WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
June 28, 2024
Madison Square Garden in New York City
Commentary: Corey Graves and Wade Barrett
Results by: Alex Kahrs of Wrestleview.com
LIVE from New York, it’s WWE SmackDown!
We kick things off with a recap from last week, which saw a beatdown from the debuting Jacob Fatu allowing the Bloodline to stand tall.
We cut to the parking lot, where Paul Heyman meets with The Bloodline, with Heyman wondering where Jacob Fatu is before they head to the entranceway…only for the screen to reveal Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens have arrived for revenge! They make a beeline for the ramp, and go after The Bloodline bringing them to ringside. It’s absolute chaos at ringside now, with Kevin getting the drop on Tonga Loa before Nick Aldis runs down with security to get things under control as we go to commercial break.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back at ringside where Aldis is trying to calm down Rhodes, Owens, and Orton to seemingly no avail. Aldis directs a guard to enter the ring, but he takes an RKO from the Viper…leading to the rest of security rushing in, only to find themselves in a brawl with the trio! The three clear the ring with one guard remaining, who takes a Stunner, an RKO, and a Cross Rhodes as Aldis storms up the ramp to the back.
The crowd chant for the trio as Owens and Orton run down The Bloodline, promising to put them down for good at Money In The Bank. Rhodes says The Bloodline sees three victims, but the champ doesn’t see it that way…he sees his friend Kevin Owens, a 14-time World Champion, the man responsible for Cody standing there, the Legend Killer, Randy Orton, and a sold-out arena in Madison Square Garden. The way he sees it, he should be defending his championship but instead he’s fighting a war he thought he finished at WrestleMania.
Aldis returns to ringside with New York’s finest as Rhodes tells Solo he doesn’t know why they’re calling themselves The Bloodline. He doesn’t see a boss, or a tribal chief…he sees a seat filler. Cody’s music hits as the trio finally oblige in leaving the ring.
Things finally settle down as commentary run down the upcoming qualifying matches for Money In The Bank for tonight’s show, before we go to commercial break.
-Commercial Break-
We get a view of New York amidst the program’s ads, followed by a recap of what went down moments ago to kick the show off. Backstage, NYPD is escorting Randy, Cody, and Kevin to the parking lot as Aldis declines to comment before the trio get in the vehicle to leave the arena.
Back at ringside, Tiffany Stratton makes her way to the ring for our opening match. Out next is Candice LeRae, already breaking last week’s pattern of one participant having no entrance as Candice heads to the ring. Rounding out the participants is Jade Cargill, making her way to the ring before this MITB qualifying match gets underway!
Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Candice LeRae vs Jade Cargill vs Tiffany Stratton
LeRae and Stratton take turns going after the common target of Cargill, each trying to wear her down. Cargill gets brought to her feet, but counters out of a double suplex before taking both women down to the mat. Big thrust kick takes Stratton out of the ring as Cargill focuses on LeRae…hoisting her up for a press slam that sends her to Stratton on the outside! Nia Jax makes her way to ringside, but is cut off by Bianca Belair who starts arguing with the Queen as we go to commercial break.
-Commercial Break-
Back at ringside, Stratton and LeRae regain control of the match as Tiffany takes to the ropes…only for Candice to take her down with a clothesline! Cargill gets back to her feet as LaRae hits Stratton with a DDT, only for Jade to break up the pin. Stratton takes control again, sending Cargill and LaRae to the corners for a handspring back elbow on Jade…but Candice evades! LaRae fights back but is dropped down hard by Tiffany for the cover, only for LaRae to kick out.
Candice goes after Stratton and Cargill until Jade gets to her feet, sending LaRae to the corner before sending Stratton to the opposite side. Cargill builds up momentum before getting sent to the outside by Tiffany, where Nia Jax looks to get involved until Bianca and the ref intervene. Indi Hartwell shoves Jade into the ring post, causing Belair to give chase as back in the ring, LaRae gets a nearfall off an inside cradle…only for Tiffany to fight back with a Prettiest Moonsault Ever to score the pin and the win!
Winner via pinfall and advancing to the Women’s MITB Match: Tiffany Stratton
We cut backstage, where Naomi warms up for her match until Bayley stops by to say hi. They address the possibility of Naomi winning Money In The Bank and potentially cashing in, when Blair Davenport interrupts to run both women down before escaping their revenge as we go to commercial break.
