With Survivor Series just two days away, WWE brought the go-home edition of SmackDown to Connecticut on Friday night. The show was filled with battles between Survivor Series teammates for the upcoming traditional elimination tag matches but opened and closed with clashes between Xavier Woods and Roman Reigns.
Reigns, who had attacked Woods the previous Friday, destroyed Woods' King of the Ring throne, scepter and crown at the top of the show. Woods challenged Reigns to meet him in the ring to close the show. Reigns agreed and attempted to execute an ambush with the help of The Usos but found himself on the losing end of the confrontation when Big E appeared to deliver a final pre-Survivor Series message to "The Tribal Chief."
CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.
Big E and Xavier Woods execute plot to attack Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns, The Usos and Paul Heyman opened the show in what appeared to be a ceremony to crown Reigns with the King of the Ring items stolen after the group attacked Xavier Woods the previous Friday. Reigns pushed back at the idea, suggesting he was above such props. Woods interrupted, challenging Reigns to meet him in the ring later in the night – with no Usos in tow – and settle their issues like men. Instead, the group broke Woods' scepter and throne before Woods attempted to charge the ring. The Usos put a beatdown on Woods before holding Woods on the floor and forcing him to watch as Reigns stomped on the crown.
Paul Heyman later announced that Reigns had accepted Woods' challenge to meet him in the ring to close the show. Woods entered the ring and called Reigns to the ring to close the show. Reigns walked to the ring before Heyman pointed to the ramp and called for The Usos. Both Usos came flying out of the entrance before Big E's music hit and the WWE champion made his way out and toward Reigns. Big E took out Reigns with ease, beating him around ringside before The Usos ran in to each eat a Big Ending from Big E. After Woods hit a dive on both Usos, Reigns ran in to hit a Superman punch before nearly running into a Big Ending of his own, managing to dive out of the ring to avoid it.
There has been almost no "invasion" work to promote Survivor Series – or much work of any sort to promote the show, really. Big E and Reigns are going to deliver a good match, there's little doubt of that. The predictable ending to the show was fine because Big E should be doing anything he can to get his hands on Reigns and The Usos. Now, it turns to Sunday and how WWE sees fit to play things out. Grade: B+
What else happened on WWE SmackDown?
Sheamus def. Cesaro, Ricochet and Jinder Mahal via pinfall when Sheamus hit Cesaro with a Brogue Kick. The finish came after Ridge Holland ran to the ring to provide distraction and help Sheamus get the pin. With the win, Sheamus secured the final spot on Team SmackDown at Survivor Series.
Natalya & Shayna Baszler def. Naomi & Aliyah via pinfall when Natalya rolled up Naomi the the referee issued a very fast count. The referee later approached Sonya Deville and asked if she'd done a good job and Deville said she didn't know her and that she didn't associate with crooked referees.
Jeff Hardy def. Madcap Moss via pinfall with a roll-up. Drew McIntyre was at ringside to lend a hand and even the odds with Happy Corbin also ringside. After the match, McIntyre dropped Corbin with a Claymore.
Shinsuke Nakamura def. Garza via pinfall after hitting a Kinshasa.
Sasha Banks def. Shotzi via submission with the Banks Statement. Shotzi brutalized Banks' arm, leading Banks to use her foot to help secure the submission. Sonya Deville wanted the women to shake hands after the match to secure solidarity ahead of Survivor Series. Banks did so but then hit a Backstabber before walking off.