Summer begins to heat up as SmackDown's main event scene takes center stage. John Cena and Daniel Bryan conclude their months long rivalry in an epic 30 minute Iron Man match, plus Johnny Gargano gets the opportunity of a lifetime as he challenges Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship. All that and much more tonight as the blue brand prepares for the Biggest Party of the Summer!
And now, SmackDown presents......................The Bash!
Bobby Roode vs Samoa Joe
If Bobby Roode was to win this match, it would have to be with strategy, and early on, Roode had Samoa Joe well scouted. "The Glorious One" stayed one step ahead of Joe for the opening few minutes, but it wasn't enough to keep Joe on the back foot. Joe hit back with a vicious forearms, and turned the match into a physical affair. Roode took a nasty uranage from Joe, but just stayed alive after executing a slick counter to escape the Coquina Clutch. Roode nearly shocked the world after hitting Joe with a Glorious DDT, but Joe powered out at two, sights set on capturing the Money in the Bank briefcase. Joe dumped Roode to the floor, and stared hungrily at the briefcase. But Joe's loss of concentration cost him, as Roode hit another Glorious DDT, this time on the floor! Roode grabbed his briefcase and rolled back into the ring, taunting the fans as a delirious Joe couldn't recover in time to re-enter the ring and was counted out.
Winner: Bobby Roode
The Balor Club vs The New Day
Kofi Kingston was on fire for The New Day early on, as even the power of Luke Gallows wasn't enough to slow Kofi down. The Balor Club largely kept their leader out of the match, as Gallows and Anderson did all the heavy lifting, but eventually, they needed Finn tagged in, as he has beaten Kofi in the past. Unfortunately for Balor, he ended up on the receiving end of the Unicorn Stampede, as Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods went wild. Gallows and Anderson just managed to save their leader from taking the pinfall, and all three men regrouped on the outside. Deciding on a new course of action, Balor, Gallows and Anderson now began working more as a unit than individuals. It paid off, as they managed to take out Woods and Kingston with double and triple team offense, leaving Big E on his own. Although Big E held his own with eye popping power, it wasn't enough to defeat three former champions at once, as E fell to the Magic Killer.
Winners: The Balor Club
Ember Moon(c) vs Sasha Banks- SmackDown Women's Championship Match
After the backstage assault by Sasha and Bayley a few weeks ago, Ember Moon was fired up and all over Banks early on. Although Banks looked to keep up with Moon's aggressive striking, it was clear the champion had the advantage. So Sasha went a more technical route, wearing down Ember's back with a surfboard stretch and spiking Ember's neck into the canvas with a sit-out straight jacket neckbreaker. Banks fought to apply the Bank Statement, but Moon fought even harder to find the ropes, as the match reached the closing stages. Moon connected with her wheelbarrow stunner, and the path to victory was clear. But as Ember looked for the Eclipse, Bayley, who was at ringside to show her support, finally got involved. As Sasha distracted the ref, Bayley shoved the champion off the top rope, as Ember landed hard on her injured back. The challenger quickly took advantage, applying the Bank Statement for a second time, and Moon, clearly in severe agony, was forced to tap!
Winner and the NEW SmackDown Women's Champion: Sasha Banks
The Dream Team(c) vs The War Raiders- SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
Dolph Ziggler was the undisputed MVP of this match for the champions, as "The Show-Off" put forth an incredible performance. Hanson and Rowe were able to limit the mobility of Drew McIntyre with frequent double team moves, but Ziggler used his athleticism and technical wrestling to stay one step ahead. Ziggler wiped out Rowe with a Zig-Zag, leaving Hanson to tag himself in. While the "Warbeard" had the clear advantage in size, Ziggler took the bigger man apart with rights and lefts, eventually opening Hanson wide open. McIntyre took care of a recovering Rowe with a Future Shock DDT, before tagging in to hit the Endless Nightmare(Zig-Zag/Claymore combo) to retain their titles.
