WWE SmackDown Opener:
We go live inside The Coliseum in Richmond where new WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens kicks off the show tonight.
Owens grabs a mic holding and looking down at the WWE United States Championship. “This…this just feels right doesn’t it? I am once again YOUR United States Champion.” He proved at Battleground that if your heart is pure and if you are a good person, good things happen and he took his title back from “that thief” AJ Styles. Owens says he can now go back to defending this title with the pride and honor it deserves. A loud “AJ STYLES” chant starts up. He announces he is reinstating the Kevin Owens WWE United States Title Open Challenge and it begins…next week. Owens says he would never defend his title in front of a bunch of hicks in Richmond.
Here comes AJ Styles with something to say.
Styles enters the ring and grabs a mic. Owens says Styles better be coming out here to congratulate him and declare him the better man. Styles wants a rematch for the title. Owens reiterates he doesn’t defending his title against Styles or anyone tonight.
Chris Jericho’s music hits. Y2J is back and in the house! Big reaction for Jericho with his scarf and list in hand tonight as he enters the ring. Owens can’t believe it.
A loud “Y2J” chant breaks out. “It’s the return of Jericho…welcome maaaaaaaaaaan.”
Owens asks what Jericho is doing here. Jericho yells at him to be quiet. He points out leaving on a stretcher thanks to Owens the last time he was on Smackdown. Jericho says he is back to get his rematch for the United States Championship tonight.
Styles says they are all glad he is back, but some things have changed. He says the next guy in line for that championship is him. Jericho asks Styles if he is trying to cut in line. He asks Styles if he knows what happens when people cut in line. Jericho references a guy cutting in line in front of him at the grocery store recently, adding that he punched him and put him in a Walls of Jericho in front of the can corn. He informs Styles he just made the list. Owens bails and tries to walk away when Jericho tells him to stop.
Here comes Shane McMahon. Shane wants Owens to hang around because it concerns him and the United States Championship. He says both Jericho and Styles will get an opportunity at the title and at the same time. Shane reveals Owens will defend his title in a triple threat match against Jericho and Styles. He adds a match of this quality won’t happen at WrestleMania since that is too far away and it won’t even go down in a few weeks at SummerSlam. Shane says the title match will go down live tonight.
– Shinsuke Nakamura and Baron Corbin are shown walking backstage. We go to commercial.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
Corbin misses some punches but Nakamura connects with punches and forearms that send Corbin to the mat. Nakamura goes to the floor and hits a running knee to the head and a knee drop off the apron. Nakamura goes up the ramp and he charges at Corbin but Corbin with a clothesline. Corbin sends Nakamura back into the ring and gets a near fall.
We go to split screen and Corbin sends Nakamura to the floor. Corbin runs Nakamura into the ringside barrier. Corbin goes back into the ring to break the referee’s count. Corbin sends Nakamura into the ringside barrier. Nakamura with forearms but Corbin runs Nakamura into the ringside barrier again. They return to the ring and Corbin punches Nakamura. Nakamura with punches but Corbin goes for Deep Six but Nakamura escapes and applies a cross arm breaker.
Corbin rolls Nakamura over to get a near fall while Nakamura has Corbin in a triangle. Corbin picks up Nakamura and Nakamura with a guillotine. Corbin with a suplex to escape the hold. Corbin with a half nelson and chin lock. Nakamura with punches but Corbin with a knee. Corbin misses Nakamura and goes to the floor and runs around the post but Nakamura avoids Corbin and hits a flying boot. Nakamura with kicks to Corbin.
Corbin blocks a kick and he slaps Nakamura. Nakamura with boots to Corbin followed by knees to the head. Nakamura with knees and a forearm. Nakamura puts Corbin on the top rope and he hits a running knee to the midsection. Nakamura goes to the turnbuckles and hits a jumping side kick and gets a near fall. Nakamura misses Kinshasa and a series of kicks. Corbin with a back breaker for a near fall. Corbin with knees to the midsection. Corbin mocks Nakamura. and then he goes after Nakamura but goes to the floor and returns to the ring and hits Deep Six for a near fall.
Corbin goes for End of Days and Nakamura escapes. Corbin tries for a low kick but Nakamura moves. Nakamura with a series of kicks and he kicks Corbin in the back of the knee. Nakamura with a running knee to the back of the head and hits Kinshasa for the three count.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
After the match, Nakamura stands tall as his music plays. We go to replays. Nakamura hits the corner to pose as his celebration continues.
– Still to come, a big Triple Threat main event for the US Title. Also, WWE Champion Jinder Mahal will demand a SummerSlam opponent. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Naomi is in the interview area. She is asked about Natalya’s win at Battleground and her refusal to shake her hand. Naomi says she will not let Natalya disrespect her like that.
Natalya shows up and she talks about disrespect. Natalya says that Naomi has tarnished everything about the title. You made the belt into a child’s toy. You are destroying the legacy of families like the Harts. She will win that title at SummerSlam.
