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WWE SmackDown Results: Review, Grades, Card For August 1

By Matt Black

Our WWE SmackDown results for tonight include a face-to-face between John Cena and Cody Rhodes, Giulia defending the Women’s United States Championship against Zelina Vega, Jimmy Uso taking on Talla Tonga, and Damian Priest going one-on-one with Aleister Black.

WWE SmackDown Card

The announced card is as follows:

  • WWE Women’s United States Championship: Giulia (c) vs. Zelina Vega
  • Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest
  • Jimmy Uso vs. Talla Tonga
  • Legado del Fantasma’s AAA Tag Team Championship Open Challenge
  • John Cena and Cody Rhodes go face-to-face before WWE SummerSlam

WWE SmackDown Results:

This week’s episode of SmackDown kicks off with the face-to-face between John Cena and Cody Rhodes ahead of their street fight at SummerSlam this weekend for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Cena makes his way to the ring first, and before he can speak, he’s interrupted by Rhodes. John Cena says that he told Rhodes that he was exhausted and that a match at SummerSlam would be too difficult for him. Cena says Rhodes didn’t listen and forced him into this match, and he only has one thing to say to him… thank you.

John Cena says that was just the boot in the ass that he needed. Cena says he realized he flushed everything he believed in down the toilet five months ago when they wanted to make shocking TV. Cena says the people whose idea it was left him high and dry, clearly taking a shot at The Rock. John says he wants to take the WWE Title home with him, not to ruin wrestling, but to make sure people don’t forget about him.

Cena says the fans and Rhodes tried to tell him, but he didn’t listen. Cena says Rhodes was a good friend who forced him into a fight. John says he doesn’t know who leaves with the title on Sunday, but he knows who wins, the fans.

Cena says he has something to prove on Sunday in the main event. Cena tells Rhodes if he wants some, to come get some. John says the only rapper showing up on Sunday to whip his ass is him.

Cody Rhodes responds…

Rhodes tells Cena welcome back and they shake hands before drinking a beer together. Rhodes leaves, letting Cena soak in the adulation of the WWE Universe.

A segment airs of Logan Paul and Dre McIntyre attacking Jelly Roll as he was training for his match at SummerSlam this weekend.

WWE Women’s United States Championship: Giulia (c) (w/ Kiana James) vs. Zelina Vega

  • The finish of the match saw Giulia hit Zelina Vega with the Northern Lights Bomb to score the pinfall victory.

Winner: And still Women’s United States Champion, Giulia

Grade: B+

Very fun match to kick off the show. There were some good nearfalls, and I feel like these two women wrestled like they had a point to prove. It was a really entertaining matchup.

The MFTs seemingly have a plan

Solo Sikoa and the MFTs are backstage with Cathy Kelley. Sikoa claims he has nothing to do with the steel cage hanging over the ring tonight and hypes this evening’s match between Talla Tonga and Jimmy Uso.

Mr. Iguana and Psycho Clown answer Legado del Fantasma’s AAA Tag Team Championship Open Challenge.

AAA Tag Team Championship: Los Garza (c) vs. Mr. Iguana and Psycho Clown

  • The finish of the match saw Los Garza hit Psycho Clown with the MTY to score the pinfall victory.

Winners: And still AAA Tag Team Champions, Los Garza

Grade: B

You can tell Mr. Iguana and Psycho Clown were a bit nervous tonight. The match was fine, but it was a bit sloppy at points. These things happen. The crowd still loved Mr. Iguana, and that’s all that really matters.

A vingette airs for this weekend’s TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Titles.

Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black

  • The finish of the match saw Aleister Black hit Damian Priest with a steel chair, causing a disqualification.

Winner: Damian Priest via DQ

After the match, Black continues to attack Priest with the steel chair. Black ends things with a Black Mass.

Grade: B

Well, now I get why this didn’t end up on SummerSlam. A very weak finish from a match that was seemingly getting better as it went along. The finish honestly sucked and just fell flat to me. Also, why is R-Truth not coming out to defend his friend after Priest spent weeks defending him? This was really dumb.

Who leaves SummerSlam as WWE Women’s Champion?

We see Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill backstage. Cargill says she didn’t need her help last week. Stratton says she didn’t want Cargill making any excuses when she beat her this weekend at SummerSlam. Cargill says she’s been after Stratton for months, and she’s going to finish what she started this weekend.

Talla Tonga (w/ Solo Sikoa) vs. Jimmy Uso

  • The finish of the match saw Talla Tonga hit Jimmy Uso with a chokeslam to score the pinfall victory.

Winner: Talla Tonga

After the match, the MFTs attack Jimmy, and Solo has the steel cage lowered. Jacob Fatu makes the save. Solo escapes through the door while Fatu beats down Tonga Loa and JC Mateo.

Grade: B-

Not the best in-ring debut for Talla Tonga, but as long as he’s been out of the ring, it’s hardly a surprise. The match was fine, but it could have been better.

Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul have something to say…

Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul make their way to the ring. Logan Paul buries “Green Shirt Guy” at ringside. Paul says they are trying to defend WWE from outsiders. Paul says Jelly Roll thought SummerSlam was a hot dog-eating contest.

Logan Paul complains about outside people coming in and trying to take their spots. Paul says Jelly Roll will never belong in WWE. Drew McIntyre says whatever happens to Jelly Roll tomorrow is on Randy Orton. Jelly Roll and Randy Orton arrive at the arena and make their way to the ring.

The four men start brawling, and Nick Aldis sends out a bunch of security to try and separate them. Orton RKO’s two security guards and Roll chokeslams another as WWE SmackDown goes off the air.

WWE SmackDown Review:

This was a weird show. The decision to turn John Cena before SummerSlam is very confusing. It also leads many people to speculate that Cody Rhodes will turn heel this weekend. That would certainly be an odd choice, but you can’t put anything past WWE right now.

The rest of the show was a mixed bag. Some solid wrestling, but nothing you had to go out of your way to see. It’s clear that WWE had tunnel vision tonight for this weekend’s events, and that’s completely understandable. I just hope both nights deliver.

Grade: B

READ MORE: The Miz Reveals Who The Next Big Thing Is Going To Be In WWE

What did you think of WWE SmackDown this week? What was your favorite match or segment? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

Matt Black
Matt Black

Matt Black has been covering wrestling video games since WWE Warzone from Acclaim. Coverage of wrestling video games eventually lead him into the world of wrestling news. Matt is a fan of every wrestling company and enjoys the current state of the industry in 2024.

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