Winners and still SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Dream Team
Chad Gable(c) vs Matt Hardy- Intercontinental Championship Match
This championship match was worked at a very slow pace early on, with both men exchanging a lot of strikes and feeling each other out. This pace seemed to suit Matt Hardy a little bit more, and very soon, Chad Gable was forced to switch up his gameplan. Gable planted Hardy with a springboard crossbody, then hit a beautiful moonsault for a near fall. Gable took down Hardy with a hurricanrana, and the challenger rolled to the floor while the champion took a chance. Gable got a running start, and flew through the air with a Tope con Hilo...........but missed! Hardy got out of the way, and rolled Gable back into the ring. Quickly, the "Woken One" capitalized, hitting the Twist of Fate! Gable narrowly kicked out before three, and used his incredible stamina to go back on the attack. A rolling wheel kick knocked Matt Hardy loopy, and Gable finished off the veteran challenger with the Chaos Theory.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Chad Gable
Daniel Bryan vs John Cena- Iron Man Match
Eager to prove that his match choice was the correct one, Daniel Bryan was all over John Cena in the first few minutes. Nothing Cena did could get him enough separation to recover, and Bryan blasted Cena in the face with the Busaiku Knee to score the first fall, just four minutes in! With the fans in Colorado Springs besides themselves, Bryan continued to go to work, knowing the job was far from finished. Bryan worked over the arms and head of Cena, preparing to apply the LaBell Lock for the second fall. The gameplan worked perfectly, as a dazed and stunned Cena was taken down to the mat, and the LaBell Lock was in! But in one fluid motion, perhaps off of pure instinct, Cena powered his way free, lifted Bryan onto his shoulders and hit the F-U! Out of nowhere, Cena evened up the score! "The Doctor of Thuganomics" was now in control, torturing Bryan on the outside as the clock ticked down to 15 minutes. Cena sent Bryan back first into the barricade, then slammed Bryan onto the apron, gut and midsection first. Cena then pulled out a new move, hitting Bryan with an Emerald Flowsion and following up with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena lifted Bryan to the top rope, taunting the fans as he looked for the second fall. But as Cena prepared to hit the avalanche F-U, Bryan came to life, and spiked Cena to the canvas with a frankensteiner! Bryan now had a 2-1 lead with 12 minutes to go. Looking to get the decisive lead, Bryan went for another Busaiku Knee, but at the last second, Cena pulled the ref into harm's way! With the official down, Cena sent Bryan to the mat with a low blow, before blasting the "American Dragon" with his steel chain. As the ref recovered, Cena hit another F-U, and both men were even with two falls apiece. After counting the fall, the ref discovered the chain, and confronted Cena about it, giving Bryan time to recover. Both men went into a strike exchange that spilled back out to the floor with 5 minutes to go. Cena looked to put Bryan through the announce table with a third F-U, but Bryan fought his way free with elbows, and laid Cena across the table with a roundhouse kick! Up top, Bryan leapt for a big elbow drop..................but missed! Cena rolled Bryan back in the ring, and hit two F-Us in succession! With 90 seconds on the clock, Cena slowly made the cover, smirking as he knew that this match was all but over. But at the last possible second, Daniel Bryan kicked out! Cena was beside himself, threatening the official with his chain.............and Bryan rolled Cena up with a small package! Bryan smoothly transitioned through the pinfall and into the LaBell Lock! 30 seconds left! Cena desperately fought for the ropes, but Bryan pulled him to the center of the ring! Finally, with 5 seconds left, John Cena was in too much pain, too much agony, and tapped out! Daniel Bryan is going to Summerslam!
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Sami Zayn(c) vs Johnny Gargano- WWE Championship Match
This match was the complete anti-thesis to Cena vs Bryan, as both Johnny Gargano and Sami Zayn came out of the blocks swinging, making it obvious this wasn't going to be a long championship fight. Gargano connected early on with a superkick and an avalanche falcon arrow, but Zayn traded back with a twisting arm drag and a step-up dropkick that sent Gargano to the outside. Sami gave Johnny no quarter, quickly hitting the ropes and connecting with a Tope con Hilo! Zayn attempted the Blue Thunder Bomb but Gargano countered with an arm drag of his own! Another superkick from Gargano! Gargano retreated to the corner, measuring Zayn up, and hit a third superkick! As the champion lay motionless on the canvas, the Gargano Escape was applied! The fans were split, as the noise level rose with everyone cheering on champion and challenger. With championship resolve, Sami Zayn slowly fought his way free. Zayn stumbled into the corner, and Gargano knew the end was near. He lifted Sami up, looking to hit the Lawn Dart. Zayn again escaped, and delivered a nasty uppercut that now sent Gargano stumbling into the corner. Quick as a whip, Zayn nailed Gargano with the Helluva Kick! 1...................2.............but Johnny Gargano kicked out! The crowd cheered the heart of "Johnny Wrestling", but Zayn would not give up his title that easily. He lifted a still dazed Gargano to the top rope, and spiked him off the top turnbuckle with a brainbuster! Another cover! 1.................2.........................3.
