Gunther was granted the right to choose a stipulation ahead of the return bout after their Clash in Italy match ended without a decisive winner. Rhodes and Zayn's friendship continued to deteriorate on the show, with Rhodes scolding Zayn over the past several weeks before apologizing only for being world champion while Zayn was not. Zayn retaliated with an open hand slap, then covered his mouth and apologized. Rhodes slapped him back, Zayn nodded, and left without a word before grabbing a steel chair, thinking twice, hurling it to the floor, and storming off.

Backstage, Gunther informed SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis he had settled on a special guest referee stipulation and selected Zayn, citing his experience and heart. The first rounds of the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments also wrapped on the show, with Charlotte Flair advancing to the Queen of the Ring semifinals and Jey Uso winning a four way King of the Ring quarterfinal over Finn Balor, LA Knight, and Royce Keys via pinfall after Knight, Balor, and Uso powerbombed Keys through the commentary table and Uso intercepted Keys' spinebuster with a Uso Splash.