SmackDown was scheduled to settle the two remaining semifinal matches that would determine who joins Sky and Femi in those finals. The championship bouts on the card were not limited to the WWE Title, as the WWE Tag Team Championships and a United States Championship opportunity were also on the line.
Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther (WWE Championship)
Gunther's decision to have Zayn officiate added extra tension to the bout. Zayn carries friction with both men in the match. He has beaten Gunther for a title before and has stated he wants to beat Cody for one eventually, so he was not viewed as carrying perceived bias into the contest.
The match leaned more on story than in ring action, though Rhodes and Gunther still made it feel competitive. It was not as hard fought as their previous encounter, but it had its moments. Zayn in the referee role made it clear that some kind of shenanigans would take place, though how everything played out was not what was expected going in.
The finish gives Gunther ammunition to demand another rematch after being screwed over again. Overall, the bout was serviceable, though it was easy to see why WWE placed it as the opener rather than the main event. The company appeared to know it would not reach the level of their last meeting and tried something completely different with the special referee angle.
Result: Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther.
Damian Priest and R Truth vs. The Tongas (WWE Tag Team Championships)
Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga challenged Priest and Truth for the WWE Tag Team Championships in the second match of the night. Before the bout, the challengers told Solo Sikoa to stay backstage because his Bloodline problem was getting in the way of their success.
The match played out largely as expected. Both teams got in offense, Sikoa showed up at ringside despite the request from his allies, and that appearance ultimately led to the Tongas' downfall. Priest and Truth remain popular with the crowd, and the champions retained the titles.
The most notable development came after the match concluded, when Tama and Talla turned their backs on Solo.
Result: Damian Priest and R Truth defeated the Tongas.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
Hayes and Saints met in a rubber match in their ongoing feud, with each man holding a previous victory over the other. The winner earned a shot at the United States Championship.
Saints and Hayes immediately turned the contest into a fast paced exchange, a sharp change of pace from the two matches that preceded it on the show. Both are talented performers, and WWE has built a strong pairing between them in this series.
Saints got the win after using the exposed turnbuckle, an ending that protected Hayes in defeat despite the loss. The finish fit the heel character Saints has been playing in this run.
Result: Ricky Saints defeated Carmelo Hayes.
King of the Ring Semifinal
The King of the Ring tournament continued on SmackDown with a semifinal bout between Uso and Evans to determine who would advance to face Oba Femi in the men's final. Femi had already secured his place in the championship bracket before this show.
On the women's side of the Queen of the Ring tournament, Iyo Sky had already punched her ticket to the final. SmackDown was set to produce the opponents for both Sky and Femi through the remaining semifinal matches on the card.
