By Ryan Cook
WWE Smackdown! comes to you tonight from The Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. I'm Ryan Cook and I'll be taking you through all the action tonight, just two weeks away until the WWE Draft and Smackdown! goes live on Tuesday nights.
We open tonight with The Club backstage then cut to Chris Jericho who is looking for his blue scarf. They go to Sami Zayn then to Seth Rollins. Jey confronts Seth about what he said about Roman Monday.
Dean Ambrose comes out right as JoJo is about to announce Seth and Jey. Dean apologizes and says he wants to be special guest ring announcer. This is priceless. Dean introduces Jey then does a hilarious introduction for Seth, saying another other things he came from some place where he didn't get enough love as a child. As Seth comes out they cut to a video package from Monday between the two and they plug the triple threat match at Battleground.
Seth Rollins vs Jey Uso
Dean is at ring side as the match starts, Seth and Jey alternating offense until Seth hits a back breaker and gets a 2 count, then Dean hops on the mic and says to pick up his t-shirt and to try the Seth Rollins ice cream even though it tastes like crap. Seth and Jey go out of the ring then back in and back out yet again as Dean says the match has lasted for 5 minutes and says it's time to go to commercial break; this is something else.
As we come back from commercial Jey is still for the moment until Seth recovers and after a knee drop gets a quick 2 count. Seth goes up to the middle rope and Dean distracts him by saying that someone's car is going to be towed. Jey hits a pop up Samoan Drop for a 2 count. After some back and forth countering Jey goes for a frogsplash, but it countered then Seth hits The Pedigree for the win.
Winner: Seth Rollins by pinfall with The Pedigree
After the match Dean reluctantly announces Seth the winner, with his own flair, saying among other things that he's a jackass. Dean goes into the ring and Seth quickly heads for the ramp as Dean says he's going to beat him and Roman at Battleground.
They show a picture indicating that Brock Lesnar's Summerslam opponent will be revealed tonight.
Zack Ryder vs Sheamus
Zack Ryder comes out to a more rock sounding version of his theme song, and a new outfit as we go to commercial. As the match gets underway Sheamus is all over Zack. Sheamus hits a body slam on Zack onto the apron then puts him back into the ring. Ryder tries to build some offense, but Sheamus counters it with The Irish Curse back breaker. After Sheamus puts Zack on the top rope he quickly counters and hits The Elbrow Drop for the win.
Winner: Zack Ryder via pinfall with The Elbrow Drop
It looks like they may be pushing Zack because he's immediately interviewed on the ramp, cutting a promo on Rusev and declaring that he wants to challenge him for the United States Championship. As we come back from break we have a video package for Baron Corbin. They cut to Rusev back stage who says Zack is crazy and doesn't think he deserves a match.
Becky Lynch vs .....?
Winner: Match didn't officially start.
As Becky comes out Natalya comes out and attacks her before the match can even start. After they help Becky to the back they show a video package for The New Day and The Wyatt Family; showing the decision in The New Day. They go to an interview with Xavier who explains why he left Monday and why he was so upset. He talks about how they have no plan, no idea what to expect. Xavier says he isn't happy with their decision, but he will stand with them and go to the compound with them.
We come back from commercial break to a video package of the confrontation between The Club and John Cena, Enzo and Cass from Monday.
AJ Styles vs Enzo Amore
After Enzo and Cass come out The Club come out and cut a similar promo to the one they did on John Cena, it's not going over very well though. They say Enzo looks like a bird and he pulls out the "You talking to me?" shtick, this is a pretty funny segment, a little disappointed The Club are jokers now rather than a feared stable though if I'm honest. Enzo and Cass then do the S-A-W-F-T- chant as we go to another commercial. This match is never going to start at this rate.
We're back from commercial and the match finally gets under way. Enzo tries a quick roll up for a 1 count then sends AJ out of the ring. Enzo then dives out of the ring onto The Club, he barely made it over the top rope. Styles gets him back in the ring and starts taking control. AJ throws Enzo out of the ring for Anderson and Gallows to attack him, but the referee is onto them as Enzo gets back in the ring. AJ keeps Enzo grounded as the crowd gets behind Enzo who tries a quick back slide for a 2 count. Enzo goes for a tornado DDT off the top rope and is reversed into a snap suplex into the corner. AJ goes for a super-plex, but is countered with a leaping DDT. Cass take a care of Gallows and Anderson as AJ hits The Styles Clash on Enzo for the 3 count.
