The 09/04/18 edition of WWE SmackDown Live, out of the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, just wrapped up. We’ve got the WWE SmackDown Live results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about episode #994 of WWE SmackDown by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
Couple vs. Couple… vs. Couple
“@mikethemiz & @MaryseMizanin like to say they’re the #ItCouple, but really they’re a couple of COWARDS!” – @WWEDanielBryan#SDLive @BellaTwins pic.twitter.com/OwlG5ARu0G
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 5, 2018
The show kicked off with Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella. They came to the ring to join Renee Young in a conversation about their feud with Miz and Maryse. Following a recap of last week, we saw Miz and Maryse in an empty arena before the show. They called out Daniel and Brie, knowing they weren’t there yet.
Both couples were clearly ready to fight, so Daniel and Brie challenged them. Unfortunately, Renee informed them that Miz and Maryse had already left the building. Instead, Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega came out to challenge them.
After some mild insults, Almas and Vega charged towards the ring while Bryan prepared for the impromptu match against El Idolo.
Daniel Bryan vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
They don’t call him the #FutureOfSDLive for nothing! #SDLive @AndradeCienWWE @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/gcyN1DJ1r0
— WWE (@WWE) September 5, 2018
We don’t think Bryan and Almas in the ring together could ever disappoint and this match supported that theory. Almas and Bryan threw everything they had at each other and then some. Toward the end, Bryan laid in a ton of Yes Kicks to wear down his opponent and then finished it off with a flying knee to capture the victory.
Zelina Vega got in the ring to tend to her client but was attacked by Brie as payback for last week. This mini-feud to break up Bryan/Miz has been fantastic so far.
After the match, Miz and Maryse appeared on the big screen and told Brie and Bryan that they knew they were looking for them, but if they really wanted to fight, they should have been at the arena early. The showdown would just have to wait until Hell in a Cell. Bryan and Brie were shown rushing from the arena, eager to find Miz and Maryse to confront them.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Becky Lynch / Charlotte Flair Interview
“I don’t care what I have to do… that title is coming home WITH ME!” – @BeckyLynchWWE to @MsCharlotteWWE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/suYVFiMxuM
— WWE (@WWE) September 5, 2018
In order to prevent any unexpected outbursts, Paige allowed this dual interview but put the women in separate rooms. It quickly turned into more of an argument than an interview, Charlotte defending herself and her former friendship with Becky while Becky claimed to have never gotten the respect she deserved. Both women declared they would be the winner of the championship match at Hell in a Cell before Tom Phillips gave up and stopped the interview.
Peyton Royce vs. Naomi
.@NaomiWWE might have won the match, but she probably doesn’t feel like a winner right now… 😬#SDLive @PeytonRoyceWWE @BillieKayWWE pic.twitter.com/ZTUPPu0obH
— WWE (@WWE) September 5, 2018
In the third round of Naomi vs. The IIconics, the glow queen took on Peyton Royce a second time. To this point, The IIconics have dominated Naomi, but this time the duo was not so lucky. Naomi pinned Peyton after a short match, prompting Billie to jump in the ring and kick her in the head. The IIconics double teamed Naomi until Asuka ran down to make the save, chasing Billie and Peyton away.
Winner: Naomi
Jeff Hardy//Randy Orton Promo
Hell awaits @JEFFHARDYBRAND & @RandyOrton. #HIAC #SDLive pic.twitter.com/Au3cRAfwrG
— WWE (@WWE) September 5, 2018
Accompanied by an awesome video package, Jeff Hardy cut a promo regarding his upcoming match against Randy Orton inside Hell in a cell. As usual, the WWE production team killed it.
Miz and Maryse “Miss” Bryan and Brie Again
ATTN #SDLive Locker Room: A match against @mikethemiz is UP FOR GRABS!
… and if @mikethemiz doesn’t compete tonight, let’s just say, he’s NOT welcome back! @RealPaigeWWE pic.twitter.com/ZGon5JKxJX
— WWE (@WWE) September 5, 2018
Backstage, Miz and Maryse informed Paige that they were on the hunt for Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan. Paige told them that they had left, to which Miz and Maryse responded by saying that they were going to leave too since Brie and Bryan were obviously too cowardly to face them. Paige said they were welcome to leave, with the knowledge that stepping out of the building meant they were both fired.
