The night begins with Vince McMahon introducing everyone to Friday Night SmackDown LIVE on FOX! He claims this is a historic night for the company, where he then introduces the General Manager of SmackDown... Eric Bischoff. Bischoff comes out and promises SmackDown is no longer the B-Show, and Raw is no longer the flagship, but SmackDown is going to be the best product on television. WWE Champion Kofi Kingston then comes to the ring with The New Day as they celebrate being a part of history tonight, and Kingston is reassured by Big E and Woods that Kingston is starting tonight as champion and ending tonight as champion. Universal Champion Seth Rollins comes to the ring and says he's grateful that tonight Raw stars are allowed on SmackDown but tells Kingston that he is the best champion in all WWE. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman are the next ones to the ring. Heyman declares that Lesnar will be the next WWE Champion and reclaim his throne on top of the WWE after tonight. Daniel Bryan then joins the party and tells everyone he doesn't care who is champion, as long as he is next in line. Vince McMahon then reminds everyone of the Draft to take place next Friday on SmackDown and Monday on Raw, meaning these superstars could be on completely different shows. Bischoff then says since he has the dominion of all superstars here in the arena tonight, the first show on Fox will be Daniel Bryan against Universal Champion Seth Rollins!
Daniel Bryan vs. Seth RollinsBryan and Rollins dueled for the rights to win the first match on Fox, and it took Rollins sidestepping a Running Knee for Rollins to hit the Curb Stomp.
winner: Seth Rollins
The commentary duo of Michael Cole and John Bradshaw Layfield hype the rest of tonight's show. Shinsuke Nakamura as Intercontinental Champion defends against Roman Reigns, and United States Champion AJ Styles defends against Samoa Joe. But up next, Rey Mysterio and a mystery partner take on The Revival in a non-title opportunity.
As The Revival parade the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, Rey Mysterio comes to the ring. Mysterio says tonight is a historic night for SmackDown and wishes he could share this moment with Eddie Guerrero. Chants in Eddie's honor sound throughout the arena before Mysterio acknowledges that his partner is not a member of the active roster, but with Bischoff's blessing, he has found his partner. "Ooo, Chavo!" hits and the crowd goes crazy as Eddie's nephew has come back to be Rey Mysterio's partner tonight.
The Revival vs. Chavo Guerrero & Rey MysterioChavo appeared not to miss a step and was doing fairly well, but The Revival are too smooth as champions. Mysterio had gained a head of steam towards the end and hit Dawson with a 619. Mysterio tagged Chavo for Guerrero to go for a frog splash, but Wilder came over and pushed Chavo off the top rope, toppling Mysterio on the outside. Wilder was quick to throw Chavo into the ring and a Shattered Machine allowed the champions to escape winners.
winners: The Revival
Charlotte Flair is backstage with Renee Young for an interview. Young asks Flair about her title opportunity this Sunday against Bayley, in which Charlotte replies she's excited to become champion. She then asks about the contract signing tonight with Trish Stratus officiating. Charlotte questions if Trish has any hard feelings about losing at SummerSlam, and hopes she's wise enough in her age to leave that in the past for the sake of tonight and the future of the women's division.
Michael Cole and JBL preview Sunday's 6-man tag between the OC and the trio of Samoa Joe and the Viking Raiders. This is prior to the United States Championship defense next.
United States Championship: AJ Styles(c) vs. Samoa JoeStyles and Joe had another classic bout of theirs. Styles goes for a Phenomenal Forearm and Joe steps aside for a Coquina Clutch. Styles then reverses the weight to get a cover, but Joe gets out at two. Both make it to their feet and Styles hits the Pele Kick that rocks Joe, allowing Styles to hit a Phenomenal Forearm successfully. Styles makes the cover and gets the 3.
winner; and still United States Champion: AJ Styles
Michael Cole and JBL continue reviewing Sunday's Hell in a Cell show, featuring the Bludgeon Brothers against Roman Reigns and a mystery partner. This precedes an interview with Roman Reigns conducted by Renee Young. Young asks Reigns about his partner for Sunday, in which Reigns says he has reached out to a few people and hasn't gotten much further on this process. The question is then flipped to tonight's title opportunity against Shinsuke Nakamura. Reigns mentions the greats to hold the Intercontinental Championship and he wants to hold that title once again, so he will focus on the task at hand tonight.
