Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Live Report! (7/25/17)
Witness the fallout from Battleground 2017!

All images courtesy of the WWE’s official website and Twitter
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Baron Corbin VS Shinsuke Nakamura; Nakamura wins.
- Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch VS Tamina & Lana; Charlotte & Becky win.
- Sami Zayn & Tye Dillinger VS Aiden English & Mike Kanellis w/ Maria; Zayn & Dillinger win.
- WWE United States Championship Triple Threat: Kevin Owens VS AJ Styles VS Chris Jericho; Styles wins and becomes the new United States Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
The NEW United States Champion comes to the ring.
Yes, after an incredible match against the Phenomenal AJ Styles, Kevin Owens is once again your “Face of America”, but perhaps not with some controversy. But for Kevin, “This just feels right, doesn’t it?” He proved that “if you’re a good person, good things will happen”, for he took the title back from “that thief”, AJ Styles. And now Kevin will return to defending his title with “the pride and the honor it deserves.” However, the Richmond fans want AJ Styles to appear. Kevin ignores them to say his Kevin Owens United States Title Open Challenge is returning, next week. Are the fans upset? Too bad, he’s not defending his title in Richmond. But wait, here comes the former champion!
AJ Styles joins Kevin in the ring but Kevin says Styles better be here to congratulate him. Nope. Styles wants to get his rematch for the title. Styles’ rematch? Kevin literally just said it isn’t happening tonight against Styles or anyone. CHRIS JERICHO appears!?
That is someone Kevin Owens definitely doesn’t want to see back, but the fans are loving the “Return of Jericho… Welcome Back, Man~!” What?! Quiet. Quiet. No- Quiet. Quiet! Shut up, Owens, this isn’t Canada, this is America! And Jericho is sick of Kevin talking, especially when Kevin sent him away on a stretcher. Jericho’s back after rehabbing, doing crossfit and having some beer, for his rematch of the United States title, TONIGHT. Styles speaks up, glad to see Jericho back, but things have happened. The guy in line for the US title is Styles. Is Styles cutting in line? Do you know what happens to guys who cut Jericho in line? There was a guy who cut Jericho in line, y’know what happened to him? On the List, right? No, got punched and put in the Walls of Jericho. But when AJ Styles cuts in line, y’know what happens? “You just made the List!” Styles on the list, but Kevin is sneaking away like a “stupid idiot!” Shane McMahon comes out before Kevin can make his exit.

The commissioner of SmackDown would like to discuss the US Championship. Both Styles and Jericho have legitimate cases, and will both get an opportunity, at the same time. Kevin dreads what is coming next. The United States Championship will be defended in a triple threat! Owens, Styles and Jericho, but not at Wrestlemania nor at Summerslam, but tonight! Richmond IS getting the title match they want!
Baron Corbin VS Shinsuke Nakamura!

The Lone Wolf and King of Strong Style had a solid match at Battleground, but in fear of losing, Corbin gave Nakamura a mule kick to the balls. In a rematch just 48 hours later, will Corbin keep it clean this time? They test each other with strikes, Nakamura getting the edge. Corbin hits back but gets rocked down by more strikes, so Corbin gets to the apron. Nakamura goes out, knee strike to Corbin before a guillotine knee drop!

