When it comes to delivering big time matchups, Smackdown is pretty ahead of WWE Raw. Ever since the brand split, they have utilised the superstars available in a better way than their rival brand to be the popular show, comparatively. That tradition was kept intact after this week, too.
After WWE Raw announced a huge triple threat match for next week’s show, it was time for Smackdown to confirm some matches from their own brand. But, the confirmation that we have received is literally a bombshell, as we speak.
The majority of the WWE fans were concerned about the fate of the WWE Championship at Summerslam. We were unaware of who would face Jinder Mahal for the championship at the PPV in August. Answering his challenge, none but John Cena appeared on the show to book the match.
As per #SDLive GM @WWEDanielBryan, @JohnCena & @ShinsukeN will go 1-on-1 NEXT WEEK for the right to challenge @JinderMahal at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/ui4SWl2hJ9
— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2017
However, Daniel Bryan came out and further stated that this was not going to be the official lineup. Rather, we will witness a dream match between John Cena and Shinsuke Nakamura with the winner becoming the number one contender for the WWE Championship. He will be granted the opportunity to face Jinder Mahal at Summerslam.
Now, ever since, Nakamura came to the main roster of the WWE, the fans always speculated about when they are going to see this match featuring these two most renowned athletes of the pro-wrestling circuit. So the impromptu announcements of this match sent the WWE Universe to a frenzy, abruptly.
Apart from this one, Kevin Owens demanded a rematch for his United States Championship during the end of the show. It was later confirmed on WWE.com which stated,
“Just two days after Kevin Owens won the United States Championship back from AJ Styles, he once again lost it to The Phenomenal One, this time in a Triple Threat Match with a returning Chris Jericho.
Immediately after the bout, a fuming KO demanded his contractually obligated rematch in a one-on-one battle with Styles next Tuesday on SmackDown LIVE. WWE.com can confirm that the match has been made official.”
EXCLUSIVE: With his name back on the #USChampionship, @AJStylesOrg explains why HE truly represents the meaning of the title! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/PVT7HiATgU
— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2017
This one too is going to be the third edition of another dream match which might culminate the rivalry between these two superstars. The Phenomenal One has won back the US title on last night’s Smackdown and gave an interview to Renee Young once the show went off the air focusing on the championship match, next week.