The 07/31/18 edition of WWE SmackDown Live, out of the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, just wrapped up. We’ve got the WWE SmackDown Live results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about episode #989 of WWE SmackDown Live by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
Becky Lynch Interview
A sign of sportsmanship from @CarmellaWWE? #SDLive #SummerSlam @BeckyLynchWWE pic.twitter.com/4NBIKXyFTl
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 1, 2018
Out in the ring, Renee Young interviewed Becky Lynch regarding the SmackDown Women’s Championship to kick off the show. Becky said that she was more than ready for her title shot at SummerSlam, at this point she’s planning ahead. After she wins the championship at SummerSlam, she will carry it all the way to Evolution and defend it there.
Carmella broke up the interview and took things in an unexpected direction. She made a heartfelt speech about the women’s revolution and being jealous of Becky all along. To cap it off, she wished Becky good luck at SummerSlam and offered her hand in a truce, but James Ellsworth’s music hit, distracting Becky long enough for Carmella to turn on her, attacking her from behind. Carmella pulled a chair out from under the ring, but before she could do any further damage, Charlotte ran down the ramp to save her friend.
Afterward, Paige told the champ that she should be ashamed of her actions and as punishment, set a match against Charlotte to take place later in the evening. If Charlotte wins said match, the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at SummerSlam will be a triple threat.
The Usos vs. The Bar
NOT THE FACE!!! @WWEUsos @WWECesaro #SDLive pic.twitter.com/hY5TrTZn1x
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2018
Backstage before the match, The Usos cut yet another awesome promo, even throwing in a Rock reference. WWE has been going pretty hard with these lately, maybe this means the Great One is making his return soon?
With The New Day at commentary (seated at their very own orange table complete with trays of pancakes and boxes of Booty-O’s), The Bar and The Usos competed in the second match of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship (mini) tournament.
This was a great tag match. The Usos worked hard against Sheamus and Cesaro, nearly putting them away more than once, but never quite able to seal to the deal. In the end, The Bar proved their cohesiveness as a team and won the match with an awesome tag team maneuver.
Winner: The Bar
Samoa Joe Goes Straight for the Throat
“You have put being a champion above all else, even if it means being a failure as a father!” Yep, this is one personal message… #SDLive @SamoaJoe @AJStylesORg pic.twitter.com/bXPHCpOsSf
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2018
The Samoan Destroyer marched to the ring to cut a promo on the WWE Champion, AJ Styles. He said he respected Styles’ talent and work ethic – particularly the fact that he puts his career before everything else, even his family. Joe said that Styles talks a big game about being a family man, but in reality, has very little time to spend with them. Joe said not to worry, however, because he’ll have plenty more time to spend with his wife and children after he takes the championship off Styles’ hands at SummerSlam.
The Viper Strikes Again
#ImmuneToFear, but not a snakebite from #TheViper. #SDLive @JEFFHARDYBRAND @RandyOrton pic.twitter.com/GbuI9UlxQG
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2018
Jeff Hardy came to the ring to discuss what the United States Championship means to him. He said it was part of his life force, that he wasn’t whole without it. But almost as important as the championship was getting revenge on Randy Orton.
Orton joined Hardy in the ring but didn’t attack him (at first). Instead, Shinsuke Nakamura appeared, ambushing Hardy from behind. After hitting a Kinshasa on Hardy and having a short, but strange interaction with Orton, Nakamura left Hardy to The Viper.
Orton proceeded to pick Jeff Hardy apart piece by piece, first beating him down in the ring, then laying him on the announce table, removing his armbands and necklace, and finally rubbing his face paint off with a water bottle and a washcloth, taking everything away that makes Jeff who he is before walking away unconcerned.
Lana vs. Zelina Vega
Somebody call @BookerT5x!!! #SDLive @LanaWWE pic.twitter.com/5OCBDzClQA
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 1, 2018
Zelina started out tranquilo, but lost her cool when Lana responded with a pose of her own. After a short match (and a spinaroonie), Andrade Almas attempted to distract Lana. She managed to overcome the interference, and it looked like she might take the victory, but Aiden English ran down to pull Andrade away, actually costing the Ravishing Russian the match. Poor Aiden keeps digging a deeper hole with the other members of Rusev Day.
Aiden approached Lana backstage and tried to apologize, but Rusev scared him away by asking to speak with him. Rusev said that she would never have lost if he had been there, at which point Lana had enough, saying that he was right, she really needed him and he wasn’t there for her.
Winner: Zelina Vega
Daniel Bryan Addresses The Miz
.@WWEDanielBryan is CALLING OUT @mikethemiz and he wants to PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/pISrWEMmZi
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2018
In the ring, Daniel Bryan said that he was proud of his wife and all of the other women’s wrestlers in WWE, but that there was someone he was not so happy with – The Miz. After using Maryse and “Monroe” to trick Daniel last week, and spending all of his time talking about his new reality TV show instead of doing his job as a wrestler, Bryan had lost all respect for him.
Miz got on the big screen and essentially told Daniel to stop being a baby and quit if he was so upset about everything. And then literally showed a bunch of crying babies on the screen.
Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair
#TheQueen has landed! #SDLive @MsCharlotteWWE @CarmellaWWE pic.twitter.com/5UZHM53whv
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2018
This was a fun match; Carmella held her own against Charlotte Flair, but once The Queen brought out the Figure 8, it was over. The SmackDown Women’s Championship match at SummerSlam will now be a triple threat between Carmella, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) August 1, 2018