The ring is set up for the contract signing. Comes Trish Stratus, who addresses the fans in attendance for this historic night. Stratus then introduces SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley. Stratus then makes remarks towards Bayley about her attitude and suggesting to Bayley she not forget who helped her to this stage. Bayley took offense to this, when Charlotte interrupts. Charlotte took offense to Trish not introducing her and making her claim of being the realest woman in this division: past, present, and future. Charlotte then redirects the focus to the contract signing and goes ahead to sign. Charlotte told Bayley she will take her title on Sunday and become a 10-time champion. Bayley spoke a little more about her getting herself to this stage, not anyone else. Bayley told Charlotte she'll regret stepping into the Cell this Sunday because it will only be to her detriment. Bayley signs the contract, making their Hell in a Cell contest official. Peyton Royce and Billie Kay interrupt this signing to speak of an "IIconic" SmackDown tonight. Kay and Royce said tonight can only be because of them, not Charlotte, Bayley, or Trish Stratus.
Kabuki Warriors vs. The IIconicsThe IIconics got a huge taste of their medicine when Asuka and Kairi Sane was firing off all cylinders and it was the Asuka Lock on Peyton Royce that ended the contest with the Kabuki Warriors getting a win without Paige by their side.
winners: Kabuki Warriors
Shane McMahon is standing by with Renee Young about his contest against Kevin Owens on Sunday, in one of three Hell in a Cell matches. Shane O'Mac said that this has been a long time coming against Owens. Shane says he hopes to put Owens through a lot and wants to put him out for good.
Bobby Roode, Dolph Ziggler, Elias, and Randy Orton vs. Braun Strowman, The Miz, and The UsosThe Usos made a surprise return to tonight's SmackDown and this 8-man tag ended in Strowman planting Bobby Roode with a running powerslam.
winners: Braun Strowman, The Miz, and The Usos
After a commercial, Shinsuke Nakamura heads to the ring for his title defense and awaits Roman Reigns. During Roman's entrance, he's blindsided by the Bludgeon Brothers. Erick Rowan and Luke Harper decimate him and throws him inside the ring for Nakamura to join the attack. The three render Reigns unconscious without an official Intercontinental Championship match.
Michael Cole and JBL preview the complete match card for Sunday's pay-per-view event:
| Hell in a Cell match for Universal Championship | Seth Rollins(c) vs. Bray Wyatt |
| Hell in a Cell match for SmackDown Women's Championship | Bayley(c) vs. Charlotte Flair |
| Hell in a Cell match | Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon |
| Six-man tag team match | The OC vs. Samoa Joe & The Viking Raiders |
| Tag team match | Bludgeon Brothers vs. Roman Reigns & ? |
| Tag team match for SmackDown Tag Team Championships | The Revival(c) vs. The New Day |
| Tag team match for Raw Tag Team Championships | Bobby Roode & Dolph Ziggler(c) vs.
Braun Strowman & The Miz |
| Singles match for Raw Women's Championship | Becky Lynch(c) vs. Sasha Banks |
| Singles match (Kickoff) | Baron Corbin vs. Chad Gable |
The stage is set for the main event... Brock Lesnar challenging for the WWE Championship now. Kofi Kingston headed to the ring and sent both Big E and Xavier Woods to the back as he went down to conquer Lesnar, with Heyman in his corner, alone.
WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston(c) vs. Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman)Kofi Kingston was very resilient as he got hit with many suplexes and was thrown around the ring. Kingston rallied and hit a Boom Drop on Lesnar after a series of shots. Kofi then tries to hit a Trouble in Paradise, but Lesnar catches him with an F-5. Lesnar levels Kingston and makes the cover for the win.
winner and new WWE Champion: Brock Lesnar
Lesnar celebrates his eighth world title reign as the first Friday Night SmackDown on Fox comes to a close.
