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Well everyone, this is it, the go home episode of WWE Smackdown for Sweet Sweet Saudi Blood Money. As a reminder the in ring portion of this was taped last week so spoilers are available if you’re interested. Tonight we’re getting a confrontation between LA Knight and Roman Reigns ahead of their title match tomorrow, plus Solo Sikoa and John Cena have a match that continues to be built up. Pretty Deadly and the Brawling Brutes will end their little feud, Bianca Belair will take on Bayley, Charlotte Flair and Shotzi will take on the women’s tag team champions in non-title action so you know the camps aren’t winning, and Kevin Owens has been picking a fight with Austin Theory and Grayson Waller so that’ll get some extension this week. The second half of these go home shows frequently has a ton of filler video packages and whatnot, so let’s see how this one plays out. Anyway, let’s get to the action.

First, a recap of the Roman Reigns and LA Knight contract signing last week. That dovetails into a recap of LA Knight beating Jannetty Uso last week as well.

We start the “live” portion of the episode after that lengthy intro. LA Knight comes out to his usual large pop, feels slightly sweetened based on some audio ticks but by this point the crowd had been there for a while and they’re still clearly interested but the crowd reaction visual doesn’t quite jive with the audio. Knight gets a mic and wants to talk to us. Almost 1,200 days as champion is very impressive, but what’s just impressive is how quickly that can end. Last week Knight dropped Roman on his head with a Blunt Force Trauma, and tomorrow at Crown Jewel will be no different. This is a hostile takeover and he’s coming to take everything that Roman has owned for the last three years, that title is coming with him and it’ll be the end of Roman’s reign. Roman’s music hits to interrupt this, and Roman makes his way down to the ring with Paul Heyman in tow. Knight and Roman stare down at each other then Roman gets a mic from Heyman and declines to give the crowd a chance to acknowledge him, they all know who he is but apparently Knight doesn’t. So Roman introduces himself to Knight, the Tribal Chief, head of the table, and face of WWE. He notes Knight stepped up when Roman took some time off, and admits he managed time wisely and the people are on Knight’s side, something that isn’t easy to do. But this is the last night that they’ll chant his name, Roman has pushed the business forward while Knight wants to put us back. Roman is out here doing cinema, he turned this into a multibillion dollar company, he’s done everything that can be done. The only think Knight has done is get people to chant his name and cosplay as a redneck version of Roman’s cousin. Tomorrow Roman’s going to end Knight and make him disappear in the desert, but he wont be the last one Roman leaves there. Knight knows Roman feels unbeatable, he’s beaten everyone who’s stood in front of him but Knight isn’t coming from the same direction everyone else has. He’s not here to finish something, he’s here to start something. . . yeah! He’s going to start the Knight era, and the only cosplay he’s doing is as the one who’s going to kick Roman’s ass at Crown Jewel. Roman is almost a mega star, but only because of the title while Knight is the mega star every day. Knight doesn’t do warning shots, so just as a warning if Roman doesn’t leave him dead in the desert he’s coming back and the only bloodline you’ll see will be running down Roman’s face as the announcer calls out and NEW champion LA Knight. . . yeah! Things get a little chippy between Knight and Roman but Nick Aldis and refs are here to prevent this getting really physical. Roman and Heyman head out as Roman audibly tells Knight to enjoy the night because it’s all he’s going to get. I really appreciate the chemistry between these two, and both have done the right things in terms of putting each other over despite claiming they’re going to win.

Kevin Owens heads to the ring, he’ll be in action after this break.

Post break Owens is in the ring, and we get a recap of Owens being able to punch both Austin Theory and Grayson Waller in the face at the same time last week. Grayson Waller has joined commentary. Austin Theory gets an interview with Kayla in gorilla, he’s used to taking hits but disagrees that he has a punchable face. He thinks Owens has a face only a mother could love, and after Theory gets done with Owens then Owens wont have to wear a mask for Halloween. Clearly didn’t check on the sheet when his match would air and commentary has to try and cover for that flub.

