his most-anticipated return at the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, where he will defend his Universal Title against SmackDown's biggest acquisition!
After a brief moment of silence, The Rated-R Superstar made his grand entrance to be revealed as SmackDown's acquisition and now challenger to Roman Reigns!
Unfortunately, Edge's return was spoiled by Randy Orton who wants the title match for himself at the Royal Rumble since he's the one that took down Brock Lesnar! Adam Pearce argues Randy Orton's claim about "taking down Brock Lesnar" and has a special reveal for Orton which is that Paul Heyman used his backstage connections to set up a match between him and Lesnar at the Royal Rumble!!
Randy Orton exits the ring after saying that "he'll do whatever it takes to get that title match"
🔵 The Usos (c) vs. Big E & Chad Gable - SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match: 9min*
The two teams put on a good match, but the Usos cut it short by sneaking a low blow on Gable whose on the apron, Big E has no one to tag, and Randy Orton from ou of nowhere adds to the misery by distracting Big E. Jey Uso pins Big E from behind.
The Usos retain against Big E & Chad Gable.
🔹 BACKSTAGE: Randy Orton wants The Usos to help him get a Universal Title Match.
After helping The Usos retain their titles against Gable & E, Randy Orton wants The Usos to get him a match against Roman Reigns for the Universal Title instead of Edge. The Usos need time to think about it since they never asked for Orton's help...
🔵 Sonya Deville makes Rhea Ripley face Asuka: 5min*
WWE Official Sonya Deville calls Rhea Ripley to the ring to tell her about the special match she has been promised this past Friday on SmackDown. And the match is between Rhea and her partner and ally Asuka!
Rhea Ripley is livid.
🔵 Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka: 4min*
After Sonya Deville booked this match, Rhea Ripley and Asuka have no choice but to engage in one-on-one action or get suspended.
Asuka defeats Rhea Ripley via count-out after Rhea Ripley left the match!
🔹 BACKSTAGE: Big E & Chad Gable demand a title rematch tonight.
An angry Gable & E want another shot against The Usos after being screwed by Randy Orton earlier in the night!
And they want it tonight!
🔹 BACKSTAGE: Sonya Deville makes two huge announcements.
During an interview with the SmackDown Women's Champion Big Time Becks, Becky Lynch says competition is so stale on SmackDown and no-one is ready to face her at the Royal Rumble. Sonya Deville comes in and tells The Man that she'll be putting her title on the line against her at the Royal Rumble and on top of that she takes over the interview to publicly suspend Rhea Ripley after she left the match against Asuka.
🔵 Drew McIntyre fights through a sea of humanity: 6min*
SmackDown locker room enter an all-out brawl one week before the Royal Rumble Match, and Drew McIntyre stands tall!
Could Drew McIntyre win the Royal Rumble Match back to back this year?
Michael Cole and Pat McFee remind the WWE Universe that next week SmackDown is coming from New York in the MSG for a special edition of SmackDown, SmackDown's Rumble!
🔵 Sheamus vs. Edge - Falls Count Anywhere Match: 13min*
A WrestleMania-caliber match takes place on SmackDown as Edge faces Sheamus!
Edge and Sheamus hurt and destroy each other, from fighting in the crowd to catering to the parking lot, Edge spears Sheamus. Edge pins Sheamus to send a message to Roman Reigns come the Royal Rumble.
🔵 Liv Morgan and Bianca Belair challenge Doudrop & A.S.H: 9min*
The Women's Tag Champions Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H are making their entrance before the camera cuts to the backstage area where Rhea is being escorted out of the arena by security, following her suspension. Back to the ring, and Nikki says they came to SmackDown to find opponents for the Royal Rumble. Liv and Bianca come out and accept the challenge. The unlikely alliance of Liv and Belair on SmackDown is told to be the result of a backstage friendship and when they heard the Women's Tag Champs were coming to SmackDown they thought why not be the first to challenge them. Doudrop interrupts and lets them know it won't be any regular match, it's a tables match!!! The match is set for the Rumble.
🔵 MAIN EVENT: The Usos(c) vs. Big E & Chad Gable - SmackDown Tag Team Titles Match: 12min*
Big E and Gable get another title shot but go unlucky again as The Viper strikes again hitting Big E to the ground with an RKO!
Big E and Gable defeat The Usos via DQ. But The Usos retain the Tag Titles.
The Usos and Orton engage in a three-on-two ambush against E & Gable, but the odds were evened, some would say worsened, by the return of Brock Lesnar who obliterated The Usos and Randy Orton single handedly to close SmackDown!
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