Kevin Owens kicked off Smackdown and came down to the ring in a suit. Owens also had shaved his beard off. The crowd at the TD Garden erupted as he made his way to the ring. Owens grabbed a microphone and stated that Smackdown was now the “Kevin Owens show”. Owens claimed that Smackdown Live just got a huge upgrade because he was here now.
Owens played up the fact that Canada was better than the United States. Owens also insulted the Boston crowd by stating that the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins all the time. Owens challenged someone to come out to the ring for a fight. Owens said that he wants to become the new face of America. Baron Corbin interrupted and claimed that Owens cannot beat him up. Corbin claimed that he beat up Dean Ambrose so bad last week that he went and hid on Raw.
Corbin said that technically he is owed a Championship match and challenged Owens to a match. Sami Zayn then came down to the ring and Kevin Owens lost it in the ring. Zayn announced that he was finally on Smackdown Live and the crowd erupted. AJ Styles came down to the ring and said that this was not the Kevin Owens show, it is Smackdown Live.
Daniel Bryan came down to the entrance ramp and revealed that whomever wins the United States Championship at Payback between Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens will officially join the Smackdown Live roster. Daniel Bryan made a Triple Threat Match, Baron Corbin vs Sami Zayn vs AJ Styles. The winner of that match will face the winner of the United States Championship match at WWE Payback.
Reaction: I think it is reasonable to assume that Kevin Owens will wind up on Smackdown. Jericho’s current WWE run is coming to an end and he will most likely lose to Kevin Owens at WWE Payback. Smackdown needs a midcard title, so it makes sense the United States Championship is now on the show.
Randy Orton vs Erick Rowan
Orton controlled the entire match. He planted Rowan with a DDT while he was hung up on the second rope. Orton was gearing up for the RKO but Bray Wyatt appeared on the Jumbotron. Wyatt pretty much just said that he will see Orton at WWE Payback for their House of Horrors match and laughed. The lights in the arena then came back on and Erick Rowan was outside the ring. Orton charged at Rowan but Rowan hit him with the steel steps and he was disqualified. Rowan then beat him down some more after the match.
Winner via DQ: Randy Orton
Reaction: The crowd was behind Orton in this match. I feel the exact same way about Wyatt that I did prior to him capturing the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber. He is back to losing matches and cutting ominous promos. His promos hold zero weight if he is is losing matches. It is impossible to fear him if he is beatable in the ring. Also, unless Brock Lesnar shows up on Smackdown soon, the WWE Championship match is predictable at Payback. They are not going to have the Universal Championship and WWE Championship on the same show. Randy Orton is staying on Smackdown and Bray Wyatt is going to Raw. It just seems obvious now that Orton is going to win the match at Payback and the WWE Championship will stay on Smackdown.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos (c) vs American Alpha
American Alpha controlled the beginning of the match and Smackdown went to a commercial break. When Smackdown returned, Gable took out both Usos with a couple of Clotheslines. Gable followed it up with a couple of Exploder Suplexes and hit a Moonsault for a two count. Gable and Jey Use then battled in the ring. Gable locked in an Arm Bar but Jimmy Uso connected with a Superkick to Gable’s head.
Jason Jordan then entered the match. Gable and Jordan were tossed out of the ring and The Usos went for a Suicide Dive. Gable and Jordan caught Jey and Jimmy and hit two Belly to Belly Suplexes. Back in the ring, Gable was pinned after he was hit by a Frog Splash off the top turnbuckle.
After the match, The Shining Stars attacked American Alpha. The crowd chanted “delete” at The Shining Stars.
Winners & Still Smackdown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Reaction: The match between The Usos and American Alpha was very good. I’m not sure what kind of impact The Shining Stars will have on the Smackdown Tag Team division. I think the crowd chanting “delete!” at them pretty much sums up everyone’s reaction to them joining the Smackdown roster.
Mojo Rawley vs Jinder Mahal
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was once again ringside for this match. He launched his beer into the face of Mahal and Mojo quickly won the match. Rawley celebrated with Gronk after the match.
Winner: Mojo Rawley
Shane McMahon came down to the ring to discuss Smackdown’s women’s division. Shane McMahon then called the entire women’s division down to the ring. Naomi, Natalya, Carmella and Becky Lynch came down and joined Shane McMahon in the ring. James Ellsworth grabbed the microphone from Shane and Ellsworth called Naomi a horrible Smackdown Women’s Champion. Naomi grabbed the microphone from Ellsworth and threatened him.
Naomi handed the microphone back to Shane McMahon and he announced that Tamina Snuka will be joining the Smackdown roster. Shane McMahon then also announced that Charlotte Flair is joining the Smackdown women’s division.
Reaction: Smackdown may have lost Alexa Bliss and Mickie James, but they made a huge addition with Charlotte Flair. Tamina Snuka is also very talented and hopefully she becomes a force in the Smackdown women’s division.
Tye Dillinger vs Aiden English
The Vaudevillians are no more and Aiden English was on his own. He sang before the match and it was entertaining. He had a rough single’s debut though, as he quickly lost to Dillinger via the Tye Breaker.
Winner: Tye Dillinger
It was announced that Lana will be coming to Smackdown. Rusev will also join the Smackdown roster when he returns from injury.
Dolph Ziggler cut a promo in the ring and revealed that he was staying on Smackdown. He then started bragging and claimed that he made Smackdown cool. Shinsuke Nakamura interrupted and the crowd went wild. The entire TD Garden sang his theme music as he made his way to the ring. Ziggler and Nakamura had a stare down as the crowd continued to sing his theme. Ziggler went for a Superkick but Nakamura caught him. Ziggler then rolled out of the ring while Shinsuke challenged him to a fight. Nakamura then posed for the crowd and that was the end of the segment.
Reaction: Dolph Ziggler and Shinsuke Nakamura can certainly put on a great match in the future and I cannot wait to see it. There really was nothing to this promo at all. The crowd sang Nakamura’s theme and Ziggler backed away from Shinsuke’s challenge.
The New Day are officially joining the Smackdown roster. The announcement was made in a short video and they did not appear on tonight’s show.
Baron Corbin vs Sami Zayn vs AJ Styles
Corbin dominated the beginning of the match. Zayn fought back and took out both Corbin and Styles as Smackdown went to a commercial break. When Smackdown returned. Corbin launched Zayn into the turnbuckle. Zayn battled back and hit an Exploder Suplex on Corbin into the turnbuckle. Styles was leveled with a Clothesline and all three Superstars were down on the mat.
Corbin was knocked out of the ring. Zayn hit the Blue Thunder Bomb on Styles for a two count. Zayn went for a Superplex on Styles but Baron Corbin got back in the ring. Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm but Zayn got out of the way. Corbin planted Zayn with a Deep Six but Styles broke up the pinfall.
Corbin charged at Styles in the corner but AJ got out of the way and Corbin hit the ring post. Styles then hit the springboard 450 Splash on Corbin but Zayn broke up the pinfall. Styles and Zayn traded punches in the middle of the ring. Styles went for the Styles Clash but Zayn avoided it. Zayn hit Corbin with a Helluva Kick and knocked him out of the ring. AJ Styles then hit Sami Zayn with a Phenomenal Forearm for the victory.
Winner & #1 Contender For United States Championship: AJ Styles
Reaction: This match started out slow but the last few minutes were great. Overall, tonight’s episode of Smackdown was solid. When it comes to in-ring talent, I think the Smackdown roster is excellent. Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, the list goes on and on. We could be in store for some excellent matches every Tuesday night.
What did you think of this week’s episode of Smackdown? Let us know in the comments below.