R-Truth Gets a Match Against The Miz
.@mikethemiz is married to @CarmellaWWE?!?! That’s what @RonKillings just said! 😕😕😕 #SDLive @MaryseMizanin pic.twitter.com/IweQVnKmex
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 5, 2018
R-Truth was shown searching for Carmella backstage and accidentally approached Maryse instead. Miz told Truth to never speak to his wife again, who Truth still believed to be Carmella. And simply couldn’t understand why Carmella was married to such a rude man. Afterward, it was announced that Miz and R-Truth would face each other in the main event of the show.
The Time for Talking is Over
Complete RAGE. #SDLive @AJStylesOrg @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/wm2LGe2cKY
— WWE (@WWE) September 5, 2018
Samoa Joe came to the ring to talk about AJ Styles’ family. He said as much as he was sure Styles and his wife had told each other and their children that he was a monster, he really wasn’t. In fact, she should thank him, because he kept his promise. AJ Styles wasn’t at the show, he was at home with his family, and once Hell in a Cell was over, they could look forward to more nights with him.
Styles was shown on the big screen and told Joe that he was done talking. It turns out Styles wasn’t home at all, but backstage in the arena. He ran down the ramp and attacked Joe, and with the element of surprise, was able to put The Destroyer on his heels. Paige and several officials came to talk some sense into AJ Styles and managed to pull him away, but not before he took out a referee diving off the ring onto Joe.
R-Truth is Secretly a Mastermind
OH NO SHE DIDN’T! Did @MaryseMizanin call @CarmellaWWE “STATEN ISLAND TRASH?” #SDLive @RonKillings @WWEDillinger pic.twitter.com/e8uABg4Esu
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 5, 2018
With Tye Dillinger at his side, R-Truth finally found the real Carmella. He asked her to accompany him to the ring for his match against The Miz in the main event of the evening. She rejected him initially but agreed once Truth let slip that Maryse had called her Staten Island trash. He then revealed to Dillinger that getting the main event match on SmackDown had been his plan all along.
Jeff Hardy//Randy Orton Promo Pt. 2
While you 🤢, 😫 and 😱, @RandyOrton will be 😄as he manhandles @JEFFHARDYBRAND inside #HellInACell! #HIAC pic.twitter.com/kf8vy52bAh
— WWE (@WWE) September 5, 2018
Randy Orton gave his sadistic side of the story in the feud with Jeff Hardy in a continuation of the video package shown earlier. If the build has been any indication, the Hell in a Cell match between Hardy and Orton is going to be disgusting.
The Usos vs. Rusev Day vs. SAnitY
The ROAR of the Bulgarian 🦁!!! #RusevDay #SDLive #TripleThreat @RusevBUL pic.twitter.com/exLlGzb06Q
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 5, 2018
In their first match as an official tag team, Rusev and Aiden English fought against The Usos and SAnitY in the mini-tournament for a chance to face The New Day at Hell in a Cell.
SAnitY used their strength and disregard for decency to dominate much of the match. The Usos looked to be gaining momentum when Jey Uso dove onto SAnitY, but Rusev and Aiden overpowered him. Taking advantage of the damage The Usos had caused, Rusev pinned Eric Young for the win.
Winner: Rusev Day
The Miz vs. R-Truth
This cannot sit (or moonwalk) well with The #PrincessOfStatenIsland! #SDLive @CarmellaWWE @mikethemiz pic.twitter.com/BGTPSDwDbu
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) September 5, 2018
The Miz didn’t seem too concerned with his match against R-Truth, as all he cared to talk about before the match was Daniel Bryan being afraid of him.
True to her word, Carmella escorted R-Truth to the ring. Miz did his best to control the match, but Truth (somewhat surprisingly) refused to go down. Even with Bryan nowhere in sight, Miz mocked DB throughout the entire bout.
Miz got what was coming to him when Daniel Bryan’s music hit, distracting him long enough for R-Truth to take the win. Bryan and Brie pounded on Miz and Maryse until Andrade Almas and Zelina Vega took over, beating Bryan and Brie down, allowing Miz and Maryse to escape. This did not sit well with Bryan and Brie, who hooked a Yes Lock on Almas and Vega, respectively, and didn’t let up until they felt they had gotten their point across.
Winner: R-Truth
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) September 5, 2018
