The latest edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown for August 28, 2020 took place at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
Here is a recap of the most noteworthy highlights from this episode for those who might have missed it:
— The show started with Vince McMahon telling Adam Pearce to get everyone's signatures for the contract signing and to not fail him.
— Jeff Hardy was about to issue an open challenge for the Intercontinental Championship to everyone on the roster except AJ Styles, who said he wasn't cleared to compete and that Hardy cheated when he won the title last week by using his knee brace. Shinsuke Nakamura answered the open challenge and Hardy retained the title by pinfall. Sami Zayn then made a surprise return, holding his original Intercontinental Championship belt he never truly "lost" and called Hardy a fraud before blasting him in the face with a Helluva Kick.
— Backstage, Sami Zayn told Kayla Braxton he doesn't need to explain why he's been absent the past few months and he's the true champion.
— Adam Pearce was able to get Bray Wyatt to sign the contract during a Firefly Fun House segment.
— Matt Riddle called out King Corbin, who accepted a match on behalf of Shorty G. Riddle defeated Shorty G by pinfall in relatively quick fashion. Corbin attacked Riddle after the match.
— Backstage, The Miz and John Morrison along with Sheamus got into it with Big E and Heavy Machinery. Sasha Banks and Bayley then came by and Bayley cracked a joke that some people can only handle being tag team champion, which clearly upset Sasha.
— The Golden Role Models came out for a promo segment. Bayley apologized and said Sasha Banks losing her Raw Women's Championship was all her fault, but then spun it around that she never should have let her challenge Asuka and have her be in the shadow of Bayley Dos Straps to try to be like her with two titles. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler showed up on the TitanTron to say they despise each other, but they hate Banks and Bayley even more.
— Backstage, Drew Gulak whacked Braun Strowman in the back with a chair, but The Monster Among Men was unphased. Gulak tossed the chair to Adam Pearce, who asked Strowman to sign the contract. Strowman said he'd only sign it if Pearce got Gulak out in the ring right now.
— Backstage, Cesaro and Nakamura were talking about how Nakamura had opted to challenge for the Intercontinental Championship when Cesaro was getting champagne and they aren't on the same page, when Sami Zayn came over to embrace them and act like The Artists Collective is still a thing. Nakamura pointed out that Zayn didn't even call them in four months and Cesaro told Zayn to leave them alone for their private conversation.
— Braun Strowman defeated Drew Gulak by pinfall.
— Cesaro defeated Kalisto by pinfall in part due to an inadvertent distraction from Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado fighting with Shinsuke Nakamura ringside. Lucha House Party argued in the ring afterward.
— Vince McMahon told Adam Pearce 2 out of 3 isn't succeeding and advised him to knock down Roman Reigns' door to get the third signature.
— Backstage, Tamina asked Nikki Cross how Alexa Bliss was doing. Bliss (in pigtails) popped up to give them hugs and say she's never been better. Cross pointed out that Bliss has styled her hair a bit like The Fiend, which upset Bliss enough that she smashed the mug she had given to Cross as a gift.
— John Morrison's plan for the six-man tag team match was revealed: Big E, Tucker and Otis are all too strong to let tag in.
— Big E and Heavy Machinery (Otis and Tucker) defeated John Morrison, The Miz and Sheamus by pinfall.
— Backstage, Roman Reigns signed the contract for Adam Pearce and promised that he'll win the Universal Championship back and that's a spoiler. It was then revealed Paul Heyman was sitting next to Reigns. Heyman ended the show by saying "believe that."
What did you think of tonight's episode? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below!