WWE SmackDown Live Results & Discussion (7/11)

The July 11th edition of WWE SmackDown aired live from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, TX, and was the second-to-last episode before Battleground.

– The SmackDown broadcast begins with footage from AJ Styles’ U.S. Title victory over Kevin Owens at a Madison Square Garden house show last weekend.

– AJ Styles comes out o the ring to kick off SmackDown. AJ discusses winning the U.S. Title at MSG, then issues an open challenge to anyone in the back who thinks they can take the strap from him. John Cena’s music hits and Cena storms down to the ring. Cena gets on the mic and accepts the challenge, and Styles says let’s get it on. A ref and a ring announcer run in to the ring, and we have a title match.

– AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena – No Contest: AJ’s U.S. Title is on the line in this one. Before referee Charles Robinson can call for the opening bell, Kevin Owens comes out to the stage with a mic. Owens says he’s the rightful owner of the U.S. Title, and he tells Cena to go away again because nobody missed him. Owens says nobody wants to see Cena vs. AJ again. Cena says it’s not that nobody wants to see him, it’s that Owens can’t see him. Cena says he’s going to run through Owens, then he’s going to run through AJ, but then out of nowhere Rusev runs in and spears Cena. AJ pulls Rusev off Cena, but then Owens runs in and takes out AJ. Rusev locks Cena in The Accolade, then Rusev and Owens leave.

– Back from commercial, we’re told Shane McMahon has announced a tag match for later of AJ & Cena vs. Rusev & Owens.

– The Singh Brothers come out to the stage to introduce WWE Champion Jinder Mahal. He’s in action next in a non-title match.

– Jinder Mahal def. Tye Dillinger: Jinder drops Tye early on and follows up with some knee drops. Jinder works over Tye in the corner and throws some more knees and chops. Dillinger fires up and hits some punches in the corner, but Jinder shuts him down with a flying knee to the face. Jinder immediately follows up with the Cobra Clutch slam for the win after a mostly one-sided match.

– After the match, Jinder gets on the mic and expresses his disgust that the American fans boo him while they cheer that snake Randy Orton. Jinder says they can boo him all they want, but the 1.3 billion people of India know he’s the best Champion of all time. Jinder says Orton won’t be making his life a living hell, it’ll be Jinder bringing hell to Orton’s life. Jinder says next week, he’s bringing the Punjabi Prison to SmackDown.

– Xavier Woods def. Jey Uso: The New Day and Jimmy Uso are all at ringside. Xavier takes control early on with a big right hand, then chokes Jey over the middle rope. Jimmy Uso trips Xavier behind the ref’s back, then Jey shoves Kofi off the apron. Big E, Kofi, and Jimmy Uso all get in the ring, and the ref ejects them all from ringside. Woods tries to take advantage of the distraction with a rollup from behind, but Jey evades it and hits a superkick. Jey comes off the top for a splash but Woods blocks it with the knees. Woods hits a kick to the head then a flying elbow for the win. Jimmy hits the ring immediately after the match and Woods retreats to ringside. The New Day comes out to the stage to celebrate with Woods after.

– Shane McMahon is backstage on the phone when Naomi walks in and interrupts. Charlotte, Becky, Natalya, Lana and Tamina all walk in and interrupt, and they all want Women’s Title shots. Shane says they’re going to compete in a five-way match at Battleground to determine the new #1 contender for the Women’s title. Shane tells them to get their attitude out in the ring, and books Becky and Charlotte vs. Tamina and Natalya in tag action later tonight. Carmella walks in next and says her lawyer is working on getting James Ellsworth reinstated. Carmella hands Shane a paper from lawyer but Shane rips it up and Carmella storms off.

– Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin – No Contest: Nakamura jumps Corbin before the bell at ringside as Corbin is making his entrance. Corbin and Nakamura brawl all over ringside and into the crowd until refs come break it up. Corbin retrieves his Money In The Bank briefcase from the ringside floor and retreats to the back.

– AJ Styles and John Cena exchange words in the locker room. AJ says he intends on holding onto the U.S. Title for a long time. Cena says he understands AJ wanting to fight the best, but tonight Cena has AJ’s back in their tag match.

