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Friday Night SmackDown made its return to USA Network this week, emanating from Seattle, Washington’s Climate Pledge Arena.
Michin would be in the ring gearing up for her match against Piper Niven, with Chelsea Green accompanying her at ringside. Michin would immediately unleash offense on Niven. Her attention was briefly diverted by Green, who would get hit with a kendo stick that was found underneath the ring, with Niven taking control afterward. It wouldn’t be long though before the Scottish gal would fall victim to an Eat Defeat and lose the match. Green would strike once again, helping Niven attack Michin and hitting an Un-pretty-her face first onto a trash can.
WWE Women’s Champion, Queen Nia Jax entered the ring to cut a promo. At this time last year, she returned to WWE, and ever since, everyone in the women’s division has realized why she’s the Irresistible Force and why she’s unstoppable, citing her accomplishments of Queen of the Ring and the Women’s Championship, both of which were easy. Every woman in the locker room fears her, and they have good reason to. She tells the WWE Universe that SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis informed her that she will be defending her Women’s Championship in three week’s time at Bad Blood. She doesn’t know who her opponent is, and she doesn’t care who it is, because they will see the same fate that Michin, Naomi, and Bayley have seen.
It is Bayley that interrupts Jax, mentioning that she has had the greatest year of her career, and is happy that she’s feeling confident because she wants her rematch. Jax says that Bayley is in no position to demand anything from her, stating that it’s not like last year where Bayley was running around and hiding behind Damage CTRL. She runs the division now, and she doesn’t need a patsy to do it. This brings up another one of the many questions about Tiffany Stratton’s role in their partnership, as Bayley recalls not needing Damage CTRL to win her title at WrestleMania XL earlier this year, but Jax apparently needed Stratton to help her win the title at SummerSlam.
Tiffany Stratton makes her way out and tells Bayley that Nia knows better than to listen to her. And besides, to Stratton, Bayley is just another woman in the locker room who is jealous of the fact that she is Miss Money in the Bank and doesn’t need to beg for an opportunity like a peasant. Said “peasant” reminds Stratton that she beat her last week. Stratton’s response? “Only because Nia got involved.”
While this leads to a brief moment of tension, Jax remains composed and accuses Bayley of trying to be manipulative. Another woman enters the fray in the form of Naomi, sticking up for one of her best friends. But being in the ring makes her realize that it’s been quite a while since she last won a title, and it’s about time that she do it again. With both Naomi and Bayley wanting a shot, the Queen says that why don’t the two of them team up next week against her and Stratton, and the woman that can pin Jax will get a title shot at Bad Blood. The babyface duo accepts, but also that if Jax and Stratton win, the woman that gets pinned will leave SmackDown permanently. The segment ends as Stratton gets hit with a Rear View by Naomi and retreats to her queen.
Byron Saxton is with Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Belair is excited now that they have their titles back, and Cargill issues a challenge to any team that wants to take them on, no matter the show. The interview is interrupted by Jax and Stratton, first warning them that something bad will happen to Naomi, and then reminding them both that she beat them in order to become Queen of the Ring, so while they are the tag team champions, SmackDown is her kingdom.
Also this week were two former Divas in the crowd with very notable runs on the blue brand. Vickie Guerrero, once upon a time SmackDown general manager from 2007 to 2009, and 2022 Hall of Famer Queen Sharmell were seen in brief glimpses watching the Team Blue action with the rest of the fans. Former TNA Knockout Katie Forbes was also seen alongside her husband Rob Van Dam.
Here is what’s set to take place next week on Friday Night SmackDown:
Naomi and Bayley vs Queen Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton; if Naomi/Bayley win, whoever gets the pin gets a title shot vs. Nia at Bad Blood; if Nia/Tiffany win, whoever gets pinned must leave SmackDown.Share your thoughts on this week’s episode in the comments below!
