WWE Friday Night SmackDown [7/29/2022] Results

Here are your WWE Friday Night SmackDown! results for July 29th, 2022: courtesy of our friend Mike Hogan at Rajah.com!

Welcome to SmackDown!

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee welcome us to Atlanta and our go-home edition for tomorrow night's SummerSlam. The cameras pan around the ringside area and we see lots of stereotypical "Irish pub" crap around the ring, including barrels/casks and pictures. It's time for our contendership match!

Number One Contendership Main Event Donnybrook Match: Sheamus vs Drew McIntyre (26 minutes)

Drew McIntyre begins his entrance and is quickly ambushed by Sheamus. Sheamus brawls with him down to the ring and into it, where the ref calls for the bell. We're reminded that the winner gets a shot at the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion in Cardiff. Sheamus takes an early lead until McIntyre shuts him down with a Spinebuster. Sheamus eventually retrieves a shillelagh and takes a swing but misses. McIntyre gets a shillelagh but Sheamus clotheslines them both over the top rope. Both men brawl in front of the commentary table, and Drew's quick to sling Sheamus across it, nearly catching Cole. The Atlanta crowd loudly chants "we want tables" and Drew immediately retrieves a table. The crowd goes wild! Sheamus attacks Drew before he can get the table in the ring, however, and gets massive boos. Sheamus sends McIntyre into the steel steps shoulder-first and begins to work the hot crowd, getting great heel heat. Sheamus sends Drew back in and retrieves the table.
Sheamus sets it up ringside and enters the ring, retrieving another shillelagh from the turnbuckle area. It turns out it's the one that had "been passed down in Sheamus' family for a number of generations," according to Cole, but McIntyre cut it in two last week. Sheamus uses the shattered but whole shillelagh to pummel Drew, hitting the Ten Beats of the Bodhran...but he extends it, all the way to twenty beats, and all with the shillelagh in hand! The crowd enthusiastically counts along with his smacks. Sheamus heads back outside and positions the table leaning against the barricade. Sheamus sets up McIntyre for a suplex through the table but McIntyre slaps on the brakes! Again, McIntyre blocks it and counters with a suplex of his own! McIntyre rallies and takes Sheamus to the other side of the ring. McIntyre bounces Sheamus' face off the ring post and whips him into the hard apron and steel steps. McIntyre whips Sheamus into the nearby stacked barrels and we go to break!
Back from the break. We return to find Drew and Sheamus fighting over a shillelagh; Sheamus drives McIntyre into the mat and retrieves a steel chair. He uses it to smack McIntyre, twice, and wedges it in the corner. Sheamus taunts the crowd, then taunts Drew--making sure he gets his match objectives done--and hoists McIntyre up, looking for White Noise. McIntyre fights off with elbows and sends Sheamus into the corner that had the chair. The chair, however, had fallen out moments before Sheamus hit the ring post. McIntyre starts his comeback sequence and uses a neckbreaker to drop Sheamus, kipping-up right afterwards.McIntyre exits the ring and fetches three steel chairs and throws them in the ring. He searches beneath the ring and throws in two more chairs, then another. He enters the ring and Sheamus, from a knelt position, throws one right into Drew's face, dropping the Scottish Psychopath.
Sheamus sets up McIntyre for a White Noise on the stack of chairs, but Drew wiggles free and hits his Future Shock DDT! Drew covers but only gets two! We're reminded that Irish and Scottish flags and banners decorate the banners around the ring. Cool. McIntyre drags Sheamus up, looking for another Future Shock, when Ridge Holland hits McIntyre with a shillelagh from behind! Sheamus follows it up with a Brogue Kick and covers for one, two, three--no! Two! Holland attempts to lawn dart McIntyre at ringside but Drew sends Ridge into the ring post! Drew uses an exploder suplex to send Holland through the table lent up against the barricade from earlier! We go to break!
Back from the break. We return to find Drew and Sheamus battling on the turnbuckles in the top right corner. Sheamus battles Drew down into a Tree of Woe position. Sheamus takes too long and Drew bends up to yank Sheamus off the top. Ridge Holland breaks a shillelagh across McIntyre's back. Sheamus follows up with an Irish Curse and covers for two. Drew rolls to the outside and a very sweaty Sheamus follows. Sheamus grabs Drew and attempts to whip him; McIntyre counters, sending Sheamus head-first into a piece of furniture set up nearby with photos on it. Drew again sends Sheamus into it! Butch finally enters the fray as he leaps off the stacked barrels nearby the commentator's table. Dunne drops McIntyre with a diving axe handle! Sheamus takes Drew back into the ring and hoists him over his shoulders.
Sheamus climbs to the middle rope and executes a middle-rope White Noise! Sheamus covers but McIntyre kicks out! The crowd is definitely into this match. Sheamus looks to use a shillelagh to drop Drew but McIntyre dodges and takes it from him, striking both him and Butch! Drew hits a Claymore on Butch and Sheamus immediately catches him off-guard with a Brogue, covering for a very close two! Both men are down for several moments. Sheamus has a small laceration on his left shoulder. The crowd loudly chants "this is awesome"--and it's the real crowd; the piped-in crowd has been greatly reduced since the end of the VKM era. Sheamus rises first and posts up in the corner, pounding his chest as he readies for the Brogue! Sheamus runs but Drew catches him, pops him up and sends Sheamus through the table with a powerbomb! Sheamus slowly crawls towards a shillelagh in the corner; Drew watches and rises, shaking his head and watching Sheamus. Sheamus rises to his knees, Drew hits him with a low-angle Claymore, and covers to win!
Your Winner and New Number One Contender, Drew McIntyre!

