WWE SmackDown Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from August 26
Just eight days before the blockbuster Clash at the Castle premium live event from Cardiff, Wales, WWE SmackDown featured the No. 1 contender to the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship Drew McIntyre squaring off with Sami Zayn.
The show also featured the latest in the Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament and the return of New Day's Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
Find out what went down and what it means for the company as it prepares for the first extravaganza built exclusively by Triple H and the new WWE Creative regime with this recap of the August 26 SmackDown.
Match Card
1 of 7- "Second Chance" Fatal 4-Way Women's Tag Team Match: Tamina and Dana Brooke vs. Shotzi and Xia Li vs. Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop vs. Natalya and Sonya Deville
- Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
- Ricochet vs. Happy Corbin
- The return of New Day
Ricochet vs. Happy Corbin
2 of 7
Two weeks after Ricochet scored a victory over Happy Corbin, the One and Only sought to make it 2-0 against his rival as they clashed in the night's first match.
Corbin dominated his opponent throughout the majority of the bout, using his strength and size advantage to overwhelm the smaller Ricochet.
The former intercontinental champion fought back from behind, though, and fended off the onslaught to score the win with a shooting star press.
The match was another reminder of how, beyond the easily dislikable heel persona, Corbin is a damn good professional wrestler whose talents and abilities are definitely underrated. Often lumped in with other big men, he has speed and agility that is nearly unmatched and has proved he could keep up with Ricochet across two matches.
His downward spiral, which started with his loss to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania and continued through SummerSlam against Pat McAfee, will make for one of the most interesting stories on the blue brand in the coming weeks.
For Ricochet, it is about time he has the opportunity to go on a run that highlights his ability and allows him to mount a few wins along the way. He is too good to waste away in mediocrity, as was the case over the last two or so years.
Result
Ricochet defeated Corbin
Grade
B
Top Moments
- Pat McAfee appeared genuinely and pleasantly surprised that New Day was not, in fact, dead, despite last week's Viking Funeral in a humorous start to the show.
- Corbin delivered a gorilla press slam to Ricochet, driving him into the announce table, and even McAfee could not resist putting his athleticism over.
- McAfee teased that Corbin may revert to his Bum-Ass Corbin persona. Considering how immensely entertaining that character was, it would hardly be a bad thing.
"Second Chance" Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match
3 of 7
A video package looking at Drew McIntyre's journey back to Cardiff and his shot at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship aired, followed by an ominous promo from Karrion Kross that threatened his ability to end The Scottish Warrior whenever he wants.
Back in the arena, a "Second Chance" Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match pitted Shotzi and Xia Li against Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop, Natalya and Sonya Deville, and Dana Brooke and Tamina. The winners would earn their way to the semifinals of the Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament, replacing Toxic Attraction, who were removed following an injury to Gigi Dolin.
The action started quickly, with Tamina throwing a superkick on former partner Natalya. The action devolved soon after, culminating with a superplex from Brooke to A.S.H. and Deville, pinning the superhero wannabe for the win in a sprint of a match.
It became apparent that this match was going to suffer when it was announced prior to it that the winners would battle Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah later tonight for the right to go to Raw and compete in the finals of the tournament.
And it did.
There was nothing to it. It was a rushed mess, with moves and little else stringing it all together. The superplex spot was fun, but it appeared as though A.S.H. hurt her ankle on the bump.
At least Deville scoring the win came off a slick blind tag spot and gave the impression that there was some thought process at play here.
Result
Deville and Natalya defeated Tamina and Brooke, Shotzi and Li, and Doudrop and A.S.H.
Grade
A for the video package and promo, C- for the match
Top Moments
- The McIntyre video package was extraordinarily executed and the sort of thing that would significantly help others on the roster get over.
- Michael Cole recalled Tamina and Natalya's prior tag team and their championship run at the start of the four-way after the former leveled the latter at the opening bell.
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Sheamus Promo
4 of 7
Ahead of his battle with Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship, the one title in WWE that has eluded him over the last 12 years, Sheamus hit the ring alongside Butch and Ridge Holland to address the hotly anticipated showdown.
The Celtic Warrior's trash talk drew The Ring General and associate Ludwig Kaiser to the squared circle while Holland attempted to hold Butch back.
Sheamus and Gunther staked their claim for a win at Clash at the Castle on September 3 before Butch unloaded on Kaiser. Champion and top contender stared each other down, unbothered and unfazed by what was going on around them as the segment came to an end.
Backstage, Megan Morant caught up with Natalya and Sonya Deville, who talked about the Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament while Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop had an animated argument in the background.
The promo segment was great, but not because of the content. Instead, it was the unique visual of Sheamus and Gunther staring each other down, neither flinching despite all that was occurring around them.
It was a great bit of business that put over what is sure to be an intense fight between them.
The background stuff between A.S.H. and Doudrop was great and continues a trend Triple H has implemented of making fans pay attention to everything because you never know what will develop, or come out of, even the most minute segment.
Grade
B+
Top Moments
- Sheamus trying to get a "banger" chant going in response to his history of show-stealing performances, only for the fans to stay quiet, was unintentionally hilarious.
- "Sheamus, the Ring General will break you!" Gunther exclaimed.
