WWE SmackDown is live this evening at 8/7c on the USA Network in North America, and Netflix for international viewers, from the TD Garden in Boston, MA.

‘WWE Then. Now. Forever. Together.’ airs as always to get us started. We then get an aerial shot of the TD Garden in Boston, MA., as Joe Tessitore welcomes us to the show on commentary. We see the usual show-opening Superstar arrivals, including CM Punk, Kevin Owens, Baron Corbin, Carmelo Hayes, Tiffany Stratton and Fatal Influence.

Nick Aldis’ Chelsea Green Update Turns Into Chaos

Inside the ring, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis mentions Chelsea Green suffering a broken orbital bone, and how that is a big deal because of her status as Interim Women’s Champion. He says he’s spoke with the people above him and a decision has been made. He asks Green to come out. She does.

Aldis mentions that because of her injury situation, and the fact that there is no way that she is going to be able to get medically cleared in time to defend her title as contracted, he has the unfortunate responsibility to inform Green that she must relinquish the interim women’s title.

Green says here we go again. She talks about stuff like this being the story of her life. She says she’s had her face shoved in pies, garbage dumps, she’s had bones broken, her face and eye and nose has been broken. She says if anyone should be able to understand and relate it is Aldis.

Aldis says that is not the same thing. Green shouts back that it is the exact same thing. She says Aldis had his wife and his son there and the entire world cheering him on at SummerSlam. She hands him the title and walks off. Aldis says stop. He says he’s giving her 30 days to get cleared or a face protector so she can defend her title.

Before she can leave, the familiar sounds of Gunther’s theme hits. “The Career-Killer” makes his way out to confront Aldis, while Green is still in the ring. Gunther states his case to Aldis, but in the process, Green takes a verbal shot at Gunther, which leads to Gunther being rude to her.

Enter Matt Cardona. Cardona comes to the ring to defend his wife. This leads to Gunther punking out Cardona to his face in front of his wife until eventually Cardona explodes and things get physical. As they do, the show abruptly cuts to a commercial break.

Gunther vs. Matt Cardona

When the show returns, we see Gunther vs. Cardona in an impromptu one-on-one match already in progress. On commentary, Tessitore informs us that the match was made official by Aldis during the break. In the ring, we see Gunther easily handling Cardona early on.

Gunther is landing wrist control chops, both men are still in jeans but are shirtless. Cardona fights back and corners Gunther then he tries a Broski Boot but runs into a Gunther boot. Cardona fights back and sends Gunther out of the ring then follows with a diving dropkick.

Gunther with a chop then a back suplex onto the barrier, and a powerbomb onto the announce table which does not break. Then a powerbomb onto the ring apron as well. Gunther trash talks Green a little bit then climbs into the ring and looks for the count out.

Green encourages Cardona and he beats the count but gets killed with a Rainmaker in the ring. Some more heel taunting from Gunther, then a Saito suplex to follow up. Green and Gunther get into it at this point, which, of course, leads to Green distracting the ref.

Cardona takes this opportunity to full benefit, as he hits Gunther with a low-blow and then hits a Rough Ryder for a near fall. Cardona tries another Rough Ryder, this time Gunther counters with a series of powerbombs then a Boston Crab to get the submission victory.

Winner: Gunther

Irresistible Forces Attack Chelsea Green & Tiffany Stratton

Once the match wraps up, we quickly learn that things here aren’t over quite yet. The Irresistible Forces duo of Nia Jax and Lash Legend show up to make things worse for the Interim Women’s Champion Chelsea Green. Jax has a mic and reminds Green that she only has 30 days.

Jax says she got screwed out of SummerSlam and wants the WWE women’s title. Both women get into the ring, and Jax warns Green that she’ll break her face again. That brings out WWE Women’s U.S. Champion Tiffany Stratton to attack Jax and Lash, but the odds are too much for her. Jax lands a leg drop to wrap things up.

Backstage With Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss & Tatum Paxley

Now we shift gears and head backstage, where we see Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss walking. Charlotte says she missed her. Bliss puts over newcomer Tatum Paxley, but Charlotte seems like she’s going to be the jealous friend in this equation.

Paxley has a weird little shrine set up for the three of them, it’s awkward but Bliss is trying to be nice. Charlotte likes the collage of herself. Basically, Paxley is the same overly-stalker-type of friend character on the main roster that she was during her time in NXT. We head to a commercial break after this.

Backstage With Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn & Nick Aldis

A video package airs recapping the Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes situation from last week and at SummerSlam. We return live backstage, where Rhodes catches up with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis and asks for the match with Orton.

