This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Tonight we have a great show as in our main event Shinsuke Nakamura faces Randy Orton for a chance to take on Jinder Mahal at WWE Hell in a Cell. Be sure to come back here at 8 PM EST to find out who will get another chance at the gold!
-We open the show with a taped segment with Randy Orton, then Shinsuke Nakamura before Kevin Owens comes out to the ring and interrupts James Ellsworth and Carmella and decides to declare himself as the special guest referee for her match with Natalya. Shane comes out and tells him that it's not happening before Kevin says that he wants to be on RAW. Kevin says that he shouldn't have survived the helicopter crash before talking about his family and causing Shane to attack him. Shane beats on Kevin at ringside before the officials make him leave as we go to commercial.
-We come back from commercial to Kevin being helped backstage before Daniel walks up to him, Kevin going on a diatribe about how he will ruin WWE and the McMahon family.
Natalya vs Carmella
Natalya takes her down to start the match before they get into a slapping exchange, Natalya dropping Carmella with a clothesline before she rolls out of the ring to regroup as we go to commercial.
Carmella is in control as we come back from commercial until Natalya comes back and goes for a sharpshooter, but Carmella is quick to the ropes for the break. Carmella is then distracted by James before Natalya rolls her up for the pin and the win.
Winner: Natalya via pinfall
-After the match Carmella turns on James and dumps him as we go backstage to Shane pacing back and forth as we go to commercial.
-Dolph Ziggler comes out to a series of entrances including John Cena's before foregoing a match.
Sami Zayn vs Aiden English
Sami goes right after Aiden to start the match, hitting him with a series of right hands before hitting a huricanrrana, then Aiden rolls him up out of nowhere for the pin and the win.
Winner: Aiden English via pinfall
-Daniel meets with New Day and the Usos before the Usos declare their title match as a street fight next week as we go to commercial with Daniel talking to presumably Vince McMahon on the phone as we go to commercial.
-Daniel Bryan comes out to the ring as we come back from commercial, grabbing a mic and saying that he needs Shane to come down to the ring. Shane comes out to the ring and Daniel chastises him before Shane says that Kevin crossed the line. Daniel then has to suspend Shane indefinitely before leaving as the crowd chants for Shane as we go to commercial as Shane leaves the ring.
Baron Corbin vs Tye Dillinger
Corbin gets out of the ring and focuses on AJ before Tye attacks him from behind and tosses him into the railing. They get back in the ring and Tye clotheslines him over the top rope and to the floor as we go to commercial.
Corbin comes back as we come back from commercial, hitting a clothesline before Tye drops him with a flying forearm and a series of stomps in the corner. Corbin kicks Tye out of the ring after countering a Tye Breaker and tossing him into the barricade while exchanging words with AJ at ringside. Tye counters a chokeslam for a near fall before Corbin hits him in the throat and drops him onto the top turnbuckle. Corbin then finishes up with the End of Days for the pin and the win.
Winner: Baron Corbin via pinfall
-AJ talks to Tye backstage before agreeing to a title match next week before we get a video package for Bobby Roode's career as we come back from commercial. Next James talks to Carmella backstage and begs for her forgiveness, Carmella kissing him violently before slapping him and leaving.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Randy Orton WWE Championship Number One Contender Match
They exchange wrist locks to start the match before Randy teases an RKO out of nowhere, then they lock up for a clean break before Randy goes for a draping DDT that Shinsuke gets out of and rolls out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Randy is in control as we come back from commercial, having Shinsuke in a headlock before dropping across the top rope. Shinsuke comes back with a series of strikes before Randy goes for a draping DDT onto the floor, Shinsuke pushes him away before Randy drops him back first against the announce table. Randy rolls him back into the ring for a quick two count before putting him in a headlock once more. Shinsuke fights out of it before dropping Randy with a flurry of kicks. Shinsuke then hits double running knees in the corner for a near fall.
Randy catches Shinsuke on the top turnbuckle before hitting a superplex for a near fall before Shinsuke comes back with a series of knees, then goes for the Kinshasa, but Randy counters into a powerslam for a near fall. Randy hits a draping DDT before Shinsuke counters an RKO into an armbar and a triangle choke that Randy powers out of. Shinsuke counters another RKO into a backstabber before hitting the Kinshasa for the pin and the win.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall
