WWE SmackDown live results: United States title open challenge

After his match against Shinsuke Nakamura was pulled due to Nakamura being bit by a police dog on Monday, Jeff Hardy will issue a United States Championship open challenge on SmackDown tonight.

Rusev is the new number one contender for the WWE Championship after winning the incredible gauntlet match last week. He’s set to challenge AJ Styles for the title at Extreme Rules and will look to build momentum tonight as he goes one-on-one with Xavier Woods.

Cast members from the critically-acclaimed Netflix series GLOW also have a message for Naomi and will appear on tonight’s SmackDown. Plus, Becky Lynch takes on Peyton Royce after defeating Billie Kay last week.

The Miz has invited The Bludgeon Brothers to be his guests on tonight’s edition of Miz TV. In the gauntlet match, Daniel Bryan was the first entrant and won two grueling matches before Harper & Rowan viciously attacked him. This enabled Miz to easily eliminate Bryan from the match.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time. 

**********

SmackDown opened up with The Miz in the ring for Miz TV. He quickly introduced the SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers. Miz noted that he and the Bludgeon Brothers have a lot in common. They both dismantled Daniel Bryan last week.

Miz claimed to know why they attacked Bryan. He showed footage from last week including Bryan’s interview with Renee Young and Bryan bumping into Harper and Rowan on his way to the ring.

Miz pointed out that the attack happened because Bryan interrupted thier celebration after their win. Miz recapped the attack and his vicory over Bryan. Miz speculated that they want to join his Miztourage. They seemed to not like the implication and backed him up against the ropes.

Bryan came out and told Miz to shut up. He pointed out that Miz was hiding behind the Bludgeon Brothers. He demanded to face one of them in a match. Harper said that Bryan never learns but he will tonight. Daniel Bryan goes one-on-one with Harper later.

Backstage, Xavier Woods drank a pancake milkshake to get ready for his upcoming match.

Rusev (w/Aiden English) defeated Xavier Woods (w/Big E. & Kofi Kingston)

Woods gave Rusev a tilt-a-whirl head scissors onto the second rope. Big E held up a word balloon that said “Ouch” and Woods nailed Rusev with a dropkick to the back. Rusev fought back and hit a huge spin buster to take over. Woods fired up and made a comeback. He nailed a DDT for a close near fall.

Rusev charged at Woods but missed and went shoulder first into the ring post. Woods missed his elbow drop and Rusev nailed the Machka Kick. Rusev then locked on the Accolade for the submission win.

Rusev got on the mic and said tonight wasn’t about Woods it’s about AJ Styles. The crowd broke into loud dueling “AJ Styles/Rusev Day” chants. Rusev promised to win the WWE championship and that it’ll be a great Rusev Day.

In the back, Lana and Naomi argued over their dance skills. The cast of GLOW approached them. They all did Naomi’s catchphrase “Feel The Glow”. Alison Brie did an excellent Russian accent. The cast thinks Naomi and Lana should form a team. Naomi and Lana eventually agree to team up and they all did the catchphrase again.

United States Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Eric Young (w/ Killian Dain & Alexander Wolfe) ended without a winner

Young hit a neck breaker to gain control of the match and slowed the pace down. He was firmly in control until Hardy hit a jawbreaker. Hardy fought back and the pace quickened. Hardy and Young collided in the middle of the ring.

The Usos came out through the crowd and brawled with Wolfe and Dain at ringside. All six guys broke out into a brawl. During the commercial break, GM Paige restarted the match as a six-man tag.

Jeff Hardy & The Usos defeated SAnitY

The heels gained control of the match by isolating Jey on their side of the ring. Dain missed a charge in the corner and Jimmy got the hot tag. Jey nailed Dain with a superkick but he wouldn’t go down. Jimmy hit a second superkick but Dain still wouldn’t go down.

The Usos hit a double superkick sending Dain to the floor. Finish came when Uso hit a superkick on Wolfe and Hardy hit the Swanton for the win.

Becky Lynch defeated Sonya Deville (w/Mandy Rose)

Originally, Lynch was scheduled to face Peyton Royce. Earlier today, Deville and Rose mocked Lynch and she challenged one of them to a match.

Deville tried to send Lynch into the announce table but Lynch countered. During the break, Deville threw Lynch into the barricade to gain control. Lynch made a brief comeback but Rose interfered. Deville and Rose collided and Lynch locked on the Dis-arm-her for the win.

James Ellsworth ran into Tye Dillinger in the back. Ellsworth thinks he’s a ten but Dillinger made it clear that Ellsworth is just a one.

Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega bragged about attacking Sin Cara several weeks ago. Vega assumed that’s the reason Almas as no competition. 

James Ellsworth came out and complained about Asuka ruining Carmella’s celebration last week. Ellsworth said he wasn’t ready for Asuka last week but he is tonight. Ellsworth challenged Asuka to come out. He took off his shirt and the crowd broke into a “Put Your Shirt On” chant.

Paige came out to the ring and pointed out that Asuka isn’t here tonight and that Ellsworth knew that. She announced that Carmella defends the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Asuka at Extreme Rules. Ellsworth assumed that the real reason Paige was out there was to ask him on a date. Paige agreed to a “date” next Tuesday but it’s actually a match against Asuka.

In the back, Gallows & Anderson helped Daniel Bryan prepare for his upcoming match.

Daniel Bryan defeated Harper (w/Rowan) by DQ

Bryan attempted a sliding dropkick but Harper caught him and sent him into the barricade. Bryan fought back and nailed Harper with kicks in the corner. Bryan attempted a suicide dive but Harper caught him and tossed him into the announce table.

Harper hit a slingshot Senton for a near fall. Bryan fired up and hit his running dropkicks in the corner. Harper countered the third dropkick into a Michinoku Driver for a close near fall. Bryan fought back with kicks to Harper’s left arm. Harper attempted a discus lariat but Bryan countered into the Yes Lock. Rowan jumped in for the disqualification.

After the match, The Bludgeon Brothers continued to attack Bryan. Suddenly, Kane made his return to SmackDown for the save. Kane attempted to choke slam the heels but Rowan and Harper fought back. Bryan recovered and helped Kane clear the ring of the heels.

Bryan was shocked to see Kane. The crowd broke into loud “Team Hell No” and “Hug It Out” chants. Kane extended his arms for a hug but Bryan shook his head. He changed his mind and they hugged to a massive pop and “Yes” chants.

Paige came out and announced that SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers defend against Team Hell No at Extreme Rules.

Next Week: James Ellsworth goes one-on-one with Asuka.