WWE SmackDown LIVE Results: August 15, 2017By Cassidy| August 16, 2017 WWE SmackDown Previous Page Detailed Results On India’s Independence Day, it seems appropriate that SmackDown LIVE would kick off with the pride and joy of India as WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, along with The Singh Brothers, would make their way to the ring five nights before “The Modern Day Maharaja” defends the WWE Title against Shinsuke Nakamura at SummerSlam. The WWE Champion says that the fans have “nothing to celebrate” but, for his people, today is Independence Day for the “greatest nation on Earth”, India. Jinder then says that, tonight, they not only celebrate India’s Independence Day, but celebrate “the greatest WWE Champion of all-time” Jinder Mahal. The WWE Champion and The Singh Brothers then dance along with a traditional Indian celebration before Jinder says that the “xenophobic” fans in Providence will not appreciate this before Jinder introduces an older woman named Madu, asking the fans to stand as Madu sings the national anthem of India. Jinder continues, saying that this is the kind of reaction he expected from Providence before saying that he is going to be their “hero” after he beats John Cena tonight. The WWE Champion then says that he is the reason that people subscribe to the WWE Network to see him “dominate” at SummerSlam. Jinder then vows to beat John Cena “more convincingly” than Shinsuke Nakamura ever could, saying that Nakamura’s “destiny” is to lose to him at SummerSlam. “The Modern Day Maharaja” then speaks to the people of India in Punjabi before Jinder is interrupted by his SummerSlam opponent, the #1 Contender for the WWE Championship Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura says that it is Independence Day in India but, in Japan, it is a day where they honor those lost in war and a day where they pray for peace. Nakamura then says that this Sunday at SummerSlam is the day where Jinder Mahal loses the WWE Championship to him. The confident challenger then slides out of the ring, leaving Jinder Mahal and The Singh Brothers angry over Shinsuke Nakamura’s interruption. Following WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair’s successful surgery on Monday afternoon, the SmackDown LIVE commentary team would provide an update on the condition of “The Nature Boy”. Tom Phillips explains that, while Ric Flair’s surgery was a success, Flair remains in critical condition at a local hospital in Atlanta. Tom then says that, on behalf of the entire WWE, he wants to wish Ric Flair a speedy recovery. JBL then adds that they can’t wait to see Ric Flair stylin’ and profilin’ again soon with Byron Saxton wishing Ric a speedy recovery. Before Natalya challenges Naomi for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam this Sunday, the #1 Contender for the SmackDown Women’s Title Natalya would face “The Irish Lass Kicker” Becky Lynch in the opening match of the night with SmackDown Women’s Champion Naomi a guest on commentary. During the match, Becky Lynch would miss a leg drop off of the top rope and Natalya would take advantage, locking Becky in the Sharpshooter, making “The Irish Lass Kicker” tap out to pick up the win. After the match, Natalya would look to further damage Becky Lynch by locking in the Sharpshooter a second time, but Naomi would rush into the ring, chasing Natalya off. This would bring out “Ms. Money-in-the-Bank” Carmella, along with James Ellsworth, saying that she just wanted to wish Naomi and Natalya the “best of luck” in their match at SummerSlam. Ellsworth then adds that, no matter who wins at SummerSlam, they will “lose” to Carmella. Backstage, Tamina asks Lana why she doesn’t have a match tonight with Lana explaining that they don’t “fear” Tamina, but she’s going to change all of that. Lana then explains that, if Tamina follows her lead, they will fear her. Lana then says that she is going to “manipulate” her way into helping Tamina and, then, Tamina will become will become the “most destructive force” on SmackDown LIVE. Lana continues, saying that they will become “unstoppable” and only then will Tamina be ready to become the SmackDown Women’s Champion. With a match against Randy Orton coming up at SummerSlam, Rusev was in action on SmackDown LIVE as “The Bulgarian Brute” would go one-on-one with Chad Gable in a rematch from two weeks ago. Early on in the match, Rusev would bring Chad Gable to the outside, repeatedly bouncing Gable’s face off of the steel steps before tossing Gable over the announce table as both men are counted out. “The Bulgarian Brute” then exposes the announce table before locking in the Accolade on Chad Gable on the table, sending a clear message to Randy Orton ahead of SummerSlam. After letting go of the Accolade, Rusev would grab a microphone and enter the ring, but before Rusev only says “Randy” before Rusev is caught out of nowhere with an RKO from Randy Orton! Orton then exits the ring, having gotten a measure of revenge for Rusev’s ambush last week. Before he defends the United States Championship against Kevin Owens with Shane McMahon as the Special Guest Referee at SummerSlam, United States Champion AJ Styles would make an appearance on SmackDown LIVE to apologize for his errant kick to Shane McMahon last week. AJ doesn’t waste any time in bringing out SmackDown LIVE Commissioner and the Special Guest Referee for the United States Title match at SummerSlam, Shane McMahon. Shane tells AJ that there is no need to apologize, saying that, as the Special Guest Referee at SummerSlam, he