Show: WWE SmackDown
Location: Cleveland, OH at the Quicken Loans Arena
Date: August 1st, 2017
Airing on the USA Network
Welcome to SmackDown Live. A video package to hype the two big matches taking place tonight was shown. Our opening contest is….
United States Title Match: AJ Styles © vs. Kevin Owens
They lock up and did some mat wrestling to kick things off. Owens sent him to the floor and connected with a clothesline to send us to break.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Owens connecting with a big boot. Owens ran into a drop kick, which popped the fans. Styles with a series of strikes and went for a springboard move but Owens knocked him down. Styles sent Owens to the floor and hit an outside dive. Owens sent Styles into the barricade then hit a cannonball.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Styles hitting a neck breaker for 2. Styles with a kick but missed a springboard forearm strike and Owens caught him with a super kick for 2. Styles locked in the Calf Crusher in the center of the ring but Owens caught him with a headbutt. Styles missed a dive and Owens went for a piledriver but Styles reversed and hit a head kick. Styles went for the Styles Clash but Owens got out it and locked in the Calf Crusher but Owens got to the bottom rope. Owens hit two super kicks then accidentally knocked the referee down. Owens with another superkick but Styles reversed a powerbomb and rolled him up for the win.
Winner: Styles – still US Champion.
Post-match, Owens stood in the ring and saw a replay that clearly showed that his right shoulder was up during the pinfall.
We see Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan talking to the referee about his mistake. Owens walked up upset and yelled at the referee for making a bad call. Owens shoved the referee and McMahon got into his face. McMahon said that the referee’s call stands. McMahon booked Owens vs. Styles at SummerSlam. Owens wants a better referee. Bryan said that McMahon would be the referee.
-Commercial Break-
The Usos came out to The New Day’s entrance. They mocked The New Day and vowed to take the SmackDown Tag Team Titles as well as their catchphrase.
There was another Fashion Files segment shown.
-Commercial Break-
Singles Match: Sami Zayn vs. Aiden English
They lock up and English rolled up Zayn for the quick win.
Winner: English.
Post-match, Maria and Mike Kanellis come out to the stage. Maria said that they love the fact that Zayn lost. That was their entire promo.
-Commercial Break-
Tag Team Match: Carmella & Natalya vs. Becky Lynch & Naomi
Lynch and Natalya start things off. Lynch worked over the right arm then hit an arm drag followed a back kick. Naomi was tagged in and landed a leg drop. Carmella was then tagged in. Naomi and Carmella exchanged strikes then Naomi landed a big slap. Natalya distracted Naomi and Carmella pulled her down by her hair. Natalya and Carmella worked over with quick tags. Moments later, Naomi fought out of the sharpshooter after reaching the ropes. Carmella was tagged in and Naomi reversed a submission to lock in her own submission finisher for the win.
Winners: Naomi & Lynch.
Jinder Mahal with the Singh Brothers cut a backstage promo about how he would rather face at SummerSlam. He said that he doesn’t care if he has to face John Cena or Shinsuke Nakamura at SummerSlam. He just wants to go to his sky box and watch the match.
-Commercial Break-
Singles Match: Rusev vs. Chad Gable
Gable went in for several single leg takedowns but Rusev shrugged him off every time. Rusev knocked him down then hit a power slam to send us to break.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Gable making his comeback. Rusev missed a splash in the corner and Gable knocked him down. Gable hit a moonsault off the top rope for 2. Gable reversed a back suplex but was caught with a head kick. Gable knocked him down and locked in the ankle lock. Rusev got out of it and hit a super kick then locked in the Accolade Lock for the win.
Winner: Rusev.
Post-match, Rusev cut a promo about how he wanted worthy competition. He said that he got it at Battleground and that no one can beat him. He said that he has no opponent at SummerSlam. This led to Randy Orton walking out. Orton tried to get into the ring but didn’t. He grabbed the microphone and said that if he were Rusev then he would want him to get into the ring either. Rusev welcomed him into the ring, which Orton proceed to do so. Orton brought up how Rusev has never beaten him and challenged him to a match at SummerSlam. Rusev laughed at him and cut a promo in bulgarian. Orton then hit an RKO and stood tall in the ring.
-Commercial Break-
#1 Contender Match: John Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
They did some posing then Nakamura caught him with a kick. Cena missed a splash in the corner and Nakamura went for a kick but Cena caught it and took him down. Cena locked in a headlock as we cut to break.
-Commercial Break-
We’re back with Nakamura landing a side kick. Cena missed a splash and Nakamura knocked him down. Cena knocked him down and went for the five knuckle shuffle but Nakamura reversed and locked in an armbar. Nakamura then switched it to a triangle choke but Cena powered out of it. Nakamura went for his finisher, but Cena tripped him and locked in the STF but Nakamura reversed and locked in the armbar but Cena rolled him up for 2. Cena hit a big clothesline. Nakamura with a series of kicks then a running knee strike. Nakamura went for his finisher but Cena blocked and hit the AA for a near fall. Nakamura locked in the guillotine choke but Cena blocked and hit an AA. Cena went for another one but Nakamura blocked with a sick powerslam then hit his finisher for the win.
Winner: Nakamura
Nakamura will now challenge Mahal for the WWE Title at SummerSlam. Cena congratulated Nakamura then left Nakamura in the ring to celebrate to end the show.
Thanks for watching along and we will see you next time.
