Wrestling Lockup With Brandon: Smackdown Live Louisville Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Smackdown Live was live in Louisville, Kentucky this week, one week removed from the Superstar Shakeup. A new #1 Contender was decided for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship. Kevin Owens began his Face of America Open Challenge. All that and a lot more action.

** This Weeks Card **
- #1 Contenders Six Pack Challenge Match for a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship took place between Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, Jinder Mahal, Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn and Mojo Rawley.
- WWE Smackdown Live Women's Champion Naomi battled Charlotte in a non title match. If Charlotte wins she becomes the new #1 Contender.
- American Alpha battled Primo & Epico.
- WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens battled Gary Gandy in a non title Face of America Open Challenge Match.
- AJ Styles battled Baron Corbin.

- Promos By: Charlotte, Jinder Mahal and WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens.

** Smackdown Live **

- Charlotte Promo: Charlotte says that she's lost her patience already and demands to know why Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan have yet to give her a WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship Match. Naomi's music hits and out comes the champion. Naomi says she hates to see Charlotte beg so she's going to give her what she wants right now. Naomi lays the title down, decks Charlotte then spear tackles her to the mat. Charlotte is able to escape to the floor as Shane McMahon arrives. Shane announces a match between Charlotte and Naomi tonight and if Charlotte wins she'll become the #1 Contender. Charlotte gets back in the ring, attacks Naomi and sends Naomi to the floor. Naomi returns to the ring and dumps Charlotte to the floor before grabbing her title and taunting Charlotte.

- Backstage, Nattie Neidhart tells Shane McMahon that she's not happy that Charlotte is getting special treatment and wants her title shot. Carmella and James Ellsworth interrupt and Carmella says that she should be the face of the Women's Division. Tamina Snuka interrupts next and demands her title shot. Nattie finally walks off and says that she has a plan of her own. 

- "Six Pack Challenge, #1 Contenders Match": Dolph Ziggler vs. Erick Rowan vs. Luke Harper vs. Mojo Rawley vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Sami Zayn: The match closes out with Ziggler hitting a drop kick on Harper, but Harper comes back with a near fall sit down power bomb on Ziggler. Mahal sends Harper into the steel steps and then Zayn sends Mahal into the ring post. Zayn suicide dives onto Harper. Rowan goes after Zayn, but gets dropped by Mojo. Zayn hits a springboard moonsault on Mojo and then brawls with Mahal. Zayn hits the Exploder suplex on Mahal and goes for the Helluva Kick. The Bollywood Boyz from NXT suddenly appear and grab Zayn's leg. Mahal takes advantage of the distraction and scores the pinfall on Zayn.
Winner: Jinder Mahal, to become the new #1 Contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

- Jinder Mahal Promo: Mahal rips the fans and wonder if they boo him because he's not American, or because he's rich, or because he's highly educated and speaks two languages. Mahal says us Americans will have no choice but to accept Mahal as the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Randy Orton interrupts Mahal and says that maybe he should congratulate Mahal. Mahal just won the jackpot, but the WWE World Heavyweight Championship won't be his prize, his prize will be an RKO. Orton turns his attention to Bray Wyatt and says that if the House of Horrors Match is anything like the last house, Orton will just burn it down. Bray Wyatt appears on the TitanTron and promises Orton that he'll walk into the House of Horrors, but he's not walking out. 

- Backstage, AJ Styles is asked his opinion on who he would rather face for the WWE United States Championship. Baron Corbin interrupts and argues with Styles setting up a match later.

- Backstage, Tamina Snuka, Nattie Neidhart, Carmella and James Ellsworth try to intimidate Charlotte as she heads to the ring.

- Charlotte vs. Naomi: The match closes out with Naomi landing a kick on Charlotte to her head. Naomi goes to the top rope and hits a cross body on Charlotte for a near fall. Charlotte counters a slam and then counters a kick before nailing Naomi with a strike. Charlotte counters the Rear View and nails Naomi with Natural Selection and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Charlotte, by pinfall, to become the new #1 Contender to the WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship.

- Backstage, Charlotte walks past Nattie Neidhart, Carmella, Tamina Snuka and James Ellsworth, stares them all down and continues walking past.

- Primo & Epico vs. American Alpha: The match closes out with Gable unloading on Epico, tags in Jordan and Jordan takes his turn unloading on Epico. Jordan gets a near fall suplex as Primo stops the pinfall. Gable tosses Primo onto the apron. The referee gets distracted allowing Primo and Epico to land a cheap shot on Jordan and scoring the pinfall.
Winners: Primo & Epico, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Tye Dillinger shows us a video on why he's The Perfect Ten.

- "Face of America Open Challenge Match": Kevin Owens vs. Gary Gandy: Owens makes quick work and finishes Gandy off in a minute with the Pop Up Power Bomb for the pinfall.
Winner: Kevin Owens, by pinfall.

- Kevin Owens Promo: Owens insults Americans and says he will continue to be the face of America as long as he is carrying the WWE United States Championship. Owens says that Chris Jericho will not take the title away from him and then speaks in French giving AJ Styles and Baron Corbin advice for their main event next.

- AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin: Kevin Owens sits in on commentary for this match. The match closes out with Styles locking in the Calf Crusher submission on Corbin, but Corbin makes the ropes for the break. Corbin hits the Deep Six on Styles for a near fall. The fight goes to the floor where Styles hits a forearm and a knee on Corbin. Styles goes for the Styles Clash on Corbin, but Corbin counters and shoves Styles into Owens. Styles hits a forearm on Corbin and dumps him over the barricade. Styles gets back in the ring as Corbin gets counted out.
Winner: AJ Styles, by countout.