WWE SmackDown live results: CM Punk returns
After making his somewhat surprise return on this past Monday’s WWE Raw to defeat Sami Zayn for the undisputed WWE Championship, CM Punk will return live on tonight’s SmackDown from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Punk filled in for Cody Rhodes who was injured by Gunther and deemed unable to compete for the title, leading to a show-long storyline as to who would challenge Zayn.
Whenever Punk’s first match on SmackDown is, it will be his first in over 12 years.
Former friends turned rivals Carmelo Hayes and reigning United States Champion Trick Williams will compete in a non-title match.
Finn Balor will be in action against Tama Tonga in the only other segment/match announced for the show.
Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.
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– Following the opening signature, we went right to a live shot of Oklahoma City as Joe Tessitore set the stage for tonight with a recap of the Undisputed WWE Championship situation on Raw this past Monday.
Nick Aldis opens SmackDown
SmackDown’s General Manager opened the show by stating that he took responsibility of the incident involving Gunther at Night of Champions, and that after an internal review, he can continue as SmackDown GM. With that out of the way, Aldis introduced the new Undisputed WWE Champion, CM Punk.
The sounds of “Cult of Personality” heralded the arrival of CM Punk, who was all smiles after his big title win on Monday. As Punk got into the ring, Aldis said that he had been working on this with Punk for a while, suggesting that he was the one who brought Punk to SmackDown. Aldis then allowed Punk to speak to the crowd.
With Punk alone in the ring, he said that he missed the crowd. He mentioned how NBC Universal, USA Network, and Nick Aldis negotiated to get Punk to SmackDown. And those negotiations were expedited last Monday because as championship opportunities fall, CM Punk catches them. He then asked if it was “great to be alive on a Friday night in OKC as the new Undisputed WWE Champion or what?” Punk said he wasn’t like other wrestlers or other champions and that if we saw what he did on Raw with the World Title, it meant defending that championship on TV because he’s the Best in the World.
Punk talked about how he liked to put a target on his own back because he knew the locker room was filled with talented individuals that want that he held. Punk said that he was going to make this very simple: if the locker room wanted a piece of him, they could come get it. He said he was going defend his belt with all the blood and sweat and tears and he’d do it for the crowd. Punk then addressed Sami Zayn’s remarks on social media. Punk was more than happy to give Zayn a shot at the title. He then turned his attention to Gunther, because the two weren’t strangers to one another. He was ready to prove it all over again. Punk then challenged Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest, Trick Williams… that was before Cody Rhodes interrupted him, pomp, circumstance, and all.
As Rhodes got into the ring, he said that the last time he was in the ring with Punk, he and him were having a discussion about championship opportunities that fell out of the sky, and the championship matches that have been building for years. Punk assumed that Rhodes was talking about their title match against one another, stating that he might’ve avoided it just so that nothing got in the way of their friendship…. but, he didn’t think he could avoid it was anymore.
Rhodes reminded Punk of the last time they were in the ring and he said “just say when” in terms of their title match. When Punk asked, Rhodes offered a simple answer of “SummerSlam”. The two shook on it, as Nick Aldis declared that this match would be official: Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
As great as this match may be, it’s kind of odd that the build was just kind of simply just “Cody asks for a match, gets it”. I understand it’s largely a move to move the slow-selling SummerSlam tickets, but you have to wonder about the things teased on Monday like Gunther’s unfinished business with Cody and Sami Zayn’s meltdown. Seems like another case of WWE booking for the moment above all else. Not a fan of the rather lazy way they got to this match, even with the pre-established history between the two mentioned.
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Finn Balor vs. Tama Tonga
The match started fast with Balor battering Tama with punches in bunches as he followed that with a chop in the corner. Tama bounced back with a running elbow to the face of Balor, but a sunset flip of his got countered into a basement dropkick by Balor. Tama got clotheslined out of the ring by Balor, who looked to dive to the outside. However, Talla Tonga grabbed at Balor’s leg, which allowed Tama to take advantage of the distraction as we took a break.
Back from the break, Balor attempted to fight back as he avoided Tama’s attacks and hit a side Russian legsweep. Balor got himself up and began to turn the tide with punches to the face, followed by the forearm. Balor with the stomp to a downed Tama as he again went to the chop to the chest. Balor was caught in a move by Tama, but he turned that into a final cut neckbreaker for a near-fall. Balor stomped at Tama, who hit him in the gut with a punch. Spinout side slam by Tama only got a two. In the corner, Tama had Balor reeling and got him with the big running splash. Tama taunted Balor and went for the splash again. Balor intercepted with the Slingblade, wich was immediately followed by the shotgun dropkick. With Tama in the drop zone, Talla Tonga provided a distraction, as Tama struck like an Australiasian osprey with the Cutthroat. That was followed by the big driver, but Balor kicked out at two.
Balor sent Tama out of the ring as he took him and Talla out with a big dive over the top rope. Shotgun dropkick by Balor once more as Tama was at his mercy. From the heavens came the Coup de Grace. One, two, three… this one’s done.
Finn Balor def. Tama Tonga via pinfall
This was an okay match, but the former M.F.T.s feel kind of heatless right now, which isn’t much of an upgrade from when they were with Solo Sikoa. At least it’s good to see Balor on a winning note.
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WWE SmackDown recapper. Former NXT PLE/WWE Saturday Night's Main Event/fill-in recapper.