Dragunov returns, Rhodes DQ, more

This week's "SmackDown" felt much similar a vale compared to the highest of past week. Not each amusement tin beryllium a location run, but we did spot a caller champion crowned, arsenic a returning Ilja Dragunov defeated Sami Zayn for the WWE United States Championship. Cody Rhodes showed a overmuch much assertive side, fed up with Drew McIntyre's antics. An impromptu Undisputed rubric lucifer broke retired aft Jacob Fatu was attacked backstage, which ended with Rhodes losing by disqualification aft hitting McIntyre with his rubric belt. Could this person been a infinitesimal to let McIntyre summation the triumph and the title amidst Cody's affectional rage and resulting carelessness?

.@DMcIntyreWWE wanted a lucifer truthful helium got one! 👊@CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/KYwpw6ctnC

Friday 'SmackDown' results

• Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss def. Zaria and Sol Ruca
• Ilja Dragunov def. Sami Zayn to go the caller U.S. champion
• Motor City Machine Guns def. Los Garza
• Drew McIntyre def. Cody Rhodes by DQ

Cody Rhodes, the heel?

There's NO stopping @CodyRhodes 😤 pic.twitter.com/2CwyT80Toe

We saw a much assertive broadside of Rhodes -- acheronian colors, utilizing the title arsenic a limb against McIntyre -- though it's apt due to the fact that helium is fed up with McIntyre's antics. But it was besides a tiny glimpse into what a bottommost Rhodes could look similar -- a anticipation ever connected the minds of immoderate WWE fans. But that seems improbable astatine the infinitesimal since Rhodes is successful enactment to instrumentality implicit each of the responsibilities arsenic the look of the WWE with John Cena retiring successful December. Though I tin decidedly spot antithetic sides of his character, I don't spot him becoming a full-fledged bottommost successful the adjacent future.

Other takeaways/storylines

What happened to Jacob Fatu?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/WX6aY82QIh

• There's unresolved beef betwixt McIntyre and Rhodes, and a No. 1 contender wasn't determined connected "SmackDown." Fatu had trussing pushed onto him successful a gruesome country that saw him connected the level backstage bleeding from the rima with teeth knocked out, incapable to vie successful the No. 1 contendership match. Fatu has been beardown successful his interactions with Rhodes and McIntyre, but if reports astir Fatu being injured are true, past helium tin decidedly measurement close backmost into the rubric representation upon his return.

• Dragunov returned to WWE enactment for the archetypal clip since suffering a torn ACL implicit a twelvemonth ago. He answered Sami Zayn's U.S. Title Open Challenge telephone and it was a terrific match. Solo Sikoa made his beingness felt during the lucifer and distracted Zayn conscionable capable for Dragunov to capitalize and deed a Torpedo Moscow followed by an H-Bomb to triumph the U.S. Championship. This lucifer served a batch of large purposes. We got the constituent of surprise, not lone due to the fact that of Dragunov's return, but his rubric triumph leads nicely into an eventual Zayn vs. Sikoa and the MFTs -- who attacked some Zayn and Dragunov postmatch. Zayn vs. Sikoa is simply a rivalry that doesn't needfully request a title connected the line. Rey Fenix tried to travel to assistance Zayn and Dragunov, but was flattened by Tama Tonga. This acceptable of events mightiness person planted the effect for the MFTs against this postulation of wrestlers they person attacked upon their instrumentality -- Zayn, Dragunov, Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamura and 1 more? The Wyatt Sicks are besides successful the mix, which gives the MFTs nary shortage of opponents, particularly for Survivor Series: WarGames connected Nov. 29.

.@UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR conscionable dethroned @SamiZayn!! 😱 pic.twitter.com/c8DsI8VsIy

• Zayn erstwhile a...