WWE Friday Night SmackDown

The Usos are losers in the eyes of Roman Reigns, but Reigns is losing his grip on the family. The strained relationships were further stretched on WWE SmackDown.

Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso showed humility in the face of humiliation, extending an olive branch to their cousin after being berated last week. The outcome only increased the friction with the family as The Bloodline barrels towards Night of Champions with less momentum than ever.

Inner turmoil precedes The Bloodline’s demise

Reigns, Solo Sikoa and special counsel Paul Heyman opened the show but were soon interrupted by their Night of Champions opponents. Reigns told Zayn that through the highs and lows of his career, the only regret Reigns has is wasting his life on the exiled “Honorary Uce.” Zayn said he only regretted not blasting the undisputed champion with a steel chair sooner. Zayn informed Reigns that for the first time in his life, “The Tribal Chief” would not have his way because he is not as good as the tag team champions and he’s not as good as The Usos.

The Usos interrupted Reigns’ rebuttal, blindsiding Owens and Zayn. The twin brothers laid out their rivals. Jimmy Uso tried to embrace Reigns but was scolded for interfering with the leader’s plans. Reigns made it crystal clear that he did not authorize The Usos’ attack. An irate Reigns promptly exited the ring but bumped into Sikoa in the process. Reigns showed a look of concern at The Bloodline’s brooding enforcer.

Reigns reprimanded The Usos backstage. The champion asserted that he had months of pent-up anger to express to Zayn and The Usos ruined that. Reigns kicked his cousins out of the locker room before things escalated further.

Later in the evening, Heyman told The Usos that Reigns had forgiven them. Jimmy Uso asked if that meant Reigns would accompany them to the ring, to which the answer was no. Apparently, Reigns was too preoccupied as “Tribal Chief” to support his cousins in person.

SmackDown Results:

LWO (Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar) def The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) via pinfall. The Usos hit the ground running, clearly out to prove a point after weeks of verbal abuse from Reigns. Their tempers got the better of them as Escobar and Mysterio executed a more cohesive and tactical game plan. A backstage shot revealed that the remaining Bloodline members were closely watching the match. The Usos regained control by isolating Escobar through the middle portion of the match.

Mysterio eventually received the hot tag and rocketed into action. The Hall of Famer executed beautiful springboard attacks on both brothers and nearly won with a Code Red to Jey Uso, drawing chants of “This is awesome” from the crowd. Escobar took out The Usos with a tope con hilo. A top rope hurricanrana from Escobar to Jimmy Uso came close to finishing the match. Mysterio shockingly kicked out after eating a super kick and signature top rope splash.

The match came to an end following interference by the tag team champs. Owens distracted the referee while Zayn shoved Jimmy Uso off the top rope. The interference opened the door for Mysterio to hit a 619, followed by Escobar’s top rope splash for the win. It was a measure of vengeance not only for The Usos assault earlier in the night, but The Bloodline’s interference in Owens and Zayn’s losing effort on Raw earlier in the week.

Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson) def. Brawling Brutes (Butch and Ridge Holland) via pinfall after hitting Holland with Spilt Milk. Some shenanigans were involved.

Asuka def. Zelina Vega via submission after locking in a scissored armbar. Belair made the save post-match but got a face-full of poison mist.

Styles discussed his world title match against Seth Rollins during an interview on “The Grayson Waller Effect.”

Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) Def. LA Knight and Rick Boogs via pinfall after Ford hit Boogs with a frog splash. Knight hit Boogs with BFT post-match.

An optimistic Cameron Grimes was interviewed backstage.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett unveil a Styles tarot card, outlining Styles as Kross’ next victim.

Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn def. Valentina Feroz and Yulisa Leon via pinfall with a double reverse STO.

Bayley and IYO Sky told Raquel Rodriguez to find a replacement tag partner to fight them next week while Liv Mogan deals with an injury.

Sheamus decked Theory with a Brogue Kick after the United States champion mocked the Irishman.