WWE SmackDown Live Results: July 19, 2016

Detailed Results

The premiere of SmackDown Live kicks off with RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and RAW General Manager Mick Foley at their RAW podium on the stage before SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon and SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan come out to the stage to a huge ovation before taking their spots at the SmackDown podium. Per the rules of the WWE Draft, RAW would get the first overall pick in the Draft and Stephanie McMahon would allow RAW General Manager Mick Foley to make the big announcement, but when Foley starts to speak, Stephanie cuts him off as the RAW Commissioner decides to make the announcement herself as the #1 draft pick for RAW is none other than former WWE Champion and former member of The Authority Seth Rollins!

Then it was SmackDown’s turn to announce their #1 pick and, with SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon giving Daniel Bryan a drumroll, the SmackDown General Manager would announce that their top pick is reigning WWE Champion Dean Ambrose! RAW would then make their second pick in the WWE Draft as RAW General Manager Mick Foley announces that they are drafting Women’s Champion Charlotte to the RAW brand! SmackDown then makes their second draft pick as Shane McMahon announces that “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles will be exclusive to SmackDown Live! RAW then makes their third draft pick and the first of six picks from the NXT roster as former NXT Champion Finn Balor will be competing exclusively on RAW!

Moments after their leader, AJ Styles, was drafted to SmackDown, The Club would be on SmackDown Live as The Club’s Luke Gallows, with AJ Styles & Karl Anderson in his corner, would go one-on-one with John Cena, with Enzo & Cass in his corner, five nights before John Cena, Enzo Amore, & Big Cass face The Club in a 6-Man Tag match at Battleground. During the match, Enzo & Cass and AJ Styles & Karl Anderson would both enter the ring, having a brief face-off before Styles & Anderson charging at Enzo & Cass with Enzo & Cass sending Styles & Anderson to the outside. John Cena then hits the Attitude Adjustment on Luke Gallows in the ring, pinning Gallows for the win as Cena and Enzo & Cass celebrate in the ring, picking up momentum heading into Battleground.

Then it was time for RAW to make their fourth draft pick as RAW General Manager Mick Foley explains to RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon that she will “respect” his opinion and, sometimes, they will have to “agree to disagree” before the GM announces that former WWE Champion Roman Reigns will be exclusive to RAW! SmackDown then makes their third draft pick, announcing that fifteen-time former World Champion John Cena will return to his roots as a SmackDown-exclusive Superstar! RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon then announces their fifth draft pick as “The Beast” will be coming to RAW as Brock Lesnar will be exclusive to Monday nights! SmackDown then fires back with a huge pick as SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan announces that “The Viper” Randy Orton will be SmackDown-exclusive! RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon then announces that their sixth pick is the WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day, who will remain together and will be exclusive to RAW!

Before they square off in their respective title matches at Battleground this Sunday night, the #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Title Darren Young, with Bob Backlund in his corner, would join forces with the #1 Contender for the United States Title Zack Ryder to face Intercontinental Champion The Miz, with Maryse in his corner, and United States Champion Rusev, with Lana in his corner. At the end of a wild match, it was Darren Young utilizing his mentor’s finishing maneuver, the Crossface Chicken Wing, on The Miz, making the Intercontinental Champion tap out to pick up the win for himself and Zack Ryder.

Five nights before the newly drafted WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day face The Wyatt Family in a 6-Man Tag match at Battleground, The New Day’s Xavier Woods, with Big E & Kofi Kingston in his corner, would go one-on-one with the leader of The Wyatt Family Bray Wyatt, with Erick Rowan & Braun Strowman in his corner. In the end, it was Bray Wyatt hitting Xavier Woods with Sister Abigail, pinning Xavier to pick up the win.

Before he faces rival and former friend Sami Zayn this Sunday at Battleground, Kevin Owens was set for action on SmackDown Live against “The Big Red Machine” Kane, but before Owens can even make it to the ring, Sami Zayn rushes out as the Battleground opponents brawl in the entranceway. Owens then enters the ring before catching Sami Zayn with a kick to the face once Zayn enters the ring and, with Kane standing by watching, Owens would continue to pummel Sami. Owens then shoves Sami into Kane before Kane grabs Owens as well, dropping both men with a huge double chokeslam!

