We bring you coverage for the episode of WWE SmackDown airing on October 25, 2024. Missed RAW? You can find the results here.
Randy Orton calls out Triple H, who enters to let him know he is just trying to do his job. Orton believes he is protecting Kevin Owens. Triple H said the match is not happening. He is not trying to protect Kevin Owens; he is trying to protect Randy. That does not sit well with The Viper. Triple H has known the pair of them since they walked in to WWE. Owens used to be about business, but for the first time he let his guard down. He trusted Randy and Cody, and in his mind, they turned on him. There is something disconnected in him. He is not the same Kevin Owens, and he does not want to put him in the ring with Orton.
He just came back after 18 months on the shelf. Randy had steel rods put in his back. He doesn’t want to see Randy go back on that shelf, perhaps permanently. Orton did not want Paul Levesque or the COO in the ring right now. He wanted the Triple H of old to show up and remember that he would not have let this slide. If he was in Randy’s shoes, he would have handled business in the middle of this ring. He begs Triple H for a match with Kevin Owens at Crown Jewel. Triple H hopes he knows what he is asking for. He suggests to Randy that he better protect himself at all times. Randy Orton will face Kevin Owens at Crown Jewel
*LA Knight hit both of them with his finisher and then declared himself the winner. Yeah!
Backstage, an angry Nick Aldis tells LA Knight that he was out of line, and because of that he will face both Andrade and Carmelo Hayes for the US title at Crown Jewel.
Gunther and Cody Rhodes have a face off in the ring with the Crown Jewel Championship on display.
Gunther jokingly asks Cody what he wants to talk about. Rhodes wants to talk about why Gunther thinks he will leave Crown Jewel as champion. First, Gunther said it was unnecessary to mention his daughter last week. It has everything to do with this championship, so let’s find out who the better champion is. Every time he pulls people closer to him and in to his business, it is all about the legacy of Dusty Rhodes. He keeps asking for the John Cena schedule to live up to someone else’s standards.
Gunther thinks he is doing this to make things more dramatic than they really are. His reason why is himself. He is the greatest professional wrestler in this company right now, so his reason is to live up to himself. Do him a favor. Imagine all these people right here, not in the building, so he can give his real reason. Cody Rhodes tells Gunther that is the dumbest question he has ever been asked. None of this exists without all of them. Cody Rhodes gets everyone doing the “Whoa!” – Dramatic? You bet your ass he’s dramatic. His family is proud to be dramatic.
Cody asks Gunther where was he the last few days while he was making the media rounds? Could he be bothered to get out of bed? Gunther responds by saying he is the workhorse champion and understands responsibility. He gets the same requests from the media, but he tells them no, because he has the guts to tell them, the boss, any charity, and these people. The reason Cody does not say no is that if he stops being a servant, his little story is over. That makes him a gutless champion who will always be secondary.
Cody Rhodes asks Gunther why he is called the “Ring General”. He commands and leads no one but himself. He has had guts his entire career. Cody has so much guts he is willing to throw the first punch. Cody attacks Gunther! This brings out Ludwig Kaiser. Randy Orton evens the odds, so Gunther & Kaiser retreat. It seems Gunther got under Cody’s skin this time.
Nick Aldis tells Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill they will face Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson, Damage CTRL, and Piper Niven & Chelsea Green in a four way for the titles at Crown Jewel. And they are very excited about that!
The Bloodline is here! Solo Sikoa wants to talk to MCMG. Nick Aldis is here to ensure this stays peaceful. All Sikoa wants to do is introduce themselves, but Brooklyn is being loud. He eventually welcomes MCMG to SmackDown. Chris Sabin says it is an honor to meet the “Tribal Chief”. They are always ready, so when they want to hand over those titles. Anyplace, anytime. Sikoa suggests they do this right here, right now. Nick Aldis tells him they have fought for over 20 years to get here, and they deserve a fair shot. Alex Shelley says those titles are the most important things in the world to them, so if they want to do this right now, then let’s do it right now. Nick Aldis agrees!
There was heavy interference from Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and later Jey Uso, which helped the Motor City Machine Guns achieve what many never thought would happen.
After the celebration by the Motor City Machine Guns, Jey Uso stands in the ring, and Jimmy Uso returns to face him. They hug it out! And the crowd pops loud. Roman Reigns appears at the entrance to witness it. He almost looks emotional.