In the locker room, members of the mid-card milled around, with Baron Corbin and Erick Rowan (in his sheep mask) having a discussion next to Apollo Crews and Rhyno, who were also chatting it up. Dolph Ziggler sat nearby, head down. A.J. Styles walked in, apparently the new leader of the locker room. Styles had himself a souvenir, one of John Cena’s “Never Give Up” headbands. Styles addressed Ziggler directly, talking about how Summerslam just wasn’t his night. “I don’t like losers,” said Styles. Styles was face-to-face with him, so Ziggler popped up and headbutted him. Referees and the nearby wrestlers broke things up before any further damage could be done. “Mind your own business!” Ziggler shouted at Styles, who by then had been dragged off-camera
The tag teams and the women were gathered in the squared-circle, with the two new titles on display in mid-ring. Shane McMahon came out, followed by Daniel Bryan. Some improvements to the Smackdown set have been made, making it look a little more intricate. It’s like the Titan-Tron has its own side-plates! McMahon said the Superstars in the ring have a huge opportunity in front of them. First, the Women’s Division: Daniel Bryan said each one of the six women have the potential to lead the Smackdown women’s roster. “Becky” chants from the crowd. The Smackdown women’s title was white around the edges with blue underneath the WWE logo. At Backlash, there will be a six-pack challenge amongst the women to crown a new champion.
As for the tag teams, the new Smackdown tag title will be awarded at Backlash as well. The belts look like the current tag titles, only with a darker blue strap and silver instead of bronze face. There will be a tag title tournament that will culminate at Backlash, and will start tonight. Heath Slater interrupted, coming to ringside through the crowd. He talked about how close he’s been lately to getting a Smackdown contract. He also nearly tripped getting into the ring.
Slater wanted an opportunity at some of the gold in the ring. Bryan said Slater isn’t “equipped” to challenge for the women’s title. Slater said he was talking about the tag titles. McMahon brought up that Slater not only isn’t on the roster, but he doesn’t have a tag partner. Slater guaranteed that he could find someone in the back who would stand by his side. And he said he and his partner would enter the tourney and win. Bryan said if Slater can find a partner by the end of tonight, they’ll find a tag team for he and his partner to compete against next week. McMahon said the only way Slater will get to be a member of the roster is if he wins the entire tournament. Buzzkill. Slater agreed and walked off.
A.J. Styles wasn’t happy and came down the aisle. He’d heard enough of what was going on in the ring (throwing in a women’s tag title reference for good measure). He passed Slater in the aisle, saying no, he won’t be Slater’s partner. Before Styles could get any more out, Ziggler attacked him from behind. All the tag teams it he ring as well as some referees broke up the ringside melee
Becky Lynch defeats Alexa Bliss with the Dis-Arm-Her
Slater was backstage when he approached “just the man I’ve been looking for.” It was The Miz and Maryse. Slater pitched Miz being his tag partner. Miz said it’s just the tent-pole he’s been looking for to launch his brand into the stratosphere. He said he won’t let him down. Slater was excited, but it was revealed that Miz, wearing sunglasses and with his hood up, was talking on his Bluetooth to Stephen Spielberg about possibly being the next Indiana Jones. He heard nothing of what Slater was saying
The Usos defeat The Ascension, Jimmy with a Tope Suicida takes out Konnor, Jey with a Superkick to Viktor, Jimmy tagged in & hits the Samoan Splash on Viktor for the win to advance in the Tag Team Tournament
AJ Styles said he sees a lot of angry faces in the crowd, and a lot of jealous faces in the back. Like Dolph Ziggler! He rolled photos of him pinning Cena at Summerslam and Cena taking off his “Never Give Up” sweat band. Styles said Cena’s fans are crying into whatever they cry into, but fear not: They don’t have to be Cena fans anymore; they can be Styles fans. He declared himself “the face that runs this place.” He repeated it two more times. Styles theorized that he should be the #1 contender to the WWE Title. Ziggler was forcing his way back to the ring, being held back by referees as well as producers Jamie Noble and Billy Kidman (the only ones to not make Ziggler look small?). Bryan came out onto the stage and said Styles does deserve to be #1 contender. But Dolph came very close to winning on Sunday. He said Styles and Ziggler should fight. So he made the match for tonight. If Styles wins, he goes on to face Dean Ambrose for the title at Backlash. If Ziggler wins, he gets added to the match to make it a Triple-Threat.
