WWE Smackdown Opener:
We start off with Shane McMahon, Daniel Bryan, and Randy Orton watching Randy Orton RKOing Brock Lesnar on Raw. Shane asks Randy if he is happy with what he did. Shane says that he expects Brock to retaliate. Shane says he will take care of Randy later. Shane tells Randy it was pretty awesome.
Randy asks if all of the security is necessary because he proved that only one RKO is needed to drop the beast. Shane tells some of the security to go with Randy and he tells everyone to make sure that Brock does not get in the building.
Miz and Maryse show up and he asks Daniel and Shane if Matt Damon would be treated like this. They did not hold him in the air like Dean Ambrose. He says that Daniel wasn’t even happy when he was drafted.
Daniel says that he was excited to draft the Intercontinental Title more than the champion. Daniel says that Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews, and Kalisto will meet in a match to see who faces Miz at SummerSlam. Dean Ambrose shows up and he says that he will go to the ring to start this off and talk about the number one contender.
– We are in Nashville, Tennessee and your announcers are John Layfield, Mauro Ranallo, and David Otunga.
– Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring.
Dean welcomes everyone to Smackdown and he reminds everyone that he is the WWE Champion. He got here by busting his butt every night. He got here by beating both of his Shield brothers. He likes his view from the top. It is about representing Smackdown and his legacy. He says he is not a one hit wonder.
Dean mentions that Dolph Ziggler beat five others to get a shot at Dean at SummerSlam. Dean asks Dolph to make his way to the ring. Dolph says he is a big fan and they are pretty similar. Dean says they are not. They are nothing alike. He says Dolph is all show and Dean says he is all go. He scratched and clawed his entire life and no one is taking it from him. Not now, not ever, and not by you.
Dolph asks if we are going to forget how Dean came in with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Dolph reminds us that he came in as a male cheerleader. If you want to talk about scratching and clawing, you are looking at him.
Dean asks Dolph if he is done feeling sorry for himself. Dean says Dolph wastes his time complaining. When people said he is not championship material, he does not care. When people put roadblocks in front of him, he did not care. He became WWE Champion. You cannot say the same thing because you care too much about your image. You worry too much about what people think about you. You worry too much about what the office says about you and what people say about you on the internet. You worry about too much. You are a guy who is facing him at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship and you are going to lose. You’ll steal the show like you always do. They will have a great match and you will steal the show. Dean says he will do what he does because he is a winner. You will steal the show, but you are going to lose.
Dolph tells Dean that he is a kid from Cleveland who went to his first WWE live event at five years old and he said this is what he was going to do. He went to Kent State and set records with the thought of becoming a WWE Superstar one day. For the last seven years, he has been disrespected and overlooked. He was told one day he wasn’t good enough and then he was sent to the top. He will burn the house down in Brooklyn because he is that damn good.
Dean says that Dolph is not going to do any of that. It is not because of any conspiracy theory or anyone holding you down. Your real problem is that you are not as good as you think you are. Dean drops the mic and walks out of the ring.
Bray Wyatt’s music plays and when the lights go on, Bray Wyatt hits Sister Abigail on Dolph Ziggler.
Bray tells Dolph he is worthless and says you do not deserve to be called champion. Do you believe that this is going to be your next WWE champion. Bray says that Dolph stole something from him and he wants it back. Bray tells Dolph to face him tonight in this very ring. If you win, you will prove to all of these people that you are worthy of being the number one contender. However, if you fall, he will take Dolph’s place at SummerSlam and wrestle for the WWE Championship. He tells Dolph to prove to him that he is that damn good.
– Still to come, AJ Styles has a message for John Cena. Also, American Alpha debuts. Up next, a Triple Threat to determine The Miz’s next challenger. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Dolph Ziggler asks about what just happened to Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. Dolph says he wants the match. Daniel reminds Dolph he has nothing to gain with this match. Dolph says Dean, the people, and Daniel do not believe he has what it takes so he wants the match. Shane gives him the match.
Intercontinental Championship Number One Contender Match
Kalisto vs. Apollo Crews vs. Baron Corbin
Miz and Maryse join the announcers for the next match since he will be facing the winner at SummerSlam.
Corbin with a forearm to Kalisto and then to Crews. Corbin pushes Kalisto away and then he connects with a punch to Crews. Corbin sends Kalisto into Crews but Kalisto goes over Crews and Crews with punches and he sends Corbin to the floor. Crews with a shoulder tackle but Corbin pulls down the ropes and Crews goes to the floor. Kalisto with a suicide dive to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Corbin stands over Kalisto and Crews in opposite corners. We see footage from the break when Kalisto was sent to the floor. Corbin with splashes and then Crews with splashes. Kalisto goes off Crews’ back into a head scissors on Corbin. Crews with a Samoan drop to Kalisto for a near fall. Corbin with Deep Six on Crews for a near fall. Corbin kicks Kalisto and then he kicks Crews. Kalisto kicks Corbin and Crews punches Corbin. Kalisto comes off the turnbuckles and goes for a head scissors but Corbin holds on. Corbin sets for a power bomb but Crews with a drop kick to Corbin to send Crews to the floor. Crews with a rollup for the three count.
