WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from July 24
The march toward SummerSlam for WWE's SmackDown brand began Friday night on Fox with an episode headlined by the culmination of Jeff Hardy's feud with Sheamus and what may prove to be a renewed push for Naomi.
Beyond the advertised Bar Fight between the Charismatic Enigma and The Celtic Warrior and Naomi's stop by The Dirt Sheet with John Morrison and The Miz, the show featured the fallout from an explosive Extreme Rules pay-per-view that saw the return of The Fiend during the Wyatt Swamp Fight.
Was Hardy able to exorcise the demon that was Sheamus? What would Naomi have to say after the outpouring of support across social media after last week's show?
Would there be any fallout for King Corbin's attack on Matt Riddle at the end of last week's broadcast?
We found out the answers to those questions and more Friday night on the blue brand's July 24 episode.
Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki Cross
Former women's tag team champions Bliss and Cross engaged in some counters and reversals early, but neither gained a sustained upper-hand.
Cross fired up at one point and unleashed a dropkick, clothesline and running bulldog. Bliss kicked out at two. Heading into the break, Bliss and Cross took out The Golden Role Models at the commentary position.
Little Miss Bliss controlled the match coming out of the timeout, wearing Bliss down and working the established rib injury of her tag team partner. She delivered the double knees to the midsection, but Cross bailed to the sanctuary of the floor, preventing the standing moonsault.
A stiff kick to the back continued Cross' torment.
Cross fought her way back into the match, using her frantic pace to her advantage as she rattled Bliss. Alexa broke out a Code Red for two. Later, Cross launched herself off the ropes for a crossbody block but missed, doing more damage to her ribs.
As Bliss expressed concern for her partner, Cross rolled her up for the win to earn another shot at Bayley.
Result
Cross defeated Bliss
Grade
B
Analysis
This was a surprisingly good match between two women who have not worked together as opponents much at all in recent months. The psychology was great, with Bliss targeting the injury and Cross starring as she fought from underneath.
What really worked was the manner in which Cross won the match and the look on Bliss' face after the referee's three-count.
The former tag team champions are on the road to a breakup that hopefully reintroduces the WWE Universe to the evil, vindictive Bliss.
Even as she congratulated Cross backstage, the hint of dissent was clearly there.
As for Banks and Bayley, they were obnoxiously great on commentary and are really growing into these more prominent roles on Raw and SmackDown.
Matt Riddle vs. Tony Nese
Moments after Bray Wyatt presented the latest edition of The Firefly Funhouse in which he revealed it is now The Fiend's time, Matt Riddle made his way to the ring for some singles in-ring action.
The Original Bro battled former cruiserweight champion Tony Nese.
Riddle tossed Nese around with a gut-wrench suplex, delivered a running senton to the back and finished him off with the Bro Derek.
After the match, Riddle grabbed a mic. "I'm kind of new here so I'm going to give it a try. King Corbin...I'm calling you out, bro."
The 2019 King of the Ring entered to a chorus of boos and immediately took exception to Riddle calling him out. "You're just not ready," he said. "You don't belong in a professional atmosphere like SmackDown." Finally, he said, "maybe you should go to 205 Live. You'd probably be a top guy there."
Riddle said he's not some helpless member of the kingdom, but Corbin is the next special guest on The Bro Show. He wiped out a charging Nese with a kick and stood tall to close out the segment.
Result
Riddle defeated Nese
Grade
B
Analysis
The match itself was a glorified squash, as it should have been, and the post-match promo work was fine enough for what it was.
You can probably argue that Corbin is a lackluster feud for Riddle, if only because the styles do not appear to mesh well on the surface, but the king is a bona fide heel. He is as good in that role as anyone else on the villain side of things in this company right now and someone fans genuinely want to see get his ass kicked.
Letting him annoy the hell out of SmackDown's newest star, only to incur the wrath of the typically laid-back Riddle, is a great way to introduce the Bro to the audience.