Winner: AJ Styles via pinfall with The Styles Clash
It was a pretty good match, but Enzo has a long way to go in the ring. We then cut to Chris Jericho looking for his scarf and finds Kevin Owens wearing it. Jericho asks for money and Owens gives him a pocket full of change. Jericho asks for another quarter and after they exchange words Owens walks off. Those two play very well off of each other. We get another tease for Brock's opponent for Summerslam as we go to commercial.
We get a vignette for Smackdown! going live July 19th as The Miz and Maryse come out to the ring. They show a video earlier today of several superstars watching a video of the food fight from Monday night. The Miz says for someone to confess and Kalisto challenges him to a match as King declares this will be a blockbuster.
Kalisto vs The Miz
The Miz takes control, but Kalisto quickly gets the upper hand, showing off his athleticism. The Miz is sent outside and Maryse immediately runs interference, giving The Miz enough time to knock Kalisto into the steps as we go to a commercial. We're back from commercial and The Miz has Kalisto in the center of the ring who tries to mount some offense, but the Miz just tosses him into the corner. After showing off to the crowd Kalisto hits a tornado DDT off the top rope but the Miz hits a brutal sit out powerbomb. They exchange pin attempts then Kalisto for a for the Solida del Sol, but turns it into a roll up, but The Miz counters with The Skull-Crushing Finale for the win.
Winner: The Miz via pinfall with The Skull-Crushing Finale
We cut to Sasha Banks being interviewed back stage. Charlotte almost instantly interrupts her, wearing Sasha's trademark shutter shades. Sasha challenges her to a match, but Charlotte says she makes the rules. Sasha says she'll see her Monday as she walks off. We get a third teaser for the Brock Lesnar opponent as we go to commercial.
We're back and here we go, another Make Darren Young Great Again promo. I love these. It's the same as Monday, but it's cool he gave him the Cross-face Chicken Wing submission. We go to WWE headquarters as they announce Brock Lesnar will face the returning Randy Orton at Summerslam. Booker-Booker-T does a good job of talking up Orton. They said this is a match 14 years in the making.
It's time for our main event of the night as Sami Zayn comes out for his match with Chris Jericho. Before they even introduce Jericho, Kevin Owens comes out as we go to commercial. We're back from commercial and Golden Truth cut a promo for Sonic, I gotta try that deal at some point.
Sami Zayn vs Chris Jericho
Kevin Owens joins us on commentary...oh this is going to be great. KO eats popcorn as they show Sami and Owens on Jericho's Highlight Reel. As the match gets underway Jericho and Zayn exchange wrist locks. Owens is making an effort to belittle Byron Saxton the best he can as Jericho sends Zayn out of the ring. Zayn shows off some amazing athleticism as he counters an Irish whip at ring side into a beautiful step up moonsault off the top of the barricade. Zayn tosses Jericho back into the ring and after Jericho knocks Zayn down from behind we go to commercial.
Jericho is still in control as we come back from commercial. The other commentators and the ring sound has drowned Owens out for most of this match sadly, they need to turn up the commentating audio. Jericho hits a lionsault for a 2 count. They're directing a lot of the audio to Jericho in the ring for some reason who starts asking where the ole chant is. We hear Owens say how he beat Zayn for the NXT World title and how he beat John Cena in his first match. Jericho gets out of the ring and is immediately intercepted by Zayn who hits a clothesline that knocks him down.
As they get back in the ring Jericho hits a jumping enzugiri off the second rope for a 2 count. Zayn then hits a running tornado DDT that sends Jericho out of the ring then dives over the top. KO throws popcorn at Zayn then Zayn throws Jericho into Owens. They get back into the ring and after Zayn counters Jericho he hits an exploder suplex. Owens gets up on the apron, but is knocked off and after Jericho goes for The Code Breaker he's countered by Zayn who gets the roll up for the win.
Winner: Sami Zayn via pinfall with a roll up from behind.
After the match Jericho attacks Zayn from behind. This was a good match that had a little bit of everything. Owens runs in the ring and unloads on Zayn then hits the Pop Up Powebomb, leaving Zayn in the center of the ring, standing over him as his music hits.
This was a great episode of Smackdown, a lot of good wrestling and might as well be the indie darling hub for WWE's main roster. It will be interesting to see which direction Smackdown! goes in two weeks when it goes live on Tuesday with The WWE Draft.