Aldis brings up Sunday Night’s Main Event for a match in Atlanta. Cody doesn’t care about venue but this needs to be handled. Cody turns into Sami Zayn. Sami whines again about everything per usual as of late. Cody says Sami used to be able to do this to him, and Cody would just kind of let it go.

Rhodes says well now he doesn’t owe Sami anything with his gout fist, if he wants to do something about this let’s do something about it. Sami says he pinned Cody the last time they were in the ring together, and Cody invites him to do it again tonight.

Zayn begins to make excuses. Aldis asks if Sami can’t wrestle or if he just wont. Aldis then says if Sami beats Cody tonight he can have the winner of CM Punk and Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Still, Zayn tries to say he’s hurt. Aldis says he was hurt at SummerSlam, but he made a choice, and now he can choose again.

WWE United States Championship
Baron Corbin (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes

Back inside the TD Garden, we hear the familiar sounds of Carmelo Hayes’ entrance theme. Out comes Boston’s own hometown Superstar for a big title opportunity. He heads to the ring for his scheduled match against Baron Corbin for the WWE United States Championship.

But first, we head to a quick pre-match commercial break. The show returns and the reigning, defending title-holder makes his way out to somewhat of a non-reaction from the Beantown crowd. As Corbin is screwing around at ringside, Hayes hits a dive onto him from the ring.

Hayes with some early punches and he avoids the ponderous offense of Corbin. We see a ten-punch spot from Hayes get to five before Corbin shoves him off. Hayes with an enziguri then a springboard clothesline for only a one-count.

Corbin catches a jumping Hayes and tries a chokeslam but Hayes slips free, low bridges Corbin then catches him with the springboard fade-away leg drop. Corbin blocks the First 48 and hits a powerbomb then a big boot to send Hayes out of the ring.

At ringside, we see some brawling on the floor from Corbin, with Hayes getting worked over as the show heads into a mid-match commercial break. When the show returns, we see the action still in progress back inside the ring with Corbin in control of the offense.

Hayes tries to fight back with chops but Corbin just rams him into the ring steps. Now Corbin wanders around trying to get heat, slightly more response this time before both men head back into the ring. Some corner work from Corbin then a back elbow to drop Hayes.

Hayes fires up with some elbows but Corbin levels him with a clothesline. Hayes avoids a running powerslam, kicks the knee of Corbin and then hits the springboard fade-away DDT. Hayes up top for a Frog Splash and a two-count. Corbin blocks another First 48 and hits a big boot.

We see Hayes with a Manami Roll to counter a powerbomb but Corbin then catches him with a Deep Six for a two-count. First 48 from Hayes, then another one finally drops Corbin. Hayes up top again, but Corbin shoves him to the floor where he bangs his head into the barricade. Corbin hits End of Days for the win to retain.

Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: Baron Corbin

Trick Williams Gets One Over On Baron Corbin

Once the match wraps up, we prepare for a post-match scene. Former WWE United States Champion and owner of “The Lemon Pepper-Steppers” himself, Trick Williams, comes out on his rotating platform. Lil Yachty shows up out of nowhere.

While Corbin is distracted with Williams, we see Yachty sneak attack the U.S. Champion. He blasts him from behind with a kendo stick. Corbin is barely even annoyed by that and chases him away but Trick hits the ring and lands a Trick Shot to send Corbin out of the ring.

Backstage With Tiffany Stratton & Chelsea Green

Now we head backstage, where we see Chelsea Green talking with a slightly banged up Tiffany Stratton, who says she can still compete tonight as scheduled. Stratton is advertised to defend her WWE Women’s United States Championship against Jacy Jayne of Fatal Influence. We head to a commercial break.

CM Punk & Kevin Owens Go Face-To-Face … Again

Now we return from the break and get ready for the second week in a row of Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk and No. 1 Contender Kevin Owens going face-to-face ahead of their expected title tilt on next week’s episode of WWE SmackDown on August 21 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Owens heads to the ring followed by reigning Undisputed WWE Champion Punk. Both men have mics and Owens is sitting on the top rope. Punk starts and says Owens isn’t a coward, so whatever he was about to say before Punk came out go ahead and say it to his face.

Owens tries but Punk cuts him off with his usual cheap pop intro. Owens says last week they were face to face and Punk chose to be all the way up the ramp to call him a fat slob. Punk says he’ll say that to his face, Owens knows that and brings up that 20 years ago was their start.

Punk invites him to smarten up the crowd on their heat. Owens says 20 years ago they wrestled for the same promotion, Punk was the man and Owens just starting out, but one night Punk chose to berate and scream at Owens in a locker room full of his peers. Punk really asks if he’s been holding that for 20 years.

