SmackDown Recap and Reactions (Oct. 4, 2024): The Bloodline are big again

When Friday night SmackDown Opening this week, we were quickly informed that the main event would be the Triple Threat Ladder Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Because of course it would be. The defending bloodline gold takes the top spot, no matter what else is on the card.

When it was time for the main event, they did the long one-on-one shot as the group walked to the ring. Jacob Fatu had to do a promo on the side, and you know?

There really is every reason to believe that this is the guy somewhere in the future.

When Solo Sikoa looked directly into the camera and demanded that we acknowledge him, he just came across…I don't know…less. But I was also at least a little angry that we still have to deal with this imposter playing this role.

He is not my tribal chief.

(You really got me, y'all. I love it.)

The ensuing match was a lot of fun and about as good a ladder match as you could expect considering the time constraints and that it was a TV main event and not a match on a major one PLE. Montez Ford in particular did his best and took a few rough bumps.

The conclusion was creative as DIY and the Profits came together to defeat Tonga & Loa before ultimately being unable to prevent each other from eliminating each other on their path to glory. This was done really well to protect everyone in the game while keeping the titles where they are. After all, the Bloodline has long been as much about opportunism as it is about complete dominance.

The tank keeps rolling.

Speaking of which, they promised a look at Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns taking on Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu and gave us very little in that regard. Given the production value of the various vignettes and cinematic videos they provided us, I was expecting something cool. Well, yes.

We head out to see how bad the blood really is in Atlanta.

They had a country artist named Hardy opening the show this week, and he was tasked with introducing us to AJ Styles, who was making his big comeback after a few months away. In what way did he do this?

“Please welcome the phenomenal forearm!”

Secure.

Styles was greeted with chants and cheers, and he responded with pure excitement, shouting to the Nashville faithful, “I love you!” He seemed genuinely happy to be there!

He immediately came out and said it – he missed everyone very much. He regrets a lot of things he's done in the past, but he won't even bother to talk about it. Instead, he will focus on rebuilding AJ Styles' legacy and reminding everyone that this is still the house that AJ Styles built.

Cue Carmelo Hayes.

He called himself a fan of Styles and even mentioned that he was announcing the signing of a Legends contract, but he wanted to talk about himself. Instead, AJ took the time to defeat US champion LA Knight. Hayes stopped him by telling him that he didn't take advice from “quitters.”

“If you were HIM, you’d be US champions right now, right?”

Nashville responded with a “He’s not HIM!” chant. Brilliantly done.

Styles offered a match, because that's what we're here for, after all, and when Carmelo declined, the megastar came on stage. Knight didn't spare Styles despite how nice he was, saying he was basically a liar for acting like he was going to retire and then come back anyway.

Secure.

Meanwhile, he began a tirade that eventually led to him promising that Hayes would secure the US title if he could defeat Styles now. A referee ran in and off we went!

They gave them plenty of time, several commercial breaks, and then ended the match when Styles sold his knee enough. He acted terribly angry and they shot the doctor who talked to him after Robinson canceled. They even made sure it was announced, with Hayes being named the winner.

Well, this was supposed to be announced, but Knight jumped in the ring and hit him with a BFT. This felt very much like an angle, especially given the way they shot it, and like they just wanted to give Hayes a win without Styles having to suffer any kind of pinfall or submission loss.

I didn't like that. It immediately felt like they brought Styles back without knowing what to do with him.

He was later examined and we were told he had an ankle injury. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Meanwhile, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis didn't want to give Hayes a title shot given the nature of the win.

Because of course.

Ultimately they left everything open. I didn't like anything about it.

Everything else

• It won't surprise you that the dumpster match between Michin and Chelsea Green was a lot of fun, including a brutal scene where Michin hit a senton on Green while Chelsea had a garbage can over his head. It looked brutal! Despite the requirement, fans were still just clamoring for tables. So they gave them what they wanted and set one up on the other side of the dumpster. Michin then hit a jumping powerbomb from the apron right through it and then closed the lid to win the match. We thank Chelsea for her willingness to give her best in every game she is involved in.
• Bayley called women's champion Nia Jax to the ring because she wanted to tell her something. Bayley told her that she never cared about the title like so many others, but that she is making a run as one of the most dominant women in history. But she's one of two people who can take the title away from Nia – and the second is Tiffany Stratton, thanks to her Money in the Bank contract. Stratton pushed back against the idea that she could only win because of the contract, but before another argument could ensue, Tiffy turned on Bayley again, hilariously calling her “Pam.” The names of the shoots flew! Bayley ended up calling her a “stupid bitch” to be a big pop, before Bayley used the briefcase to lay Jax down and hang the title over her stomach. Stratton got back in the ring, saw this and again considered taking advantage. And then Jax turned around like he always did and nothing happened. Fans chanted “Cash it in,” and the message was clear: It’s happening sooner rather than later.
• Shortly after this segment, Naomi scored a roll-up win over Stratton after a pretty decent TV match. This is consistent with the assumption that Tiffy Time is coming soon. Fittingly, there was a backstage segment in which Jax told her supposed girlfriend to think about taking the women's world title and to promise never to betray her. Stratton did it, but again it's clear what's coming.

The two big matches were fun, but this was a strange show and I really didn't like how they handled Styles' return.

Grade: C-

It's your turn.