Winner: Apollo Crews
After the match, Corbin attacks Kalisto and Crews makes the save. Miz goes into the ring and he hits the Skull Crushing Finale on Crews. Miz is happy with what he did but Corbin did not like it and Corbin hits End of Days on Miz. We go to commercial.
Eva Marie vs. Becky Lynch
Eva appears to have pulled a hamstring and the referee checks on her. The referee holds Becky back and the referee asks for a trainer. The referee determines that the match will not take place due to injury.
Backstage:
Renee Young is in the back and she is with Carmella. Carmella says the injury looked serious but she can see a scam from far away. Natalya shows up and wants to know what Carmella is doing here. She has been carrying the division for a decade. She was talking to her uncle Bret Hart and they said the women’s division needed someone strong to be a leader. The division needs Natalya. Carmella says she is the Princess of Staten Island. Natalya points out that Carmella was the last draft pick. Carmella tells Natalya to put on her cat outfit and they can face off in the ring. We go to commercial.
The Vaudevillains vs. American Alpha
Back from the break and Aiden English is posing in the ring with partner Simon Gotch. Chad Gable and Jason Jordan are out next to a big pop.
Gable and Gotch start things off and Gable with a waist lock and take down into a waist lock. Gotch tries to escape but Gable holds on and works on the ankle. Gotch with a wrist lock and Gable with a bridge and reversal into a body scissors take down. Gable with an arm bar. Jordan tags in and he hits a drop kick. Jordan gets a near fall and applies an arm bar. Gotch with a knee to the head and English tags in and they go for a double hip toss but Jordan lands on his feet and Gable tags in and hits a double clothesline off the turnbuckles and then Gable and Jordan with a double drop kick to send English and Gotch to the floor.
Gotch holds Gable’s leg and English with a shot from behind and then he punches Gable and kicks him. Gotch tags in and they double team Gable and Gotch gets a near fall. Gotch with a European uppercut and English tags in and misses a splash into the corner. Gotch is sent to the floor and Jordan tags in and punches English and hits a drop kick. Jordan with a head and leg suplex followed by a German suplex to English and then he hits a running shoulder tackle into the corner and then he tags in Gable for Grand Amplitude and the three count.
Winners: American Alpha
We go to commercial.
– We are back and we take a look at John Cena co-hosting the Teen Choice Awards this past weekend.
In the Arena:
AJ Styles makes his way to the ring and he has something to say.
AJ says he came out here for one reason and one reason only. To talk about John Cena. On cue, John Cena’s music plays and he comes to the ring.
John says that AJ has been saying for days that he has a message for him and he is right here, so talk.
AJ says this is typical John Cena being smug thinking everything is about you. AJ says he could do his most favorite thing… Beat Up John Cena. He tells John to keep his shirt on. He says he has figured John out. He says he had a message for Cenation before John came out, but John is out here and he needs to hear it.
AJ says he has beaten John up, he has beaten John in the ring, but you are still in the WWE. He does not want John here. AJ says he knows exactly what his problem is with John. He does not want John here. John does not belong in the ring with him. You do your song and dance and people think you are a noble hero. They are weak minded people. AJ says that Nashville is the weakest minded people because he knows.
AJ starts with the kids. These stupid, idiot, delusional little kids. They want this and that. Who are just as delusional as the kids? Their parents. You are the type of parents who believe that your kids deserve a trophy for participating in sports. Who is just as delusional as the parents? John Cena. You believe what these parents and kids think is true about you.
AJ says you don’t get dessert before dinner. You don’t get to stay up late the night before school. You don’t get a trophy for participanting. You get a trophy for being a winner. AJ wants to know where is his trophy for beating John Cena. He is the elite.
John says AJ has some problems. He says he never forced these people to believe in what he says. He says the people have their own words for John’s entrance music.
AJ says he is going to prove to Cenation that he is nothing more than a fraud. You said the future goes through you and AJ reminds John he went through him at Battleground. He wants to know why is John still here.
John says he is here to shut AJ’s mouth. AJ needs to be responsible for what he says. You attack these people for what they believe in and then you ask a question that you do not want an answer for.
You just asked him why is John Cena still here? After fifteen years, he is here out of love. He says he does not care about how he looks for saying he loves it. He says he loves the look on that kid’s face when he cheers for his favorite Superstar. He loves when parents pull him aside to thank him for all he does. John says he cannot do it without them. He loves doing other shows because someone asks him when will he leave the WWE and he says never because WWE is his home. John says that while AJ is on his day off, John is in New York on the Colbert Show in a Blue suit because he loves WWE. You are here to be a good wrestler. If it does not work here, you can move on to somewhere else. There is nowhere else for him. He is here because honor, loyalty, and respect is his heartbeat. John asks AJ why the hell is he here.
AJ applauds John’s comments and he says that is what he expected from Cena. That is the John he knows. The John who never backs down from a challenge. AJ challenges John Cena to a match at SummerSlam. No Excuses . . . No Club.
John says he needs to teach AJ’s ass a lesson so he is on.