Match #1: Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller

They tie up, hit the corner then Theory runs away from Owens. Another tie up and then Theory avoids a cheap shot, both men miss strikes and Theory dives out of the ring then catches Owens when he tries to follow him. Back in the ring Theory with some mounted punches then a 10 punch attempt in the corner but Owens blocks the last one then starts unloading on Theory and hits a Manhattan Drop then clotheslines Theory out of the ring. Owens then clotheslines Theory on the floor and hits a running senton to send us to break.

Owens is still in control as we come back, but Theory hangs him up on the top rope then slams him into a ring post. Back in the ring Theory with a chop block then a left hand, and some obviously fake crowd noise is really distracting this. Owens avoids A-Town Down then Theory avoids a Stunner and hits a rolling blockbuster for 2. Some corner work from Theory then they fight over a top rope spot eventually leading to Owens hitting a spinning Fisherman’s buster. Pop up powerbomb from Owens to some genuine crowd reaction, then Owens with a Stunner to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Kevin Owens won in 7:22

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Nice finishing sequence but Theory’s still kind of a bore when he’s in control of things, and the inconsistent crowd noise was a real distraction.

In the back Cathy interviews Bianca Belair, she says Bayley is talented but they did too much and now Belair want’s revenge. Naturally Damage Control attack to interrupt this and officials have to separate the relevant parties as we go to break.

Post break we get a recap of the Street Profits beating Carlito and Santos Escobar last week after Logan Paul attacked Rey Mysterio in the back.

We see Logan Paul talk with Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits, and Logan intimates he’s taking the US title from Rey tomorrow. Logan leaves and Bobby says that’s what success is about. B-Fab shows up, because she hasn’t been released, and wants to talk with Bobby. Bobby seems agreeable to the discussion.

Next, a recap of Shotzi pinning Chelsea Green last week then how they arrived at our next match. The recaps are out in force tonight. Anyway Piper Niven and Chelsea Green head to the ring. After this break we’ll get that tag team match.

Post break, here comes Shotzi. She chose well in Poochie being her partner, because Poochie doesn’t lose very often and never in non-title affairs.

Match #2 – Tag Team Match: Chelsea Green and Piper Niven vs. Shotzi and Charlotte Flair

Piper and Shotzi start, Piper shoves Shotzi around then runs into a boot but catches a jumping Shotzi and drops her with a shoulder breaker. In the back Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn watch TV at an odd angle. Chelsea tags in and punches Shotzi to set up a clothesline from Piper and a 2 count. Charlotte avoids a cheap shot from Chelsea. Shotzi makes her own comeback then tags in Charlotte who then hits a crossbody onto both Piper and Chelsea. Chops from Charlotte because really her tag team partner was just holding her back. Piper runs into a Charlotte boot, then there’s a minor issue on a diving move from Charlotte. Blind tag from Chelsea but Charlotte doesn’t care, disposes of Piper then boots Chelsea and gets a the pin.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Shotzi and Charlotte Flair won in 3:00

Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: Frankly disrespectful to Green and Piper, Charlotte beat them both essentially by herself.

Next, a recap of John Cena and Solo Sikoa’s interaction last week. Who doesn’t love recaps?

In the back Solo looks longingly at his own taped up thumb and we go to break.

