WWE Smackdown LIVE Coverage & Discussion - July 3rd, 2018
This week's show starts off with footage from last week's Luke Harper versus Daniel Bryan match and the return of Kane.
Renee Young is in the ring and she brings out Daniel Bryan and Kane. They make their way to the ring.
Renee asks about their reunion last week and their complicated relationship.
Daniel says that is the beautiful thing about their relationship. Sometimes they fight, sometimes they hug, but in the ring they always deliver and they are unstoppable.
Kane says they fought blindfolded and with their arm tied behind their match. They faced off against The Shield. They have graduated with honors from Anger Management. Team Hell No is back and better than ever.
Renee asks Kane why did he come back.
Kane says Daniel can have a bit of a temper. He knew that Daniel couldn't let go what happened a few weeks ago with the Bludgeon Brothers and he knew it would blow up. He says that Daniel always has a demon watching over him.
Daniel says not always but he says they will become the new Tag Team Champions. Daniel says it is not true that Kane has always watched over him. The last time they wrestled, they were opponents.
Kane says they were always friends.
Daniel points out that Kane tried to end his career.
Kane says that everyone likes to win.
Daniel reminds Kane that he tombstoned him many times and it wasn't even a match.
Kane says they don't have to dig up the past. This is a new start. They have to focus on what unites them.
Daniel reminds Kane that he tried to abduct his wife.
Kane says tried and that they have had their differences. He says he always had his back.
Daniel says no and Kane says yes.
They continue until the music for the Usos plays.
Jimmy says he saw him last week. Jey says hello to Kane and the leader of Sweet Beatz. Jimmy asks Jey if he remembers when Team Hell No were the hottest team and how they argued all the time. Jimmy asks if they deserve a shot at the tag titles and Jimmy and Jey say HELL NO. The fact of the matter is that a lot has changed since they were a team. They have Smackdown on lock and they welcome Kane and Daniel to the Uso Penitentiary. Jey says they got a tag title match for hugging. Jimmy and Jey hug a total of four times and that means four tag title matches.
Daniel says if you think you can beat them, come into the ring and fight them right now.
Kane says they will consider this as a team and get back to The Usos.
Daniel asks Kane if he is ready. Daniel says Kane still thinks he is the weak link.
Paige's music plays and she says as General Manager, it is her obligation to do what is right for the WWE Universe. The tag title match will still take place. Daniel and Kane will have to face the Usos tonight in the main event. If the Usos win, they will be added to the tag title match at Extreme Rules.
Jeff Hardy says that Bald Eagle is able to spot its prey two miles away. It proves our nation's ferocity. Jeff says he carries this symbol with great pride and he is in search of his next prey. The challenge is open now.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Asuka says men . . . women, it doesn't matter who she faces, they all feel the pain. She says James Ellsworth is not ready for Asuka.
United States Title Independence Day Open Challenge Match
Jeff Hardy (c) vs Miz
They lock up and Miz with a punch and kicks. Jeff blocks a hip toss and Hardy with a sit out jaw breaker. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate but Miz escapes. Miz misses an Awesome Clothesline when Hardy moves. Hardy goes up top and Miz stops him and goes for a superplex but Hardy blocks it and sends Miz to the mat. Miz rolls to the floor and Hardy leaps to the mat.
Hardy goes to the floor and chases Miz back into the ring but Miz with boots to Hardy as he comes back into the ring. Miz with a reverse chin lock. Hardy with elbows but Miz pulls Hardy to the mat by the hair. Miz misses a running boot and gets a near fall with a rollup. Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate but Miz escapes and goes to the floor again. Miz returns to the ring and Hardy goes for a baseball slide and Miz returns to the floor. Miz with knees and he sends Hardy to the floor.
Miz misses a baseball slide and Hardy goes to the apron and he hits a cross body. Hardy slams Miz' head into the announce table and they return to the ring where Hardy gets a near fall. Hardy with a reverse chin lock. Miz with a knee to the midsection. Hardy with an elbow and he sends Miz into the turnbuckles. Hardy goes around the ring and he sends Miz into the final turnbuckle many times. Miz with a knee and then he hits a running boot to the head for a near fall. Miz stretches Hardy. Hardy gets back to his feet and he reverses but Miz is able to send Hardy to the mat again.
Miz with a kick and Hardy blocks a punch and punches Miz. Hardy with more punches and a kick. Hardy with a running forearm followed by a reverse atomic drop and leg drop to the midsection. Hardy with a drop kick for a near fall. Miz with a kick and Hardy sends Miz over the top rope to the floor. Hardy with a baseball slide that sends Miz into the ringside barrier. Hardy comes off the ring steps but Miz moves and Hardy hits the ringside barrier. Both men are down and the referee starts his count.
We go to commercial.
