The third episode of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX takes place tonight which appears to be a real challenge for the WWE officials to retain viewership. This is the first time that a normal episode is airing without any additional attraction. Also, it will be the first edition under the new executive director Bruce Prichard following Eric Bischoff’s departure. Crown Jewel hype-ups are going to be the sole ingredients of the show with several segments being announced.
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The opener of SmackDown brings back Roman Reigns to the title picture as he takes on Shinsuke Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship. A huge six-man tag team match is also official which is going to be a prelude for the biggest tag turmoil set for Crown Jewel. We’ll also find out the next number one contender for the SmackDown Women’s Championship via a six-pack challenge. All of these and more should be waiting for us when SmackDown airs from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Tomorrow's @WWE Friday Night SmackDown is STACKED! Don't miss a second of the action starting at 8e/7c on FOX.? pic.twitter.com/uw2UsABnaN
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 18, 2019
WWE has already announced the opener cum main event of this week’s SmackDown that features the number one Draft pick from their side. It will be none other than Roman Reigns coming to his yard and trying to win the mid-card title. WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura will have to defend his championship against Reigns in a fresh matchup.
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The matchup became official after an altercation broke out among Roman Reigns and the champion alongside the latter’s spokesperson, Sami Zayn. It was Sami who started the instigation by writing the following on Twitter,
“Nakamura-san & I were eligible to be drafted together & got picked in the 3rd round by #Smackdown. Imagine being able to get a generation-defining performer AND the Intercontinental Champion together in one pick & still deciding to pick The Big D Roman Reigns first. Unreal. – SZ”
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Don’t concern yourself with the Big D Sami ? but if you and Shin want to go from 3rd round to face #1…you know where to find me.
And bring the #ICTitle with you. #BigDog #BigDeal #SmackDown https://t.co/6vgIAvilKe
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) October 17, 2019
The Big Dog was quick to reply issuing a challenge to the heel duo for a match. He also asked him to bring the IC title with them to set the match for SmackDown. Even the champion himself obliged the challenge after which WWE officially announced this contest for tonight’s episode.
⁉️Are we talking about same thing?
If the Big Dog wants to play, I ’ll allow him to come into #MyYard with #treats https://t.co/dcttC8xJE2— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) October 17, 2019
WWE has also confirmed that Friday’s SmackDown will feature a Six-Pack Challenge to determine the new number one contender for the SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley. The winner will get a shot to the women’s championship shortly. The contest will feature Carmella, Nikki Cross, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Sonya Deville, and Mandy Rose. Below is what WWE.com has offered regarding the title match,
“The depth of the SmackDown Women’s division will be on full display in a loaded Six-Pack Challenge Match. Carmella, Nikki Cross, Dana Brooke, Lacey Evans, Sonya Deville, and Mandy Rose all square off for the opportunity to face Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Title.
Carmella enters with the experience of a former champion, but all of the competitors are hungry to make a big impression on the blue brand. Who will emerge to challenge the reinvented Bayley, and is the winner destined for a similar fate as the Bayley Buddies?”
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BREAKING: @CarmellaWWE, @NikkiCrossWWE, @DanaBrookeWWE, @LaceyEvansWWE, @SonyaDevilleWWE and @WWE_MandyRose will square off in a Six-Pack Challenge Match on #SmackDown for the opportunity to face @itsBayleyWWE for the #SmackDown Women’s Title.https://t.co/VX6TCBGwyH
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2019
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Tonight, we’ll get a preview of the chaotic situation waiting for us at Crown Jewel where the largest tag team turmoil match will be in-store. An eight-man tag team match will be waiting for us featuring the newly drafted tag teams for the SmackDown tag team roster. The match will see The New Day’s Big E & Xavier Woods team with Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight and Otis Dojovic) to go up against SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival and Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler. One of the babyfaces has the chance to get a pinfall win over the champs which could eventually make them the new number one contenders for the tag titles, also.
Ahead of the largest Tag Team Turmoil Match in history at #WWECrownJewel, #SmackDown's premiere tag teams will clash on Friday Night when The #NewDay teams with #HeavyMachinery to take on #TheRevival and @HEELZiggler & @RealRobertRoode.https://t.co/9xcY3NqQpR
— WWE (@WWE) October 17, 2019
As for the WWE Championship picture, it looks like both the champion and the challenger will be absent from SmackDown after two back to back appearances. Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez will leave one final confrontation for perhaps the next episode of SmackDown which also marks the go-home episode for Crown Jewel PPV.