WWE SmackDown Results – July 17, 2018 – Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy

Jul 17, 2018

July 17, 2018
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com

In-Ring: Jeff Hardy

Ever since he lost the #USTitle at #ExtremeRules, @JEFFHARDYBRAND has been feeling…. #BROKEN!!!! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/cWI4JKX4uG

— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2018

Live in the arena, Jeff Hardy’s music hits. He gets on the microphone and says he may wear face paint like Jeff Hardy and look like Jeff Hardy but he does not feel like Jeff Hardy. He feels like something is missing, his heart is broken.

Because he is not the United States champion anymore. He says Nakamura hit him with a low blow because he knows it’s the only way he can beat him. He said tonight, he is thinking mega clear and focused on 3 things. To make Shinsuke feel as much pain as possible, to make him fade away and make him classify himself as obsolete and to take back his United States championship!

Backstage: Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura is backstage with Renee Young and she asks him about Jeff’s comments. Shinsuke Nakamura says Jeff Hardy is a sad clown. He wear face paint to hide tears, he cries. He lost the title and now it is his title. That is a reason to smile. He tells Renee to smile. Tonight he gives every one a reason to smile by making a clown cry again. He says God bless America and walks away.

AJ Styles vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/ Zelina Vega)

The bell rings and we are under way. Almas with a head lock on AJ as Styles gets Almas in the corner but the referee breaks it up. Cien with another headlock. Styles gets out of it as he sends Almas to the ropes. AJ goes for the drop kick but Almas hangs on to the ropes and Styles hits air.

Back from commercial and AJ Styles with some offense but a quick drop kick by Almas takes Styles down. Back up, both men exchange right hands and Almas lands a back breaker. He goes for the cover but AJ kicks out. Almas gets AJ up on the top turnbuckle and a big drop kick by Almas onto AJ which takes him down.

Styles in the corner as Almas goes to knee him but Styles gets up and reverses it dropping Almas onto his neck. Styles gets on the ring apron and goes for the Phenomenal Forearm but Almas with an elbow onto Styles’ knee taking him down.

Almas goes to the top and attempts the moonsault. Styles moves, Almas lands on his feet and does a back flip landing on Styles. He goes for the cover but AJ kicks out. Almas goes for a suplex but Styles lands on his feet and lands an enzuigiri. Both men back up and Almas with a boot to the face. Almas on the top rope but an overhead kick by AJ onto Almas. Styles on the top turnbuckle and goes for the suplex but Almas trips him and Styles is caught up in between the ropes. Almas with a double stomp onto his chest. Almas with the double knees onto AJ. He goes for the cover but a kick out by AJ Styles.

Almas goes for La Sombra but AJ reverses it into the calf crusher as Andrade Almas taps out!

Winner: AJ Styles

Backstage: Aiden English, Lana

Aiden English is walking backstage and says after Extreme Rules, he has to apologize. The camera pans and he is talking to Lana. He says he keeps going back to that moment and he wishes he can take it back but he can’t. He said he took Rusev’s chance of being champion away from him. Lana says Rusev is angry and disappointed but he needs his space. Lana says it’s not about him, it’s about Rusev. She says the question now is that if Aiden is best for Rusev. Aiden says maybe he does not deserve forgiveness but he has always had his back and he owes so much to Rusev. And that’s why he is here. For a second chance. We all deserve second chances. Lana says she will take that into consideration as English walks away.

Becky Lynch vs. Mandy Rose (w/ Sonya Deville)

Both women lock up and a number of arm bar reversals. Mandy gets Becky in the corner and begins to stomp on her. A right hand by Becky but Mandy with right hands of her own and a suplex. She goes for the cover but Becky kicks out.

Mandy with a modified head lock onto Becky who fights out of it. Mandy sends Becky to the ropes and a drop kick. Mandy with a flying kick onto Becky and she goes for the cover but Becky kicks out once more. Mandy with another modified arm bar head lock. Becky gets out of it and rolls Mandy up but Mandy kicks out.

Becky with the Becksploder. Becky with the disarm-her as Mandy Rose taps out.

