Tonight on SmackDown Live, we finish up the first round of the Tag Team Championship tournament with the return of the Headbangers. Also, The Miz will address his heated promo from Talking Smack last week.
Opening Segment
To kick off SmackDown Live, The Miz (along with Maryse) storms down to the ring to continue the frustrations he had last week on Talking Smack. For those who don’t know, Daniel Bryan called The Miz a coward in the ring, but the current Intercontinental Champion took offense and ranted to Bryan about how he has never been injured. The Miz used this to get under the skin of Daniel Bryan, and salt the wound that was Bryan’s early retirement.
While the Miz is going on and on, he is interrupted by Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler says that Miz can prove to everyone that he is not a coward by fighting him right now. As expected, The Miz instead walks to the back.
The Hype Bros vs. The Vaudevillains – SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament (Round One)
Here are two teams that have no chance of winning the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. The new silver and blue tag titles were unveiled last week along with the SmackDown Women’s Championship, and the first champions will be crowned at Backlash on September 11. Two teams have already advanced in the tournament: The Usos and American Alpha. With those two teams being the two favorites to win, The hype Bros and The Vaudevillains winning the gold (silver) would be quite the upset.
Mojo Rawley clocks Aiden English in the jaw, and follows it up with the Hype Ryder to pick up the victory and advance to the second round. Winners: The Hype Bros | Eliminated: The Vaudevillains
AJ Styles vs. Apollo Crews
AJ Styles solidified his spot in a WWE Championship match for Backlash last week when he defeated Dolph Ziggler. The self-professed new face that runs the place needs to keep the momentum going for the next two weeks to help his championship opportunity. On the other hand, if Apollo Crews picks up the victory it could do wonders for his career.
Crews gives an impressive showing, but Styles gets the better of him and hits the Phenomenal Forearm to get the pinfall. Winner: AJ Styles
In-ring Segment
Bray Wyatt gives one of his cryptic sermons to Randy Orton, who comes out to question the Eater of Worlds. Wyatt says that he is the predator now, and says that he is going to “slay the serpent’s head” at Backlash. Orton accepts, and rushes the ring to attack Wyatt. Wyatt disappears and the segment ends.
Alexa Bliss & Natalya vs. Becky Lynch & Naomi
The longest-reigning Divas Champion of all time, Nikki Bella, joins Mauro Ranallo, JBL, and David Otunga on commentary for this match. Last week, she was scheduled to take on Carmella but was first interviewed by Renee Young about her return from injury. During this interview, Carmella would attack Nikki Bella from behind, then do the same thing later in the night on Talking Smack.
During the match, Carmella yet again attacks Nikki Bella out of nowhere and this ends up distracting Becky Lynch. Alexa Bliss takes advantage of the distraction and rolls up Lynch for the win. Winners: Alexa Bliss & Natalya
Rhyno & Heath Slater vs. The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) – SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament (Round One)
This is the time the Headbangers have been in a WWE ring in 16 years, and they are in pursuit of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. The winners of this match will face The Hype Bros in the semi-finals of the tournament.
Mosh and Thrasher hit Heath Slater with an impressive powerbomb/leg drop combination, but Rhyno breaks up the pin, The ECW star then drags Slater to his corner, practically tags himself in, and hits a Gore to advance to the next round of the tournament. So much for the return of the Headbangers. Winners: Rhyno & Heath Slater | Eliminated: The Headbangers
Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin
AJ Styles can’t be the only one in the Backlash main event to gain some momentum for himself. WWE World Champion Dean Ambrose will attempt to match Styles by defeating Baron Corbin tonight. Like Apollo Crews, Baron Corbin has had no direction at all since the brand split and could use some badly. Speaking of AJ Styles, he is on commentary tonight.
Styles gets up to tell Corbin to “get on” Ambrose, and while the two butt heads, Ambrose shoves Corbin into his Backlash challenger. When Styles recovers, he hits Corbin with a kick on the apron and the three fight to end the show. Winner (via disqualification): Baron Corbin