Winner and still WWE Champion: Sami Zayn
Want to follow the series, but missed a few posts? No problem! Check out my Universe Mode Wiki, constantly updated to keep you up to speed with the latest Universe Mode happenings.
And now, SmackDown presents......................The Bash!
Universe Mode
The Bash
July 14th, 2019
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
The Bash 2019 Theme Song- "Diamond Eyes"- Shinedown
If Bobby Roode was to win this match, it would have to be with strategy, and early on, Roode had Samoa Joe well scouted. "The Glorious One" stayed one step ahead of Joe for the opening few minutes, but it wasn't enough to keep Joe on the back foot. Joe hit back with a vicious forearms, and turned the match into a physical affair. Roode took a nasty uranage from Joe, but just stayed alive after executing a slick counter to escape the Coquina Clutch. Roode nearly shocked the world after hitting Joe with a Glorious DDT, but Joe powered out at two, sights set on capturing the Money in the Bank briefcase. Joe dumped Roode to the floor, and stared hungrily at the briefcase. But Joe's loss of concentration cost him, as Roode hit another Glorious DDT, this time on the floor! Roode grabbed his briefcase and rolled back into the ring, taunting the fans as a delirious Joe couldn't recover in time to re-enter the ring and was counted out.
Winner: Bobby Roode
The Balor Club vs The New Day
Kofi Kingston was on fire for The New Day early on, as even the power of Luke Gallows wasn't enough to slow Kofi down. The Balor Club largely kept their leader out of the match, as Gallows and Anderson did all the heavy lifting, but eventually, they needed Finn tagged in, as he has beaten Kofi in the past. Unfortunately for Balor, he ended up on the receiving end of the Unicorn Stampede, as Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods went wild. Gallows and Anderson just managed to save their leader from taking the pinfall, and all three men regrouped on the outside. Deciding on a new course of action, Balor, Gallows and Anderson now began working more as a unit than individuals. It paid off, as they managed to take out Woods and Kingston with double and triple team offense, leaving Big E on his own. Although Big E held his own with eye popping power, it wasn't enough to defeat three former champions at once, as E fell to the Magic Killer.
Winners: The Balor Club
Ember Moon(c) vs Sasha Banks- SmackDown Women's Championship Match
After the backstage assault by Sasha and Bayley a few weeks ago, Ember Moon was fired up and all over Banks early on. Although Banks looked to keep up with Moon's aggressive striking, it was clear the champion had the advantage. So Sasha went a more technical route, wearing down Ember's back with a surfboard stretch and spiking Ember's neck into the canvas with a sit-out straight jacket neckbreaker. Banks fought to apply the Bank Statement, but Moon fought even harder to find the ropes, as the match reached the closing stages. Moon connected with her wheelbarrow stunner, and the path to victory was clear. But as Ember looked for the Eclipse, Bayley, who was at ringside to show her support, finally got involved. As Sasha distracted the ref, Bayley shoved the champion off the top rope, as Ember landed hard on her injured back. The challenger quickly took advantage, applying the Bank Statement for a second time, and Moon, clearly in severe agony, was forced to tap!
Winner and the NEW SmackDown Women's Champion: Sasha Banks
The Dream Team(c) vs The War Raiders- SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match
Dolph Ziggler was the undisputed MVP of this match for the champions, as "The Show-Off" put forth an incredible performance. Hanson and Rowe were able to limit the mobility of Drew McIntyre with frequent double team moves, but Ziggler used his athleticism and technical wrestling to stay one step ahead. Ziggler wiped out Rowe with a Zig-Zag, leaving Hanson to tag himself in. While the "Warbeard" had the clear advantage in size, Ziggler took the bigger man apart with rights and lefts, eventually opening Hanson wide open. McIntyre took care of a recovering Rowe with a Future Shock DDT, before tagging in to hit the Endless Nightmare(Zig-Zag/Claymore combo) to retain their titles.
