WWE SmackDown: Karrion Kross returns with message for Reigns

By Ryan Satin
FOX Sports activities WWE Analyst 

Karrion Kross stunned the wrestling world with a return to WWE on SmackDown — and he had a message for Roman Reigns.

First, right here’s a rundown of the match outcomes:

— Ricochet defeated Joyful Corbin by way of pinfall on account of Corbin being distracted by Pat McAfee on the announcer’s desk 

— Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Ludwig Kaiser by way of pinfall 

— Shayna Baszler earned a SmackDown girls’s title shot after profitable a Gauntlet match that included Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, Aliyah, Xia Li, Natalya and Sonya Deville 

— The Viking Raiders received a Squash match over native expertise 

— Kofi Kingston defeated Erik by way of roll-up pinfall 

Second of the evening: Karrion Kross and Scarlett are again

Karrion Kross returns as Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre face one another on SmackDown

Roman Reigns returned to Friday Evening SmackDown after defeating Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam in probably the most brutal matches in WWE historical past. The Common Champion addressed Drew McIntyre earlier than Karrion Kross made his surprising return.

One other enormous coup initially of the Triple H period.

Kross and Scarlett by no means ought to’ve been launched within the first place. 

Even with an preliminary disastrous debut that was out of his management, Karrion Kross nonetheless oozes credibility and calls for consideration on-screen. He is somebody you may construct a complete model round.

The best way he was introduced out on SmackDown this week is a a lot better strategy to make that occur.

Attacking Drew McIntyre and sending a message to Roman Reigns with the hourglass made you overlook concerning the foolish outfit from final 12 months and as an alternative deal with the truth that he is a monster. 

Strikes reminiscent of this from Triple H are creating pleasure across the product once more and regaining belief from the fanbase. Kudos throughout.

Match of the evening: Ricochet vs. Joyful Corbin 

Ricochet is among the most spectacular wrestlers on the earth. A attainable renewed push on the horizon offers me hope in his WWE future.

A win over Joyful Corbin, even on account of distraction from McAfee, is a step in the best path.

Hopefully he can proceed to rack up significant wins once more.

Further highlights: 

WWE introduced that beginning on Uncooked this week, there will likely be a match to crown new Girls’s Tag Workforce champions.

No groups have been introduced but, and it’s unclear at the moment the place the scenario stands between WWE and former champs Sasha Banks/Naomi.

Shayna Baszler earns an opportunity at Liv Morgan in a high-stakes Gauntlet Match | WWE on FOX

Raquel Rodriguez, Aliyah, Shotzi, Xia Li, Shayna Baszler, Natalya and Sonya Deville battled it out in a high-stakes Gauntlet Match for the chance to problem Liv Morgan for the SmackDown Girls’s Title at WWE Conflict of the Citadel.

Shayna Baszler incomes a title shot at Conflict of the Citadel was one other W for followers of NXT 1.0 watching the present.

Kross, Ricochet and Baszler all had nice runs in NXT when it was run by Triple H. The potential of related positioning in WWE with “The Recreation” as head of artistic could be very promising.

As for Shayna and Liv, I’m wanting ahead to seeing how Ronda Rousey components into the story. 

Will the previous champion assist her pal? Or will she be extra centered on regaining the title herself? Time will inform.

For a segment-by-segment breakdown of the present, take heed to the SmackDown Roundup podcast within the “Out of Character” feed on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Don’t overlook to comply with all of your favourite WWE Superstars and reveals within the FOX Sports activities app to obtain alerts on what they’re doing and extra!

Ryan Satin is a WWE analyst for FOX Sports activities. Satin beforehand appeared on FS1’s “WWE Backstage” and based Professional Wrestling Sheet, the place he broke numerous information tales as editor-in-chief.

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