WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
July 3, 2020
Orlando, Florida (WWE Performance Center)
Commentary: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WWE SmackDown kicks off with Michael Cole in the ring introducing Matt Riddle as the former NXT superstar makes his way down to the ring. We see a clip of SmackDown two weeks ago where Riddle defeated Intercontinental champion AJ Styles.
Riddle says to get called up from NXT and to be on SmackDown is just awesome. To walk down the ramp, stand n the ring, it’s a love child of a lot of work and dreams. But to have AJ punch him in the face, it was like an out of body experience. He says he respects AJ but he thinks he likes AJ a little more than AJ likes him. But after his victory against Styles, to celebrated it all with the entire SmackDown roster, he could get used to it.
Cole says getting used to things, his feet. He does it bare feet and Cole asks why. Riddle says it’s a great question. It’s a long story. But when he was a child, his family took him on vacation to Wisconsin and it was winter time and they had an indoor pool. And after that he’d go out in the snow. And one day he stayed outside a little too long that when he put his feet in the water, it was burning. And it turns out he had frostbites. Luckily, he pulled through and that’s why he never wears shoes because when he does, he still gets that burning sensation. A wedding or hanging out with a bear, he never wears shoes. Riddle adds that that day, he learned that you can lose anything at any moment.
Baron Corbin’s music hits and out he comes. Corbin gets in the ring and tells Riddle, if that is his real name, he could have saved everyone a bunch of time. He could have just said the reason why he doesn’t wear shoes is because when he was a kid, he was an idiot and he still is to this day. Corbin tells Cole that last week he embarrassed himself talking about the Undertaker and now he’s giving Riddle air time. He tells Cole to leave the ring.
Corbin says he came out to talk to Riddle about that stunt he did last week when he dove onto him after he got ganged up on. That was a real sign of disrespect. Corbin says Riddle should bow down to the king, it won’t be tolerated. Corbin says he doesn’t like Riddle and no one wants him here. And he will personally make sure that every second he is out here, he will pay for it. Riddle tells him “You do you bro. You do you”. Corbin asks what that even means. Corbin says it means that here on SmackDown he better be ready for a match at any moment. Because someone needs to teach him some respect.
Riddle tells Corbin “Let’s go bro”. Corbin says he doesn’t get handed an opportunity to face the king. Tonight, his opponent is this guy. John Morrison’s music hits and out he comes with The Miz.
-Commercial Break-
John Morrison with The Miz vs. Matt Riddle
The bell rings and we are under way with Corbin doing commentary. A number of reversals between both men ends with Riddle taking Morrison down. Morrison back up and once more both men exchange reversals as Morrison reaches for the ropes. A loud forearm by Morrison onto Riddle but Riddle goes for an arm bar and that;s reversed by Morrison as he slams Riddle down. Riddle gets up and a gut wrench suplex onto Morrison but Morrison holds onto Riddle and slams Riddle down.
Morrison goes for a kick but Riddle blocks it and grabs Morrison’s ankle as he gets the ankle lock in but Morrison gets out of it. Riddle goes for a German suplex but Morrison lands on his feet. Morrison jumps off the second rope and hits Riddle in the back of the head with his leg. A swinging neckbreaker by Morrison. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out. Morrison with a head lock and he gets Riddle in the corner. Forearms by Morrison and a kick to the side of the head. Morrison gets on the ring apron and he jumps off the top rope with a cork screw cross body. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out.