-Commercial Break-
We cut backstage where Michin talks to Nick Aldis about a match against Nia Jax, before the Street Profits address a match of their own to no avail from the SmackDown GM. Pretty Deadly arrive with a pitch for Aldis for a musical, which gets some grief from the Profits…who offer a pitch of their own for a match against Pretty Deadly!
Progressive Match Flo: LA Knight wants a shot at the United States Championship, but Santos Escobar and Logan Paul attack him ahead of their MITB Qualifier tonight!
Back at ringside, Santos Escobar steps out longside LDF before heading down the ramp alone for our next match. Out next is LA Knight, as eager to take out Logan Paul and get another shot at the United States Championship as he is to qualify for Money In The Bank as we go to commercial break.
-Commercial Break-
A look back at this week’s announcement regarding Indianapolis receiving three major PLEs brings us back to the show, cutting backstage for a chat between Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. Heyman says that Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Kevin Owens have been escorted away, before asking Solo where Jacob Fatu. Sikoa says he hears Heyman, he listens to him…Heyman said Fatu was too dangerous, so he is not here tonight. That’s why Paul is Solo’s wiseman, and that’s what tonight is all about.
Back at ringside, Logan Paul makes his way to the ring with so much crowd heat that the FOX feed keeps blacking out. Luckily, we’re able to hear about Paul performing in Madison Square Garden before bringing out a man who actually knows about winning at the arena…Tyrese Halliburton of the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese stares down Jalen Brunson of the Knicks as Paul enters the ring, and this match gets underway!
Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: LA Knight vs Logan Paul vs Santos Escobar
Paul and Escobar immediately target Knight, both men wearing him down before Escobar looks to get one over by taking Knight down with a headscissors. Paul sends Escobar out before attacking Knight for a cover, but only gets a nearfall for his troubles. Knight starts to fight back now, taking to the ropes to send Paul crashing to the mat. LA sends Logan to the ropes now, but Paul hits him with a big kick before sending Knight out of the ring.
Logan looks up at the MITB briefcase before leaping over the ropes for a dive on Knight…only for both men to get taken down by Escobar, who stands tall with a smile as we go to commercial break!
-Commercial Break-
Back at ringside, Paul gets his head slammed against the announce table by Knight before Escobar intervenes once again, this time sending LA back into the ring. The two fight on the top turnbuckle before Santos hits a hurricanrana for a nearfall. Paul is back in the ring, hitting an Alley Oop that Big Show would be proud of on Escobar and sending him onto Knight…only to have to break up the pinfall Escobar nearly gets on LA! Paul with a cover of his own, but Knight kicks out to stay in the match!
Knight and Paul are on their feet, with commentary muted thanks to censorship as both men trade blows until Escobar manages to intervene once again. Knight takes Santos down hard however, following up with an elbow drop. Knight catches Paul in the corner with a boot but Escobar drops him with a Phantom Driver for a cover, only for Logan to break it up! Escobar goes after Paul now, taking him to the corner as the audio gets muted once again, laying into the US Champion until Knight catches Escobar with a big suplex!
But the champion takes the opening it creates, hitting a Swanton Bomb on Knight for the cover…but Knight kicks out! Paul tells Tyrese to get the brass knuckles from his associate at ringside, but Jalen hops the barricade to intervene. Officials rush to ringside to stop a brawl between the basketball stars, and this gives Escobar an opening as he catches Logan in the corner with a double knee. Knight takes Santos out with a BFT, only to be rolled up by Paul…who gets caught with a pin by Knight to score the victory!
Winner via pinfall and advancing to the men’s MITB Match: LA Knight
Tyrese enters the ring with the brass knucks, but Jalen enters with a steel chair to even the odds before the Pacers star and the US Champ escape to regroup on the ramp.
Backstage, Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews talk about what they just saw before arguing about who will advance. They’re interrupted by Carmelo Hayes who wants to become “Melo In The Bank” as we cut away.
Video Package: Looking back on the career of the legend that is Sika Anoa‘i.
-Commercial Break-
Video Package: Andrade has his eyes on Money In The Bank with the promise of not just taking the briefcase, but taking everything!
Back at ringside, Blair Davenport makes her way to the ring for our next match. Indi Hartwell is already in the ring as Naomi makes her way to the ring before this match gets underway!
Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Naomi vs Blair Davenport vs Indi Hartwell
Hartwell and Davenport go after Naomi at the opening bell, but the alliance breaks down quickly as Davenport gets a rollup on Hartwell for a nearfall. Hartwell turns things around, focusing on Naomi with a powerbomb for a nearfall of her own before the action spills to the ring…where Davenport lays out Hartwell for the advantage as we go to commercial break!
-Commercial Break-
Back at ringside, Davenport and Hartwell go at it until Naomi catches the latter with a neckbreaker assisted by Davenport. This brings all three women to the mat, but Naomi is back up as she hits a cross body on Davenport, turning her attention to Indi…and slamming her next to Blair for a double pin! But both her opponents kick out!
Davenport fights back sending Naomi down with a spinebuster, only for Indi to do the same to Blair for a double pin of her own for a nearfall. Davenport ends up in the corner as Naomi takes both of them down, but Blair fights back with a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall of her own.
All three women are back on their feet, with Naomi eventually taking control with a heatseeker to the canvas, but Davenport takes advantage to lay into Naomi…only for Indi to pull her out of the ring! Naomi gets brought out as well, but Jade Cargill gets revenge for earlier by sending her into the ring post! She sends Indi back in the ring, where Naomi takes her down hard for the pin and the win to advance!
Winner via pinfall and advancing to the women’s MITB Match: Naomi
-Commercial Break-
We look ahead to next week and the road to Money In The Bank in Toronto before running down matches for next week’s SmackDown including Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill taking on Indi Hartwell and Candice LaRae and Street Profits facing Pretty Deadly. We also find out that A-Town Down Under face DIY for the WWE Tag Team Championship!
Backstage, DIY address the tag title match before Austin Theory interjects, saying he’s had time to think about what they’ve been telling him and what they did. DIY point out that Grayson Waller has been pulling Theory in their way…but Waller blindsides them to interrupt the proceedings! DIY get left laying as we cut to a recap from earlier tonight and the fight between The Bloodline and Owens/Rhodes/Orton.
We head back to ringside as The Bloodline make their way to the ring for the Bloodline Acknowledgement Ceremony. The group enters the ring as Heyman calls for a microphone to a wave of boos from the crowd…and a blackout of the feed thanks to whoever feels like being Steve Austin in 2024. Heyman starts to introduce the group before Solo motions for the microphone as the crowd chants “We Want Roman.”
Solo says before we get to that, he wants to introduce us to the newest member of The Bloodline, the Samoan Werewolf, and Solo’s enforcer…Jacob Fatu!
With stage graphics and music all ready to go, Jacob Fatu makes his way to the ring as Paul Heyman looks on from the ring, looking uneasy at the arrival of Jacob Fatu as he enters the ring before we go to commercial break.
-Commercial Break-
We come back to ringside where Solo Sikoa tells Madison Square Garden to acknowledge him…and the screen cuts to black as clearly MSG is doing so in an unsavory manner. Solo tells Tama Tonga to acknowledge him, to which Tama does…as does his brother, Tonga Loa. The love and acknowledgement is shared by his enforcer, Jacob Fatu, before Solo turns his attention to Paul Heyman…who he tells to acknowledge him as well.
Tonga Loa unveils a lei similar to what was presented to Roman Reigns, which shocks Paul Heyman as Sikoa tells the Wiseman to acknowledge him. Heyman looks shook as he holds the lei, telling Solo he loves him and he acknowledges…that he is NOT Paul’s tribal chief!
The crowd pops as Sikoa lays out Paul Heyman, telling him he loved him before directing Jacob Fatu to climb up…with the Samoan Werewolf taking flight from the top turnbuckle for a massive headbutt on Heyman! The Bloodline take Paul out of the ring and to the announce table, putting him through it with a triple powerbomb as the crowd forces the FOX feed to go mute once more. Fatu eventually picks up the lei and puts it on Sikoa in acknowledgment, the quartet standing tall with their fingers to the sky as the crowd tells him how they feel to bring SmackDown to a close.
Quick Results:
- Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Tiffany Stratton def. Candice LeRae and Jade Cargill
- Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: LA Knight def. Logan Paul and Santos Escobar
- Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Naomi def. Blair Davenport and Indi Hartwell
That’ll do it for this week, we’ll see you next Friday for the go-home edition of SmackDown before Money In The Bank heads to Toronto!