The landscape of Friday Night SmackDown was shaken up during the opening segment of the August 15 broadcast, as former Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn made a surprise appearance, announcing he has officially moved to the blue brand. Zayn immediately made his intentions clear, confronting United States Champion Solo Sikoa and declaring his mission to capture the one title that has eluded him in his WWE career.
The show opened with Solo Sikoa and his “MFT” faction, consisting of Talla Tonga, JC Mateo, and Tonga Loa, in the ring. Sikoa boasted about their dominance, but was cut off by Sami Zayn’s entrance music.
A New Mission
Zayn, dressed in street clothes, entered the ring and spoke about his recent pursuits on Monday Night Raw. He noted that had he won a key match, he might have been in the World Heavyweight Championship picture. However, Zayn said he felt “liberated” by the setback, as it allowed him to refocus on other goals. He then turned his attention to Sikoa, thanking him for inadvertently setting him on a new path toward the United States Championship, a title Zayn has never held.
Official Roster Change
When Sikoa dismissed Zayn and told him to get off his show, Zayn delivered the major news of the night. Zayn told Solo that he is now part of SmackDown. With his new brand established, Zayn stated directly that he is “coming for the Solo and the U.S. Championship.
All-Out Brawl Ensues
The declaration led to immediate physicality. Sikoa threw a punch that Zayn blocked, but the other members of MFT quickly swarmed Zayn. This prompted Jimmy Uso to run down to make the save, but the numbers were still against them. The tides turned when Jacob Fatu’s music hit, and Fatu joined Zayn and Uso to clear the heels from the ring.
Main Event Set for SmackDown
Following the brawl, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis appeared on the entrance stage to restore order. He announced that the issue would be settled in the ring later in the night, booking a six-man tag team match pitting Sami Zayn, Jimmy Uso, and Jacob Fatu against three members of Solo Sikoa’s crew in the main event. The segment established a new top-level babyface for the brand in Zayn, set the stage for a major U.S. Title program, and created a big main event for the evening. Click here for complete SmackDown results.
🚨 🚨 🚨 @SamiZayn is OFFICIALLY on SmackDown, and he's already got some help in the form of Jimmy Uso and Jacob Fatu!! 😱 pic.twitter.com/jC47QN0HlU
— WWE (@WWE) August 16, 2025
