WWE SmackDown Results – July 17, 2020 – Styles vs. Riddle

Jul 17, 2020

July 17, 2020
Orlando, Florida (WWE Performance Center)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com

Quick Match Results

Cesaro defeated Big E via Neutralizer
Bayley & Sasha Banks defeated Asuka & Nikki Cross via Bayley reversing a DDT into a pin on Cross
Braun Strowman defeated John Morrison via running powerslam
Lacey Evans defeated Naomi via Woman’s Right
Intercontinental Championship: AJ Styles (c) defeated Matt Riddle via reversing a Bromission into a pin

Intro

WWE SmackDown kicks off with a number of WWE superstars hyping up the show. Up first is AJ Styles talking about his title match later tonight against Matt Riddle. He says last time, Riddle beat him because of the element of surprise but this is still the house that AJ Styles built.

After that is Matt Riddle who asks what does AJ stand for? Arrogant Jackass? Last time was no fluke and after he wins the Intercontinental title, he will be the Bro that Runs This Show.

Daniel Bryan also hypes up the match saying he thinks there will be a new champion.

Alexa Bliss says she has a very special guest tonight, who will it be? She doesn’t Bliss and Tell.

Miz and Morrison are backstage and Miz asks him if he’s afraid of fighting Strowman tonight. Morrison says no, that would be like if he would be nervous to fight Jean-Claude Van Damme. Miz asks him again if he’s afraid and Morrison says he is freaking terrified.

Strowman says the Horror Show at Extreme Rules might start tonight. He just hope Bray Wyatt is watching.

Cesaro and Nakamura are talking about how they will become new tag team champions on Sunday. Cesaro says when he beats Big E tonight, he will pick the stipulation for their tag team match at Extreme Rules.

The New Day say they won’t defeat them for their WWE world tag team championships at Extreme Rules.

Big E vs. Cesaro

The winner picks Sunday’s stipulation. The bell rings and we are under way. Big E with a clothesline to start the match. He gets Cesaro in the corner and throws him to the outside. Big E slides to the outside and Cesaro with a kick and a European uppercut but Big E pushes him into the steel steps. Big E with a spear into the steps. Big E throws Cesaro back into the ring. He goes for another spear but Cesaro moves out of the way and Big E hits shoulder first.

Big E now on the ring apron and Cesaro with a basement dropkick takes Big E to the outside. Cesaro slams Big E into the ring post and sends him back into the ring. Cesaro gets on the top rope and a double ax handle onto Big E. He goes for the cover but Big E kicks out. Cesaro with a headlock in the middle of the ring. Big E slowly gets to his feet and gets out of the headlock. He runs to the ropes but Cesaro grabs him and a big body slam.

Cesaro climbs the rope rope and goes for another double axe but Big E catches him into a belly to belly. And a second belly to belly. Cesaro goes for a clothesline, Big E catches him again and another belly to belly. Big E runs to the ropes and the big splash. Cesaro gets up and Big E gets Cesaro onto the ring apron. Big E slams him head first into the ring post. Big E goes to the outside and clobbers Cesaro. Big E gets onto the ring apron and hits Cesaro with the big splash on the ring apron.

Back from commercial, both men are in the ring and Big E plants Cesaro. He goes for the cover but Cesaro kicks out. Cesasro rolls to the ring apron, Big E goes for the spear but Cesaro hits him with the big boot. Cesaro gets back in the ring and jumps off the second rope and hits him with a back elbow. He goes for the cover but Big E kicks out. A European uppercut by Cesaro as he grabs Big E, he goes for the Neutralizer but Big E gets out of it and reverses it into a submission. However, Cesaro reverses ti into a cover but Big E kicks out. Cesaro grabs Big E and swings him around.

Cesaro slams Big E and gets the sharpshooter in. Cesaro lets go and gets the crossface on. Nakamura knocks Kofi out at ringside as Big E looks furious. He gets Cesaro up on his shoulders but Cesaro grabs the top rope. The official is almost knocked out, Nakamura gets on the ring apron and hits Big E with a kick to the face. Cesaro lands the Neutralizer. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Cesaro

Nakamura and Cesaro beat up on BIg E in the middle of the ring. They go to the outside and are grabbing a table as Kofi flies over the top rope onto both men. Kofi sets up a table at ringside. He places Cesaro on the table and he gets in the ring. Big E on the ring apron as Kofi climbs the top rope. Kofi gets on Big E’s shoulders but Nakamura grabs Cesaro off the table and flee the ring.

