WWE SmackDown LIVE Results: August 22, 2017By Cassidy| August 23, 2017 WWE SmackDown Previous Page Detailed Results After successfully retaining the United States Championship against Kevin Owens with Shane McMahon as the Special Guest Referee at SummerSlam, SmackDown LIVE kicks off with United States Champion AJ Styles. After declaring that SmackDown LIVE is the “house that AJ Styles built”, the United States Champion says that he is the “workhorse” of WWE before announcing that he is reinstating the United States Championship Open Challenge and it starts right now! The man who answers the call is the man who believes that he was screwed out of the United States Title at SummerSlam, Kevin Owens. However, AJ tells Owens that he beat Owens at SummerSlam so they are “done” but Owens argues that Styles did not beat him at SummerSlam. Owens then claims that Shane McMahon screwed him out of the title at SummerSlam and this would bring out SmackDown LIVE Commissioner and the Special Guest Referee from the United States Title match, Shane McMahon. Shane says that he did what he said he was going to do by calling it right down the middle, saying AJ won the match “fair and square”. Kevin Owens says that Shane McMahon can survive a helicopter crash and jump off of Hell in a Cell but Shane gets “grazed” by a 450 Splash and he can’t count a pinfall. Owens says that Shane “physically assaulted” him which directly led to AJ Styles beating him. Owens then shows footage from SummerSlam where Owens hits AJ with the Pop-Up Powerbomb and pins AJ with Shane counting the three despite AJ’s foot being on the bottom rope, a three-count that Shane would immediately wave off. Shane says that AJ’s foot was on the rope but Owens says that Shane needs to pay attention to his hand making the three-count, saying that, when the referee erroneously counted his shoulders down a few weeks ago despite one of his shoulders clearly being up, the referee’s decision stood. Owens continues, asking why that referee’s decision stood but Shane McMahon’s three-count at SummerSlam did not. Shane explains that he immediately waved off the three-count as he realized AJ’s foot was on the rope at the exact moment he completed the three-count, saying that, as the Special Guest Referee at SummerSlam, his decision stands. Owens then gets in the face of the Commissioner, saying that the United States Title belongs to him and calling AJ a “joke”. Having patiently stood by as Kevin Owens and Shane McMahon argued, AJ Styles’ patience runs out as the United States Champion tells both of them to “shut up” and Owens says that Styles doesn’t like the truth. However, AJ responds by saying that he doesn’t like a “whiny ass little bitch” like Kevin Owens! Styles then says that he beat Kevin Owens before and he can do it again, suggesting that they have their rematch right there tonight! Both men implore Shane McMahon to make the match official and, despite saying that it goes against his better judgment, the Commissioner makes the rematch official. However, Kevin Owens says that getting his rematch is not enough, saying that, if both Shane and AJ are “men”, then they will let him pick the Special Guest Referee for the match! Shane says that they have plenty of competent officials before AJ interjects, telling Shane to let Owens pick his own referee, saying that Owens is still going to lose. The Commissioner agrees to let Kevin Owens pick the referee but not without a stipulation, telling Owens that, as long as AJ Styles is the United States Champion, this will be Kevin Owens’ last shot at the United States Title, telling Owens that there will be “no more excuses”! Backstage, WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, along with The Singh Brothers, confront SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan. Daniel tells the champion that what he saw at SummerSlam was a man who cannot keep his title without the help of The Singh Brothers. Offended, Jinder argues that Daniel is just another “xenophobic American”, saying that he’s a “hero”. The GM responds by saying that a “hero” doesn’t take “shortcuts”, saying that Shinsuke Nakamura deserves some retribution and he will get it tonight. However, Daniel Bryan doesn’t put Jinder Mahal in a match against Nakamura, instead Daniel says that The Singh Brothers will face Nakamura instead! Backstage, Kevin Owens confronts his former best friend and longtime rival Sami Zayn, saying that they have been fighting with and against each other for the last fifteen years. Owens then says that he needs someone that he can “trust” to be the Special Guest Referee for his rematch, saying that Sami is the only one that fits the bill. Sami says that he watched the recent Kevin Owens DVD and it made him realize how long they’ve been fighting, saying that they sometimes forget what they were even fighting about. Owens suggests that maybe they