Summerslam thus far is as followed: Dean Ambrose (C) v Dolph Ziggler for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Finn Balor v Seth Rollins for the vacant WWE Universal Championship, and Brock Lesnar v Randy Orton. Good night everyone!
WINNER: Dolph Ziggler
SUPERKICK TO AJ! 1-2....3?
After about 12 minutes, Apollo Crews has a near fall as Bray Wyatt pulls out the ref and hits the Sister Abigal. Ziggler has the Zig Zag on Wyatt, but there's no referee.
IT'S MAIN EVENT TIME!
Styles v Ziggler v Crews v Cena v Wyatt v Baron Corbin!
RHYNO! GORE! GORE! GORE! GORE! GORE! GORE! GORE!
Shane McMahon interrupts, as he offended Heath Slater by wanting him to send in a resume.
Heath Slater wants the Main Event to be a Magnificent Seven Pack. #SignHeathSlater
THE ONE MAN ROCKBAND BAYBAY! Slater assualts a random jobber and grabs the mic.
The American Alpha has a debut vignette! Next week they debut!
Winner: Randy Orton
Orton hits a second RKO as the Miz does the job.
RKO! Orton sits there for a second leanig up against the ropes.
Only a minute back into the ring and Orton's already dropped S and F bombs.
The Miz says no as Orton convinces Maryse to accept it.
Okay, there's a reason for him to be in gear. He wants to wrestle the Miz!
Are they bringing back the Legend Killer gimmick?
Randy Orton interrupts: WHY IS HE IN GEAR? Does he own street clothes? If he's not wrestling, then what's the point?
The Miz completely trolled everyone. "A Legend Killer." "Through Evolution." It's the Miz.
What exactly was the point of that? NEXT: Miz TV. Guest: Former World Champion.
Alexa Bliss interrupts Becky Lynch. Alexa Bliss is interrupted by a returning NAOMI! Bliss is so good at everything she does. Carmella interrupts Naomi....who is interrupted by...Eva Marie with the stupidest entrance ever?
BLISS!
WINNER: Becky Lynch
After a really good match, Becky Lynch locks in the Dis-Armer. Nattie is forced to tap.
Natalya gains an early advantage over Becky Lynch. If given 15 minutes or so, this has potential.
Ziggler cuts a promo as Smackdown comes back on-air. He's going to take his opportunity.
SHELTON BENJAMIN RETURN VIGNETTE! THE GOLD STANDARD IS COMING TO SMACKDOWN!
WINNER: Apollo Crews
Zack Ryder and Kane have been eliminated!
Kane has eliminated Kalisto!
Alberto Del Rio, and Breezedango have been eliminated! Kane, Kalisto, Apollo Crews and Zack Ryder are the Final Four!
Mojo Rawley has eliminated Erick Rowan! Alberto Del Rio has eliminated MoJo Rawley!
Breezedango has eliminated Jey Uso!
Kane has eliminated the Acension!
If he had to be in it, I would've had Ziggler win the battle royal. It's a situation he thrives in. It just makes too much sense—which is likely why they didn't do it.
John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, amd AJ Styles are in it. The sixth spot is open to everybody, as a battle royal decides the final entrant: RIGHT NOW!
Dean Ambrose feels like he's ready for a new challenge. He asks who's first as Daniel Bryan announces a Six-Pack-Challenge N1C match!
Dean Ambrose comes out as the rest of the roster surrounds the ring.
BACKLASH IS BACK! Smackdown only PPVs start in September.
Smackdown has a new set and the blue ropes are back. Did Mauro just say "lit?"
We kick off with our GM and Commissioner! Daniel Bryan says this isn't about him and Shane, it's about the superstars getting opportunity and the fans. Smackdown has a new theme song.
Smackdown Live airs tonight at 8 Eastern on the USA Network! Join me here at VAVEL USA for Live Coverage and results for the show!
As we stand at this moment, there is no set N1C for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that is held by Dean Ambrose. AJ Styles and Bray Wyatt are the only one's that seem to have the opportunity to be involved, but AJ will likely still be wrapped up with Cena. Perhaps is that why Bray Wyatt just defeated Xavier Woods at WWE Battleground? Will Wyatt finally get that monster push we've wanted him to get for a long while?
As previously discussed, debut's seem set. We will likely see the Smackdown debut of Mojo Rawley, Alexa Bliss, and American Alpha. Jason Jordan has money written all over him, and so does Chad Gable. Alpha's matches with the Revival were an instant classic and if this is your first time watching them then you're in for a treat. However, if you can't have fun, then Mojo isn't the gimmick for you. It'll be interesting to see who they go against? Maybe a specific One Man Rock Band, BAYBAY? Local enhancement like this past Raw with Nia and Braun Strowman?
Where will Heath Slater play into Raw and Smackdown? Can he jump shows?
What about the possibility of a return? Curt Hawkins, Shelton Benjamin, MVP, and Rhyno have been rumored for weeks. What better way to make Smackdown important again than to bring back Shelton Benjamin?
One of the big shockers of the draft is that Smackdown got arguably the two biggest stars of this era, both Randy Orton, and John Cena. These are two wrestlers who have been on Raw for a majority of their career as it's WWE's Flagship. Cena will likely either continue his feud with "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, or his pinfall victory Sunday over Styles in the six man tag will send AJ into the title picture, leaving nothing for Cena. Though it will not happen, Cena turning heel could easily top Raw. The decision to put Orton on Smackdown confuses me as Brock Lesnar went to Raw. Orton v Lesnar is booked for Summerslam already, so how do they book the feud? Can Paul Heyman jump between brands, if he decides to re-sign? We will have to wait and see.
One of the more intriguing things about Smackdown is the tag and women's division; or lack thereof. Considering that Raw drafted both the WWE Tag Team Champions the New Day, former AND current Women's Champion(s) Charlotte and Sasha Banks, it leaves Smackdown in a hole. Raw also has the United States Championship, Cruiserweight Championship, and Universal Championship, leaving Smackdown with just the IC and WWE World Heavyweight. But, with one of the best tag teams on the planet, the American Alpha who will likely debut tonight, Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder (The Hype Bros), former tag team champions the Usos, and recently called up Vaudevillians, what are they fighting for? Who gets to destroy the Ascension in a job match? It just...does not fit. Alexa Bliss, Eva Marie, Carmella, Becky Lynch, Natalya, and when she returns, Naomi, are the only women's wrestlers on Smackdown whilst they're pushing this "Diva's Revolution." What are they fighting for? Why is it so weak on both ends? SmackDown overall just feels like the lesser of the two shows, and with Raw being as good as it was, did not help that at all.
On a Raw where Sasha Banks defeated Charlotte for the WWE Women's Championship, Finn Balor defeated Roman Reigns' and will meet Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship (which is by far the stupidest name for a title), Neville returned to action and Nia Jax made her in-ring debut, we saw one of the best Raw's in a long, long time last night. However, probably the most notable difference is the difference in the set. With the WWE pushing a new era, they obviously wanted to shake it up. Raw went back to the red ropes, got a new set and a completely new makeover. Much like Raw, it is expected that Smackdown will get a brand new theme song, which is much needed. Will Smackdown get the blue ropes it was known for dating back to 1999? What will the new set look like if there is one?
Welcome to VAVEL'S LIVE for the first Smackdown Live following last week's WWE Draft. Following an epic Raw, it'll be extremely interesting to see how Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon try to top it. Will we see the debut of The American Alpha? Possibly a return? Who will be Dean Ambrose's opponent at Summerslam?