WWE Friday Night SmackDown: Season 20
Becky Lynch becomes The Man. Daniel Bryan returns to the ring. Paige steps into a new role as General Manager. The New Day joins the Five-Timers' Club. All this and more during SmackDown's 2018 season.
Season 20 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of WWE Friday Night SmackDown Season 19.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
Becky Lynch becomes The Man. Daniel Bryan returns to the ring. Paige steps into a new role as General Manager. The New Day joins the Five-Timers' Club. All this and more during SmackDown's 2018 season.
Episode Guide
Season 20 Progress Shield
January 2, 2018 (Orlando, FL)
Jan 2, 2018 · 85 min
The disunity between Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan came to the forefront during AJ Styles' main event showdown against Sami Zayn, leading to a huge Royal Rumble WWE Title Match an
January 9, 2018 (Birmingham, AL)
Jan 9, 2018 · 86 min
Shane McMahon put Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn against a wall when he scheduled them in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match against WWE Champion AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton. Howeve
January 16, 2018 (Laredo, TX)
Jan 16, 2018 · 84 min
In an impromptu main event, the Final of the United States Championship Tournament went down when Jinder Mahal took on Bobby Roode after each qualified earlier in the night. Elsewh
January 23, 2018 (Washington, DC)
Jan 23, 2018 · 83 min
Feeling backed into a corner, WWE Champion AJ Styles found himself in another jam when he agreed to take on both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in back-to-back singles matches on SmackD
January 30, 2018 (Philadelphia, PA)
Jan 30, 2018 · 84 min
With their WWE Title Match at WrestleMania now official, WWE Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura teamed up against Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn on SmackDown LIVE. The one rub? Owens
February 6, 2018 (Kansas City, MO)
Feb 6, 2018 · 84 min
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s one-on-one encounter to determine a challenger for WWE Champion AJ Styles at WWE Fastlane took a chaotic turn, leading to Daniel Bryan throwing all thre
February 13, 2018 (Bakersfield, CA)
Feb 13, 2018 · 86 min
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn tried to take control of their own destiny by ambushing Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin before their match to see who would advance to the WWE Title Match al
February 20, 2018 (Phoenix, AZ)
Feb 20, 2018 · 85 min
With the WWE Championship Fatal 5-Way Match at WWE Fastlane coming into focus, WWE Champion AJ Styles took on Baron Corbin in non-title competition, and Kevin Owens squared off aga
February 27, 2018 (Los Angeles, CA)
Feb 27, 2018 · 85 min
John Cena arrived on SmackDown LIVE with a clear plan to move forward to WrestleMania, setting his sights on the WWE Title Match at WWE Fastlane. Elsewhere, Shane McMahon and Danie
March 6, 2018 (Green Bay, WI)
Mar 6, 2018 · 85 min
The one-on-one main event between WWE Champion AJ Styles and Dolph Ziggler took an unexpected turn after The “Yep!” Movement injected themselves with a surprise attack. Elsewhere,
March 13, 2018 (Indianapolis, IN)
Mar 13, 2018 · 81 min
After announcing he'd be taking an indefinite leave of absence from his position, SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon delivered on his promise to make a major WrestleMania an
March 20, 2018 (Dallas, TX)
Mar 20, 2018 · 86 min
On one of the biggest nights of his life, SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan spoke emotionally about once again being cleared to compete in WWE. When he fired Kevin Owens
March 27, 2018 (Pittsburgh, PA)
Mar 27, 2018 · 85 min
Shinsuke Nakamura took on Shelton Benjamin in the main event of SmackDown LIVE, with WWE Champion AJ Styles in The King of Strong Style’s corner at the Royal Rumble Winner’s behest
April 3, 2018 (Nashville, TN)
Apr 3, 2018 · 84 min
WWE Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura teamed up against Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable, but did their mutual respect last through one final SmackDown LIVE prior to their Wrestl
April 10, 2018 (New Orleans, LA)
Apr 10, 2018 · 84 min
In the wake of WrestleMania, Team Blue saw the dawning of a new era, as Shane McMahon made Paige the new General Manager of SmackDown LIVE. Then, in a fantasy match of Paige's crea
April 17, 2018 (Providence, RI)
Apr 17, 2018 · 86 min