Nakamura is all fired up, he gets a running start from the ramp, only for Corbin to lariat him off his feet! Corbin puts Nakamura in the ring, covers, TWO. Corbin is already frustrated, he stalks Nakamura as we go picture in picture. Corbin drags Nakamura to his feet, throws him out of the ring, and then follows to ram Nakamura into the barriers. Corbin taunts the fans before dragging Nakamura up to give a knee. Corbin breaks the ring count before dragging Nakamura around to throw into other barriers. Nakamura fights back with forearms, Corbin rams him into barriers again. Corbin gets things back in the ring, stalks Nakamura on the mat, before stomping a hand and pulling his hair. Corbin throws Nakamura down by his hair, then drives a right hand into Nakamura’s face. Corbin mocks the rallying applause from the fans, then drags Nakamura up again. Nakamura fires back, and slips out of Deep Six into an armbar! Corbin resists, flails, clasps hands and rolls Nakamura into a pin, TWO. Nakamura holds on, putting Corbin into a triangle, so Corbin deadlifts Nakamura only for Nakamura to switch to a guillotine choke. Corbin powers his way out into a suplex! Corbin coughs as he catches his breath, then he drags Nakamura up for a half-nelson chinlock. We return to single picture as Corbin wrenches Nakamura’s neck. Nakamura gets to his feet, fights back, Corbin drives in a knee. Corbin rushes Nakamura in the corner, slides out then in, but takes Nakamura’s dynamic dropkick! Nakamura fires up and gives kicks to Corbin’s chest, Corbin blocks one and slaps Nakamura. Nakamura forearms and boots Corbin down, then drives knees into Corbin’s shoulders and ribs. Nakamura stomps and kicks Corbin, gets him in a corner and gives more stiff strikes before setting Corbin on the top rope. Nakamura rolls back, top shelf knee! Corbin comes down, Nakamura hops up, flying kick! TWO, and Nakamura gets frustrated. Nakamura gets to a corner, Kin- Corbin dodges, ducks kicks, choke slam backbreaker! TWO! Now Corbin is the frustrated one, so he uses those strong style knees like Nakamura did. Corbin mocks Nakamura’s style, the fans rally for Nakamura, Corbin drives in another knee. Nakamura stands up, Corbin punches him to a corner, then rushes. Another out then in, Nakamura dodges the lariat, but not DEEP SIX! TWO! Corbin is furious. Corbin drags Nakamura up again, says it’s the end, but Nakamura slips out of End of Days, dodges in the corner and clanks Corbin with a roundhouse. Corbin tries the mule kick low blow again, Nakamura dodges that to kick out a leg, KINSHASA to the back of the head! Then, all fired up, KINSHASA to the front!

Nakamura wins, and for real this time!
Backstage interview with Naomi.
Natalya won the right to face her at Summerslam but refused to shake hands. Naomi is not going to be disrespected. Natty shows up now, and says Naomi has been the disrespectful one. The title is now a “children’s toy” and she shows no reverence for the legends that came before her. Natty vows to take that title back and restore its honor. Naomi says Natty’s so stuck in that dungeon, she can’t see the title is “the now.” The Women’s Evolution is about the future, and the title represents that. Naomi just added her own personal style to it. Keep throwing shade, you’re gonna be blinded by the glow. But once again, Carmella reminds Naomi about her Money in the Bank contract are looking to the future, too. Who will hold the gold after Summerslam?
Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch VS Tamina & Lana!
The Queen and the Lass Kicker fell short of being #1 contender again, but their friendship is strong enough to take on the Daughter of Superfly and the Ravishing Russian. Lana and Becky start, tie up, Becky wants the armbar and Lana scrambles to tag Tamina. Tamina and becky tie up, Tamina powers Becky to ropes, shoves Becky on the break, Becky shoves back. Becky almst gets Lana for teh armbar, instead a roll up, TWO, spinning mule kick. Becky wants to try again, Lana powers away and then drives Becky into the corner. Becky kicks back, hops up but is caught, she’s yanked and hits face first on the mat. TWO, Tamina is already frustrated. She pushes Becky down, Lana wants the tag, Tamina gives it. Tamina puts Becky in the corner, Lana gives a running elbow. Lana suplexes Becky, covers, TWO, Lana drives knees into Becky’s back before putting on an armbar-chinlock of her own. Charlotte fires up the crowd, Becky feeds off that and fights out. Becky scoops but Lana slips out, Lana throws Becky down by her hair, TWO. Lana drags Becky to her corner, tag to Tamina. Lana whips Becky, Tamina runs Becky over with a lariat. Tamina puts Becky in a corner, stomps away, Becky elbows back. Becky gives an enziguri to Tamina, then tags Charlotte! Charlotte rallies on Tamina and Lana, giving those Flair Chops “WOO! WOO! WOO!” Charlotte kicks Tamina out of the body drop, chops, then struts before that Flair knee drop. Charlotte drags Tamina up, Tamina slips out of the exploder, SUPERKICK before tagging Lana. Lana rushes but Charlotte ducks, boots Tamina then boots Lana, Charlotte wins it for her team!
Charlotte and Becky celebrate, Lana is woozy, Tamina is pissed. Cana Lana ever get her in-ring act together?
The Modern Day Maharaja comes out.

