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WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results (7/24/20) – Hardy vs. Sheamus

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Welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s episode of WWE Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. Please read our preview of the broadcast. We will see fallout from The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus in a bar fight, Naomi on MizTV and an appearance by WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley and Sasha Banks.

WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results – 7/24/2020
From WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL

Sasha Banks and Bayley come out to open the show. Banks has the WWE Raw Women’s Championship. A replay from what happened between Banks and Asuka at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules is shown. They cut a promo that was interrupted by Nikki Cross, who came out with Alexa Bliss. Bayley asked her if she forgot to take her rabies medicine or something. Cross sold she has cracked ribs from her bout against Bayley at Extreme Rules. She wants another shot at the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship. Bayley says Bliss and Cross can face one another tonight and the winner can get a title shot next week. Cross shoved Bliss down and the show went to commercial.

Nikki Cross vs. Alexa Bliss in a No. 1 contender’s match for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship. Cross is competing with her ribs taped. Cross is working at the same pace she had at Extreme Rules, using physical spots on her partner. He had a nice bulldog into a cover but Alexa countered with a dropkick. The fight went to the outside with Banks and Bayley teasing on commentary. The women’s tag champs are taken out as the fight spills over to the announce table.

Bliss works the “injured” ribs of Cross by kicking them. She puts her in a submission hold in the middle of the ring. Michael Cole asks Bayley which one of these women she wants to face next week. Bayley challenges Cole to a match at SummerSlam. Cole says he is retired undefeated. Cross builds a comeback, as they are portraying her as determined but Bliss nearly catches her for a three count in a near fall.

Nikki went off the top rope but missed on a cross-body. Referee Charles Robinson went over the check on Cross. Cross comes alive and rolls Alexa Bliss out of nowhere.

Winner and new No. 1 contender for the WWE Women’s Women’s Championship, Nikki Cross

Backstage, there is an awkward conversation between Bliss and Cross. Alexa says she is very happy for Cross. They hug and Bliss tells Cross she is the next SmackDown Women’s Champion.

Bray Wyatt is back for another Firefly Fun House segment. They show a clip from the Swamp Fight at the Horror Show at Extreme Rules. Wyatt has a stuffed Braun Strowman head. He tells him he had his chance and it’s “his turn now.” Wyatt says he has been unleashed, referring to The Fiend. The segment all but confirmed The Fiend vs. Braun Strowman for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam.

We go to Michael Cole and Corey Graves as they roll tape from the Intercontinental Championship match between AJ Styles and Matt Riddle from last week. They recap King Corbin’s attack on Riddle.

Matt Riddle vs. Tony Nese. This should be a squash with WWE highlighting Riddle’s aggressiveness. Nese hit a nice moonsault and locked Riddle into a submission hold. They tease whether or not Riddle can bounce back after last week. Riddle went for The Bro Derek but dropped Nese in an awkward spot. The second time is successful as Riddle hits it and gets the pin. Winner, Matt Riddle

After the match, Riddle called out King Corbin. He came out to heat from the “crowd.”

Corbin states he does not know how thins work around here. King says he doesn’t belong in his kingdom. He has a little bit of talent and has the new car smell but eventually that smell fades. Corbin says Riddle looks like a frat boy without shoes who looks like he just rolled out of bed. He needs to go back to NXT for a little more seasoning. Maybe you should go to 205 Live where you would be a top guy. Corbin says he is going to put out a King’s Ransom to show he doesn’t belong on SmackDown. Riddle announces he’s the next special guest on the Bro Show. Meanwhile, Nese woke up and went after Riddle but ate a kick. Riddle celebrated in the ring to end the segment.

Backstage, The Miz and John Morrison are shown. They plug Naomi on MizTV. That segment is up next.

The Miz and John Morrison come out for MizTV. Miz introduces her as someone the internet who has been raving about all week long. Michael Cole talked about Naomi taking social media by storm after her loss to Mandy Rose last week. Graves said that was equivalent of a participation trophy and you fix that by winning.

Naomi asks Miz and Morrison if they are done as they danced to her entrance. The Miz asked Naomi about trending worldwide with the hashtag #NaomiDeservesBetter. Naomi says it’s not always easy to come out with a smile on her face but she has millions of people supporting her. Miz talked about her hitting it big after her return at Royal Rumble. Morrison states she did not win that match either. Miz can’t figure out why Naomi keeps trending by losing. Miz asks Naomi if Lacey Evans makes her sick. She says they’re making her sick. Naomi wasn’t trying to trend she says the question needs to be asked why she is trending. Why did Lacey attack her over a karaoke contest.

The Miz did not expect this interview to get so confrontational. It’s about to get worse as they introduce Lacey Evans. Evans wants to know if Miz and Morrison ever got their ass kicked so bad it became a pity hashtag. Evans states Naomi has been here for about a decade, hasn’t got much to show for it and is as washed up as it gets.

Naomi attacked Evans and smeared her lipstick. Naomi gets her out of the ring. Evans is furious on the outside and looks a wreck.

Backstage, Kofi Kingstin is coming out of the Doctor/Trainer office. He tells Big E he is out for six to eight weeks but it will give him some time at home with the family. Kofi says the universe is speaking to them. Xavier Woods is out, Kofi is about to be out, now it’s Big E’s time. Kofi puts Big E over for always putting the group over but now it’s time for Big E to show the world what he can do. Kofi says they want this for him, he earns and deserves this and to not let them take him a decade.

