This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Live. Tonight WWE goes across the pond to England where Jinder Mahal will defend his WWE World Championship against AJ Styles, The Usos defend their WWE Smackdown! Live Tag Team Championship against Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. Be sure to come back here at 8PM EST for to see who walks away with the gold and be sure to stick around for the post show podcast!
-Shane McMahon comes out to the ring to start the show and talks about what happened last night on RAW before bringing out New Day. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn come and Shane sets up a match between Sami and Kofi.
Sami Zayn vs Kofi Kingston
They lock up to start the match for a clean break before exchanging wrist locks and hammer locks before Sami hits a monkey flip that Kofi lands on his feet from. Kofi sends Sami out of the ring as he talks with Kevin at ringside before gingerly making his way back into the ring, then opts not to; jumping down after he gets on the apron before Kofi gets out of the ring and chases him around ringside before they get back in. Sami takes control once they're back in the ring and beats on Kofi before Kofi dropkicks him in midair and sends him back out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Kofi hits a springboard flipping senton to the outside after sending Sami out of the ring, then gets back in the ring for a quick two count. Kofi hits an enzuigiri before they counter each other, then Kofi gets the pin and the win.
Winner: Kofi Kingston via pinfall
Randy Orton vs Rusev
They immediately tease their finishers before Rusev hits a roundhouse kick for a series of near falls as we go to commercial.
Rusev is in control as we come back from commercial, hitting a spinning wheel kick for a near fall as we see Shane backstage with Bobby Roode and Shinsuke Nakamura looking on from a monitor. Rusev hits a series of elbow drops for a quick two count before Randy hits an RKO out of nowhere for the pin and the win.
Winner: Randy Orton via pinfall
Becky Lynch vs James Ellsworth
James plays to the crowd to start the match before getting immediately to the ropes when Becky goes for an armbar. James mocks Becky before they grapple until she puts him on the top turnbuckle. They then counter each other until Becky rolls him around the ring for a series of quick two counts. Becky tosses James out of the ring before he gets back in the ring and sends Becky out of the opposite side of the ring. Becky gets back in the ring and James whips her across the ring and into the opposite corner before Becky counters a superkick into a fall away slam that sends him out of the ring.
James then gets back in the ring and hugs Becky before she puts him in the Disarmer for the tap and the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch via submission
-Carmella kills James after the match with a superkick before leaving as we go to commercial.
-Shane meets with Natalya and sets up a title match between her and Charlotte next week.
WWE Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship Match
The Usos (c) vs Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
They lock up to start the match before Chad and Shelton send the Usos out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Jey drops Chad with a series of kicks as we come back from commercial, then Chad tags Shelton in and Shelton tosses Jey around before sending him over the top rope. Jey doesn't get back in the ring and Chad and Shelton win via count out.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable win via count out, but the Usos are still WWE Smackdown! Live Tag Team Champions.
WWE Championship Match
Jinder Mahal (c) vs AJ Styles
They lock up to start the match before Jinder pushes AJ away, then Jinder hits a back elbow when AJ holds onto a standing switch in the ropes. Jinder fights out of a headlock before AJ rolls him up for a quick two count before tossing an over the top rope as we go to commercial.
They do a test of strength as we come back from commercial, Jinder taking AJ down before he fights out of a side headlock. AJ dropkicks Jinder before sending him out of the ring, then Jinder counters when AJ goes for a springboard move to the outside. Jinder tosses AJ onto the announce table before rolling him back into the ring and dropping knees on him repeatedly. Jinder puts AJ in a straight armbar that he fights out of, then drops more knees until AJ counters. AJ comes back with a flurry of offense before hitting an ushigaroshi and a series of kicks.
Jinder tosses AJ in the air and around the ring before putting him on the top turnbuckle and AJ slips out of the back and counters into a Calf Killer that Jinder powers out of. AJ hits a series of strikes before Jinder turns him inside out with a lariat for a near fall, then puts him back on the top turnbuckle. AJ pulls the top rope down and sends Jinder over the top rope and out of the ring before hitting a tope to the outside, then rolls Jinder back in the ring and hits a 450 splash for a near fall. AJ takes the Singh brothers at ringside before Jinder counters a Phenomenal Forearm into the Khallas for a very close near fall. AJ counters an avalanche Khallas before hitting the Phenomenal Forearm for the pin and the win.
Winner: AJ Styles defeats Jinder Mahal to become the new WWE champion via pinfall
