WWE Smackdown Live – July 17th 2018: Results & Review
Welcome to this week’s Smackdown Live review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have a night of excellent action to get to, so let’s do so. Please remember that all match titles are courtesy of WWE.com. In the words of Steven Tyler… “Daaaaamadodahmaaaaaadoooooodaaaaaaaaa!” How the hell should I know what it means? I’m just trying to fill up screen space so I look like a real writer.
Match #1: AJ Styles def. Andrade “Cien” Almas
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
With Zelina Vega having brazenly stepped to the WWE Champion on behalf of her business associate earlier in the night to challenge him to a contest, Andrade “Cien” Almas took on AJ Styles on SmackDown LIVE. Backing up Vega’s bold words, Almas was relentless in his onslaught on Styles in what was unquestionably the biggest match of his blue brand tenure. It even appeared Andrade may be closing in on the victory when he hit his signature running double knees to Styles in the corner, but The Phenomenal One narrowly kicked out before catching Almas in the Calf Crusher out of nowhere for the tapout win.
My Take: This was an excellent opener that gave Cien his best main roster match so far, as well as one of his best matches in the WWE. It’s quite the sight to see AJ Styles wrestle La Sombra, albeit as the Andrade Almas character, but the match they worked was fluid and sharp (I’m told that’s what bourbon feels like going down), so I guess the name is not the important thing. You can’t go wrong with a match like this, especially when the announcers put both men over after words.
Match #2: Becky Lynch def. Mandy Rose
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
With Sonya Deville in her corner, Mandy Rose attempted to bust out every trick in the book to try and get the edge on The Irish Lass Kicker, but Becky Lynch forced God’s Greatest Creation to tap to the excruciating Dis-arm-her. After the match, Lynch took the microphone and vamped that she was ready to regain the SmackDown Women’s Championship. In the backstage area, Carmella, who wanted to focus on the next Mellabration, bristled at the notion that Becky could challenge her for the championship, but SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige scheduled a non-title match between The Princess of Staten Island and The Irish Lass Kicker for next week. And if Becky prevails in that bout, she will earn an opportunity to challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam!
My Take: This match was all about Lynch, who is in a class all her own when it comes to women’s wrestling. I wouldn’t have a problem watching Lynch wrestle AJ Styles for the title at Summerslam. As far as the match goes, the right person won and the loser got a little bit better by the match’s end.
Match #3: Samoa Joe def. Tye Dillinger
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
After Samoa Joe savagely attacked Tye Dillinger on the entranceway last week and put The Perfect 10 to sleep with the Coquina Clutch, the two Superstars finally squared off tonight on SmackDown LIVE. Never one to back down, Dillinger brought the fight and landed several haymakers on The Samoan Submission Machine as they brawled around ringside, but Joe was laser-focused, pummeling The Perfect 10 and defeating him with the Coquina Clutch
My Take: This match was too short to be much of any-thing, but at least it made Tye look tough and Samoa Joe look ruthless. Joe seems to be headed for the title match with AJ at Summerslam and that sounds good to me.
Match #4: Eric Young def. Kofi Kingston
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
After competing in the barbaric Six-Man Tag Team Tables Match this past Sunday, Eric Young of SAnitY and Kofi Kingston of The New Day looked to continue the war in hard-hitting singles action. Both Superstars kept an eye on the rival conglomerates lurking at ringside, and SAnitY’s presence paid off for Young when Killian Dain threw Woods into Kingston behind the referee’s back, allowing Young to connect with his neckbreaker variation for th
My Take: This was a nice little match that had some good action from both men. I keep waiting for Team Canada to come out and help Eric Young, but I suppose that’s just the TNA fan in me still in shock over Young actually having a job with the WWE. Hell, I’m still waiting for Young to walk out with a sign in the crowd that says “Don’t Fire Eric Young!”. Kofi is still one of the best wrestling stars in the world and I hate seeing him stuck in just tag team wrestling, but since the New Day is popular, at least he has reason to be content.
Match #5: Main Event – Jeff Hardy def. United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura by disqualification
The following is courtesy of WWE.com:
Coming in as focused as he promised, Jeff Hardy took the fight to Shinsuke Nakamura as he attempted to regain the United States Title in this WWE Extreme Rules rematch. With the playing field leveled (unlike Sunday), the Superstars exchanged stiff strikes at a dizzying pace to stake their claim to the title. In the pivotal moments, Jeff seemed to have Nakamura down for the count after hitting him with a picture-perfect Swanton Bomb. However, outta nowhere, Randy Orton arrived, broke up Jeff’s pin attempt and started savagely assaulting him to give The Charismatic Enigma the disqualification win.
A wounded Hardy attempted to fight back, but The Apex Predator overwhelmed the former United States Champion, stomping his skull into the steel steps. Then, in a very disturbing scene, The Viper attempted to rip the piercing out of Hardy’s ear, extensively stretching his earlobe. The Viper then threw Hardy over the announcer’s table and continued the assault. WWE personnel ran down to try to stop Orton’s attack, but Randy concluded the beating by DDT’ing Hardy off the table, as Nakamura just watched on from a distance.
My Take: These two had an excellent match that shows promise for an unique feud. Nakamura and Hardy are a dream pairing, both in terms of action and character. I really enjoyed this match. Also, Orton’s interference actually worked as an angle, since it’s being pushed that Orton and Hardy are going for blood with their feud. The three wrestlers involved in the main event could be a very interesting combination for Summerslam.
News of the Night:
- Aiden English may be getting split from Rusev and Lana, based on him possibly causing Rusev to lose his WWE World Title match.
- Jeff Hardy may be getting a match Randy Orton at Summerslam, or a triple threat match against Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Title at the same PPV.
- Daniel Bryan will likely wrestle The Miz at Summerslam.
- Becky Lynch will wrestle Smackdown Women’s Champion Carmella next week in a non-title match and if Lynch wins, then she gets the title match against Carmella at Summerslam.
- Smackdown General Manager Paige will announce AJ Styles WWE World Title contender, next week, and it looks like it might be Samoa Joe.
Final Verdict: This was a very good episode of Smackdown that set up the different options for Summerslam in a very enticing way.
