The WWE universe has arrived in Europe, spending all week on tour ahead of this weekend's main events in Berlin, Germany. Friday's episode of SmackDown is a precursor to Saturday's PLE, The Bash in Berlin as Paul Levesque continues his quest to grow the promotion internationally.
The SmackDown before a PLE is always promo heavy, but that might actually lend some insight into the coming days and weeks for the brand. At this point, the PLE only has five matches on the card, which seems light for their efforts to expand. There's no sign of any of The Bloodline at the moment, as Roman Reigns has yet to enter the ring since his return from hiatus. His return at SummerSlam was iconic in his first appearance since he lost the Undisputed title to Cody Rhodes and a return in a PLE would again blow the room off the arena.
How would that happen? The men's tag-team titles aren't on the line but are currently in possession of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, who defended them last week after Freebird rules cycled Jacob Fatu out. They beat the Street Profits through Fatu's interference and perhaps there's a rematch against them or DIY on deck that will be teased on Friday's show.
With a move to USA Network from FOX now just two weeks away, there could be some shakeups coming as well.
Date: Friday, August 30, 2024
Time: 8 pm ET
Location: Uber Arena, Berlin Germany
Broadcast: FOX
Match Results
LA Knight in-ring promo
Lemme talk to ya! Knight announces to the crowd it's been 27 years since WWE was in Berlin. Knight talked about defending his title for the first time in Washington DC and the Berlin crowd booed, which Knight told them not to. After a You Deserve It chant, he announced the LA Knight Invitational, an open call for an opponent... and of course Germany's own Ludwig Kaiser walks out for the open challenge. The crowd erupted into Lud-wig-Kai-Ser chants.
For the first time in recent memory, the crowd turned on Knight.
LA Knight (c) vs Ludwig Kaiser
The crowd remained electric as the two went back and forth to start off the match. A vicious clothesline from Knight led to a side suplex on the ring apron. Kaiser escaped the suplex and rammed Knight into the steps, before doing his ring run drop kick to the chest against the metal. Kaiser dominated through the commercial break, raining down punches back in the ring as the crowd erupted into song. Knight finally turned the tide, slamming Kaiser's head into the announcer's table and then landing a neck breaker back in the ring. An elbow from the turnbuckles got Knight a two-count. A huge kick by Kaiser almost got him the pin but Knight kicked out.
A power slam led to a BFT attempt but Kaiser slipped out and almost rolled him up. A standing clothesline and a running knee by Kaiser led to a Kaiser Roll and almost another pinfall. Knight escaped, landed a slam and heard boos before landing his BFT and earning the win by pinfall.
Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin vs Los Garza (Legado Del Fantasma)
No disrespect, Crews and Corbin are highly talented wrestlers, but without a gimmick all of their matches are filler. Los Garza looked to unveil their new finisher and won by pinfall, but blah.
Bloodline Promo
Solo Sikoa announced that it will be The Bloodline vs DIY and Street Profits next week on Smackdown, in a four-man tag match. Looks like the Bloodline really isn't going to wrestle at the PLE on Saturday. He also took the tie to tell both Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens that the winner of their match would be in his sights.
Nick Aldis in-ring Promo
Presentation of various WWE Live stops across the the Euro Tour that led to this weekend.
Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens Promo
The feud grows, and Rhodes asks Owens if he was really about to hit him until he turned around. Owens copped pleas, invoking Rhodes' dad and how they were close. Rhodes wasn't buying it, saying that he'd be mad about it to that they've been in the same rooms and Rhodes gets credit and Owens doesn't. Owens insists he doesn't need to cheap shot him because Rhodes' knee is hurt and he's not 100%. Owens started complaining about his reign being tainted by people thinking he didn't deserve to be the champ. Rhodes asks if after he beats him Saturday, will Owens still want to be his friend.
Owens slams the mic down and whispers something in Rhodes' ear before walking out the ring.
Carmelo Hayes vs Andrade
Seriously, how many times do we have to watch this matchup? Andrade is great, Hayes is a fantastic high flyer, but switch it up people. Clearly booked so they could give the German crowd some high flyers. Hayes wins by pinfall.
Nia Jax (c) vs Michin for WWE Women's Championship: Street Fight
Michin comes to the ring with a shopping cart of weapons and starts off with the kendo stick beatdown. Great concept for the size mismatch as Michin is a street-fight warrior and Jax is so overpowering. Great surprise when after Jax setup the table in the corner but Michin rose and sprayed her with a fire extinguisher. Beatdowns with trash can tops and then a DDT onto them almost had a pin win for Michin. Michin delays some as Jax recovered and then the tables came in play.
After Jax climbed to the second turnbuckle, Michin recovered and lifted Jax up to powerbomb her onto the table. All of a sudden, Tiffany Stratton races to the ring with the Money in the Bank contract briefcase. She beat Michin down and then turned ready to cash in for the championship shot but Jax came to and Stratton reversed course, going back to beating Michin.
Cue the music! Bayley races to the ring to take on Stratton as they spill into the crowd. Michin tried to attack but Jax scooped her up and slammed her into another table. Jax drags Michin to the corner, places the trash can over her head and crushes her with an Annihalator. Pinfall, championship retained. Incredible end to the show as Jax beats Michin into the end of the broadcast.