Updated WWE SummerSlam 2017 card after Aug. 1 SmackDown
The WWE world title match at SummerSlam is set following Tuesday’s action-packed edition of SmackDown Live.
Business picked up on WWE SmackDown Live this week as three huge matches became official at SummerSlam on Aug. 20.
Headlining the Biggest Party of the Summer for the blue brand will be Jinder Mahal defending the WWE Championship against newly crowned #1 contender Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura earned the right to face ‘The Modern Day Maharaja’ with a hard-fought victory over 16-time heavyweight champion John Cena in the SmackDown Live main event.
SmackDown Live opened with a United States title match between champion AJ Styles and challenger Kevin Owens. The two once again had a back-and-forth contest that ended in controversy. The referee, who had been accidentally hit in the eye by Owens, counted three on the pin despite ‘The New Face of America’ clearly having his shoulder up.
An irate Owens was granted a rematch, but he wanted a competent referee for the bout. General manager Daniel Bryan appointed Shane McMahon as the referee, which didn’t sit too well with the former U.S. champion.
Fresh off defeating Chad Gable, Rusev wanted a little competition at SummerSlam. It looked like no one would answer the call until voices were heard and Randy Orton appeared. ‘The Viper’ accepted Rusev’s challenged and laid him out with an RKO. Daniel Bryan made the match official moments later.
While not official, we can tentatively pencil in a SmackDown tag team title rematch between The New Day and The Usos. Still selling the beating from last week, The New Day didn’t appear on SmackDown. However, Jimmy and Jey kicked a freestyle aimed at the trio either setting up a battle rap rematch, a title rematch, or possibly both.
With two weeks remaining until SummerSlam, the major matches are set SmackDown side. Now we wait and see how the rest of the card fills out.
WWE Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns
WWE Championship
Jinder Mahal (c ) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
United States Championship
AJ Styles (c ) vs. Kevin Owens
Special Referee: Shane McMahon
RAW Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Bayley
SmackDown Women’s Championship
Naomi (c) vs. Natalya
Rusev vs. Randy Orton