WWE SmackDown Results And Grades: Finally Some Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles

Instead of complaining about seeing this match again, I’m going to be happy that we’re seeing two of the best in the world clashing again. This match will likely be brief, because someone like Rusev, who will fight Styles for the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules, or Samoa Joe, who always wants to make his presence felt, could decide to cause a disqualification.

Rusev’s music hit before the match started, and he came out to cut a promo on AJ Styles. And why wouldn’t he? This is a fine Rusev Day to take in a match and inspire fear in the heart of the WWE Champion.

Nakamura immediately goes after Styles when the bell rings, taking advantage of Rusev’s presence, but Styles turns the table with a running dropkick.

Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Nakamura countered by shoving him out of the ring. He then started to throw Styles into the barricade before moving him back into the ring for a cover. After Styles kicked out at one, Nakamura went for another cover, but Styles kicked out at one again.

Rusev was on commentary during the match, and he quickly made enemies with Byron Saxton. The commentary team stated that Styles has been drinking lots of milk to prepare for his title defense, to which Rusev responded that milk is for babies. Rusev told the commentary team not to forget that he is a “super athlete”, as he noted earlier that he was undefeated earlier in his WWE career and once made a WrestleMania entrance in a tank.

Late in the match, Styles and Nakamura were on a roll, hitting counters, big moves, and swift strikes. Rusev asks Byron Saxton if AJ Styles can pick me up, and he insists that AJ absolutely cannot. Just then, Nakamura countered a Styles Clash attempt into a Triangle Choke. Styles finally got out of it by nearly rolling Shinsuke up for a victory.

Styles jumped out of Nakamura’s exploder and used his “Come on!” taunt. When Shinsuke charged at him, Styles threw him out of the ring and then hit a Phenomenal Forearm out of the ring. Aiden English started to talk trash, but Styles punched him in the face. Just as Rusev got up, Nakamura beat up AJ. He tried to hit Styles with a Kinsasha Knee Strike, but Styles moved out of the way, causing English to get hit with Nakamura’s finisher.

It seemed like Styles was poise to bag a win with a Phenomenal Forearm in the ring, but Rusev pulled him off the apron for the DQ. Just as Rusev was closing in on Styles, Jeff Hardy came out to make the save, nailing Rusev and Nakamura with a double dropkick.

Because of the chaos, SmackDown GM Paige came out to stop the fighting. She created a tag match with Hardy and AJ teaming up against Rusev and Nakamura.

Grade: B+, Rusev was insanely entertaining, and the in-ring action between Nakamura and Styles was (once again) quite good.