WWE SmackDown Live
Episode 936
#SDLive
Original Air Date: July 25, 2017
Event Date: July 25, 2017 (aired live)
City: Richmond, VA
Venue: The Coliseum
Commentary: Tom Phillips, JBL, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Ring Area
The new United States Champion, Kevin Owens, heads to the ring. He is proud of himself for taking back his title from “that thief” AJ Styles. He wants to get back to defending his title in the manner it deserves, so he reinstates the US Open Challenge. Starting next week. AJ Styles then heads to the ring.
Styles wants his rematch for the US Title. Owens refuses. He’s not defending his title against anyone tonight. Chris Jericho then returns to SmackDown and heads to the ring.
Jericho is all healed up from his injury, and he wants his rematch for the US Title. Styles wants Jericho to slow down. Things have changed since Jericho has been away. Styles is at the front of the line right now. Jericho lets Styles know what happens to people who cut in line. Kevin Owens tries to walk away, but Shane McMahon comes out before he can leave.
Shane acknowledges that both Styles and Jericho deserve title rematches. He decides to give them both a title match at the same time and sets up a triple threat title US Title match for tonight’s main event.
Match 1
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Baron Corbin
(referee: Dan Engler)
Result: Shinsuke Nakamura wins via pinfall after Kinshasa
Time: 6:06 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was a straight-forward bout with plenty of nice strikes. Nakamura picked up the aggression towards the end of the match, even avoiding the same low blow that ended their match at Battleground and making Corbin pay for it. I’m not always a fan of the rematch right after a PPV match, but I think this was a good one. It provides a decent conclusion and allows both guys to move on to new things if they want to.
Backstage
Dasha Fuentes welcomes Naomi. Naomi respects Natalya, but she won’t let Natalya disrespect her. Natalya walks up and says that Naomi has no respect for the SD Women’s title. Natalya is going to take the title and give it the respect it deserves. Naomi says she respects tradition, but she’s also looking towards the future.
Carmella walks up and reminds Naomi that her and her MitB contract are also looking towards the future.
Match 2
Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch vs Lana & Tamina
(referee: Mike Chioda)
Result: Charlotte pins Lana after a big boot
Time: 4:27
Match Thoughts
A pretty good match. This seemed to be all about Lana’s attitude. She tried to use Tamina to her advantage, tagging herself in when she thought Tamina had things under control in the ring, but Lana was still outmatched. Tamina was not happy with Lana after the match.
Video
A package replay of the Punjabi Prison match from Battleground, including the return of The Great Khali.
Ring Area
Jinder Mahal heads to the ring. Mahal says he crushed the legend of the Legend Killer at Battleground. He claims that he will remain WWE Champ for as long as he desires, and he demands to know his opponent for Summer Slam. Then he starts to speak in Punjabi.
As Mahal speaks, John Cena interrupts and heads to the ring. Mahal cuts off Cena before he can talk and says what he thinks Cena is going to say. Instead, Cena congratulates Mahal. He respects that Mahal is in the best shape of his life and that the WWE Title means so much to Mahal that he’ll do whatever he can to keep it. Cena also warns Mahal that he’ll be facing “Super Cena” at Summer Slam, and whatever Mahal does won’t be enough to keep the title.
Cena’s music plays and he leaves the ring, but Daniel Bryan comes out before Cena can leave the ring area. Bryan reminds Cena that he doesn’t make matches on SmackDown and opportunities are earned on this show. Therefore, Cena will have to face Shinsuke Nakamura to decide who will face Mahal at Summer Slam.
Backstage
Kevin Owens does not like Shane McMahon, and he accuses Shane of of forcing him to defend his title tonight because Shane doesn’t like Owens either. It’s not right, nor is it fair. Shane reminds Owens that both Styles and Jericho deserve a rematch. Shane also wants to give the SmackDown audience the best possible matches. Owens doesn’t care about the audience, and he doesn’t care about Shane.
Ring Area
In the ring, Aiden English sings about hitting like a rock and being joined by the power of love.
Match 3
Aiden English & Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis vs Sami Zayn & Tye Dillinger
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Sami Zayn pins Mike Kanellis after a Helluva Kick
Time: 3:04 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
This was a very quick match and rather one-sided. It was fine, there just wasn’t much to it. This felt like a bit of a throwaway match, especially since it didn’t really make any significant deviations from what happened at Battleground between these same guys.
Ring Area
New Day gets ready to head to the ring, but The Usos attack them in the back while Big E is doing their introduction. The battle spills out onto the stage where The Usos run Kofi face first into the LED boards. Big E tries to fight back, but The Usos easily take him down.
Backstage
Renee Young asks Shinsuke Nakamura how he feels about facing John Cena. Nakamura says Cena won’t be able to see him next week, so Nakamura will be seeing Jinder Mahal at Summer Slam.
Match 4
Triple Threat US Title Match
Chris Jericho vs AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens (US Champ)
(referee: Ryan Tran)
Result: AJ Styles wins via pinfall on Chris Jericho after a diving frog splash from Kevin Owens on Jericho, AJ Styles becomes the new US Champ
Time: 11:14 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match! I think greatness is expected from these three, and they delivered a super fun and entertaining main event. The combination of the surprise return of Jericho and the well-built feud between all three of these guys individually and together made for a great and memorable moment. The action was fast-paced nearly the entire time. Each wrestler felt like he wanted to win as quickly as possible, and that added a great sense of urgency where it felt like almost any move could end the match.
Ring Area
Kevin Owens gets on the mic and says the match wasn’t fair. He wants another match with AJ Styles next week.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. It felt like they were cleaning up any of the residual stuff from Battleground and clearing the way to build towards Summer Slam. It was definitely a transitional show, but I like where things seem to be headed.
Match of the Night
Jericho vs Styles vs Owens
Easily the best match of the night and one of the better television matches in recent memory.