WWE SmackDown LIVE Results: July 4, 2017By Cassidy| July 5, 2017 WWE SmackDown Previous Page Detailed Results As promised, SmackDown LIVE kicks off with one of the most patriotic Superstars in WWE history as, for the first time since WrestleMania, sixteen-time former World Champion John Cena makes an appearance on SmackDown LIVE. Cena says that he is “fired up” because today is Independence Day, saying that every time he steps in the ring, he wants to compete with “the best”. Cena then says that there are some people out there who say that he’s lost his “edge” and that he’s nothing more than a “part-timing mascot”. Cena continues, saying that he is not a “part-timer”, he is an “all-timer” before saying that he’s a free agent is because, if his time in WWE is limited, then he’s going down in a “blaze of freakin’ glory”! Cena then addresses a group of RAW and SmackDown LIVE Superstars, name-dropping AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, Jinder Mahal, Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns before saying that, if you line each and every one of them up, he will “knock every one of them down”! Cena then says that, in fifteen years, he has never lost the “passion” to compete with the best, saying that the most dangerous man in the world is one with “nothing to lose” and he couldn’t think of a better time because today is Independence Day! This brings out one of John Cena’s longtime rivals as “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev finally arrives on SmackDown LIVE! Rusev says that he works so hard in the ring that he got hurt while Cena was in “Hollywood”. Rusev then says that they ran commercials for two months promoting the return of John Cena and, meanwhile, he was at home rehabbing his shoulder injury and he found himself wondering, “where’s your comeback commercials?” Rusev continues, saying that he sent a video message to Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan but he heard nothing back from them so that is why he is there. Rusev then says that Cena is not going to take any opportunities away from him before saying that the American dream is a “lie” and America is a “joke”. Cena responds by reminding Rusev that they are in the USA, telling Rusev to line up so he can punch him right in the mouth. Rusev says that, on Bulgarian Independence Day, they march and show their “strength” while Americans sit at home and stuff their faces with “cheeseburgers and hot dogs”. Cena says that Americans fought for the “freedom to have a voice” and they are not afraid to fight for what they believe in. Cena then challenges Rusev to face him tonight in a good, old fashioned Flag Match where he and Rusev’s respective flags will be placed in their own corner with the first Superstar to retrieve their country’s flag winning the match. However, Rusev refuses to do the match tonight, saying that they will fight on his “terms” before waving the Bulgarian flag. As Rusev exits, Cena leads a “USA” chant from the Phoenix crowd. The opening match of the night would be a Win And You’re In Match as “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles would go one-on-one with one-half of American Alpha, Chad Gable, with the winner earning a spot in the Independence Day Battle Royal later in the evening. While Chad Gable was able to hold his own with the former WWE Champion, AJ Styles was able to connect with the Phenomenal Forearm, pinning Chad Gable to pick up the win and earn a spot in the Independence Day Battle Royal. After the match, AJ Styles would show respect for his opponent by helping Chad Gable to his feet. After silencing her critics last week by winning the second Women’s Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match to earn a guaranteed shot at the SmackDown Women’s Title whenever she wants it, “Ms. Money-in-the-Bank” Carmella, along with James Ellsworth, make an appearance on SmackDown LIVE for a “Carmellabration”. After an introduction from James Ellsworth, Carmella says that the fans wanted to “rewrite history” but you can’t always get what you want unless your name is Carmella. “Ms. Money-in-the-Bank” then says that she gets to decide where and when she defeats SmackDown Women’s Champion Naomi. This brings out SmackDown Women’s Champion Naomi, who says that Carmella’s contract lets her cash in at any time before saying that her eyes are always open and her “glow is always on”. Naomi then says that there’s someone else who has some words for James Ellsworth before SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan comes to the ring to a thunderous reaction. The GM says that he is barring James Ellsworth from the arena and fining Ellsworth $10,000 before announcing that he is suspending James Ellsworth without pay for 30 days! Daniel then says that, if Ellsworth does not leave right now and if Ellsworth violates any of these rules, then he will strip Carmella of the Money-in-the-Bank contract! Carmella & James Ellsworth then hastily leave the ring before they get into more trouble by the General Manager. After the SmackDown Women’s Title rematch last week ended in controversy with Naomi getting the win despite Lana’s shoulder being off the mat, Lana would get another opportunity for the gold on SmackDown LIVE as “The Ravishing Russian” would again challenge Naomi for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. However, Naomi would again humiliate Lana, locking in the FTG on the challenger and making Lana tap out, winning the match in less than ten seconds to retain the SmackDown Women’s Title! After the match, Tamina would inexplicably come out to the ring, telling Lana to “get up” much to the confusion of Lana. Tamina then leaves the ring, ordering Lana to follow and “The Ravishing Russian” reluctantly does as she’s told. Backstage, an interview with Shinsuke Nakamura is quickly interrupted by “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” Baron Corbin as Corbin hits Nakamura in the back