Both men down and it’s Morrison the first man up. He hits Riddle with a knee to the face. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out. Right hands by Morrison followed by a kick but Riddle is not hurt by them. Morrison with a poke to the eyes. He goes for a suplex but Riddle lands a suplex of his own. Riddle runs towards Morrison but Morrison throws him onto the ring apron. Both men with right hands at the same time as Riddle falls to the outside. Riddle grabs his flip flop and throws it onto Corbin as Corbin tries to get in the ring but the referee blocks him.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Riddle hits him with the Bro To Sleep followed by a German suplex. He goes for the cover but Morrison kicks out. Riddle climbs the top rope and goes for the Floating Bro but Morrison gets his knees up. Morrison lifts Riddle up in a Razor’s Edge position, spins Riddle and drops him. He goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out. Morrison is looking in disbelief but Riddle gets the Bro Mission. Morrison gets to his feet and elbows Riddle away. Morrison on the second rope, Riddle is thrown onto the ring apron. Riddle climbs the second rope but Morrison with a Spanish Fly off the top rope. Morrison with a standing Spanish Fly. He goes for the cover but again Riddle kicks out.
Both men back up and exchange right hands and Riddle with a kick to the face. He grabs Morrison and hits him with a knee t o the face. He lifts Morrison up but Morrison lands on his feet. Riddle with a power bomb on Morrison and he hits Morrison with a running knee. He goes for the cover but Morrison kicks out. He lifts Morrison up but The Miz gets on the ring apron and Riddle knocks him off. Corbin gets up as Morrison goes for the cover but Riddle kicks out. Riddle rolls Morrison up and gets the pin.
Winner: Matt Riddle
Out comes AJ Styles and he attacks Matt Riddle from behind on the ramp. Drew Gulak comes out and attacks Styles from behind.
-Commercial Break-
John Morrison is backstage with Miz and Corbin. In comes Sara and she interrupts them. Corbin says he will pull some strings and while Riddle’s feet may not have been cut as a kid, he’ll make sure his legs are cut under his career.
Intercontinental championship – AJ Styles (c) vs. Drew Gulak
The bell rings and we are under way. AJ goes after Gulak and stomps on him. He throws Gulak in the corner and hits him with right hands. AJ throws Gulak to the outside. Styles grabs Gulak and slams him into the ring apron. He throws Gulak back into the ring. Daniel Bryan joins the commentary on Zoom.
Back in the ring, AJ with a clothesline takes Gulak down. An elbow to the back of the head by AJ followed by a kick to the leg. AJ with a snap suplex. He goes for the cover but Gulak kicks out. AJ gets Gulak in the corner and a snap mare by AJ followed by a knee to the face. He goes for the cover but Gulak kicks out. Gulak gets up and right hands by the Gulak but a dragon whip by Styles takes Gulak down.
AJ starts to work on Gulak’s knee and AJ goes for the calf crusher but Gulak reverses it and gets a submission onto AJ in the middle of the ring but AJ finally makes it to the ropes as he rolls to the outside of the ring. AJ looks frustrated on the outside of the ring. As he’s getting into the ring, Gulak hits him with a baseball slide.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Gulak runs towards AJ but AJ moves and Gulak goes shoulder first into the turnbuckle. A brain buster by AJ as he goes for the cover but Gulak kicks out. AJ drops Gulak back first onto his knee. A back breaker by AJ onto Gulak as he goes for the cover but once more Gulak kicks out. Both men back up and Gulak with right hands as he gets AJ in the corner and he stomps on him.
Gulak on the ring apron but AJ gets him caught up between the ropes. Gulak back in the ring and a snap mare head lock by AJ in the middle of the ring. AJ gets Gulak in the corner but Gulak slams AJ face first onto the top turnbuckle. Gulak sends AJ to the ropes and a drop kick followed by another and a third and fourth. Gulak with a modified Michinoku driver. He goes for the cover but AJ kicks out. AJ in the corner as Gulak places AJ on the top rope. Gulak climbs the second rope as AJ slides under and trips Gulak up on the turnbuckle.
AJ with a power bomb followed by the Styles Clash on Gulak. AJ slowly takes his time and gets up. He grabs Gulak and lifts him up placing him on the ropes. AJ gets on the ring apron and lands the Phenomenal Forearm. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Still WWE Intercontinental champion, AJ Styles
-Commercial Break-
WWE Women’s tag team champions Bayley and Sasha Banks
The women’s tag team champions get in the ring and Bayley talks about how they were on Raw and NXT this week. And now they are on SmackDown. They should be called them Sasha 3 shows and Bayley 3 brands. Bayley talks about how no one shows them any respect except for one person and that’s The Undertaker. Bayley calls him ‘Taker. Their precious phenom called her after her show last week and said “Bayley dos straps, I am quiet frankly embarrassed at all the fuss and tribute that you guys paid to me last week when clearly you are the greatest champion in WWE history. You and Sasha Banks are redefining what it means to be champion.”
