WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: New intercontinental champion crowned after classic finals match

Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles put on a show in determining the new holder of the prestigious title

WWE Backlash is two nights away with plenty of championship matches on tap, but for longtime professional wrestling purists, the most important title match took place on this week's go-home edition of SmackDown. Friday night, the final bout of the intercontinental championship tournament took place as two of the best workers not just in this generation but of all time went at it to claim the coveted prize. To the shock of absolutely no one, Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles put on a clinic en route to crowning a new titleholder on the heels of Sami Zayn being stripped of the honor a few weeks ago. 

In addition to the fantastic IC title tournament final, SmackDown this week featured the latest controversial twist in the Jeff Hardy-Sheamus program as the two ready to go one-on-one Sunday at Backlash, the SmackDown tag team champions may have found themselves some formidable new challengers and a six-man tag match featuring the top pieces currently on the blue brand puzzle closed us out heading into the weekend. 

Let's have a look at everything that went down Friday on the Backlash go-home edition of SmackDown. 

WWE SmackDown recap, grades

Sheamus and Jeff Hardy were out for their Backlsah contract signing to kick off SmackDown. Sheamus was not alone, however, flanked by a doctor and men carrying a curtain. Sheamus said he'd like some assurances before he signs the contract, and his lawyer convinced WWE to make Hardy take a urine test. "There's no way I'm gonna step in the ring ... with a junkie," Sheamus said. Hardy admitted he's an alcoholic but he's determined to be a beacon of light for everyone who struggles with the disease. Hardy submitted to the "rapid test" which produces instant results, going behind the curtain with the doctor supervising and ... well, you know. As Sheamus continued mocking Hardy's struggles, Hardy grabbed the jar of urine from the doctor's hands before uttering the popular life lesson, "It's better to be pissed off than pissed on." Hardy then threw the urine into Sheamus' face before walking off as the Performance Center recruits in the audience chanted, "You got pissed on!" at Sheamus who was scrambling around in the ring. After commercial, Sheamus was vigorously washing his face backstage when the doctor informed him that Hardy's results had come back negative. A short time later, Hardy and Sheamus were shown brawling backstage during a segment with Otis & Tucker. 

Honestly, this wasn't as terrible as the reports that leaked earlier this week made it out to be, nor was it as offensive as the car-crash segment from a few weeks ago that drew the ire of the internet. Was it necessary? No. But it got the job done of telling the final chapter of the story heading into Sunday. Grade: C-

Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro def. The New Day (c) via pinfall in a non-title match: Kofi Kingston climbed to the top turnbuckle aiming for a splash, but Nakamura was able to get the knees up and roll Kingston up for the victory. The win was a clear message that Nakamura and Cesaro are ready to set their sights on the tag team titles --  likely in just a couple days at Backlash. Grade: C+

AJ Styles def. Daniel Bryan via pinfall to win the intercontinental championship tournament: Styles claimed the first intercontinental championship of his career by putting away Bryan with the Phenomenal Forearm and earning the 1-2-3 after what was simply a classic match between two of the best workers the industry has ever seen. This was given more than enough time to shine and turned out to be everything you'd expect from these two particular competitors, and if you're able to seek it out, I highly recommend watching this match if you missed it. There was no wrong choice here to run with the intercontinental championship ball, and the reign of Styles should be fun to watch in the coming weeks on the blue brand. If there is any qualm about this hard-hitting, action-packed classic, it's that it didn't close the show. Grade: A

WWE women's tag team champions Bayley and Sasha Banks were out for a celebration on the heels of their title-winning victory last week on SmackDown. Bayley was beginning to read a poem to her best friend Banks when they were interrupted by Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross. The IIconics concluded the interruption party by appearing on the screen and warning the champs to not turn their backs to Bliss & Cross after getting laid out on Monday. Bliss & Cross then did attack, sending the champs to the outside ahead of the triple threat on Sunday at Backlash. Short segment here which merely felt like quick filler to remind everyone there's a tag title match this weekend. Grade: C-

Heavy Machinery & Braun Strowman def. Dolph Ziggler, The Miz & John Morrison via pinfall: Despite Otis leaving his team mid-match to save Mandy Rose, who was being harassed by King Corbin backstage, he would return -- with Rose at his side -- to still earn the win for his team after connecting with the caterpillar elbow onto Ziggler. Nothing necessarily negative about this main event as far as the match itself, as it helped advance the universal title program heading into Sunday as well as the Otis-Mandy Rose saga, which still could include Tucker a bit more in some form as Otis abandoned his team on Friday night in favor of Rose. This was just the wrong week for this to close the show after the classic we were treated to in the intercontinental title tournament final earlier in the night. Grade: C

[Jun 12, 2020 at 10:06 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

Heavy Machinery & Braun Strowman def. Dolph Ziggler, The Miz & John Morrison via pinfall: Despite Otis leaving his team mid-match to save Mandy Rose, who was being harassed by King Corbin backstage, he would return -- with Rose at his side -- to still earn the win for his team after connecting with the caterpillar elbow onto Ziggler. Nothing necessarily negative about this main event as far as the match itself, as it helped advance the universal title program heading into Sunday as well as the Otis-Mandy Rose saga, which still could include Tucker a bit more in some form as Otis abandoned his team on Friday night in favor of Rose. This was just the wrong week for this to close the show after the classic we were treated to in the intercontinental title tournament final earlier in the night. Grade: C

[Jun 12, 2020 at 10:04 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

Heavy Machinery & Braun Strowman def. Dolph Ziggler, The Miz & John Morrison via pinfall: Despite Otis leaving his team mid-match to save Mandy Rose, who was being harassed by King Corbin backstage, he would return -- with Rose at his side -- to still earn the win for his team after connecting with the caterpillar elbow onto Ziggler. Nothing necessarily negative about this main event as far as the match itself, as it helped advance the universal title program heading into Sunday as well as the Otis-Mandy Rose saga, which still could include Tucker a bit more in some form as Otis abandoned his team on Friday night in favor of Rose. This was just the wrong week for this to close the show after the classic we were treated to in the intercontinental title tournament final earlier in the night. Grade: C

[Jun 12, 2020 at 9:54 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

WWE women's tag team champions Bayley and Sasha Banks were out for a celebration on the heels of their title-winning victory last week on SmackDown. Bayley was beginning to read a poem to her best friend Banks when they were interrupted by Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross. The IIconics concluded the interruption party by appearing on the screen and warning the champs to not turn their backs to Bliss & Cross after getting laid out on Monday. Bliss & Cross then did attack, sending the champs to the outside ahead of the triple threat on Sunday at Backlash. Short segment here which merely felt like quick filler to remind everyone there's a tag title match this weekend. Grade: C-

[Jun 12, 2020 at 9:28 pm ET · Jack Crosby]

AJ Styles def. Daniel Bryan via pinfall to win the intercontinental championship tournament: Styles claimed the first intercontinental championship of his career by putting away Bryan with the Phenomenal Forearm and earning the 1-2-3 after what was simply a classic match between two of the best workers the industry has ever seen. This was given more than enough time to shine and turned out to be everything you'd expect from these two particular competitors, and if you're able to seek it out, I highly recommend watching this match if you missed it. There was no wrong choice here to run with the intercontinental championship ball, and the reign of Styles should be fun to watch in the coming weeks on the blue brand. If there is any qualm about this hard-hitting, action-packed classic, it's that it didn't close the show. Grade: A