with his briefcase. However, Nakamura fights back against Corbin before referees step in to break it up. Grammy-nominated hip hop artist Wale would then appear on SmackDown LIVE to serve as the emcee for a Rap Battle between The New Day and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos. The SmackDown Tag Team Champions would come out first as The Usos would be accompanied by their entourage dubbed “The Day Ones”. The New Day then make their entrance to the ring, showing their American pride with red, white, and blue apparel along with their own entourage consisting of an Elvis impersonator, the Statue of Liberty, a sailor, and a bald eagle, among other interesting characters. Big E takes the helm in the Rap Battle, saying that The Usos were all “dark matches and pre-shows” before The New Day came along, saying that even The Usos’ father Rikishi knows that “New Day rocks”. The Usos then respond, saying that their father’s “booty made millions” and everyone knows Rikishi’s name, asking if anybody knows Big E’s father. The Usos then say that they’re going to keep it “PG” for Big E, saying not to get “Rated-R” like Xavier Woods! With Wale having a hard time keeping the peace, Kofi Kingston speaks up, saying that The Usos need to make like “red hexagons” and “stop, stop” before saying that the champions have “muffin tops”, asking why they started to wrestle in shirts. The Usos said that Kofi Kingston was “Jafaking” before saying that it’s not “paranoia”, it’s The Usos. Xavier Woods then takes his turn, saying that they came dressed looking like a “million bucks” while The Usos came dressed as some “recently divorced dads”. Xavier then says that Jimmy Uso was “absolutely nothing” before Jimmy’s wife put him on Total Divas! Xavier then adds that The Usos should go back to what they do best and that’s “carrying bags” for Roman Reigns! This is when things get physical and Wale rules that The Usos are disqualified, kicking the SmackDown Tag Team Champions and their entourage out of the ring as The New Day and their entourage celebrate the Rap Battle win. After finding out last week that he will get his rematch for the WWE Championship at Battleground in a Punjabi Prison Match against Jinder Mahal, “The Viper” Randy Orton was set to go one-on-one with Aiden English on SmackDown LIVE. However, before the match can begin, Aiden English attacks Randy Orton from behind with a microphone, sending “The Viper” into the steel steps on the outside. Despite the attack, Orton would insist that he was able to compete as the match would get underway. During the match, Randy Orton would unload on Aiden English, tossing English around the ringside area before planting Aiden with a suspended DDT on the floor. “The Viper” then grabs the steel steps, driving the steel into the face of Aiden English, ending the match by disqualification. Orton then brings Aiden back into the ring, putting an exclamation point on the beatdown with the RKO. This brings out WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, who is flanked by The Singh Brothers, as Jinder says that America is the “land of ignorance” before saying that the fans “disrespect” him, but he is still the WWE Champion. Jinder then says that, if he could, he would put each and every one of them inside the Punjabi Prison before saying that he’s going to “destroy” Orton’s legacy at Battleground and prove that he is the only true “super power” in WWE. Randy Orton then interrupts, saying that nobody is going to stop him from “punishing” Jinder Mahal in the Punjabi Prison at Battleground before saying that “nobody likes” Jinder because Jinder is a “jackass”. Then it was time for the main event as AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Luke Harper, Sin Cara, Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Konnor, Viktor, Erick Rowan, Tye Dillinger, Jason Jordan, Epico, Mojo Rawley, Zack Ryder, and Dolph Ziggler would compete in the Independence Day Battle Royal with the winner facing Kevin Owens for the United States Title at Battleground with United States Champion Kevin Owens a guest on commentary. The first Superstar to suffer elimination would be Dolph Ziggler as a Discus Clothesline from Luke Harper would send “The Show Off” out of the match. Erick Rowan then tosses out Fandango with Fandango saving Tyler Breeze only for Breeze to get tossed out again! Rowan then eliminates Sin Cara before Luke Harper uses his Discus Clothesline to eliminate Konnor. Mojo Rawley then scores a big elimination by eliminating Luke Harper from the match. The Hype Bros then work together to eliminate Erick Rowan before Mojo Rawley eliminates his own tag team partner, Zack Ryder! Tye Dillinger then tosses Mojo out onto the apron and Sami Zayn finishes the job with the Helluva Kick, eliminating Rawley. It then comes down to AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, and Tye Dillinger in the battle royal with Dillinger taking over in the match, even trying to eliminate both Styles and Zayn at the same time. However, Styles and Zayn would hang on with Sami managing to eliminate “The Perfect Ten”! Sami Zayn then nearly eliminates himself by missing the Helluva Kick before Sami tries to hoist AJ Styles over the top rope but “The Phenomenal One” hangs on, catching Sami with the Pele Kick to eliminate Sami Zayn as AJ Styles earns a shot at the United States Title against Kevin Owens at Battleground! However, there would be no time for celebration as Kevin Owens would enter the ring to ambush the #1 Contender, beating AJ Styles down and flaunting the title in the face of AJ before Styles catches Owens with a kick to the head! AJ then goes for the Styles Clash, but Kevin Owens is able to escape the ring. AJ then picks up the United States Title belt that Owens left behind, holding the title up high in what could be a sign of things to come at Battleground. What did you think of the 4th of July SmackDown LIVE? Post your comments in the box below.
