WWE SmackDown Live Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for July 18

Kofi Kingston vs Jimmy Uso

Result: Jimmy Uso wins via pinfall

Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars

In our first official match of the night, Kofi Kingston took on Jimmy Uso ahead of their tag team championship match at Battleground. Last week Xavier Woods was able to defeat Jey Uso and gain momentum for the New Day. Can Kingston continue this trend here tonight?

With their teams by their side to provide support, Kingston and Jimmy wasted little time going at it against one another. Early on in the contest, the action consisted of punches and kicks. At ringside, Xavier Woods played Francesca as a means to get under the skin of the Usos. Eventually, Jimmy managed to take control of the match, slowing the pace and leading the action as we went into a commercial break.

Upon our return, Jimmy was still in firm control of the proceedings. It took it bit of time, but Kofi finally got back into the contest with a flurry of offense. As the brutality made its way to the top rope, Kofi tried to end things with a crossbody. Instead, Jimmy somehow rolled through the move and converted the move into a pin attempt to win the match.

Shifting to the backstage, the five participants of the female number one contender’s match at Battleground were present in Shane McMahon’s office. With the exception of Tamina Snuka, a majority of the women wanted to face Lana on tonight’s episode. Shane put an end to that idea though, because he wants a contest here tonight to be competitive. This leads to Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair trading words, a move that allows Shane to book them in a match.