Winner: Becky Lynch

After the match, Becky gets on the microphone and thanks everyone. She says winning feels great. She says she has been patiently waiting and she has never stopped working as hard as she can. She says she is just getting started. She looks in the camera and says “Do you hear that Carmella? Straight fire is coming for you.” She says it’s time Becky became the Smackdown Live women’s champion once more.

Backstage: Carmella, Paige

.@RealPaigeWWE WAS listening, @BeckyLynchWWE! @CarmellaWWE will face the #IrishLassKicker NEXT WEEK on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/68Li6bAcb6

— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2018

Backstage, Paige is watching and asks Carmella if she heard that. Paige asks how Carmella’s boyfriend James Ellsworth is. Carmella says he is not her boyfriend and to talk about something else. Carmella says she deserves another Mellabration after defeating Charlotte twice and Asuka twice. Paige says she will throw her the biggest Mellabration under one condition. She has to defeat Becky Lynch and that it won’t be a title match. But if Becky beats her, Carmella will have to defend her title against Becky at SummerSlam.

Backstage: Tye Dillinger, R-Truth

Tye Dillinger is backstage with R-Truth who asks him if he is ready for tonight. Tye says he does not need a motivational speech. Tye says tonight, Samoa Joe will get it and walks away. R-Truth turns his head and turns out he is talking on a blue tooth head set. He tells Tye that he told him to smile more, not to challenge Samoa Joe!

Samoa Joe vs. Tye Dillinger

The bell rings and Tye right away jumps onto Joe. The referee breaks it up as Joe slides to the outside. Dillinger on the outside and goes right after Joe. Dillinger with knees to the face. Dillinger goes to hit Joe but Joe picks him up and throws him knee first into the ring post.

Joe throws Dillinger back in the right and Joe with some offense. Right hands by Joe as he starts taunting Tye. Joe goes for the Coquina Clutch but Tye blocks out. Joe with kicks and he locks in the Coquina Clutch as Tye taps out.

Winner: Samoa Joe

In-Ring: The Miz

Funeral music plays as The Miz comes down to the ring wearing an all black suit. He turns around and pallbearer’s bring out a coffin with Kane’s mask on top of it. The Miz starts shaking the hands of fans as if giving his condolences. He is then given a pillow with Kane’s mask on top of it as he places it on a table in the ring.

The Miz thanks everyone for being here tonight. He says he is as sad as them but tonight they are all gathered here not to discuss what everybody’s been talking about which is in one week’s time, Miz and Mrs. will premier on the USA Network. No, not that. He says tonight is not about him. Tonight we pay our final respects for one of the greatest tag teams of all time and two of the worst friends ever, Daniel Bryan and Kane. And in the words of NSync, it is time to say “Bye Bye Bye” to Team Hell No.

He says one was a yes, the other was a no. They were able to set aside their difference and become tag team champions five years ago. He said Kane went on to deliver three tombstones to Daniel Bryan on steel steps. Any sane person would say that is the end to their friend but to that, he says hell no. After five years, Daniel Bryan made the same mistake again by reuniting with Kane. He says he would like everyone to stand up off of their seats and to join him in honoring them in a moment of silence.

He says he wants silence from them and he will wait. Now he has one final thing and that is “I told you so.” He stood in this WWE ring and told them that Kane was nothing more than a broken down demon and he was right. He says Daniel Bryan was never a world beating wrestler like he claims to be. He is obsessed with setting impossible goals to tug at your heart strings.

He says the truth is that Daniel’s return from injury has been a bust. And every week he comes out here, he is destroying his legacy and no one has the courage to tell him. But he does. He says Daniel’s days of headlining WrestleMania are over.

Daniel Bryan’s music hits and he attacks The Miz from behind. The pallbearers get in the ring to defend The Miz but Daniel attacks them as The Miz rolls out and leaves.

Kofi Kingston (w/ The New Day) vs. Eric Young (w/ SAnitY)

The bell rings and we are under way. Both men lock up and a number of reversals from both. A standing dropkick by Kofi as he goes for the cover but Young kicks out. Both men back up and Eric with right hands of his own. He runs to the ropes but Kofi slides to the outside and trips Eric. Kofi jumps off the ropes and a right hand takes Eric out. Kofi clotheslines Eric Young to the outside.

