Still to come, Alexa Bliss talks to Nikki Cross. Back to commercial. We go back to the stage for “A Moment of Bliss” with Alexa Bliss. She welcomes us and says normally tonight’s special guest would be in the co-host seat with her. She goes on and introduces Nikki Cross. Out she comes dancing around and Bliss is all smiles. The announcers show us how Bliss used Bray Wyatt’s Sister Abigail move on Cross last week during the Fatal 4 Way, which Cross won to become the new #1 contender to SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley for a match at Clash of Champions.

Bliss congratulates Cross and says she’s so happy for her. Cross thanks her. Bliss says but we know what the show is about, and she has no filter, so she has to ask the questions the fans want to know. She asks what Cross’ plan for the match is, noting that it has to be different because Cross lost to Bayley for most of the summer, and hasn’t defeated her since last year. Cross goes on about how this match will be different. Bayley no longer has Sasha Banks watching her back, so now Cross can focus on giving her a beating. Cross talks about how Bayley was so proud to hit her with a steel chair last week. Cross addresses the camera and warns Bayley that she will take the title from her at Clash of Champions. Cross asks if that answers the question and it does. Cross asks Bliss what’s gotten into her now. She asks about Bliss walking off after the Sister Abigail last week. Bliss doesn’t know how to explain it because she doesn’t fully understand it. She feels like some kind of change but she doesn’t know how to handle it… the music interrupts and out comes Lacey Evans.

Evans taunts them both and says Cross only won last week because Bliss walking out put Evans off her game. She keeps mocking Cross and says she will never beat Bayley because she has something Cross never will have – a mean streak. She says Cross is too nice, too short, too weak, and damn sure has no backbone. Cross grabs Evans’ handkerchief and blows her nose with it, saying she’s not too nice. Evans goes to pick it back up but Cross kicks her and attacks her. They brawl on the stage and the ramp. Evans gets the upperhand and they head to the ring as we go to commercial.

Lacey Evans vs. Nikki Cross

Back from the break and Alexa Bliss is on commentary as Lacey Evans and Nikki Cross get ready in the ring. Evans goes to ringside to apply hand sanitizer to stall. Cross ends up attacking to get the action going. Evans turns it around as they get to their feet in the ring.

Cross gets on Evans’ back and ends up dropping her near the corner for a 2 count. They tangle on the mat some and Cross covers for 2. Evans counters and drops a big knee on Cross’ elbow while she’s down. Evans with another big knee to the elbow. Evans works Cross over in the corner as the referee warns her now. Cross fights out but Evans beats her up in the corner some more, dropping her with a shot to the ribs. Evans wraps the hurt arm around the middle rope as the referee warns her again.

Evans with a big boot in the corner, then a Bronco Buster for a 2 count. Evans goes on and blocks Cross’ offense, then grounds her in the middle of the ring again. Cross fights up and out but Evans takes her right back down and continues to focus on the arm. Evans continues to dominate as Cross tries to fight back. Cross clutches her hurt arm but Cross keeps the attack coming. Evans with a standing moonsault for another 2 count.

Evans grabs her hand sanitizer and rubs it all over Cross’ face and hair while holding her down. Cross gets upset and fights back, dropping Evans in the middle of the ring. Cross with a splash in the corner. Cross unloads with forearm shots. Cross catapults Evans across the ring. Evans grabs Cross but Cross stomps on her arm. Cross ends up hitting the big tornado DDT from the corner. Cross holds it and hits the neckbreaker off the top rope for the pin to win.

Winner: Nikki Cross

After the match, Cross stands tall as the music hits. Bliss says Cross is her best friend. Cross celebrates in the ring and Bliss cheers her on. Cross heads to the back while Evans stumbles out of the ring, pulling herself up at the announce table. Evans yells at Graves and Cole now. Bliss stares off into space but slowly gets up and comes over to Evans. With the distant look in her eyes like last week, Bliss grabs Evans and drops her with Sister Abigail at ringside. Cole points to how Evans said “The Fiend” in her rant right before Bliss snapped. Bliss walks off with the thousand-yard stare.

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Still to come, Bayley will address last week’s attack on Sasha Banks. Also, there will be a Fatal 4 Way with Alexa Bliss vs. Nikki Cross vs. Lacey Evans vs. Tamina Snuka to determine Bayley’s Clash of Champions opponent.