- Butch exploded from out of nowhere, attacking Kaiser while Sheamus and Gunther remained motionless, staring each other down in the middle of the ring despite the utter chaos around them.
Women's Tag Title Tournament: Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah vs. Natalya and Deville
5 of 7
Backstage, Roman Reigns continued to manipulate Sami Zayn, convincing him to keep "Drew occupied" when the two of them meet in the main event.
In the arena, Bayley joined Cole and McAfee on commentary while Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai stood by, enjoying a front row seat for the Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinal between Sonya Deville and Natalya and the team of Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah.
A Michinoku Driver to Aliyah on the floor allowed the heels to seize control entering the commercial break. A double suplex by Rodriguez allowed for a short comeback before the former WWE official Deville drove her face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Rodriguez fought the majority of the match on her own, thanks to Aliyah's struggle to make it back into the match. The second-generation competitor proved resilient, overcoming the numbers disadvantage to win with a Tejada Bomb.
The match was a great showcase for Rodriguez, who looked like a world-beater as she absorbed everything her opponents threw at her and still came back to win. Aliyah being taken out of the match early on was a blow to her credibility, especially when she failed to recover from that one bump to compete in the match again.
She and Rodriguez are a solid babyface team and the perfect opponents for Kai and Sky this coming Monday on Raw. The match should be very good and will place the Women's Tag Team Championships in the spotlight that Sasha Banks and Naomi fought for prior to their walkout.
Speaking of whom, might the former champions make their presence felt on Raw, just five days before Clash at the Castle?
Result
Rodriguez and Aliyah defeated Natalya and Sonya Deville
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- Cole's defeated "oh no" when Bayley's music played was fantastic.
- Bayley told Cole that he is lucky to have her, Kai and Sky on SmackDown.
- Aliyah suspiciously jumped into the ring to celebrate with her partner, suddenly unaffected by the injury that plagued her for the entire match. Either it is a hint of a potential heel turn or inconsistent work from those involved.
New Day Returns
6 of 7
Backstage, Maxine Dupri recruited Los Lotharios to help Maximum Male Models with their issues with Hit Row, whose music interrupted an important photoshoot.
Back in the ring, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods cut a somber promo, recalling watching their legacies burnt to the ground by The Viking Raiders a week ago.
Erik and Ivar predictably interrupted and were far too confident in their burial of the legendary tag team. Woods rose from the wheelchair unbeknownst to the heels, tossed Kingston a kendo stick and joined his partner in unloading on the big men before standing tall to close out the segment.
Woods rising from the chair was reminiscent of Linda McMahon at WrestleMania X-Seven. In that instance, the evil Mr. McMahon expected his estranged wife was heavily medicated, only to find out the hard way when she rose from her chair and kicked him low.
Considering Woods was rocking the nWo Wolfpac-themed New Day shirt, it may have also been a nod to Kevin Nash's fake injury-turned-sneak attack from WCW.
Either way, this was an effective segment that finally got some heat back on New Day after weeks of them being beaten down and squashed by the heels.
Backstage, Maximum Male Models defaced what they thought was Hit Row's party bus, only to find out it was The Street Profits'. Meh.
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- Woods cleverly tipping off where things were heading with the nWo-style shirt was a great touch and one of those little things that elevate the segment.
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
7 of 7
The second part of the Drew McIntyre video from earlier in the night aired, with the No. 1 contender promising Roman Reigns he would kick his "f--king head off" and defeat him to win the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle.
A physical start to the night's main event between McIntyre and Sami Zayn escalated until the latter delivered a sunset flip powerbomb from the top rope entering the commercial break.
Driven by the desire to earn The Tribal Chief's approval, Zayn took the fight to McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior, ever the resilient and badass babyface, fought off his determined opponent and interference from The Usos to deliver the Claymore and score the pinfall victory.
Reigns hit the ring after the match, but McIntyre sent him into the ring post. He cleared the attacking Usos after the match, but Reigns delivered the spear. Jimmy and Jey unloaded steel chair shots about the body of the top contender before sending him over the announce table.
They sent him into the guardrail, Zayn delivered the Helluva Kick and the undisputed tag champions added a few shots with the ring steps.
Reigns added the guillotine and sat in a chair over the fallen body of the babyface to close out the show.
The match was as good as you would expect given the participants, with a red-hot heel beatdown to wrap things up. Even while relying on The Usos and Zayn to do his dirty work, Reigns looked utterly dominant as he choked McIntyre out and sat over his fallen body.
The main event of Clash at the Castle is shaping up to be one of the hottest main events in recent memory, and much of that can be attributed to how over McIntyre is right now. He looks like a guy who could defeat Reigns and end his run atop the WWE mountain.
Whether he does remains to be seen, but fans believe he can, which is the key.
Next week's celebration of Reigns' two years as champion should be interesting and will likely see a vengeful McIntyre make his presence felt.
Result
McIntyre pinned Zayn
Grade
A
Top Moments
- "Sami Zayn is a hell of an athlete," Cole said on commentary, putting him over for his performance a week ago in his hometown of Montreal.
- "Understand me: The top of the mountain is mine, and you won't ever have it until I'm done with it!" Reigns told a battered McIntyre.
- "Take it from me, please. I want someone to take it from me now," Reigns said into the camera as the show faded to black.
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