WWE SmackDown Results: AJ Styles Vs. Matt Riddle, New "Firefly Fun House," Alexa Bliss
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Who you got: @AJStylesOrg or @SuperKingofBros? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/YOjpUB91Lt
? WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 18, 2020
- Backstage, AJ Styles hypes his IC Title match against Matt Riddle later tonight. Styles says he only lost previously because Riddle caught him by surprise, but tonight he has no chance because this is house that AJ Styles built. Matt Riddle wonders if AJ stands for "arrogant jackass" and at the end of the night, he'll be the bro who runs the show.
- Miz and Morrison also talk about Morrison's match against Braun Strowman tonight, Morrison says he's terrified. Elsewhere, Braun tells Morrison that the horror show might just start tonight.
- Looks like we're getting SmackDown Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules between New Day and Cesaro / Shinsuke Nakamura. The stipulation will be decided tonight.
Big E with Kofi Kingston vs. Cesaro with Shinsuke Nakamura (Winner picks either a Tables Match or Steel Cage Match at Extreme Rules for their Tag Title Match)
Big E goes right after Cesaro, sending him out of the ring, and then straight into the stairs. Big E then jams Cesaro into the steps. Back in the ring, Big E charges in and runs straight into the ring post, Cesaro then kicks him down to the floor. Back in the ring, Cesaro leaps off the top turnbuckle, dropping Big E, cover, two. Big E works his way back into the match, throwing big clubbing blows on Cesaro's chest on the apron. Big E hits his apron splash on Cesaro then stares at Nakamura as Kofi laughs away.
The power of @WWECesaro is matched by the power of @WWEBigE! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/ad1ldL1dc3
? WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 18, 2020
Big E plants Cesaro down to the mat, pin attempt, two-count. Cesaro out on the apron, Big E looking for his spear, Cesaro with a big boot and follows up with a springboard european uppercut, cover, two. Big with a stretch muffler submission in the middle of the ring, Cesaro climbs up on Big E's shoulders, cover, two. Cesaro with a big swing, sharpshooter locked in, Big E gets out of it. Cesaro lifted up, hangs on the ropes, gets swung around, and the referee has to duck out of the way. Nakamura gets on the apron and kicks Big E when she's looking down, Cesaro hits the neutralizer, cover, 1-2-3.
Winner: Cesaro via Pinfall
Consider those tables TURNED! #SmackDown @TrueKofi @WWECesaro @ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/L2Ibai0A46
? WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 18, 2020
- Post-match, Cesaro and Nakamura go to pull a table out from under the ring, but Kofi runs and leaps over the top rope to take them out. Kofi puts Cesaro on the table, he climbs to the top, but Nakamura pulls his partner away. A stipulation was not yet picked for the PPV.
- Backstage, Kayla Braxton talks with King Corbin about Matt Riddle's match against Styles. Corbin says Styles is one of the best ever while Riddle can't even remember to put his shoes on. He thinks it will be a quick one with Styles getting the win. Corbin admits Riddle is ambitious, thinking he should go after the biggest names is the right way to go, but he's going to get burned. Corbin says once Styles takes him out, people will see the "bro is a little boy."
- Backstage, Cesaro and Nakamura announce at Sunday it will be a Tables Match at Extreme Rules against The New Day.
- Time for A Moment of Bliss with Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. They talk a moment about the women's evolution. Bliss then says she wants to look into the future a bit. She predicts Riddle will beat Styles, Strowman will beat Wyatt at Extreme Rules, and her mystery guest will tear the roof off on Sunday. Cross thinks it's her, but it's not. Out strolls Sasha Banks and Bayley, Bayley says Cross will be a failure on Sunday.
It's not just @AlexaBliss_WWE & @NikkiCrossWWE who aren't happy to see #SmackDown #WomensChampion @itsBayleyWWE & @SashaBanksWWE on A #MomentOfBliss... pic.twitter.com/5acMOHvfRf
? WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 18, 2020
Bayley says about the women's evolution, Bliss forgot to mention Bayley and Sasha Banks, and they were the foundation of that evolution, they built the ring they sit in. "You're welcome," Banks says. Bayley says after Sunday they will not only be the tag champions, but they will rule both SmackDown and RAW. Bliss says that's nice and all, but they never let her announced her special guest. Out comes Asuka! Bayley and Banks decide to attack Bliss and Cross during Asuka's entrance. Asuka runs to the ring and helps clear them out. Bliss says these four need to settle their issues and calls for a referee.
- Backstage, Riddle gets ready with Drew Gulak.
- Earlier today, Daniel Bryan believes AJ Styles can be a great fighting champions (despite being forced into it). He knows Styles has the fire in him to stay champion, but he's picking Riddle, partly because he knows Gulak is helping him train.
Asuka and Nikki Cross vs. Sasha Banks and Bayley
Cross goes after Bayley, throwing her head-first into the turnbuckle a few times. She tries to do it again, it's blocked, Bayley throws her into the corner. Cross dropped, cover, one-count. Banks tags in and swings away. Banks works over Cross and Bayley tags back in and she continues to beat up Cross. Official gets pulled away so Banks can slam Cross down to the mat. Banks tags in and Cross has no answer thus far as she's kept in the wrong part of town.