– Tamina & Natalya def. Charlotte & Becky Lynch: Becky and Tamina starts off and Becky hits a flurry of strikes early on. Kicks and leg drops from Becky before she tags in Charlotte. Charlotte goes for a German suplex, but Tamina elbows her off and headbutts her down. Natalya tags in and continues to work over Charlotte with strikes. Becky and Tamina tag in and Tamina and Natalya briefly double-team Becky with kicks. Tamina puts Becky in a headlock and Lana comes down to the ramp to ringside for a closer look. Natalya tags in and the heels once against double-team Becky. Natalya goes for a splash in the corner but Becky blocks it with a boot to the face and tags in Charlotte. Charlotte hits some chops to the chest of Natalya then a boot to the face. Charlotte follows up with a knee drop and a T-bone suplex, but then she gets distracted by Lana on the apron. Tamina apparently tagged in when Charlotte and the camera weren’t looking, then she hits a superkick on an unsuspecting Charlotte for the win. Lana celebrates with Tamina and Natalya on the ramp.

– Maria is backstage knocking on a locker room door. Chad Gable answers, and Maria asks for Sami Zayn to come out. Gable says he’s not there, and Maria tells him to pass along the message to Zayn that the first lady of SmackDown is looking for him.

– Sami Zayn finds Maria and Mike Kanellis backstage, and Maria demands and apology. Zayn says he already apologized and he’s sick of apologizing, and it seems they should apologize since they’re always in his way when he has something to do. Zayn points out that he actually wrestles matches on Smackown, and asks what Mike does here. Mike takes offense to this and slaps Zayn across the face, then smashes a vase full of roses over his face. Maria tells Zayn that’s the power of love, and sometimes love hurts.

– Fandango and Tyler Breeze star in a Walker, Texas Ranger inspired edition of The Fashion Files. They approach Zack Ryder and fail at lassoing him. Mojo Rawley comes over and asks what he just walked into. Ryder and Mojo argue over Mojo eliminating Ryder from the Battle Royal last week. Mojo tells Ryder to get his head back to reality and leave the Fashion Police alone. Ryder says maybe Mojo is right, and maybe the Fashion Police should come back to reality too. The Hype Bros leave, and Breezango realize their toy horse has been stolen. They blame it on ghost aliens, and an X-Files graphic featuring Breeze and Fandango shows.

– AJ Styles & John Cena def. Kevin Owens & Rusev: Rusev hits a running shoulder block on Cena early on that drops Cena. Rusev rolls outside to celebrate with his Bulgarian flag, allowing Cena to recover in the ring. Rusev rolls back in the ring and Cena drops him with a shoulder block of his own, then whips Rusev in the corner and hits a running bulldog. Owens tags in and boots Cena in the midsection then stomps on him while he’s down. Rusev tags back in and the heels briefly double team Cena behind the ref’s back. Rusev and Cena trade punches as Cena tries to fight his way over to tag in AJ. Rusev drops Cena with a kick to the head then goes up top. Rusev goes flying for a splash but Cena rolls out of the way and tags in AJ. AJ tees off on Rusev with elbows to the face and a clothesline. AJ hits a running forearm shot, then takes a moment to taunt Owens. Rusev fights back with an elbow to the face. AJ goes for the Calf Crusher but Owens breaks it up. The distraction from Owens leads to Rusev kicking AJ in the back of the head for a two count. Owens tags in and works on keeping AJ grounded. AJ fights his way up to his feet but Owens levels him with a clothesline for a two count. Owens drags AJ over to his corner and tags in Rusev for the double team. Rusev follows up with a kick to the head/shoulder for another two count. Rusev taunts Cena then hits a running elbow drop on Styles. Rusev gets AJ in a bear hug until AJ punches and headbutts his way out. Rusev goes for a back suplex but AJ escapes and hits a kick to the head. Cena and Owens get the tags and Cena hits a running shoulder block and a back suplex on Owens. Cena hits the Five Knuckle Shuffle on Owens then goes for the AA, but Rusev breaks it up. Rusev kicks Cena in the head, then AJ hits the Phenomenal Forearm on Rusev and a Pele kick on Owens. Cena follows up with the AA on Owens for the win. After the match, Cena raises Styles’ hand and they celebrate the victory. Cena and AJ stare each other down, then AJ holds up his U.S. Title and SmackDown goes off the air.