After the Match: Theory, Happy Corbin Show Up

Theory shows up nearly immediately and beats the shit out of Drew with the Money in the Bank briefcase. He got massive live heat from the crowd; like him or hate him, he's doing his job as a heel right. After that, Happy Corbin is shown approaching McAfee from behind. He has a sign and a large tub of popcorn and shows his ticket, stating he has a seat right behind McAfee--his opponent for tomorrow night. We head to break. When we return, we find that Corbin is now yelling random things such as "turn around" and "do your job" at McAfee, harassing him and testing his patience. He's even holding up a poster with an old photo of Pat McAfee on it and the word "LOSER" written in large print above it.

SummerSlam Match Cancelled

We get clips from last Monday's Raw, during which Riddle and Rollins brawled at ringside. Rollins injured Riddle during the eating, causing Riddle to not be medically cleared for tomorrow.

Singles Match: Shotzi vs Aliyah

Originally advertised as Lacey Evans vs Aliyah, we're informed that Lacey Evans is not present tonight. The announcers quickly hype Shotzi's apparently new-found hatred for Aliyah and "everything she stands for." Shotzi starts off hyper aggressive, taking it to Aliyah and controlling the opening moments. Shotzi punishes Aliyah with a standing half crab more akin to Jericho's old Lion Tamer! Aliyah eventually drags herself to the rope, forcing the break but Shotzi drags her back to the middle of the ring and threatens to apply it again. Aliyah kicks her off, gains separation, and unloads a combination of strikes to Shotzi! Aliyah with a running clothesline to Shotzi and a cover for two. Aliyah takes it outside and hits a Meteora off the apron to Shotzi at ringside! Shotzi retaliates, shoving Aliyah's face into the ring post. Both women roll into the ring. Shotzi looks for a modified suplex DDT--a new finisher called the "Never Wake Up"--and picks up the win!
Your Winner, Shotzi!

After the Match: "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey Confronts Shotzi

Shotzi starts to address Liv Morgan when Ronda's music plays. Rousey, Morgan's opponent tomorrow, comes out. Shotzi growls "Hi, Ronda," and attempts to attack Ronda. Ronda drops her with an arm bar and sends her out of the ring! A fan yells something and she snaps back that their mother "failed" them. Ouch! She then demands that we have a fight tonight as she's angry and wants to fight. We head to break.