Now, THAT's some beautiful teamwork! #SmackDown @NikkiCrossWWE @WWEAsuka @SashaBanksWWE @itsBayleyWWE pic.twitter.com/cNg1Nk2rNO
? WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2020
Asuka is chomping at the bit to get in the ring as Bayley choke Cross. She's finally able to break free, crawl between Bayley's legs and tag Asuka. She lands a bunch of kicks on Bayley. Banks tries to get in and help, but Asuka runs over both women. Hip attack on Bayley, Banks with a hurricanrana, sending Asuka out of the ring. Banks looks for a baseball slide, Asuka pulls the ring apron out, Banks is trapped in it, Asuka beats her up. Cross tags in and keeps up the attack. Bayley tries her corner slide, falls into the same trap and gets beat up. Asuka and Nikki then drop their opponents and celebrate on the announce table.
Banks getting some momentum on Asuka, drops down on her, cover, two-count. Bayley tags in, Banks holds Asuka and Bayley throws a punch, cover, one. Asuka with a backslide pin, one, Bayley pops right back up and drops Asuka. Elbow drop, cover, two. Banks gets back, reverse chinlock, but Asuka starts to find some offense. Bayley gets in there and eats a knee to the face. Asuka finally tags out, clotheslines on Bank, shots to the midsection, dropkick, monkey flip, splash in the corner, bulldog, cover, two-count.
What song does this go to in your mind? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/HbL70N0jxF
? WrestlingINC.com (@WrestlingInc) July 18, 2020
Cross off the top rope, misses, banks with basement dropkick, cover, two. Bayley back in, climbs to the top, Cross hits her and brings her down, but Bayley sends Cross out to the floor. Back in the ring, Asuka tries for a hip attack, misses, Banks sends her out to the floor. Banks tries for the meteroa off the apron, misses, eats a kick from Asuka. In the ring Cross tries for a tornado DDT, but Bayley counters with a pin attempt, Bayley puts her feet up on the ropes for leverage, and that will do it.
Winners: Sasha Banks and Bayley via Pinfall
Seems like "movie guy" @TheRealMorrison needs a stunt double. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FmzLXscQuC
? WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 18, 2020
- Backstage, Miz is trying to tell Morrison that Braun is "not so big and scary." Miz says in every good horror film the hero comes out with the win after they slay the monster. Morrison says every hero also has a best friend, who can step up and help out if the hero can't do it. Miz says he has no idea what Morrison is talking about, Morrison has this!
"Once you enter, you can never truly leave. Part of you will live here forever." – @WWEBrayWyatt
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/QElQi5uDcy
? WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 18, 2020
- Time for a new episode of Firefly Fun House, which is set out in a swamp. Bray Wyatt (dressed like his old school days) walks along and stares out at the swamp. "It's beautiful, isn't it? Peaceful." He talks about when Braun Strowman first stepped foot where he is, Braun was just a lost sheep, but Wyatt gave him the truth and a purpose. We see clips of when the two were a family. Wyatt says then Strowman left, "or so he thought." Wyatt says this swamp is a place where darkness comes to life and all the horrors of the world feel right at home. Wyatt continues that once you enter, you can never truly leave. He says he knows the monster he created is just scratching to come back home. He doesn't think Braun can be on his own, he can't control the gifts he's been given, so he now must have to destroy the monster. "You know where to find me, brother."
Braun Strowman vs. John Morrison with The Miz
Braun gets on the mic and says there's a time when a man has to grow up and face his fears. He's going to do that this Sunday when he walks through the gates of hell and smack the devil in the face. Braun says the last thing he wants is Bray Wyatt turning into The Fiend because it's everything that embodies what's bad about him (all of his demons), and he needs to destroy Wyatt before Bray destroys him. Braun was extremely intense throughout that quick promo.
Braun immediately launches Morrison across the ring, steps down on his midsection, and then grinds his foot on Morrison's face. Strowman lifts Morrison up with one arm and then chokeslams him straight back down to the mat. Strowman laughs, then does a standing choke on Morrison. He finishes off Morrison with a running powerslam, cover, and we're done here.
Winner: Braun Strowman via Pinfall
- Post-match, Braun wants to talk some more. He says he hopes Bray was watching because he's coming home. Braun laughs some more and heads to the back. In the ring, Miz calls out for medical help and some run out with a stretcher. Morrison doesn't want it and Miz helps him out of the ring. Lacey Evans makes her entrance as the two go by her, she gives them a look and a laugh as Lacey heads to the ring.
- Look back at last week's Karaoke Challenge, which was won by Naomi. A brawl between Evans and Naomi broke out afterwards.
- Lacey on the mic, she says Naomi's glow will be nothing but a little sparkle after tonight. Neat.
Lacey Evans vs. Naomi
Drop toe hold by Naomi ans stomps on her opponent. She launches Naomi into the corner, sliding knees into a slap. Evans sent to the apron, leg sweep on Naomi, follow by a slingshot elbow drop. Evans kicks away at Naomi, drags her to the corner, elbow drop. Evans with a bottom rope moonsault, Naomi with the knees up, kip-up, jumping split-leg drop, cover, two.
