WWE SmackDown Live Results, July 17th 2017, live updates, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Baron Corbin and Kevin Owens

WWE has quite the show in store for SmackDown Live!

That's it from our live coverage of WWE SmackDown Live. Join us again this day for WWE Battleground. Cheers till then!

A #PopUpPowerbomb seals the deal as @FightOwensFight pins the #USChampion @AJStylesOrg on the last #SDLive before #WWEBattleground!!! pic.twitter.com/g2yaxkeD1D
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

Nakamura and Owens brawled outside the ring before Corbin rolled Styles into the ring and looked to hit the End of Days. Styles reversed it and looked set to hit the Styles Clash when Owens hit him with a Super Kick. KO followed it up with a Pop-Up Powerbomb to AJ Styles to pin him just days ahead of WWE Battleground.

Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin def. AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura

Styles looked to lock in a Calf Crusher but Corbin tossed him across the ring. As Corbin walked up to Styles, he attempted to lock in the Calf Crusher again and was successful this time but Corbin reached the ropes.

Owens and Styles tagged themselves in as AJ came in off the hot tag and took Owens down with a strike combination followed by a running forearm. AJ then planted Owens face-first into the mat for a nearfall. Owens responded with a clothesline and tagged Corbin in.

Corbin then charged at Nakamura but Nakamura sidestepped him. However, Corbin recovered and hit a Deep Six. He then went for a count but Styles broke it up. Nakamura replied with a knee to the guy before catching him with an enzeguiri.

Owens took control after Corbin interjected from the apron. Corbin then tagged himself in and locked in a bear hug on Nakamura.

Owens and Nakamura came in as the legal men, as Nakamura hit the Good Vibrations in the corner, followed by the step-up enzeguiri.

Corbin was all over Styles when we came back from commercial after delivering a right hand to Styles, who was coming in off the springboard.

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin looked to blindside Nakamura once again by attacking him during his entrance. Owens and Styles soon joined the fray and we headed to commercial before the match could begin.

#WWEBattleground opponents will COLLIDE when @AJStylesOrg and @ShinsukeN take on @FightOwensFight and @BaronCorbinWWE NEXT on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/GtVyVhpgQw
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

#Breezango is ready for a CLOSE ENCOUNTER...and it looks like @MmmGorgeous and @WWEFandango just might get it at #WWEBattleground! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/ga97pd4J5m
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

We're not alone...
The #FashionFiles becomes the #FashionXFiles NEXT on #SDLive! @mmmgorgeous @WWEFandango pic.twitter.com/Sdhwkz3hzh
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

We got another hilarious Fashion Files segment with Tyler Breeze and Fandango that ended with them getting package that contained the severed head of a soft toy along with a paper with "Battleground" written on it.

Renee Youngs is backstage with SmackDown Women's Champion Naomi. Naomi says that even though she won't be defending her title at Battleground, she will be the first one to congratulate the winner of the #1 contender's match.

Carmella interferes at this point and tells Naomi that she will go wherever Naomi goes.

Genetically Superior. #SDLive. #CharlottevsBecky @MsCharlotteWWE @BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/nf551QcGCn
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 19, 2017

.@BeckyLynchWWE WINS!! #SDLive #CharlottevsBecky pic.twitter.com/S7TToTB4RL
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) July 19, 2017

Tamina and Lana came out to interfere as Becky and Charlotte shook hands. Natalya took Charlotte and Becky down from behind before Lana took out Natalya to set things up for Sunday's PPV.

Becky then made another attempt to lock in a Disarmer. Charlotte blocked it and went for a Natural Selection but Becky beautifully transitioned it into another attempted Disarmer. Charlotte blocked it and went for a moonsault off the top rope.
Becky moved as Charlotte crashed into the mat. Becky locked in another Disarmer and this time Charlotte couldn't break out of it and was forced to tap.

Becky Lynch def. Charlotte

The crowd were chanting "Becky" when we returned from commercial as Charlotte hit Becky knife-edged chops. She followed it up with a jumping knee before looking to lock in the Figure 4. Becky countered and hit Charlotte with a dropkick followed by a Bexploder. She followed it up with a running forearm for a 2-count.

Becky took Charlotte down with an armdrag before Charlotte taunted Becky with two consecutive somersaults. An unimpressed Becky went for a Disarmer but Charlotte anticipated it and rolled out of the ring.

Charlotte vs Becky Lynch

The two friends face off just days away from the Fatal-5-Way match at WWE Battleground for the #1 Contendership for the SmackDown Women's Championship. The two women lock up as the match begins before we get a great segment of the two avoiding each others offence.

UP NEXT: Best friends will battle when @MsCharlotteWWE collides with @BeckyLynchWWE on #SDLive, LIVE on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/LIJGC1ZRL7
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

Could THIS be the scene this Sunday at #WWEBattleground? @RusevBUL @JohnCena #SDLive pic.twitter.com/fVAHt6pFGF
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

Cena then raised the American flag and waved it as his music hit. Rusev attacked him from behind at this point. After stomping Cena, Rusev hit him with a jumping side kick. Rusev then locked in The Accolade. Cena tried to power out of it but it was just too much.

