Wrestling Lockup With Brandon 7/12/17: Smackdown Live San Antonio Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

What's up wrestling fans, Smackdown Live was back this week with some big news before this week's show even began! In case you missed my Weekend 3 Count, go back and read it and you'll see that the #1 Contender to the WWE United States Championship, AJ Styles, is now in fact the new WWE United States Champion after defeating Kevin Owens at a Madison Square Garden house show this weekend. How will this effect this week's Smackdown Live show as it was live in San Antonio, Texas??

** Smackdown Live Card **

- WWE United States Champion AJ Styles defends his title against John Cena.
- WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jinder Mahal battled Tye Dillinger in a non title match.
- Xavier Woods battled Jey Uso.
- Baron Corbin battled Shinsuke Nakamura.
- Charlotte and Becky Lynch battled Nattie Neidhart and Tamina.
- WWE United States Champion AJ Styles and John Cena battled Kevin Owens and Rusev.

- WWE United States Champion AJ Styles announces the return of the US Open Challenge, which brings out John Cena.

- WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jinder Mahal prepares for his match against Randy Orton at WWE Battleground.

** Smackdown Live **

- AJ Styles Promo: Styles says WWE Battleground came early, he's here to represent the WWE United States Championship and he's bringing back the US Open Challenges. John Cena's music surprisingly hits and out comes Cena to accept the Open Challenge after Styles agrees that Cena can challenge for the title too.

- "WWE United States Championship Match": AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena: Before the match can even start, Kevin Owens interrupts and says no one wants to see another Cena vs. Styles match, all that matters is Kevin Owens getting his title back. Owens says the US Title is his, Cena needs to stay away from it and Cena needs to leave cause no one wants him here. Cena tells Owens to come do something about it. Rusev interrupts next and attacks Cena. Styles sends Rusev outside, but gets laid out by Owens with the Pop Up Power Bomb. Rusev comes back, plants a thrust kick on Cena and then traps him in The Accolade submission.
Winner: No Contest.

- Backstage, it's announced that we're getting AJ Styles and John Cena vs. Rusev and Kevin Owens tonight.

- Jinder Mahal vs. Tye Dillinger: The match closes out with Dillinger landing corner punches on Mahal. Mahal shoves Dillinger away and ends up hitting the Cobra Clutch Slam to score the pinfall.
Winner: Jinder Mahal, by pinfall.

- Jinder Mahal Promo: Mahal says he speaks the truth and still gets disrespected. Mahal says he brings class, diversity and excellence to the WWE. Mahal is upset with Randy Orton threatening his family and the whole country of India knows that Mahal is the greatest WWE World Heavyweight Champion ever. Mahal says he's going to make Orton's life hell and promises to bring the Punjabi Prison structure to Smackdown Live next week.

- Xavier Woods vs. Jey Uso: The match closes out with Jey missing the Uso Splash as Woods moves. Woods traps Jey in between the ropes and hits an elbow drop on Jey to score the pinfall. After the match, Jimmy Uso attempts a cheap shot, but Woods ducks and escapes.
Winner: Xavier Woods, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Shane McMahon is on the phone with Daniel Bryan. Shane sends best wishes to Brie Bella and their daughter Birdie Joe. Naomi interrupts and asks who her next challenger is. Shane announces a Fatal Five Way Match at WWE Battleground between Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Lana, Nattie Neidhart and Tamina with the winner facing Naomi at WWE SummerSlam for the WWE Smackdown Live Women's Championship. All the ladies start arguing forcing Shane to announce Charlotte and Becky Lynch vs. Nattie Neidhart and Tamina for tonight. Carmella appears with a petition from her lawyer to reinstate James Ellsworth. Shane rips up the petition and says Ellsworth is still suspended.

- Backstage, Baron Corbin says he's teaching Shinsuke Nakamura a painful lesson tonight.

- Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin: Before the match can even start, both men brawl outside. Corbin sends Nakamura over the barricade and they brawl in the crowd. The brawl continues around ringside until WWE Officials separate both men.
Winner: No Contest.

- Backstage, AJ Styles tells John Cena that he remembers Cena took his WWE World Heavyweight Championship the last time they fought. Cena says Styles won't keep the WWE United States Championship either if he's going to pick a fight with Cena. Cena also promises that he has Styles' back tonight. 

- Charlotte and Becky Lynch vs. Nattie Neidhart and Tamina: The match closes out with Lana arriving and distracting Charlotte. Charlotte swings and misses Lana as Tamina tags in. Charlotte eats a Tamina super kick allowing Tamina to score the pinfall.
Winners: Nattie Neidhart and Tamina, by pinfall.

- Backstage, Maria Kanellis asks Chad Gable where Sami Zayn is because Zayn owes an apology. Gable hasn't seen Zayn, so Maria tells Gable to let Zayn know that the first lady of wrestling is looking for him.

- Backstage, Sami Zayn finds Mike and Maria Kanellis and asks why he owes an apology when he's already apologized twice. Zayn says that if anything they should apologize to Zayn for getting in his way. Maria slaps Zayn in the face and then Mike busts a vase over Zayn's head.

- Backstage, The Fashion Files return with Breezago dressed as cowboys and questioning Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley about their office being destroyed. Mojo says they wouldn't do something that shady. Ryder tells Mojo that the way Mojo eliminated Ryder from last week's battle royal was shady. Mojo tells Ryder to get his head back in the game and not to worry about that happening because it was every man for themselves.

- AJ Styles and John Cena vs. Kevin Owens and Rusev: The match closes out with Cena hitting the Five Knuckle Shuffle on Owens. Cena goes for the AA, but Rusev runs in and saves Owens. Rusev plants Cena with a thrust kick, but gets nailed by Styles with the Phenomenal Forearm. Styles hits Owens with the pele kick and Cena hits the AA to score the pinfall.
Winners: John Cena and AJ Styles, by pinfall.