Naomi says that Natalya is stuck in the dungeon on the past. Naomi says she is not tarnishing the title, she earned it and she added a little of herself to the belt. She tells Natalya that she will be blinded by the glow.
Carmella shows up with the briefcase and she says she is looking into the future with her contract.
Charlotte and Becky Lynch vs. Tamina and Lana
Charlotte and Becky Lynch head to the ring. They team up next, after another commercial.
We start with Becky Lynch and Lana. Becky goes for an armbar immediately and Lana quickly tags out to Tamina. Becky goes for an armbar on Tamina, but transitions to a roll up for a two count. Tamina avoids another armbar attempt and launches Becky to the corner. Tamina pulls Becky down from the corner face first. Lana tags in smiling and attacks Becky in the corner with help from Tamina. Lana keeps Becky grounded working over her left arm. Lana drives Becky down on the mat by her hair and gets a two count.
Tamina tags herself in as the fans in Richmond start a “YOU CAN’T WRESTLE” chant. Hot tag to Charlotte who levels Tamina and Becky with elbows. Charlotte with chops to Tamina. Charlotte with a knee to the back of Tamina’s neck. Tamina with a kick and Lana tags herself in. Charlotte dumps Tamina and hits a big boot on Lana for the win.
Winners: Charlotte and Becky Lynch
After the match, Flair and Becky leave together as Lana sits up in the ring. Tamina is outside of the ring and she’s not happy about the loss. Tamina stares Lana down and yells at her. Tamina goes to leave but stops to yell at Lana some more. Lana looks like she might cry. Tamina tells Lana to come on and she does.
– Still to come, Jinder Mahal will demand a new opponent for SummerSlam. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and the announcers show us stills from Sunday’s Punjabi Prison match.
In the Arena:
We go to the ring and out comes WWE Champion Jinder Mahal as Hamilton does the introduction. Mahal comes out by himself, no sign of The Singh Brothers or The Great Khali.
Tom says The Singh Brothers aren’t here because of the beatings they took from Randy Orton on Sunday. Jinder takes the mic as fans boo. He says he crushed the legacy of Orton on Sunday as the legend of The Modern Day Maharaja was born. Jinder says Orton agreed to face him on his own turf and hoped to beat him at his own game. Jinder says Orton underestimated him. The “what!?” chants start now. Jinder says he will stay WWE Champion as long as he desires. Jinder demands to know his WWE SummerSlam opponent, who will have their dreams crushed. Jinder demands silence next as he speaks to his people in Punjabi. The music hits and out comes John Cena to the ring.
Jinder says he was not finished. He says he knows what John will say. Jinder says you don’t deserve to represent 1.3 Billion people of India, you didn’t deserve to win with help from the Singhs and Great Khali. John says Jinder might be a maharaja, but as a mind reader he is horrible. John says that he came out here to congratulate Jinder. He respects that Jinder is in the best shape of his life and that the WWE Championship means so much to him that he will do anything. John says it is not a moral shake down but it is a congratulations. John says this is a heads up. He says you may recognize his voice from pistachio commercials, but he is John Cena and he does not care if you have a giant, a cast of merry men. John says that won’t be enough because at SummerSlam you are facing Super Cena. John says he will be walking out of SummerSlam a seventeen time champion.
Daniel Bryan comes out and he has something to say.
Daniel congratulates both men on winning at Battleground. He says John is on a quest to make history but you don’t make the matches, Daniel and Shane do. You have to earn your opportunities, even if your name is John Cena. Next week, you will face a man who performed brilliantly earlier tonight, Shinsuke Nakamura and the winner of that first time ever dream match will face Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam. Back to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back…stage and Kevin Owens accuses Shane McMahon of not liking him and wanting to make sure he loses his title tonight by booking the triple threat match. He points out he doesn’t even have to get pinned tonight to lose his title. Shane agrees they don’t like each other and he doesn’t care who the United States Champion is as long as it gets defended here on Smackdown Live. He says tonight’s main event will be great and that’s what he cares about. Owens says if Shane wasn’t the Commissioner he wouldn’t care about him either.
Aiden English and Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis vs. Sami Zayn and Tye Dillinger
Aiden English is inside the ring with a spotlight and begins singing. He sings a song before Mike Kanellis makes his way out with Maria Kanellis. Sami Zayn is out first for his team, followed by Tye Dillinger.
Tye starts off with Aiden and takes control. Sami tags in and we go to commercial as the match is just getting started.
Back from the break and the heels are in control. English works over Sami. We see how Mike & Maria distracted during the break, allowing English to nail a cheap shot on Sami. Mike tags in and takes over, working Sami around the ring. Mike drops Sami with a boot for a 2 count. Mike stomps and tags English back in. Sami fights English off as fans try to rally for him.
