The July 9th episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire. It was the final episode of SmackDown before WWE Extreme Rules this Sunday night. In addition to the takeaways below, it was revealed that Cesaro will be Aleister Black’s opponent at Extreme Rules.
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s SmackDown:
Kevin Owens Went On An Epic Rant About Shane McMahon
Dolph Ziggler was interviewed arriving at the arena about facing Kevin Owens later tonight. Ziggler called Owens a “tub of excuses” and Owens interrupted by honking his car horn. Owens got out of his car and started arguing with Dolph in the parking lot. Owens punched Ziggler in the face and a mini-brawl broke out before officials broke it up.
SmackDown Commissioner showed up and demanded that Ziggler go inside and kicked Owens out of the arena. McMahon was then interviewed backstage about canceling the main event. Shane said that Kevin Owens instigated the altercation and that is why he was sent home.
Kevin Owens then hopped of the barricade and went on a rant about Shane McMahon. Owens pointed out how the McMahons lied in the ring months back about changing things up and the only thing that came of it was Shane getting more power and more in-ring time than anyone else.
Shane interrupted and told the production to cut Owens’ microphone off. Owens grabbed another microphone and stood on the announce table. Kevin yelled that every time that Shane calls himself the best in the world it is an insult to all wrestlers around the world.
Owens said Shane can kiss his ass because that ring does not belong to him. Kevin shouted that Shane takes up TV time from Buddy Murphy, Asuka, Ali, AOP, Apollo Crews, and Kairi Sane but was then forced off the table. Owens walked through the crowd and to the back as Shane shook his head.
Everything Owens said during this promo is how the majority of the audience feels about the current state of WWE. One can only hope that they are finally listening and are going to make some actual changes. I’m not holding my breath on that one. This still was a terrific open to the show and reminded everyone how great Kevin Owens is on the microphone.
Shinsuke Nakamura Dominated The Intercontinental Champion
Shinsuke Nakamura and Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor actually appeared on this week’s episode of SmackDown for a match against each other. Nakamura controlled the action early and trapped Balor in a Headlock in the middle of the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Balor escaped the hold but Shinsuke dropped him with an Enziguri for a two count. Nakamura once again applied a Headlock but Balor broke free with a couple of jabs to the midsection. Finn knocked Shinsuke to the canvas and hit a Double Stomp.
Nakamura retreated to the corner and Finn greeted him with a chop. Balor dropped an elbow across Nakamura’s throat for a near fall. Shinsuke hung up Balor in the ropes and connected with a Sliding German Suplex. Nakamura geared up in the corner and went for the Kinshasa but Balor countered with a Slingblade. Balor climbed to the top rope but Nakamura tripped him up and delivered a knee to the ribs.
Shinsuke climbed up to the second rope and hit a knee strike that knocked Finn to the outside of the ring. Nakamura launched Balor into the ring post and rolled him back into the ring. Shinsuke brought Balor back to the outside and leveled him with the Kinshasa. Shinsuke got back into the ring as the referee started counting.
Finn got back into the ring at the last second and once again Nakamura brought him back outside the ring. Nakamura slammed Balor into the barricade and then into the steel steps. Nakamura booted Finn in the head and made his way back into the ring. Balor once again got back into the ring at the last moment and Nakamura hit him with another Kinshasa for the pinfall victory.
I’m not a fan of champions losing on television, but at the very least this match felt like it meant something for Nakamura’s future. The commentary made sure to point out that this match will give Nakamura confidence going forward. Owens has deserved more than hosting useless episodes of the Kevin Owens Show and Nakamura should have always been featured in a prominent role on WWE television.
https://twitter.com/tde_wrestling/status/1148750507281932288
Nikki Cross Sent A Message To Bayley
Bayley and Nikki Cross had a contract signing for the 2-on-1 Handicap Match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules. Nikki Cross announced that stipulation after winning a Beat the Clock Challenge last night on RAW against Bayley. Cross will team with Alexa Bliss at the PPV.
Bayley asked Nikki if she was really alright with just helping someone else win the title and continued to suggest that Alexa Bliss was using her. Nikki went on a rant and told Bayley to stick around and watch her match against Carmella after they sign the contracts.
Cross sent Carmella to the corner and stomped on her several times as Bayley sat ringside. Nikki went for the Swinging Neckbreaker but Carmella countered into a roll-up. Cross kicked out and then connected with the Neckbreaker for the pinfall victory.
