WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Men's WarGames drama unfolds, AJ Lee joins women's match

Becky Lynch evened things up, siding with the WarGames team opposite Lee

The Vision will have nothing to do with John Cena's retirement match. Cody Rhodes and The Usos made sure that Bronson Reed would not advance in The Last Time is Now Tournament on Friday's episode of WWE SmackDown.

Reed had a major opportunity on Friday. A win over Carmelo Hayes would've advanced him to the quarterfinals in a tournament to determine who will retire Cena. Reed was in a strong position to win the match -- flanked by Bron Breakker, Logan Paul and Paul Heyman -- but Rhodes and The Usos had other ideas.

The women's WarGames match got a major facelift after the final two superstars for both teams were revealed. Former women's intercontinental champion Becky Lynch joined Nia Jax's team, while AJ Lee sided with Rhea Ripley and company.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Ball Arena in Denver.

WarGames drama costs Reed a dream match

The Vision started the show. Heyman waxed poetic about his team's strategy before introducing the group's newest member, Paul. Queue The Usos' music. The twin brothers insulted their rivals. Heyman wondered how they'd cope with the numbers disadvantage. Jimmy reminded Heyman that they learned from him, and they didn't come alone. The camera cut backstage to find The Usos' WarGames teammate Rhodes, bloodied and hanging upside down from the stairs of his bus. Out walked Drew McIntyre, the perpetrator of the attack. The Usos ran to the loading dock to check on Rhodes.

Later, SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis confronted The Vision backstage. Aldis told Heyman he only tolerated their presence on SmackDown because Reed had a match. Heyman said he'd gone to great lengths to ensure McIntyre wouldn't enter the arena out of respect for Aldis. Heyman extended a handshake, but Aldis snubbed him.

Last Time is Now Tournament -- Carmelo Hayes def. Bronson Reed via countout after interference from Reed's WarGames opponents. Reed almost had the match won after interference from Paul and Breakker, but The Usos leveled the playing field. Afterwards, Rhodes emerged, planting Reed with a Cross Rhodes ringside and rolling Hayes back into the ring. The referee wasn't privy to Rhodes' actions and awarded Hayes a count-out win. Hayes advances to the tournament quarterfinals.

There's no spark to what WWE is doing with the men's WarGames match. The whole is less than the sum of its parts. WWE is maximizing name value without a thoughtful story. At least the women's WarGames match is exploring the rift between Flair and Ripley. Grade: C

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• United States Championship -- Ilja Dragunov def. JD McDonagh via pinfall with an H-Bomb to retain the title.
• #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) def. Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) via pinfall. Candice LeRae yanked off Axiom's mask, allowing Gargano to roll him up as Axiom covered his face.
• Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley hashed out their differences ahead of WarGames.
• Last Time is Now Tournament -- Penta def. Finn Balor via pinfall with a Mexican Destroyer.
• AJ Lee joined Ripley's WarGames team after Becky Lynch joined Nia Jax's.