Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa will appear on The KO Show as part of tonight's taped episode of WWE SmackDown from Columbia, South Carolina.
Reigns, Sikoa, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn will have their final face-to-face encounter before squaring off for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles at Saturday's Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia.
SmackDown will also feature United States Champion Austin Theory defending his title against Sheamus after he confronted Theory last week.
Raquel Rodriguez will team with Shotzi to square off against Damage CTRL's Bayley and IYO SKY. Shotzi is replacing Liv Morgan as Rodriguez's partner due to an an injury Morgan suffered that forced she and Rodriguez to relinquish the WWE Women's Tag Team titles.
AJ Styles takes on Karrion Kross after Scarlett was shown with a tarot card featuring Styles on it last week. Styles takes on Seth Rollins Saturday to determine the inaugural WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– Michael Cole welcomed everyone in, reminding viewers that Night of Champions is Saturday. Wade Barrett hopped in and, along with Cole, ran down some of the card for the night. Sheamus's music hit and we went to the ring.
Austin Theory defeated Sheamus to retain the United States Championship [12:12]
This was a good opening match that packed more of a punch than I thought it would, considering the live crowd had already sat through an entire SmackDown before this. It looks like the Pretty Deadly/Brawling Brutes match from last week kicked off a program between the teams, which could end up being a nice little tag story. Meanwhile, this gave Sheamus an out for the loss, so my guess is they run this back sooner than later. All around, a good effort from both guys here. Sheamus still has it after all these years.
The two locked up to begin the match with Sheamus getting the best of Theory at first. Things turned around after Theory hit a rolling dropkick and went for 10 Beats, but Sheamus fought out of it until Theory ran Sheamus into the ring post and slammed Sheamus on the apron. The show then went to its first commercial break of the night.
Back from break, Theory was pounding on Sheamus's back inside the ring. Theory went for a couple pin attempts, but Sheamus kicked out both times at one. Theory landed a rolling Blockbuster for a two-count. Theory toyed with Sheamus, which only fired Sheamus up. Sheamus hit the Irish Curse backbreaker for a two-count. Sheamus landed a wild powerslam for another two-count.
Sheamus had theory on his back and climbed to the second rope, but Theory fought out and pounded on Sheamus's back again. Theory lifted Sheamus and slammed Sheamus for a two-count. Theory went for a rolling Blockbuster, but was met with a knee from Sheamus. Sheamus teased 10 beats, but Theory kicked his way out of it and picked up a chair for the DQ, but Ridge Holland took the chair away from him. Sheamus then commenced the 10 Beats, which turned into 25 Beats.
Out of nowhere, Pretty Deadly showed up and attacked the Brawling Brutes on the outside of the ring. They climbed onto the apron and got Sheamus's attention, which amounted in Theory rolling Sheamus up for the win.
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– We got a backstage segment with the Bloodline. It turns out, Roman Reigns is going to celebrate 1,000 days as champion next week, and he wants the whole family there. Jimmy Uso was told to sit down via Roman and Jimmy didn't obey him. As a result, the two had a tense moment. Roman dared Jimmy to do something, but the two simply had a stare down. Roman then kicked him out of the locker room and Jay followed his brother.
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Raquel Rodriguez and Shotzi defeated Damage CTRL [Bayley & Iyo Sky] [9:08]
The story of friction in Damage CTRL continues and you have to wonder how long Sky and Bayley have, considering Dakota Kai's injury, which will keep her out for quite a while. It feels like the faction's days are numbered and the last thing I thought might happen was those two losing to the makeshift tag team of Raquel and Shotzi here. The match itself was little more than just OK. The final sequence felt more confusing than anything, but perhaps this means Raquel and Shotzi have momentum going into the women's tag title match. And perhaps that means they'll lose.
Raquel and Bayley began the match but Sky tagged in quickly. Before long, all four women brawled in the ring with the action spilling outside, where Shotzi landed a suicide dive on both Sky and Bayley. Back in the ring, Shotzi covered Sky for a two-count. Raquel tagged in and went for a chokeslam on Sky, but Bayley had tagged in and took back control for Damage CTRL.
Both Sky and Bayley tried to control Raquel, but Raquel ultimately got the hot tag to Shotzi, who worked over Bayley with a bulldog, a right hand and a kick. Shotzi suplexed Bayley and hit a splash on Bayley, who was draped over the second rope, for a two-count. Sky tagged in and, along with Bayley, kicked Shotzi's head. Shotzi came back with a suplex and pinned Sky, but Bayley broke it up.
Raquel tagged in and lifted Sky, who worked out of it and drove Raquel's head into the turnbuckle. Raquel came back to drive Sky into a corner. Bayley tagged in, and in a weird sequence, Sky came off the top to take out Shotzi, but Raquel sat down on Bayley for the pinfall.
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– A condensed version of the Seth Rollins interviews on Raw aired in a package. An AJ Styles video package aired as well to even things out.
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– A Grayson Waller highlight package aired after Hit Row made their entrance.
Cameron Grimes defeated Ashante Thee Adonis [2:10]
A pretty basic, predictable match. We haven't seen Hit Row in a little bit and Grimes is going … well … to the moon. At least for now. It appears he'll be working with Baron Corbin in the immediate future, and there are worse heels he could work with as he gets acquainted with the main roster. As for this match, it was fine for what it was, which wasn't much.
