Tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live opens up with a video package looking at Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch’s Match at The Hell In A Cell PPV Event from this past Sunday. We see Becky Lynch’s celebration after she wins The SmackDown Women’s Title, and then declining Charlotte’s Flair hand shake. Commentary then hypes up Becky Lynch’s Championship Coronation for later on tonight.
We are live from The BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma as Tom Phillips welcomes us to tonight’s show. He is joined by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.
The Miz is already in the ring to kick off tonight’s show with another must-see episode of MizTV. He does his usual introductory spiel and says that MizTV is all about breaking news and he has big news for us. He gestures to the tron and a graphic for his #1 Contender’s Match for The WWE Championship against Daniel Bryan at Super Show-Down appears. He talks about how he’s superior to Bryan and gives his last two victories as proof before saying that he will do it again in Australia and go on to wrestle AJ Styles or Samoa Joe for The WWE Championship.
But that’s in three weeks, and tonight he has a very special guest. The Miz then says that he had to move heaven and earth to get his guest here. His guest rarely appears on SmackDown, but when they do, they make headlines, and he introduces… his wife, Maryse. They kiss a few times and thank each other for being here. The A-Lister then puts her over at length and asks how difficult it was to beat Brie Bella.
She does the “Really?” gimmick and says that it was the easiest thing she has done in her life. Maryse then says that she is a way better athlete and Bella didn’t stand a chance against her. Maryse then says that motherhood can really change you and she felt Brie’s heart wasn’t in it, to which The Miz says that he thinks her heart isn’t in her relationship with Daniel Bryan anymore. They raise the idea that she thought she was hitching her wagon to a rising star and trying to be relevant by riding his coattails.
A marriage of convenience, The Miz says, and it backfired when they faced a real couple with real love and real talent and now that Maryse has proved that she hasn’t lost a step, what’s next? Maryse then says that she has some breaking news, and that is that tonight, for now, is her last night on SmackDown. The Miz puts her over again, saying that she is leaving to go back and be mother of the century, and she’s a role model to women everywhere.
The Miz then talks about how quickly she recovered from giving birth and suggests that the women in the crowd gave birth 30-40 years ago and still haven’t recovered. The Miz goes back and forth with the crowd over them booing Maryse and he says that he will destroy Daniel Bryan right here and right now to show them. He calls Daniel Bryan out.
Daniel Bryan’s music hits and he makes his way out. He starts by saying that The Miz can talk about him as much as he wants, but talk about his wife and this is what you get. Daniel Bryan hits the ring, tackles The Miz and pummels on him, and then he dropkicks The Miz and The Miz bumps into Maryse. Maryse sells the shot as Bryan looks upset. Senior Official Charles Robinson calls for some help from the back, and a stretcher comes out for Maryse.
Bryan apologizes to Maryse while The Miz storms off around the ring. It now appears that Maryse was faking it, and The Miz goes to attack Bryan from behind. Bryan fights him off, and The Miz runs the ropes. Bryan dodges a shot from The Miz, and The Miz bumps into Maryse on the apron and sends her flying down. While The Miz looks down at his wife in shock, Bryan clotheslines The Miz outside, and then leads the crowd in a Yes chant. The Miz and Maryse hobble up the ramp as Bryan stands in the ring to celebrate with the crowd.
Commentary hypes up Becky Lynch’s Championship Coronation again and we cut backstage where The New Day are on safari. They encounter a wild crew member and we go to a commercial break on a promo reel for tonight’s episode of Mixed Match Challenge.
Back from the commercial break and Daniel Bryan is walking backstage when he rolls into an interview.
He starts by saying that if The Miz calls him out, he’s up to something, because we all know that The Miz is a coward. So, The Miz calling him out, he knew something disgusting was gonna happen, but he didn’t realize that The A-Lister would stoop as low to stage an injury with his wife, but in Australia it’s not gonna work, because it’s gonna be mano y mano and he’s not just gonna punch him in the face, he’s gonna punch his ticket to an opportunity at The WWE Champion.
