WWE SmackDown airs live tonight from the TD Garden in Boston, MA. Stephanie McMahon kicked off the show tonight following the news that Vince McMahon has retired from WWE.
WWE SmackDown Results (7/22)
- Ludwig Kaiser def. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Viking Raiders def. Jinder Mahal & Shanky via count out
- Raquel Rodriguez def. Sonya Deville
- Street Profits and Madcap Moss def. The Usos & Theory via DQ
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Stephanie McMahon Kicked Off The Show
Stephanie kicked off the show as the crowd chanted “thank you Vince!”. She noted that Vince wasn’t given the opportunity to thank the fans so this is the WWE Universe’s chance to thank him. She then mouthed “I love you dad” to the camera to end the segment.
Ludwig Kaiser def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Street Profits came to the ring and vowed to win the tag titles at SummerSlam. Money in the Bank winner Theory interrupted and claimed that nobody cares about anything else besides what he is doing at SummerSlam. Theory said he will take the US Title from Lashley and cash in to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion as well. Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Usos joined the party and a brawl broke out. Madcap Moss rushed the ring to help the Street Profits. Moss and Street Profits cleared the ring as SmackDown went to a break.
Shinsuke Nakamura battled Ludwig Kaiser in the first match of the night. Intercontinental Champion Gunther was ringside for the match. Nakamura dominated the action early and booted Ludwig out of the ring. Kaiser tripped Shinsuke up on the apron and launched him into the ring post.
When SmackDown returned, Gunther got on the ring apron for a distracted. Ludwig capitalized with a DDT for the pinfall victory. After the match, Gunther gave Ludwig a pat on the back and then another massive chop. Ludwig fell to the floor as Gunther taunted him.
Rousey & Morgan Promo, Happy Corbin Attacks
SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan had a face-to-face with Ronda Rousey ahead of their title match at WWE SummerSlam. The face-to-face happened backstage and not in the ring. Liv captured the title by winning the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match and then cashing in on Ronda Rousey in the same night. Ronda told Liv that she will beat her on July 30th and expected her to shake her hand at SummerSlam as she did to Liv at Money in the Bank. Liv vowed to win because she loves this more than Ronda does.
Happy Corbin then jumped Pat McAfee once again at the commentary table. Pat chased Corbin backstage and brawled with him until WWE officials broke it up.
Pat McAfee came to the ring and started a “bum ass Corbin!” chant. McAfee vowed to defeat Corbin in their upcoming match at WWE SummerSlam. Viking Raiders then battled Shanky & Jinder Mahal in a tag match. New Day joined commentary and the match ended quickly as Viking Raiders won via count out.
Drew McIntyre Confronted Sheamus
Sheamus, Butch, and Ridge Holland came to the ring for a promo. Sheamus will battle Drew McIntyre at WWE SummerSlam. The winner of that match will go on to get an Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle. The Brawling Brutes were interrupted by Drew McInyre. Drew brought Angela the sword to the ring and Sheamus asked him to put the blade away.
Butch and Ridge hopped out of the ring and McIntyre obliged. McIntyre claimed that Reigns has the titles held hostage and they need a real champion. They need a workhorse and a warrior. McIntyre demanded that they do the #1 contender match tonight in Boston and Sheamus went to make an excuse. Drew told him to grow some balls but Sheamus still declined. The Celtic Warrior said that he spoke with management and the match will happen next week. It will be a “good old fashioned Donnybrook match”. McIntyre then broke Sheamus’ shillelagh with his sword to end the segment.
Raquel Rodriguez Picked Up A Win
Sonya Deville battled Raquel Rodriguez tonight on SmackDown. Sonya shoved Raquel to the corner and hit her with some strikes. Rodriguez laughed them off but Sonya bashed her head off the turnbuckle several times until the referee broke it up. Deville connected with a running knee strike to the face and went for the cover but Rodriguez kicked out at two.
Raquel battled back and planted Sonya with a Fallaway Slam. Rodriguez followed it up with a Splash and went for the cover but Sonya grabbed the bottom rope to break it up at two. Raquel then connected with a Powerbomb for the pinfall victory.
Lacey Evans Hit Aliyah With A Cheap Shot, Maxxine Dupri
Lacey Evans battled Aliyah tonight on SmackDown. Lacey asked the crowd for a better response during her entrance. Evans mocked the crowd and claimed to have accomplished more today than the crowd has all year. Lacey then hit Aliyah with the Woman’s Right and the match never got started.
Maxxiine Dupri will announced that they will debut the beachwear collection next week.
Brock Lesnar Attacked Theory
The Usos & Theory battled Street Profits and Madcap Moss in a 6-man tag team match in tonight’s main event. Angelo Dawkins started off the action and got Jimmy Uso in a Headlock. Jimmy escaped and drove Dawkins to the corner of the ring. Montez tagged in and caught Jimmy with a shoulder tackle. The Street Profits knocked The Usos out of the ring and Madcap Moss sent Theory to the floor as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, The Usos and Theory took control of the match. Jimmy and Jey launched Montez Ford over the barricade and into the timekeeper’s area as SmackDown went to the final commercial break of the night.
Back from the break, Madcap hit a Powerslam on Jimmy for a near fall. Moss set up for a Neckbreaker but Jimmy escaped and caught him with a Superkick for a near fall. Theory got up on the ring apron but hopped down instead of tagging in. Montez Ford flipped onto The Usos outside the ring as Theory got out of the way.
Moss and Theory then got into the ring and started trading punches. Theory hit an elbow to the face and hit him with a Neckbreaker for a near fall. Madcap hit a shoulder tackle and went for another one but Theory got out of the way. Theory then bashed Moss over and over with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Brock Lesnar’s theme then hit and The Beast made his way to the ring. There were reports that he left TD Garden before the show in response to the Vince McMahon news. Brock got a big pop from the crowd as he attacked Theory. Lesnar hit Theory with the MITB briefcase several times and then planted him with the F5 to close the show.