Grimes had a picture-in-picture promo from backstage before the match started. Grimes came out firing on all cylinders to start the match. Top Dolla stopped Grimes's momentum by grabbing Grimes's foot. Ashante took advantage of that interference and hit Grimes with a series of moves. Grimes eventually yelled "To the moon" and hit the Cave In for the win. After the match, Baron Corbin briefly attacked Grimes in the entrance way.
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– Bianca Belair made her entrance and had a microphone with her in the ring. Belair talked about how she's going to defend her title against Asuka at Night of Champions. Belair spoke about "how good it feels to be your Raw Women's Champion" … on SmackDown. Anyway, Belair talked about how Asuka humiliated Belair in Belair's hometown a couple weeks ago. Belair said she's going to give Asuka a fight, which was enough to cue Asuka's music. Asuka attacked Belair from behind and sunk in an arm-bar on Belair until officials broke it up. Those same officials broke up an attempted KOD from Belair.
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LA Knight defeated Rick Boogs [3:19]
It's good to see Knight finally get some TV time. It's not much, but the crowd continues to be behind him and maybe this will lead to something more. The match was basic, but Boogs showed impressive strength. I mean, lean into the gimmick, right? Perhaps we'll get something between Knight and the Profits at Night of Champions this weekend.
The Street Profits made their entrance before the match began and joined on commentary. The action in the match quickly spilled outside, where Boogs had control and dropped Knight on the commentary table. The Profits were pumped. Back inside the ring, Knight worked over Boogs until Boogs threw Knight into a corner. Knight came right back with a bunch of kicks and a running knee on Boogs.
Knight worked a front face-lock, but Boogs threw Knight away. Boogs fired up, but Knight hit some right hands and kicks to the midsection. It didn't really matter because Boogs manhandled Knight and tossed him across the ring. Boogs lifted Knight, but Knight raked the eyes and hit the BFT for the win. After the match, Knight got a microphone and confronted the Street Profits, calling them "five dollar asses." Knight ended the segment by throwing the microphone at the Profits.
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AJ Styles defeated Karrion Kross [9:27]
Kross worked hard here and you have to admire that. He seems to be in WWE purgatory, which depending on your perspective can be a great thing or a not-so-great thing. There was little debate about who would come out on top, if only because Styles is wrestling for the World Heavyweight Title on Saturday, but that didn't mean this wasn't a good match. The wrestlers did good with the cards they had (pun intended, Mr. Kross), and I'm curious to see if we'll get a Michin/Scarlett story here sooner than later. Either way, this was as good as it could be, considering the circumstances.
Kross had control early on in what would have been a great match in Impact at some point, had it been possible. These days, the hair is much longer. Styles tried to fight back at one point, but Scarlett cut Styles off by grabbing his foot when Styles was on the apron and therefore, Kross kicked Styles off the apron. Michin responded by coming to ringside to even the score and she ultimately chased Scarlett to the back.
Kross kept control and worked a chin-lock on Styles until Styles fought his way out with chops, punches and an enziguri. Styles lifted Kross, but Kross got out of it. No matter because Styles hit a running forearm and a makeshift backbreaker for a two-count. Styles went for a tornado DDT, but Kross countered with a pair of suplexes for a two-count. Kross went for a KrossHammer, but Styles ducked it and went for a Styles Clash, but Kross pushed Styles away. Styles settled for a Phenomenal Forearm, which got him the win. Styles was interviewed after the match backstage and Styles said Seth Rollins can't beat Phenomenal, referring to his match at Night of Champions.
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Next week, Roman Reigns will celebrate 1,000 days as champion. Also, Zelina Vega and Lacey Evans will face off in a women's Money In The Bank qualifying match. Also, Montez Ford and LA Knight will compete in a men's Money In The Bank qualifying match.
The KO Show segment
Owens began the segment by welcoming in Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa. From there, we heard Paul Heyman's voice and Heyman walked out to tell everyone that the Tribal Chief just doesn't come out when people say he comes out. Heyman also said there is no booing when Heyman has the microphone, which was pretty funny. As Heyman was talking, the Usos music hit and the Usos came out, walking past Heyman toward the ring.
Jey yelled at Sami, and Sami tried to respond, but Owens cut Zayn off, saying Owens knew Reigns wouldn't come out anyway. Owens said he wanted to talk to the Usos anyway. Owens explained that Zayn still cares about the Usos, but Owens doesn't get it. Owens said he he hopes to get through to the Usos, and Zayn has been right about everything the whole time. Owens said the Usos are the heart of the table, whereas Reigns is the head of the table. Owens said Reigns treats the Usos like they are expendable.
Owens called the Usos the greatest tag team in the history of WWE. He then said they are Reigns's errand boys. Jimmy responded by saying he is the tribal chief and Heyman sold the hell out of that. Wouldn't you know it … Roman Reigns's music hit and Heyman looked concerned. Reigns walked out alone and with purpose. Reigns took the mic from Jey and threw it. He then confronted Jimmy with a long stare and threw his microphone, too.
Zayn interrupted and told Roman it's over. Zayn said the Bloodline is collapsing and it's all Roman's fault. Roman then slapped the microphone out of Zayn's hand. Owens responded by giving Reigns a Stunner. The Usos and Zayn/Owens then brawled. Solo Sikoa ran to the ring and laid out Zayn and Owens. Reigns flipped out and speared Zayn. The Usos climbed back into the ring and held the tag belts. Jey gave the belts to Sikoa while Jimmy held his longer than expected. Jey took them and gave the belts to Roman. Roman held both sets of tag belts as the family posed … except for Jimmy, who took exception in a corner. While holding both sets of tag belts, Roman talked to the camera as the show ended.