Heavy Machinery Picked Up Momentum Heading Into Extreme Rules
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Daniel Bryan & Rowan joined New Day and Heavy Machinery tor a Tag Team Summit on tonight’s show. Bryan and Rowan will defend their titles against New Day and Heavy Machinery at Extreme Rules in a Triple Threat Match.
Big E and Woods vowed to win the titles this Sunday before Bryan and Rowan interrupted. Bryan scolded New Day for making jokes and not taking the title match seriously. Daniel said that is probably because whenever New Day are the champs nobody takes them seriously either.
Woods told Bryan that he talks so much without ever actually saying anything. Xavier joked that Rowan has taking orders from Bray, then Harper, and now Daniel and they have a hard time keeping up with who Rowan’s daddy is. Bryan stated that New Day are just deflecting true criticism with jokes. Daniel added that New Day are one of the best teams in the world but they never escape the midcard because they are viewed as a comedy act.
Bryan called Heavy Machinery “buffoons” and that they follow New Day’s lead by treating the tag division as joke. Otis and Tucker interrupted and said that Heavy Machinery took the champs to the limit at WWE Stomping Grounds. Tucker claimed that they got back to work and earned another title shot at Extreme Rules. Otis chimed in and said that they are “blue collar solid”. Tucker told New Day that they are going to put becoming 6-time champs on hold because Heavy Machinery will win the titles at Extreme Rules.
Otis then battled Xavier Woods and Daniel Bryan in a Triple Threat Match. Bryan rolled out of the ring right when the bell rang as Woods and Otis battled in the ring. A loud “Bryan sucks!” chant broke out as Otis leveled Woods with a shoulder tackle. Bryan snuck back into the ring and tried for a Sleeper Hold but Otis launched him out of the ring.
Bryan and Woods tried to Suplex Otis but the big man countered and delivered a Double Suplex. Rowan hit Woods and Otis with a cheap shot and then grabbed Big E and Tucker. Big E and Tucker shoved Rowan over the announce table and then started trash talking with each other. The referee then kicked them out from ringside as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Woods sent Bryan into the barricade outside the ring. Back in the ring, Woods climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit Daniel with a Dropkick for a near fall. Bryan applied the LeBell Lock to Woods but Otis broke it up. Otis hit Bryan with the Caterpillar Elbow Drop but Daniel rolled to the apron. Woods hit Bryan with a Gutbuster but turned around into a massive Powerslam from Otis for the pinfall victory.
Kevin Owens Attacked Shane McMahon During The Main Event
Dolph Ziggler complained to Shane McMahon backstage because he was no longer in tonight’s main event. Shane suggested that he battle Roman Reigns in tonight’s main event, with Shane, Elias, and Drew McIntyre. Greg Hamilton announced Shane McMahon as the best in the world before the match.
What would a @shanemcmahon entrance be without a BEST IN THE WORLLLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD introduction by @GregHamiltonWWE? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/p9x0fWSoC3
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 10, 2019
Shane joined commentary as McIntyre and Elias stood behind him. Corey Graves complimented Shane on making this fantastic main event. Shane ignored questions about Kevin Owens and claimed that he knew the weaknesses of The Undertaker.
Ziggler connected with a Dropkick and followed it up with an elbow to the chest for a two count. Dolph hit a Splash in the corner and went for another one but Reigns countered with a punch to the face. Roman hit Ziggler with the Drive By and got distracted with Elias for a moment.
McIntyre capitalized and shoved Reigns into the ring post as the referee wasn’t looking. Reigns battled back and planted Dolph with a Samoan Drop in the middle of the ring. Roman leveled Ziggler with a boot to the face and then hit Elias with the Superman Punch on the ring apron.
Dolph planted Reigns with the Zig Zag and went for the cover but Roman was able to kick out at two. Ziggler went for a Superkick but Reigns countered with the Superman Punch for another near fall. Roman set up for the Spear but McIntyre dragged Dolph out of the ring. Reigns took them both out with a Suicide Dive as Shane got into the ring. Ziggler hit Roman with a Superkick as Kevin Owens ran into the ring. Owens hit Shane with the Stunner and escaped through the crowd. Roman Reigns then leveled Ziggler with a Spear for the pinfall victory.
It looks like Shane McMahon will moving on to feud with Kevin Owens after the tag team match against Reigns and The Undertaker at Extreme Rules. Overall, this was a decent episode of SmackDown heading into the PPV this Sunday. There are some matches to look forward to at Extreme Rules, but as usual the build has been subpar. Hopefully, RAW and SmackDown get better next week as WWE begins to build towards SummerSlam.