Two tag team matches have been announced for next week’s episode of SmackDown.
Both of the matches involve tag team champions, though only one is a title match. WWE announced tonight that SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E) will defend their titles against Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro on SmackDown next Friday. In non-title action, Women’s Tag Team Champions Bayley & Sasha Banks will face Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss on the episode.
Nakamura defeated Kingston in a singles match on tonight’s SmackDown. Nakamura and Cesaro tried to put Kingston through a table after, but Big E made the save for his partner.
Bayley and Banks held a tribute for themselves on tonight’s show until it was interrupted by Cross and Bliss. Bliss slapped Bayley during the segment, leading to Banks challenging Bliss to face Bayley in a singles match.
That match ended in a disqualification when Cross attacked Bayley. When Cross was cheering for Bliss during the match, Bayley told her to shut up and tried to kick her. Cross attempted to get into the ring, and Banks interfered while the referee was distracted. Cross then took out Banks on the outside. Bayley yelled at Cross, then Cross attacked her and caused the DQ.
WWE has also announced that Braun Strowman’s Universal Championship defense against Bray Wyatt from Money in the Bank will be re-aired on next Friday’s SmackDown. Strowman is facing Wyatt in a non-title Wyatt Swamp Fight at Extreme Rules on Sunday, July 19. Bayley is defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Cross at that pay-per-view, while Banks is challenging Asuka for the Raw Women’s Championship.