Post break, here comes Solo Sikoa with Paul Heyman accompanying him. Heyman has a mic and introduces himself then brings up John Cena picking another fight with the Bloodline. Well they weren’t going to let him get away with that. Roman Reigns has called the shots for the Bloodline and Roman turns to Solo Sikoa to handle business. Solo might become Tribal Chief one day, but Solo needs to leave a pile of victims behind him to do that and John Cena is among the biggest victims you can get. Solo gets the mic from Heyman, and asks why Heyman is wasting his breath talking to the fans. They’re not here to talk to the people, they’re here to talk to John Cena face to face. John Cena is the obliging sort and does come out looking serious. Solo is pissed off he’s got to wait to fight Cena, but he’s got orders to give Cena the mic so Cena can say goodbye to the people while he can still speak. Cena takes the mic and feels asks if that’s all Solo has? We’ve been waiting for over a year for Solo to talk and that’s all he’s got? Even with only half a voice Cena can cook Solo in 90 seconds. He’ll say goodbye, but not to the fans, he’s saying goodbye for them. The only reason Solo has a job is because of Roman, we all see Solo as a bargain basement Taz ripoff, and he wants Solo to tape that thumb extra tight because tomorrow he’s shoving it up Solo’s ass. That’s about 90 seconds, and Cena drops the mic then heads out. Cena was not taking prisoners tonight.

In the back Damage Control talk and Bayley says she’ll put Belair on the shelf tonight and might take her spot at Crown Jewel. Nick Aldis comes over and says that Damage Control will be barred from ringside to make sure the fans get what they deserve. Dakota Kai seems a little annoyed, Bayley is shook, but Iyo tells Bayley that she’s got this.

Back to the ring, we’ve got barrels and bottles set up because we’re getting a Donnybook match after this break.

Post break, here come Pretty Deadly. Butch and Ridge attack them on the entrance stage and they start brawling.

Match #3 – Donnybrook match: Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) vs. Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch)

In the ring Prince and Wilson are set up for Bodhran Beatings that go on for a bit. Butch suplexes Wilson on the apron while Ridge hits a scoop slam to Prince in the ring. Butch finds a couple of shillelaghs that he puts in the ring. Ridge and Prince are in the ring and Ridge with a crossbody in the corner. Wilson gets flapjacked by Ridge then Ridge holds him up for Butch to land a dropkick. Outside the ring Butch hits a flying knee on Prince. Some finger work from Butch but Prince counters and back suplexes him onto a set up bar, then Ridge runs over Prince. Wilson attacks Ridge and rams him into a ring post to set up a follow up uppercut from Prince. Ridge is isolated in the ring now and gets stomped on. Ridge blocks a couple of shillelagh shots and dumps both Prince and Wilson out of the ring. Butch is back and moonsaults onto the pile of bodies as we go to break.

We come back to Butch hitting a tornado DDT on the floor. In the ring Ridge hits an Alabama Slam to Wilson through a trashcan but only a 2 count. Boston Crab to Wilson now, Prince tries to help but Butch grabs an Ankle Lock. Prince and Wilson stop each other from tapping then Prince kicks free and then hits Ridge with a stool to break up the pin. They botch a suplex into a powerbomb move, the timing was off there, and Butch breaks up the resulting pin attempt. Butch unloads on both Prince and Wilson with chops but Prince with a Stun Gun then a running elbow that sends Butch out of the ring. Ridge hoists Prince up with a military press into a powerslam, then Wilson drops him with a Twist of Fate into a Codebreaker. Butch is back with kicks and then Wilson hits Nigel McGuinness’s jawbreaker lariat onto Butch and everyone’s down. Butch blocks that Twist of Fate and yanks the fingers of Wilson but Prince is able to hit Butch with a shillelagh but that only gets a 2 count. Ridge grabs Prince and powerbombs him through a table on the floor. Wilson is alone and Butch wipes him out with a Brogue Kick for a near fall. Ridge finds another table and slides it into the ring. Butch and Ridge set up the table, but Wilson is able to squirm away from them to the floor. Ridge charges at Wilson but Wilson avoids him and Ridge wipes himself out into some barrels. Butch and Wilson fight on the top rope but Prince has a bottle he breaks over Butch’s head to set up the avalanche Spilt Milk and that gets the win for Pretty Deadly.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Pretty Deadly won in 12:30

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Fun enough PG brawl, Butch is still doing the lion’s share of the work for the Brutes since Sheamus is out injured but Pretty Deadly held their own here. Hopefully this is the end of this feud, I think we’ve seen enough of these two teams for a while.