#1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Nikki Cross vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Tamina Snuka vs. Lacey Evans

Bayley is making her exit when Nikki Cross comes out for the Fatal 4 Way. The winner will challenge Bayley for her SmackDown Women’s Title at Clash of Champions. Cross heads down the ramp past Bayley but Bayley suddenly lays her out with a steel chair shot over the back. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and Alexa Bliss is at ringside with a medic checking on Cross. Cross says she’s ready to go. Lacey Evans makes her entrance next. She tosses part of her entrance attire on Cross and Bliss stands up for her friend. Tamina Snuka is waiting in the ring. The bell rings and Bliss kicks Evans while Snuka attacks Cross, sending her to the floor. Evans drops Bliss for a 2 count.

Evans sends Bliss into a big boot from Snuka. Evans and Snuka tangle now with Evans in control from the apron. Evans kicks Snuka’s leg out and launches herself over the top rope but misses a stomp. Snuka with a big headbutt to Evans as Bliss comes back in and drops them both. Bliss works them both over with offense for a pop. Bliss drops double knees on Evans but comes up to a clothesline from Snuka. Snuka with a suplex to Evans for a 2 count as Bliss breaks it up.

Bliss and Snuka have words. Snuka overpowers but Bliss fights out. Bliss dodges a kick but Snuka keeps trying and then levels her with a big kick. Snuka keeps control and hits a splash in the corner to Bliss. Evans comes back over and rakes Snuka’s face over the top rope. Snuka ends up kicking Evans in the gut to send her to the outside. Snuka works Bliss over in the corner while she’s down but Cross jumps on Snuka’s back. Snuka sends her to the mat. Cross keeps fighting Snuka and dropkicks her knee out. Cross drops Snuka with a clothesline now for a 2 count.

Cross knocks Snuka off the apron next to Evans. Bliss ends up dropping Evans and Snuka on the floor. Cross leaps off the apron with a crossbody, taking Evans and Snuka down. Bliss turns her attention to Cross at ringside, apparently helping her friend up, but out of nowhere drops her with a Sister Abigail in front of the announcers. We go to commercial.

Back from the break and Evans fights Snuka off from the apron. Evans drops Snuka’s neck over the top rope and keeps fighting from the apron. Evans launches herself over the top rope with an elbow drop for another 2 count. Evans goes to the second rope in the corner but Snuka yanks her off, face-first into the turnbuckles. Evans sends Snuka into the turnbuckle now. Evans with more offense in the corner. Evans with a big moonsault from the corner but Cross runs in to break the pin up.

Cross and Evans get to their feet while Snuka is still down. Cross runs wild on both Evans and Snuka in the corners. Cross with a bulldog on Snuka while hitting a clothesline on Evans. Evans kicks out at 2. Cross ends up fighting Snuka off again and hitting a tornado DDT from the corner. Evans charges but Cross also drops her. Snuka breaks the pin up at 2. Snuka tosses Cross to the corner. Cross superkicks Evans to block the Women’s Right.

Evans slides out of a Samoan Drop and hits the Woman’s Right on Snuka. Evan and Cross trade finisher attempts. Cross with the neckbreaker to Evans but Evans rolls to the floor as Snuka grabs Cross. Cross blocks the Samoan Drop and a superkick. Cross rolls Snuka up for the pin to win and become the new #1 contender.

Winner and New #1 Contender: Nikki Cross

After the match, Cross celebrates as the music hits. Her match with Bayley is confirmed for Clash of Champions. There was no sign of Bliss after the Sister Abigail.

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Back from the break and they announce the following stars for Talking Smack – SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura, and Alexa Bliss.

Back from the break and we go to the Firefly Fun House with Bray Wyatt. He knows everyone else is like him, in the dumps, because “he” (The Fiend) lost his favorite toy, the Universal Title. Wyatt says he has something next week in the Fun House that will cheer everyone up, a new friend. We go back to the back and see Alexa Bliss walking up to Nikki Cross backstage and apologizing for what happened last week with the coffee mug. Bliss says she doesn’t know what came over her. Cross accepts the apology and they hug each other. Bliss walks off as it appears they are back on the same page for now.