Owens says that’s just one reason. In the last 20 years, the things Punk has been and treated people Owens cares about. Punk wants to know which friends, Owens says not just the 3 you think it’s all of them. Punk is happy to not be the friend of losers. Owens says that’s why he despises Punk.

There’s a room full of people who look up to Punk, but why? Owens is the only guy left who doesn’t like him, and everything Punk does is just performative. Punk is a phony, he only made up here because he had no choice. The kind of person he is led to Punk screwing up everything everywhere else, and Owens doesn’t respect him.

While Punk was gone Owens was here doing well for himself. 12 years in this ring before the injury, he’s main evented everywhere, won every title, even main evented WrestleMania against Stone Cold Steve Austin. Punk sarcastically congratulates him on that but warns him that if he was here all those chances would have come to Punk.

Owens asks him to say why that’s true? Is Owens a fan on the wrong side of the guardrail? Punk asks if Owens is just projecting onto him. He’s WWE undisputed champion with a locker room full of guys who want to be champion. He’s calling out Oba Femi but got endometriosis instead.

Looking at Owens he sees a tough guy, a guy that speaks two languages who might be smarter than Punk, but a guy who avoids the work. All you have to do is be 1% better every day, and Owens wont do that so he’s just a bum. Punk has evolved, he wants to be better every day.

If Owens had put in even half the work that Punk has he could have avoided the Bill Goldberg Spear that ended his title run. Owens will never be anything like Punk, despite all of Punk’s accomplishments he still hates what he sees in the mirror. Owens is the same person Punk screamed at 20 years ago.

And that same fat indie loser is facing Punk for the WWE title next week. Being like Punk wouldn’t have helped, because Punk couldn’t avoid the Roman Reigns Spear either. Punk sees himself 20 years ago in Owens, stubborn, loud, convinced he’s the smartest guy in the room, but that’s the same guy from 20 years ago.

Owens doesn’t really care about that, he’s never cared for Punk’s guidance. His only regret for 20 years is not punching Punk in the mouth back then. Punk invites him to do it now. Owens didn’t do it last time, because he knew Punk would have politicked to ruin his career.

And right now he wont do it because next week he doesn’t just get to punch Punk in the face. He waited 20 years, 7 more days wont hurt and then he can also beat Punk’s bitch ass next week in Toronto for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

From there, Punk says Owens has been crying about consequences for 20 years. It’s fine that Owens never looked up to him, because next week that’s what Owens will be doing after Punk puts his fat ass to sleep. That’s how the intense verbal showdown wraps up.

Backstage With Finn Balor, Gunther & Nick Aldis

Now we head backstage, where we see Finn Balor talking with SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. Aldis apologizes for not giving Balor a heads up about the SummerSlam change. Gunther barges in to interrupt.

Gunther can’t see Balor, just the shadow of what Balor used to be able to do. Balor calls him a condescending prick, and he’ll happily take on Gunther for another title shot. Gunther storms off but Aldis seemed intrigued.

WWE World Tag-Team Championship
Damian Priest & R-Truth (c) vs. The War Raiders vs. The MFTs

Inside the arena we return, as we head back to the ring for our second title tilt of the evening. Out come the reigning and defending WWE World Tag-Team Champions Damian Priest and R-Truth. They defend their titles against The War Raiders and The MFTs next. We head to a quick pre-match commercial break.

When the show returns, we see The War Raiders have already made their ring entrance during the break. The third and final team, The MFTs duo of Tama and Talla Tonga, make their way out accompanied by the legendary Haku. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this one.

We’re going with three men in the ring at a time. Everyone tags out to start so all six men can get to a brawl. The champs get dropped then the Tongan boys and Raiders fight. Eventually Talla flips to the floor comically as those teams brawl, that sets up Priest climbing up top to dive onto the pile of bodies.

On that note, we head to a mid-match commercial break as the action continues. When the show returns, we see lots of brawling by everyone, Talla and Tama isolate Truth for a bit. Truth gets isolated and beat down by Tama and Talla. Ivar shows up to complicate things but Tama just headbutts him back to the floor.

Talla tags in to land an uppercut then tag out. Tama grabs a chin lock to crickets. Truth tries to fight back and wake up the crowd, he hits the Rock combo of punches as we rejoin the broadcast. Truth dodges Tama and sends him out of the ring then tags Priest.

Talla goes to check on Tama so Priest can run over Erik and Ivar for a bit. Corner attacks from Priest including a lifting Flatliner to Ivar. Truth tags back in, Ivar fights out of the corner though, he climbs up but Priest and Truth attack then climb up with him. Talla shows up to toss them down, then Ivar with a rolling senton to drop Talla.