WWE Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles comes out. He will join commentary for the upcoming No. 1 contenders match for the Intercontinental title.

Drew Gulak vs. Gran Metalik vs. Lince Dorado vs. Shorty G in a Fatal 4-Way match to become the No. 1 contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. It’s every man for themselves in this one. Shorty G has an outstanding dropkick followed up a high spot to the outside. Metalik had a fast-paced spot where he took out G and Gulak. Gulak took a cross-body off the top rope from Dorado. Dorado followed it up with a stunner on Gulak and a two count. Metalik made the save, which caused dissension between the tag team.

The fight is between Gulak and Shorty G. AJ Styles keeps putting G over as talented. Michael Cole doesn’t understand that. Styles explains he has already beat Gulak. Cole explained he beat him too. Gulak works Dorado on the top rope but Shorty G put Gulak on his shoulders and out of the ring. Metalik with an elbow off the top rope onto Shorty G and a three count. Winner and NEW No. 1 contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, Gran Metalik.

After the match, AJ Styles got into the ring with Lucha House Party. He slapped his opponent, Gran Metalik, who he’ll face next week. Metalik slapped him back and took him out.

They roll a video package on Otis and Mandy Rose.

Kayla Braxton is backstage with WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro. They talk up their title win at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules. Cesaro says they don’t believe a word Kofi said because it’s there time now.

They show a video package, recapping Sheamus and his program with Jeff Hardy in preparation for the bar fight between the two.

Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy in a bar fight. This starts with Sheamus sitting down at the bar with a referee. Sheamus asks the bartender if he’s there yet. Jeff Hardy walks in and asks for a cup. The referee asks if they are ready. Jeff tells him he is just there to count to three. Jeff says his brother had to DELETE his WWE cover, tonight he has to recover his. Sheamus says face it Jeff, you’re never going to change. He calls him weak and pathetic.

Jeff threw a drink of Sheamus and the fight ensued. Sheamus drug Hardy down the bar on his back, breaking all the glasses sitting out. Sheamus pounds away on the chest of Hardy. Sheamus orders a shot but Jeff goes off the bar onto Sheamus in a high spot. He throws SHeamus into a barrel. Hardy throws basketballs at Sheamus out of game. The fight goes down the bar hallway. Sheamus uses a keg of beer to attack Hardy. He bangs Hardy off the wall and slams a door into him. This is very physical as it goes to the restroom.

Sheamus put Hardy’s head in the urinal and told him he’s going to cleanse him of his demons. Hardy begins to gag and cough. Sheamus’s shirt is off and he is taunting Jeff to come out. Hardy emerges with a ladder. He throws the ladder at Sheamus, sending him to the ground of the bar. The referee looks on. Hardy goes cross-body off the bar, Sheamus catches him and attacks.

Back from commercial, Sheamus taunts Hardy and the fight is as physical as ever. Hardy takes out Sheamus and picks up the ladder. He goes to climb it and the bartender tries to take him out. Jeff powerbombs him through the table. Meanwhile, Sheamus sneaks up from behind and breaks a chair over Hardy’s back. Sheamus puts a hat on Hardy and tells him, “sweet dreams, fella.” Sheamus pours himself a Guinness and chugs it from behind the bar.

Sheamus walks back over and tells the referee to get ready. Hardy emerges with his face painted and breaks another glass over Sheamus’s head. Hardy rips his shirt off. He climbs the ladder and hits the Swanton Bomb. Hardy pins Sheamus for the three count. Winner via pinfall, Jeff Hardy.

Richard Reacts: If we are going to rank cinematic matches in WWE, go ahead and throw this one right at the top with the Boneyard Match. I am not a gimmick match fan but this was as well done as anything you will see anywhere. If there is no crowd and WWE has to think outside of the box, this is the way to do it! This is why I have preached all week in Ask WNC we have to be careful about criticizing “controversy.” This program has had its ups and downs but this one match made it all worth it. Absolutely fantastic. Make sure you go out of your way to watch. By the way, Jeff will go down as one of the best to ever do it.

News from SmackDown:

– Nikki Cross beat Alexa Bliss in a singles match to earn a match against Bayley for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship on next week’s show.

– Raw reminder: Asuka defends the WWE Raw Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks.

– In a backstage segment, Kofi Kingston announced he will be out about six weeks with an injury and gave Big E his blessing on a singles run.

– Gran Metalik will challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Intercontinental Championship on next week’s episode of SmackDown.

Comments

3 responses to “WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results (7/24/20) – Hardy vs. Sheamus”

  1. CJ Blaze Avatar
    CJ Blaze

    The Mandy/Otis/Sonya feud got dropped out of nowhere. I’m assuming COVID-19 got in the way, or way or another?

    Reply
  2. CJ Blaze Avatar
    CJ Blaze

    Sometimes I forget SmackDown is on Friday’s again. But alas, I’m here! Looking forward to hearing what Naomi has to say.

    Reply
    1. Richard Gray Avatar
      Richard Gray

      I always enjoy SmackDown. It’s so much easier to watch than Raw because of the length. Three hours is a marathon.

      Reply

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