Here is a recap of the episode of WWE SmackDown that was broadcasted on October 4, 2024. If you missed the RAW episode, don’t worry, you can find the summary here.
AJ Styles made his grand re-entry to WWE and it was indeed heartwarming. He’s been dearly missed by everyone and it suits the situation that he is in Nashville, his starting point in the world of wrestling. In his address, Styles expressed regret for past mistakes and his motivation to work on his legacy. His unpopularity among the wrestlers was also addressed, but he assured his fans that rebuilding his legacy was his only concern at the moment. He was interrupted by Carmelo Hayes during his speech.
Hayes spoke mockingly to Styles, expressing surprise that others had not welcomed him back, given his accomplishments. He talked about how he had been a stand-in during Style’s absence. Hayes expressed admiration for Styles and took a jibe at his age before pointing out his own worth as a potential United States Champion.
The exchange between Hayes and Styles became heated when Hayes rebuffed Styles’ lessons on perseverance, leading Styles to challenge his competence as a US Champion. Hayes retorted by questioning Styles’ position as the WWE Champion.
A match between Styles and Hayes was proposed by Styles, but Hayes declined. Later, LA Knight, the US Champion arrived and taunted both Hayes and Styles. He gave Hayes an ultimatum; either he could try defeating Styles to qualify as a United States title challenger, or face defeat at Knight’s hands.
The first match was between Carmelo Hayes and AJ Styles, with Hayes attaining victory due to a referee’s intervention that occurred as a result of Styles’ ankle injury. LA Knight ambushed Hayes after the match with Blunt Force Trauma.
The second match was between [Dumpster] Michin and Chelsea Green, with the win going to Michin.
Later in the episode, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill revealed to Naomi that they have secured her a spot as host for Bad Blood happening tomorrow. Naomi was ecstatic upon hearing this news. The scene then shifted to Bayley calling out Nia Jax.
Bayley confronted Nia Jax, the reigning champion who had Tiffany Stratton by her side. Bayley accused Jax of not appreciating the true value of the title and the legacy of the legends who held it. She also warned Jax of possible threats to her title, one from herself and the other from her companion, Tiffany.
In response, Tiffany defended herself and stated that she did not need the contract to beat Nia. This led to a war of words between the Nia and Tiffany, with Bayley intervening and a scuffle ensued. Following Bayley’s exit, Tiffany considered cashing in on the chaos but decided against it. The segment ended with Naomi entering for her match against Tiffany Stratton.
The winner of the third match between Naomi and Tiffany Stratton was not revealed in the summary. For more detailed information, please refer to the WWE SmackDown Results of October 4, 2024.