SmackDown Live this week marks night two of the Superstar Shake-up, so after losing a lot of Superstars to Raw last night, General Manager Paige looks to make up for the losses tonight. Highlights include Jeff Hardy bringing the United States Championship back to SmackDown as well as AJ Styles teaming up with Daniel Bryan in the main event.
AJ Styles vs. Rusev (w/Aiden English)
WWE Champion AJ Styles kicks off the show with a promo calling out Shinsuke Nakamura for a fight. Instead, he is interrupted by Rusev Day who wants to fight him instead.
In less than thirty seconds, Styles locks in the Calf Crusher but it is broken up by Aiden English. An assault is stopped by Daniel Bryan and this opening segment leads to tonight’s tag team main event. Winner (via disqualification): AJ Styles
Shelton Benjamin vs. Jeff Hardy
Before this match begins, Shelton Benjamin denounces his former partner Chad Gable before calling out the “biggest competition.” Randy Orton first answers the challenge before he is interrupted by the new United States Champion Jeff Hardy. Hardy won the title from Jinder Mahal last night when Mahal was traded to Raw.
After hitting the Twist of Fate, Hardy uses the Swanton Bomb to pick up his second victory in less than 24 hours. Winner: Jeff Hardy
Jey Uso (w/Jimmy Uso) vs. Luke Harper (w/Erick Rowan)
Last week, The Usos defeated the New Day to earn a SmackDown Tag Team Championship match against the Bludgeon Brothers at the Greatest Royal Rumble event. In preparation, we get a little preview when Jey Uso faces Luke Harper.
With a distraction from Erick Rowan at ringside, Luke Harper hits Jey Uso with his signature discus clothesline to score the win. Winner: Luke Harper
Sin Cara vs. Samoa Joe
As soon as Sin Cara was seen in the ring it was a sign of a trade from Raw coming to give him an “L.” Samoa Joe dominates Sin Cara before forcing him to tap with the Coquina Clutch. Winner (via submission): Samoa Joe
Charlotte Flair (w/Becky Lynch) vs. Billie Kay (w/Peyton Royce)
Billie Kay’s main roster debut all started from the ‘Mellabration, where Carmella was celebrating her SmackDown Women’s Championship victory last week when she cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase. Charlotte came out to respond before the Kay and Peyton Royce took credit for Carmella’s victory. This led to an assault on the champion that was ended when Becky Lynch showed up.
Even though Kay dominates most of the match. Flair locks in the Figure Eight Leg Lock to get the victory. Immediately after the match, Carmella and the IIconics attack Flair and Lynch. The assault continues until Asuka shows up and fights off the IIconics. Winner (via submission): Charlotte Flair
Daniel Bryan & AJ Styles vs. Rusev & Aiden English
Because of how the opening match ended, Paige went all Teddy Long and created a tag team match for the main event.
Daniel Bryan looks to tag AJ Styles, but Shinsuke Nakamura shows up to hit Styles with a low blow. Since Bryan can’t tag out, he turns around only to get hit by a big boot from the returning Big Cass. Winners (vis disqualification): Daniel Bryan & AJ Styles
