WWE SmackDown live results: Shane McMahon’s response

Date: September 19, 2017
Location: Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA

The Big Takeaway —

Charlotte Flair returned and won a fatal 4-way match over Tamina, Naomi and Becky Lynch to become number one contender for Natalya’s title. Their match will happen at Hell in a Cell. Also at HIAC will be a tag title match between the New Day and the Usos.

Kevin Owens apologized for his actions from last week, while blaming Shane McMahon and warning him of what was to come. Shane also issued a warning to Owens.

Rusev defeated Randy Orton in 10 seconds with an assist from Aiden English, the US title match never happened, and there were more terrible talking segments from Jinder Mahal and Dolph Ziggler.

Also, there were no tributes to Bobby Heenan. I’m not sure he was even mentioned. 

Show Recap — 

They recapped last week’s angle, showing the headbutt twice. Shane McMahon is back to start the show. He didn’t dance to the ring. Corey Graves announced that Vince McMahon suffered three fractured ribs at the hands of Kevin Owens.

Shane called Owens’ attack cowardly. He put over Vince as a tough S.O.B., and even though they don’t always see eye-to-eye, Shane still loves his father. Shane wondered how Owens would feel if he was sitting at home with his kids, as his kids watched their grandfather get beaten down. He mentioned that Owens has yet to show up tonight. Shane promised vengeance, condemned Owens to a life of suffering, and condemned him to hell in a cell.

Randy Orton defeated Aiden English (7:08)

The ring announcer introduced Aiden English just like they do with Elias on Raw. He sang about Orton having led in his head and called him a tool before Orton interrupted. English came out on attack but Orton cut him off with a powerslam and backdrop onto the barricade. Orton was about to backdrop English onto the announce table but English countered and backdropped Orton on the table instead.

After a break, English stole another spot from Orton and had him in a chinlock. Orton made a brief comeback but English caught him with a thumb to the eye and a dropkick. English tried a dive off the middle rope but Orton caught him mid-air with an RKO for the pinfall win.

Rusev interrupted Orton’s celebration afterwards. Rusev threatened to rip the fangs out of the viper’s mouth. Rusev approached the ring and Orton nodded at the referee to go ahead and start a match.

Rusev defeated Randy Orton (0:10)

When the referee called for the bell, English jumped on the apron. Rusev countered an RKO and pushed Orton into English, then Rusev caught Orton on the rebound with a superkick for the pinfall win. They didn’t say exactly how long this went, but I timed the replay and it appeared to go 10 seconds, just like the SummerSlam match. Rusev celebrated like he won the title.

Tom Phillips announced that Kevin Owens would appear live via satellite. They also announced Charlotte would return tonight.

Rusev continued to celebrate backstage when he was approached by Renee Young. She said he seemed elated and he asked her what that meant. Rusev said he could return home a hero and chanted “Rusev number one” and the crowd chanted along. This was amusing. 

Jinder Mahal and the Singh brothers came out for a promo. Mahal acknowledged that people were in an uproar over his promo last week, including Shinsuke Nakamura himself. Mahal again posted a picture of Nakamura on the screen and made “jokes” as him and the Singhs cackled. This went on for a while as the crowd only lightly booed. Mahal then did a Japanese accent, which the crowd booed much louder. They chanted for Nakamura.

Mahal made some more racist jokes and some fans chanted, “That’s too far.” He continued in Punjabi, saying he would retain the title at Hell in a Cell (presumably). Nakamura never appeared. This was real bad, even if their intent was to deliberately piss people off.

It’s Hispanic Heritage month so they paid tribute to Jennifer Lopez.

So, Nakamura is here after all. Renee Young interviewed him backstage. Nakamura said Mahal was funny, but he wouldn’t find it funny when Nakamura beats him at Hell in a Cell for the championship. This was such a lame follow-up. This entire segment (including Renee introducing Nakamura) was 27-seconds long.

US Championship Match: AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin

The match never happened. AJ Styles first came out for a promo and had a message for Kevin Owens, that attacking Vince McMahon was not so smart. Owens attacked the man that brought him to WWE and all the fans to this arena. He was happy to hear Owens had to fight Shane, because Owens wouldn’t walk out of Hell in a Cell.

Styles moved on to Corbin, who he called the “shortcut king.” He brought up Corbin’s failed attempt at cashing in Money in the Bank and his failure to beat John Cena. Styles said Corbin could huff and puff but he would never blow down the house that AJ Styles built.

