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OK everyone, we’re post Clash in Paris and it’s time for WWE Smackdown. The Paris show didn’t really have much interesting on it as far as Smackdown goes, only a tag team title match that was added at the last minute as well as John Cena vs. Logan Paul. You know, the more I’ve looked at the Smackdown picture these days the weaker it’s looking. The tag team scene is an unequivocal bright spot but the general midcard feels weak and Solo takes up a giant chunk of the air time for it, the main event scene right now is Cena’s retirement tour and whatever Drew and Randy are getting up to since Cody Rhodes is out filming a movie, and the women’s title picture is starting to border on dire as we’re running back Jade and Tiffany Stratton again which is only marginally better than the umpteenth time Nia Jax gets into the title picture. So what I’m saying is Smackdown could use a little boost. Tonight CM Punk will be on hand, because we’re in Chicago, and will probably bring his wife AJ Lee out of retirement to set up a battle of married couples for Wrestlepalooza (man I hate that name). Also John Cena will be here, likely to get smashed by Brock Lesnar to set up their palooza match, Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre are still going at it, as mentioned Tiffany and Jade are paired up again as well. The Street Profits teased some tension in their loss at Paris, we’ll see if anything comes of that. Sami Zayn won the US title, let’s see if he can do something with it because that poor belt has been struggling to keep relevance lately, Michin is next up to wrestle Giulia for the women’s US title, the Wyatt Sicks need new challengers for the tag team belts as well. Damian Priest and Aleister Black are still trying to kill each other, so that’s a plus. Logan Paul might need something else to do now that he lost to Cena. Anyway that’s the landscape as we head towards Wrestlepalooza and the WWE moving to ESPN for a chunk of their broadcast needs, now let’s get to the action.

We see wrestlers arrive at the venue, we’ll get Black and Priest in some capacity plus Michin’s title shot against Giulia is confirmed for tonight. CM Punk also shows up. Michael Cole and Corey Graves will be on commentary for a while, OK then.

Next a recap of Clash in Paris.

John Cena heads to the ring first, realistically it was him or Punk to open the show. Cena gets a mic but before he can talk there’s a loud “thank you Cena” chant that he soaks in. He says that means a lot coming from Chicago, then plays with the crowd a little bit. He was told to enjoy his retirement tour by all of his peers, and he says he focused on doing great work for his farewell tour. That’s the preamble to him saying he has nothing planned tonight, he just wanted to have fun. He’s given everything he has to this, but tonight he’s just taking it all in. The crowd is still with him and he says he’s not used to that from this building, but that is what makes this night, city, building, and people special. This is the kind of crowd that brings people back to WWE. This is Cena’s last time in Chicago, his last time on Smackdown as well. He thinks that’s beautiful, 23 years ago in his very city on this very show he walked down that ramp in his tights, slap Kurt Angle in the face and start this crazy decades long ride. This building has hosted a lot of big matches and moments for him and he runs down a few of them. There’s an argument about what is the greatest crowd in WWE, well for Cena there isn’t an argument. The fans allowed him to start here, they kept him honest and made him give his all. He’s experienced everything you can during that time, that gets another “thank you Cena” chant. No other words, just thank you so much for the ride and enjoy the rest of the show. Sami Zayn comes out as Cena’s looking to exit the ring, he’s wearing his gear. Sami gets a mic, and is booed pretty thoroughly. He’s not here to interrupt, he has been inspired by Cena’s last ride. Cena admits it’s nice to see someone else getting booed instead of him. Sami had to come out here on Cena’s last night on Smackdown and thank Cena on behalf of everyone in the back for all he’s done. More specifically to thank Cena for everything he did for Sami. Sami’s debut was against Cena for the US title, now Sami’s here as US champion. He’s thinking about the John Cena US open challenge, and Sami wants to pay that forward since it did so much for so many wrestlers. Sami asks to carry on that tradition with his own open challenge. Cena gives his blessing of course, then tries to leave but Sami asks him to stick around for just a second. Of course that leads to Sami saying he wants to wrestle Cena tonight in a shot at the US title, right now specifically. The crowd are on board with that. Cena considers but of course accepts. That sends us to break.

Match #1 – US Title Match: (c) Sami Zayn vs. John Cena

Joined in progress as the combatants circle. They tie up and Cena grabs a side headlock then they hit the ropes and Sami lands an arm drag. More rope running then Cena hits an arm drag. Commentary bring up Cena’s history with the US title, Sami can’t quite complete a leapfrog move then lands a clothesline. Suplex from Sami. Cena blocks a suplex then hits one of his own. Sami avoids a corner rush then sends Cena hard into a corner. Another hard corner spot from Cena, then Cena returns the favor and we go picture in picture.