Tag Match: SmackDown Women's Champion Liv Morgan & Ronda Rousey vs Natalya & Sonya Deville

We return from break with a pissed-off Ronda in the ring. Liv's music plays and our champ is out to a decent welcome. We're informed this is a tag team match. Out next are Deville and Natalya. We get the bell and Rousey starts off against Natalya, dominating the Neidhart. Liv comes in and continues the trend until Nattie tags in Sonya Deville. Deville unloads on Liv, kicking her into the corner and raining kicks down on her. Sonya with a gut kick in the middle of the ring but Morgan fires off a dropkick that sends Deville staggering back to the corner. Morgan with a running knee to Deville and a blind tag from Rousey. Rousey and Morgan argue for a moment; Deville attempts to sneak attack but Rousey catches her with a kick. Rousey looks for an ankle lock but Deville escapes the ring and Morgan tags herself in. They argue, again, and Deville yanks Morgan off the apron! Deville whips the champ into the barricade and takes her back into the ring. Deville with a sliding knee to Morgan's ribs. Deville brings in Natalya and the heels take the lead as Nattie executes a suplex at ringside, sending us to break!
Back from the break! Deville repeatedly smashes the champ's face into the turnbuckle before attempting a cover. Rousey bounces on the apron, wanting the hot tag, but Deville and Natalya use quick tags to keep Morgan isolated a few more moments. A double suplex from both women. Natalya mocks Rouse as she puts on a weak hold on Morgan's neck. Morgan battles to a vertical base but fails to create separation as Natalya drops her to the mat almost instantly. Nattie stomps Morgan's gut and takes time to talk smack before attempting a Sharpshooter. Morgan kicks her off, rolls through and attempts a hot tag. Natalya temporarily blocks it--Morgan hits a Codebreaker and instead of tagging in Ronda, goes for the cover, getting two! Morgan is then whipped into the heel corner by Natalya. Morgan attempts to fight out of the corner but Nattie slaps the heck out of her and tags in Deville, who unloads strikes to Morgan in the corner.
A snapmare is used to take Morgan down and Deville taunts Ronda as she slaps a sleeper hold on Morgan. Morgan again powers to a vertical base and this time, gains separation from Deville. Morgan throws weak rights as she tries to fight her off. Deville with a big kick to Morgan; Morgan "on instinct" fires off a step-up Enziguri! Both women are down!
Morgan drags herself to the corner and Ronda calls for the tag. Morgan again refuses to make the tag. Liv misses on a running attack and Natalya nearly rolls her up. Natalya hits a Discus Clothesline (Nattie by Nature) for another close pin. Again, Ronda puts her hand out for a tag and Michael Cole begs on commentary for Morgan to preserver herself for tomorrow night and tag out. Liv finally crawls close enough and Ronda gets the hot tag. Ronda comes in and takes it to Deville, then fires off a Piper's Pit quickly. She calls out to the car and threatens and arm bar but Natalya attacks her from behind. Liv Morgan hits the ObLIVion on Natalya! Rousey slaps on the ankle lock and Deville taps!
Your Winners by Submission, Ronda Rousey & SmackDown Women's Champion Liv Morgan!

In the Ring Confrontation: the Street Profits and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions the Usos

Both teams are out, and we're joined by special Guest Enforcer "Double J" Jeff Jarrett! Double J comes out on the mic. "Street Profits, I've got some words for you. And Usos, champs? I definitely have some words for you. Now I thought it'd be a good idea for the four of us to get together out here and get things straight before SummerSlam." (There's five of them in the ring, fyi) Jarrett states he's the special guest ref and he wants to get things clear. Jey Uso and Jimmy hop on the mic and ask if it's a DQ if they "grab both of these championships and wrap them around Dawkins heads like them (???) pants he's got on?" Dawkins asks if it's a DQ if he hits Jimmy so hard that "his face paint" comes back on, haha. Both teams exchange heated words. The Profits want the smoke, and the crowd's behind them in that endeavor. Jarrett keeps both teams separate and gets back on the mic.
"Now listen, I'm not here to contain you guys. As a matter of fact, I"m here to let you run wild. Because I only have one job tomorrow night, that's when two shoulders are on the mat, I count one, two, three. But that's tomorrow night. As far as tonight goes, it's very apparent you guys have some outstanding issues. So if one of you guys feels froggy, why don't one of ya jump!" Dawkins states there ain't gonna be "no more jumping" but he has one final question regarding DQ rules. The Street Profits immediately slug the Usos and both teams brawl! During it, Jey Uso accidentally Superkicks Jeff Jarrett! The Usos realize their mistake and they check on Jarrett. Jey repeatedly says "my bad, on me" but Jeff angrily shoves Jey! Jeff then shoves Jimmy! The Usos are again attacked by Dawkins, who sends the Usos out of the ring and allows Montez Ford to hit a diving over-the-top suicide strike to end our segment!