Then it was back to the WWE Draft as RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon announces that their seventh pick in the WWE Draft is “The Underdog from the Underground” Sami Zayn! SmackDown then responds to this by making their fifth pick as “The Eater of Worlds” Bray Wyatt will be exclusive to SmackDown! RAW General Manager Mick Foley then announces that “The Boss” Sasha Banks will be exclusive to RAW! SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan then announces their first pick from the Women’s Division as “The Irish Lass Kicker” Becky Lynch will be exclusive to SmackDown! Mick Foley then takes his notes out of a garbage bag before announcing that RAW is drafting six-time former World Champion Chris Jericho to Monday nights!

Before she and a partner of her choosing face Women’s Champion Charlotte and her protégé Dana Brooke at Battleground, “The Boss” Sasha Banks would face both Women’s Champion Charlotte and Dana Brooke in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. Despite an impressive effort, the numbers game would prove to be too much for “The Boss” as Sasha Banks would lock in the Bank Statement on Dana Brooke, but Charlotte would break it up before hitting Sasha with Natural Selection, pinning “The Boss” to pick up the win for the Women’s Champion and her protégé.

Back on the stage, RAW General Manager Mick Foley announces RAW’s tenth draft pick as United States Champion Rusev, along with Lana, will be exclusive to RAW! SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan then reluctantly announces that, since they need the Intercontinental Championship on SmackDown, SmackDown is selecting Intercontinental Champion The Miz, along with Maryse, as their seventh draft pick! RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon then announces that Kevin Owens will be exclusive to the RAW brand! SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon responds by announcing that “The Lone Wolf” Baron Corbin will be exclusive to SmackDown! Mick Foley then announces that Enzo & Cass will be coming to RAW and, upon hearing this news, a visibly frustrated Shane McMahon tears up his notes!

Before he hosts The Highlight Reel with his special guest “The Viper” Randy Orton this Sunday at Battleground, “Y2J” Chris Jericho would go one-on-one with “The Swiss Superman” Cesaro on SmackDown Live. In an excellent match, both men would fire their best shots before Cesaro goes for the springboard uppercut, but Chris Jericho catches Cesaro in mid-air, scoring with the Codebreaker and pinning Cesaro to pick up the win.

Natalya was set for action on SmackDown Live, but Becky Lynch would ambush Natalya on the outside, sparking a brawl between the two Battleground opponents with referees rushing out to try and break up the fight, finally able to pull Becky Lynch off of Natalya.

Then it was time for more draft picks as RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon ensures the breakup of The Club by announcing that RAW is drafting Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson! SmackDown then makes their first draft pick from the NXT roster as SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan announces that former NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha, Chad Gable & Jason Jordan, will be exclusive to SmackDown! RAW General Manager Mick Foley then announces their fourteenth pick as “The World’s Largest Athlete” Big Show will be on RAW. SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon then announces that their tenth pick is “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler before RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon picks the powerhouse Nia Jax from NXT!

The final five televised draft picks are then selected as RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon announces that “The Man That Gravity Forgot” Neville will be exclusive to RAW! SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan then announces that SmackDown’s next draft pick is Natalya. RAW General Manager Mick Foley then announces that “The Swiss Superman” Cesaro will be exclusive to RAW! SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon then announces that former World Champion Alberto Del Rio will be exclusive to the blue brand. Mick Foley then announces the final televised draft pick in the WWE Draft as “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus will be competing exclusively on RAW!

Then it was time for a huge main event as, in a rematch from the controversial WWE Title match on RAW, SmackDown’s Dean Ambrose would defend the WWE Championship against RAW’s Seth Rollins just five nights before both men, along with Roman Reigns, compete in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship at Battleground. However, before the match begins, Seth Rollins would blindside Dean Ambrose as the challenger pummels the WWE Champion, sending Ambrose face-first into the steel ring post on the outside. Despite the beating, Dean Ambrose would insist that the WWE Championship match get started as the bell is rung and the championship rematch gets underway.

Towards the end of a wild match, Seth Rollins would hit a superplex on Dean Ambrose, but before Rollins could follow up, the WWE Champion counters, planting Rollins with Dirty Deeds, pinning Rollins to successfully retain the WWE Championship! SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon and SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan then rush down to the ring, congratulating their #1 Draft pick for SmackDown as SmackDown’s Dean Ambrose will walk into Battleground as the WWE Champion to defend the WWE Championship against RAW’s Seth Rollins and RAW’s Roman Reigns in a Triple Threat Match!

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