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SmackDown Live’s go-home show for WWE Backlash came to us live from Manchester, New Hampshire. The show set up the title matches for Backlash as well as a new match being announced. Former WWE United States Champion Rusev was supposed to show up on SmackDOwn Live tonight but he never showed up. We aren;t sure why yet.
Let’s head straight to the results.
Kevin Owens’ Highlight Reel
SmackDown Live kicked off with WWE US Champion Kevin Owens who was now hosting the Highlight Reel. Owens announced that the only list Chris Jericho was on now was the ‘injured list’. Owens then went on to introduce his guest for the evening in French.
Styles’ music hit in the middle of KO’s introduction. Styles said that he saw Owens steal things from Jericho for over a year and it now looked like Owens had taken the Highlight Reel too. KO admonished Styles for the unscheduled introduction as AJ promised to bring the US Championship back home at WWE Backlash.
Jinder Mahal’s music hit at this point. Mahal asked Styles why he was outside when he was scheduled to be the guest on the Highlight Reel. He then went on to say he’d pin Orton on Sunday like he had on SmackDown last week. He then added that American fans would be bowing down to his feet when he became WWE Champion.
AJ Styles vs Jinder Mahal
When we came back from commercial, Jinder Mahal and AJ Styles squared off in the middle of the ring. Mahal’s power gave him the slight edge in the opening segment but Styles soon hit back with a dropkick but it wasn’t enough to keep Mahal down. Mahal replied with a shot to the throat and sent AJ crashing face-first into the turnbuckle.
Chants of “AJ Styles” broke out as Jinder drove his knee into AJ, repeatedly. Jinder then looked to hit AJ with a vertical suplex but AJ blocked before hitting a springboard forearm. AJ followed it up with kicks across Jinder’s chest before hitting him with a combo of strikes.
AJ got distracted by the Singh Brothers for a moment and Jinder took advantage and planted AJ throat-first into the top rope before hitting him with a knee. Jinder covered AJ for the 2-count as we headed to another commercial.
We came back from commercial to see Jinder Mahal still firmly on top. He had a headlock locked in as AJ made his way back to his feet. However, Jinder met AJ with a right hand and took him down. Jinder hit AJ with a massive boot before looking for a double-axehandle but AJ met him with a dropkick.
AJ looked to follow it up with an Ushi Goroshi but Jinder wriggled free from AJ’s grasp and laid him out with a massive boot to the face. Mahal went for the cover but it wasn’t enough and AJ hit Jinder with the Pelle Kick.
As AJ looked to hit the Phenomenal Forearm, the Singh Brothers got on the apron. With the referee distracted, Kevin Owens (who was on commentary) attacked Styles’ knee from behind. Jinder capitalized and hit AJ with the Cobra Clutch Slam to pick up the win.
Jinder Mahal def. AJ Styles
Breezango’s Fashion Files
We got another episode of Breezango’s Fashion Files.
Fandango was dressed as a cop backstage and Breeze was undercover dressed as a janitor. They made fun of Baron Corbin for having 3 t-shirts all of which had wolves on them. They then tried to break down the meaning of The Uso’s merch and asked what “Day One Is H” meant.
Breezango vs The Colons
Breezango took on The Colons ahead of their SmackDown Live tag title match at WWE Backlash. Breeze and Epico started us off as The Colons started on top. Epico was all over Tyler Breeze in the early stages before he tagged in Primo. Breeze and Primo collided in the corner which led to both men making tags.
Fandango came in and hit Epico with a heel kick for a nearfall before going for a cover which was broken up by Primo. Breeze came in and cleared Primo from the ring after which Fandango hit Epico with a Falcon Arrow for the pinfall.
Breezango def. The Colons
Contract signing segment for 6-women tag-team match
Shane McMahon came out first before introducing the 6-women for the match. Natalya warned the babyfaces about what would happen at Backlash before Natalya, Tamina and Carmella signed the contract.
Naomi, Becky and Charlotte then signed their contracts. James Ellsworth took the mic after this. He claimed that Becky gave him long glances before adding that she had “No chance in hell” with him. He then addressed Charlotte and said he wouldn’t be her king because she was the prince to the Princess of Staten Island. He then turned to Naomi and told her that Carmella would “break her flow” and “steal her glow”.
Naomi vs Carmella
Naomi started off strong as Carmella looked to avoid Naomi. Naomi came and took Carmella down with a splash. Naomi then locked in a side armlock before looking before Carmella dodged Naomi’s attempted suplex. James Ellsworth attempted to interfere at this point and the referee ejected him.
When we returned from the commercial, we saw Naomi hitting Carmella with repeated kicks. The action spilled to ringside at this point and Carmella met Naomi with a sidekick to the face. Carmella followed it up with knee strikes to after which Naomi replied with a series of jumping kicks.
As Naomi headed to the top rope, Natalya and Tamina tried to intervene. The referee ejected them which led to a brawl between them and Charlotte and Becky. With Naomi distracted with the brawl going on at ringside, Carmella rolled her up for the win.
Carmella def. Naomi
Sami Zayn was backstage. He announced that his match with Baron Corbin at WWE backlash was now official. At this point, Baron Corbin attacked him from behind.
Baron Corbin vs Randy Orton
Randy Orton started off strong and went for an early as he looked for an early RKO but Corbin blocked it and pushed Orton away. Corbin took control with an eye-gouge. Orton regains control but is sent crashing to mat after Corbin runs out of the ring and slingshots back into the ring.
Corbin was in complete control after the break as he stomped Orton in the corner. The match slowed down to a snail’s pace as Orton lay down on the mat. When Orton finally got back to his feet, he sidestepped a charging Baron Corbin who crashed into the turnbuckle.
Corbin recovered and hit a Deep Six but Orton kicked out of it. Orton then Irish whipped Corbin into the turnbuckle but Corbin slid out of the ring and charged back in only to be hit by an RKO out of nowhere. He then pinned Corbin clean for the win.
Randy Orton def. Baron Corbin
