WWE SmackDown Live! came to us tonight from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. How will the WWE follow up last week’s blockbuster episode this week? Will the New Era continue to live up to the hype or will it fizzle out already?
Here are the complete WWE SmackDown Results for 2nd August 2016:
Dean Ambrose kick starts SmackDown Live!
The show kicks off with the trio of Daniel Bryan, Shane O’Mac and Randy Orton discussing the Apex Predators’ RKO Outta Nowhere on Brock Lesnar at last night’s Raw. The Beast Incarnate along with his advocate Paul Heyman have made their way to the arena and Bryan with Shane have called on some security guards to ensure that Lesnar does not take a revenge on the Viper, but Orton dismisses the security as he is confident that his RKO Outta Nowhere will be enough to floor the beast.
WWE Champion Dean Ambrose then makes his way to the ring and calls out his SummerSlam opponent and the number 1 contender to the title, Dolph Ziggler. The Lunatic Fringe is confident that the Championship will stay with him and highlights the difference between himself and the Show Off – suggesting that Ziggler wastes a lot of time complaining about what the fans think of him – a jibe on the Show Off’s tweet yesterday where he hit out at the fans for complaining about his title shot at Summer Slam.
The Show Off then goes on a rant himself stating that he has been disrespected in his seven years in the WWE and warns the champion that he will walk away with the title at SummerSlam. Ambrose dismisses Ziggler’s threats before walking back.
Following The Lunatic Fringe’s departure, the lights go out before Bray Wyatt’s music hits after which he is seen delivering Sister Abigail on Dolph Ziggler. Bray then challenges the Show Off for a match later tonight with his number 1 contender’s spot at SummerSlam on the line.
Ziggler is then seen backstage arguing with Bryan and Shane, where he urges the two to confirm his match against Wyatt as he wanted to prove to the world that he is good enough for being the number 1 contender for the WWE Championship.
Segment Rating: 4/5
Apollo Crews vs. Kalisto vs. Baron Corbin
The segment is followed by a triple-threat match between Kalisto, Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin - with the winner of the match to challenge The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam.
The Lone Wolf had the advantage at the start of the match as he got the better of Crews and Kalisto. But in the end, it was Crews who pinned Kalisto to win the match and become the #1 contender for the IC Championship at SummerSlam.
However, after the culmination of the match Kalisto is attacked by the Lone Wolf with Crews coming to the pint-sized wrestler’s rescue. The Miz, who was on ringside for the duration of the match, enters the fray and delivers a Skull Crushing Finale on Crews before being hit by The End of Days by Corbin.
Apollo Crews beat Baron Corbin and Kalisto to become the number 1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship
Segment Rating: 3/5
Eva Marie vs. Becky Lynch
The match between Eva Marie and Becky Lynch is next on the cards, but as Marie made her way to the ring she appeared to tweak her hamstring. The match ended in a No Contest with the referee confirming that Marie had pulled her hamstring.
Match ends in a No Contest
Renee Young is then seen interviewing Carmella but is interrupted by Natalya, who claims that she is the one who deserves to be interviewed instead of the last draft pick of SmackDown Live!.
Segment Rating: 0/5
American Alpha vs. The Vaudevillains
The segment is followed by the highly-anticipated debut of American Alpha, who face the Vaudevillains in their first ever appearance on SmackDown Live!
Chad Gable and Jason Jordan take the advantage early on in the fight, before Simon Gotch and Aiden English attack Jordan, who then tags Gable in. Gable gets the better of the Vaude Villians before American Alpha hit them with a double superkick. After some more action, Jordan delivers a reverse belly-to-belly on Gotch before Gable finished the game by pinning Gotch to claim a win for American Alpha on their SmackDown Live! debut.
American Alpha beat The Vaudevillains
Segment Rating: 3.5/5
John Cena confronts AJ Styles
AJ Styles is then seen making his way to the ring, but as soon as the Phenomenal One is about to begin his promo about John Cena, the Cenation leader’s music hits and he confronts Styles. The duo are then seen adding more fuel to their ever-growing rivalry in one of the best segments of the night.
The rivalry, which started with Styles getting the better of Cena at Money in the Bank, is set to boil down at SummerSlam with Styles proposing a match at the pay-per-view, however, with a certain twist. The twist being that the Cenation leader will have to claim that the Phenomenal One is the better superstar, should the latter claim the victory over the 12-time champion.
Cena readily accepted Styles’ offer to confirm yet another match for SummerSlam.
Segment Rating: 4.5/5
Randy Orton vs. Fandango
The next segment sees Randy Orton taking on Breezango amidst heavy ringside security with news that Brock Lesnar was in the arena to extract terrible vengeance. The Viper takes the advantage early on in the fight and hits a DDT on his Fandango, before Lesnar is seen making his way to ringside.
The Beast then makes his way to the ring as Orton hits the RKO on Fandango only to be F5ed by Lesnar. Shane O’Mac makes his way to the ring with heavy security to escort the Beast Incarnate out. On his way out, Lesnar remarks – “Just returning the favour”, before Paul Heyman joins him.
Randy Orton wins by disqualification
Segment Rating: 3.25/5
Heath Slater invades Daniel Bryan’s office
In the next segment, Heath Slater invades Daniel Bryan’s office with the General Manager insisting that Slater will have to prove that he is good enough for SmackDown and revealed that he will be participating in a match on next week’s show which will determine the Hottest FreeAgent’s future. But as Bryan was about to reveal Slater’s opponent for next week, Rhyno gored Slater. If Slater manages to win next week’s match against Rhyno he will earn himself a SmackDown contract.
Carmella vs. Natalya
Renee Young is then seen interviewing her real-life boyfriend and WWE Champion Dean Ambrose, who discusses tonight’s main event between Bray Wyatt and Dolph Ziggler.
Carmella is then seen making her way to the ring to take on Natalya following their confrontation earlier in the show. However, Nattie attacks Carmella from behind before delivering a sharp-shooter on her outside of the ring.
Match ends in a No Contest
Segment Rating: 0.5/5
Dolph Ziggler vs Bray Wyatt
Ziggler and Wyatt faced each other with the Show Off’s number 1 contendership for the WWE Championship on the line. Ziggler starts the match on a positive note, hitting The New Face of Fear with a drop-kick. The two then exchange headbutts before Wyatt superplexes Ziggler from the top of the ring.
Bray goes for the cover first which Ziggler kicks out of before the Show Off hits a Zig-Zag. Ziggler then converts Wyatt’s Sister Abigail into a cover but to no avail. Both attempt to remove turnbuckles, before the Show Off pushed the New Face of Fear to the exposed turnbuckle and delivered a superkick. The Show Off then goes for the cover and beats Bray Wyatt in a clean finish to ensure that he is the number 1 contender for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
Eric Rowan then attacks Ziggler from behind with Ambrose coming to the rescue of his SummerSlam opponent before Rowan took him out. Wyatt then delivered his second Sister Abigail of the night to Ziggler to bring an end to proceedings. With this finish, a triple threat match for the WWE Championship could be on the cards for SummerSlam.
Dolph Ziggler beats Bray Wyatt
Segment Rating: 3.75/5
Overall SmackDown Live! rating: 3.75/5