Backstage: King Corbin

Kayla Braxton is backstage with King Corbin. She asks him about Matt Riddle. Corbin says Riddle attacked him and he started it. And as for tonight, AJ is one of the best to ever step in the ring and Riddle doesn’t even have shoes. It will be quick, decisive and AJ remains champion. Kayla asks him if Riddle’s win against AJ a few weeks ago meant nothing. Corbin says it’s a honeymoon phase. If you want to make a name for yourself, you go for the biggest, baddest guy. Riddle is playing with fire and he will get burnt. And after AJ beats up Riddle tonight, the bro will realize he is nothing but a little boy.

Backstage: Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura

Cesaro is backstage with Nakamura and says they finally get the respect they deserve. And this Sunday at the Horror Show: Extreme Rules, Nakamura says steel cage is unforgiving. Bones can break. Cesaro says he loves a steel cage but he really enjoyed when they smashes Kofi and Big E through a table last week. That was a good feeling and he’d like to repeat it. And this Sunday, it’s going to be a Tables Match.

In-Ring: Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Asuka

Bliss says she wants to talk about something that happened this week. This week was the fifth year anniversary of the women’s revolution as everyone gives the women of WWE a round of applause. Alexa says she can see the future, so it’s time for Bliss to predict that the LA Lakers will win the NBA championship. She predicts that Matt Riddle will become the new Intercontinental champion tonight and that her friend Braun Strowman is going to walk out of the Wyatt Swamp Fight victorious. And that her special mystery guest will tear the rood on Sunday. She is very close with her. Nikki says it’s her! She is a bit unconventional but she is going to blow the roof off the place!

Alexa tries cutting her off but Nikki keeps talking about how she will become the new SmackDown women’s champion. Alexa says she loves the enthusiasm but she will have to tone it down. Alexa says she is sorry to say but she is not the mystery guest tonight. Nikki says she is sorry, she just lost her mind a bit. Bayley’s music hits and out she comes with Sasha.

Bayley says she better get used to disappointment because Sunday she will lose. Sasha calls her a hyper chihuahua and it’ll be back in Alexa’s shadows after Sunday. And before they get in the ring and beat them, Alexa did say it is the fifth anniversary of the women’s revolution and she is right. But she forgot to give credit where credit is due. Sasha and Bayley are the architects of the evolution. They built the ring, paved the cement. They are the first ever women’s tag team champions.

Sasha says they are welcome as they get in the ring. Bayley says as for Alexa, she has a prediction too. This Sunday, she will beat Nikki Cross, Sasha Banks will beat Asuka and they will be double champions. Sasha says and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Alexa says she was never allowed to finish and introduce her guest.

Asuka’s music hits and out comes the Raw women’s champion. Bayley and Sasha attack Nikki and Alexa as Asuka gets in the ring and she helps clear house. Alexa says they need to settle their issues and Alexa asks for a referee.

Promo: Daniel Bryan

Matt Riddle is backstage preparing with Drew Gulak for his Intercontinental championship match tonight.

Daniel Bryan cuts a pre-recorded promo talking about tonight’s match. He says AJ can become the greatest Intercontinental champion of all time but if he’s not careful, his reign will be short.

Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Asuka & Nikki Cross

The bell rings and we are under way. Bayley asks for Nikki to get in the ring as Asuka tags her in. Nikki goes right after Bayley taking her down. Nikki throws Bayley into the corner and she stomps on her. She goes to throw Bayley again in the opposite corner but Bayleyblocks it and gets Nikki in the corner. She runs towards Nikki but Nikki throws her onto the ring apron. Sasha tries to get in the ring and with the referee distracted, Bayley slams Nikki down.

Bayley tags Sasha into the match. A suplex by Sasha as she goes for the cover but Nikki kicks out. Bayley is tagged back in and they double team Nikki. Bayley goes for the cover but Nikki kicks out. With the referee distracted by Bayley, Sasha slams Nikki into the ropes. Bayley tags Sasha in and they double team Nikki. Sasha with a knee to the face. Again, she throws Nikki into the corner and beats up on her. Bayley is tagged in, she goes for the suplex but Nikki reverses it into a small package but Bayley kicks out. Bayley gets back up and a head lock on Nikki as Nikki gets out of it and makes the tag.

In comes Asuka with kicks. Sasha is tagged in but Asuka takes them both down. Asuka beating up on Sasha as she hits Bayley with the hip attack. Asuka runs towards Sasha but Sasha slams her and throws her to the outside. Sasha goes for a baseball slide but Asuka gets her caught up in between the ring apron. Nikki is tagged in and Nikki beating up on Sasha. Bayley goes after Nikki and Nikki gets her caught in between the ring apron.