Bayley adds saying “At Extreme Rules, I can’t wait for you both to win your matches and hold all the gold in WWE”. Bayley says ‘Taker knows what’s up. Bayley goes on to say how the Undertaker told her that the WWE should hold a tribute for them. Bayley says why wait until Extreme Rules: Horror Show, let’s watch it tonight.
We see a video tribute for Bayley and Sasha Banks. After the video, they both start chanting “Thank you Bayley, thank you Sasha” as Alexa’s music hits and out comes Bliss with Nikki Cross. They mockingly clap as Alexa says that was inspirational. Alexa and Cross start reading reading accomplishments directed towards each other. Bliss and Cross get in the ring and face the champions.
Bliss tells them they now know how ridiculous they sound. Sasha says many have tried but no one has been able to touch Bayley for the past year. And she’ll be damned if her hyper friend will do that. Cross says Bayley’s accomplishments have brought her success but how she got here has been all about heart. And she knows she can take that title and become the next SmackDown women’s champion.
Banks starts to laugh as does Bayley and Alexa slaps Bayley in the face. Sasha says Bayley has no problem giving her a little preview of Extreme Rules right now. Alexa accepts the challenge.
-Commercial Break-
Alexa Bliss with Nikki Cross vs. Bayley with Sasha Banks
The bell rings and we are under way. A drop toe hold by Bliss takes Bayley down. Bliss gets Bayley in the corner and a big right hand drops Bayley. She goes for the cover but Bayley kicks out. Alexa slams Bayley down and hits her with a double knees followed by a moon sault. She goes for the cover but Bayley kicks out. Alexa runs towards Bayley but Bayley slams her into the top turnbuckle. She goes to hand up Bliss on the roeps but Alexa slides to the outside and trips her up.
Alexa gets back on the ring apron but a kick to the hand by Bayley. She throws Alexa back into the ring and continues to work on Alexa’s hand. Bayley with pulling on Alexa’s fingers. She goes for the cover but Alexa kicks out. Bayley mocks Nikki as Alexa goes for the cover but Bayley kicks out. Bayley gets up first and a clothesline onto Bliss. She goes for the cover but Alexa kicks out. A spinning elbow followed by a snap mare take down by Bayley. She gets Alexa up but Alexa hits her with a big right hand.
Bayley grabs Alexa’s arm and drags her down. She goes to the outside and slams Alexa’s arm onto the ring apron. She gets back into the ring, goes for the cover but Bliss kicks out. A running bulldog by Bayley. She goes for the cover but Alexa kicks out. Bayley turns her attention to Cross who gets on the ring apron. With the referee distracted, Sasha gets on the ring apron and hits Alexa face first with her knee. Cross runs to the opposite side of the ring and knocks Sasha down. Bayley turns her attention to Nikki and Nikki knocks Bayley out as the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: By disqualification, Bayley
Nikki Cross with a cross body onto Bayley as Bayley rolls to the outside.
-Commercial Break-
A video airs showing the history between WWE Universal champion Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt.
-Commercial Break-
Kofi Kingston with Big E vs. Shinsuke Nakamura with Cesaro
The bell rings and we are under way. A drop kick by Kofi gets Nakamura in the corner and he begins to stomp on him. He goes to slam Nakamura in the opposite corner but Nakamura blocks it. He sends Kofi to the corner but Kofi jumps off the second rope and hits him with a flying kick. Nakamura on the ring apron and Kofi knocks him off.