After a down and dirty Punjabi Prison match against The Viper, with the Singh Brothers and the Punjabi Nightmare helping, Jinder Mahal retained the WWE (World) Championship. Now he is here to rub in how he crushed the legacy of Randy Orton to give way to his living legend status. Orton agreed to face Mahal on his own terms, but he underestimated the champion. Mahal vows to stay champion for as long as he desires, but now demands who will be next to face him at Summerslam, and “whose hopes I will crush”. Then he speaks to his people in Punjabi, to say that Summerslam, it will go the same, with him as champion. But then, John Cena appears!

The Face that Runs the Place overcame The Bulgarian Brute in a Flag Match, but surely he’s out here now to answer Mahal’s question. However, the Maharaja wasn’t finished. He’s sure Cena is here to brag about being 16 time world champion, and how Mahal hasn’t deserved anything.

Jinder, stop. He is the Maharaja, yes? But he’s a horrible mind reader. Cena wasn’t going to say that stuff, he’s actually the one person here to congratulate Mahal. Controversial, unpopular, but Mahal won, is in the best shape of his life, and is willing to do “whatever is necessary” to stay champion. But also, they’ve never really met. He is indeed John Cena, and he doesn’t care if Mahal has a giant, the Singh Brothers, sisters, a magic carpet, a palace or a portapotty, “it ain’t gonna be enough” at Summerslam against “Super Cena.” Cena walks out of there the 17 time world champion, nice to meet you, “You can’t see me,” hit the music! Cena takes his leave, Mahal holds the belt up high, Daniel Bryan comes out?!

The SmackDown General Manager congratulates them both on their Battleground wins. Cena clearly wants at it, and he’s on “a quest to make history.” Unfortunately, Cena doesn’t make matches, Bryan and Shane O’Mac do. You gotta earn things, even if you’re a John Cena. Therefore, next week, Cena will face another winner, Shinsuke Nakamura. It’ll be a first time ever dream match to decide a #1 contender! Who will the Maharaja meet at the biggest event of the summer?

Kevin Owens talks to Shane McMahon in his office.
Kevin calls bias! Putting him in a triple threat? Jericho wants revenge, and Styles is bitter, and they could beat each other to become champ, that’s not fair! Shane says what’s fair is that they’re both getting their rematches. But Kevin is right, they don’t really get along, but Shane doesn’t care who the champion is so long as they defend it on SmackDown. This historic main event will be amazing, that’s what Shane cares about. Kevin doesn’t care about the audience, and if Shane was anything other than the commissioner, he wouldn’t care about Shane, either. Tensions mount, can Kevin win his triple threat match tonight?
Sami Zayn & Tye Dillinger VS Aiden English & Mike Kanellis w/ Maria!
The Underdog conquered the Power of Love, but the Perfect Ten lost to the Artiste, so now they mix it all together into a dynamic and dramatic match-up. We start with English and Tye, they tie up and circle around, Tye is put in a corner but he blocks the cheap shot to give chops back to English. English kicks, Tye gives an elbow to knock English down, tag to Sami before we go to picture in picture. Ax handle to English’s hand, then forearms before a whip is erversed. Sami goes up an dover, ducks under to tilt-o-whirl headscissor English to ropes. English kicks back, bumps Smai off buckles, tag to Mike but Mike runs into Sami’s lariat. Sami gives Mike forearms at the ropes, whips Mike but Mike holds on to ropes to elbow back. English tags in, Mike slips out, Sami doesn’t notice as Maria defends her husband, mule kick from English on the apron! Sami goes down, English drags him up to put him into the LED apron. English puts Sami int he rnig, stomps away, then gives a stiff left before giving a crossface punch. Tag to Mike, Mike stomps away, then points to his wife as she points back. Mike puts Sami in a corner and punches away with heavy rights, blows a kiss to Maria, she sends it back, uppercut. TWO, Mike drags Sami over to tag English. The “Art of Love” keeps Sami isolated with a corner to corner whip, English composes a running back elbow. TWO again, English clamps on a chinlock as we go back to single picture. Tye gets the crowd rallying for Sami, Sami gets up and reaches, English throws in a knee and puts Sami back in his corner. Tag to Mike, Sami is bumped on buckles, whipped corner to corner and Mike clobbers him with a clothesline. Another corner to corner clothesline, then a boot on the run, TWO. Tag to English, Sami is still isolated. Sami starts to fire up, throws a forearm, then another. English kicks and punches back, but Sami throws him out. Sami crawls, tag to Tye! The PErfect Ten rallies on the Artiste, whip but Mike tags. Body drop to Engilsh, Tye sees Mike coming and gives him a Perfect Ten combo of punches and knees. Tye gets Mike to a corner, Perfect Ten punches! Ax handle for English! Tag to Sami, Tye goes up, jumps over both. He ducks Mike, HELLUVA KICK!