A recap of the promo between Roman and Knight from the opening of the show. Recap-mania is running wild.

Nick Aldis walks in the back and finds Paul Heyman. Heyman offers Aldis some wisdom, he advises that a lot of medical staff be on hand in Saudi Arabia because this is the most savage version of Roman Reigns that anyone’s seen. Aldis asks if Heyman is done, Heyman: “With LA Knight? Hardly.” Aldis heads off to attend the weigh in between Logan Paul and Rey Mysterio as we head to break.

In the back Aldis hosts the weigh in between Logan Paul and Rey Mysterio. Logan weighs in at “213 lbs.” while fake camera clicks go off. Rey weighs “175 lbs.” and we get a face off. Some jaw jacking then Rey gets the mic and says he’s got just one thing to make clear, then slaps the crap out of Logan. This leads to the predictable pull apart, and somewhere in the fracas a mic gets thrown because we’re just going to rip off one of the dumbest things combat sports has done in the last 7 years.

Commentary runs down the Saudi card tomorrow. After that Bianca Belair heads to the ring. You know, if she wants to sell her angry vengeance emotion then smiling and skipping to the ring twirling her hair is kind of counter productive. We’ll get Bayley vs. Belair after this break.

Post break we get some hype for next week. Carlito vs. Bobby Lashley is announced, nothing else announced yet.

Bayley heads to the ring for our main event.

Match #4: Bianca Belair vs. Bayley

Bayley avoids a charge and then tosses a t-shirt at Belair to distract her, then lands punches on the ground. Belair takes over after Bayley wasted time with Michael Cole, Belair with some shoulder strikes in the corner then a suplex which she rolls into a second suplex. Handspring into a moonsault from Belair gets a 2 count. Bayley tries to fight back with punches, then rolls out of the ring to get a breather. Belair chases Bayley around, and then avoids an elbow drop going back into the ring then Belair hits a scoop slam. Another scoop slam from Belair, then a third. Back elbow from Belair then she sends Bayley to the apron but Bayley snaps her over the middle rope and follows up with a running knee into the ring post. That sends us to break.

We come back to Bayley tossing Belair out of the ring and then hitting an elbow drop from the apron to the floor. Back in the ring Bayley and Belair shove each other on their knees then Bayley lands a strike. Chin lock from Bayley and she starts working it. Belair fights free and hits an arm drag, then a backbreaker for good measure. Punches from Belair now then a running shoulder block and a dropkick. Belair goes for a 10 punch in the corner, she gets all 10 then goes wild with more punches and Bayley has to slip free and drop her across the top rope. Bayley runs into a spinebuster and that gets Belair a 2 count. Belair puts Bayley on the top rope then climbs up with her, she wants a superplex but has to bail on that then run back up and hit a slightly awkward superplex to put both women down. Some stomps from Belair, but when she tries another handspring moonsault Bayley is able to avoid it and they roll out of the ring where Bayley uses Belair’s braid to pull her into the ring post. Back in the ring Bayley goes up top and hits an elbow drop for a 2 count. More covers from Bayley but she can’t keep Belair down. Bayley clears off the announce table then winds up trying to powerbomb Belair through it but Belair fights free then starts fighting with Bayley on the apron, Bayley charges but Belair avoids her and Bayley eats the ring post. Pescado from Belair to the floor takes out Bayley, she debates using the table but decides against it. Back in the ring Belair tries the Kiss of Death, Bayley counters into a roll up for 2. They fight over the hair again, and Belair whips Bayley in the body with it, then hits the Kiss of Death to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Bianca Belair won in 13:21

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: A little generous on the rating, but these two have great chemistry and despite every entrance in WWE being copy paste from every week Belair and Bayley did sell the physicality once they locked up.

Post match Belair charges at Bayley on the floor and puts her through the announce table with a Kiss of Death for good measure. Belair celebrates that as the episode ends.