Brilliant or despicable? #SmackDown @LaceyEvansWWE @NaomiWWE pic.twitter.com/UnmKdW4Rym
? WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2020
Naomi with a few kicks, Evans blocks one, women's right, misses, Naomi with a step-up hurricanrana. Evans on the apron, eats a kick, they pull both at each other's hair. Evans ties Naomi's hair in the ropes and Evans rolls away. As Naomi gets her hair undone, she turns around straight into a women's right, cover, 1-2-3.
Winner: Lacey Evans via Pinfall
.@WWESheamus delivers a hard-hitting "promise" to @JEFFHARDYBRAND! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/EG7Uq0F9Tj
? WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2020
- Backstage, Kayla talks with Jeff Hardy about Sheamus' taunts to Hardy with toasts and trying to get him to drink alcohol. The two will be in a Bar Fight on Sunday. Hardy says it might be risky for him to walk into a bar, but Sheamus is like an addiction, and it's something he has to fight off. Maybe in the end Sheamus will look himself in the mirror and not like what he sees. Jeff is asked about tonight's title match and who will win. Before he can answer, Sheamus gives him a big boot to the face. Sheamus tells Hardy he is right, he can't wish his demons away, but that's what Sheamus is here to do. Sheamus laughs and heads off with Hardy holds his face.
?????? pic.twitter.com/JYTWSmJ92j
? WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 18, 2020
- Backstage, Kayla asks Sasha and Bayley if their momentum will continue on Sunday. Bayley says of course it will, because when she has two titles, she has more mass than Nikki, so obviously she'll win. Bayley says Banks will be "Two Belts Banks" that's not science, that's just fate.
- Backstage, Nikki and Alexa watch Bayley and Sasha on a monitor. Cross says her team should have won tonight, but she doesn't want to blow it on Sunday like she did tonight. Bliss says she'll be just fine. Cross says she just doesn't get the same opportunities as Bliss, and doesn't want to lose with her family watching on. Cross says her confidence is just shaken right now. We hear Bayley and Banks laughing in the distance, Cross runs over and knocks Bayley down from behind. She shoves Banks to the ground and goes back after Bayley. Bliss gathers an angered Cross and heads off.
AJ Styles (c) vs. Matt Riddle (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
Riddle with some gutwrench suplexes, Styles heads out to the floor for a moment. He goes to get back in the ring and Riddle hits a knee strike to the face. Styles is already frustrated, bashing the announcer table with his fists. Riddle goes out and mocks Styles, also banging on the table. Styles charges and takes another shot to the head.
IDENTITY THEFT IS NOT A JOKE, MATT! #SmackDown #ICTitle @AJStylesOrg @SuperKingofBros pic.twitter.com/n57zsRtirl
? WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 18, 2020
Riddle continues to dominate, but Styles finally lifts and plants Riddle face-first in the center of the ring. Styles with shots in the corner. Riddle with a shot to Style, puts him down, penalty kick misses, tries again and that one hits. Riddle with a bro to sleep, flips him over, and throws a big knee to the face, cover, two. Riddle thought he had it. Styles explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Back and forth shots in the middle of the ring. Snap german suplex by Riddle, follows up with a bunch of shots in the corner. Styles lands a kick to the face that puts Riddle to the mat.
Both @AJStylesOrg and @SuperKingofBros refuse to leave #SmackDown empty-handed in this #ICTitle showdown! pic.twitter.com/9FBaTKDaol
? WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2020
Styles with a big clothesline in the corner, looks for styles clash, Riddle drops down to avoid it. Styles tries for a suplex, counter, ripcord knee to the face, Styles down. Riddle heads to the top rope, floating bro, Styles moves out of the way. He looks for styles clash, Riddle grabs the ropes, Styles with a shot to the face, brainbuster, cover, two. Styles drives his knee to the back of Riddle's neck, cover, two.
??????
...and @SuperKingofBros KICKED OUT! #SmackDown #ICTitle @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/i7EM3zE0Wv
? WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2020
Styles on the apron, looks for the phenomenal forearm, caught, looks for his finisher, Styles kicks away from that, but Riddle lands a low dropkick. Riddle with open palm strikes, misses with a kick and Styles lands his own shots. Riddle went for a kick, nope, Styles locks in the calf crusher. Riddles goes for the rope, Styles rolls him around and gets it applied again. Riddle then counters with the bromission, but Styles reverses out of it and goes for a pin attempt, 1-2-3.
Winner: AJ Styles via Pinfall
- Post-match, Riddle can't believe it and looks really disappointed. Styles celebrates a little bit, then goes over to Riddle and puts his hand out. Riddle shakes it, but from behind is King Corbin! He swings away on Riddle as Styles heads out of the ring. Corbin hits end of days and heads up the ramp. He stares at a downed Riddle as the show comes to a close.
Bow down to your King @BaronCorbinWWE, @SuperKingofBros! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Xj6VJyBqbM
? WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) July 18, 2020