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We go backstage and Tamina Snuka approaches Nikki Cross, who has a coffee mug in her hand. Snuka asks how Alexa Bliss is doing. Bliss shows up and hugs them both. Nikki is glad to see Bliss happy now. They note that Cross’ coffee mug is one Bliss gave her recently. Cross points out how she hasn’t seen Bliss wear her hair in pink pigtails in a while. She sees how some of the hair is twirled up and says it’s not a good idea. Bliss says she was thinking of doing half and half. Cross says it would look good any way but she doesn’t think it’s a good idea because it reminds her of The Fiend. Bliss stares off for a second when hearing The Fiend’s name but snaps out of it and tells Cross to be serious. Bliss goes on about thinking Cross was a good friend, but ends up smashing the coffee cup and says so much for that. Bliss storms off.

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Back from the break and Nikki Cross is pacing backstage when Alexa bliss walks up. Cross hugs her and apologizes for pushing her down two weeks ago and everything else. She asks what’s been going on but Bliss says she’s fine. Cross wants to get Bliss to safety because of The Fiend but Bliss says she wants to stay around here and get some answers from WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman. Bliss walks off.

We see Alexa Bliss backstage preparing for her sitdown interview. Back to commercial.

Cole sends us to Alexa Bliss backstage. She’s being interviewed by an unknown interviewer. She talks about how she previously got to know WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman. We see some clips from their past together. She says Strowman is awesome, a good man, funny and witty, protective, passionate. They get along so well because they call each other on their crap. They can be fun with each other and be best friends. The interviewer asks if she thought it would become more than a friendship, like romantically? She asks. She says maybe because they both cared about each other. He asks if that’s why “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt targeted her. She doesn’t know, that’s a question for The Fiend. He asks what it’s like to be in The Fiend’s presence. She says it’s scary, terrifying, and also compelling. She says once you’ve interacted with The Fiend, it’s almost like you can just feel his presence. For the first time in her life she understands what they say when they say “a moth to a flame.” We see Braun’s comments from last week where he told The Fiend that he doesn’t give a damn about Bliss, all he cares about is destroying The Fiend because he is The Monster. He asks Bliss how that made her feel. Bliss thinks about it and doesn’t say anything. She just looks away and the interview ends. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman is in the ring with his new bald look.

Strowman delivers a message to “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and says he warned him after the Swamp Fight that he would bet he most evil son of a b—h we’ve ever seen. Strowman calls The Fiend to the ring so he can rip him from limb to limb. Strowman says he will be the last thing The Fiend sees before he eats out his entrails. The music hits and out comes Alexa Bliss instead.

Bliss says at the risk of upsetting Braun more, she thinks she owes it to their friendship to have a conversation. He asks about what. She doesn’t believe his comments from last week when he said he doesn’t give a damn about her. She says they’ve been friends for years but he disagrees, saying she used him as a pawn. Strowman goes on about how Bliss played him for some clown. He says everyone can get it now, including Bliss. He tells her to get out of his ring so he can deal with The Fiend. She tells him to be careful for what he wishes for. She threatens to slap some sense into him if he won’t listen. She yells at him to look at her when she’s talking. Strowman turns but she starts slapping him over and over, telling him to wake up.

Strowman scoops Bliss and presses her high above his head. The lights start going out as Strowman still has Bliss held above his head. It sounds like The Fiend is making his arrival. Strowman yells and asks where he is. Strowman tosses Bliss through the air right as the lights go out all the way. The red lights come back up and we see Bliss down on the mat, but didn’t actually see Strowman throw her to the mat. The Fiend is standing over Bliss but there’s no sign of Strowman. The Fiend looks around and Strowman appears on the big screen. He’s just laughing. The Fiend clutches his own head and starts laughing in his mask. Braun keeps laughing until he yells out at The Fiend. The Fiend looks up from Bliss as he and Strowman stare at each other, Strowman still on the big screen. The screen flashes with a shot of The Fiend and we hear him say “Let me in!” as SmackDown goes off the air.

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Back from the break and The Fiend is in the ring. The red lights are still covering the ring and the menacing sound is playing over and over. Alexa Bliss is down on the mat. The Fiend stands over as she looks up frightened. The Fiend backs up and crawls to Bliss now. The Fiend slowly raises his arm like he did last week. He looks to deliver another Mandible Claw but this time Bliss grabs his arm and stops him. She looks up at him and caresses his face. The Fiend stops her and backs off, apparently frustrated with how she’s getting to him.

WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman appears on the big screen as Wyatt backs off from Bliss. Strowman doesn’t give a damn about Bliss, he just wants The Fiend. Strowman goes on about how different he is coming out of the Swamp Fight. Strowman says since The Fiend is in the ring, he’s looking at the most evil son of a b—h that the world has laid eyes on. Strowman tried to resist and fight it but he’s at his breaking point. What has been building inside of him is coming out, the evil. Strowman goes on, talking like some kind of monster now. He says he is more than a man, he is the thing that nightmares are made of. He is the The Monster. Strowman says The Fiend can have whatever he wants at SummerSlam. Strowman tells The Fiend to face his fears… face the monster. Strowman continues breathing heavy as The Fiend looks on from the ring, apparently in approval. We get flashes of The Fiend as SmackDown goes to commercial.

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SmackDown Women’s Title Match: Nikki Cross vs. Bayley

We go to the ring for tonight’s main event and out first comes Nikki Cross with Alexa Bliss. Cross hits the ropes and runs wild as Bliss claps at ringside. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and Cross waits, ready for her shot. The music hits and out comes WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions & SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley with partner Sasha Banks. We get formal ring introductions from Hamilton. The crowd boos Bayley as she taunts Cross.

The bell rings and Cross goes for Bayley but Bayley dodges her. Cross is ready to fight. They go to lock up but Bayley kicks instead. Bayley works Cross over. Cross beats her into the corner and climbs up, mounting her with right hands as Bliss applauds. Cross with a dropkick into the corner. Cross with more offense, sending Bayley across the ring. Bayley looks to come back. Cross goes for the neckbreaker but it’s blocked. Cross capitalizes and tackles Bayley with strikes. They go on at the ropes now.

Cross sends Bayley to the floor, then stares her down. Cross follows and blocks a right hand. Cross decks Bayley and slams her into the edge of the apron a few times. Cross brings it back in and nails a dropkick. Bayley turns it around and decks Cross. More back and forth now. Cross takes back control and sends Bayley into the ring post, sending her down to the floor. Cross with a big crossbody. Cross stands tall on the outside, yelling out as we go back to commercial.

Back from the break and Bayley is in control in the middle of the ring. Cross tries to fight up and out but Bayley slams her by her hair for a 2 count. Bayley works Cross over and takes it back to the corner. Bayley with a back suplex for a 2 count as Banks looks on from ringside. Bayley with more offense in the corners now. Bayley charges but Cross moves and Bayley hits hard in the corner. Cross mounts offense now, working on the ribs.

Cross charges and hits a crossbody in the middle of the ring for another 2 count. They tangle and chase some more. Bayley ends up dropping Cross on the apron. Bayley runs back in as Cross leaps off the apron but lands on the floor. They bring it back in and Cross drops Bayley in the center of the ring for a 2 count. The referee sees that Cross has the “BOSS” ring that has been used in the past. Cross throws it out to the floor and Banks yells at her because of how expensive the ring is. Cross drops a suplex but Bayley kicks out at 2. We see the ring laying out on the floor after Banks tried to pass it to Bayley and it back-fired.

Cross gets dropped again. Bayley goes to the announce table and mocks Cross but here comes Cross with more offense. Banks gets dropped off the apron by Bliss. Cross dropkicks Banks through the ropes. Cross goes back to the top rope and hits the crossbody on Bayley but Bayley rolls through for a 2 count. Cross with a 2 count of her own. They tangle some more and Bayley kicks out at 2. Cross ducks a clothesline and back-slides Bayley for 2. Bayley comes right back and drops Cross on her face for the pin to win.

Winner: Bayley

After the match, the music hits as Bayley recovers with Banks and we go to replays. Banks and Bayley head to the stage with all the gold as Bliss checks on a disappointed Cross in the ring. The music stops as the champs exit to the back. Cross slowly gets to her feet as the crowd cheers her on. Bliss apologizes and tries to talk to Cross but Cross isn’t feeling it. Cross shoves Bliss to the mat and walks off to some boos. Bliss is left alone in the ring. The lights suddenly go out. They come back on and the familiar red glow is over the ring while the eerie horror sound is playing over and over. The Fiend is standing behind Bliss in the ring. He circles her as she looks up from the mat, terrified. The Fiend kneels down in her face and stares at her. He raises his hand for the Mandible Claw. The Fiend slowly brings his hand back down and puts the Claw in Bliss’ mouth as the boos begin. The Fiend takes Bliss to the mat with the Claw and we go black again. SmackDown on FOX goes off the air.