Corbin came out for the match. As they did introductions, Corbin attacked Styles from behind. As the referee checked on Styles, Tye Dillinger ran down, chop-blocked Corbin and wildly attacked him. Officials pulled Dillinger away as Corbin slipped back in the ring, selling his leg.

Styles attacked Corbin with a forearm, applied the Calf Crusher, and Corbin tapped. The crowd chanted “You tapped out.” 

Renee Young approached Corbin backstage. Before she could ask a question, Corbin said he felt violated and the crowd laughed. He yelled about Styles and Dillinger, who he called the “Perfect Zero.” Corbin said he would get even.

Charlotte Flair Returns

Charlotte thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers. She said Ric Flair was making a comeback. While she was gone, she learned that life is fragile and you have to make the moments count. Charlotte said she would make every moment as big as possible.

Natalya interrupted. She was glad Flair was getting better. She entered the ring for her Celebration of Women and invited Charlotte to stay. She went on for a while about great women, including all the women in the Mae Young Classic, but said there was one woman in particular who stood out. She unveiled a poster of herself.

Charlotte was glad Natalya came out and challenged her to a title match. Becky Lynch interrupted their “Ego Olympics” and called Natalya the craziest there is, was and ever will be. Lynch said she respects Charlotte and her father, but the title is going back on her.

Naomi came out next and told Natalya she doesn’t represent all women, or even the women of SmackDown. Naomi took a shot at Natalya’s cats and was about to ask for a title match but was interrupted by Tamina and Lana.

Natalya thought they were going to defend her, but Lana called her a crazy cat lady and told her to shut up. Lana said it was Tamina’s time, which drew a tepid response. Natalya left the ring and informed them she wasn’t a crazy cat lady, she was their Women’s champion and would be forever.

Daniel Bryan interrupted. He announced Fatal Four Way match tonight and the winner would face Natalya at Hell in a Cell.

Non-Title Match: Tag Team Champions Big E & Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods) defeated The Hype Bros (7:22)

New Day won with Midnight Hour in a perfectly fine TV match. The highlight of the match was Kingston doing a Marshawn Lynch-like dive onto an Uso here in Oakland. The Usos were on commentary and New Day mocked them after the match. Usos will get their title rematch at Hell in a Cell.

Kevin Owens interview via satellite

Owens wore a shirt and tie. He apologized. He didn’t know what got over him and couldn’t believe what he did. He apologized to the fans, management, and to the McMahon family. He also added, with complete sincerity, that Shane had this coming. Shane made him attack his father. Shane made him want to headbutt Vince, punch and kick him and crush his ribs.

In Owens’ mind, he was obliterating Shane, not Vince, because he has nothing but respect for Vince. Owens said what he did to Vince is nothing compared to what he would do to Shane. Owens said people like him don’t go to hell, they go to heaven. I don’t know if this added to the match or not, but Owens was very good here.

Backstage, Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder looked very down about their loss. Rawley said he was tired of losing and they need to do something drastic. Ryder nodded.

Dolph Ziggler came out and called himself the greatest in-ring performer in history. He left and came back out doing Triple H’s entrance (just to the stage area). He asked this allowed him to run NXT. Some fans chanted for CM Punk. Ziggler left again and came back out as Shawn Michaels, adding a comment about losing his smile. The crowd continued to chant for Punk. I guess they want him to do Punk’s entrance.

Ziggler did a DX entrance next and ranted some more as the crowd again for Punk. Ziggler called himself the best ever and said doesn’t care about the fans. This sucked. On a show with a lot of talking, this was a particularly grating segment.

The announcers plugged the Raw PPV here on SmackDown.

Fatal 4-Way Match: Charlotte Flair defeated Tamina (w/Lana), Naomi and Becky Lynch become Number One Contender for the Women’s Championship (9:52)

Lynch’s entrance happened as they came back from commercial and Tamina was already in the ring. Naomi and Charlotte received full entrances. They went back to commercial 40 seconds into the match.

Charlotte hit a moonsault to both Naomi and Tamina for a nearfall. She applied the Figure Four on Naomi but Lynch broke it up with a diving leg drop on Charlotte and Tamina broke up the cover. “This is awesome” chants.

Tamina hit Lynch with a Samoan drop and diving splash but Naomi broke up the cover. Lana pulled Naomi out of the ring so Naomi kicked her in the head. Tamina superkicked Naomi, then Charlotte booted Tamina for the pinfall win. They didn’t get much time but this was enjoyable while it lasted.

Final Thoughts —

There were a couple of bright spots but this was a weak show.