Sami sends English through the ropes. Tye finally gets the tag as English runs back in. Tye unloads on English and hits a big backdrop. Mike tags in but Tye drops him and goes to work. Tye mounts Mike in the corner with rights as fans count along. Tye takes English down as he approaches. Tye with more offense. Sami tags in and hits English with a Helluva Kick for the pin.
Winners: Sami Zayn and Tye Dillinger
After the match, Sami and Tye celebrate as Maria runs her mouth at ringside.
– Still to come, Owens defends his title in a Triple Threat. We see the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions backstage doing a photo shoot. They walk off and head to the ring. Back to commercial.
In the Arena:
Back from the break and out comes new SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day. Their intro is interrupted as we hear a bunch of commotion instead. The Usos beat Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods from the back to the stage. They destroy the new champions and use the LED boards. The Usos bring it down the ramp but Big E has recovered as he runs out from the back. They take Big E out and leave him laying with double superkicks. The Usos stand tall after destroying The New Day.
– Renee is backstage with Shinsuke Nakamura to ask him about next week’s #1 contenders match with John Cena. Nakamura says Cena can’t see him next week, and he will see Jinder at SummerSlam.
Triple Threat for the WWE United States Title: Chris Jericho vs. AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens
We go to the ring and out first comes Chris Jericho for tonight’s main event. AJ Styles is out next. New WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens is out next. Back to commercial.
Back from the break and they go at it as the bell rings. AJ and Jericho take Owens to the corner. Owens gets knocked to the floor by Jericho. AJ takes advantage and rolls Jericho up for a 2 count. More counters and pin attempts between AJ and Jericho while Owens is on the floor. Owens runs in and breaks up a pin by AJ. AJ gets tossed. Jericho and Owens stare each other down before going at it. Owens blocks a Codebreaker. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho but it’s blocked. Jericho nails a dropkick for a 1 count. AJ kicks Jericho after Owens kicks out.
AJ takes Jericho to the corner and works him over. Jericho blocks a suplex by AJ. AJ ends up sending Jericho to the floor. Owens runs over AJ as he turns around. Owens mounts AJ with right hands. Owens talks trash to AJ about being the champ. Owens beats AJ around and whips him hard ribs-first into the corner. Owens keeps up the assault on AJ, keeping him down on the mat. Owens knocks Jericho back off the apron to the floor. Owens with a senton on Styles for another 2 count.
Owens with more offense and a dropkick to Styles for a 2 count. Owens goes to the floor and stomps away on Jericho now. Owens goes back in for AJ but AJ rocks him. Owens drops AJ with a big elbow for another pin attempt. AJ catches Owens in the Calf Crusher as fans pop. Jericho runs in and hits a Lionsault on both opponents to break the hold. Jericho with a 2 count on AJ. All three Superstars are down as we go to commercial.
AJ is in control after the match, fighting both opponents off. Jericho with a big backdrop to AJ. Jericho with shots to AJ before taking him to the top for a superplex. Owens comes over to interrupt the superplex. Owens gets Jericho on his shoulders for an Electric Chair Drop but Jericho brings them down and goes for the Walls of Jericho but it’s blocked. Owens drops Jericho with a right hand. Styles dumps AJ over the top rope from the apron. AJ springboards in with the 450 on Jericho but he can’t get the pin. Owens runs in and covers Jericho for a 2 count.
AJ brings Owens to the floor and sends him into the barrier. AJ goes back in and calls for a Styles Clash on Jericho but it’s blocked. Jericho goes for the Walls on AJ and gets it locked in. Owens breaks it up. Jericho catapults Owens into AJ, knocking AJ out of the ring. Jericho applies the Walls on Owens now as fans cheer. AJ runs in but Jericho breaks the hold and hits AJ with a Codebreaker. Jericho with a close 2 count on AJ.
Fans chant “this is awesome” and do dueling chants now. AJ and Jericho go at it. Owens hits corner cannonballs on both opponents. He charges AJ again but eats a forearm. Jericho drops AJ with an enziguri. Owens drops Jericho with a superkick. AJ drops Owens with a pele kick and they all go down again. Another “this is awesome” chant. Jericho ends up sending AJ to the floor for a nasty fall. Owens superkicks Jericho but he’s still standing. Owens with a pop-up powerbomb on Jericho for a close 2 count. Owens can’t believe it.
Owens goes up top and hits the Frogsplash on Jericho but AJ breaks the pin, tossing Owens out of the ring. AJ takes the pin for himself and covers Jericho for the win.
Winner and New WWE United States Champion: AJ Styles
After the match, AJ celebrates and takes his title as his music hits. We get replays. We come back to Owens throwing a fit at ringside by the announcers table. AJ leaves with his title and stops as Owens takes the mic and starts yelling about how everything is unfair. Owens says AJ stole his victory. Owens says he wants his one-on-one rematch next Tuesday night. Whether we idiots like it or not, Owens is taking his title back next week. SmackDown goes off the air with AJ celebrating as Owen’s tantrum continues.
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