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We go right to the ring and out come the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions – Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley. Banks is still in possession of Asuka’s RAW Women’s Title belt. We see how she got the belt during The Horror Show at WWE Extreme Rules. We also see how Bayley retained over Nikki Cross at Extreme Rules last Sunday.

Banks and Bayley go on about how great they are. They declare that the Women’s Evolution is over. It started with them and is ending with them. They introduce a new era – the era of Sasha Banks and Bayley. They go on running their mouths and taunt fans at home, saying they’ll never be as good as them. The music interrupts and out comes Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Cross is furious. She yells at Banks and Bayley about what they’ve done, and says their era is already over. Banks and Bayley taunt her. Bliss isn’t so sure about this because Cross is wild and carrying on. Cross mentions having cracked ribs from Extreme Rules. She goes on and wants a title shot. Now. Bayley jokes around some more, calling them sheep. She says she won at Extreme Rules fair and square, but she wants to do what’s right.

Bayley announces that Cross can have a title shot if she beats a former champion, a future Hall of Famer – Bliss. The winner will earn a title shot on next week’s show. Cross and Bliss exchange looks. Cross hesitates and says they’ve got to do this. She shoves Bliss down on the stage and then marches to the ring as Bliss looks on. We go to commercial.

#1 Contender’s Match: Nikki Cross vs. Alexa Bliss

Back from the break and Alexa Bliss is in the ring with Nikki Cross. Sasha Banks and Bayley join Cole and Graves for commentary. Back and forth to start the match.

Bliss and Cross trade holds and keep it friendly early on. They go back & forth on the mat now, then break after going back to their feet. The crowd applauds. They go at it again and Bliss drops Cross with a shoulder first. Bliss charges but Cross nails a few arm drags. Cross grounds Bliss in the middle of the ring now as the crowd rallies some. They go into the corner and Cross blocks a shot and she’s not happy with Bliss trying to take advantage. They tangle in the corner some more and both avoid DDT attempts.

Cross rocks Bliss with a big shot and gets fired up now. Cross runs wild with several takedowns. Cross with a splash and more in the corner. Cross with a running bulldog out of the corner for a 2 count. Banks and Bayley are extremely annoying on commentary.

Bliss turns it around and sends Cross to the floor. Cross traps Bliss in the apron cover but it backfires and Bliss kicks Cross away. Banks and Bayley stand up at the announce table and shout at the competitors like a couple of fools. Cross and Bliss thankfully attack them and knock them down. Back to commercial.

Back from the break and Bliss slaps Cross while she’s on the apron holding on. Bliss rocks Cross and sends her back to the floor. Bliss runs and slides, kicking Cross back in front of the announce table where Banks and Bayley are. Bliss brings it back in and unloads on Cross in the corner. Bliss grounds Cross in the middle of the ring. Bliss keeps control and works on the hurt ribs some. They end up on the floor again and Bliss rams Cross into the barrier. The referee counts and Cross makes it back in. Bliss continues to dominate but can’t put Cross away.

Bliss with a shoulder to the gut in the corner. Banks and Bayley continue their extremely obnoxious schtick on commentary. Bliss grounds Cross and works on the arm as the crowd rallies. Cross finally mounts some offense for her comeback. Cross knocks Bliss into the corner and unloads. Cross slams Bliss into the top turnbuckle several times. Cross goes up for a tornado DDT but Bliss counters and sends her to the mat. Bliss ends up hitting the big sunset flip powerbomb out of the corner for a 2 count. More back and forth now. Bliss climbs up but Cross cuts her off.

Cross goes for a superplex but Bliss hangs on. Bliss sends Cross to the mat. Bliss jumps but has to land on her feet as Cross moves. Cross comes right back and drops Bliss for another close pin attempt. They trade moves in the middle of the ring and Cross drops Bliss with the inverted neckbreaker. Bliss kicks out at 2. Cross goes to the top for a crossbody but Bliss moves out of the way. Cross clutches her ribs and the referee checks on her. Bliss also tries to check on her but the referee backs her off. Bliss approaches again, possibly to check on Cross or to continue the match, but Cross takes advantage and takes her down into a roll-up for the pin to earn the title shot.

Winner and New #1 Contender: Nikki Cross

After the match, Cross recovers and stands tall. We go to replays. Bliss sits up and looks at Cross as her music plays. Banks and Bayley look on and taunt Cross from ringside. Cross vs. Bayley is confirmed for next week.

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