Cena's promo is based totally on cheap pops about the USA and it only works to a certain extent. I really think it's time for Cena to reinvent himself a little. This is getting repetitive. Invoking Pear Harbor and Operation Overlord more than 70 years later for a promo, didn't work in my opinion.

Cena ended his promo by saying, "These colours do not run, these colours kick ass."

John Cena comes out to his usual mixed yet loud reception from the WWE Universe. Old GLory is positioned on one of the corners as Cena enters the ring and he cuts a promo on Rusev, saying that he never liked Rusev for his attitude on the USA, the country Cena loves.

John Cena will be on next to talk about his Flag Match with Rusev at WWE Battleground.

Zayn followed it up by sending Mike back-first into the barricade. Once the action spilled back into the ring, Mike Kanellis finally looked to take control but Zayn took him back down with a clothesline before hitting him with an Exploder Suplex in the corner.

As Sami looked to set up the Helluva Kick, Maria Kanellis came inside the ring and blocked Mike off. Mike Kanellis took advantage of the distraction and hit Zayn with a forearm. He then hit a Samoan Driver for the upset win.

Mike Kanellis def. Sami Zayn

Mike Kanellis vs Sami Zayn
A rude introduction to the WWE for Mike Kanellis as Zayn took control in the early stages, sending Mike scurrying to ringside. Sami followed Mike out and rolled him back in before clotheslining him back out of the ring.

He's a lover AND a fighter! @RealMikeBennett makes his in-ring debut NEXT on #SDLive, LIVE on @USA_Network! @MariaLKannelis pic.twitter.com/mzvDnDquX2
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

Mike Kanellis is set to make his in-ring WWE debut next.

Renee Young is backstage interviewing Chad Gable on his reaction to Jason Jordan being revealed as Kurt Angle's biological son. Gable replies that he was taken by surprise and it was also a new beginning for him.

We're backstage with Shane McMahon and the 5 women who will take part in the #1 Contender's match at WWE Battleground. At first Charlotte wants to face Lana but after a dismissive comment towards Becky Lynch, Shane books a match between Charlotte and Becky Lynch for tonight.

ALSO TONIGHT: @AJStylesOrg and @ShinsukeN vs. @FightOwensFight and @BaronCorbinWWE on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/BjMl5PIFjr
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

Even @XavierWoodsPhD and @WWEBigE didn't know @TrueKofi could pull out offense like THIS! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/7GUowUQf7d
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

Both Kofi and Uso are on the top turnbuckle and Kofi knocks Jimmy off. His brother Jey, gets on the apron for the distraction as the rest of the New Day protested. Kofi looks to hit Jimmy Uso with a crossbody but Jimmy rolls through and pins Kofi for the win.

Jimmy Uso def. Kofi Kingston

Uso countered Kofi's offense by holding him in a Samoan Drop position and sending Kofi neck-first into the turnbuckle.

As we rejoin the action, Uso hits Kofi with a spinning kick to the side of the head. Kofi replies by hitting an incoming Jimmy Uso with a standing double stomp before following it up with a jumping leg drop.

Kofi Kingston vs Jimmy Uso

Kofi and Jimmy lock up as the bell rings with Kofi taking control early and stomping Uso in the corner. He follows it up with a running dropkick in the corner and then dodges an incoming Jimmy Uso and sending him crashing out of the ring. Kofi then hits an improvised dive as we head to commercial.

UP NEXT: Jimmy @WWEUsos goes one-on-one with #TheNewDay's @TrueKofi on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/Wqeifvekjp
— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2017

"This Sunday, two men will walk in the #PunjabiPrison, but only one MODERN-DAY MAHARAJA will walk out as #WWEChampion!" #SDLive pic.twitter.com/4FS2vnZaQD
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 19, 2017

Randy Orton's music hits and the 'Viper' makes his way down to the ring. Orton says that Jinder is either the stupidest person he's met or the bravest - for wanting to step into the Punjabi Prison with him and negate any numbers advantage he had.

Orton went on to say that he had nothing to lose going into this match and started climbing the outer structure of the ring while cutting promo. He told Jinder that he had the pressure of 1.3 billion on his back and he would inevitably fail.

Jinder then shoots a warning to the Randy Orton and berates him for threatening his people and his family.

SmackDown Live kicks off with Jinder Mahal and The Singh Brothers. The ring is surrounded by the Punjabi prison and one of the Singh Brothers take to the mic to explain the rules. The Superstars in the match first has to escape from the first structure through one of 4 doors before climbing out of the second structure.

The entire buzz around the Kurt Angle storyline and the main event on RAW has left quite a lot for SmackDown Live to live up to.

