Friday Night SmackDown emanated tonight from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
Our first sight of the women came in the form of B-Fab and Michin, who were present in Nick Aldis office. The Fab Female said that after watching The Street Profits win the WWE Tag Team Championships during last weeks triple threat TLC main event, she would love if Michin and herself would be able to get their hands on some gold of their own. Michin knows that current Womens Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were given time off so Liv could go film her movie (more info on that here) but when they come back, they would be honored to be on top of the list of contenders. Alba Fyre suddenly enters the shot trying to pat down Aldis, while her other half in the Secret Hervice, Piper Niven, clears the room so that Chelsea Green can enter. Green is noticeably wearing a lot of black after losing the Womens United States Championship from Zelina Vega last week.
Green tells Aldis that last week was rigged and was hijacked by the deep state of jealous women in the locker room led by none other than crooked Zelina Vega, and says she does not want to have to take him to the Supreme Court. Aldis says he has a show to run, which makes Green reconsider as she now wants to talk to him about getting a rematch. Aldis says they could definitely talk about it, but not tonight, as Vega goes one-on-one with Piper Niven; if Niven wins, maybe she could be first in line to take the title away from Vega.
Nia Jax then made her way out to address her attack on Tiffany Stratton last week. She thanks the booing audience, as to her, it sounds like they really missed her. While Jax was gone and Stratton was running around here like a Barbie doll with her head cut off, she was at home getting refocused, regrouping so she could come back and take what is hers: the WWE Womens Championship.
Tiffanys music then hit, and with a mic in hand, said that she was not the same Tiffany Stratton that Jax bullied around anymore. Cashing in on her was the greatest thing for her career, and she would do it again! She then went toe-to-toe with one of the greatest of all time in Charlotte Flair, and beat her. Not only that, but if Stratton were to lock up in the ring with Jax again, she would beat her too. Jax asks Stratton if she wants a rematch, to which Stratton reminds her that she doesnt make matches around here, but shes also not shying away from a fight, adding that she would defend her title against Jax anytime, anyplace, anywhere.
Naomi then interrupted the squabble with her new entrance music, with her saying its funny to see the two of them fighting, because she remembered for months, when she was trying to get the WWE Womens Championship from Jax, Stratton always made sure to find a way to help her out. Naomi feels that the two made her life hell, and casts doubt on Strattons words that she has changed as a person. Naomi has changed into a new version of herself, no longer the sweet Naomi, the good girl who stood behind Bianca Belair and let Jade Cargill walk all over. She took matters into her own hands by taking out Jade, and she took her Womens Tag Team Championship. Cargill may have ruined everything she worked for, but she is not done going after gold, and not only will she push Stratton onto a car, shell push her under one.
Jade Cargill then strutted with a vengeance as she made her presence felt to attack Naomi, leading to the four women fighting in the ring, before Cargill and Stratton had a stare down. Nick Aldis strolls out and in true Theodore Long fashion, since the four women clearly want to fight, decides theyll have a tag team match in the main event pitting Naomi and Nia against Tiffany and Jade.
Zelina Vega and Piper Niven squared off later in the second hour as their match was now underway. Niven walked out with a new theme as Chelsea Green remained despondent. Vega started off the match with a hard kick to Nivens side and putting her in an Octopus hold. Niven eventually gained the upper hand, sending Vegas face into the turnbuckle. Niven continued to dominate as the show returned from commercial, with Green and Alba Fyre very pleased. Vega would soon retaliate with a Codebreaker and would try a Meteora in order to unsuccessfully put Niven away. More pins would continue as Vega tried Code Red, which helped her win the title last week, but would get it reversed into a side slam from Niven for a two-count. After a failed cannonball that sent Niven into the turnbuckles, Vega attempted a moonsault for another two-count.
The end of the match came when Vega would set Niven up for the 619, but Green got up on the ropes to try and distract the champ. Niven would unintentionally collide into Green which allowed Vega to roll her up for the victory, enraging Niven and upsetting Green and Fyre.
Now backstage in the womens locker room, Nia Jax reminded Naomi that the two of them need to get on the same page. Jax will forget how Naomi spoke to her earlier, but her eyes are set on gold and two-face Tiffy, so if Naomi needs to figure out what shell do to Jade and stay out of Jaxs way, theyll be good. All Naomi says though is sure.
Also backstage are Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill. Stratton says she knows Nias strength when Byron Saxton enters the scene to interview them. He says that they are teaming up for the first time and taking on two people they have deep-rooted issues with, wondering how theyre going to fare. Stratton says that Nia is going to have to learn that the Womens Championship belongs on her pretty little shoulders. As for Jade, as long as she stays out of her way, they wont have a problem. Jade interjects to say that Tiffany needs to stay out of her business also, as shell be focusing on Naomi seeing that she didnt enough of her hands at WrestleMania. Shes spoken to Nick Aldis, and next week, shell be facing Nia Jax in a number one contenders match. Stratton thinks its funny considering she almost had Cargill beat last week, but is fine with it since shell just have to beat Cargill all over again, capping off the segment with a Toodles.
Our main event would begin with the four brawling in the ring. Jax threw Stratton into the barricade, while in the ring, her partner Naomi was getting whooped by Cargill. Naomi soon took control, aggressively kicking her back. Jax tagged in and punched Stratton to send her to the floor.
As the show returned from commercial break, Jax continued to assault Cargill, punching Stratton again with another forearm. Cargill tried to lift Jax, but The Irresistible Force would use her size to her advantage for a near-fall. Naomi would be tagged in, aiming her punches at Cargills face. With Cargill now dazed, she was cornered by Jax, but a kick from Cargill lost her balance and allowed for Stratton to get the much-awaited hot tag. The Buff Barbie unleashed a flurry of offense, punching, kicking, and hitting a cartwheel on her arch-nemesis, failing to put her away with a crucifix pin. As Jax hit a Samoan drop, Naomi tagged herself in and instructed Jax to get out, attempting a split-legged moonsault that backfired when Stratton put her knees up. Stratton would then tag in Cargill, who sent Jax outside the ring and hit a chokeslam on Naomi that Jax broke up quickly. Naomi was dragged by Jax into the corner, where Jax tagged herself in and tried to pin Cargill.
Stratton would hit a Swanton bomb to break up the pin attempt before cornering Naomi and kicking her. Jax would then push them both out of the ring. Getting ready for the Annihilator, Cargill would powerbomb her for the victory. As her and Stratton got their arms raised, Cargill would hold the Womens Championship. When Stratton wanted it back, it seemed like the two were set to start a tug of war when Naomi attacked Jade from behind and held the title in the air before the show ended.
Friday Night SmackDown airs next week from inside the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio with the following set to take place:
As always, make sure to share your thoughts on this weeks episode of SmackDown in the comments below!