Tag Team Main Event Match: the New Day vs the Viking Raiders

The New Day are out first ahead of what may very well be our not only our fourth, but also main event, match. We head to break. When we return, we get the entrance of what's billed as "the New, Vicious" Viking Raiders. Cole and McAfee praise both teams; the Vikings for their viciousness and the New Day for a decade of dominance. The bell rings and we start with Xavier Woods and Erik. Both battle in the corner briefly. Woods gets the upper hand with a series of chops and rights. The Viking Raiders take the control as we head to the break. When we return, Pat McAfee encourages us to rock the hashtag, #SmackDahn so have at it. Kofi and Ivar battle until Kofi fires off an SOS and both men are down! Woods and Erik get the hot tags; Woods drops Erik with a cross body then counters an attempted tilt-a-whirl slam into a beautiful Side Russian Leg Sweep! Kofi fights off Ivar as he tries to interfere and sets him up on the middle rope. Woods attacks Ivar again, sending him out, and drops Erik with a Tornado DDT for a close cover. Kingston comes in but the Viking Raiders send Woods out of the ring, then hit a set of double-team moves to a defenseless Kingston to pick up the win.
Your Winners, the Viking Raiders!

After the Match: The Great Heathen Army Strikes

The Raiders retrieve their shields. Kofi and Woods line up opposite them but the Vikings use a shield smash to drop Kofi! They then position a steel chair around Woods' already-injured left ankle and, using their shields, both men strike the chair and Woods screams in pain, rolling around and taking off his boot. Officials enter the ring to check on him as he sells the ankle injury. The Viking Raiders slowly head up the ramp as Cole questions why they viciously attacked the New Day.

The Special Counsel's Special Address

We're told the Special Counsel has a special address, because we're special. We head to break before our final segment of the night. We return to find Heyman in the ring. "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman." He pauses often, frustrated as the crowd says his lines for him, haha. "I serve as Special Counsel to your Tribal Chief. The one and only undisputed heavyweight champion, not just in all of WWE, but all of Sports Entertainment--the G.O.A.T., the greatest of all time, the head of the table--and tomorrow night, tomorrow night, tomorrow night at SummerSlam--the Last Man Standing, Roman Reigns."

"Seven hundred days," he continues, "700 days in the modern era as the heavyweight champion. An unheard of accomplishment, not for a few years, not for a decade, but for thirty-five years no one has gotten to 700 days as the heavyweight champion. And guess who's going to be the spoiler tomorrow night? Brock...Lesnar...over my damn, dead body! Tomorrow night, Roman Reigns will not pin Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns will not just smash Brock Lesnar. Tomorrow, Roman Reigns is going to put Lesnar down for ten seconds, stand over a defeated, humiliated, embarrassed, victimized Brock Lesnar...hold both titles up in the air, be the last man standing, and we will all be done with Brock Lesnar...once...and for all."
Cue the sound because here comes "the Beast" Brock Lesnar! Farmer Brock makes his way out to a huge pop!
Brock paces the ring and finally enters it. Heyman offers him a mic; Brock silently approaches Heyman, who begins to beg him off. Theory attacks Lesnar from behind with the Money in the Bank Briefcase! Lesnar shrugs it off and uses the briefcase to beat theory repeatedly! Brock fires off a series of release German Suplexes (Suplex City 2.0, this is not Suplex City). Drew McIntyre streaks down the ramp as Theory attempts to flee and hits a Claymore on Theory! McIntyre and Lesnar stare each other down as we end our program! SummerSlam is tomorrow NIGHT!