Shane Opts Out?
Shane opened with a prerecorded segment where Shane McMahon said he wouldn’t be on Smackdown (Hallelujah!) because of Kevin Owens’ attacks. He’s chosen, on the advice of his life coach, to get his emotions straight to face Owens at SummerSlam.
Owens then came out, asking for nobody to panic as “Shane McMahon won’t be here tonight and we’ll make it through tonight. We’ll be okay.” Then he pointed out it was a good thing as Smackdown should be “About talent and not your stupid face.”
“This is the Kevin Owens Show!”
Drew McIntyre came out to respond on Shane’s behalf.
He told Owens, “You talk too much,” and said Shane didn’t mention how Owens had a match against McIntyre. McIntyre then attacked him, and threw him over the announcer’s table.
Kevin Owens beat Drew McIntyre by pinfall
A pay-per-view level of match (and possibly the best of the night) saw Owens absorb a good deal of punishment before and through most of the match as McIntyre physically dominated.
The tide turned after Owens fought out of an arm bar and McIntyre hit the post with his shoulder.
McIntyre countered a stunner with a Glasgow Kiss for a near pin. Owens countered a Claymore with a superkick, then hit with another superkick, knocking McIntyre into the ropes, and on the rebound Owens hit with a sit-down power bomb for the near pin.
Outside the ring, Owens countered McIntyre with a stunner on the announcer’s table, then in the ring hit with a superkick/stunner combo for the pin.
King’s Court – Trish Stratus Accepts Charlotte Flair’s Challenge
After Lawler said the legend on Raw Reunion were backstage talking about getting into the ring for one more match and asked her if she had the itch, Flair’s music started.
Flair once again complained about not being on the SummerSlam card and went on about Stratus using being a mom as an excuse. Flair then challenged her for a match at SummerSlam. Stratus declined, eliciting a tirade how now that the WWE doesn’t “have models shaking their asses,” and told Stratus to “get the hell out of my ring, hop in your minivan and go back to changing diapers.”
Stratus pointed out, “There would be no trail for you to blaze if it wasn’t for me and Lita and Jacquelin and Ivory and Beth Phoenix.” To drive her point home, she added, “to be the woman, you need to beat the woman.”
Flair didn’t look as confident, despite this being little more than the old guard officially passing the torch to the new guard.
Roman Reigns Survives Attack… Barely
On his way to issuing a challenge for his SummerSlam opponent, he was buried by a falling light rigging and speakers. Officials rushed to help him, but he crawled out from under it seemingly unhurt.
As they pleaded with him to let then check him out, he walked away. As the show went off the air, a mysterious figure was shown in the background wearing a black t-shirt with white sleeves.
The Rest of Smackdown
Ziggler and Miz at SummerSlam
In an interview backstage, Ziggler railed against the legends, Mick Foley and Goldberg, in particular as he confirmed his match against the Miz at SummerSlam. The surprise here was that he’s not going to face Shawn Michaels.
Sami Zayne Picks a Fight with Aleister Black
Aleister Black was back in his self-imposed prison and explained how he felt different and how his redemption was nearing thanks to Cesaro picking a fight with him. He then lamented how no one else had picked a fight with him since.
In a later interview, Sami Zayn accepted as he said, “I don’t see a man begging for a fight, I see a man begging for help,” then claimed, “This man doesn’t need a fight, this man needs to be beaten and exposed so the hype can end and he can start to heal.” Looks like we have a match for SummerSlam.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross beat Bayley and Ember Moon by pinfall
Backstage Bayley warned Moon not to try to go after her like she did last week, and that she was only in this position because Bayley chose her.
A back and forth match ratcheted up when Moon got into the ring and showcased her skills before Bliss hit Moon with a Twisted Bliss for the pin.
After the match, Bayley helped Moon to her feet, then hit her with a Bayley-to-Belly to repay Moon for hitting her with an Eclipse last week.
Daniel Bryan’s Announcement… Again
Once again, Bryan walked out without saying a word. Rumors say he may be going to 205 Live. Looks like we have to wait to find out.
Firefly Funhouse
In a surprise segment, Ramblin’ Rabbit said how he’s Finn Balor’s biggest fan, but he also said how the Fiend’s ben unleashed. Just as he was about to say what the Funhouse really was, he ran off and Bray Wyatt entered. Wyatt laughed, before growling, “Let me in.”
Dolph Ziggler beat Fin Balor by pinfall
A good match that had them exchange counters and attacks nearly had Ziggler win after hitting the Famouser, but Balor kicked out. Balor then hit with a sling blade and double stomp when the lights went out and the Fiend appeared on the ramp, distracting Balor. When the light came on, the Fiend was gone, but Ziggler used the distraction to his Balor with a superkick and pin.
Anyone want to wager that this will cause Balor to bring out the Demon for SummerSlam? How awesome a match would that be?
Ali beat Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall
A non-title rematch from Smackville, Ali started it off off fast with a drop kick and suicide dive leading to a quick pin attempt. Nakamura took control, but Ali countered a Kinsasha with a superkick, then countered another but suffered a DDT for his trouble. The third time wasn’t the charm as Ali once again countered a Kinsasha, this time into a roll up pin.
Randy Orton’s Anti-Kofi Stance Explained
In a prerecorded segment, Randy Orton started off saying how he’d beaten the best in 2009: the Undertaker, Triple H, Mick Foley, and was a main eventer by being himself. He derided Kingston for using a fake Jamaican accent.
Fast forwarding to 2019, Orton pointed out how he injured Ali, giving Kingston the opportunity in the Elimination Chamber, and how there would have been no WrestleMania had it not been for him. Orton was offended at never receiving a thanks from Kingston. And on Kingston challenging him? “Kofi challenging me? Stupid, stupid, stupid. I’m going to take the gold from around his waist.”
Champion vs Champion Non-Title: Kofi Kingston beat AJ Styles by pinfall
A good match with a mix of high flying moves and old school headlocks and takedowns eventually led to the outside of the ring, where Styles took control with a knee to Kingston on the apron.
Back in the ring, Styles continued his control with a modified Camel Clutch that eventually became a headlock as Kingston fought to regain his feet. Kingston his with a DDT off the turnbuckle.
Styles blocked a Trouble in Paradise, but was then hit with an SOS for a near pinfall.
After Kingston his Styles with a splash, the OC pulled Styles out of the pin, causing a brief altercation with the New Day outside the ring, causing Kingston to take out the OC with a splash from over the rope.
Kingston countered a Phenomenal Forearm with a Trouble in Paradise for the win.
Final Thoughts
For the second straight night, the WWE ended their show with action outside the ring, setting the stage for SummerSlam in some 1980s style mystery. While who attacked Reigns is a mystery we’ll see develop over the next couple of weeks, it’ll be fun to see what “problems” he has to deal with until then.
It looks like WWE creative has finally sorted out their story problems, thanks mostly to Heyman and Bischoff’s arrival. It’ll be fun to see where it goes.