Kofi Kingston cuts a promo during The New Day’s entrance about how they proved at Hell in a Cell that they’re the only day in WWE. Xavier Woods then says that next on the menu they’re defending their titles against The Bar in Australia, and Big E interrupts with a huge “Crikey, mate!”, which gets criticism of his accent as “absolutely terrible” and “a little offensive”, but Big E says that The Iiconics said it was cool, so it’s cool.
Big E gets in the ring and says that we have The Celtic Warrius and The Superior Mannus, and you can tell that Cesaro is the dominant one because of his enormous areolas. Cesaro fires back by saying that this is The New Day in their natural habitat, dressed like clowns and recycling old, unfunny jokes, and Sheamus says that that is because they are a joke, so The Bar are happy to take the titles off them and elevate the division.
We go to a commercial break before the opening bell can ring.
Back from the commercial break and the match is underway.
Cesaro vs. Kofi Kingston: The opening bell sounds and Cesaro starts off strong, and he tries to keep Kofi grounded with a half Boston crab. Kofi fights up and rolls up Cesaro for a couple of 2 counts. Cesaro comes back with an uppercut for a two count of his own. Cesaro starts working over the left leg of Kofi now. Kofi fires back with strikes and then climbs up top. Cesaro knocks Kofi down on the turnbuckle with a dropkick. Cesaro goes up to Kofi, but Kofi fights him off and hits a tornado DDT For a two count. Kofi knocks Cesaro outside and hits a springboard dive on him down at ringside. Back in the ring, Kofi hits the SOS for a two count. Cesaro comes back and kicks out Kofi’s knee a couple of times then hits the Neutralizer for a three count. Winner: Cesaro
After the match, Big E and Woods help Kofi out of the ring while The Bar celebrates.
We head backstage where Rusev and Lana are talking about Rusev Day when Aiden English rolls up.
English says that he knows Hell in a Cell was a tough loss for them, but tonight he’s got a good feeling about Rusev’s chances. Rusev agrees because Aiden won’t be in the match, and English says that he was doing his best. Rusev then says that if that was his best, it wasn’t good enough, and he and Lana walk off. Aiden accosts a random crew member asking if Rusev is serious, claiming that he is the key to Rusev day and everything is Lana’s fault if anything. English then says that if she was more of a manager and less of a wife. The crew member points behind English and Lana is standing there. Aiden begs off. Lana says that she is gonna tell Rusev, and he chases after her to try and mitigate the damage.
Commentary hypes up Rusev’s United States Title Match against Shinsuke Nakamura as well as AJ Styles’ Non-Title Match against Andrade “Cien” Almas and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and commentary are going about their business when they are informed of Randy Orton causing a commotion in the commentary truck. They toss to a camera in the truck and Orton puts his hands on the shoulder of the tech guy and demands he get his footage pulled up faster on threat of violence. Orton says that he wants to see the moment he jammed the screwdriver through Jeff Hardy’s gauge hole, and when the guy gets it cued up he complains that Randy is hurting him, so of course The Viper squeezes harder and grabs the guy’s jaw.
Orton moves to the next picture and asks the dude how he feels. Orton then asks the dude if he is disturbed, and the guy answers in the affirmative. Orton then says that the really disturbing thing is all of this that he has done to Hardy pales in comparison to what he will do to his next victim.
Commentary then recaps the controversial finish to The AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe Match from this past Sunday and we go backstage where AJ Styles is being interviewed.
Styles starts by saying that after everything that Joe put he and his family through, the worst thing that could have happened is if Samoa Joe had walked out as champ. Styles then says that sometimes lady luck smiles on you, and he’s still champion. Styles then says that maybe Joe got screwed, maybe it was karma, but they’ll do it one more time in Australia, anything goes, there must be a winner, but he’s getting ahead of himself. Styles then says that he’s got Almas tonight and he has to focus on him, because Andrade took him to the limit last time they met, and he needs to get his brain straight in order to pick up the W later.
Shinsuke Nakamura makes his entrance and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and commentary hypes up WWE Crown Jewel.