Back from commercial, Sasha with a clothesline on Asuka in the ring. She goes for the cover but Asuka kicks out. Sasha sends Asuka in the corner and gets her stuck horizontally on the ropes. Sasha with the double knees. She goes for the cover but Asuka kicks out. Bayley is tagged in as they double team Asuka. Bayley goes for the cover but Asuka kicks out. Bayley with an elbow as she goes for the cover but again Asuka kicks out. Bayley throws Asuka in the corner and Sasha is tagged in. Sasha with a snap mare head lock.

Asuka with elbows as she gets out of it but Sasha gets her in the corner and Bayley is tagged back in. Asuka with a back elbow on Bayley as she rolls her up but Bayley kicks out. A knee to the face by Asuka and both women are down. Nikki is tagged in and as is Sasha. Nikki with a clothesline followed by a drop kick. Nikki with a big splash in the corner followed by a bulldog. She goes for the cover but Sasha kicks out. Nikki climbs the top rope as she goes for a cross body but Sasha moves out of the way.

Sasha with a basement drop kick as she goes for the cover but Nikki kicks out. Bayley is tagged in and Bayley climbs the top rope. Nikki drops Bayley down but Bayley throws her to the outside. Bayley on the outside but Nikki with a tornado DDT on the outside. She throws Bayley into the ring and goes for the cover but Sasha breaks it up. In comes Asuka who beats up on Sasha but Sasha with a big kick takes Asuka to the outside.

Sasha gets ion the ring apron, Bayley goes for the tag but Sasha jumps towards Asuka on the outside but Asuka moves out of the way. Nikki goes for the tornado DDT but Bayley reverses it into the cover as she puts her legs on the ropes and gets the pin.

Winners: Bayley and Sasha Banks

Backstage: The Miz & John Morrison

Miz and Morrison are backstage as Miz tells him Strowman isn’t scary. Morrison tells him Strowman is 6 foot 9, they call him a monster. Miz says just like in every horror movie, the hero defeats the monster. Morrison says and in that movie, there’s an even more awesome best friend who steps in and fights the monster in case he’s not ready. Miz says he’s not much into horror movies but Morrison has this win.

Firefly Fun House

Bray Wyatt is outside at a swamp at night. He says it’s beautiful, peaceful. He says when Strowman first stepped foot on the swamp, he was a lost sheep looking for a home and he found it. He looked the devil in the eyes and he gave him the truth. He gave him a purpose. And he created the monster. But then he left or so he thought. Wyatt laughs.

Wyatt says this is a place where darkness comes to life, where the devil comes to dance and all the horrors of the world feel right at home. When you enter, you can never truly leave. A part of you of you will live here forever but he knows Braun. He knows the truth. He knows that the monster he created is just scratching, waiting to come home. He can see that it still lives within Braun. But he’s not capable on his own. He says he must control it. He didn’t embrace the monster he was destined to be, so now Wyatt must destroy the monster that he has become. Bray tells him he knows where to find him.

John Morrison vs. Braun Strowman

Braun says he will give him a very important piece of information. There comes a time in a man’s life when he has to grow up and face his fears. And t hat’s what he will do on Sunday when he enters the gates of hell and slap the devil himself in the face. And that is the only way he knows how to end this. He has to go home, go to the swamp and face his fears. Because the last thing he wants is for him to turn into the Fiend because the Fiend is everything bad he has ever done in his life. He has to go home and end him before Wyatt ends him.

Morrison and Miz look scared as they leave the ring. Strowman starts yelling as Morrison gets in the ring and the bell rings.

Strowman grabs Morrison and throws him across the ring. He hits Morrison with a big clothesline. Strowman rubs his boot on Morrison’s head. Strowman with punches as he man handles Morrison. Strowman lifts Morrison up with a one handed chokeslam and slams him into the mat. Strowman with a sadistic laugh. He lifts Morrison up and a big powerslam. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Braun Strowman

After the match, Strowman grabs a mic and looks at the camera. He tells Wyatt he hopes he was watching because he is coming home. Miz and WWE officials help Morrison as Miz helps him to the back.

Lacey Evans vs. Naomi

Evans is on the mic before the match. She says after tonight, Naomi’s glow will be nothing but a little sparkle. Naomi makes her way down to the ring.

The bell rings and we are under way. Naomi throws Lacey across the ring and a knee to the face. She throws Lacey onto the ring apron but Lacey with a shoulder block and a leg sweep. Lacey with an elbow on Naomi. She goes for the cover but Naomi kicks out. Lacey with another elbow. She climbs the second rope, goes for the moon sault but Naomi gets the knees up. Naomi with a split onto Lacey. She goes for the cover but Lacey kicks out.

