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WWE has announced that Jinder Mahal would be facing Tye Dillinger in a non-title match on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live. In addition to that match, they have also announced Xavier Woods vs. Jey Usos and Baron Corbin vs. Nakamura.
Check back here at 8PM ET for our live play-by-play coverage of the event.
Welcome to SmackDown Live for the 11th of July 2017!
The blue-brand got quite the shake-up this past week, when AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens at a live event in Madison Square Garden to become the United States Champion. Title changes rarely occur at live events and with the two set to square-off at Battleground, it seemed surprising that AJ would win the belt a few weeks prior. Rumour has it that KO might be injured and unable to defend his title at Battleground, which is why the change occured sooner. So it’s unclear if AJ will face a new opponent at the PPV, or if Owens will get a rematch. Owens is scheduled to wrestle tonight, so it’s hard to imagine his injury is severe.
John Cena returned to SmackDown Live last week with a heart of fire and is now set to duel with Rusev at Battleground in a Flag Match. This seems like it will be a one-off feud between the two patriots, as opposed to a rebirth of their former rivalry. The main event for tonight’s show is said to be a tag team match that puts Cena and AJ together against Rusev and Owens.
Elsewhere on SmackDown, WWE Champion Jinder Mahal will be in action against Tye Dillinger, who made a strong showing in last week’s Battle Royal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Randy Orton appear tonight and possibly help Dillinger to a win to keep his momentum. Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura are also scheduled to face off tonight, ahead of a probable showdown between them at Battleground. Tonight’s show will also feature The New Day, Naomi, The Uso’s, and more.
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Shane McMahon announced on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live that the winner of a 5-Way Elimination Match at WWE Battleground will earn a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Here is the updated card:
WWE Title: Punjabi Prison match
Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The New Day vs. The Usos
#1 Contendership for the SmackDown Women’s Championship: Fatal 5-Way
Charlotte vs. Natalya vs. Tamina vs. Becky Lynch vs. Lana
Flag match
Rusev vs. John Cena
Battleground takes place on July 23rd from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
As seen on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live, Daniel Bryan suspended James Ellsworth for 30 days and fined him $10,000 for his involvement in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder matches. He also added that if he violates the terms, Carmella will be stripped of her MITB briefcase.
Carmella and Ellsworth both took to Twitter and made the following remarks in regards to the suspension:
As seen on Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown Live, WWE announced that John Cena would face Rusev in a flag match at the upcoming WWE Battleground event. Bryan Alvarez speculated on today’s installment of Wrestling Observer Live that the reason WWE decided to have a flag match between the two was in case they decide to have Rusev win.
“The Flag match is essentially the professional wrestling version of capture the flag. For the match two flags are placed on opposite turnbuckles, each representing a specific wrestler or team of wrestlers, and the object of the match is to retrieve the opponent’s flag and raise it while defending the flag in the wrestler’s corner.”
According to the rules (seen above), the match will conclude when a specific wrestler retrieves the flag of their opponent. This means Cena doesn’t have to actually be pinned to lose the match. Historically, WWE normally has gimmick matches as a blow-off match in a feud or as an “out” for a screwy finish.
The following card is being rumored for the upcoming SmackDown-brand WWE Battleground event:
Punjabi Prison Match for the WWE Championship
Jinder Mahal (C) vs. Randy Orton
Tag Team match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships
The New Day (C) vs. The Usos
WWE the United States Championship
Kevin Owens (C) vs. AJ Styles
SmackDown Women’s Championship
Lana vs. Naomi
Rusev vs. John Cena
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin
Sami Zayn vs. Mike Kanellis
WWE Battleground takes place on July 23rd from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. As always, we will be providing live play-by-play coverage of the event.
PWInsider reports that Tyson Kidd was backstage at Tuesday’s SmackDown Live tapings in San Diego.
Kidd has not been backstage at a WWE event since suffering his neck injury in a match against Samoa Joe back in 2015. WWE removed Kidd from Total Divas before, however it’s been confirmed that he will be back on the next season.
The New Day challenged The Usos to a shot at the SmackDown Tag Team Championships on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live. Usos accepted the challenge and will defend their titles on the card. No other matches have been announced for the show yet.
Battleground takes place on July 23rd from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
Shane McMahon announced on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live that Randy Orton will get a rematch against Jinder Mahal for the WWE Title at the upcoming WWE Battleground event. Jinder would later announce that the match is a Punjabi Prison match. Here is the updated card:
WWE Title: Punjabi Prison match
Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The New Day vs. The Usos
Battleground takes place on July 23rd from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
