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The ball was now in SmackDown Live's court after a solid offering from their counterparts in red. With some big dream matches seemingly set for RAW's next No Mercy PPV, SmackDown had to step up their game.
The blue brand's face, John Cena's departure to RAW meant the arrival of many new and old faces and WWE didn't disappoint. Here are the results and highlights for the fall-out SmackDown episode of SummerSlam:
Opening Segment
The episode opened with arguably the hottest feud currently on SmackDown Live, the United States title programme. The Champ, AJ Styles came out first and revealed that he was restarting the US Open Challenge.
Guess who came out? A distraught Kevin Owens! KO looked like a man possessed as he accused another McMahon of screwing over a legendary Canadian 20 years after the Montreal Screwjob.
KO told Shane McMahon that he had survived a helicopter crash, a 450 Splash from AJ had disorientated him and cost KO the title. Owens brought up some footage from SummerSlam which showed that Shane's hand hit the mat thrice despite AJ's foot being on the rope.
Owens said that this should stand since KO had been pinned a few weeks ago even though his shoulder wasn't on the mat and the ref's call was final.
AJ had had enough of KO's whining by now and told KO he was ready to put the US title on the line tonight. Shane O'Mac concurred and added that this would be the final opportunity for KO. KO had a condition, though, as he wanted to employ a referee of his choice and Shane agreed.
Was this the final chapter of this great feud or was there another twist in store?
Daniel Bryan booked a handicap match between The Singh Brothers and Shinsuke Nakamura for tonight's SmackDown Live in a backstage segment.
A Glorious Debut!
It was rumoured for days and thank god it happened! SmackDown Live is officially GLORIOUS!
In what initially seemed like a very generic segment with Aiden English kicking things off with his usual singing turned out to be a much-needed boost for the blue brand.
The lights went out and Bobby Roode's music hit. The Brooklyn fans went berzerk! The former NXT Champion made his way to the ring in elegant fashion and kicked off his first ever SmackDown Live match against English amidst the fans humming along with his epic theme song.
The match kicked off with English being on top of Roode as SD went into a commercial break. Back from the break, Roode mounted a comeback by taking English down with an Atomic Drop followed by the Blockbuster from the top rope.
Roode, who worked as a heel in NXT, seemed to have main roster journey as a face as he went up against the heel in English. Could just be a one-off thing before cuts an epic heel promo. Nevertheless, English got some in his finisher, the Directors' Cut and got a nearfall.
But the momentum shifted back in Roode's favour after English missed the senton from the top rope. Roode capitalized and planted him with a Spinebuster. A GLORIOUS Implant DDT, 1-2-3! An impressive debut for the former TNA World Champion.
Result: Bobby Roode def. Aiden English via pinfall
Renee Young took to the ring to interview the newest addition to SD Live after the match. Roode began by thanking Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon for cashing in and breaking the bank to sign the hottest free agent in Sports Entertainment.
And just like that in a New York minute, SD went from being great to ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS!
The Gold Standard Is Back Home!
The epic was followed by the return of the year as Shelton Benjamin finally returned to the company after 7 years.
Daniel Bryan was spotted talking to Chad Gable about his future. He claimed that he felt sorry that his tag team partner, Jason Jordan moved to RAW after it was revealed that Kurt Angle was his father.
Bryan clarified that he thought the best of Gable and had made a deal with Angle when he agreed to let Jordan go to RAW. Bryan said that he let Jordan go because Angle had assured him the help in signing one of Angle's old friends.
He introduced Shelton Benjamin as Chad Gable's new tag team partner and the Barclays Center just went nuts!
Voracious yes chants reverberated as Bryan announced he new team's debut match for next week's SmackDown. Gable looked like a stoked fanboy as he told Benjamin how he adored him growing up apart from the similarities between the two.
The segment ended with Benjamin and Bryan shaking hands. The Gold Standard is finally back after 7 years! Phew!
The Hype Bros vs. The Usos
The SmackDown Tag-Team Champions took on the Hype Bros up next. Mojo Rawley began starts strongly against Jimmy Uso. He planted Jimmy before hitting a forearm in the corner.
Rawley tagged in Ryder as they looked to keep Jimmy down. Zack Ryder came in with loads of momentum and continued the onslaught on Jimmy Uso. Jey interested at the right moment and pulled his brother away before Ryder connected with the Broski boot.
Jey finally got tagged in as the twins assumed control of the match as they took the ground and pound to Rawley. A desperate Ryder watched from the corner.
Moo Rawley got some reprieve as he took Jey Uso down outside the ring before Jimmy Uso neutralized him with a superkick. Zack Ryder went up to the top rope but got distracted by Jey effectively helping Jimmy to pull him down.
Jimmy stunned him with the superkick, 1-2-3!
Result: The Usos def. The Hype Bros
The Usos cut a decent promo after the match putting every tag team backstage on notice. Initially, it felt like an NXT Tag team would interrupt the champs, or maybe the New Day despite the predictability factor. Sadly, nothing happened!
