The last episode of “SmackDown” presented a notable contrast to the intensity of the previous week. Although not all events can be spectacular, the show crowned a new champion and developed key rivalries.
Dragunov Conquers the United States Championship
The return of Ilja Dragunov was the highlight of the night, defeating Sami Zayn to win the WWE United States Championship. This match marked Dragunov’s return after an injury, offering a moment of surprise and excitement for the fans.
- Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss defeated Zaria and Sol Ruca.
- Ilja Dragunov defeated Sami Zayn to become the new US champion.
- Motor City Machine Guns defeated Los Garza.
- Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes by disqualification.
Cody Rhodes: A New Dark Side?
Cody Rhodes showed a more aggressive side, using the championship as a weapon against Drew McIntyre. This behavior, fueled by frustration, could be an insinuation of a character change towards the “heel side”, although it seems unlikely at this moment, considering his role as a main figure.
Other Key Points and Rivalries
The night also intensified existing rivalries and prepared the ground for future confrontations.The rivalry between McIntyre and Rhodes continues without a number one contender defined. Jacob Fatu was attacked, preventing him from competing in the match for the main challenger position, and if the news about his injury is true, he could return directly to the title contention.The United States Championship match between Dragunov and Zayn was exceptional. Solo Sikoa’s interference facilitated Dragunov’s victory, marking the beginning of possible rivalries. The MFTs attacked Zayn and Dragunov after the match, which could lead to confrontations at Survivor Series: WarGames.Sami Zayn once again demonstrated his ability to deliver high-quality matches, facing a variety of opponents during his U.S. Title open challenge.Blake Monroe, observing Sol Ruca from the audience, will face her for the NXT women’s title. Ruca and Zaria’s defeat against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss generated some disappointment, as a more prolonged development was expected before the title match.