The “Perfect Underdogs” win over the powers of love and drama!
“AWW… RICHMOND!”
Don’t you dare be sour, clap — The New Day is attacked by the Usos!! They drag Kofi and Woods out to the stage to beat them up on camera, we can only assume what happened to Big E! Kofi is thrown into the edge of the stage walls! Big E returns and fights valiantly, until a SUPERKICK knocks him down. Big E gets up again, double SUPERKICKS! The Usos showed no mercy to the New Day, retaliation for losing the SmackDown Tag Team championships at Battleground. When will the Usos come back for a rematch, and will they take those titles back?

Shinsuke Nakamura is interviewed backstage.
How does the Rockstar feel about his first time facing John Cena in a match? “Next week, John Cena, you can’t see me. Which means, I’ll see Jinder at Summerslam.” Will the King of Strong Style defeat Super Cena to then go after the Maharaja?
WWE United States Championship Triple Threat: Kevin Owens VS AJ Styles VS Chris Jericho!
There’s a lot of history between these three top tier superstars, and a lot of it circles around the US Championship, it’s time to settle things all at once in this truly phenomenal main event! At the bell, Jericho and Styles go after Kevin at the same time.

Double whip and double elbows, Kevin ends up out of the ring, Jericho rolls up Styles, TWO. Styles gets a waistlock, standing switch, Jericho rolls up, TWO, Styles tries, TWO, reset to the waistlock, Kevin punches Styles off of Jericho. Kevin kicks Styles out of the ring, now he and Jericho are 1v1. They brawl fast and furious, Kevin clubs Jericho then whips, Jericho kicks and goes for the Code Breaker but is denied, so he tries the Walls of Jericho. Kevin pushes Jericho away, Jericho kicks Kevin away, hops up to the second rope and hits the missile dropkick. Kevin kicks out, Styles kicks Jericho, Styles pulls Jericho up and to a corner. Styles punches Jericho before bringing him out. Jericho denies the suplex, gets running, Styles throws him over the top rope but Jericho lands on the apron. Styles sees where Jericho is headed and intercepts, shoving Jericho off the apron and to the floor! Kevin pounces with a clothesline, then rains down right hands on Styles. “I’m the champ!” Kevin insists as he throws more hands. Styles flounders to a corner, is whipped corner to corner hard, bouncing off buckles and tumbling to the mat. A quick kick out from Styles, Kevin keeps on Styles with elbows and stomps. Kevin keeps Jericho from reentering, then he gives a back senton to Styles, TWO. Kevin is frustrated, so he dropkicks Styles, TWO, Kevin drags Styles up to knock him down with a stiff right. The fans cheer for Styles, Kevin gives a few stomps to Jericho. Kevin gets back in the ring, Styles kicks and chops back, whips Kevin but is reversed, Kevin runs Styles over with a back elbow, TWO. Kevin keeps his focus on Styles as he picks him up and throws him to ropes. Styles holds on, rolls Kevin, Calf Crusher! Jericho Lionsaults in on both of them! Cover on Styles, TWO. Everyone down and exhausted as we go to break.
When we return, only Styles and Kevin are in the ring, the fans rally for Y2J to get back in. Styles goes after Kevin with stomps, Jericho returns, but gets swift chops from Styles. Styles whips but is reversed, Jericho sends him flying with a body drop! Jericho stomps and chops Styles, whips him corner to corner, clothesline connects. Jericho sits Styles on the top rope, goes up to join him, Kevin comes in for the electric chair position on Jericho. Styles slips down, Jericho slips into a sunset flip, to the Walls! Kevin spins Jericho away, stiff right hand knocks Jericho out. Kevin sees Styles at the apron so he goes after him, only to get a right hand and then dumped out of the ring. Styles targets Jericho, takes aim, springboard 450!

