Welcome to the Smackdown Review for July 25, 2017. For both this and Raw, I will go over what the big talking points were, pick the match of the night, and look ahead to the next show.
Talking Points
Jinder’s Next Opponent
The feud with Randy Orton over, Jinder Mahal looked toward Summerslam. He promised to destroy who ever challenged him next. John Cena came out, inserting himself into the title picture. What might have been a foregone conclusion took a turn when Daniel Bryan appeared. He stated that next week, Cena would fight Shinsuke Nakamura for the right to challenge Mahal. While some might see Cena as the only choice, Nakamura is my pick to win. What better story line then to have him win the title and then a Lone Wolf decides to cash in his Money in the Bank?
Break the Walls Down
Welcome back, Chris Jericho. The lead singer of Fozzy and future first ballot Hall of Famer shocked everyone when he returned to the blue brand. One of the best moments was seeing Jericho listening to the crowd cheering for him with a large smile on his face. His other duties might not make him a constant presence, but we should enjoy him while we can. Jericho, as a character, always works best when he can be the most sarcastic person in the ring. Plus, he brought The List with him! Man, I love Jericho
A Celebration Ruined
After having probably the best match at Battleground, The New Day walked toward the ring to celebrate with the WWE Universe. They never made it. The Uso’s beat them down on what looked more then a gang ambush then a fight. They even threw Xavier Woods into the edge on the LED screen in a move that had me concerned that he was actually knocked out. This kind of fire and treachery is exactly what the Uso’s need to become better heels. In their matches, there were still people chanting their name. After tonight, there should be far less Uso fans.
Match of the Night
AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens (Styles wins by pin fall to become the US Champion)
This was a Pay-Per-View quality main event. Each men looked for any advantage, and their desire for the US belt kept them rising off the mat. Jericho looked as if he had last wrestled the night before. AJ Styles hit everything he could, and Kevin Owens had a fire in his eyes we had not seen in awhile. The ending, Styles pinning Jericho after Owens had the match won, gave Owens a reason for a rematch next week. What is very interesting was Owen’s meltdown after the match. He looked deranged, the loss perhaps breaking his mind. This is a new development for the Face of American and one that could show a new side to him.
Conclusion
Reaction for Battleground was more negative then positive. I liked it, but I don’t fault anyone who didn’t. This episode of Smackdown was for those people who didn’t like Battleground, proof that they can still deliver. With the two big main events for next week, the pressure will be on to keep the bar high. Story lines need to advance in order to be ready for Summerslam. Question will need to be answered. The only question I have is… What Happened to Fandango??