stop fighting each other, saying that he knows that Sami isn’t busy tonight because, since coming to SmackDown LIVE, Sami hasn’t really been doing much of anything. Owens continues, saying that he can do something that counts tonight, telling Sami to think about it. Aiden English is then in the ring, serenading the fans when he is interrupted by a surprising new arrival to SmackDown LIVE as, just three nights after losing the NXT Championship to Drew McIntyre at NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III, SmackDown LIVE would become glorious as “Glorious” Bobby Roode makes his SmackDown LIVE debut! “The Glorious One” then makes his in-ring SmackDown LIVE debut, facing “The Drama King” Aiden English in the opening match of the night. In the end, it was a “glorious” debut for Bobby Roode as the former NXT Champion plants Aiden English with the Glorious DDT, pinning “The Drama King” to pick up the win. After the match, Renee Young would interview SmackDown LIVE’s newest acquisition, saying that everything that he does is “big box office” and, in a New York minute, SmackDown LIVE went from being great to being absolutely “glorious”. Backstage, Chad Gable confronts SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan as Daniel tells Gable that he knows that it’s been difficult for him on SmackDown LIVE ever since Jason Jordan went to RAW to be with his dad Kurt Angle. However, the GM then reveals that he actually made a deal with RAW General Manager Kurt Angle, saying that, in exchange for letting Jason Jordan go to RAW, Kurt helps Daniel sign one of Kurt’s “friends”. Daniel then says that he thinks that this person might be a great new tag team partner for Chad Gable. Gable, as well as the fans in Brooklyn, are then elated once Daniel Bryan introduces Chad to former Intercontinental, United States, and WWE Tag Team Champion Shelton Benjamin! Gable says that he has followed Shelton since Shelton’s college days, saying that he’s from Minnesota as well. Daniel Bryan then suggests that Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin take their new partnership for a “test drive” next week. An excited Chad Gable then accepts on Shelton’s behalf before leaving the office. Daniel then welcomes Shelton to SmackDown LIVE as the two shake hands before Benjamin exits. Backstage, Kevin Owens brings Sami Zayn a referee shirt before Sami says that he did what Owens told him to do and thought about it. Sami then says that he thought about all of the rotten things that Owens has done to him, telling Owens that he really hopes Owens gets some “help” because he’s not going to help him, throwing the referee shirt back at Owens. After defeating The New Day on the SummerSlam Kickoff to reclaim the SmackDown Tag Team Titles, the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions were in action on SmackDown LIVE as The Usos would face The Hype Bros in a non-title match. In the end, it was Jimmy Uso catching Zack Ryder with a super kick, pinning Ryder to pick up the win for The Usos. After the match, The Usos would say that they have the SmackDown LIVE tag team division “on lock” before saying that they have a message for the other tag teams on SmackDown LIVE, saying that it’s not “paranoia”, it’s The Usos. After a distraction from The Singh Brothers cost him the WWE Championship at SummerSlam, Shinsuke Nakamura would get his shot at retribution as “The King of Strong Style” would face The Singh Brothers, with WWE Champion Jinder Mahal in their corner, in a 2-on-1 Tornado Handicap Match, meaning that both Singh Brothers would be legal in the match at the same time. Despite Jinder Mahal’s distraction during the match, Shinsuke Nakamura would lock one of The Singh Brothers in a triangle choke, immediately making him tap out to pick up the win. However, Jinder Mahal would attack Nakamura as soon as the match was over but the WWE Champion would get more than he bargained for as “The King of Strong Style” would battle back before laying Jinder out with the Kinshasa! This leaves Nakamura standing tall over the WWE Champion, making it clear that his quest for the WWE Championship is far from over. Backstage, Kevin Owens passes on letting Breezango serve as the Special Guest Referees in the main event before Owens is confronted by Baron Corbin, who offers to be the referee for the match but only if Owens gives him a shot at the United States Title after he wins it. Owens agrees to these terms, handing the referee shirt over to Corbin, who warns Kevin Owens that he better keep his side of the deal. After defeating Naomi to win the SmackDown Women’s Title at SummerSlam, new SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya would address the fans prior to her scheduled tag team match. Natalya says that she proved at SummerSlam that she is “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be” before telling Naomi to wipe her