Tonight on Smackdown! Live, a new United States Champion graces us as A.J. Styles defeated Kevin Owens for the title at a non-televised event in New York, New York last weekend. How will the former champion react; what will the new champion have to say?

John Cena and Rusev both came back last week and are now in a flag match at Battleground; who starts the momentum for their side with the pay-per-view less than two weeks away?

Also at Battleground, the WWE Championship will be put on the line in a Punjabi prison match between champion Jinder Mahal and challenger Randy Orton. What will happen this evening with the two fierce rivals?

Lastly, will Carmella cash in her Money In The Bank briefcase on Women’s champion Naomi; will she tease it; or will she announce when she wants to wrestle for the Championship? Will Baron Corbin to the same for his Money In The Bank briefcase contract for the WWE Championship?

All this and more, so read on!

Tuesday Night Smackdown! Live Television Report for July 11, 2017 – “‘The Enemy Of My Enemy’…”

Introduction Segment: Video Promo and Welcoming

A recap of last week’s Independence Day battle royal for the #1 contenders spot to the United States Championship is shown, as well as footage from A.J. Styles’ U.S. Championship win at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York during last Friday’s non-televised event.

The regular Smackdown! Live opener plays and we go live to Tom Phillips greeting us from San Antonio, Texas!

Arena Promo

The NEW United States Champion – A.J. Styles – is presented by the host. A.J. declares that he will follow in former U.S. Champion John Cena’s footsteps and returns the U.S. Open Challenge; he is ready to go, so the person to answer is …

John Cena!

He goes to the ring and scans A.J. and the title. He confirms with Styles that “The Phenomenal One” is serious about challenging anyone – including him – and A.J. reassures that is true. Cena takes him up on it and demands a referee; senior official Charles “Little Naitch” (thanks, Dad!) Robinson runs down!

The bell rings, formal introductions happen, but before the Championship Bout actually can start, former Champion Kevin Owens interrupts. He is not pleased with this contest, and says that Cena is not called for on Smackdown! John retorts, telling Owens to physically do something, not just talk, but if he tries, Cena will “run right through you,” and then turns to A.J. “and I will run right through you!” Rusev slides in the ring and tackles Cena! Styles pulls Rusev away, but Kevin plants Styles to the canvas and Rusev kicks John. “The Bulgarian Brute” locks Cena in The Accolade (Camel Clutch) submission as Kevin looks on.

Later tonight, Shinsuke Nakamura will wrestle Baron Corbin, and up next, Tye Dillinger wrestles WWE Champion Jinder Mahal!

Commercials.

We learn that Commissioner Shane McMahon has booked tonight’s main event, which is a tag team match between Kevin Owens and Rusev meeting John Cena and United States Champion A.J. Styles!

Match #1: Single – WWE Champion Jinder Mahal (with The Singh Brothers VS. Tye Dillinger (Non-Title)

They lockup and Jinder pushes Tye into the corner and then tosses him across the ring. He picks up Dillinger but “The Perfect 10” hops out of it and dives off of the second turnbuckle with a crossbody for a near-fall! Mahal hits back with a clothesline and then knees him a couple of times. Jinder clamps on a grounding chinlock and tears at his nose! The WWE Champion takes over for a bit.

Commercials.

“The Modern-Day Maharaja” is still in control until Tye counters a whip with a running-flying-forearm! He punches in the corner a couple of times, but gets put to the mat with a running knee! Jinder picks up Dillinger and slams him down with The Collase – Cobra Clutch Slam – and covers for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: WWE Champion Jinder Mahal (with The Singh Brothers)

Post-match Mahal has a microphone, proclaiming that the fans “still disrespect” him despite him verbalizing facts about how Americans treat foreigners. He calls out his challenger at Battleground – Randy Orton – for “threatening” his family’ he warns Randy that he will display the Punjabi Prison on next week’s Smackdown! Live!

After the break, Xavier Woods of The New Day takes on Tag-Team Champion Jey Uso.

Commercials.

Match #2: Single – Xavier Woods (with New Day partners Kofi Kingston and Big E.) VS. Tag-Team Champion Jey Uso (with Tag Team champion brother/partner Jimmy Uso)

Xavier hits Jey with a kick immediately and punches him around the ring. He slugs him hard with an uppercut and then pounds away against the middle rope. Woods runs, but Jimmy trips up Xavier. Referee Charles “Little ‘Naitch” (thanks, Dad!) Robinson then orders Jimmy, Big. E, and Kofi Kingston to the back after they both started to get in each other’s faces!

Jey hits a superkick but only gets two, and goes for an Uso Splash, but Xavier raises his knees! Jey hits Woods with a punch, but Xavier hits back with a kick, and then soars off top turnbuckle with an elbow while Jey was caught in between the middle and top rope! 1 – 2 – 3!

Winner via Pinfall: Xavier Woods

Commercials.

Office Promo

Commissioner Shane McMahon is on the phone with General Manager Daniel Bryan, saying that “no one’s asked about James Ellsworth.” Women’s champion Naomi walks in and asks him who she’s going to wrestle for the Women’s championship. Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Lana, and Tamina also join and vie for a chance. McMahon says there will be a five-way elimination Match at Battleground between all the contenders, and the winner will wrestle Naomi at SummerSlam. He also makes a tag team match with four of the women for tonight.

Ms. Money In The Bank Carmella appears and gives Shane a paper from her attorney to change the decision on James Ellsworth’s 30-day suspension; The Commissioner tears it up and Carmella stomps away.

Backstage Promo

Renee Young interviews Baron Corbin about his match with Shinsuke Nakamura. They watch a clip from last week’s Smackdown! Live when Baron attacked Shinsuke in the backstage area. Back live, Corbin tells Rene and us that he’s “afraid.” “I’m afraid of what I’m going to do to him.” He reminds Shinsuke that he is “Mr. Money In The Bank.”

