Good evening Fightful faithful and welcome to our coverage of WWE Smackdown! Live! Enjoy the show and if you want you can comment below and check out our forums, and be sure to stick with us afterwards for the post-show podcast!
- Shortly after 7 PM EST, WWE announced Andrade 'Cien' Almas vs. Rusev for the show.
-Randy Orton comes out to start the show as we get a video package recapping the United States Championship match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Jeff Hardy last week where Randy attacked Jeff during the match and caused the disqualification. Randy says that he attacked Jeff because of the WWE Universe and their love of Jeff before saying that he has been a constant fixture and gets no respect. Randy chastises Jeff and other performers who are part timers and indie darlings, saying that he paid his dues in front of millions and has accomplished everything in WWE. Randy says that the fans are the true legend killers, but he won't let them kill him and that he will become a legend and defeat everyone the fans put on a pedestal, starting with Jeff Hardy. Randy says that he will make it so Jeff never comes back and that whatever you call him, you only need to refer to him as RKO before leaving as we go to commercial.
-We next get a video package showcasing last night's historic announcement on RAW of a women only pay-per-view event in October called WWE Evolution.
Rusev vs Andrade Almas
Almas puts Rusev in a side headlock before Rusev drops him with a shoulder block and tosses him into the ropes, but Almas hangs in them before ducking out of the ring. Rusev gives chase and chases him back into the ring before dropping him with a clothesline and suplexing him for a quick two count. Almas then rolls back out of the ring to catch his breath and regroup with Zelina as we head to a break.
Rusev spears Almas in the corner before hitting a wheel kick as we come back to the action before missing the Machka Kick and Almas goes for the hammer lock DDT, but Rusev counters that. Rusev hits the Machka Kick when Almas tries to go for his signature knees in the corner as Zelina and Lana fight at ringside until Aiden pulls Lana off only for Zelina to attack him and knock him into Lana. Rusev then gets distracted and yells at Aiden before Almas grabs him and hits the hammer lock DDT for the pin and the win.
Winner: Andrade Almas defeats Rusev via pinfall with a hammer lock DDT.
-Aiden and Lana argue backstage after the match before Rusev breaks it up.
R-Truth vs Samoa Joe
Joe beats R-Truth down before Truth hits a splash in the corner, then Joe hits a uranage before locking in the Coquina Clutch. Truth then quickly submits to the Coquina Clutch for the tap and the win.
Winner: Samoa Joe defeats Ｒ-Truth via submission with the Coquina Clutch.
Asuka vs Billie Kay
Kay takes control early and suplexes Asuka before slapping her and smacking her in the head before Asuka comes back with a dropkick and drops Billie with a running hip attack. Asuka then hits a high knee that rocks Kay before finishing her with a series of roundhouse kicks for the pin and the win.
Winner: Asuka defeats Billie Kay via pinfall with a series of roundhouse kicks.
-AJ Styles comes out to the ring with Paige to announce his opponent and challenger for Summerslam before James Ellsworth comes out when Paige is about to announce AJ's opponent. Paige then comes out to the ramp and tells James that he's fired before security comes out and carries him to the back. Security then tosses James out of the building as Samoa Joe comes out of nowhere and attacks AJ before choking him unconscious and signing the contract before leaving as we go to commercial.
-We come back to Paige arguing with Joe backstage before Carmella yells at her and comes out to the ring for her match against Becky Lynch.
Becky Lynch vs Carmella
Becky immediately takes Carmella down before going for the Disarmer, but Carmella is quick to the ropes for the break before Becky sends her out of the ring and hits a diving clothesline off of the apron. Carmella then gets back into the ring before rolling out of the other side, Carmella catching Becky when she goes out after her and sends her into the barricade as we go to commercial.
Carmella smacks Becky and plays to the crowd as we come back before Becky dropkicks her and the two exchange forearms. Carmella counters an exploder suplex into a flat liner for a quick two count before Becky counters a tornado DDT into an exploder suplex. Carmella catches Becky up top before hitting a frankensteiner for a near fall, then Carmella sends Becky into the turnbuckle when she goes for the Disarmer and rolls Becky up for a near fall. Becky then misses a leg drop off of the top before Becky ends up locking in the Disarmer after Carmella gets another near fall off of a thrust kick for the tap and the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch defeats Carmella via submission with the Disarmer.
Smackdown! Tag Team Title Tournament First Round Match
New Day vs SAnitY
Wolfe and Xavier start the match off with Xavier dropping him with a forearm and suplexing him. Wolfe hits a German suplex before tagging Dain in who slams Xavier down and hits a senton for a quick two count as we go to commercial.
Xavier hits a missile dropkick as we come back from commercial before tagging Big-E in, E hitting a series of overhead belly to back suplexes before New Day hit The Midnight Hour for the pin and the win.
Winner: New Day defeat SAnitY via pinfall when Xavier pins Wolfe with The Midnight Hour to advance to the next round of the Smackdown Tag Team Title Tournament.
-After the match The Bar come out and proclaim that they will win their match next week against The Usos and the entire tournament.
-The Miz and his wife and daughter come out to the ring to talk about the premier of Miz & Mrs. which comes on tonight after Smackdown! Live on USA. They tease showing the baby to the crowd before they change their mind and show clips of the show. Daniel Bryan appears on the screen and says that he's sorry before coming out to the ring. Daniel then fights off the security before getting in the ring and Miz tosses him the baby which is a doll and hits The Skull Crushing Finale as we go off the air.
