A video package runs highlighting Kevin Owen’s headbutt to Vince McMahon last week.
We go live inside the Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Here comes Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon to kick off the show.
Shane McMahon opens Smackdown in Oakland
No dancing around for Shane tonight as he heads to the ring all business. Shane says we all just witness the cowardly act by Kevin Owens last week, beating down his father in the middle of this ring. “One thing’s for sure, my old man is one tough salty S.O.B.” He talks about having differences in the past with his father, but he loves him. Shane wants Owens to imagine if he was home last week, with his children and watched someone he loved get beat down by a coward. He says when anyone crosses a McMahon, the family will strike down with vengeance and he isn’t sure Owens realized what he has done. Shane says Owens is a no-show so far tonight. He talks about Owens beating down the patriarch of the McMahon family. Shane condemns Owens to a beating inside Hell in a Cell.
Randy Orton is in action next.
-Commercial Break-
Randy Orton vs. Aiden English
English throws rights and kicks early backing Orton to the corner. Orton fires back with a clothesline from the corner. Orton with a snap powerslam on English. English rolls to the ring apron. English avoids the DDT through the ropes, but Orton goes after him on the outside hitting a back suplex over the ring barricade. English with a back suplex counter, hits Orton in the back of the head and drops Orton over the announce table.
-Commercial Break-
Back live, English has Orton grounded in a side headlock. Orton with right hands to English in the corner. English with a thumb to the eye and dropkick combo for a two count. English gets up on the corner, jumps and eats an RKO out of no where! Orton gets the pinfall.
Winner: Randy Orton
After the match, Rusev walks out with a mic in hand. Rusev said going into SummerSlam he was going to be a national hero in his home land of Bulgaria. He said instead, Orton turned him into a national disgrace and tonight he is going to rip the fangs out of the Viper’s mouth. Rusev drops the mic and gets inside the ring.
The referee calls for the bell and here we go.
Rusev vs. Randy Orton
Orton immediately goes for an RKO. Rusev counters and tosses Orton towards the ropes. Aiden English is up on the ring apron. Orton takes out English with an elbow. Rusev with a superkick on Orton, hooks the leg and gets the pinfall!
Winner: Rusev
At ringside, Tom Phillips reveals Kevin Owens will be live tonight via satellite.
Charlotte Flair returns to Smackdown Live later tonight.
WWE Champion Jinder Mahal and The Singh Brothers are up next.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Rusev is celebrating his big win over Randy Orton. Renee Young walks up and says he looks elated. Rusev isn’t sure what that means, but he continues celebrating. He begins shouting “RUSEV NO. 1” as he walks off backstage.
Jinder Mahal addresses Nakamura once again.
The Singh Brothers introduce WWE Champion Jinder Mahal.
Inside the ring, Mahal grabs a mic and is aware some people were not happy with some of his controversial comments about Shinsuke Nakamura last week. Mahal again mocks Nakamura, like last week, with photos of Nakamura making funny faces. He predicts the prejudice of the people will continue and that they will turn on Nakamura the same way they turned on him. Mahal keeps showing the same photo for all of Nakamura’s reactions adding, “Shinsuke…you always ‘ROOK’ the same.”
The crowd in Oakland starts a loud “NAKAMURA” chant. Mahal says they chant his name and sing along to his theme to hide their own xenophobia. He says it looks like Nakamura gets his hair cut by a dog groomer. Mahal refers to Nakamura as Mr. Miyagi. Oakland literally starts a “THAT’S TOO FAR” chant. Mahal says if they think that is too far, wait until they hear what he has to say in his own native language of Punjabi.
Mahal begins speaking in Punjabi staring into the camera. He holds up the WWE Championship and stares up at a photo on the screen of him doing the same.
The commentary team says Mahal went way too far tonight.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Renee Young is with Shinsuke Nakamura and wants his reaction to the comments by Jinder Mahal. Nakamura says Mahal is a funny but, but nothing will be funny when he wins the WWE Championship at Hell in a Cell.
WWE United States Championship
Open Challenge Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Baron Corbin
Before the match, Styles gets on the mic and tells Kevin Owens he has no idea what he’s done beating up Vince McMahon. He doesn’t think Owens will make it out of the Hell in a Cell match. Styles turns his attention to the “Short Cut King” Baron Corbin. He brings up Corbin taking a short cut to win the Money in the Bank briefcase and failing. Styles talks about Corbin failing against John Cena at SummerSlam. He says Corbin will fail against him. Styles says Corbin will never take down the house AJ Styles built.
We get introductions for the challenger Baron Corbin and champion AJ Styles.
Corbin attacks Styles during his introduction. The referee backs Corbin off. Tye Dillinger runs inside the ring and starts attacking Corbin. Dillinger clotheslines Corbin over the top rope and continues throwing right hands over him on the outside.
Corbin rolls back inside the ring holding his left ankle. Corbin is yelling no at the referee. Styles dives in with a jumping clothesline. Styles applies the Calf Crusher. Corbin is tapping out, but the match hasn’t officially started yet as the referee signals no.
Corbin rolls out of the ring clutching his ankle.
Winner: No Contest
Up next, Charlotte Flair returns to Smackdown Live.
-Commercial Break-
Backstage, Renee Young tries to talk with Baron Corbin. Corbin is not happy and says he sprained his “damn ankle.” He plans to get even with both AJ Styles and Tye Dillinger.