Clothesline from Cena, then Sami counters an Attitude Adjustment with a DDT. Some rights from Sami to keep control. Cena hits the ropes and lands the shoulder blocks then hits the Proto Bomb and the 5 Knuckle Shuffle. Seems a shame to burn that sequence picture in picture. Sami then avoids an Attitude Adjustment and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a 2 count. The aftermath of that brings us back to broadcast. Sami tries a tornado DDT but instead eats an Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. As both men struggle up Sami tries the Exploder suplex, but Cena counters into a pop up powerbomb for a 2 count. Both men pull themselves up but Sami avoids a charge and Cena posts himself. Now Sami lines up a Helluva Kick but Cena avoids it and hits an Angle Slam for a 2 count. They trade punches, seeing the “boo yeah” spot with Cena getting the positive reaction is still a little weird, then we get a double down off of a double clothesline spot. That sends us picture in picture again.

Cena grabs an Ankle Lock, Sami kicks at that so Cena transitions into an STF. Sami crawls to wards the ropes so Cena drags him back and puts the STF back on, then when he has to adjust again Sami kicks him off then Sami hits an Attitude Adjustment for a 2 count. Now Sami lines up another Helluva Kick, but Cena counters into another Attitude Adjustment for a near fall. The aftermath of that brings us back to broadcast. Sami hits the corner Exploder suplex then lands a Helluva Kick but only a near fall. Now Sami heads up top slowly, but Cena recovers so Sami winds up jumping down then eating a Go To Sleep from Cena but again only a near fall. Cena’s paying homage to a giant chunk of his old rivals tonight. Next Cena calls on Sami to stand, and hits a Spear for another near fall but commentary can’t actually say Edge as he does it. The crowd want an RKO, so Cena does the pose on the mat then tries it but Sami avoids it so Cena hits a clothesline. They head up top and Cena wants the avalanche Attitude Adjustment, Sami can’t fight him off and the move connects but both men are down. As they’re down. . . here comes the pain. Brock Lesnar is here and heads down to yank the ref out of the ring. Then he kills Sami with an F5, the crowd pops. Brock takes aim at Cena, hits another F5 on Cena then poses. Another F5 for Cena then Brock collects his cowboy hat and heads out and we head to break.

OFFICIAL RESULT: No Contest in 21:40 or so shown, I’m assuming it ended with the ref getting pulled

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: Just the hits being played but the crowd was into it and that helps a lot. I’m a little surprised they got so much time, are we hard up for filling Smackdown airtime tonight?

Post break we get a recap of Brock showing up and laying out Cena and Sami. We see Brock walk in the back, he’ll see Cena at Wrestlepalooza, bitch. OK then.

Nick Aldis walks in the back and finds Hayes, Hayes wants a shot at Sami but Miz comes over to ask for a title shot and Aldis says he’ll consider. Hayes and Miz argue a bit but a car pulls up and here comes Becky Lynch.

Aleister Black hype, he says he came back to WWE hoping it had changed but the well was still poisoned. Priest now faces the years of hate this industry has carved into Black. He must purify the well. He will succeed, Priest is who he is and follows the rules while Black is who he is and follows the rules until he doesn’t.

Damian Priest heads to the ring after that, Black attacks him on the entrance ramp and they start brawling. Black rams Priest into the ring post then knees him over the barricade into the fans. Black then heads into the ring and we head to break.

We come back to Priest charging the ring against advice. Black with a kick then a head kick as they’re on the floor. They head into the ring and we do get the start of the match.

Match #2: Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black

Black avoids a right hand then kicks Priest. Some corner work from Black but Priest lands a right hand, but Black counters into a version of the Cobra Twist. Priest struggles towards the ropes so Black switches to a sunset roll up for 2. Priest is still staggering around, and Black lands a knee to the head then hits a Meteora for a 2 count and we head to break.

Priest crotches Black on the top rope as we come back. Now Priest tries the Razor’s Edge but Black avoids it then lands a spinning back elbow and a running gamen giri for a 2 count. Right hand from Priest, then another one but Black lands a front kick though Priest comes off the ropes with a clothesline and both men are down. Priest looks to fire up and lands strikes then adds in kicks and a right hand to floor Black. Corner splash from Priest but Black lands a kick, then Priest with a shoulder block. Priest wants his Old School variation and it connects. Black rolls out of the ring, Priest follows and hits a Flatliner onto the ring apron. Priest starts taking apart the announce table, Black takes a Razor’s Edge onto the table which doesn’t break. Back in the ring Black tries to beg off, Priest just chuckles and the straps come down. Black shoves the ref into Priest to break up a South of Heaven but no ref bump and Black then hits the Black Mass to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Aleister Black won in 9:37

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: I do wonder a bit about just how much we’re protecting Priest here, the man overcame a pre-fight attack and it still took obvious shenanigans for Black to win. Maybe I’m being a bit overly critical with that one though. These two work well together, it’s mostly the layout I’m not sure worked here. Still I’m looking forward to more from them because you know there’s more to come.

