WWE SmackDown Live Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for August 8
By Josh Raibick
Credit: WWE.com
U.S. Championship Face Off
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Shane McMahon who we found out last week will be the special guest referee in the U.S. Championship match at SummerSlam entered the ring first. Shane O’Mac introduced Kevin Owens first, then followed by AJ Styles.
References to Shane McMahon’s past discrepancies as a referee were brought to the forefront at the start of the segment. Threats were made by all three men regarding the match at SummerSlam.
Once tempers became heated, Kevin Owens took advantage by sucker punching Styles. In retaliation Styles attempted a Pele Kick, but instead hit McMahon.
This was an absolutely great segment. WWE seemed to have moved on from the Styles vs. McMahon rivalry in recent months, until Owens played a clip dating back to March, of Styles attacking McMahon.
The clip that grabbed my attention was the one from the ’98 Survivor Series, where Shane McMahon screwed Stone Cold Steve Austin. Rarely are direct references made to the Attitude Era during the PG Era, and man it was refreshing to see.
As cliche as the missed attack to create chaos is, it was necessary. I like that there are many possibilities for these three men at the biggest show of the summer.