WWE SmackDown Live: Results, Analysis, and Grades for Aug. 22

Smackdown Live. Photo by WWE.com

Though the Raw main event from SummerSlam is sure to dominate the headlines, SmackDown Live quietly had a great showing at the biggest party of the summer.

Leading into tonight, it seems like there are more questions asked than answered following SummerSlam. At the biggest party of the summer, we saw some extremely surprising titles change hands. Just as surprising is what didn’t happen Sunday night.

On the pre-show, the Usos picked up the victory and the titles from The New Day, in a match that was much better suited for the main card. In the SmackDown Women’s Championship match, Natalya pulled off a surprising win over Naomi. Natalya seemed like a place holder feud at worst, and someone for Carmella to cash-in on at best. She was neither that night. Baron Corbin’s downward spiral continued, as he lost to Cena in the opening match. Shane McMahon couldn’t seem to get out of the way in the United States Championship match.And, after beating John Cena a week ago, clean, Nakamura seemed like the favorite going into SmackDown main event at SummerSlam. But even the artist couldn’t content with the WWE’s most effective finisher — Singh Brothers’ interference.

Will Ms. Money in the bank cash in tonight? Will Shane have to answer for his less than impressive performance as referee? Does Nakamura deserve a rematch? How could Sami Zayn be left out of SummerSlam? Does Luke Harper even wrestle for the blue brand anymore?  And is SmackDown Live about to get a little more glorious?

Let’s review the August, 22 edition of SmackDown Live!

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The United States Champion Re-institutes the Open Challenge

AJ Styles opens the show up by reminding everyone in the arena that SmackDown is the house that AJ Styles built. And, as the reigning United States Champion, he reinstitutes the open challenge. And who is to answer the call? Why, it’s none other than a visual distraught Kevin Owens.

Owens says that history repeated itself, and that a McMahon once again screwed over a Canadian superstar. Of course, referring to the Montreal Screwjob. He then challenges AJ Styles to another match, but Shane McMahon interrupts.

Shane says the match was called down the middle and that he wasn’t going to let Owens answer the challenge. KO replayed footage of Shane hitting the 3 count, even though AJ’s foot was on the ropes, and wondered why that decision didn’t stand. Week’s earlier, he reminded us, the ref’s decision stood despite the fact his shoulder was “10 feet off the ground.”

AJ Styles calls KO a whiny little “b****”, and grants him the match. Shane adds the stipulation that if KO loses, he can’t challenge for the US title so long as Styles holds it. KO makes a stipulation of his own, and gets to name the ref. And the main event is set.

What an incredible way to open the show. These 3 guys are excellent on the mic, and all have a legitimate motivation for their actions. It was a tone setter for the night’s episode.

Daniel Bryan Requests to Meet with Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers

Jinder Mahal presumptuously enters Bryan’s expecting to be praised. After all he made the WWE Championship an international story! He claims he’s a hero to his people.

Daniel Bryan doesn’t see it that way. He thinks that heroes don’t need to take short cuts and believes that Shinsuke Nakamura deserves retribution for SummerSlam…against the Singh Brothers.

KO Seeks Out Sami Zayn in the Back

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens’s history is well documented. And despite the fact that they have been fighting against each other, Zayn is the only one Owens can trust. KO asks Zayn to consider being the ref for that night.

This segment hit me right in the feels. I love Sami Zayn and KO and their ride together to the WWE. It felt like they were teasing a reunion of sorts when, KO said we need to stop fighting one another. While Zayn for his part began reminiscing on all of their history.

Not only that, Zayn has been woefully underutilized to see him anywhere near the action is exciting.

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Bobby Roode vs Aiden English

Result: Roode def. English via Glorious DDT

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Ever since his loss on NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III it was speculated that Roode would make his long-awaited debut on the main roster. With the spotlight squarely on Aiden English, who was doing his usual singing routine to a chorus of boos, Roode’s music hit.

The match itself was actually much more entertaining than I could have imagined. In fact, it lasted through an entire commercial break. Though it was mostly a one-sided affair, English was able to land some decent offense. Hell, he even hit Roode with the Director’s Cut (which is his finisher), though Roode kicked out. Roode eventually regained control and hit the Glorious DDT. Side note, I love Impaler DDTs. They have been my favorite finisher since I saw Gangrel do it.

In a post match interview with Karen…err, Renee Young, Roode congratulates Daniel Bryan for bringing the hottest free agent in sports entertainment! He says he plans to make SmackDown Live GLORIOUS!

Gable’s Future Now Clear

Bryan invites Chad Gable and apologizes for trading Jordan to Raw. Gable responds that he is only interested in his future now. Bryan agrees and says that’s why he has found Gable a new partner, Shelton Benjamin.

This segment was very cute, Gable was acting like a star struck little kid who finally met his hero. If this is the angle (pun intended) they intend to go with this team, it could be very entertaining.

Bryan informs the two that next week they will tag together for the first time. Benjamin thanks Bryan while Gable hurries to go prepare.

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KO Struggles to Find a Referee

Owens meets with Zayn once again in the back and offers Sami the ref shirt. Zayn said he had thought about KO’s offer, and the more he thought about it the more he thought about all the pain that KO has inflicted on him over the years. He says KO does need help, but it’s not going to be from him. Zayn tosses the shirt back in KO’s face.

Hype Bros. vs The Usos

Result: Usos def. Hype Bros. via Super Kick

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Once upon a time, the Hype Bros were number one contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. But on that same night Ryder blew out his knee and the division moved on without them. Nine months later, the Hype Bros are still trying to find their way and the happened to wander into the reigning tag champs.

