WWE SmackDown Live!
Cleveland, OH - August 1st, 2017
CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into this week's edition of SmackDown Live, the WWE World Champion is Jinder Mahal, the United States Champion is AJ Styles, Naomi holds the SmackDown Women's Championship and the SmackDown Tag Team Titles are held by The New Day.
COMMENTATORS: JBL, Tom Phillips, and Byron Saxton
In the opening contest, AJ Styles defended his United States Championship against former champion, Kevin Owens. Like every other match these two have had, it starts with some wrestling (specifically the dreaded Kevin Owens headlock). I was disappointed with their match at Battleground a few weeks back so I was curious if they'd be able to top it (which shouldn't have been too challenging). During the second commercial break, the action was still viewable on the side of the screen - a neat idea I don't think I've seen before (though I'm the opposite of a regular TV viewer at this point). After the second break, Styles was back on the offensive, hitting a big clothesline in the corner and then his patented fireman's carry neckbreaker. Styles attempted a Styles Clash, but Owens countered with a back body drop. Owens dodged a Phenomenal Forearm and hit a big superkick for two, the Grizzly wondering what else he'd need to do to keep Styles down. The sequences that followed including a great pele kick and two calf-crushers and were more suspenseful than anything they did at Battleground. Again, though, the finish was tainted by a somewhat confusing ref bump spot and a disputable pinfall. I'm not sure what this is building to, but it is becoming increasingly questionable whether the journey to get wherever this is going is worth the trip. An improvement from Battleground but still a lower-tier AJ match for a number of reasons beyond the actual ringwork. (3/5)
Backstage, Owens complains to the Co-General Managers, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan, who were already taking head referee Mike Chioda to the woodshed.
After a commercial, we get a semi-parody of The New Day's entrance by their rivals, The Usos. Jimmy and Jey proceed to bust some rhymes about the champs - half decent, half corny. At least it was kept short.
Are you kidding me? A Twin Peaks parody? Yes and yes and yes. Incredible.
In the ring we go for Aiden English vs. Sami Zayn. English's theatre-based, overdramatic singer gimmick is new to me and I don't love it. Didn't Rob Conway try this a decade ago? Why didn't Zayn just Helluva Kick him in the mouth when he was in the corner? If the Vaudevillian thing seemed one-dimensional, this gimmick can only be described as half-dimensional. This was a pretty nothing match that saw English get the cheap win. Not worth rating.
Becky Lynch and Naomi partnered up to take on Natalya and Carmella. This match was designed primarily to build up Naomi and Natalya's SummerSlam match (which I expect to suffer most from short minutes more than anything else). The rumors were swirling that Charlotte was being held off the card for now while a deal with Rhonda Rousey could be struck up, but its August 2nd and I haven't heard anything about that idea coming down the pike. Decent enough match, but again, nothing worth reviewing.
Okay - here comes something I want to see - Rusev vs. Chad Gable. Liked how Gable came in trying to outwrestle his bigger, stronger opponent, but Rusev maintained control due to his natural advantage. The commercial cut in just as the match was getting to the heel shine stretch, which was unfortunate considering that Rusev is great when he's dominating and Gable is a solid sympathy-getter. Back from the break, Gable was back on offense, hitting an impressive german suplex and then a picture-perfect moonsault. The crowd was very into this match - which was a bit surprising considering Gable hasn't really been booked consistently since joining the Blue Brand and Rusev has only recently returned (and is coming off a big loss to Cena). Rusev killed Gable's momentum with a big kick to the face for two. Good clean finish from the Accolade after another swift kick to the skull. I'd love to see these two go again with an actual story behind it, though, preferably one a bit more complex than just USA guy vs. Bulgarian Brute. Solid TV match. (3/5)
After the match, Randy Orton answers Rusev's challenge for a SummerSlam opponent. I wouldn't hate this if it wasn't so unfortunately clear that Orton is probably going to go over despite being in one stinker of a feud after another.
Dream match next - John Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura to learn who would challenge Jinder Mahal for his WWE World Championship at SummerSlam. Cena came out first, which is interesting only because it shows some serious confidence in Nakamura to get the "bigger" introduction. Really fun back-and-forth before the first commercial break with lots of classic character stuff and Cena making Nak's strikes look legit. Back from the break, Nakamura was still in relative control, essentially hitting some of his "WWE Greatest Hits," including the double knees in the corner, before Cena got on a roll himself. Cena wasted too much time basking in the crowd's adoration/hatred and got locked in a triangle when he attempted the Five Knuckle Shuffle but was able to use his tremendous strength to get to his feet (only to fall victim to a front suplex). Nak called for the Kinchasa, but Cena countered the attempt into an STF to a huge reaction from the Cleveland crowd. Nak reversed it himself, though, to apply a cross-armbreaker. Once separated, Cena leveled the King of Strong Style with a huge clothesline, but Nakamura wouldn't stay down, eventually hitting a knee to the jaw. Again Nakamura called for the Kinchasa, but this time ate an Attitude Adjusment for a long, long 2-count. Add Nakamura's name to the lengthy list of guys who have kicked out of that "finisher." Cena went for a second, but ended up in a guillotine choke momentarily. Cena hit a SECOND Attitude Adjustment, but when he went for a third, Nak used the momentum to counter with a nasty suplex and then a Kinchasa for an absolutely clean victory! I'm not sure this lived up to the "dream match" hype (and the final bump from Nak's back suplex looked pretty darn cringe-worthy) but it was certainly a strong main event and a firm show of support to Nakamura from "The Franchise." (3.5/5)
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