We are back and both men get back to their feet. Hardy with an enzuigiri and both men are down again. Hardy and Miz exchange punches. Hardy with a snap mare to counter the Skull Crushing Finale. Miz gets his boots up when Hardy goes for the hesitation kick. Hardy with a victory roll for a near fall. Miz with a kick and DDT for a near fall. Miz with the Awesome Clothesline and he goes up top and Hardy moves. Hardy with an elbow and he hits Whisper in the Wind for a near fall.
Hardy with a kick and he goes for a Twist of Fate but Miz counters and rolls up Hardy and has his feet on the ropes so the referee stops at two. Miz feels that he is the champion but that is not the case. Hardy with a kick and Twist of Fate followed by a Swanton for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy
The announcers go through the card for Extreme Rules.
Backstage:
James Ellsworth is in the locker room and he says that men are superior. Some women are not ready for Asuka, but he is no woman. He is all man. He will put Asuka in her place tonight.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Byron Saxton is out and he introduces the New Day, who will participate in a Third of July Pancake Eating Contest.
Tom tells us the record is 113 pancakes in 8 minutes.
Byron does the introductions once they get into the ring.
They will have five minutes to eat as many pancakes as possible. Kofi will have blue pancakes while Xavier has normal colored pancakes, and Big E has red pancakes.
The lights go out and Sanity makes their way to the ring from behind and attack the New Day. Wolfe biels Kofi out of the ring. Young sends Woods into the table. Dain sends Big E into the ring steps. Dain sends BIg E over the announce table while Young punches Woods and chokes him in the ropes. Dain with a running cross body to Kofi on the floor. Wolfe samples a pancake as he sets up the table with Dain. Dain sends Woods into the table and Young with an elbow drop off the turnbuckles through the table.
To hype the Asuka/Ellsworth match, we get a history lesson from the Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
We go to commercial.
James Ellsworth vs Asuka
Before the match starts, Carmella's music plays and she makes her way to the ring. Carmella and Asuka have some words and then goes to the announce table for commentary.
The match finally starts and Asuka pushes Ellsworth down and James goes to the floor. Carmella tells Ellsworth to get back into the ring. Asuka with a side head lock and Ellsworth goes back to the floor. Ellsworth appears to have injured his jaw. Ellsworth returns to the ring and Ellsworth with a waist lock but Asuka with elbows and strikes followed by an airplane spin. Asuka with a slap and spinning back fist. Ellsworth goes to the floor again and Asuka follows. Ellsworth runs into the crowd and Asuka follows.
The referee makes the ten count.
Double Count Out
Ellsworth and Asuka return to ringside and Carmella hits Asuka from behind.
Backstage:
Kane is in the back and Daniel Bryan stops by and he wants Kane to apologize. Kane wants to know what he needs to apologize for. Daniel runs through all of the bad things that Kane has done. Kane stops Daniel and he apologizes. Daniel wants to know for which one and Kane says for all of them. Kane says that Daniel is like a brother to him and Daniel points out that Kane set his brother on fire. Kane says the Usos are at the top of their game and if they make a mistake, they lose. If they are on the same page, no one can stop them. They create a fire that no one can extinguish. Then they will be tag team champions. Kane asks Daniel if he is ready for the Usos and Daniel says yes.
Backstage:
AJ Styles gets ready for his match.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Shinsuke Nakamura will face Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules for the United States Title.
AJ Styles has something to say before his match. He says at Extreme Rules, he will defend his championship against someone bigger and stronger than him. What else is new? That is what makes this job fun. AJ says he likes proving people wrong. AJ says he heard what Rusev said he would do. AJ says this the House that AJ Styles Built. Don't get him wrong, Rusev is a super athlete, but he is not phenomenal.
Rusev says he does not care how phenomenal AJ thinks he is because he has never faced this Rusev. Rusev who for the first time has a WWE Title opportunity. And it will be happening on his holiday. Rusev says he meant what he said and he will evict AJ from his house and he will move into the house that AJ built. Rusev asks Aiden what day will they be moving in and Aiden reminds everyone it will be on RUSEV DAY.
Non Title Match
AJ Styles vs Aiden English (with Rusev)
Rusev distracts AJ and that allows Aiden to attack AJ from behind. Rusev tells him never mind. English kicks AJ in the corner and the referee warns Aiden. AJ and Aiden fight on the floor but they get back into the ring. Aiden with punches and an Irish whip. AJ hits the turnbuckles chest first. Styles with chops and a forearm to the back. AJ with a kick to the back. AJ with a forearm and waist lock but Aiden with a standing switch. Aiden with a neck breaker and he gets a near fall.
