SEScoops

7 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (7/17)

Jeff Hardy

Written by

Robert Lentini

in

,

The July 17th, 2018 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA. In addition to the takeaways below, Aiden English asked Lana to talk to Rusev for him. Lana questioned if Aiden was best for Rusev after what happened during the WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules.

English felt bad about costing Rusev the match at Extreme Rules and said that everyone deserves a second chance. Lana said that she will take that into consideration and English stated that is all he can ask for. SmackDown GM Paige will also announce who AJ Styles will defend the WWE Championship against at SummerSlam on next week’s episode of SmackDown.

Here are 7 takeaways from this week’s show:

Jeff Hardy Has Been Feeling Broken Since Losing The US Title

Jeff Hardy came down to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Hardy stated that he may look like Jeff Hardy but he does not feel like Jeff Hardy. He said that he feels incomplete and that his heart is broken. Jeff said that Shinsuke proved to the world that he lacks ethics and is a jackass at Extreme Rules.

Hardy claims that a low blow is the only way Nakamura can beat him and vowed to recapture the United States Championship. Hardy added that he wanted to make Shinsuke feel as much pain as possible tonight and make him fade away and classify himself as obsolete.

Nakamura was then interviewed backstage by Renee Young. Shinsuke called Hardy a sad clown that wears face paint to hide the tears he cries. Shinsuke stated that the US Title is now his and that is a reason to smile. Nakamura vowed to make everyone smile tonight by making a clown cry again. Shinsuke ending the interview by saying “God bless America”.

AJ Styles Defeated Andrade “Cien” Almas

AJ Styles
AJ Styles. Photo Credit: WWE.com

WWE Champion AJ Styles battled Andrade “Cien” Almas tonight on SmackDown.

The two Superstars locked up in the middle of the ring to start off the match. Almas sent AJ to the canvas with an Arm Drag and then posed over him.

Styles got back up with a smirk on his face but Almas connected with another Arm Drag that sent AJ back down to the mat. Styles and Almas locked up again and Andrade once again got the upper-hand after hitting an elbow to AJ’s face.

The crowd chanted “AJ Styles!” as Almas applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. AJ broke free and went for a Dropkick but Almas caught himself in between the ropes and struck a pose as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, AJ was back in control and hit Almas with a forearm to the face. Andrade responded with a Dropkick and both Superstars crashed to the canvas. Almas caught AJ up in between the ropes and slammed him to the mat for a two count.

Andrade perched AJ up on the top turnbuckle and sent him back to the mat with a Dropkick to the face. AJ battled back and planted Almas with a Neckbreaker for a near fall. AJ set up for the Styles Clash but Andrade blocked it and sent AJ to the apron. AJ then went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Almas elbowed Styles in the knee and AJ crumbled to the mat.

Almas climbed to the top rope and went for a Moonsault but AJ rolled out of the way. Almas incredibly landed on his feet and transitioned right into a standing Moonsault for a two count. Styles connected with an Enziguri that knocked Almas to the corner of the ring.

Andrade booted AJ in the face and climbed back up to the top rope. AJ hit Almas with the Pele Kick and then joined Andrade on the top rope. Almas tripped up AJ and hit him with a Double Stomp to the chest off the top turnbuckle. Almas followed it up with Double Knees in the corner for a two count.

Zelina Vega flipped out at ringside after Styles kicked out at the last second. AJ blocked the Hammerlock DDT and countered into the Calf Crusher in the middle of the ring. Andrade reached for the ropes but was too far away and had quickly tapped out.

Opinion: Sign me up for a feud between these two Superstars any time. This match was very good and was just a small preview of what they could do together in the ring.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019378408483164163

Becky Lynch Warned Carmella

Becky Lynch faced Mandy Rose tonight on SmackDown. Rose sent Lynch to the corner to start off the match. Deville hopped on the ring apron for a distraction and Mandy slammed Lynch to the canvas for a two count.

Mandy connected with a Dropkick and then a boot to the face for another near fall. Rose unloaded a few punches to Becky’s face and locked in a submission hold. Becky broke free and rolled up Rose for a two count.

Lynch hit a Crossbody and then an Exploder Suplex. Lynch then locked in the Dis-Arm-Her in the middle of the ring and Mandy Rose quickly tapped out. After the match, Becky grabbed the microphone and said that winning feels “freaking great!”.

Lynch said that she has been patiently waiting and never stopped working as hard as she can. Becky added that she is just getting started and warned Carmella that she is coming for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Carmella was then shown backstage with SmackDown GM Paige. Carmella said she deserves another “Mellabration” next week. Paige announced that Becky Lynch will face Carmella next week in a non-title match. If Lynch wins, Carmella has to defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against her at WWE SummerSlam.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019382562127564801

Samoa Joe Easily Defeated Tye Dillinger

Tye Dillinger faced Samoa Joe tonight on SmackDown. Joe attacked Tye Dillinger last week before SmackDown started.

Dillinger went right after Joe to start off the match. Joe shrugged it off and slammed Dillinger into the ring post.

Joe brought Dillinger back into the ring and booted him in the face. Joe taunted Dillinger as he brought him back to his feet.

Joe kneed Tye in the ribs a couple of times and locked in the Coquina Clutch. Tye tried to escape but had no choice but to tap out.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019384459290927109

The Miz Held A Funeral For Team Hell No

The Miz held a funeral for Team Hell No tonight on SmackDown.

Miz thanked the crowd for coming tonight and plugged his new TV show. The Miz then boasted about getting MVP in the Celebrity All-Star Game. The Miz said it was now time to say “bye bye bye” to Team Hell No following their loss to the Bludgeon Brothers at Extreme Rules.