eyes and take a good, long look at what a championship looks like. Natalya then declares that she will forever be the SmackDown Women’s Champion, saying that it’s no longer “glow time”, it is her time. This brings out “Ms. Money-in-the-Bank” Carmella, along with James Ellsworth, as Carmella says that Natalya is on her time, saying that she let Natalya have her moment at SummerSlam, reminding the new champion that she can cash in her Money-in-the-Bank contract any time she wants. Much to the chagrin of Carmella, James Ellsworth then exposes what could potentially have been Carmella’s plan, saying that, as her tag team partner tonight, Carmella could not tag into the match and let Natalya get beaten up before cashing in and winning the title right here tonight. With potential dissension already established between Natalya and Carmella, two former champions would team up on SmackDown LIVE as Naomi would join forces with Becky Lynch to face new SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya and “Ms. Money-in-the-Bank” Carmella, with James Ellsworth in her corner. During the match, the early part of Carmella’s plan would appear to come to fruition as Carmella would tag out to Natalya but, when Natalya tries to tag out, Carmella would refuse the tag. Later on in the match, Carmella would argue with James Ellsworth and Natalya would tag Carmella into the match. Carmella then runs from Natalya, but runs right into the ring, taking a Becksploder from Becky Lynch before Naomi hits the split-legged moonsault, pinning Carmella to pick up the win for Naomi & Becky Lynch. Backstage, United States Champion AJ Styles is confronted by Baron Corbin as Corbin lets AJ know that he’s the Special Guest Referee for the main event tonight. Baron mentions to the champion that Kevin Owens has promised him a title match if Owens wins. Styles responds by telling Corbin that, when he wins tonight, he is going to have a United States Championship Open Challenge every week so, if Baron wants a shot at the title, then he can answer the challenge. Baron smirks at AJ before telling Styles that he will see him out there. Then it was time for the main event as, in a rematch from SummerSlam, AJ Styles would defend the United States Championship against Kevin Owens with Kevin Owens’ hand-picked Special Guest Referee Baron Corbin presiding over the match and, as decreed by Shane McMahon, it would be Kevin Owens’ last shot at the United States Title as long as AJ Styles is the champion. During the match, AJ Styles would lock in the Calf Crusher on Kevin Owens with Owens getting his fingertips on the bottom rope before the champion brings Owens back into the center of the ring. However, Baron Corbin would believe that this necessitated a rope break so Corbin forces AJ to break the hold. This prompts an argument between AJ and Corbin with Styles explaining that the hold should only be broken if a competitor grabs the rope. However, Baron tells AJ that he’s the referee before Kevin Owens shoves AJ into Corbin. Styles then tries to turn his attention back to Kevin Owens, but Corbin spins AJ back around, getting in the champion’s face and shoving Styles right into a roll-up by Kevin Owens with AJ managing to kick out. Owens then tries a second roll-up, but AJ kicks out again before both men take each other out with a clothesline. This is when SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon would rush down to the ring, taking issue with how Baron Corbin is officiating the match. This leads to an argument between Shane and Baron that turns Baron’s attention away from the match. With Baron’s attention on Shane McMahon, Kevin Owens would deliver a blatant low blow to the champion. Owens then goes for the pin with Corbin turning around just in time, but before Baron can make the three-count, Shane McMahon pulls Corbin out of the ring! Shane yells at Corbin that Owens used a low blow with Baron insisting that he’s the referee, not Shane. Fed up with the task of refereeing the match, Baron Corbin takes the referee shirt off and hands it to Shane before Corbin heads to the back! This enrages Kevin Owens as Owens’s hand-picked referee walks off the job, leaving Shane McMahon no choice but to don the stripes himself and take over as the Special Guest Referee, much to the chagrin of Kevin Owens! Owens then gets back into the ring but Owens’ pre-occupation with the Special Guest Referee would cost him as AJ Styles would connect with the Phenomenal Forearm with Shane making the three-count as AJ Styles successfully retains the United States Title and ensures that Kevin Owens will not get another title shot as long as AJ is champion. After the match, Kevin Owens realizes what just happened and is left in disbelief as AJ Styles stands tall, still the United States Champion. What did you think of the post-SummerSlam SmackDown LIVE? Post your comments in the box below.
