WWE SmackDown is headed back to the USA Network after a gap of five years starting from tonight and we expect a packed show en route to the Bad Blood premium live event slated for next month.

Multiple segments and matches have already been confirmed for the USA return of the Friday night show with the WWE Championship match serving as the headliner. Now, it’s been revealed that this match will also be on the opener of the night.

WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque posted a video, last night announcing that the Undisputed WWE Championship Match between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa inside a steel cage will kick things off.

Earlier supposed to be the main event of WWE SmackDown will be a rematch from SummerSlam, where interference from returning Roman Reigns allowed Rhodes to retain the title. Sikoa and The Bloodline later attacked Reigns and demanded this rematch.

Reigns has been absent from WWE programming since being powerbombed through the announce table by The Bloodline on SmackDown, four weeks ago and there are rumours that he might show up this week.

Before this defense, Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens to retain the Undisputed WWE title at Bash in Berlin on August 31. On the night before the PLE, Sikoa stated on SmackDown that he was coming after whoever would win the title match.

In more news for the coming episode of SmackDown, PWInsider reports that World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER is set to be in Seattle for the show in a surprise appearance, possibly in a dark segment.

WWE has not officially announced his involvement and given the significance of this particular episode, Gunther might actually end up appearing on TV for the show. Some more unannounced names are also expected to show up in a surprise capacity.

WWE SmackDown September 13 episode will mark the season premiere of the show on the USA Network for the 2024-25 session and it takes place at the Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington with the following match card,

• Undisputed WWE Championship Steel Cage Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Solo Sikoa
• Kevin Owens & a mystery partner vs. A-Town Down Under (Grayson Waller & Austin Theory)
• Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade