WWE SmackDown results, review, grades: Drew McIntyre batters Jimmy Uso, lays out Cody Rhodes

McIntyre stood tall over rivals Rhodes and Uso on WWE SmackDown

Drew McIntyre must be a happy man. McIntyre left WWE SmackDown riding high after laying out both Cody Rhodes and Jimmy Uso. It puts McIntyre in the driver's seat before next week's undisputed WWE title match at Saturday Night's Main Event.

No one knows for certain who injured Jacob Fatu last week, but McIntyre is a suitable suspect. Count Uso among those who think McIntyre is responsible for Fatu's absence. Uso's suspicions led to intense hostilities between the two parties and a no-disqualification main event.

Friday's show also featured the first United States championship open challenge under Ilja Dragunov's reign, plus a compelling development in the WWE women's title scene.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.

McIntyre lays out Rhodes, Uso 

SmackDown opened with Rhodes and Uso backstage. "Big Jim" thanked Rhodes for avenging Jacob Fatu last week. They wrapped up their conversation so that Uso could speak with SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, while Rhodes made his entrance. Rhodes confessed to acting out of character last week when he struck McIntyre with his title belt. The crowd didn't seem to mind, but McIntyre did. The Scotsman accused Rhodes of brainwashing the audience into cheering him despite his indiscretions. McIntyre maintained his innocence, insisting he didn't attack Fatu last week. McIntyre wondered if Uso took a page out of his wife Naomi's book, attacking someone close to him and framing a scapegoat -- a reference to Naomi shelving Jade Cargill last year. Rhodes was revving up for a fight, but Uso got a hold of McIntyre first. Uso and McIntyre brawled until security intervened, with Uso getting the better of it. 

Backstage, Uso and Aldis got into an argument. Aldis offered Uso a match with McIntyre. Uso said he wanted a fight, so Aldis added a no-disqualification stipulation. 

McIntyre def. Uso via pinfall with a Claymore kick. Friday's main event superstars didn't forget about the no DQ stipulation. McIntyre and Uso brawled all around the ringside, and weaponized a steel chair and table. Each superstar took their opportunity to wallop the other with the chair. In the closing moments, Uso snatched McIntyre off his feet and drove him through the table with a Samoan drop. Uso climbed the ropes to deliver a final blow, but McIntyre intercepted his Uso splash with a flying chair to the face. McIntyre lined up Uso and put him down with a Claymore kick for the three-count.

Post-match, McIntyre drove a chair into Uso's neck. WWE personnel couldn't pry McIntyre from Uso, but someone else could. Rhodes' music hit as he ran to the ring. Rhodes fought off McIntyre but, while attending to Uso, was blindsided with a Claymore kick. McIntyre stood tall ahead of his undisputed WWE title match in eight days at Saturday Night's Main Event.

SmackDown didn't reinvent the wheel this week. A safe show headlined with a sold television match. It's hard to get excited about another Rhodes vs. McIntyre match when WWE shows no serious interest in pulling the trigger on a proper McIntyre title reign. Maybe things will change next week, but we're not holding our breath. Grade: C+

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• MFTs (Tama Tonga & JC Mateo) def. Rey Fenix & Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall after Tonga hit Fenix with Cutthroat. 
• Tiffany Stratton def. Kiana James via pinfall with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Post-match, Giulia laid out Stratton before Cargill ran them off. Cargill also attacked Stratton, to the point where she required medical attention.
• United States Championship -- Ilja Dragunov (c) def. Aleister Black via pinfall with Torpedo Moscow in an open challenge match.