Tama shows back up and fights with Erik, they hit the assisted powerslam but only a 2 count. Talla shows up so everyone can try and make him look competent. Talla levels the field but good heavens the crowd just do not care about him. Priest and Ivar team up to beat down Talla including a double suplex.

Truth grabs an STFU on Talla, but loses the leg so Erik knees Talla in the face. Erik gets to get some shine now, then Priest attacks knocking Ivar off the top rope then stomps down Erik. Priest with a tornado kick to Erik on the floor, then another one and a charge but into the Thor’s Hammer through the barricade from the War Raiders.

Tama back in the ring, tries a Cutthroat but Truth dodges and hits the Cena Sequence, but Tama dodges the Attitude Adjustment, then he and Talla hit the double team powerbomb for the pin and the victory. With the win, The MFTs are now the WWE World Tag-Team Champions.

Winners and NEW WWE World Tag-Team Champions: The MFTs

Women’s United States Championship
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jacy Jayne

After the tag-team title change, the show shifts gears and heads into another commercial break. When the show returns, we head to the ring for our third advertised championship contest of the evening. It will be Tiffany Stratton defending her WWE Women’s United States Championship against Jacy Jayne of Fatal Influence.

The champion and the challenger make their respective ring walks, and then the bell sounds to get things officially off-and-running. Straight out of the gate, Jayne corners Tiffany right away and goes for the ribs. Senton from Jayne then a body scissors.

Stratton avoids a second senton, drops Jayne into the ropes then hits the hip attack and low dropkick for a 2 count. Jayne powders, Tiffany gets into things with Fallon so Jayne can hit a Backstabber. On that note, the show heads into a mid-match break as the action continues.

When the show returns, we see the action still ongoing. We see more corner work from Jayne. Jayne keeps up targeting the ribs of Tiffany, then Jayne sends Tiffany into an ugly as sin rope spot. Jayne grabs another body scissors, then a face-lock. Tiffany fights free but Jayne kicks her in the ribs to regain control.

Jayne puts Tiffany up top and tries a super-plex, Tiffany shoves her down though but Jayne shoves her to the floor. Chelsea Green runs down to support Tiffany. Jayne and Green trade words for a bit, that lets Tiffany grab a School Boy for two, then we get a double down spot.

Stratton starts to fire up with clotheslines then a spinning back elbow and cartwheel Alabama Slam, followed by a Swanton Bomb for a two-count. We see a superkick from Jayne, but Stratton catches her with a handspring Stunner. Finlay-Roll from Stratton, but Jayne gets her knees up to block the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

Now we see Stratton with a superkick to block a Rolling Encore, then a knee to the face. Another Finlay-Roll from Stratton, but Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid menace Green, prompting Stratton to hit a dive onto them to make the save for the interim women’s champion. Unfortunately this leads to a Rolling Encore from Jayne for the win.

Winner and NEW WWE Women’s United States Champion: Jacy Jayne

Backstage With Jade Cargill, B-Fab & Michin

Backstage, we see Cathy Kelley standing by with Jade Cargill and her Baddies duo of B-Fab and Michin. Cargill claims that she is shocked that no one can mind their own business, and vows to handle them. B-Fab chimes in to say they’re looking forward to giving Tatum Paxley a proper welcome to SmackDown.

Cody Rhodes vs. Sami Zayn

It’s main event time!

Cody Rhodes makes his way to the ring looking all-business for his high stakes showdown against Sami Zayn that was set up earlier in the show, and has title ramifications for the winner against the winner of next week’s CM Punk vs. Kevin Owens title tilt.

As he settles inside the squared circle, the show shifts gears and heads into a quick pre-match commercial break. When the show returns, we see “The American Nightmare” inside the ring awaiting his opposition. Zayn comes out still wearing the wrist brace.

Before any match can happen, however, Randy Orton comes from behind Cody. Randy posts Cody, hits the draping DDT, and tries the RKO but Cody blocks it so Randy tosses him out of the ring. Randy gets the ring steps and brains Cody over the barricade.

This leads to Sami complaining to the ref about things as Randy moves the base of the ring steps against the announce table to recreate the head crushing he gave Cody before WrestleMania. Cody fights back by hitting Randy with a can of Coke then both men fight through the crowd.

A trash can shot from Cody and he uses Randy to knock over a whole section of barricade. They keep fighting through the crowd and back to the ringside area. Orton goes to set up Cody for the chair shot in the base of the steps, however officials finally show up.

Regardless, Orton gets the chair and looks to hit the chair shot. Instead, Cody kicks him low to save himself. Cody gets the chair and cracks Randy with it, positioning Randy’s head in the step base and now Cody goes to blast his brains out, but an official takes the chair. Cody charges at Orton again as the show ends. Thanks for joining us!

Winner: No Contest