'%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)
Shane McMahon came onscreen before SmackDown began and said that he would not be present for the show but was looking forward to beating Kevin Owens at SummerSlam.
Kevin Owens kicked off the show and said that he was glad Shane wouldn't be there and let us know that there was no way he was losing at SummerSlam.
Drew McIntyre came out to tell KO that he talks too much and then attacked him. Drew threw KO over the announce table and then told him that the two of them were set to have a match tonight, and it was up next.
Kevin Owens vs. Drew McIntyre
Drew went at KO right off the bat and pummeled him into the corner. He picked up Owens by his beard and then caught him in a submission hold. Owens took control and hit a cannonball but Drew kicked out of it. Owens followed up with a giant Frogsplash before we headed for commercials.
Kevin Owens pushed McIntyre off the turnbuckle and then landed a senton before McIntyre barely kicked out. KO hit two Superkicks and a pop-up powerbomb on Drew before climbing the ropes. McIntyre met him up there and hit a huge slam on KO but failed to capitalize. Drew set up KO on the announce table and KO hit a Stunner on it instead. Back in the ring, KO hit another Superkick and another stunner before getting the three count.
Result: Kevin Owens vs. Drew McIntyre
Match rating: A
Dolph Ziggler was backstage and trashed on Shawn Michaels, Goldberg and then Mick Foley before letting us know that he was coming for Finn Balor, calling himself the 'headliner' and the 'main event'.
Still backstage, Bayley was excited to be teaming up with Ember Moon in their match which was up next.
We saw a backstage promo from Aleister Black where the Dutch Destroyer revealed he is waiting for someone new to pick a challenge with him.
Bayley & Ember Moon vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross
Bayley threw Alexa Bliss out of the ring when Nikki Cross got in the champ's way to protest. Moon flew through the ropes and took out Nikki before Bayley sent Alexa into the barricades. When we returned from commercials, Bayley was caught in the apron and Nikki and Alexa were unloading on the helpless champ.
Ember tagged in and sent both challengers into the corner and hit the Eclipse on Nikki. Alexa took the opportunity and hit the Twisted Bliss and got the three count. After the match, Bayley hit Moon with the Belly to Bayley and decimated her tag-team partner and SummerSlam opponent.
Result: Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross def. Bayley & Ember Moon
Match rating: B
Sami Zayn was being interviewed backstage and was ripping on Aleister Black, saying that he needs help. he said that he will face Black and beat him, exposing the fact that Aleister could never live up to the hype.
Jerry 'the King' Lawler was up on stage for a special episode of the King's Court and called his special guest for the night, Trish Stratus. Trish came out and said that she was upset that she couldn't make it the RAW Reunion. Lawler brought up the fact that many Superstars from the reunion wished that they could have one final match and asked Trish if she would like to have one last match as well. Trish said that she had thought about it but she was a mom now.
Charlotte Flair came on cue and said that Trish was using her being a mom as an excuse to back out of a match. Flair then challenged Trish to a match and Stratus was silent before Flair started taking shots at the former female Superstar and told her to hop in her minivan and go back to changing diapers. Trish said Charlotte was being a 'b*tch' and accepted the match at SummerSlam.
Segment rating: B
Backstage, AJ and the OC were still celebrating the new tag team champs. AJ said he was ready to face Kofi later in the night.
The Firefly Funhouse was back and of Bray's 'pets' said he was a fan of Finn Balor before it mysteriously disappeared. Bray then appeared, laughing like a maniac and said 'Let me in' before the video cut off.
We learned from the commentators that according to Seth Rollins' wishes, no details of his current medical condition was to be made public.
Finn Balor vs. Dolph Ziggler
Finn Balor started off on the aggressive, Dolph Ziggler hit an Irish whip but ate an Enzuguri from the top turnbuckles. Ziggler kicked out and Finn Balor hit a big dropkick on Ziggler and sent him outside, getting ready to dive but then the arena went dark and 'the Fiend' appeared in the ring but then disappeared. Ziggler used the distraction to hit the Sweet Chin Music and capitalized with the three-count.
Result: Dolph Ziggler def. Finn Balor
Match rating: C
Nakamura vs. Ali
Ali started off strong and hit a Superkick on the champ. He took too much time to climb up the ropes and Nakamura hit the reverse exploder suplex. The champ now looked to turn the lights out but Ali hit a big superkick to stop him. Ali went for the top rope finisher but Shinsuke rolled out of the way. He prepared for the Kinshasa but Ali got a quick roll-up pin, beating the Intercontinental Champion in a quick match.
Result: Ali def. Nakamura
Match rating: B
Randy Orton was onscreen in a pre-recorded promo where he reiterated that Kofi's success was all because of him and the fact that he injured Ali before WrestleMania. The New Day were backstage and said they were not scared of the Viper or AJ Styles. Kofi said that SmackDown was no longer the house that AJ Styles built, but it was the Palace of Positivity or the POP.
Kofi Kingston vs. AJ Styles
AJ Styles started off strong and knocked Kingston down. There were already dueling chants and Kofi countered Styles. Styles landed a single-leg takedown. Kofi countered and went for a Trouble in Paradise but missed.
Kofi clotheslined Styles outside and Gallows & Anderson stalled him. Kingston tried to jump over to Styles but was caught. Both the OC and The New day were outside the ring and soon enough, a quarrel broke out between the two teams which AJ took advantage of, sending Kofi into the timekeeper's area.
Styles was in control of Kofi Kingston. Kingston managed to slow him down and climbed to the top turnbuckle, hitting a beautiful DDT. Kofi hit the SOS and went for a pin but the OC dragged AJ out of the ring.
The New Day wiped out the OC outside the ring while Kofi hit the Trouble in paradise for the win.
Result: Kofi Kingston def. AJ Styles
Match rating: A
Roman Reigns was backstage and headin to meet Kayla for an interview when someone dropped a forklift full of stage equipment straight on him. He miraculously escaped being vrushed by the huge steel beams and managed to walk out without so much as a scratch.
Segment Rating: A for Awesome
Episode rating: B
A good episode overall, thanks to the returning legends, Bray's shenanigans and a world class main event. The attack Roman Reigns is sure to keep the WWE Universe hooked.
