'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We also saw WWE Champion Jinder Mahal in action as well as a glimpse of John Cena after his nasty neck bump last week.
John Cena kicks off SmackDown
John Cena kicked off SmackDown, talking about his dream match with Shinsuke Nakamura last week. Cena added that he didn’t know why fans chanted for Nakamura but then he found out that Nakamura hit hard, really hard. Cena then made fun of dusty finishes like blind referees and Montreal Screwjob’s adding that he had just lost, clean.
He then added Nakamura had earned a right to a championship shot at WrestleMania when Baron Corbin, with his new entrance music, interrupted. Corbin was unhappy with people talking about the handshake between Cena and Nakamura last week. Cena called Corbin a dumpster fire and fans started chanting it at Corbin as Cena added that the fans probably meant “dumpster fire” in the nicest way.
Corbin replied that Cena can take his respect and shove it when SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan’s music hit. The fans spontaneously broke out into chants of “YES” before Bryan could even speak.
Daniel Bryan came out and said he didn’t know if Corbin was a dumpster fire or the future but he would be facing John Cena at SummerSlam.
Tye Dillinger and Sami Zayn vs The Usos
We came back from commercial to see Tye Dillinger get the hot-tag before he tore into The Usos. The fans came unglued as Dillinger unloaded. He looked to hit Jey Uso with a suicide dive but Jey caught him with a forearm before Zayn hit The Usos with an over-the-top rope dive.
Dillinger then hit Jey Uso with a spinebuster for a nearfall. Dillinger then looked to hit the Tye Breaker but The Usos double teamed him and attacked his knee before Jimmy Uso locked in a modified Half Boston Crab to get Dillinger to tap out.
The Usos def. Sami Zayn and Tye Dillinger
Fashion Peaks Pt.2
We got Part 2 of Breezango’s Fashion Peaks as Tyler Breeze continued to look for Fandango. The skit started with Breeze catching up with The Ascension who said they came for the free pie and not to find Fandango.
Fandango then suddenly showed up behind Tyler Breeze wearing a tie on his head. He claimed that aliens had abducted him when Arn Anderson showed up. Tyler Breeze asked him if Arn destroyed Tully, Tully the horse.
Arn replied that he had because they should have named his horse Arn, because everyone knew he was the workhorse of the group. He then took two donuts before leaving.
Charlotte vs Lana
Lana took it upon herself to challenge Charlotte and it wasn’t easy for the Ravishing Russian. Charlotte destroyed Lana in the opening stages of the match before Lana tried to hit a backslide which Charlotte reversed for a nearfall. Charlotte then taunted Lana before she slapped Charlotte across the face.
Charlotte replied with a big boot before locking in the Figure-8 as Lana tapped.
Charlotte def. Lana
Shane McMahon calls out Kevin Owens and AJ Styles
Dueling chants of AJ Styles-Kevin Owens continued as Shane O’ Mac took to the mic again. Shane told KO that the latter had been apprehensive about Shane being the special guest referee. Owens replied that it had been in the heat of the moment and replied that he wasn’t worried a McMahon had already screwed a legendary Canadian for a title. KO added that while Bret had deserved it, he didn’t and that would be bad PR.
Owens then showed footage of Styles viciously attacking Shane backstage before WrestleMania 33 and asked him how he could be unbiased after watching that. AJ added that he hadn’t been happy with Shane being made special referee either before adding that if Shane screwed him, there would be repercussions. AJ added that Shane shouldn’t take it personally because he didn’t trust anyone, especially a McMahon.
Owens added that SummerSlam wouldn’t be the first time Shane had been a guest referee. He then added that he’d done his research and showed footage of Shane screwing Stone Cold at Survivor Series 1998. He then added that AJ could find more footage of Shane screwing wrestlers on the WWE Network.
Shane replied that he would call the match down the middle and he wouldn’t get involved unless he had to.
AJ then proposed that they wrestle right then and there for the US Championship but KO turned him down, saying that he wanted to win the title in the United States.
Owens then took a cheapshot at AJ Styles who replied with a Pelle Kick which hit Shane by mistake. KO laughed as he walked away while Shane slowly got back to his feet.
Naomi vs Carmella
Naomi was in complete control in the opening stages of the match. The SmackDown Women’s Champion seemed to be in the mood to teach Carmella a lesson as she set the pace of the match in the opening stages and driving Carmella out of the ring.
We came back from commercial to see the two women going at it. With Naomi perched on the top rope, we saw a familiar figure return to SmackDown Live. It was James Ellsworth – back from his 30-day suspension.
Ellsworth pushed Naomi off the top rope, helping Carmella to pin Naomi after she hit the champion with a Superkick.
Carmella def. Naomi
Backstage interview with Shinsuke Nakamura
Renee Young was backstage with Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura said that competing in the WWE had been his dream for a while and now that he had defeated John Cena, he was ready to become WWE Champion at SummerSlam.
Randy Orton vs Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal got a pretty big reception from the fans in the Air Canada Centre. Despite being billed from India because of his Indian heritage, the Canadian grappler was clearly much more popular than Randy Orton as the two got into the ring.
The fans chanted for Jinder as the match began but Randy Orton began the match on a roll. He was in complete control as the action spilled out to ringside before Orton hit Mahal with a back suplex on the announcer’s table. Orton then went to hit the RKO on the announcer’s table but Jinder pushed Orton off and crashing into the barricade as we headed to a commercial.
We came back from commercial to see Jinder Mahal in control before Orton sent him shoulder-first into the turnbuckle. Orton then hit a guillotine against the top rope before hitting a Superplex. Orton followed it with a Fallaway Slam before hitting the 10-count punches.
Mahal broke free and looked to mount a comeback but Orton hit Mahal with is trademark Powerslam. Mahal then caught Orton with a running knee out of nowhere for a nearfall. Mahal then signaled for the Khallas but Orton broke free and hit Mahal with the Draping DDT. He then signaled for the RKO but Jinder rolled him up for a nearfall before connecting with a Superkick.
Mahal then looked to hit the Khallas again but Orton hit an RKO out of nowhere for the pinfall.
Randy Orton def. Jinder Mahal
As SmackDown was going off air and as Randy Orton was making his way back up the entrance ramp, Rusev attacked him from behind.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
