In just a few days, SmackDown Live hosts the Battleground Pay-Per-View. Tonight’s episode is set to get the fans excited for Sunday’s show, and WWE plans on doing that by a tag team main event and showcasing the Punjabi Prison.
Opening Segment
At Battleground this Sunday, Jinder Mahal will defend the WWE Championship against Randy Orton in a Punjabi Prison match, so the Modern Day Maharaja has brought the colossal structure to SmackDown Live. The Singh Brothers explain how the match works (which is still a little fuzzy), but it boils down to the fact that the only way to win is to escape two cages, with the second being larger than the first.
Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso) vs. Kofi Kingston (w/Big E & Xavier Woods)
Before their clash for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships in five days, The New Day and The Usos have been battling in singles competition. Last week, Jey Uso took on Xavier Woods. The Usos tried to leave the match (which is how they retained the titles at Money in the Bank) but the New Day had the numbers advantage, forcing Jey Uso to compete in the match that he would end up losing. Tonight, another member of the New Day takes on the other half of the champions.
Kofi Kingston hits Jimmy Uso with a flying cross body, but Jimmy Uso rolls through, using Kingston’s momentum against him for the quick cover and the win. Winner: Jimmy Uso
Interview w/Chad Gable
Last night on Raw, Kurt Angle revealed a huge announcement: Jason Jordan is his son. Somehow, Jordan never revealed this information to his tag team partner and the other half of American Alpha, Chad Gable. Gable supports Jordan and his future endeavors on Raw while using this split as a perfect time to show what he can do on his own. If his matches with Kevin Owens and AJ Styles are anything to go on, he will be a star in no time.
Mike Kanellis (w/Maria Kanellis) vs. Sami Zayn
At Money in the Bank, Mike and Maria Kanellis debuted (or returned in Maria’s case) by professing their love for each other. Over the past few weeks, Sami Zayn has been heading to the ring for matches and accidentally interrupting their love fests in the process. After Zayn apologized several times, Maria demanded yet another apology from him last week. Zayn refused, so Mike smashed a vase over his head.
Sami Zayn throws Mike Kanellis into the corner with an Exploder Suplex to set him up for the Helluva Kick. Maria Kanellis comes into the ring and blocks Zayn from getting to her husband. When the referee finally gets her out of the ring, Mike punches Zayn right across the mouth. He then picks Zayn up for a Samoan Driver, picking up the win in his WWE debut. Winner: Mike Kanellis
In-ring Segment
For the second time tonight, a WWE Superstar comes down to the ring to address an unusual stipulation for a match at Battleground. This time, it is John Cena hyping up his Flag Match against the Bulgarian Brute, Rusev. After a patriotic promo from Cena, Rusev attacks him from behind and locks in the Accolade (also known as the Camel Clutch). Cena tries to power out, but to no avail. Rusev takes the Bulgarian flag and waves it on his way to the back.
Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte
In five days, there will be a Fatal Five-Way Elimination Match between Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Lana, Tamina, and Natalya to decide who will face Naomi at SummerSlam for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. While Shane McMahon was trying to figure out a women’s match for tonight, Natalya convinced him to pit Charlotte and Becky Lynch against each other.
After some great counter wrestling, Becky Lynch locks in the Disarm-her. Charlotte tries to roll out of it, but Lynch positions the move perfectly so Charlotte has no choice but to tap. After the match, Tamina, Lana, and Natalya attack them. Natalya tries to attack Tamina, but the unlikely alliance between Tamina and Lana leave them standing tall at the end of the brawl. Winner (via submission): Becky Lynch
AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin
In true WWE fashion, a tag team match in the main event throws two upcoming Pay-Per-View matches into one. Shinsuke Nakamura and Baron Corbin have had their issues over the past few weeks and they will collide on Sunday. Also at Battleground, Kevin Owens will challenge AJ Styles for the United States Championship after losing the belt to Styles at Madison Square Garden.
Styles sets Corbin up for the Styles Clash, but he doesn’t realize that Owens tagged himself in. Owens hits Styles with a Superkick then finishes him off with the Pop-up Powerbomb to pick up the win and build momentum to his US Title match. Winners: Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin
