WWE took things to another level with the first post-Backlash edition of Friday Night SmackDown with plenty of exciting moments.
Right from the beginning, the show opened up with Renee Young introducing the new Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles, with wrestlers surrounding the ring.
He promised the talent they would never get close to the title and asked Daniel Bryan to present him with his belt – which he obliged.
The former world champion urged the Phenomenal One to take on all-comers to defeat the best in the business, but Styles tried to talk his way out of any potential matches.
However, Matt Riddle arrived and introduced himself to both the IC champ and the SmackDown audience, claiming he will be the Bro That Runs The Show.
Although Styles refused to put his belt on the line, he did agree to what was essentially a Lumberjack Match.
It was fantastic, energetic and intense, with both men going all out in a very physical match.
Riddle was presented on Styles’ level, and even picked up a huge debut win when Daniel Bryan’s coaching distracted the Phenomenal One and allowed his opponent to his the BroDerek for the pin.
Best of the rest:
Skipping to the main event segment, WWE viewers and Braun Strowman got a real blast from the past as Bray Wyatt returned to his cult leader roots.
Speaking from the Firefly Funhouse, Wyatt discussed his time off and tried to explain all the reasons he’s been gone, but Ramblin’ Rabbit revealed he’d actually been crying in the corner after losing to the Universal Champion at Money In The Bank.
The Monster Among Men appeared and told Bray he was done with the mind game – but the shocking final moments saw the Eater of Worlds arrive.
He told Braun to follow the buzzards and find him, opening up a whole range of possibilities with Wyatt seemingly being able to tap into three different characters and personalities now.
Braun looked genuinely unsettled, showing the power Bray’s cult leader guise still holds over him.
Elsewhere, Jeff Hardy told Renee he was disappointed he couldn’t beat Sheamus, but he knows he needs to stop listening to the Celtic Warrior – who later promised to toast his rival’s career next week.
We had more height jokes at Shorty G’s expense too, as he beat Mojo Rawley in an unremarkable match.
This Week’s Miz TV saw Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville continue their personal issues as they traded cheap shots.
Eventually, Deville vowed to ruin Rose’s only asset (her beauty) before a brawl kicked off as The Miz ended up between them, earning him a slap.
This was a fantastic way to heat up the rivalry and build towards a brutal conclusive match.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day got a win over Lucha House Party in a fantastic non-title bout, but the real story came as Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro laid out the duo after the bell.
Cesaro berated Michael Cole for ignoring them, and really took their feud to another level despite being early days.
Meanwhile, Nikki Cross attacked Sasha Banks and Bayley on commentary, until Alexa Bliss made the save – only for her BFF to lay down a challenge.
Bayley accepted on Sasha’s behalf, and the resulting match was a fun contest between two fantastic performers.
Banks may have got the win, but this was a great showcase for Cross.
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