Wrestling Lockup With Brandon 8/2/17: Smackdown Live Cleveland Recap

By Brandon Albright, @B_Rock1978

Smackdown Live was back again this week live in our hometown of Cleveland, Ohio!! Last week we found out that John Cena would battle Shinsuke Nakamura tonight in a #1 Contenders Match for a shot at Jinder Mahal and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE SummerSlam. AJ Styles walked out of Smackdown Live last week the new WWE United States Champion after defeating Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho in a Triple Threat Match. We found out afterwards that Styles will defend his title in a rematch against Owens tonight.

** Smackdown Live Card **

- WWE United States Champion AJ Styles defended his title against Kevin Owens.
- Aiden English battled Sami Zayn.
- WWE Smackdown Live Women's Champion Naomi and Becky Lynch battled #1 Contender Nattie Neidhart and Ms. Money In The Bank Carmella.
- Rusev battled Chad Gable.
- John Cena battled Shinsuke Nakamura in a #1 Contenders Match for a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

- Will Breezango ever find out who's been stalking them??

- The Usos mock WWE Smackdown Live World Tag Team Champions The New Day.

** Smackdown Live **

- "WWE United States Championship Match": AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens: The match closes out with Styles countering the Pop Up Power Bomb, applies the Calf Crusher submission, but Owens escapes that by pulling Styles' hair and landing a headbutt. Styles counters another Pop Up Power Bomb and hits the Pele Kick on Owens. Owens counters the Styles Clash, but gets trapped in the Calf Crusher submission again. Owens escapes and hits two kicks on Styles. Owens takes a swing at Styles, misses and accidentally hits referee Mike Chioda. Owens hits a super kick on Styles, but Styles counters the Pop Up Power Bomb again, rolls up Owens and scores the pinfall to retain his title.
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall.

- After the match, WWE Medical are checking on Mike Chioda as Owens yells at him, claiming that his shoulder was up and shouldn't have been counted out in the pinfall.

- Backstage, Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon inform referee Mike Chioda that he did in fact make a bad call in the Styles/Owens match. Kevin Owens appears, angry, and drops Chioda on the floor. Shane tells Owens he can't touch an official and the decision stands. Shane gives Owens a rematch at WWE SummerSlam against Styles, but Owens wants a referee that can do his job right. Bryan suggests Shane as the special guest referee and Shane loves the idea. Owens says Shane is incompetent and he hates the idea. Shane tells Owens to go cool off and he can take the match or leave it.

- The Usos Promo: The Usos come out to The New Day's music and mock their entrance. The Usos inform us that The New Day isn't here tonight and they take full credit for it. The Usos say that The New Day can keep their ice cream, it's the WWE Smackdown Live World Tag Team Championship that The Usos are coming for.

- We get another Fashion Files with Breezango, set to the theme of the TV show Twin Peaks. The Ascension appear again and Breezango still is left clueless on who's been targeting them the past few months.

- Aiden English vs. Sami Zayn: The match closes out with Zayn hitting hip tosses and arm drags on English. English catches Zayn in a surprise rollup and scores the upset pinfall.
Winner: Aiden English, by pinfall.

- After the match, Sami Zayn sits in the ring shocked as Mike and Maria Kanellis appear on the stage. Mike and Maria remind us about how much they love each other and how they love the fact that Sami Zayn just lost.

- Nattie Neidhart and Carmella vs. Becky Lynch and Naomi: The match closes out with Nattie locking in the Sharpshooter submission on Naomi. Naomi tries to reach the ropes, but gets dragged back into the middle of the ring and locked back in the submission. Carmella tags herself in while the submission was still applied, upsetting Nattie. Carmella tells Nattie to get out of the ring and then traps Naomi in the Code of Silence submission. Naomi counters it into her own submission and makes Carmella tap out, as Becky hits a Bexploder on Nattie.
Winners: Becky Lynch and Naomi, by submission.

- Backstage, Jinder Mahal says he doesn't care if John Cena or Shinsuke Nakamura win tonight because he's leaving WWE SummerSlam still the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Mahal says he's knocked down every hero put in front of him and no one will stop The Modern Day Maharaja.

- Rusev vs. Chad Gable: The match closes out with Rusev hitting a thrust kick for a near fall. Rusev stomps on Gable and then goes for The Accolade submission, but Gable counters it into an ankle lock submission. Rusev escapes and kicks Gable outside. Gable hits the ring, but eats another thrust kick from Rusev. Rusev applies The Accolade submission and forces Gable to tap out.
Winner: Rusev, by submission.

- After the match, Rusev grabs a microphone and says that he still has no opponent for WWE SummerSlam because everyone is scared of him. Randy Orton suddenly interrupts and heads to the ring. Orton says Rusev has never beaten him and he's not afraid of Rusev. Orton says that if Rusev wants a WWE SummerSlam opponent than he's got one now. Rusev yells at Orton in Bulgarian and then tries to attack Orton. Orton dodges the attack and lays out Rusev with an RKO to end the segment.

- "#1 Contenders Match": John Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: The match closes out with Cena countering the Kinshasa and traps Nakamura in the STF submission. Nakamura escapes and traps Cena in a cross arm breaker submission. Cena escapes and ends up hitting a clothesline on Nakamura. Nakamura connects with a knee on Cena and then waits in the corner. Nakamura goes for the Kinshasa, but Cena counters, hits the AA and gets a close two and a half on Nakamura. Cena attempts another AA, but Nakamura counters and traps Cena in a guillotine choke submission. Cena escapes and trades more offense with Nakamura. Nakamura finally hits the Kinshasa on Cena and scores the pinfall.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, by pinfall, to become the #1 Contender.

- After the match, Cena and Nakamura show respect to each other as Jinder Mahal watches from his skybox to end the show.