WWE.com John Cena faced Shinsuke Nakamura on SmackDown Live tonight.
A new episode of SmackDown Live is now airing on the USA Network. Here’s what has happened so far:
9:44 – Shinsuke Nakamura defeats John Cena, meaning he will face Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam.
9:23 – After the match, Rusev takes the microphone. He says that ever since he came to SmackDown Live, he was promised competition. But nobody can beat him, which means he doesn’t have a match at SummerSlam.
Randy Orton enters. He says that Rusev has never beaten him, and if he wants an opponent at SummerSlam, he’s got one. Rusev says something in Bulgarian, and Randy Orton delivers an RKO.
9:13 – Rusev fights Chad Gable by submission.
9:05 – Backstage, Jinder Mahal says it doesn’t matter whether John Cena or Shinsuke Nakamura is his SummerSlam opponent because he’ll retain his title either way. He says that he feels xenophobia all the time as he walks down the street, but this only makes him prouder of his heritage. Nobody can end his reign, he concludes. Mahal is accompanied by the Singh Brothers, who are wearing neck and shoulder braces following their Battleground injuries.
8:59 – Naomi and Becky Lynch defeat Carmella and Natalya by submission. Towards the end of the match, Natalya is doing pretty well against Naomi, but Carmella suddenly tags Natalya out. Natalya is really upset about that. Almost immediately after Carmella gets tagged in, Naomi makes her tap out.
8:51 – After Sami Zayn’s match, Maria and Mike Kanellis enter. They say that they love each other and love that Zayn lost.
8:46 – Aiden English defeats Sami Zayn. This match only lasts a few minutes, and it ends with English capturing a roll-up.
8:38 – In a Twin Peaks parody segment called Fashion Peaks, Tyler Breeze looks for Fandango, who he suspects to be kidnapped by aliens. Fandango then shows up speaking backwards and accompanied by The Ascension, who act cryptically and laugh. Tyler Breeze then wakes up and declares that he knows who kidnapped Fandango.
8:35 – The Usos enter, introducing themselves with The New Day’s “Don’t you dare be sour…” opening. They cut a promo in the style of The New Day’s typical promo, mocking the tag team champions for being immature and saying they’re going to win the title back.
8:26 – Backstage, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan scold the referee, saying he made a bad call. Kevin Owens runs is and is livid, screaming and pushing the referee. Shane McMahon says that the referee’s decision stands. McMahon decides to give Owens a rematch with Styles at SummerSlam. Owens says he wants a referee who won’t screw up this time. Bryan says that Shane McMahon should be the referee. Shane agrees.
8:02 – AJ Styles defeats Kevin Owens, retaining the United States Championship. However, Owens had his shoulder up, which the referee missed because he got hit in the face during the match. The fact that Owens had his shoulder up is pointed out on commentary, and Owens yells, “I had my shoulder up!”
8:00 – The show opens with a recap of the U.S. Championship triple threat match from last week.