WWE Smackville aired live tonight from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The show featured two championship matches and a special musical performance from Elias.
Shinsuke Nakamura Retained
Shinsuke Nakamura was set to defend his Intercontinental Championship tonight against Finn Balor. Unfortunately, it was announced shortly before the show that Balor was not medically cleared to compete tonight.
Nakamura got in the ring and claimed that he won the match by forfeit and demanded that the referee ring the bell. The ref obliged and started counting but was interrupted by Ali.
Ali grabbed the microphone and said he knows about missing big opportunities like Balor is tonight. Ali stated that he was not going to miss this opportunity and the match was made official.
Shinsuke and Nakamura locked up to start things off. Nakamura applied a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Ali battled back and connected with a Crossbody for a near fall.
Nakamura took back control and hit Ali with Bad Vibrations in the corner of the ring. Shinsuke hit Ali with a few knees to the midsection and went for the cover but Ali was able to kick out at two.
The crowd got behind Ali as he escaped from a Headlock. Ali rolled up Nakamura for a two count and then leveled him with a Dropkick. Ali followed that up with a Facebuster and Double Knees in the corner.
Ali perched Nakamura up on the top turnbuckle but Nakamura shoved him to the canvas. Shinsuke leaped off the top rope but Ali greeted him with a Dropkick in midair for another near fall.
Shinsuke hit a boot to the face and followed it up with the Sliding German Suplex. Nakamura went for the Kinshasa but Ali countered with an awesome Superkick. Ali hit a Tornado DDT and went for the cover but the champ kicked out at the last moment.
Ali climbed back up to the top rope and went for the 450 Splash but Shinsuke got out of the way. Nakamura slammed Ali’s face into the top turnbuckle and hit him with the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory. Shinsuke Nakamura is still the Intercontinental Champion.
Kevin Owens Defeated Elias
Elias played his guitar for a bit and asked the crowd if they wanted to walk with Elias. The audience cheered and Elias got pissed off that there wasn’t a standing ovation. He stated that the first time he was in Nashville he met Johnny Cash. Elias claimed that Johnny Cash told him that the Tennessee Titans will never win the Super Bowl.
The crowd erupted in boos as Elias turned his attention towards SummerSlam. Elias dedicated his first song to Shane McMahon and demanded that everyone silence their cell phones, hold their applause, and shut their mouths.
Elias told the crowd that he wasn’t going to perform tonight if the audience doesn’t do exactly what he says. The crowd cheered and Elias said that he was out of here. After some walking back and forth to cheers and boos, Elias opted to sing his song.
His song claimed that Shane McMahon deserves more TV time and should be WWE Champion. Elias claimed that he was getting a phone call from Vince McMahon and answered it. He said that Vince was enjoying his performance and can have as much time as he liked.
Elias sang about Shane McMahon defeating Owens at SummerSlam and took a cheap shot at Nashville. Kevin Owens rolled into the ring and started playing the guitar behind Elias. Owens punched Elias in the face and sent him tumbling out of the ring. Owens told Elias to shut his stupid face and challenged him to a match. Owens vowed to give everyone a preview of what is going to happen at SummerSlam.
Owens then asked for a referee to run down the ramp and dramatically slide into the ring to make the match official. Elias controlled the bout early and stomped on Owens in the corner of the ring. Owens responded with a Clothesline and a Senton. Elias retreated out of the ring to try and regroup but Owens followed him.
Kevin Owens connected with a chop to Elias’ face and brought him back into the ring. Elias hit Owens with a boot to the face while he was on the apron and once again beat him down in the corner. Elias connected with a Meteora and went for the cover but Owens was able to kick out at two.
Owens hit Elias with a headbutt and followed it up with a Senton off the top rope for a two count. Owens went for the Stunner but Elias countered with a knee to the face. Elias climbed to the top rope and went for an Elbow Drop but Owens got out of the way. Owens then hit the Stunner for the pinfall victory.
Kofi Kingston Is Still WWE Champion
Kofi Kingston defended his WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler and Samoa Joe in a Triple Threat Match in the main event. Kingston hit Ziggler with a Dropkick to start the match off and sent him out of the ring. Joe and Ziggler teamed up for a bit and slammed Kingston into the barricade.
Joe and Ziggler continued their alliance for the next few minutes and took turns beating Kofi down in the ring. Kingston battled back and hit Dolph with a Crossbody off the top rope. Samoa Joe threw Kingston out of the ring and tried for a cover but Ziggler kicked out.
Dolph and Joe started arguing and Kingston hit them both with a Clothesline off the top rope. Kofi hit Ziggler with a Dropkick and followed it up with the Boom Drop. Kofi set up for Trouble in Paradise but Dolph rolled out of the ring. Joe connected with a Samoan Drop on Kingston for a near fall.
Samoa Joe brought Kingston up to the top rope and went for a Superplex but Kofi blocked it. Kingston unloaded a few punches and headbutted Joe to the canvas. Ziggler hopped on the turnbuckle and went for a Superplex of his own but Kingston blocked it once again.
Joe went to Powerbomb Dolph but Ziggler countered into a DDT. Kingston hit Ziggler with a Crossbody for a two count. Kingston followed it up with the SOS and went for the cove but Joe broke it up a two. Samoa Joe threw Ziggler and Kofi out of the ring and followed them out there.
Samoa Joe slammed Kingston into the steel steps and went after Ziggler. Joe smiled and said “bye Dolph” before slamming him onto the announce desk. Back in the ring, Joe and Kofi traded punches. Joe leveled Kofi with an elbow to the face for a two count. Joe locked in the Coquina Clutch but Kingston broke free with a Jawbreaker.
Kofi went for Trouble in Paradise but Joe caught him and applied an Ankle Lock. Kofi escaped but Joe once again locked in the Coquina Clutch. Ziggler sprinted into the ring and hit Joe with a Superkick. Dolph went for the cover but Kofi broke it up at the last moment.
Ziggler and Kingston then traded shots in the ring. Dolph connected with a Zig Zag and went for the cover but Kingston kicked out at the last moment. Joe got in the ring and hit Ziggler with a Fallaway Slam. Joe turned Kofi inside out with a Clothesline for a near fall. Joe went for another Clothesline but Kingston avoided it and hit Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall victory. Kofi Kingston remains the WWE Champion.
