SmackDown aired from the Performance Center in Orlando. Daniel Bryan competed against AJ Styles in the finals of the Intercontinental Championship Tournament. Jeff Hardy and Sheamus had the contract signing for their match at Backlash tonight as well. It was the final episode of SmackDown before WWE Backlash this Sunday. It was also announced that Matt Riddle will debut next week.
SmackDown Results (6/12)
- Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura def. New Day in a non-title match
- AJ Styles def. Daniel Bryan to become Intercontinental Champion
- Braun Strowman & Heavy Machinery def. The Miz, John Morrison & Dolph Ziggler
Here are 4 takeaways from this week’s show:
Jeff Hardy Threw His Urine Sample In Sheamus’ Face
Renee Young moderated the contract signing between Sheamus and Jeff Hardy to kick off SmackDown. Sheamus came down to the ring with a docter and a bunch of security guards. Jeff Hardy then joined them in the ring.
Sheamus said the curtain was for discretion because he didn’t want to offend Renee Young. Sheamus added that security team wasn’t here for him, they were here for Jeff. He stated that he has to go behind the curtain and take a urine test to get the match at Backlash because there is no way he is getting in the ring with a junkie.
Jeff Hardy admitted that he is an alcoholic and has other addictions that he has been battling since his early twenties. Hardy vowed to be a beacon of light for everybody that struggles with this and will go along with this bullsh*t to get his hands on Sheamus this Sunday.
Hardy went behind the curtain as Sheamus cut a PSA about not doing drugs into the camera. Jeff finished up and his urine was absurdly yellow and Sheamus joked that he must have really enjoyed happy hour. Hardy then threw the urine in Sheamus’ face and signed the contract. Sheamus freaked out and gagged as the crowd chanted “you got pissed on”. The doctor then informed Sheamus backstage that Jeff’s test came back negative.
Later on SmackDown, Sheamus attacked Jeff Hardy backstage and beat him down before security broke it up.
Opinion: Sheamus framing Jeff Hardy for a hit & run on Elias was ridiculous but entertaining in my opinion. This segment was just idiotic and came off as something that was written by a 5 year old. I believe Jeff Hardy uttered “it is better to be pissed off than to be pissed on” before throwing his urine at Sheamus. That line is really all you need to know about this segment.
AJ Styles Captured The IC Title In An Awesome Match With Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan squared off against AJ Styles for the vacant Intercontinental Championship.
Match Recap: Bryan knocked Styles out of the ring and connected with a Suicide Dive as SmackDown went to a break. When SmackDown returned, Styles was in control and head Bryan in an Arm Bar. Bryan broke free went to work on AJ’s left knee.
Styles and Bryan traded roll-ups but both superstars kicked out several times. Bryan and Styles then ran into each other and crashed to the canvas as SmackDown went to another commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Styles was back in control and sent Bryan flying out of the ring. AJ joined Bryan on the outside and Daniel shoved his elbow into the ring post. Bryan followed that up by pressing AJ’s elbow against the apron and stomping on it.
Back in the ring, Daniel stomped on AJ’s elbow once again before applying a submission hold in the middle of the ring. Daniel went for a Dropkick but Styles got out of the way and Bryan crashed into the turnbuckle.
Styles focused his attack on Bryan’s left knee and tied it up in the ropes. AJ kicked it several times as Bryan screamed in pain. Bryan hit an Enziguri out of nowhere and both superstars fell to the mat.
AJ was the first up and went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Bryan tripped him up. Daniel perched Styles up on the top rope and connected with a Frankensteiner. Styles battled back and turned Bryan inside out with a Clothesline as SmackDown went to another commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Bryan and Styles were trading punches in the middle of the ring. Daniel got the better of the exchange and sent Styles out of the ring. Bryan went for a Suicide Dive but AJ was ready and delivered a boot to Daniel’s face.
AJ went for the Phenomenal Forearm but Bryan countered into an Arm Bar in the middle of the ring. Styles then reversed into the Calf Crusher but Bryan countered right back into the Arm Bar.
Styles escaped and walked into a Yes Kick to the head for a near fall. Daniel Bryan hit a Back Suplex off the middle rope as we went to a fourth commercial break during the match. AJ hit a reverse DDT when SmackDown returned for a two count.