Kofi goes to the outside but a kick by Nakamura slowly him down. Kofi with right hands of his own but Nakamura with a knee slows Kofi down. Nakamura goes to throw Kofi but Kofi reverses it and throws Nakamura into the plexi glass at ringside. Kofi throws Nakamura back into the ring and Kofi climbs the top rope. Cesarfo distracts Kofi as Nakamura hits Kofi with a kick to the side of the face. Big E and Cesaro get into an altercation at ring side as the referee ejects them from ring side.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Nakamura with a head lock on Kofi in the middle of the ring and that’s followed by a snap mare take down. A knee drop by Nakamura as he goes for the cover but Kofi kicks out. Nakamura gets Kofi in the corner and has him tied up between the ropes. Nakamura runs and drops Kofi onto his back. Nakamura with kicks onto Kofi but Kofi tries to fight back. Kofi is sent to the ropes and Nakamura hits him with a back elbow. Nakamura slides to the outside and pulls Kofi on the ring apron. Nakamura with a knee to the head.
Nakamura gets back in the ring, he goes for the cover but Kofi kicks out. A sleeper hold by Shinsuke in the middle of the ring but Kofi with elbows as he gets out of it. A flying forearm by Kofi takes Nakamura down. Kofi with a drop kick as he climbs the top rope. Kofi jumps off but Nakamura hits him with the double knees. Nakamura goes for the cover but Kofi reverses it and Nakamura kicks out. Nakamura with a kick to the side of the face. He goes for the cover but Kofi kicks out. Nakamura goes for the double knees, Kofi ducks and lands the SOS. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out.
Both men slowly get up and the double stomp by Kofi. He goes for the cover but Nakamura kicks out. Kofi runs towards Nakamura but Nakamura gets a sleeper in. He releases the hold and hits Kofi with a flying knee. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Cesaro comes back down to the ring and celebrates with Nakamura. Cesaro goes to the outside and grabs a table from under the ring. In comes Big E who cleans house as Nakamura and Cesaro leave the ring.
-Commercial Break-
Sheamus toast to Jeff Hardy
There’s a mini bar in the middle of the ring with a bar tender as Jeff Hardy’s music hits and he walks down to the ring. Jeff tells Sheamus to get it over with. He asks him what he will do, he calls him out. Sheamus shows up on the big screen at his home. He welcomes him. He says first of all, he knows how hot headed he can be and that’s why he gave him personal space. Two, how about that last week. That must have felt good, he defended the Undertaker’s honor. He tells Jeff he has a problem. And not the one with drugs and alcohol but his problem with facing reality Ever since he beat him at Backlash, he has been walking around feeling sorry for himself. And the first chance he gets, he sticks his nose in someone’s business. And in his mind, everything is right in Jeff’s world.
Sheamus says the way he sees it, it’s sad and pathetic and it breaks his heart. Because we’ve seen it all before. This time it will be different, this time Jeff will show up when it matters most. Thsi time Jeff won’t be a massive disappointment but the thing is Jeff is lying to himself. Being the kind hearted indivisdual that he is, he found a solution. And the answer is in one of those bottles. Sheamus grabs a glass and toatsts to Jeff. He tells Sheamus that he has to be the sickest person he ever met.
Jeff asks Sheamus if that’s funny for him. Making fun of his struggles and other people’s struggles? He asks Sheamus if it’s funny to him. Sheamus tells Jeff he’s there to help him. All he is saying is he doesn’t have to live a lie anymore. Deep down all Jeff wants to do is jump back right into the gutter and that;s why he sent his personal bartender to help him. The bartender hands Jeff a drink as Sheamus tells him to take the drink.
Sheamus tells Jeff he sees the pain in his eyes. He doesn’t have to pretend to be strong for anyone. Sheamus tells Jeff to follow his instincts. Jeff grabs the drink and says what’s the worst that can happen. Jeff looks at the bartender but doesn’t take a sip of it. He pours the drink on top of the bartender’s head and smashes a bottle across his head. Jeff climbs the top rope and lands a swanton bomb on him.