Commercials.

Match #3: Single- Shinsuke Nakamura VS. Baron Corbin

During Corbin’s entrances, Shinsuke rushes him and they brawl into the crowd! Referees and other officials eventually break them apart. Nakamura rolls back into the ring and taunts Baron. “The Lone Wolf” does the same with his Money In The Bank briefcase.

Winner: Neither due to no official start

Locker Room Promo

Cena and Styles converse about the United States Championship Open Challenge. A.J. wanted to make the U.S. Open Challenge again and says he figured John would be the one to take him up. They revisit their history, and “The Phenomenal One” still remembers that Cena defeated him at the Royal Rumble this past January for the WWE Championship. A.J. vows to keep the U.S. title while John says he will challenge him one time; both promise to be there for the other though for tonight’s match.

Commercials.

Match #4: Tag-Team – Becky Lynch and Charlotte VS. Natalya and Tamina

Tamina and Becky begin with an elbow-collar tie-up, and then Tamina hammers away. Tamina runs at Becky in the corner, but Lynch boots back and dropkicks and kicks Tamina down. She hits a leg and elbow drop, and then switches with Charlotte.

“The Queen” front-facelocks Tamina and attempts a German Suplex, but Tamina elbows out. She headbutts Charlotte and then tags in Natalya. She taunts Becky but turns around into a chop and then a diving axe-handle from “Straight-Fire!” Becky clasps Nattie into a Bex-ploder suplex, but is soon shoved into the steps and ring post area by Natalya.

Commercials.

Natalya now has Lynch locked in a headlock, and Tamina and her work over Becky for a bit. Lana suddenly walks to the ring and watches from the aisle. Natalya tries a Sharpshooter but Lynch kicks her away and tags in Charlotte, who cleans house on Tamina and Natalya!

Lana now hops the apron, and Charlotte tries to hit her but Lana jumps to the floor. Tamina switches with Natalya while Charlotte focuses on Lana, and she superkicks Charlotte to get this!

Winners via Pinfall: Natalya and Tamina

Locker Room Promo

Maria Kannelis approaches the men’s locker room and wants to see Sami Zayn; Chad Gable answers and tells her Sami’s not there, but she orders him to tell Zayn “The First Lady of Smackdown! Live is looking for him.”

Commercials.

Backstage Promo

Maria and Mike Kannelis are smooching when Sami interrupts. They want an apology but he doesn’t give one because he already had, and says they should be saying sorry to him because they’ve been a barrier before his matches. He implies who the “real man and woman” are in their relationship, which Maria responds with a slap. Mike hits him with a vase and flowers, and Maria kneels over, telling him this was “brought to you by the ‘Power of Love’; Love Hurts.”

The announcers tells us that Shinsuke Nakamura will wrestle Baron Corbin at Battleground!

Video Promo

“The Fashion Files” are “The Runway Walker Texas Rangers Files” this week, as Tyler Breeze and Fandango parody the 1990s’ modern-Western Walker, Texas Ranger. The opening montage even shows star Chuck Norris from his appearances in the then-WWF from 1994, but does say “(not really) featuring Chuck Norris.”

In the backstage area, Fandango and Breeze are dressed up as cowboys, complete with lasso and stuffed-animal pony-on-a-stick. Zack Ryder walks up; Fandango talks to him, but Tyler fumbles the lasso attempt. Mojo Rawley joins and wonders what’s going on; he and Ryder bicker about Mojo tossing Zack from the Independence Day Battle Royal last week. Fandango and Breeze then notices someone has taken their horse right from in front of them! They both decide on “ghost-aliens!” Next week, we will have “The Fashion X-Files – The Truth Is Not H!”

Kevin Owens makes his entrance for the Tag-Team Main Event, next!

Commercials.

Match #5: Tag Team – Kevin Owens and Rusev VS. John Cena and United States Champion A.J. Styles

Cena and Rusev start, with Rusev clutching a side headlock. He gives him a shoulder block and then teases the fans by waiving the Bulgarian Flag. Rusev goes back into the ring, where John takes over with a whip and bulldog! Rusev manages to switch with Kevin, who slowly eyes Cena. They circle and Owens kicks away on John. Rusev is back in and kicks in the corner, and both bad guy dominate.

Commercials.

Rusev is still governing after a spin-kick. He goes to the second turnbuckle and rockets off with a headbutt, but Cena moves! He leaps for the hot-tag, and A.J. hits multiple strikes and a forearm! He runs into an elbow, but Styles rolls Rusev into the Calf-Crusher; Kevin stops it. A.J. tries a Fireman’s-Carry move, but Rusev shoves him away; Styles hits Owens off of the apron but turns into a big kick from Rusev!

Kevin mount-punches and then wears him down with a grounding chinlock. A.J. manages a roll-up but then receives a hard-clothesline! “The Bulgarian Brute” is tagged in and kicks Styles hard again. 1 – 2 – A..J. gets his shoulder up! Rusev locks on a bearhug and shakes him up-and-down! Styles drops out of a backdrop attempt and then enziguris Rusev!

Both get the needed-tags, but Cena is the one who has the momentum! He slams Kevin with the spin-out backdrop and drops a Five Knuckle Shuffle fist drop! He goes for his Attitude Adjustment (Fireman’s-Carry Slam) but Rusev breaks it and kicks him! A.J. hits his Phenomenal Forearm on Rusev and then the Pele Kick on Owens, and then Cena drives Kevin to the canvas with the A.A; he covers for the victory!

Winners via Pinfall: United States Champion A.J. Styles and John Cena

Post-match, A.J. and John glare at each other, and then John holds up A.J.’s hand to close the show!

End of Smackdown! Live.