Big E Gets Kofi's Blessing; Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender's Match
Prior to the next match, Kofi Kingston revealed he suffered injuries during the Tables Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. From there, he told Big E it is all about him now; it's his time. They embraced to close out the backstage vignette.
Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary for a Fatal 4-Way, No. 1 Contender Match between Lince Dorado, Gran Metalik, Drew Gulak and Shorty G aimed at determining The Phenomenal One's next challenger.
Shorty G scored a rollup on Gulak as Styles put him over as the most impressive competitor in the match. The action continued, with each competitor showing off before Shorty G unloaded on the competition. The 2012 Olympian tossed the opposition around with his arsenal of suplexes.
Gulak looked for the Gulock, but Shorty G countered into an ankle lock.
Dorado exploded back into the match, nearly scoring a pin on G. The action made its way to the top rope, where Dorado sent Gulak to the floor. Shorty G delivered a super German Suplex to Dorado and Gran Metalik came from out of nowhere to pick up the win.
Styles greeted Metalik in the ring after the match and the two exchanged slaps, showing signs of disrespect between challenger and champion.
Result
Metalik defeated Gulak, Dorado and Shorty G
Grade
B+
Analysis
Metalik winning was a nice change of pace for a company that tends to go back to the same well time and time again. In the few opportunities he and Dorado have had to shine this year, they have gone above and beyond.
It was just this past March at Elimination Chamber that Lucha House Party stole the show in the titular match, and now, Metalik has the opportunity to reverse both his and his partner's fortunes if he can deliver against one of the standard-bearers in WWE.
Shorty G was his typically great, underrated self here. Like always, he is just one major win away from being a breakout star for this company.
If there was a negative, it was the pace, which was so frenetic that it gave way to more than one spot that was dangerously close to ending in disaster.
Speaking of opportunities, Big E getting the chance to run as a singles competitor and achieve the sort of success someone with his look, his personality and his hard-hitting, power-based style should is long overdue.
Hopefully he makes the most of it, because a WWE with Big E at or near the forefront is a company I can reinvest in.
Bar Fight: Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus
The months-long feud between Jeff Hardy and Sheamus came to a head Friday in a Bar Fight, a match that promised a "potentially triggering atmosphere" for The Charismatic Enigma, per Michael Cole.
Sheamus arrived at the bar first, followed shortly thereafter by Hardy. "My brother had to delete his WWE career. Tonight, I have to recover mine," he said. Sheamus reiterated his claims that Hardy is weak, pathetic and no one cares about him.
When the fight finally got underway, it assumed the form of a brawl.
Sheamus gained the early upper hand, but Hardy ran across the bar and wiped him out. The fight spilled into the restroom, where the Irishman humiliated his opponent by shoving him face-first into a urinal. A vengeful Hardy soared through the air...and right into the waiting arms of Sheamus, who slammed him into the wall.
Hardy turned the tide coming out of the break and downed Sheamus with a Twist of Fate. He set up the ladder he had produced earlier in the match and began to climb it when the bartender interrupted. Hardy put him through a table, allowing Sheamus to recover.
He blasted Hardy and placed his hat on his rival’s face before taking a drink. When he retrieved the hat, Hardy’s face was painted and his pupils white. The augmented version of himself climbed the ladder and came off with a Swanton Bomb.
The referee counted the pin and awarded the Bar Fight to Hardy.
Result
Hardy defeated Sheamus
Grade
B-
Analysis
This really needed more time, and less punching and kicking, to be wholly effective.
As it was, this was the brawl you expected it to be. Sheamus was insufferable, a great antagonistic heel, while Hardy was the babyface tasked with fighting from underneath if he hoped to win.
The transformation from Jeff Hardy into his Brother Nero persona late was a nice touch that suggested there is a darker, more focused and possessed being inside of the competitor ready to break out.
Hopefully, Hardy’s win here frees him up and allows him to do something else, because this is a feud that has absolutely run its course.
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