WWE Champion defeats Alex Shelley with assist from Tommaso Ciampa

Johnny Gargano secured a victory over Alex Shelley on SmackDown through questionable tactics, despite earlier agreements between both teams to compete without interference. The match highlighted ongoing tensions following DIY’s controversial tag team championship victory.

The encounter stemmed from Gargano’s prior relationship with Motor City Machine Guns during their independent wrestling careers. This connection created friction with Tommaso Ciampa, who expressed reservations about his partner’s association with the former champions.

Despite mutual requests for their partners to remain backstage, Ciampa’s appearance at ringside prompted Chris Sabin’s intervention. The distraction culminated in Gargano’s victory, achieved by grabbing Shelley’s tights during the pinfall.

This outcome adds another chapter to the developing story between the teams, with questions surrounding potential championship rematches for Motor City Machine Guns.

Carmelo Hayes continues momentum against heavyweight competition

Hayes demonstrated tactical prowess in his encounter with Braun Strowman, securing a count-out victory during SmackDown’s featured matchup. The win followed Hayes’s interruption of The Grayson Waller Effect, where Strowman appeared alongside Austin Theory.

Utilizing speed and precision, Hayes neutralized Strowman’s power advantage throughout the contest. His strategy culminated in forcing Strowman to the outside, where the former Universal Champion failed to beat the referee’s count.

The victory adds to Hayes’s growing list of accomplishments against established competition, showcasing his ability to overcome significant size disadvantages through strategic execution.