-Commercial Break-

Back from commercial and both men are outside. Eric throws Kofi on the ring apron and starts hitting him on the back of the head. Back in the ring, Eric goes for the cover but a two count as Kofi kicks out. A neck breaker by Eric Young and the cover once more but Kofi kicks out.

Eric throws Kofi to the corner and right hands by Eric Young. Eric gets on the top rope and lifts Kofi up by the head. The referee breaks it up. Young dives off the top rope but a big kick by Kofi takes Eric down. Kofi with a clothesline takes Eric down. A forearm followed by a drop kick by Kofi. Kofi goes for Trouble in Paradise but Young rolls him up as Kofi kicks out.

Eric runs to the top rope as Kofi jumps off and throws Eric off the top. He goes for the cover but Young kicks out and rolls to the outside of the ring. Kofi runs and flies over the top rope and lands on SAnitY. He throws Eric back in the ring.

Kofi with the SOS but Eric kicks out. Kofi gets on to the top rope but Wolfe on the ring apron distracts Kofi. Kofi on the ring apron and flies off the top rope. He goes for the roll-up cover on Eric but Eric kicks out and pushes Kofi onto Killian Dain who throws Xavier Woods onto Kofi from the outside of the ring. That rocks Kofi which allows Eric Young to connect with a big neck breaker. He goes for the cover and gets the win.

Winner: Eric Young

United States Championship
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Jeff Hardy

The bell rings and Jeff goes right after Nakamura but Shinsuke pushes him off. Nakamura goes for the low blow but Jeff moves out of the way. Jeff goes after Nakamura again and gets him in the corner and starts choking him. Nakamura rolls to the outside. Jeff with a big splash on Nakamura as he throws Shinsuke back in. Jeff goes to the top rope for the swanton bomb but Nakamura rolls out of the ring.

Back from commercial and Nakamura is in control in the ring. Nakamura with kicks to the left knee of Jeff Hardy and a kick to the head. He goes for the cover but Jeff Hardy kicks out. Both men back up but Nakamura slams Jeff’s head into the mat. He slams Jeff into the turnbuckle and starts choking him with his foot.

Nakamura grabs Jeff and locks in the guillotine as Hardy tries to get out of it but can’t. Jeff starts fighting back with right hands and he slams Nakamura into the turnbuckle. Jeff with a jaw breaker followed by a splash. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out. A Russian leg sweep by Hardy as he goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out.

Jeff goes for the Twist of Fate but Nakamura pushes him into the turnbuckle and delivers a kick to the back of the neck.

Back from commercial and Jeff off the top rope with a whisper in the wind! He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out. Jeff with an atomic drop. He goes for the cover but Shinsuke kicks out. Jeff goes for the Twist of Fate but Nakamura pushes him off. Jeff with a spinning kick takes Nakamura down. Shinsuke in the corner as Jeff goes to kick him but Nakamura reverses it and nails Jeff in the face. He goes for the cover but Hardy kicks out.

Both men back up but Nakamura with a single leg back breaker onto Jeff and a knee to the face. He goes for the cover but Jeff kicks out. Nakamura goes to the corner and runs towards Jeff but a sling blade by Jeff Hardy. Jeff goes to the top rope but Nakamura trips him and kicks him taking him down. Nakamura again in the corner as he gets ready to hit Jeff with the knee to the face but Jeff reverses it and a twist of fate (which looked more like a Stone Cold Stunner). Jeff on the top rope and the Swanton Bomb! He goes for the cover but Randy Orton drags him out of the ring as the referee calls for the bell.

Winner: By disqualification, Jeff Hardy

On the outside, Orton slams Jeff’s head into the ring steps. Uppercuts by Orton on the outside. Jeff starts fighting back but Orton throws Jeff into the ring steps. Orton kicks Jeff’s head into the ring steps. Orton tells him he will have to wait to find out why he is doing all of this. Orton puts his finger in Jeff’s ear ring hole and starts pulling on it until he throws Jeff over the announce table.

Both men are surrounded by WWE officials who try to break it off but Orton continues the beat down. With Jeff down on the announce table, Orton grabs Jeff by the head and delivers a DDT onto the outside as Smackdown goes off the air.