We head backstage where we see that Rusev is walking and suddenly Lana rolls up to tell him something. Aiden English is right behind her. Rusev says that she can wait because he is focused on winning The WWE United States Title, and he invites English to sing his entrance like always. Lana again insists on telling him but again Rusev waves her off. English makes his way out and does a grand introduction for Rusev, taunting Nakamura. Rusev makes his way out with Lana and English right behind him.
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Rusev: The WWE United States Title is on the line in this one. The opening bell sounds and Rusev and Nakamura trade kicks early on. They lock up and wrestle down to the mat, trading holds. Rusev hits a suplex for a two count, and then The Champion rolls out to ringside for a breather. Back in the ring, Nakamura starts to fight back and he applies a front face lock. We see Aiden and Lana appearing to argue at ringside. Aiden grabs a mic and starts a Rusev Day chant. Rusev overpowers Nakamura now and slams him down. Rusev hits a big boot and then some right hands. Nakamura comes back with a knee to the body, but Rusev shuts him down with a knee of his own. Rusev boots him and hits some clotheslines, and then another kick. Rusev hits a splash in the corner and then a spinning heel kick. Rusev looks for the big boot, but Nakamura dodges it. Rusev dodges a couple of kicks from Nakamura, and then Rusev connects with a kick to the head of The Champion for a two count. Rusev misses a shot in the corner and Nakamura hits a series of kicks and stomps. Nakamura misses a running knee in the corner, and then they fight out to the apron. Nakamura hits a cheap shot to the eyes that the referee doesn’t see, and then Nakamura knees the challenger in the face. Nakamura throws Rusev in to the fan barricade, and then back in the ring. Nakamura looks for the Kinshasa, but Rusev stops him with a big boot out of nowhere. Aiden gets on the apron with a mic and yells “Rusev Crush,” which seems to confuse Rusev. Nakamura takes advantage of the distraction to roll up Rusev from behind for the three count. Winner & Still The WWE United States Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura
After the match, Nakamura leaves with his title as the music hits. Lana checks on Rusev in the middle of the ring and he’s not happy. English snaps and decks Rusev with the mic. English unloads on Rusev as fans boo. Lana looks on and she’s upset. English sings, “Happy Rusev Day!” before dropping the mic. Lana screams at him to leave and he does. She checks on Rusev again as English backs up the ramp to boos.
Commentary hypes up Becky Lynch’s Championship Coronation once again as well as The AJ Styles vs. Cien Almas Match and we go to a commercial break on an ad for WWE 2K19.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for the entrances of the next match.
WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (Non-Title Match): Before the bell, Almas attacks AJ from behind and repeatedly stomps on his head. AJ gets to his feet and tells the referee to call for the bell. The bell sounds and Almas immediately goes back to work on AJ and then drops him with a kick to the face. Almas follows up with a backbreaker for a pin attempt. Almas looks for another backbreaker, but AJ reverses it into a DDT, and both men are down. They get to their feet and trade strikes until Almas stuns him with a back elbow to the face. Zelina slaps AJ across the face from ringside while the referee isn’t looking. Almas picks up AJ, but AJ fights him off and hits the fireman’s carry neckbreaker. AJ hits a leaping clothesline in the corner, and then a running forearm shot to the face. AJ kicks up and grabs Almas for a Styles Clash. Almas reverses it into a back body drop, and then Almas goes up top. Almas looks for a moonsault, but AJ puts his knees up to block it. AJ elbows Almas in the face and then looks for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Almas punches him out of mid-air and ties AJ up in the ropes. Almas stomps AJ down to the apron while AJ is tied up in the ropes, and both men are down outside the ring now. They get back on the apron, but Almas boots AJ back down to the floor, and AJ is hurt. AJ fights back with some strikes on the floor and then he throws Almas back in the ring. AJ hops up on the apron and hits the Phenomenal Forearm for a two count. AJ goes for the Styles Clash, but Almas grabs the ropes to escape. Almas drops AJ’s neck across the top rope, and then Almas hits a springboard missile dropkick off the top rope. Almas follows up with the running knee strike in the corner for a two count. AJ goes to roll up Almas, but AJ then changes direction and hits the Styles Clash out of nowhere. AJ covers for the three count. Winner: WWE Champion AJ Styles
After the match, AJ stands tall with the title as his music hits. Samoa Joe rushes the ring out of nowhere and attacks AJ, taking it to the outside. Joe screams about AJ knowing the truth and how he will never be safe. Joe tries to send AJ into the steel steps but AJ fights back. Joe retreats through the crowd as AJ regains his composure at ringside. Joe limps through the crowd as AJ returns to the ring for a pop. AJ poses with the title as his music starts back up. The announcers plug their match at Super Show-Down.
