WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: LA Knight signs on as John Cena's partner at Fastlane

Knight saved Cena and signed the contract to team up and take on The Bloodline at Fastlane

The wait for LA Knight to receive a major featured spot in WWE programming may be over. Knight ended SmackDown on Friday night by not only saving John Cena from a beatdown at the hands of The Bloodline, but by signing a contract to team with Cena at Fastlane.

Cena was briefly on the receiving end of a Bloodline beatdown to close the show when Knight made the save and signed on to be Cena's partner at the upcoming pay-per-view event, much to Cena's delight.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

LA Knight signs contract to be John Cena's Fastlane partner

Jimmy Uso def. Karl Anderson via pinfall with an Uso Splash. Anderson attacked Uso and Solo Sikoa as The Bloodline cut a show-opening promo. The Bloodline ran down John Cena, saying he was not at the show yet because he was having "transportation problems" and then said AJ Styles was also not there and was watching SmackDown in a hospital after their attack last Friday. This brought out Anderson to attack the duo, leading to an immediate match. Sikoa also attacked Anderson after the match. Michin then came out as The Bloodline was walking to the back, dropping Uso with a slap.

A furious Uso and Sikoa spent most of the show attacking talent and security backstage, seemingly targeting anyone who happened to cross their path.

Cena finally arrived at the arena and delivered a promo, saying that he would either find a tag partner to face The Bloodline at Fastlane or he would go ahead with the match two-on-one. Uso and Sikoa made their way out, with Uso telling Cena that they delivered a message with their backstage attacks that anyone who teams with Cena would "get got." This led to a brief brawl before LA Knight made the save, grabbed the contract, signed it and celebrated with Cena as the show went off the air.

The show ended hot with Knight making the save and signing the contract. Fans have been demanding WWE see Knight as the level of star they do and this was a big step in that direction. Cena had already given Knight a bit of a rub at Payback, reffing Knight's match with The Miz and raising Knight's hand after the match despite nearly coming to blows previously. Now, Knight gets the full Cena rub with Cena being extremely excited as Knight signed the contract. Smart booking that makes sense and gives the fans what they want. Grade: A

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• Bobby Lashley appeared on "The Grayson Waller Effect" and made it clear that he needs to find a new tag team to roll with after Angelo Dawkins didn't take advantage of his interference. This brought out the Street Profits, but Lashley left rather than speak to them, simply telling them "prove it" when they tried to work things out.
• Austin Theory def. Cameron Grimes via pinfall with A-Town Down. Theory then confronted Dragon Lee who was seated in the crowd ringside.
• United States Championship – Rey Mysterio (c) def. Santos Escobar via pinfall with a roll-up counter to the Phantom Driver. This was a long match between LWO teammates with many near falls and a lot of drama. After the match The Street Profits attacked Escobar and Mysterio. This brought out Lashley, who clapped in approval before helping the Profits take out the rest of the LWO as Dragon Lee was held back in the crowd by security. Later in the show, the LWO challenged The Street Profits and Lashley to a match at Fastlane.
• Charlotte Flair def. Bayley via pinfall with a spear. Flair made it clear before the match that he plan was to beat Bayley and then challenge IYO SKY for the title at Fastlane. After the match, Bayley said Flair shouldn't get to jump the line and that she planned to "end Flair" and they were going to do just that. Before Damage CTRL could attack, Asuka ran to the ring to stop them. Bayley then upset SKY by saying that if Asuka wanted to be in a triple threat match with Flair and SKY for the title at Fastlane, she got it.