Aiden with a knee and forearm to the back. Aiden with a second forearm to the lower back. Aiden goes for a third one but AJ with an elbow. AJ with forearms and kicks. English with a back heel kick. Aiden sends AJ to the apron but AJ with a shoulder and he slingshots back into the ring but Aiden with a Dragon Suplex for a near fall. Aiden with a rear chin lock. AJ with strikes and a clothesline to Aiden. AJ with a sliding forearm. AJ with a clothesline into the corner followed by an Ushigoroshi. Styles sets for the Styles Clash but English escapes. AJ with a Calf Crusher and Aiden has to tap out.
Winner: AJ Styles
After the match
Rusev pulls AJ out of the ring and he sends AJ into the ring post. Rusev with a jumping thrust kick. Rusev sends AJ back into the ring and stomps on the back and applies the Accolade.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are in the back and Peyton says she gets to expose Becky Lynch as a loser. Billie says Becky is a side kick. Peyton says that Becky is on a roll but she will win tonight.
We go to commercial.
Backstage:
We are back and Carmella is yelling at James for running away from Asuka.
Paige stops by and she says that she is enjoying watching Carmella use James to fight her battles. She tells James that he has a rematch next week and all of the women will surround the ring in a lumberjack match.
Becky Lynch vs Peyton Royce (w/ Billie Kay)
Peyton runs Becky into the corner and connects with shoulders. Becky with a snap mare and Billie distracts Becky but Becky with a rollup for a near fall. Becky with an Irish whip and Peyton sends Becky to the apron. Becky with a shoulder and then she goes up top but Peyton hits the ropes and kicks Becky. Peyton with a slam for a near fall. Peyton with knees to Becky followed by a kick to the midsection. Peyton with an abdominal stretch. Becky with a hip toss but Peyton sends Becky into the ropes and Peyton chokes Becky.
Peyton with a snap mare and seated abdominal stretch. Becky with a rollup for a near fall. Becky with head butts. Peyton misses a spinning back heel kick and Becky with an exploder followed by a back heel kick. Peyton with a kick but Becky with a leg lariat. Becky runs into boots from Peyton and Peyton with a knee. Becky with a crucifix into DisArmHer and Peyton taps out.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Tom Phillips mentions that Shinsuke Nakamura has responded to the announcement of a US Title Match. He asks why does Jeff Hardy paint his face. Is he a clown? Is he ashamed? He will take Jeff's pride, honor, and then he will take his United States Championship.
Daniel Bryan and Kane vs Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso
If the Usos Win This Match, They are Added to the Smackdown Tag Title Match at Extreme Rules Match
Jimmy and Bryan start things iff and Jimmy with a side head lock. Jimmy with a shoulder tackle but Bryan with a drop toe hold and then he applies a surfboard. Bryan tags in Kane and Kane kicks Jimmy in the head. Kane with an uppercut and kicks. Daniel tags back in and Bryan with a drop kick into the corner but Jimmy backs Bryan into the corner. Jey tags in and hits a forearm in the corner. Bryan with a drop kick and Kane tags in. Kane with a slam and he misses an elbow drop. JImmy tags in and he comes off the turnbuckles but Kane grabs him by the throat. Kane grabs Jey as well and sends them over the top rope. Jimmy with an uppercut to Bryan.
Jey with a suicide dive but he is met with a forearm from Kane. Jimmy with a suicide dive and we go to commercial.
We are back and Bryan punches Jimmy and he flips out of the corner and hits a flying clothesline. Bryan with kicks in the corner and he puts Jimmy on the turnbuckles and sets for a Frankensteiner and hits it. Bryan with kicks to the chest. Bryan misses a round kick and Jimmy hits an enzuigiri that knocks Bryan off the apron. Jey tags in and he clotheslines Bryan on the floor. Jey with a chop and Bryan returns to the ring. Jey with a slam to Bryan and he stomps on Bryan's chest.
Jimmy tags in and Jey kicks Bryan. Jimmy with a running hip into the corner for a near fall. Jimmy with a reverse chin lock. Jimmy tries to keep Bryan from making the tag and he sends Bryan to the mat. Jey tags in and he goes up top. Jimmy with a back breaker and Jey with a chop to the head. Jimmy tags back in and they make a wish with Daniel. Bryan and Jimmy go for cross body blocks and both men are down. Kane and Jey tag in and Kane with a punch and boot to Jey. Kane with a clothesline into the corner followed by a side slam and he gets a near fall.
Kane with an uppercut to Jimmy and Jey with a drop kick and he goes for a suicide dive but Kane stops him. Kane with a punch to JImmy when he goes for a suicide dive but Jey with a super kick. Bryan comes off the turnbuckles and is met with a double super kick. Jimmy and Jey with a double super kick to Kane and Jimmy gets a near fall. Jey tags in and they both go up top for the double splash and Kane grabs both by the throat. Bryan with a flying knee to Jimmy and Kane choke slams Jey for the three count.
Winners: Kane and Daniel Bryan
After the match
Kane and Daniel celebrate in the ring.
The music for the Bludgeon Brothers plays and they make their way onto the stage.
We go to credits.