Despite the obvious outcome it was still very exciting. Mojo Rawley, the winner of the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, is starting to grow on me and Ryder is just a feel good wrestler I want to see succeed. The match was anything but a squash, as it actually looked like the Usos would pick up the victory. Ultimately, Ryder ate the pin on a superkick.

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Shinsuke Nakamura vs The Singh Brothers

Result: Nakamura def. The Singh Brothers via Triangle Armbar

Rating: Squash

Normally, I hate squash matches. They don’t serve any real purpose and don’t make anyone look good. This one, however, was excellent. The match itself was extremely one-sided, with the Singh Brothers only ever getting any real offense when Nakamura was engaging with Jinder Mahal at ringside. But easily regained control.

The best part of this match was the fact The Singh Brothers (who were in the CWC and NXT as the Bollywood Boys) didn’t even come out in wrestling gear. They wore their khakis and button-up shirts and still introduced Mahal as if he was in a match.

After the match, Jinder entered the ring and paid for it with a Kinshasa. Though he gained retribution for SummerSlam, it looks like Nakamura’s feud was over.

KO Continues to Find Referee

As Owens is walking backstage, he is beckoned over by Breezango, who offer to be the referees for the main event. Their qualifications are that they are smart, savvy, and damn sexy zebras. Owens is furious, until Corbin arrives and offers to help, under one condition. If KO wins Corbin gets the next shot at the championship. KO corrects him…When.

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Naomi & Becky Lynch vs. Carmella & Natalya

Result: Naomi pins Carmella via Springboard Moonsault

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Before the bell the new SmackDown Women’s Champion is introduced. She reminds everyone that she is the best there is, the best there was….ect. Carmella interrupts and reminds Nattie, that she let her have her moment, but it’s on borrowed time. Ellsworth then, accidently, gives away Carmella’s potential cash-in.

It seems like now that Ms. Money in the Bank is finally going to stand center stage. Maybe it was too much to ask of WWE creative to handle both Money in the Bank winners equally, but that dream is dead. The saving grace is that Carmella (along with James Ellsworth) are excellent but annoying heels.

The drama in the ring is great, with Carmella refusing to tag in so that Nattie is essentially in a handicap match. Though the champion initially holds her own, she becomes overwhelmed by the offense.

As the match progresses, at ringside it looks like Carmella is going to cash-in before she is tagged into the match without realizing it. While arguing she takes a Bexploder and Naomi’s Springboard Moonsault.

Domino’s Commercial

I would be remiss if I didn’t include this little gem in my review.

Ziggler’s Backstage Promo

After seemingly months absent, Dolph Ziggler returns to SmackDown Live and mocks that fact it’s in a brief backstage interview. He wonder how the company and the crowd would react if he started singing, or wore expensive robes, had laser shows, or female escorts who glowed in the dark. Then he says, that’s exactly what he is going to do next week.

I’ve seen speculation that Ziggler is actually really into stand-up comedy so I can’t help but wonder if that’s his new schtick. I’d love to see how that works, cause honestly, I don’t think it will.

Backstage with Tamina and Lana

Tamina is anxious to start climbing the ladder to a women’s championship. Lana tells her that a match is scheduled for next week, but for now, Tamina must learn how to channel her inner anger.

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Baron Corbin and AJ Styles Backstage

Like a man truly out for his own self-interest, Corbin approaches AJ Styles regarding the arrangement that he made with Kevin Owens if Owens were to win. AJ Styles said that when he wins all Corbin has to do for a shot is answer the challenge.

WWE United States Championship Match
AJ Styles (C) vs. Kevin Owens

Result: AJ Styles def. Kevin Owens via Phenomenal Forearm

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

Before the match Corbin comes out with a referee shirt with the sleeves cut off…of course. Once the bell rings the match is fairly called by Corbin. Each superstar is able to get their offense in as needed.

It isn’t until about halfway through the match, where things take a turn for the worse for the champion. With the calf crusher locked in, Corbin calls off the hold claiming KO grazed the ropes. While in a heated discussion with Corbin, a frustrated Styles is pushed into the Lone Wolf by KO. Corbin pushed Styles back, and KO goes for the schoolboy roll-up. Corbin goes with a fast count and nearly lands a 3 before Styles kicks out. After another argument, roll up, fast count, kick out series Shane McMahon rushes to the ring and tells Corbin to call it down the middle.

While distracted KO goes for a low blow. Corbin turns around and goes for the 1-2-3 before Shane pulls Corbin from the ring. After some words Corbin throws the shirt at Shane and leaves. Shane dawns the shirt to become the referee. A distraught KO is hit with a Phenomenal Forearm and loses any hope of challenging for the United States Championship again.

This was a great blowoff match, which also leads to Kevin Owens’ growing paranoia that the WWE is trying to screw him out of title opportunities. Eventually, it looks like it will lead to KO vs Shane McMahon at some PPV, while AJ Styles continues the open challenge.

Next: The 5 Best Matches at SummerSlam

This episode may be in the top 3 best SmackDown Lives since the brand split. It’s most definitely the best one since the Superstar Shakeup. With exciting matches, great debuts, and some fresh faces in-ring, SmackDown seems to have course corrected after SummerSlam. Next week looks to be just as exciting with Shelton Benjamin’s in-ring debut with Chad Gable, Dolph Ziggler, and Tamina as well.