The Miz asked the crowd to stand up and join him in honoring Team Hell No in a moment of silence. The crowd made noise and The Miz demanded that they show some respect. The Miz waited for the crowd to be quiet but they wound up chanting “yes!” instead.

Miz said he had one final thing to say and that was “I told you so”. Miz stated that Kane was nothing more than a broken down demon and he was proven right. The Miz added that Daniel Bryan is nothing more than a glory hound obsessed with setting impossible goals to tug at your heartstrings.

The Miz called Bryan sad and that called Daniel’s return from injury a bust. Miz said that nobody has the courage to tell Bryan that his days of headlining WrestleMania are over and his career is dead.

Bryan’s music hit and Daniel attacked The Miz from behind. Bryan took out the pallbearers as well as The Miz retreated up the entrance ramp. Bryan geared up in the corner and hit the running knee to one of the pallbearers. Daniel then pointed at The Miz who mockingly applauded him.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019386454387109888

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019388499118755841

Eric Young Stole A Win Over Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston faced Eric Young tonight on SmackDown. The rest of SAnitY and New Day were ringside for the match. SAnitY defeated New Day in a Tables Match on the Extreme Rules Kickoff Show this past Sunday.

Kofi connected with a Dropkick for a two count to start off the match. Young quickly battled back and sent Kingston to the corner of the ring. Young hit Kofi with a couple of jabs to the face but Kofi connected with a Clothesline that knocked Young out of the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Young was back in control as SAnitY and New Day had a stare down outside the ring. Young connected with a Neckbreaker for a two count and then applied a Chin Lock.

Young climbed up to the second rope and leaped towards Kofi. Kingston was ready for it though and connected with a Dropkick while Young was in midair. Kingston hit another Dropkick and followed it up with a Clothesline.

Kofi hit the Boom Drop and geared up in the corner of the ring. Young ducked under Trouble in Paradise and rolled up Kingston for a two count. Young rolled out of the ring and Kofi took the opportunity to take out SAnitY with a Crossbody. Back in the ring, Kofi connected with the SOS for a near fall.

Kingston made his way to the top rope but Wolfe hopped up on the ring apron for a distraction. Big E took him out but Dain then hopped on the apron. Woods took out Young for a moment but Dain got back up and threw Woods into Kingston. Young then planted Kofi with a Neckbreaker for the pinfall victory.

Randy Orton Attacked Jeff Hardy Again

Jeff Hardy invoked his rematch clause for the United States Championship in the main event of SmackDown. Nakamura defeated Hardy in 6-seconds after hitting him with a low blow as the referee called for the bell. Randy Orton returned following the match and hit Hardy with another low blow.

Hardy went right after Nakamura to start off the match. Shinsuke missed with a low blow and Hardy sent him tumbling out of the ring. Jeff leaped off the steel steps and connected with a Clothesline that caused Nakamura to fall into the barricade surrounding the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.

When SmackDown returned, Nakamura was in control of the match and had Hardy in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Hardy broke free but Nakamura remained on the attack and bounced Jeff’s face off the top turnbuckle.

Shinsuke hit Bad Vibrations in the corner and then booted Jeff in the face for good measure. Nakamura went back to the Headlock in the middle of the ring and Jeff began to fade. Jeff battled back and slammed Nakamura’s face into the top turnbuckle in every corner of the ring as the crowd chanted “delete!”.

Hardy connected with a Jawbreaker and followed it up with a Splash for a two count. Jeff connected with a Russian Leg Sweep for another near fall. Shinsuke escaped Hardy’s Twist of Fate attempt and booted Jeff in the back of the head. Nakamura followed it up with a knee to the midsection as SmackDown went to another commercial break.

SmackDown returned as Nakamura sent Hardy into the corner. Jeff battled back with a right hand to the face and followed it up with a Dropkick. Jeff climbed to the top and hit Whisper in the Wind for a two count.

Jeff dropped Shinsuke with a Clothesline and then followed it up with an inverted Atomic Drop. Hardy then quickly got back up and connected with a Leg Drop for a near fall. Shinsuke draped Jeff across the top rope and delivered a knee to the midsection for a two count.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019399782392061952

Nakamura hit a Backbreaker and followed it up with a sliding knee to Jeff’s head for another near fall. Shinsuke geared up in the corner of the ring and went for the Kinshasa but Hardy countered with a Slingblade. Jeff climbed to the top rope but Nakamura hopped up and crotched Jeff on the turnbuckle.

Shinsuke then delivered a kick to the face that dropped Jeff to the canvas. Hardy countered the Kinshasa once again and connected with the Twist of Fate. Jeff made his way to the top rope and hit the Swanton Bomb. Jeff went for the cover but Randy Orton pulled him out of the ring.

The referee called for the bell as Orton slammed Jeff’s face into the steel steps several times. Orton beat the hell out of Hardy against the barricade as Nakamura looked on from the entrance ramp. Jeff started to battle back but Orton poked Jeff in the eye to end his momentum. Orton pressed Jeff’s head against the steps and stomped on it. Orton then told Hardy that he is going to have to wait to find out why he is doing this.

Randy put his finger in Hardy’s earing and started tugging on his ear. Orton then threw Jeff over the announce table and then started clearing it off WWE officials sprinted to the ring. Orton planted Jeff with a DDT off of the table as SmackDown went off the air.

Opinion: Randy Orton is so much better as a heel and this feud has already got me interested. This was a pretty brutal attack and I’m looking forward to seeing where this storyline goes. Overall, I enjoyed this week’s episode of SmackDown.

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019401507421253634

https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/1019402068950470657

What did you think of this week’s show? Let us know in the comments below.

Comments

27 responses to “7 Takeaways From WWE SmackDown (7/17)”

More posts