Tonight’s SmackDown kicked off with Grayson Waller and Austin Theory introducing WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who made his way to the ring. However, Waller interrupted Rhodes mid-entrance, insisting they won’t do things his way. Instead of Rhodes asking Washington what they want to talk about, Waller did it himself and started complaining that everything in WWE revolves around Rhodes, including “The Grayson Waller Effect”.
He accused Rhodes of being selfish, pointing out that Randy Orton and Kevin Owens have been beaten up multiple times because of him.
Rhodes asks if Waller is finished and clarified that Owens has been battling The Bloodline long before his involvement. He acknowledged that Owens has taken a beating but continues to fight and credited Owens for helping him become the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Cody then questioned Waller and Theory’s alliance, asking if it’s a genuine friendship or if Waller is merely using Theory. Rhodes directly told Theory that Waller is just using him and that they all are waiting for Theory to do something about it. The crowd cheered and Theory began thinking. This was WWE’s attempt to tease Theory’s babyface turn one more time.
Waller said Theory is his tag team partner and they are good friends. Waller then showed a video of all the “friends” Owens has betrayed in the past, including Sami Zayn, John Cena, Chris Jericho (who currently works in AEW), Kofi Kingston, and Zayn again.
Kevin Owens came out and stated he couldn’t stay in the back any longer. He acknowledged that Rhodes can likely admit that everyone he’s betrayed deserved it, except for Kingston.
He pointed out that he and Rhodes have never had that kind of relationship and suggested skipping the physical confrontation that would lead to a tag team match. Owens called out Nick Aldis and asked him to set up a tag team match between A-Town Down Under and himself & Rhodes, which Aldis booked as the main event.
Owens then asked if he has time to get in the ring and beat down Waller and Theory. Aldis told him to make it quick, leading to Owens and Rhodes attacking A-Town Down Under. Owens tried to hit a Stunner on Waller, but Waller avoided it by pushing Owens into Rhodes, thus knocking Rhodes down. Cody wasn’t happy about this.
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