We head backstage to Asuka and Naomi getting ready to head to the ring as we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for The IIconics to cut a promo.
They talk about how gross the place is and also how gross Asuka and Naomi are. They mock Asuka’s hair and their dancing ability and get cut off by our babyface entrances.
Asuka vs. Billie Kay: Naomi and Peyton Royce are at ringside for this one. The opening bell sounds and a distraction from ringside leads to Billie dropping Asuka with some kicks. She hits a big boot to the face of Asuka for a two count. She goes to pick up Asuka, but Asuka latches on to her and applies the Asuka Lock for the win after a short match. Winner: Asuka
After the match, Naomi joins Asuka in the ring as The IIconics leave.
Commentary takes a moment to send thoughts and prayer to the victims of Hurricane Florence and encourage people to donate to the Red Cross to fund the relief effort and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we get a house ad for the new season of Total Divas.
Live in the ring, SmackDown General Manager Paige introduces Becky Lynch.
Paige congratulates the new champion and officially presents Lynch with the title belt. Lynch says that it’s nice, and it took two long years but she’s finally back where she belongs. Lynch then says that this is her show, and her title, and there will be no more being left off of posters, magazine covers, and morning talk shows, from now on she’s getting what she deserves. She thanks Paige for her treatment here, saying that she doesn’t need balloons or the whole division out, she just needs one woman.
Becky goads Charlotte Flair into making her entrance, and Paige warns them that they are not doing this tonight. Flair says that she’s not here to fight and Paige takes her at her word and leaves. Charlotte then says that she is not here to steal the spotlight, she’s just here to give Lynch the respect she refused to give her at SummerSlam. Flair then says that Lynch won fair and square and she wants to look her in the eye and tell Becky she was the better woman on Sunday.
But she paid a steep price to regain the title and threw away a lot more than a friendship. Flair then says that she hopes Lynch soaks it in, because Flair can’t wait to get her rematch in front of 60,000 at Super Show-Down, because it might have taken two years to get the title back but she can lose it in one night. Lynch then says that she stopped listening at “better woman” and Flair said that all these things about Becky being second best but the title says otherwise.
Lynch then says that on Sunday she didn’t let Flair raise her hand because it would be stealing her spotlight at her greatest moment, but tonight she may touch the champ and raise her hand. Charlotte refuses, and Lynch says that that is okay, she doesn’t want her hand raised anyway, she wants the title put around her waist. Flair then says that she came out here to show her respect, yes, but she also wished there was a little bit of her best friend left in whatever she has become, so congratulations, champ.
Becky then says that she is kidding, she didn’t want Flair to raise her arm or put the title on her, she just wants Flair to call her queen. Flair turns to walk out of the ring and Becky calls her a b—h. Flair turns back and attacks Becky. They go to the floor and Becky slams Flair into the steel ring steps. Becky tosses Flair over the announce table. Fans chant Becky’s name now. Becky tosses Flair around some more and brings her back into the ring. Becky applies the Dis-Arm-Her in the middle of the ring and breaks it. Becky grabs the title and raises it in the air as most fans cheer her. Becky grabs Flair and hits her with a Bexploder suplex in the middle of the ring. Becky grabs the title again and leaves while Flair recovers on the mat. Becky stands on the stage and raises the title as her music hits while Flair looks on. We go to replays. SmackDown goes off the air with Becky staring back at Flair in the ring.