Winners and still SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Dream Team
Chad Gable(c) vs Matt Hardy- Intercontinental Championship Match
This championship match was worked at a very slow pace early on, with both men exchanging a lot of strikes and feeling each other out. This pace seemed to suit Matt Hardy a little bit more, and very soon, Chad Gable was forced to switch up his gameplan. Gable planted Hardy with a springboard crossbody, then hit a beautiful moonsault for a near fall. Gable took down Hardy with a hurricanrana, and the challenger rolled to the floor while the champion took a chance. Gable got a running start, and flew through the air with a Tope con Hilo...........but missed! Hardy got out of the way, and rolled Gable back into the ring. Quickly, the "Woken One" capitalized, hitting the Twist of Fate! Gable narrowly kicked out before three, and used his incredible stamina to go back on the attack. A rolling wheel kick knocked Matt Hardy loopy, and Gable finished off the veteran challenger with the Chaos Theory.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Chad Gable
Daniel Bryan vs John Cena- Iron Man Match
Eager to prove that his match choice was the correct one, Daniel Bryan was all over John Cena in the first few minutes. Nothing Cena did could get him enough separation to recover, and Bryan blasted Cena in the face with the Busaiku Knee to score the first fall, just four minutes in! With the fans in Colorado Springs besides themselves, Bryan continued to go to work, knowing the job was far from finished. Bryan worked over the arms and head of Cena, preparing to apply the LaBell Lock for the second fall. The gameplan worked perfectly, as a dazed and stunned Cena was taken down to the mat, and the LaBell Lock was in! But in one fluid motion, perhaps off of pure instinct, Cena powered his way free, lifted Bryan onto his shoulders and hit the F-U! Out of nowhere, Cena evened up the score! "The Doctor of Thuganomics" was now in control, torturing Bryan on the outside as the clock ticked down to 15 minutes. Cena sent Bryan back first into the barricade, then slammed Bryan onto the apron, gut and midsection first. Cena then pulled out a new move, hitting Bryan with an Emerald Flowsion and following up with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena lifted Bryan to the top rope, taunting the fans as he looked for the second fall. But as Cena prepared to hit the avalanche F-U, Bryan came to life, and spiked Cena to the canvas with a frankensteiner! Bryan now had a 2-1 lead with 12 minutes to go. Looking to get the decisive lead, Bryan went for another Busaiku Knee, but at the last second, Cena pulled the ref into harm's way! With the official down, Cena sent Bryan to the mat with a low blow, before blasting the "American Dragon" with his steel chain. As the ref recovered, Cena hit another F-U, and both men were even with two falls apiece. After counting the fall, the ref discovered the chain, and confronted Cena about it, giving Bryan time to recover. Both men went into a strike exchange that spilled back out to the floor with 5 minutes to go. Cena looked to put Bryan through the announce table with a third F-U, but Bryan fought his way free with elbows, and laid Cena across the table with a roundhouse kick! Up top, Bryan leapt for a big elbow drop..................but missed! Cena rolled Bryan back in the ring, and hit two F-Us in succession! With 90 seconds on the clock, Cena slowly made the cover, smirking as he knew that this match was all but over. But at the last possible second, Daniel Bryan kicked out! Cena was beside himself, threatening the official with his chain.............and Bryan rolled Cena up with a small package! Bryan smoothly transitioned through the pinfall and into the LaBell Lock! 30 seconds left! Cena desperately fought for the ropes, but Bryan pulled him to the center of the ring! Finally, with 5 seconds left, John Cena was in too much pain, too much agony, and tapped out! Daniel Bryan is going to Summerslam!
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Sami Zayn(c) vs Johnny Gargano- WWE Championship Match
This match was the complete anti-thesis to Cena vs Bryan, as both Johnny Gargano and Sami Zayn came out of the blocks swinging, making it obvious this wasn't going to be a long championship fight. Gargano connected early on with a superkick and an avalanche falcon arrow, but Zayn traded back with a twisting arm drag and a step-up dropkick that sent Gargano to the outside. Sami gave Johnny no quarter, quickly hitting the ropes and connecting with a Tope con Hilo! Zayn attempted the Blue Thunder Bomb but Gargano countered with an arm drag of his own! Another superkick from Gargano! Gargano retreated to the corner, measuring Zayn up, and hit a third superkick! As the champion lay motionless on the canvas, the Gargano Escape was applied! The fans were split, as the noise level rose with everyone cheering on champion and challenger. With championship resolve, Sami Zayn slowly fought his way free. Zayn stumbled into the corner, and Gargano knew the end was near. He lifted Sami up, looking to hit the Lawn Dart. Zayn again escaped, and delivered a nasty uppercut that now sent Gargano stumbling into the corner. Quick as a whip, Zayn nailed Gargano with the Helluva Kick! 1...................2.............but Johnny Gargano kicked out! The crowd cheered the heart of "Johnny Wrestling", but Zayn would not give up his title that easily. He lifted a still dazed Gargano to the top rope, and spiked him off the top turnbuckle with a brainbuster! Another cover! 1.................2.........................3.
Winner and still WWE Champion: Sami Zayn
Want to follow the series, but missed a few posts? No problem! Check out my Universe Mode Wiki, constantly updated to keep you up to speed with the latest Universe Mode happenings.
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