Curt Hawkins facts: Curt Hawkins once broke a promise…in half. Death once had a near-Curt Hawkins experience. Winter is worried that Curt Hawkins is coming. He’s coming soon to Smackdown
Carmella came out for a match against Nikki Bella. After Nikki’s entrance, Renee Young interviewed her in mid-ring. Nikki was giving a heartfelt response when Carmella attacked her from behind. Side-kick by Carmella. Carmella dropped Nikki and delivered left hands tot eh back and side of Nikki. Another ref ran in to help pull Carmella off. They got her separated, but Carmella charged back and hit the Bella Buster on Nikki. (So I guess Nikki’s going to be a face & Carmella a heel? That would explain why they put her on a different brand then Enzo & Cass)
Orton showed off the ten staples in his head and said he was in one hell of a fight against Lesnar on Sunday. He said he knew what he was getting into, but he would’ve rather gotten rolled out on a stretcher than have the match end the way it did. Orton said that Shane thought he was doing the right thing by intervening, and maybe on some level, he was. He said his path will cross with Lesnar’s again one day…but then the lights went out and Bray Wyatt’s theme played. Wyatt walked down the aisle with his lantern.
Wyatt took a seat in his mysteriously-appearing rocking chair at ringside. Wyatt asked Orton how his head was. He wore a hood over his head, and said Orton was reminded on Sunday that he’s just a man. Orton is a man who suffers, a man who dies. Wyatt said he’s not just a man, but a god. And a god can never die. Orton will find that out in time. Orton invited Wyatt to enter the ring. As he looked to do so, the lights went out again and when they turned on, Wyatt was nowhere to be seen. The rocking chair still rocked though. Lights out again to close the segment
Shane McMahon was in the hallway talking to Charles Robinson. Charly Caruso came up and said she’d like to have a word with him about Brock Lesnar. She stuck the mic in his face despite not asking a question about Lesnar. That’s not how interviewing works. McMahon kinda brushed her off, saying Lesnar cross the line. Caruso asked Shane if he thinks Stephanie McMahon will take the matter seriously. Shane brought up that Stephanie had fined Brock only $500 for his attack. So no, he doesn’t think she’s taking it seriously. Caruso was persistent, as Shane called her, and asked him if he thought it was fair. I think he made his opinion on that pretty clear. He did say his thing with Lesnar is far from over
Slater was still trying to recruit a tag partner. He approached Arn Anderson. Anderson said there’s only one Ric Flair and Slater ain’t it. He said there was a time when he was a tag-team specialist. Anderson said he doesn’t even think he can get Slater out of this. Slater said Anderson is his last chance. Anderson wasn’t happy that Slater was his last choice. He walked off and out of nowhere, Rhyno put his hand on Slater’s shoulder. Rhyno volunteered for the spot. Slater was excited
American Alpha defeats Breezango, Jordan with Capture Suplex on Breeze then the Superman Spear, tag to Gable, Grand Amplitude as Alpha advance in the tag team tournament
Dean Ambrose was walking backstage in an oversized cowboy hat, must have went through some of Edge & Christian’s old gear. Caruso caught up to him. Ambrose said he just came back from the roulette tables. He heard his opponent(s) for Backlash will be decided tonight. A waitress brought Ambrose a Red Bull & coffee. He tipped her with some chips and headed to the ring for guest commentary
AJ Styles defeats Dolph Ziggler, Ziggler avoids the Superman Splash & hits a Leaping DDT for 2, Styles Clash, but Dolph blocks & hits a Zig-Zag for a near fall, Superkick but AJ counters kicking the rope into Dolph & hitting The Styles Clash for the win
Styles approached Ambrose after the match. Ambrose stood up to meet Styles eye-to-eye. Styles backed away, laughing as the show ends
