WWE SmackDown results, review, grades: Drew McIntyre suspended for ruining Cody Rhodes vs. Aleister Black

Damian Priest also returned on SmackDown, his first WWE appearance in a month

Cody Rhodes has a new threat to his undisputed WWE championship. Aleister Black, flanked by Zelina Vega, has his eyes set on becoming a world champion. On WWE SmackDown, that desire intersected with Rhodes, Drew McIntyre and a returning Damian Priest.

Rhodes can't seem to shake off McIntyre, no matter how many times he beats him, but SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis had a solution. The blue brand's boss suspended McIntyre indefinitely after his latest transgression put a pin in a new feud developing between Rhodes and Black.

Speaking of titles, SmackDown featured two title matches, one of which crowned a new champion. United States champion Ilja Dragunov continued his open challenge, and women's United States champion Giulia defended her title against former champ Chelsea Green. New matches were also announced in a tournament to determine John Cena's final opponent.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

Priest gets back at Black, McIntyre is suspended

Rhodes started the night by celebrating his successful title defense against McIntyre at Saturday Night's Main Event. His curiosities about who would challenge him next were soon answered as the lights went out in the arena. Black and Vega emerged from the darkness. Black said he'd been waiting for a new challenge ever since lighting Priest on fire in their Last Man Standing match. Black has a chip on his shoulder, and it's about the size of Rhodes' undisputed WWE championship. Before Rhodes could get in Black's face, Vega stepped in and slapped him across the face. Queue SmackDown general manager Aldis, who booked a non-title match between Rhodes and Black for Friday's main event. 

Rhodes vs. Black ends in a no-contest after McIntyre laid out the referee with a Claymore kick. SmackDown's headliners were doing good work before McIntyre interfered. Rhodes repeatedly threatened Black with signature moves like his disaster kick and Cody Cutter. Black's mixed martial arts-inspired offense shone with dynamic strikes and a beautiful German suplex. Towards the end of their match, both men dropped to the mat after landing simultaneous kicks. Referee Dan Engler began administering a 10-count before McIntyre interjected, dropping him with a Claymore kick, resulting in a no-contest. 

Post-match, Rhodes and McIntyre brawled before Black got involved, leading to a two-on-one attack on the champ. Rhodes was in serious trouble before Damian Priest, who hadn't been seen since losing a Last Man Standing match to Black last month, returned. The four men brawled before Aldis arrived, demanding order. Aldis, frustrated with McIntyre's actions, suspended him indefinitely. 

I have mixed feelings about this program. On one hand, Rhodes-Black is a fresh direction for the title picture and should produce great matches. On the other hand, there's no need to shoehorn McIntyre and Priest into this. Black should also be entering this main event feud with more momentum. His victory over Priest was arguably the biggest of his career, yet he's only had one match since, a loss to United States champion Ilja Dragunov. It's odd WWE booked him so sparingly and had him lose, ahead of a world title program. If they can keep the focus on Rhodes and Black moving forward, SmackDown will benefit from it. Grade: B

What else happened on WWE SmackDown?

• United States Championship -- Ilja Dragunov (c) def. Johnny Gargano via pinfall with an H-Bomb to retain the U.S. title in an open challenge match.
• Sami Zayn is in the sweepstakes to enter John Cena's tournament, according to Aldis.
• Jade Cargill celebrated winning the WWE women's title.
• Nia Jax def. Charlotte Flair via pinfall with a banzai drop after interference from NXT's Lash Legend.
• Jey Uso vs. The Miz, and LA Knight vs. a mystery opponent, were announced for Cena's tournament.
• Women's United States Championship -- Chelsea Green def. Giulia (c) via pinfall with a folding press, and her feet on the ropes, after a distraction from Alba Fyre to win the women's U.S. title. Post-match, Green celebrated with Ethan Page.
• Talla Tonga def. Rey Fenix via pinfall with a chokeslam. Post-match, Zayn saved Fenix from an MFT beatdown.