WWE SmackDown live results: Liv Morgan vs. Natalya
On the road to SummerSlam, SmackDown takes place tonight at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns cut a promo last week ahead of his title defense against Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Theory showed up to tease that he’ll cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase after Reigns and Lesnar’s Last Man Standing match.
Tonight, Theory goes one-on-one with Madcap Moss.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan takes on Natalya in a non-title championship contender’s match tonight. Morgan celebrated winning the title last week until Natalya interrupted. Natalya pointed out that she injured Ronda Rousey at Money in the Bank and Morgan took advantage. Eventually, Rousey came out and beat Natalya with the ankle lock.
A singles match between Angelo Dawkins and Jimmy Uso is also set for tonight. The Usos are defending their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles against The Street Profits at SummerSlam. That match will have a special guest referee — and we’ll find out tonight who that referee will be.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Pat McAfee Segment
Michael Cole was standing in the ring to start SmackDown. He then introduced his broadcast partner Pat McAfee to a big reaction. Cole mentioned that McAfee recently signed a multi-year extension.
McAfee came to the ring without a neck brace. He noted he’s happy to be in Orlando tonight. He apologized to the fans for having to listen to Corey Graves last week because of his injury. They showed footage of Happy Corbin attacking McAfee after Money in the Bank. Last week, Corbin and Graves mocked McAfee by dancing to Shinsuke Nakamura’s music.
McAfee mentioned knowing Corbin before they were in the WWE. He claimed Corbin was humble and a hard worker, but he changed. McAfee noted the show isn’t TV-14 yet. He promised to beat Corbin at SummerSlam.
Corbin interrupted on the big screen. He told McAfee to go back behind the commentary table where he belongs. Corbin added that’s he a fighter, and McAfee used to punt footballs. He claimed he got a rash from sitting at commentary last week or from the fans. He said it could even be monkeypox. Corbin’s staying away from McAfee until SummerSlam because of his rash.
McAfee said Corbin faked monkeypox. He’s going to see him at SummerSlam. McAfee felt it was time to move on and introduced SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan.
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Championship Contenders Match: SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan defeated Natalya (9:16)
Natalya and Morgan had a fine match. It was rough in some spots, and they seemed on different pages. .
Morgan took over with a dropkick on Natalya and scored a series of near falls. Natalya fought back and went for the sharpshooter on the apron. Morgan escaped and went for oblivion, but Natalya blocked it. She then gave Morgan a slingshot into the ring post.
Back from the break, Natalya had Morgan in a backbreaker submission. Morgan broke free and hit a missile dropkick. Morgan did a kick-up and ran wild on Natalya. Natalya recovered and hit a release German suplex for a close near fall.
They struggled on the top rope until Morgan slipped out. Natalya got back to her feet and hit a sit-out powerbomb for near fall. She locked on the ankle lock, but Morgan broke free. She then hit oblivion for the win.
After the match, Kayla Braxton interviewed Morgan in the ring. Braxton noted Rousey had a more dominant win over Natalya last week. The fans booed. Morgan admitted she’s the underdog going into SummerSlam but promised to retain the title.
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In the back, Megan Morant interviewed Theory. Theory admitted he has a lot of enemies, including Bobby Lashley and Dolph Ziggler. Paul Heyman interrupted. Heyman pointed out that he’s responsible for the biggest break in Theory’s career.
Heyman tried to convince Theory not to cash in at SummerSlam. Instead, Heyman wants to work with Theory. He wants to schedule a title match with Roman Reigns at a later date. Heyman added all Theory has to do is not cash in and let him handle everything. Theory thanked Heyman, but he’s cashing in against Reigns or Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.
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The New Day Segment
This was a fine segment. New Day, Shanky, and Jinder Mahal set up a trap for the Raiders. New Day were good in the segment.
The Viking Raiders music hit, but The New Day came out instead. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods came out dressed like the Viking Raiders.
Back from the break, they recapped The Viking Raiders beating down Jinder Mahal, Shanky, and The New Day last week. New Day made fun of the Raiders. Kingston pointed out that Woods sounds like a pirate. They mocked the Raiders and added they watched all the Thor movies.
The New Vicious Viking Raiders’ music hit, and they walked onto the stage. New Day screamed that they were imposters. The Raiders promised to break the New Day. New Day made fun of the Raiders again, and Woods sang part of “U.G.L.Y.”
The Viking Raiders heard enough and started walking to the ring. Woods pulled out a horn. Suddenly, Mahal and Shanky jumped The Raiders. The Viking Raiders took off as New Day and Shanky danced around Mahal in the ring. Cole claimed the Raiders fell for New Day, Mahal, and Shanky’s trap.
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In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser. They recapped Kaiser losing to Shinsuke Nakamura last week and Gunther chopping Kaiser. Gunther won’t tolerate failure. Braxton announced that Kaiser takes on Nakamura in a rematch next week. Gunther yelled at Kaiser to take off his jacket. Gunther then gave Kaiser a vicious chop that left Braxton shocked.
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They recapped Lacey Evans’ heel turn from last week.
Lacey Evans vs. Aliyah
Evans and Aliyah didn’t have a match. Evans cut a promo instead and walked out. Evans got a lot of boos but also a “What” chant.
During Evans’s entrance, they did a ton of quick shots of the audience. Evans demanded they restart her music. The fans booed Evans loudly. Evans took the mic and said she’s better than the fans.
