'SmackDown' takeaways: Surprise returns, twists kick off WWE in Australia

The magnitude of high-profile matches connected this occurrence of "SmackDown" surely made the paper consciousness much similar "Crown Jewel Night 1," and the Perth, Australia, assemblage appreciated it.

The fans got astonishing returns, twists and turns, including Shinsuke Nakamura backmost successful the ringing for the archetypal clip since mid-June and Tama Tonga rejoining The MFT for the archetypal clip since Wrestlemania 41. Zelina Vega besides climbed retired of the RAC Center assemblage to power the effect of the Last Man Standing main lawsuit lucifer betwixt Aleister Black and Damian Priest.

Friday 'SmackDown' results

• Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura ends successful a no-contest (Men's United States Championship
• Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton def. Giulia and Kiana James
• The Wyatt Sicks def. The Street Profits (Tag Team Championship)
• Aleister Black def. Damian Priest

A budding rivalry ignites the night

After weeks of build-up, we yet got a lucifer betwixt Black and Priest. The Last Man Standing designation means the lucifer ends lone erstwhile 1 wrestler cannot get up earlier the referee counts to 10, and the bout decidedly delivered connected its committedness of endurance. Black won aft his woman (and erstwhile NXT antagonist) Zelina Vega shifted done the assemblage and climbed implicit a barricade to kneel successful beforehand of Priest, urging him to person mercy connected her husband. Vega distracted Priest agelong capable for Black to acceptable a fireball that helium threw into Priest's face, sending him crashing done a table.

This rivalry surely isn't implicit and I'm glad, due to the fact that it was an entertaining lucifer I'd emotion to spot much of. The lone question is, wherever does the WWE spell aft a Last Man Standing lucifer -- Hell successful a Cell?

More 'SmackDown' takeaways

•Nakamura made a astonishment instrumentality erstwhile helium answered Zayn's unfastened telephone to anyone who wanted to situation for his United States Championship. Nakamura was controlling a terrific match, erstwhile it was derailed by a masked man, who turned retired to beryllium Tama Tonga, returning aft six months away. Suddenly, The MFT contingent of Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo and Talla Tonga had the ringing surrounded. They began attacking Zayn and Nakamura arsenic their leader, Solo Sikoa, looked on. Though the U.S. rubric unfastened situation has been a large conveyance to found caller stars (such arsenic Je'Von Evans) and showcase highly entertaining matches, having a faction similar The MFT progressive means a antithetic household subordinate tin situation Zayn each week connected "SmackDown" -- starting with Sikoa.

•The MFT weren't done there. They confronted The Wyatt Sicks aft Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy successfully defended their tag squad title against The Street Profits, who whitethorn not beryllium a tag squad overmuch longer aft they mislaid to The Sicks again. MFT made it wide they person eyes connected the tag squad champions, and WWE commentator Michael Cole stressed the constituent during the broadcast, saying "I shudder to deliberation what could hap if these 2 groups meet." A collision betwixt these 2 factions could beryllium a cleanable Survivor Series match.

• Drew McIntyre attacked Jacob Fatu backstage aft Fatu told Cody Rhodes he'd similar a aboriginal satellite rubric shot, to which Rhodes replied, "Good." McIntyre vs. Fatu is large for some involved. For Fatu, a triumph implicit specified an indomitable WWE endowment arsenic McIntyre volition lone further cement him successful the satellite rubric conversation. McIntyre, connected the different hand, is astir untouchable and tin beryllium a satellite champion astatine immoderate time.