We head to break after the finish.

A Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre hype package greets us coming back. Drew doesn’t care what people think of him, he tells the truth and Randy is just mad that he’s lost the edge while Drew will still pull the trigger. Randy says Drew can’t read minds, and even if he did he wouldn’t like what Randy’s voices are saying. WWE needs Drew, and Randy will knock Drew back into reality. Not bad stuff, those two will wrestle next week.

Brock Lesnar will also be on Smackdown next week, plus we’ll get Tiffany vs. Jade for the title next week. I can’t wait for Nia Jax to interfere in that one.

In the back Cathy talks with WWE women’s champion Tiffany Stratton. Tiffany says all Jade’s talk ends next week. Not a strong segment.

Elsewhere Jade watches that on TV. Nia Jax wanders over and she and Jade bicker, and Jade says Jax can get a shot after Jade beats the blown up Barbie doll.

Giulia heads to the ring for our next match and we head to break.

Post break we find Becky Lynch, Nick Aldis shows up and tells her he’s dealing with a lot and says he will not allow more issues to crop up tonight.

Back to the ring we find some basketball players ringside then Michin comes out to no pop.

Match #3 – Women’s US Title Match: (c) Giulia w/ Kiana James vs. Michin

They start trading strikes right away, Michin backs Giulia into a corner and they head out of the ring. Back in the ring Michin with some misdirection then a dropkick. Misdirection from Michin and Giulia spills to the floor then Giulia blocks a baseball slide and hits a neckbreaker from the apron to the floor and we head to break.

Michin with elbows as we come back but Giulia fights back with a flurry of headbutts. Headbutt from Michin but Giulia then lands a German suplex. Michin with one of her own. They trade strikes then we get a double down on head kicks. Flurry from Michin then a cannonball senton in the corner. Giulia blocks Eat Defeat and counters into a Glorious Driver for a near fall. Some kicks from Giulia but Michin counters one into a sit out powerbomb for a 2 count. James distracts things and Michin spikes her with a hurricanrana but that lets Giulia hit the Arrivederci knee strike and retain.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Giulia retained the title in 7:35

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: The crowd was not into this at all, Giulia feels like she’s stalling momentum wise a little bit but she’s still pretty good. Michin’s ceiling is pretty well established at this point and that’s why there was no real drama here.

Post match James attacks Michin.

We get a recap of Alexa Bliss beating Chelsea Green last week but also Green and Alba Fyre leaving the champs laying. In the back Charlotte complains about nothing good happening to her. Bliss is here to play doctor, she can’t find a heart on Charlotte. Charlotte says the power of friendship might heal her pain. OK, that was a choice for a segment.

To the ring and Seth Rollins is seen in the crowd to his music making everything worse per usual. That disappointing image sends us to break.

Post break Rollins is still in the crowd, but he’s got a mic so everything’s worse. He says we’re all here for history, the legend of CM Punk dies right here right now. How does he make me miss Solo Sikoa promos? Anyway to accomplish that goal he brings out Becky Lynch. Becky heads to the ring. The crowd is chanting “AJ Lee” because of course they are. Becky gets pissy at the crowd and runs through her usual schtick then goes for some cheap heat about the local sports teams. CM Punk comes out and slowly heads to the ring. Rollins is waving at him most of the time but makes no move to head towards the ring. Punk gets a mic and says this isn’t about Becky, it’s about Rollins hiding up there in a box. Becky says this is about her and asks if Punk isn’t embarrassed by following network standards and practices by not hitting a woman. Punk has nothing to be ashamed of and tells Becky to leave. Becky asks how Punk’s face and pride are doing. The crowd chant for AJ again. Punk says Becky will let the crowd chant for her, and if it bothers Becky she should have stayed out of this. But she got involved, we’re in Chicago and he could get anyone here to jump the rail and beat Becky’s ass. He could have called Bayley, or Rhea Ripley. Becky slaps Punk a few times with the support of network standards and practices. Punk heads out of the ring as Becky starts heckling him. Punk says this is what he wanted to avoid, everyone knows he’d never put his hands on a lady. Thankfully he has someone who will. That brings out AJ Lee and everyone has to pretend to be shocked. AJ skips to the ring then joins Becky in it. Becky tries to beg off, the crowd obligingly gives a “holy shit” chant then AJ with a double leg and she lays into Becky. Thesz Press from AJ and she keeps landing mounted punches then she hauls Becky up and slaps her out of the ring. Rollins has hit the barricade but wont cross it, and Punk just joins AJ in the ring. Rollins now crosses the barricade and joins his wife while Punk and AJ celebrate in the ring and the episode ends.