needs to be able to take a hit if necessary. Styles lets Shane know that the kick last week was “accidental” before asking if Shane is going to use that incident as an “excuse” to screw him over at SummerSlam. The Commissioner says that he is going to be wearing the black and white and, normally, you have to respect the referee’s authority and you cannot touch a WWE official. Shane continues, saying that he’s a little bit “different”, saying that, if AJ puts his hands on him again, he is going to put his hands “all over” AJ. Shane assures the United States Champion that it’s not a “threat” before the confrontation is interrupted by AJ’s SummerSlam opponent, Kevin Owens. Owens says that he “loves” the rules that Shane has put in place, saying that AJ cannot get disqualified by hitting the referee this Sunday. Now in the ring, Kevin Owens says that, if he were to make contact with Shane McMahon at SummerSlam, it would be a “complete accident”, saying that he’s a man of his word. Owens continues, saying that Shane is the man to call it right down the middle and that means that he will get his United States Title back. Owens then asks for a handshake from Shane McMahon, but the Commissioner refuses, saying that, as the Special Guest Referee this Sunday, it would be inappropriate for him to shake his hand. Shane then suggests that Kevin Owens should be shaking the hand of his SummerSlam opponent, AJ Styles. Owens then extends his hand towards the United States Champion but AJ does not trust the gesture and this leads to the two men getting in each other’s faces, shoving each other before Kevin Owens inadvertently shoves Shane McMahon. AJ then catches Owens with a right hand before going for a second, but Owens moves out of the way and Shane has to act fast to dodge the shot, grabbing AJ by the wrist. This prompts an argument between AJ Styles and Shane McMahon before Kevin Owens tries to catch AJ with a super kick, but the United States Champion moves out of the way and Owens inadvertently takes out the Commissioner! This puts a smile on the face of AJ Styles as Kevin Owens looks on in shock before Owens storms out of the ring. AJ and Shane then have words before Styles leaves the ring. With The New Day’s Big E & Xavier Woods set to defend the SmackDown Tag Team Titles against The Usos this Sunday at SummerSlam, SmackDown Tag Team Champions Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston, with Big E in their corner, would face The Usos in a non-title match on SmackDown LIVE. In the end, it was The Usos blasting Kofi Kingston with a double super kick with Jey Uso pinning Kofi to pick up the win for The Usos. Then it was time for the main event as, before he defends the WWE Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura at SummerSlam this Sunday night, WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, with The Singh Brothers in his corner, would go one-on-one with sixteen-time former World Champion John Cena in a non-title match. During the match, The Singh Brothers would repeatedly get involved behind the referee’s back, but Samir & Sunil would get caught by the official and the referee would eject The Singh Brothers from ringside, keeping the remainder of the match one-on-one. Shortly after this, John Cena would avoid the Khallas before hitting Jinder Mahal with the Attitude Adjustment, but Jinder would kick out. Cena then puts Jinder on the top rope before hitting the Attitude Adjustment to the WWE Champion off of the top rope! However, with victory a certainty for John Cena, Cena’s SummerSlam opponent Baron Corbin would slide into the ring and break up the pin, ending the match by disqualification. Baron then grabs his Money-in-the-Bank briefcase, using it to blast John Cena in the face, sending Cena out of the ring. Corbin then exits the ring, but halfway up the ramp, “Mr. Money-in-the-Bank” looks back to see that Jinder Mahal is vulnerable in the ring. Corbin then looks at the Money-in-the-Bank briefcase and thinks it over before rushing to the ring with the briefcase in hand. Baron then hands the Money-in-the-Bank briefcase over to the referee as the announcement is made that Baron Corbin is cashing in his Money-in-the-Bank contract for a WWE Championship match right now! The referee then checks on Jinder Mahal to make sure that the WWE Champion is able to defend the title right now with Baron Corbin eagerly waiting for Jinder Mahal to get to his feet. With both competitors ready to go, the referee would ring the bell as the impromptu WWE Championship match gets underway! However, as soon as the title match begins, John Cena manages to climb up onto the ring apron and, desperate to keep Cena from interfering, Baron Corbin would knock Cena off of the apron with a right hand. This brief distraction would allow the opportunistic Jinder Mahal to surprise Baron Corbin with a roll-up as Jinder scores the three-count to successfully retain the WWE Championship in record time! Not only did John Cena cost Baron Corbin the WWE Championship, but Cena cost Corbin his Money-in-the-Bank contract as the contract becomes void once the title match officially begins, making Baron Corbin only the second Superstar in WWE history to cash in the Money-in-the-Bank contract and lose his title match by pinfall! This leaves John Cena with a big smile on his face as Baron Corbin is enraged at ringside as John Cena robs Baron Corbin of the biggest opportunity of his career. What did you think of the last SmackDown LIVE before SummerSlam? Post your comments in the box below.
