Rate Smackdown Live 7/11/2017

[Jacob Fox]

Rate this week's episode of Smackdown Live! and leave us some comments telling us if it was good or if it blew (or anywhere in between).

Spoiler: Smackdown Live Results

Opening

AJ Styles was introduced as the new United States Champion. He said his face was an upgrade from Kevin Owens as the face of America. AJ reinstated the US Championship Open Challenge. John Cena then came to the ring. Cena asked if AJ meant everyone but him and AJ told him, "especially you." They then called for the referee.

US Open Challenge: Champion AJ Styles vs John Cena

The match was about to start and Kevin Owens came to the ring. He said no one wants to see this match and they only want to see him get the title back. John Cena responded to Owens and then was attacked by Rusev. Owens and Rusev attacked Cena and Styles. They then left.

Jinder Mahal vs Tye Dillinger

Mahal ran by pin fall.

Xavier Woods vs Jey Uso

Woods won by pin fall.

Backstage

Shane McMahon was on the phone and approached by Naomi. She was concerned because she wanted an opponent for the championship. Charlotte then showed up and then Becky Lynch showed up as well. Then, Natalya, Lana and Tamina showed up. Shane set up a five way elimination match between the five of them and the winner of the match will go up against Naomi at Summerslam.

After some bickering Shane made a match between Charlotte and Becky vs Tamina and Natalya. Carmella then brought a letter from an attorney ordered that James Ellsworth be reinstated immediately. Shane ripped it up and told her to give it to her attorney.

Then Baron Corbin was being interviewed. He said that he was afraid of what he would do to Shinsuke Nakamura in their match tonight.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Baron Corbin

Nakamura attacked Corbin before the match and the two brawled. Nakamura then went into the ring and invited Corbin in. Corbin left and the match never happened.

Charotte Flair and Becky Lynch vs Natalya vs Tamina

Tamina and Natalya won by pin fall.

AJ Styles and John Cena vs Kevin Owens and Rusev

AJ and Cena won by pin fall.

 

[Grievous 3D]

This week on "The Becky & Charlotte" Show...hopefully this week actually
featuring Becky & Charlotte...

~ Styles makes the US title seem so much more important...and I'm guessing we
will get Styles/Cena vs. Owens/Rusev? Sounds like a plan to me.

~ Its always great to see the Perfect 10...but...Jinder had to win this one.
Also I really like Jinder's finisher...the Khallas. In fact...give me a second...

*Opens his RWK file and makes some changes*

I'll take care of that later...

~ And Xavier Woods gets the win against Jey Uso...Nice. I just hope the next tag
title match has a better finish than the one at MitB.

~ So I'm going to be brutally honest right now. The RAW women's division is a
stale, repetitive mess...but the same could be said for blue brand.

We keep getting these multi women matches that aren't really developing any
feuds and while its great that all the women are getting screen/TV/match time...
I think the SmackDown women's division needs to build some proper feuds.

We are basically seeing the same tag match over and over again. Charlotte &
Becky (+ or - Naomi) vs. Natalya & Tamina (+ or - Carmella). I think some new
blood needs to be introduced into the division...some fresh faces to really mix
things up. I mean Summer Rae could do that...but why not someone completely
new...like say Liv Morgan?

Just thinking out loud...

I think it was a mistake to turn Charlotte face and it has basically robbed the
fans of seeing Charlotte vs. Becky in a high stakes title match at Summerslam.

May-be we'll get to see that match at Wrestlemania 34?

So now we have a five-way elimination match at Battleground for the title shot at
Summerslam. Okay...fine...but who is Naomi defending the title against at Battlegound?
Naomi vs. Carmella? That could work I guess...

I also want to point out that SummerSlam this year is taking place in Brooklyn...
Carmella's "hometown" which means Carmella will most likely cash in and win the
title to a huge pop...so no matter who wins at Battleground...they will most
likely either be defeated by Naomi...or have Carmella cash in on them with a
superkick and the Code of Silence.

Just saying.

~ No Carmella...Ellsworth can stay the fuck away for the time being. You don't
need that chinless freak anyway...ditch his stupid ass so he can stop hanging
around the women's division like a chinless bad smell!

~ So...Nakamura vs. Corbin at Battleground? Well...that sounds fine in theory but
realistically neither of these men can really loose the match.

Corbin needs to be look strong as a credible threat with the briefcase and well...
Nakamura hasn't really set the world on fire since he arrived on the main roster.

I'm actually worried about Nakamura...I think he arrived in the WWE 5 years too late.

~ And we get the much repeated women's division tag match and...

*Watches Match*

Wow...okay...so that's the first time Charlotte has been pinned since arriving
on SmackDown. That ends Charlotte's personal "undefeated" run of 3 months.
That is kind of a big deal. May-be they are finally going to push Tamina as a
singles competitor and not just an enforcer/bodyguard.

I mean its about 5 years too late but good luck to Tamina.

I also want to state that the SmackDown women's division is now out of balance
with 4 heels and 3 faces. Draft Liv Morgan from NXT already! Or put Mickie James
back on SmackDown!

~ Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis at Battleground?

~ Look...I'm glad Tyler Breeze. Fandango, Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder are getting TV
time...but...I honestly don't really care for the fashion files.

~ And I just want to say this was a great main event and its awesome that Rusev
is back on TV. I'm really hoping Rusev gets a clean win over Cena at Battleground...
but something tells me I'm living in a fantasy land where Rusev doesn't have any
backstage heat.

And I'm done...

 

[The Gipper]

I think it was a mistake to turn Charlotte face

I also want to state that the SmackDown women's division is now out of balance
with 4 heels and 3 faces.

Well, what would you prefer? Charlotte as a heel and they have 5 heels & 2 faces which is even more out of balance or what they have now?

 

[Grievous 3D]

Well, what would you prefer? Charlotte as a heel and they have 5 heels & 2 faces which is even more out of balance or what they have now?

Well...if Charlotte was kept a heel...Tamina would have been a
face and teamed up with Naomi is a (kind of) Team B.A.D. reunion.

I thought that would have been implied...but I guess I
should have explained my opinions/views/ideas better.

It would have been better if they had set the division up like this.

Heels:
Charlotte
Natalya
Carmella
& eventually
Lana

Faces:
Naomi
Becky
Tamina
& eventually
Nikki Bella

That way we could have had Charlotte feud with Naomi, Becky,
Tamina & eventually Nikki Bella.

Again...just thinking out loud and explaining how I'd be booking
the SmackDown women's division.

 

[Gman003]

Haven't watched the episode, but my question is why is it so important to have it perfectly balanced? 4 and 3 is good. Not everything has to be the same to work well.

 

[Prince Bálor]

The show was good and simply flew by. 7/10

 

[trumanblack]

6/10

 

[LoneStar305]

6/10 Am I the only one tuning in to watch AJ Styles and Mike/Maria and literally nothing else?

 

[Grievous 3D]

6/10 Am I the only one tuning in to watch AJ Styles and Mike/Maria and literally nothing else?

Well...If I'm being honest I only watch the segments/matches
with Becky & Charlotte...and the other ladies of course.