AJ Styles & Daniel Bryan formed a fantasy team as they took on Rusev & Aiden English, but Shinsuke Nakamura and the newest SmackDown LIVE Superstar Big Cass made sure to make their
April 24, 2018 (Louisville, KY)
Apr 24, 2018 · 86 min
In a huge Six-Man Tag Team Match main event, AJ Styles reunited with Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows to take on Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev & Aiden English. Elsewhere, Big Cass’ disdain
May 01, 2018 (Montreal, QC)
May 1, 2018 · 85 min
Two super-teams squared off as Charlotte Flair teamed with Asuka & Becky Lynch to take on SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella and The IIconics in a memorable main event. Elsewhere,
May 08, 2018 (Baltimore, MD)
May 8, 2018 · 85 min
WWE Money in the Bank was the focus of every blue brand Superstar, as three competitors qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder Matches. Elsewhere, the growing beef between The
May 15, 2018 (London, England)
May 15, 2018 · 83 min
WWE Champion AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura collided in London’s O2 Arena with the winner getting the opportunity to pick the stipulation for their title match at WWE Money in the
May 22, 2018 (Worcester, MA)
May 22, 2018 · 84 min
Daniel Bryan took on U.S. Champion Jeff Hardy for the first time, with a Men's Money in the Bank Qualifying Match against Samoa Joe hanging in the balance. Plus, Lana and Naomi bot
May 29, 2018 (Raleigh, NC)
May 29, 2018 · 83 min
In a shocking turn of events, a Triple Threat Match between Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe and Big Cass was announced as the final Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. Elsewhere, The
June 05, 2018 (Corpus Christi, TX)
Jun 5, 2018 · 83 min
With WWE Money in the Bank momentum being the theme of the night, all of SmackDown’s participants in the Men’s Ladder Match did battle, as The New Day squared off against The Miz,
June 12, 2018 (Memphis, TN)
Jun 12, 2018 · 86 min
In a thrilling 10-Woman Tag Team Match main event, Asuka made a massive statement heading into WWE Money in the Bank when she defeated SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella just five
June 19, 2018 (Toledo, OH)
Jun 19, 2018 · 84 min
Rusev won a star-studded Gauntlet Match to earn the right to challenge WWE Champion AJ Styles at WWE Extreme Rules. Elsewhere, SAnitY made an unforgettable debut and left an immedi
June 26, 2018 (Ontario, CA)
Jun 26, 2018 · 83 min
Just when it looked like Daniel Bryan was going to take another bludgeoning at the hands of The Bludgeon Brothers, Kane returned to come to the aid of his friend, and the ever-memo
July 03, 2018 (Omaha, NE)
Jul 3, 2018 · 83 min
Feeling as though Team Hell No was not worthy of their SmackDown Tag Team Championship opportunity at WWE Extreme Rules, The Usos challenged Daniel Bryan & Kane in the main event.
July 10, 2018 (Manchester, NH)
Jul 10, 2018 · 80 min
After an absolutely wild brawl between the united Team Hell No & The New Day against The Bludgeon Brothers & SAnitY to kick off the show, the two super teams squared off in an epic
July 17, 2018 (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Jul 17, 2018 · 83 min
In the wake of WWE Extreme Rules, Randy Orton interrupted the heated rematch between newly-crowned United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Jeff Hardy to lay waste to The Chari
July 24, 2018 (Evansville, IN)
Jul 24, 2018 · 83 min
Daniel Bryan attempted to crash the party celebrating The Miz & Maryse’s new reality show “Miz & Mrs.,” but The A-Lister would stoop to an all-time new low to get the jump on The “
July 31, 2018 (Tampa, FL)
Jul 31, 2018 · 84 min
Charlotte Flair returned to SmackDown LIVE to come to the aid of her friend Becky Lynch after she was assaulted by SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella, but The Queen quickly found
August 7, 2018 (Orlando, FL)
Aug 7, 2018 · 85 min
The New Day squared off against The Bar with the opportunity to face The Bludgeon Brothers for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at SummerSlam hanging in the balance. Elsewhere,
August 14, 2018 (Greenville, SC)
Aug 14, 2018 · 85 min
WWE Champion AJ Styles arrived at SmackDown LIVE hoping to break out of his vicious mental cycle caused by Samoa Joe over the past several weeks, but his SummerSlam challenger had
August 21, 2018 (Brooklyn, NY)
Aug 21, 2018 · 85 min
The Bludgeon Brothers and The New Day squared off in a hard-hitting and explosive No Disqualification rematch from SummerSlam with the SmackDown Tag Team Titles on the line. Elsewh
August 28, 2018 (Toronto, ON)
Aug 28, 2018 · 84 min
Charlotte Flair might have repelled the challenge of Carmella in a thrilling SmackDown Women’s Championship main event, but she could not escape an Irish Lass Kicking from her form
September 4, 2018 (Detroit, MI)
Sep 4, 2018 · 85 min
On a whirlwind SmackDown LIVE, Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella thwarted an attack from Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega in order to send a strong message to their WWE Hell in a Cell op
September 11, 2018 (Lafayette, LA)
Sep 11, 2018 · 86 min
Brie Bella and Maryse’s one-on-one showdown quickly turned into a chaotic brawl when Daniel Bryan and The Miz got involved. Elsewhere, WWE Champion AJ Styles and Samoa Joe delivere
September 18, 2018 (Tulsa, OK)
Sep 18, 2018 · 83 min
In the wake of WWE Hell in a Cell, newly-crowned SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch unleashed a vicious attack on Charlotte Flair during her SmackDown Women’s Championship Coro
September 25, 2018 (Denver, CO)
Sep 25, 2018 · 83 min
Samoa Joe took his conflict with WWE Champion AJ Styles to the next level when he delivered on his promise from several weeks ago by showing up at Styles’ family home in Georgia wh
October 2, 2018 (Portland, OR)
Oct 2, 2018 · 84 min
Poised for WWE Super Show-Down in Melbourne, Australia, the blue brand descended into all-out chaos as Charlotte Flair hurled SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch through her own
October 9, 2018 (Indianapolis, IN)
Oct 9, 2018 · 85 min
Randy Orton squared off against the returning Big Show in a WWE World Cup Qualifying Match that pushed both Superstars to their limits. Elsewhere, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair s
October 16, 2018 (Washington, DC)
Oct 16, 2018 · 85 min
An absolutely loaded SmackDown 1000 saw Rey Mysterio make an unbelievable return to the blue brand, cameos from Mr. McMahon, Batista, Ric Flair and Edge, as well as The Big Show ma
October 23, 2018 (Newark, NJ)
Oct 23, 2018 · 84 min
Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy rekindled their rivalry with another barbaric encounter on the blue brand. Elsewhere, the footage from the wild brawl between SmackDown Women’s Champion
October 30, 2018 (Atlanta, GA)
Oct 30, 2018 · 85 min
During an unpredictable SmackDown LIVE, Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio took on Randy Orton & The Miz ahead of their scheduled clashes in the WWE World Cup, but The Viper went the extra
November 6, 2018 (Manchester, England)
Nov 6, 2018 · 84 min
The blue brand began to put its Survivor Series teams together for the battle for brand supremacy against Raw at WWE’s Survivor Series, but it soon became obvious that there could
November 13, 2018 (St. Louis, MO)
Nov 13, 2018 · 83 min
In one of the most shocking SmackDown LIVE episodes of all time, Daniel Bryan stunned the WWE Universe in his WWE Championship Match against AJ Styles, and Becky Lynch made a very
November 20, 2018 (Los Angeles, CA)
Nov 20, 2018 · 82 min
Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton’s main event match took a horrifying turn when The Viper sadistically targeted The Biggest Little Man after the bell. Elsewhere, Charlotte Flair and Da
November 27, 2018 (Minneapolis, MN)
Nov 27, 2018 · 85 min
Asuka won a Battle Royal to secure her place in the SmackDown Women’s Championship TLC Match against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. Elsewhere
December 04, 2018 (Austin, TX)
Dec 4, 2018 · 84 min
Two weeks from WWE TLC, AJ Styles’ pursuit of the “New” Daniel Bryan led him into a showdown with The Miz. Plus, Samoa Joe continued to antagonize Jeff Hardy, and the contract sign
December 11, 2018 (Las Vegas, NV)
Dec 11, 2018 · 83 min
The WrestleMania rematch between Charlotte Flair and Asuka ended when The Queen bashed The Empress of Tomorrow with a kendo stick, but that was only the start of SmackDown LIVE's c
December 18, 2018 (Fresno, CA)
Dec 18, 2018 · 84 min
In one of the biggest upsets in SmackDown LIVE history, Mustafa Ali got the best of “The New” Daniel Bryan when the newest SmackDown LIVE Superstar teamed up with AJ Styles to take
December 25, 2018 (Fresno, CA)
Dec 25, 2018 · 84 min
What was a festive Christmas night edition of SmackDown LIVE took a shocking turn when AJ Styles met with WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, who said he wanted to see the “animal” inside Th