Goin Over SmackDown 9/20/24: Bloodline Chaos, Championship Drama, and a Surprise Alliance
The Bloodline 2.0 Arrives
SmackDown opened with the Bloodline 2.0, minus Solo Sikoa, making a chaotic entrance at the Golden 1 Center. Refusing to go through the metal detectors, Jacob Fatu single-handedly took out the security guards as Michael Cole warned viewers about the Bloodline’s rampage since arriving. But the action didn’t slow down, as LA Knight’s music hit, signaling the start of the first match of the night.
United States Championship Match: LA Knight (c) vs. Andrade
LA Knight defended his United States Championship against Andrade in their first-ever one-on-one encounter. The back-and-forth match kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, but Knight retained his title via pinfall, although the finish left some speculating about a botch.
After the commercial break, a frustrated Andrade was approached backstage by Carmelo Hayes, the man Andrade defeated to earn his United States title shot. Hayes wasted no time in taunting Andrade, telling him he was "washed" and to "put the fries in the bag," which sparked a heated brawl between the two
Roman and Cody Meet at Georgia Tech
In a dramatic segment, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes met at the fifty-yard line of the Georgia Tech football field, a significant location for both men. What began as a tense exchange of words about their ties to the city of Atlanta quickly turned into a personal confrontation. Roman reminded Cody that he was coming for his WWE Championship after they deal with their common enemies.
Immediately following the segment, Byron Saxton caught up with Kevin Owens backstage for a comment, but Owens, visibly conflicted, was speechless.
Vinci vs. Crews Rematch
Giovanni Vinci and Apollo Crews had their rematch after Crews defeated Vinci last week by catching him off guard at the bell. Although Vinci was more prepared this time, Apollo once again outsmarted him, securing another victory in a quick but decisive bout.
Kevin Owens Will Make a Statement
After his earlier silence, Kevin Owens was approached again by Byron Saxton for a comment on Roman and Cody’s alliance. This time, Owens told Saxton he would rather make his statement in the ring. But before he could speak about anything of substance, the Bloodline 2.0 ambushed him, with Jacob Fatu leading the charge. As Owens struggled to fight them off, DIY’s Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano rushed to his aid, only for the trio to be overwhelmed by the Bloodline.
SmackDown GM Nick Aldis then appeared and set the sides for a six-man tag team match to main event the evening.
Naomi & Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton & Nia Jax
In a high-stakes tornado tag match, Naomi and Bayley teamed up against Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax. The stipulation promised that only one of Naomi or Bayley could earn a title shot at *Bad Blood* if they scored the pinfall, while if they lost the person pinned would have to leave SmackDown for good. The match reached its climax when both Naomi and Bayley simultaneously pinned Jax, leaving the decision unresolved. This led to the announcement of a number one contender’s match between the two next week, while Stratton was left to apologize to Jax for the defeat.
Main Event: Bloodline 2.0 vs. Kevin Owens & DIY
Before the main event, DIY was taken out backstage in another brutal assault by the Bloodline 2.0. With DIY unable to compete, the Street Profits stepped up to take their place in the six-man tag alongside Kevin Owens. However, despite their best efforts, the combined power of Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, and Tanga Loa was too much for Owens, Montez Ford, and Angelo Dawkins to overcome. The Bloodline 2.0 claimed victory once again, continuing their reign of terror.
DIY briefly reappeared, seemingly ready to even the odds, but the Bloodline dismantled them once more in a vicious post-match attack. In the final moments of the show, Cody Rhodes came to Owens’ rescue, fending off the Bloodline. But as SmackDown went off the air, Kevin Owens was seen seemingly contemplating hitting Cody with a steel chair from behind before ultimately deciding to shake his hand.
