WWE SmackDown Live Results And Grades For July 24, 2018

Samoa Joe’s Killer Instinct

Samoa Joe is confronted by Paige backstage, because Paige was upset by how he signed his own name on the contract and attacked Styles. But it turns out he was Styles’s opponent for SummerSlam all along. He just decided to show off his unpredictability and “killer instinct” on his own, instead of waiting for Paige to announce things. And that’s how he does it. Brilliant.

Carmella Promo

Carmella confronts Paige for firing James Ellsworth, and she sounds way too confident in her ability to even up the score to 2-2 against Becky Lynch. If she loses to Becky, she will have to face the Lass Kicker for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.

Becky Lynch vs. Carmella

Becky Lynch went for the Dis-Arm-Her early, but Carmella scrambled to the rope early, out of pure desperation. That submission has taken out so many wrestlers, so the Princess of Staten Island knew she was at risk of an early L.

Before the break, ‘Mella wisely avoided a baseball slide outside the ring from Becky, and she dumped her into the barricade.

Carmella countered the Bexploder, too, by pulling Becky to the canvas by the hair. She started pulling Becky’s hair, rubbing her into the canvas and talking trash, “Get up, Becky! Get up!”

After a super-athletic headscissors from the top rope, Carmella started grappling with Becky and tried to steal one by getting ALL UP IN THE ROPES. But Becky somehow kicked out! You just don’t beat Lynch like that! Not this Becky!

‘Mella then dodged a missile dropkick and blasted Becky with a huge kick to the head, but Becky kicked out! And while Carmella was busy complaining, Lynch stayed with it and locked in the Dis-Arm-Her for the win! Becky is going to SummerSlam, James Ellsworth is fired, and Carmella lost to the Lass Kicker! What a show!

Grade: A, this was a legitimately good match. Carmella always wrestles solid matches with Becky, and this was the best one yet. Great story, Carmella put a lot of effort here athletically, Becky was tremendous, and the finish was heart-warming. ‘Mella has no shortage of critics, but this was a good response to some of them.