Backlash, the first SmackDown Pay-Per-View since the Brand Extension, is five days away. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan have some huge matches set up: Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles, The SmackDown Women’s Championship Six Pack Challenge, and Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt. How can tonight’s episode of SmackDown excite the WWE Universe for their first brand-specific Pay-Per-View?
Opening Segment
To kick off SmackDown Live, General Manager Daniel Bryan is in the middle of the ring with the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Before the Women’s Championship Six Pack Challenge at Backlash (which will just be a six-woman elimination match), Bryan scheduled a six-woman tag team match tonight featuring all of the competitors from Sunday’s championship match. Even before the tag team match, Daniel Bryan is in the ring to host a SmackDown Women’s Championship forum.
First, Becky Lynch comes down to the ring to talk about how hard she’s worked to get here, when she is interrupted by Natalya, then Alexa Bliss, and Carmella. The three women look to team up on Lynch, but Nikki Bella and Naomi help even the odds and throw the heels out of the ring. It looks like the teams for tonight’s tag team match are set.
The Miz (w/Maryse) vs. Apollo Crews
At SummerSlam, The Miz defeated Apollo Crews to retain the Intercontinental Championship. After losing to AJ Styles last week, Crews looks to get back in the game by getting a victory over The Miz. The Miz defends his championship this Sunday at Backlash, where he will face Dolph Ziggler (who happens to be on commentary for this match, appropriately).
Apollo Crews fails to hit The Miz with a baseball slide, and almost hits Dolph Ziggler instead. The Miz pushed a distracted Crews into Ziggler, then the ring post. When Crews rolls back into the ring, The Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale to pick up the victory. Winner: The Miz
Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, & Naomi vs. Natalya, Alexa Bliss, & Carmella
Whichever team wins this tag team match surely has the momentum advantage going into the Women’s Championship Six Pack Challenge. It could be argued that Natalya, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella need this win more than the other team. Nikki Bella and Becky Lynch are considered the favorites to win the gold, and their opponents in this tag match have something to prove. An interesting to note is that Natalya and Nikki Bella are the only two SmackDown women to have held a championship in WWE.
Most of the women brawl outside the ring, which leaves Nikki Bella lying in the ring. Carmella takes advantage to lock in the Code of Silence on the surgically repaired neck of Nikki Bella to submit the longest-reigning Divas Champion of all time. Winners (via submission): Natalya, Alexa Bliss, & Carmella
The Usos vs. American Alpha – SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament Match
After both of these teams won their respective first round matches, they square off tonight to advance to the finals at Backlash.
The Usos start the match by attacking American Alpha from behind, but Jason Jordan and Chad Gable turn it around in about 30 seconds to pick up the quick victory. Winners: American Alpha | Eliminated: The Usos
After the match, The Usos shake the hands of American Alpha, then immediately attack them again. They focus on Chad Gable’s left leg, and potentially injure Gable going into Backlash. This could be a huge advantage for whoever wins the other semifinals match.
In-ring Segment
Fandango is in the ring to help a fan dance, and after the fan dances, Kane comes to the ring and chokeslams Fandango. While cringeworthy, it was better than the Old Day on Raw.
The Hype Bros vs. Heath Slater & Rhyno – SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament Match
Heath Slater, still without a SmackDown contract, teamed up with Rhyno to compete in the SmackDown Tag Team Championship tournament. If Slater and Rhyno win the entire tournament, the One Man Band will officially become a part of the Tuesday night roster. With Chad Gable’s injury earlier tonight, if Slater and Rhyno get past the Hype Bros, they might be almost guaranteed the championships.
Rhyno pulls Heath Slater out of the way of the Broski Boot, and tags himself in. Rhyno takes advantage of a hung up Ryder to hit his patented Gore and to advance to the tournament finals. Winners: Heath Slater & Rhyno | Eliminated: The Hype Bros