AJ tells John the best part of SummerSlam is going to be when he beats John and then John has to come out to the world on Smackdown to say that AJ Styles is better than him. If he doesn’t John is a liar. If he does, you are a loser. AJ says either way he wins. Back to commercial.
Randy Orton vs. Fandango
Back from the break and security is out to protect the ring from Brock Lesnar. Tyler Breeze and Fandango wait as Randy Orton makes his way out to a pop.
They lock up and Fandango with punches and an Irish whip but Orton with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton with the Garvin Stomp. Orton with boots to the midsection and he suplexes Fandango. Orton gets a near fall. Breeze distracts Orton and Fandango with a drop kick and punches. Fandango with a reverse chin lock. Orton with a belly-to-back suplex followed by two clotheslines and he avoids a clothesline from Fandango and he hits a power slam. Orton with a power slam to Breeze when he tries to interfere.
Orton with the IEDDT and he looks around the ring and he gets ready to twist to the mat but he sees Brock Lesnar in the crowd. Orton hits an RKO and then Brock picks up Orton and hits an F5.
Winner: Randy Orton (by disqualification)
After the match, Shane McMahon comes to ringside to tell Lesnar he has to leave. Security points Lesnar to the exit and we go to commercial.
– We are back and we take a look at what just happened with Brock Lesnar. We see footage of Brock leaving the arena. Paul Heyman walks out with Brock.
Backstage:
Daniel Bryan is backstage on the phone talking about Lesnar. Heath Slater appears and Bryan asks how he got in. Slater says he would look great on the SummerSlam poster. Slater says he’s the hottest free agent and nothing is bigger right now. Bryan announces that Slater will get a match next Tuesday and if he wins, he gets a contract. His opponent will be… Slater gets speared out of nowhere. Rhyno appears and that will be the opponent. Bryan calls for a medic to his office.
Backstage:
Renee Young is with Dean Ambrose and she asks him about Dolph putting up his title match tonight. Dean says he is uncomfortable sitting down for this interview. He says he was expecting to face Dolph at SummerSlam, but he might not be facing him after tonight. He was not surprised about Bray Wyatt. Dean says Dolph usually takes more than a week to self destruct. Dean says anything can happen because it is Smackdown Live. Dean walks away. We go to commercial.
– We are at the trainer’s office and Randy is asked about his condition. Randy walks away without saying anything.
Carmella vs. Natalya
While Carmella does her intro promo, Natalya attacks Carmella from behind and sends her into the ringside barrier and suplexes Carmella on the floor. Natalya applies the Sharpshooter.
Natalya goes to the back.
Backstage:
We see Dolph Ziggler in the back and Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon stop by to tell Dolph that they believe in him. He has nothing to win here. Shane reminds Dolph he could be giving up his title match against Dean Ambrose. Dolph says that Shane and Daniel don’t believe in him, so he tells them ‘screw you’ and he walks away. We go to commercial.
Bray Wyatt vs. Dolph Ziggler in a Winner faces Dean Ambrose at SummerSlam for the WWE Title Match
We are back and Dean Ambrose is at the announce table for the main event.
Ziggler with a drop kick and Fameasser for a near fall. Ziggler goes for a super kick but Wyatt goes to the floor. Ziggler goes after Wyatt but Wyatt senses Ziggler (or sees him on the Shane-O-Tron) and clotheslines Ziggler. Wyatt sends Ziggler back into the ring and stomps on the back. Wyatt misses a clothesline and Ziggler with a rollup for a near fall. Wyatt appears to have injured himself as we go to commercial.
We are back and Bray and Dolph fight on the turnbuckles. They exchange punches and Wyatt with a superplex and both men are down. Bray does the crab walk and he gets a near fall. Wyatt with a side head lock. Bray turns it into a cravate.
Ziggler escapes the hold and then he uppercuts Wyatt as he charges into the corner. Ziggler with two flying clotheslines followed by a Stinger Splash and swinging neck breaker followed by a leaping elbow drop for a near fall.
Wyatt blocks a super kick and connects with an uppercut. Wyatt with a suplex throw and back senton for a near fall. Bray leans back but then he thinks about it and he tries to remove the turnbuckle pad. Ziggler with a Zig Zag for a near fall.
Ziggler decides to expose the turnbuckle since Wyatt failed. Ziggler tries to send Wyatt into the turnbuckle but Wyatt counters into a Sister Abigail set up but Ziggler with a rollup for a near fll. Wyatt with a uranage for a near fall.
Wyatt picks up Ziggler and Ziggler with a punch. Wyatt with forearms and kicks. Wyatt send Ziggler towards the exposde turnbuckle but Ziggler hits the middle turnbuckle. Ziggler sends Wyatt into the exposed turnbuckle and Ziggler with a super kick for the three count.
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
After the match Ziggler has something to say to Dean from the turnbuckles so Dean gets on the announce table.
Erick Rowan attacks Dolph Ziggler from behind and Dean goes after Rowan. Ambrose goes after Wyatt and Rowan with a uranage to Ambrose. Ambrose is sent to the floor and Wyatt has Dolph set for Sister Abigail and he hits it.
We go to credits.
