Smackdown Live Review 07/17/2018

Hello Misfits. It is time for this weeks Smackdown Live review. This week Jeff Hardy will be going toe-to-toe with Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship after losing it to him in embracing fashion at Extreme Rules. Also will Randy Orton appear again and will we get answers on why he attacked Jeff Hardy? How will Rusev react after losing his first and only WWE Championship opportunity? Whats next for Asuka? Who will Carmella have to try to overcome now? Whats next for the Phenomenal Champion? Have we seen the end of Team Hell No? Will Samoa Joe be showing up again? Lets find out.

Smackdown comes to us live from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

–  Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves are on commentary.

Jeff Hardy
The show kicks off with an interview with Jeff Hardy. Jeff Hardy says he may look like Jeff Hardy, sound like Jeff Hardy but he is not Jeff Hardy. Hardy’s heart is broken. Last week Shinsuke Nakamura proved he is a low down good for nothing jackass. Nakamura knows that the only way he can beat him is if he low blows him. Hardy says he is clear tonight. Brother Nero is focused on three things: making Nakamura feel as much pain as possible. Making sure Nakamura fades away and classifies himself as obsolete. And winning back the United States Championship.
Backstage, Nakamura says Hardy is a crybaby. Now hits Nakamura’s title. That is a reason to smile. Tonight, Nakamura is going to give everyone a reason to smile by making a clown cry. Nakamura says god bless America and walks away.
Opinion
This was a good way to open the show by addressing what happened at Extreme Rules and to hype tonights main event. Nakamura looks like he’s in love with the title and him saying god bless America got a kick outta me.

AJ Styles def. Andrade “Cien” Almas
In an awesome competitive match, AJ Styles defeated Almas, when Almas tries the HammerLock DDT but Styles reverses it into the Calf Crusher causing Almas taps out.
Opinion
I love it when Almas makes the entrance with the full mask gimmick. Its great to see Almas in a match with an opponent like AJ here. Its his first real big match on the main roster. They allowed Almas to control most of the match until AJ fought back and ultimately got the victory. I could definitely see Almas challenging for the belt soon.

-Backstage, Aiden English walks up to Lana and says he know she is the last person she wants to see but he has to apologize. English is racked with guilt for costing Rusev his first and only world title match. Lana tells English he shouldn’t be talking to her. He needs to speak to Rusev. The question is English good for Rusev. English says he needs a second chance. Lana says she will keep it under advisement. English says that’s all he can ask and walks away.

Becky Lynch def. Mandy Rose
In a quick match, Becky Lynch defeated Mandy Rose by making her tap out to the disarm-her.
After the match Becky Lynch gets on the mic and talks about how he she’s been enjoying this win streak she’s been on. Lynch said she’s just getting started. Lynch says straight fire is coming for Carmella. It’s time for Becky Balboa became the Smackdown Women’s championship.
Opinion
I feel like somebody listened to the SCDNA Show podcast about Becky Lynch because exactly what I said should happen seems to be happening. Carmella is still the women’s champion and it looks as if Becky Lynch is going to become the new number one contender. It is about time that Becky was back in that championship title picture. I can definitely see her becoming champion again eventually, only for Charlotte to return and be jealous.

– Backstage, Paige asks Carmella if she could her Lynch. Paige refers to James Ellsworth as Carmella’s boyfriend. Carmella says eww. Paige says next week Carmella will face Lynch. If Lynch wins Carmella has to defend the title at SummerSlam. It really seems to be happening.

Samoa Joe def. Tye Dillinger
In anther quick but entertaining match, Samoa Joe defeated Tye Dillinger by making him tap out by the coquina clutch.
Opinion
They gave Tye Dillinger some fire before Joe finished him. It was great to see Joe back and hopefully he regains some of his momentum after being off TV for weeks.

Miz TV: Funeral of Team Hell No
Miz is dressed in all black, shaking hands with the fans on the way down the ramp. A group of Pallbearers roll a mannequin head with a mannequin head with Kane’s mask full with hair on it down to the ring. Miz thanks the crowd for being there tonight. Miz says he is as sad as everyone else. Miz takes a moment to plug his new show but says tonight is not about Miz. Tonight is about celebrating one of the greatest tag teams in history even though they are the worst friends ever. In the words of Kane’s favorite band Nsycnc, it’s time to wave bye, bye, bye to Team Hell No. Miz tells the story of Team Hell No and how many times Kane has turned on Bryan. Miz asks everyone to stand and help him honor Team Hell No with a moment of silence. The crowd will have none of it. Miz says he told everyone how this would end.
Miz told us that Kane is nothing more than a broken down demon. Daniel Bryan was never a world-beating wrestler that he claimed to be. Bryan is nothing more than a glory hound. The point of Team Hell No was so Bryan could roll out his greatest hits. The problem is nobody is buying the album. It doesn’t matter if Bryan wants to admit it or not but Bryan’s return has been a bust. The longer Bryan stays the more he will hurt his legacy. Team Hell No and Bryan’s career is dead. Bryan’s music hits. Miz’s Pallbearers take off their suit jackets and square up to fight. Bryan attacks Miz from behind. Miz escapes and Bryan beats up the Pallbearers.
Opinion
I really enjoyed this segment. This could have turned out horrible but the Miz made it work. Everything he said made sense and the segment seemed more logical than silly. Kane is legit out due to injury so they had to scrap the Team Hell No reunion but maybe that was the plan all along. Tonight they kicked off the Miz and Bryan feud which we’ve all anticipated since Bryan was cleared to wrestle and since Miz got drafted to Smackdown. This was great.

Eric Young w/ SanIty def. Kofi Kingston w/ The New Day
In another solid match, Eric Young defeated Kofi Kingston after Dain pushes Big E into Kingston allowing Eric Young to hit the wheelbarrow neck breaker for the victory.
Opinion
This rivalry continues and rightfully so. This was a fun match and I’m looking forward to see how they mix it up next week.

United States Championship
Jeff Hardy def. Shinsuke Nakamura (C)
In a really good main event where it looked like Jeff Hardy had it in the bag, he only picked up the victory by DQ when Randy Orton pulled him out of the ring before he could get the pin after the swanton bomb.
Opinion
This was a solid match and what we should have gotten at Extreme Rules. I expected the match to end the way it did but this was good way to get there. I would have hated Shinsuke to lose the title so quickly. I prefer heel Orton over babyface so I’m also really intrigued in this storyline.

-After the match, Orton slams Hardy’s head into the ring steps over and over again. Hardy tries to fight back but Orton sends him face first into the ring steps. Orton places Hardy’s head on the ring steps. Orton stomps on Hardy’s head. Orton tries to rip off one of Hardy’s ears. Orton tosses Hardy over the announce desk. Orton pulls Hardy onto the desk. Orton hangman DDTs Hardy off the table. This was vicious and hard to watch especially when   Orton went after Hardy’s ear. I love heel Orton so I am enjoying this. I can’t wait until we hear Orton’s explanation for his change of heart.

Final Thoughts
Smackdown Live really picked up the pace today and I really enjoyed it. I flew by and there wasnt a dull moment. AJ Styles and Almas was a treat. The segment between Bryan and Miz was money. I’m still enjoying the rise of Becky Lynch. The beating Randy Orton put on Jeff Hardy was hard to watch but I couldnt take my eyes off it. It had me paying attention. I am definitely looking forward to next week and the road to Summerslam. Check out this weeks episode if you missed it. It was a good one.
Rating – 7.5/10