AJ followed that up with a Pele Kick and a Brainbuster for a near fall. Styles went for another Pele Kick but Bryan countered into an Ankle Lock. AJ battled to his feet and planted Bryan with a German Suplex for a two count.
Bryan hit a German Suplex of his own and hit several elbows to AJ’s shoulder. Daniel then applied the Yes Lock in the middle of the ring but Styles was able to get his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold.
The crowd chanted “yes!” as Bryan got up and unloaded some kicks to AJ’s face. Bryan went for the Running Knee but AJ countered into the Styles Clash. AJ couldn’t capitalize and go for the cover.
Styles rolled to the apron and pulled himself up by using the ropes. Bryan stumbled to his feet and turned around into the Phenomenal Forearm for the pinfall victory. AJ Styles is the new Intercontinental Champion.
After the match, Styles said that he was the best champion the WWE Universe has ever seen and he is phenomenal.
Opinion: The only complaint I have about this match is that it wasn’t at Backlash. The commercial breaks drove me insane because they were interrupting an incredible match.
Bayley & Banks’ Celebration Was Interrupted
Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley came down to the ring for a celebration. Before entering the balloon covered ring, Banks and Bayley took a selfie in front of Michael Cole. Bayley and Banks will defend the titles against The IIconics, and Bliss & Cross at Backlash this Sunday.
The crowd booed and Bayley shouted that they are lucky to have been invited. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley said it is lonely at the top but she is not lonely because she has her best friend, Sasha Banks.
Banks claimed that they told everyone so and that they are the role models. Sasha added that the titles represent their friendship and they are only going to get stronger because they are unstoppable together.
Bayley was about to read a poem she had written for Banks but was interrupted by Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross. Alexa said she was fine with the celebration until poetry got involved. The IIconics showed up on the jumbotron and boasted about defeating Banks & Bayley at WrestleMania and Bliss & Cross recently.
Bliss and Cross then attacked Bayley and Banks in the ring as The IIconcics laughed. Nikki and Alexa threw Bayley and Banks out of the ring to end the segment.
Strowman & Heavy Machinery Picked Up A Win
Universal Champion Braun Strowman & Heavy Machinery teamed up to face Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, and John Morrison in the main event. Strowman will defend the Universal Championship against Miz & Morrison in a Handicap Match this Sunday at Backlash.
Match Recap: Ziggler and Otis started the match off and Dolph immediately scampered out of the ring. The Miz tagged in and Otis greeted him with a Body Slam. Tucker tagged in and headbutted Miz in the ribs.
John Morrison tagged in and hit Tucker with an Enziguri. Tucker went for a Back Body Drop but Morrison landed on his feet. Tucker planted Morrison with a Powerslam and John retreated to the corner.
Ziggler and Strowman tagged in and Braun hit a Splash in the corner. Tucker got back in and lifted Ziggler up for a Suplex. King Corbin showed up on the jumbotron and confronted Mandy Rose about Otis stealing his crown last week. Corbin claimed that Mandy was fantasizing about being with him. Otis sprinted out of the ring and attacked Corbin backstage as SmackDown went a break.
When SmackDown returned, Tucker was isolated in the corner and Otis had not returned to the ring. Tucker spent the next several minutes trying to escape as Strowman pleaded for a tag. Miz and Morrison dragged Strowman off the apron and beat him down outside the ring.
Ziggler sent Tucker into the turnbuckle as Otis and Mandy came down to the entrance ramp. Otis hopped on the apron as Tucker hit Ziggler with a boot to the face. Otis tagged in and knocked Miz & Morrison off the apron. Otis danced off a couple shots from Ziggler and hit him with a headbutt.
Otis launched Ziggler out of the ring and signaled for Strowman. Braun leveled Miz and Morrison with a couple of shoulder tackles and rolled Ziggler back in the ring. Otis hit the Caterpillar Elbow to Ziggler for the victory.
Opinion: A feud between Otis and King Corbin sounds horrific. Cesaro & Nakamura defeated New Day in a non-title match and I’m sure they will be thrown into title match at Backlash or in the near future. Cesaro & Nakamura have done absolutely nothing as of late but this his how WWE books their tag team division. Instead of building up a rivalry over several weeks on television, Cesaro & Nakamura randomly defeat the champs and springboard to the top of the division. The epic Styles and Bryan match saved this show from being terrible.