The city of Chicago witnessed mayhem on WWE SmackDown as CM Punk made a triumphant return to his hometown, receiving an ecstatic reaction from the crowd. Punk reflected on his iconic match against Jeff Hardy in 2011, where he left with the WWE Championship, before setting his sights on his upcoming bout against Drew McIntyre. He ominously declared his intention to destroy McIntyre’s career and make his life a living hell, but Paul Heyman appeared, showing an unusual restraint towards Punk’s harsh words. Heyman, however, dropped a bombshell, revealing that Solo Sikoa, the new Head of the Table, would be coming for Punk.
As tensions escalated, Solo, accompanied by the Tongans Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, confronted Punk, leading to a tense standoff. Cody Rhodes intervened, handing Punk a baseball bat to protect himself, before challenging Solo to a match later in the night. Rhodes boasted that he had already defeated the real Tribal Chief, prompting Solo to accept the challenge. However, Rhodes’ confidence was short-lived as he was thwarted in his attempt to defeat Solo due to interference from the Tongans.
CM Punk and Drew McIntyre (Via WWE/Twitter)
The SmackDown qualifiers saw Chelsea Green emerge victorious in a three-way match against Bianca Belair and Michin, while Carmelo Hayes bested Tama Tonga and Randy Orton in another qualifier. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes faced off against Solo Sikoa in a match that was marred by repeated interference from the Tongans, ultimately leading to a disqualification victory for Rhodes.
The evening took a dramatic turn when LA Knight called out Logan Paul, who failed to appear, prompting Escobar to attack Knight. In a shocking twist, Logan Paul suddenly appeared, sending Knight packing. In other match results, Andrade secured a victory in a Money in the Bank Qualifier against Kevin Owens and Grayson Waller, while Michin and Tiffany Stratton engaged in a backstage war.
As SmackDown drew to a close, it became clear that the night’s events would have far-reaching consequences. CM Punk was hospitalized and would spend the night under observation, while Drew McIntyre sent a cryptic message to the fans, hinting at a potential future on Monday Night Raw. The Bloodline, meanwhile, continued to grow in power, welcoming Jacob Fatu to their ranks. With tensions running high, the WWE’s top superstars are left reeling, eager to see what lies ahead for the network’s top programming.