Evans mentioned serving her county, and the fans broke into a loud “You suck” chant. She’s disgusted with the fans. Evans called herself an American hero, and the fans started a “What” chant.
Evans claimed she felt terrible for offending the fans. She tried to apologize, but the fans wouldn’t accept. She then told them to go to hell and walked out of the ring. Aliyah just stood in the ring and watched.
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They recapped Drew McIntyre defeating Butch last week.
Drew McIntyre defeated Ridge Holland (w/The Brawling Brutes) (3:24)
McIntrye and Holland had a fine match. They originally announced McIntyre vs. Sheamus for a title shot at Clash at the Castle. As Sheamus entered, Samantha Irvin announced Ridge Holland instead. Cole and McAfee were confused. Butch jumped out of the ring and rang the bell. The match became McIntyre vs. Holland without an explanation or angle.
McIntyre was firmly in control early and hit the then beats of bodhran. He looked right at Sheamus. Cole yelled that McIntyre did it better than Sheamus. Sheamus caused a distraction, and Holland pushed McIntyre into the ring post.
Holland slowed the pace down with a chin lock. McIntyre broke free and ran wild. He set up for the Claymore, but Butch interfered. McIntyre recovered and hit white noise while looking at Sheamus. Cole thinks McIntrye did it better. McIntyre then hit the Claymore for the win.
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Theory walked to the ring for his match with Madcap Moss.
Back from the break, they recapped Brock Lesnar’s appearance on last Monday’s Raw.
In the back, Megan Morant interviewed Madcap Moss behind the curtain. Paul Heyman Interrupted. Heyman pointed out that he was responsible for the biggest break in Moss’s career. He added that Theory cashing in at SummerSlam would be bad for business.
Heyman noted that Moss injured Happy Corbin a few weeks ago. He tried to convince Moss to hurt Theory tonight. Heyman promised Moss a scheduled title shot against Roman Reigns if Theory gets injured. Moss responded that Heyman seems very worried about Theory cashing in at SummerSlam.
Moss made his entrance, and they went to another commercial.
Back from the break, they showed a Maximum Male Models video package. They debut the 2022 Beachwear collection next week. Plus, Max Dupri’s sister Maxine Dupri debuts.
Madcap Moss defeated Theory via DQ (11:55)
Moss and Theory had a good match until the weak finish. On commentary, Cole pushed that this is a match between the future of the WWE.
Theory was briefly in control with a shoulder tackle. He went for a leapfrog, but Moss caught him in mid-air. This spot was almost a disaster. Moss caught Theory but nearly dropped him on his head. They stumbled around for a bit. Moss was able to regain his balance and hit a fallaway slam.
They fought around ringside. Moss charged at Theory, but he avoided Moss with a leapfrog. Moss crashed hard into the ring steps.
Back from the break, Theory hit a rolling dropkick for a near fall. Theory took over with a chin lock to slow the pace down. Moss fought back and rocked Theory with a shoulder tackle. He followed up with a stiff clothesline and a shoulder tackle in the corner.
Theory tried fighting back, but Moss hit a spine buster for a close near fall. Theory stomped on Moss’ leg and hit a back suplex for a two-count. The fans broke into a “Theory sucks” chant.
Theory went for another rolling drop kick. Moss fought back and rocked Theory with shoulder tackle sending him out of the ring. Moss went after Theory. Theory grabbed the briefcase and hit Moss for the disqualification.
After the match, Theory promised to be the next WWE Undisputed Universal Champion. Sami Zayn interrupted with his arm in a sling. Zayn noted Theory was insulting The Bloodline by claiming he would win the title. Zayn demanded Theory apologize.
Theory mocked Zayn and pointed out he had his arm in a sling. Suddenly, The Usos music hit to a big reaction. Theory ran back to the ring, but Moss jumped him and sent him into the ring post.
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Angelo Dawkins (w/Montez Ford) defeated Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso) (7:00)
They announced Jeff Jarrett as the special referee at SummerSlam for The Usos vs. Street Profits title match.
Dawkins and Jimmy had a good match. They did another controversial finish as Jimmy had one shoulder up, but the referee didn’t see it.
Sami Zayn joined Cole and McAfee on commentary.
Jimmy had the brief advantage and sent Dawkins to ringside. Jimmy set up for a suicide dive, but Dawkins cut him off. Dawkins then tackled Jimmy over the barricade.
Back from the break, Jimmy was firmly in control and hit the Rikishi splash. Dawkins recovered quickly and rocked Jimmy with a right hand. Dawkins fired up and hit a flying elbow. He followed up with a twisting neck breaker for a near fall.
Jey tried to interfere, but Dawkins knocked him off the apron. Jimmy then collided with the referee. Dawkins rolled up Jimmy and had the match won, but the referee was down.
Jimmy hit a superkick and had the match won, but Charles Robinson was still down. Jimmy yelled at Robinson to get up. Dawkins recovered and hit a sit-out powerbomb for the win. It was a controversial finish since one of Jimmy’s shoulders wasn’t down for the count.
Adam Pearce came out and admitted that no athlete wants to lose because of bad officiating. Pearce then announced Jeff Jarrett as the special referee at SummerSlam. They showed a Jeff Jarrett video package.
The Usos and The Street Profits brawled to end SmackDown.
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Next Week: Brock Lesnar returns to SmackDown. Plus, Ronda Rousey and Liv Morgan go face-to-face. Ludwig Kaiser takes on Shinsuke Nakamura. Also, Maximum Male Models debuts the 2022 Beachwear and Maxine Dupri debuts.