But Kevin throws Styles out, takes the cover, TWO! Keivn is shocked, Styles drags him out and throws him into barriers. Styles gets in the ring, grabs Jericho and prepares the Clash. Jericho resists, goes for Walls!

Jericho gets the Walls, but then has to let go as Kevin comes in. Jericho catapults Kevin into Styles, Styles is sent out, Jericho puts the Walls on Kevin! Kevin endures, Styles comes in, he takes a Code Breaker!

TWO! “This is awesome!” Jericho slaps Styles, Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz but Jericho stops that with a forearm. Jericho wants another Lionsault, Kevin trips him up. Kevin sees both opponents in opposite corners, cannonball to Styles! Cannonball to Jericho! Forearm from Styles to Kevin! Enziguri from Jericho to Styles! SUPERKICK from Kevin to Jericho! PELE from Styles to Kevin! Everyone’s done, the fans are fired up! Kevin gets to the apron, Jericho to a corner, and Styles to ropes. Styles rushes in, put on the apron, Triangle Dropkick intercepts the Phenomenal Forearm! Styles tumbles all the way down, SUPERKICK again! Then, Pop-Up Powerbomb! TWO!? Kevin is shocked most of all! Kevin is furious, too, he isn’t going to let Jericho ruin things for him. Kevin goes top rope, Bullfrog Splash!

Styles throws Kevin out, takes the cover, Styles wins!! Styles beat Kevin at his own game to become the NEW United States Champion!

And Kevin is enraged, he tears apart the ringside area as Styles holds that belt up high. Kevin takes a mic and, after calming down enough to form words, he tells everyone to “shut your stupid mouths!” This is not fair in the eyes of Kevin Owens, he says this is Shane McMahon’s fault. The fans only dislike Kevin because he’s “better than you ever will be!” But what’s fair, Kevin getting a rematch next week, 1v1! And “whether you like it or not,” Kevin will get his United States Championship back. Will Kevin be granted his rematch? Will Kevin make good on his word? Or will the US Champion continue to be Phenomenal?
My Thoughts:
After tumbling downhill a bit with Battleground, SmackDown roared right back up to top form like we knew they could. No talk of controversy or botches that weren’t botches, just right to the point: a title match for the United States Championship that blew the roof off the place! Great story, great action, and there seems to be a new program for Shane O’Mac on the horizon with the Prizefighter. Now, Shane always seems to risk some serious injury when facing WWE talent at his age (falling from the Cell to a table against the Undertaker, getting concussed during a Survivor Series 5v5) and now he might be going against “Kill Steen Kill!” whose Pop-Up Powerbomb could do some harm to an aging Shane. Even so, it’s pretty exciting to see if that’s where it’s going, and there’s plenty of other ways for it to go now that Y2J is back on the blue brand. Other exciting developments include getting a dream match of Cena and Nakamura (who had a great match with Corbin to make up for the low blow finish at Battleground), for the right to face Jinder Mahal for the WWE (World) Championship, “for free”! Some may say it’s a waste, some may be swimming in excitement, but there is surely something around the corner to make sure both a top WWE creation and top NJPW creation come out strong, maybe even both getting that opportunity to face Mahal at Summerslam to keep on par with Raw’s Fatal 4 Way Universal championship match. That plus Corbin lurking with his MITB briefcase, Summerslam is looking jam-packed.
Tonight sure had a lot of tag matches, though. At least they were all fun. Charlotte and Becky made rather easy work of Tamina and Lana, specifically Lana. Seems Lana’s gimmick is actually being a jobber who is very close to pissing Tamina off to the point of a beat down. The SmackDown’s two NXT horsewomen are gonna be spinning their wheels on the way to Summerslam from what I can tell, but after Naomi-Natty and then a possible cash-in, the field will be even again and one of them can get the nod. Dillinger and Sami worked together well against English and Mike, I feel like “The Perfect Underdogs” could make a team long enough to try at the SmackDown tag titles as neither one is getting all that far alone. As for the SmackDown tag titles themselves, the Usos build great Heel heat in completely canceling any celebration the New Day had planned, and that rematch might be even more fast and furious than their instant classic Battleground match.
My Score: 8.5/10