A kick to the midsection by Naomi, Lacey goes for the Woman’s Rights, Naomi ducks and hits her with a hurricanrana. Lacey on the ring apron and Naomi with a big kick to the head. Naomi grabs Lacey but Lacey grabs Naomi’s hair and ties her up to the middle rope using her hair. The referee helps Naomi untie her hair as Evans hits her with the Woman’s Rights. She goes for the cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Lacey Evans

Backstage: Jeff Hardy, Sheamus

Kayla is backstage with Jeff Hardy. She says since his return to the WWE, Sheamus has made fun of his addiction and why he accepted the match against Sheamus. Jeff says fighting a bully like Sheamus is like fighting an addiction. You can’t hide from it, you have to plant our feet on the ground and fight it. It’s a risk fighting him at Extreme Rules but it’s one worth taking. Kayla asks him who he thinks will win tonight. Jeff says it’s a bitter question because Sheamus framed him and he had to pull out of the Intercontinental title tournament. Sheamus attacks Jeff from behind and says Jeff is right, you can’t run, hide or wish it away. But he is here to help and he will cleanse him of his demons and to see him on SmackDown next week.

Backstage: Bayley, Sasha Banks

Kayla is backstage with Bayley and Sasha. She congratulates them on their win and asks if the momentum will continue at Extreme Rules. Bayley says yes because no one has more momentum than her. Momentum is mass x velocity as she looks at her championships. She says when she holds them, she has more mass than Nikki and more velocity. And after Sasha decimates Asuka, she will be a double champion. It’s fate. Sasha says it’s their destiny to win all championship gold. Bayley says Nikki thinks she is disappointed in herself now? She will hate to see her after she loses her title match.

Backstage: Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, Bayley, Sasha Banks

Alexa and Nikki are backstage and Nikki says she lost last week and tonight. Alexa says she has been there and she won’t blow it. Nikki says she loves her, they are best friends but this is her first chance of being champion. They are watching her lose every week. She says her confidence is shaken and she is worried it will happen.

Bliss says she will defeat Bayley. We hear Bayley laughing as Nikki attacks her from behind and Sasha breaks it up. In comes Alexa who pulls Nikki away.

Intercontinental Championship
AJ Styles (c) vs. Matt Riddle

The bell rings and we are under way. Riddle with a waist lock but AJ backs him up in the corner and back elbows by AJ as the referee breaks it up. AJ with forearms but Riddle with a gut wrench on AJ taking him down. AJ goes to the outside as he climbs the turnbuckle and Riddle hits him with a knee to the face taking him down. Riddle goes to the outside and a kick to the side of the head by Riddle.

Back from commercial, Riddle is in control of the match as he slams AJ with another waist lock take down. Riddle with right hands but AJ makes it to the ropes. The referee breaks it up. Riddle with a fisherman’s suplex but AJ kicks out. AJ slams Riddle on the ropes and plants Riddle face first as both men are down. AJ the first onto his feet and forearms by AJ in the corner and a dragon screw takes Riddle down.

AJ with kicks on Riddle’s left leg as Riddle slides to the outside. Riddle gets back in the ring and AJ keeps attacking Riddle’s left knee. AJ with forearms and a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring. AJ lifts Riddle up but Riddle lands on his feet and kicks AJ into the corner. Riddle with a flying forearm followed by a running kick to the face.

Riddle lifts AJ up on his shoulders and lands the Bro to Sleep followed by the powerbomb and a running knee. He goes for the cover but AJ Styles kicks out.

Back from commercial, AJ with a big clothesline on Riddle takes him down. Forearms by AJ on Riddle but Riddle with a chop to the chest. AJ with a chop to the chest and a kick to the knees. Riddle with a release German suplex. Riddle gets AJ in the corner but AJ with a kick to the face takes Riddle down. AJ with right hands and a big forearm splash. AJ goes for the Styles Clash but Riddle drops down. AJ with a suplex but Riddle lands on his feet and hits AJ with the Final Flash. Riddle on the top rope as he goes for the Floating Bro but AJ moves out of the way.

AJ lifts Riddle up but Riddle grabs the ropes and gets on the ring apron. AJ with a right hand and a brain buster from the ring apron into the ring. He goes for the cover but Matt Riddle kicks out. AJ with a knee to the back of the neck. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out. AJ gets on the ring apron, he goes for the Phenomenal Forearm but Riddle catches Styles but AJ fights back and both men are down.

Riddle with right hands, he goes for a kick but AJ ducks and hits him with right hands of his own. AJ with the calf crusher in the middle of the ring. Riddle reverses it into the Bromission. AJ gets out of it and reverses it into a cover and gets the pin.

Winner: Still WWE Intercontinental champion, AJ Styles

Both men are face to face after the math as AJ extends his hand and Riddle shakes it. Corbin attacks Riddle from behind as AJ leaves the ring. He hits Riddle with the End of Days.