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Singh Brothers (Handicap Match)
The crowd was firmly behind the Artist as he came out to exact some revenge against the brothers.
Nakamura immediately hit each Singh Brother with a low kick sending them scurrying back to their corner. When they got ready to fight again, Nakamura piled them into the corner and hit the double good vibrations.
Nakamura set the two Singh's onto the top turnbuckle and hit a running knee to the gut. He then tossed one of them out of the ring and locked in a Triangle Choke on the other. Tap tap tap!
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura def. The Singh Brothers
Jinder Mahal attacked Nakamura after the match, but The Artist was a step ahead as he took the Maharaja out with the Kinshasa! I, for one, thought this was a set-up or Hideo Itami's main roster debut. Thankfully, Nakamura didn't any help.
Natalya & Carmella vs. Becky Lynch & Naomi
The new SmackDown Women's Champion came out first sporting the trademarked Bret Hart jacket and her newly won title. The champion cut a promo about extinguishing the glow at Summerslam and promising everyone that she will hold on to the belt for a very long time.
Her tag team partner for tonight, Miss MITB Carmella and James Ellsworth interrupted the proceedings. Carmella debuted her new-ring gear, a downgrade from her distinct predecessor.
Carmella claimed that she let Natalya have her moment at SummerSlam and that the Hart scion was on borrowed time. She warned Natalya to watch her back as she may cash in the briefcase at the end of tonight's match.
Lynch and Naomi made their respective entrances and the match got underway. Nattie and Becky continued the match after the break as the champion sent the Lasskicker face-first into the turnbuckle. A mudhole stomping ensued.
Becky found herself trapped in a headlock but the former SD Women's Champion fought back. Natalya almost beheaded Becky with a nasty discuss clothesline!
Nattie went for the tag but Carmella refused and stepped down from the apron. This was enough for Becky to recuperate and stun Natalya with an enziguiri. Nattie got things back in her favour after she planted Becky into the mat from the top rope.
Becky finally reached out to her corner and tagged Naomi in, who came in hot and connected with a sunset flip rollup on Natalya.
Carmella was more concerned about her cash-in and didn't see the blind tag by Natalya. Nattie chased Carmella into the ring, however, Becky caught Carmella and hit her with the Bex-Plex.
A split-legged Moonsault from Naomi and that was all she wrote!
Result: Naomi & Becky Lynch def. Natalya & Carmella
Dolph Ziggler returned to SmackDown Live in a backstage segment -- yeah, backstage segment! The Show off himself was angry over the fact that all he got for his 'BIG' entrance was a backstage segment.
According to Ziggler, he had finally found out what it took to be successful in WWE - dance moves, lights, lasers and big fancy robes. A added that he may get a woman who glows in the dark as his valet!
Ziggler vows to unleash an unseen side of him on next week's SmackDown. A really solid promo from the former WWE Champion.
A locker room segment between Lana and Tamina followed the Ziggler return.
After scouting all night, Baron Corbin finally agreed to be the special guest referee in the US title match tonight. Sami Zayn was who KO surprisingly approached initially, but he refused.
AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens (Baron Corbin as special guest referee)
The special referee for this match, Baron Corbin made his way out first. KO was his classic self as he rolled out of the ring just as the match started. He took Styles out with a cheap shot and pounded the champ in the corner.
AJ gained control of the bout with a springboard elbow as SD went into a break! Back from Styles was grounded by KO's headlock. Corbin, in the meantime, was doing a fair job as the referee, thought he looked really weird in the black and whites.
AJ broke out of the hold and went for a Phenomenal Forearm. KO ducked but got caught in the Calf Crusher. Styles prevented Owens from reaching the ropes as he pulled him back in time. Corbin was forced to break the hold after he 'supposedly' saw KO touch the rope. Owens pushed Styles into Corbin. He took advantage of the distraction and rolled Corbin up for a nearfall.
The chaos between the three stars forced Shane McMahon to come out after both Owens and Styles knocked each other out with clotheslines. KO took advantage yet again of Corbin's heated argument with McMahon by low-blowing Styles.
He covered Styles, 1-2-NO! Shane pulled Corbin out of the ring at the knick of time. Corbin gave Shane the ref's shirt and left. needless to say, Owens was disgusted.
As Corbin was about to count to 3, Shane pulled Corbin out of the ring. A frustrated Corbin handed Shane the ref's shirt and walked away. Owens was absolutely disgusted!
It was too late for Owens now, as Styles made the best out of the situation and connected with a guillotine and then a Phenomenal Forearm for the pinfall win.
Result: AJ Styles retains against Kevin Owens
With KO's feud with Styles all but wrapped up, expect Shane McMahon to face the Prizefighter at Hell in a Cell while Styles could go up against Corbin at the PPV.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