To be perfectly honest, since June RAW has been the superior show. It's not that SmackDown Live lacks the talent, but something has been off since the superstar shake-up. There could be a multitude of reasons, but here's a personal take on why with a few reasons:

1)The main event scene of SmackDown Live:

Post shake-up, the main title picture scene has been between Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton. Orton had the most boring babyface title reign and do we even need to get into Jinder? It's understandable that WWE wants to expand into the Indian market but Jinder just isn't the guy to do it. Either that or they're not letting him be who he really is.

It goes without saying that Jinder hasn't put on any great quality matches. That's where some credit should go to Randy for trying to carry him in the match and the feud. Jinder's promos are literally the same thing week after week after week. We get it, people "discriminate" you because of the colour of your skin and how you talk, blah blah blah! The dude grew up in Canada and does not have an Indian accent!

Obviously, this is more of a knock on creative than on Jinder. But how much more can WWE really pull out this race card in order to get heat? Randy as a babyface is by no stretch of the imagination hot or that entertaining either. His babyface run when he returned last year was cool, and the Wyatt storyline was pretty darn awesome up until the break-up. Not so much the case anymore. I'm still mad that Bray didn't retain at WrestleMania and become the top star of the SmackDown brand, but that's a rant I could go on forever.

2)The superstar shake-up stripping SmackDown Live of its main stars:

The Miz, Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt(and arguably Alexa Bliss too) were some of the key figures to SmackDown Live and what made it so great from the brand split in 2016 until WrestleMania. Stripping SmackDown Live of some of the core stars that made it beat RAW in terms of quality.
By essentially taking out some of the core stars, they pulled the rug from underneath it. However, in their defence, SmackDown still has AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, John Cena and Shinsuke Nakamura, who are arguably the best workers in the company.

3)Stuffing the women's division into one storyline

Pre-WrestleMania, one of the great parts of the Women's division was that the storylines were simple and organic, and they didn't make it a point to shove all the "history-making" down people's throats like they did with the Sasha-Charlotte feud. On the flip side, Sasha and Charlotte put on far higher match quality than any of the women on SD did.

All said and done, it's about patience. Rome wasn't built in a day after all. It's possible that it'll take time for the brand to get on it's footing and get back that greatness it had. It's not like it's a terrible show. It simply just doesn't have the same quality it did a few months ago. It's possible that this is just a transitional phase and great things are to come. The internal optimist is telling you to stay positive and patient too!

Hope you enjoyed that mini rant. Tune in around 5:30AM IST/8PM ET where we'll be LIVE for SmackDown!

Jinder Mahal brings the Punjabi Prison to SmackDown LIVE

WWE Champion Jinder Mahal has taken great exception with Randy Orton’s vow to make his life a living hell. After his victory over Tye Dillinger last Tuesday, The Modern-Day Maharaja promised to show Orton what hell awaits them both at WWE Battleground, as he promised to bring the Punjabi Prison to SmackDown LIVE.While the frightening structure is on its way to Team Blue, the WWE Universe is wondering exactly why Mahal is bringing it and what it means for The Viper days before he steps inside at WWE Battleground. What does the WWE Champion have in store?

WWE Battleground opponents square off in tag team showdown

As WWE Battleground approaches, participants in two of this Sunday’s most anticipated matches will join forces for a huge tag team battle on SmackDown LIVE, as United States Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura face Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin.For Owens, the image of Styles taking his title at Madison Square Garden two weeks ago is probably still clear in his mind, and The Prizefighter isn’t likely to forget the defeat he suffered in tag team action last week against The Phenomenal One and John Cena. Corbin, on the other hand, will be looking to take control of his rivalry with Nakamura after last week’s ringside brawl between the two.With two huge singles matches on the horizon at WWE Battleground, will these competitors be able to function in tandem action on SmackDown LIVE?

John Cena to address Flag Match in exclusive interview

Five days before he defends the honor of America in a Flag Match against Rusev at WWE Battleground, John Cena will address the impending battle in an exclusive interview on SmackDown LIVE.Though Cena and AJ Styles were victorious over The Bulgarian Brute in tag team action last Tuesday, Rusev sent a message to the 16-time World Champion earlier in the night, locking Cena in the Accolade. What will Cena have to say before he stands up for his country in Philadelphia this Sunday?

15-Year Veteran Mike Kanellis to make in-ring debut against Sami Zayn

After weeks of preaching about the “power of love” to the WWE Universe, Mike Kanellis will finally get to show exactly how far that power can propel him in singles competition, as he makes his in-ring debut against Sami Zayn on SmackDown LIVE.Over the past few weeks, Zayn has run into Maria & Mike Kanellis on multiple occasions, interrupting their declarations of love. Last Tuesday, Maria demanded an apology from Zayn, who responded by saying he’s tired of apologizing. That led Maria to slap Zayn across the face and Mike to smash a glass vase of flowers across Zayn’s back, warning him that sometimes, love hurts.Will Mike’s in-ring debut be a success, or will Zayn get a measure of payback?

Preview Credits: WWE.com