By Jason Powell
The following is live notes of the WWE Smackdown pre-show that is being broadcast on the WWE Network. Refresh the page for the latest updates. If you are reading this on the Prowrestling.net app, our mobile website will refresh more frequently than the latest updates than the app will. CLICK HERE to see the very latest updates to this article throughout the show.
-Host Scott Stanford hyped that Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles would go face-to-face on Smackdown. He also hyped the tag tournament semifinal matches of The Usos vs. American Alpha, and Hype Bros vs. Rhyno and Heath Slater.
-Stanford was joined in the studio by Jerry Lawler, Lita, and Booker T.
-The crew hyped The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship at Backlash. The panelists spoke about how Ziggler is on a losing streak. Lita said he’s probably ready to take his ball and go home if he doesn’t win the IC Title.
-The panel discussed the Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt match for Backlash. Lita said Orton is using Wyatt as his rebound for Brock Lesnar. She said the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody, then credited Lawler with the line. Lawler said he doesn’t think Orton can afford to lose another high profile match after losing to Lesnar at SummerSlam.
-Stanford turned the focus to the Ambrose vs. Styles match at Backlash. Stanford asked if Styles is doing himself any favors by touting his past accomplishments. Lita said she loves it. She said the armband that Styles wears on his head is from John Cena’s arm, but Styles wears it on his head because it would fall off if he wore it on his arm. Lawler said beating Cena twice is a huge accomplishment and he wouldn’t stop crowing about it either. Booker said it was important to him when he started in WWE to remind everyone that he was the five-time WCW Champion so everyone would see him as championship material. Lita brought up the mindset that what you’ve done elsewhere doesn’t matter in WWE. She mentioned Jerry Lynn as an example, but she was cut off when Lawler included himself in that mix.
-Styles being crotched on the top rope was recalled. Lawler said Ambrose thought it was funny, but it will turn out to be a big mistake.
-The tag title tournament was the next topic of conversation. They read a tweet from Zack Ryder, who said he wasn’t happy about being sent to NXT to form the Hype Bros tag team, but he quickly realized that it was an opportunity. He spoke about teaming with Mojo in armories in Florida, then winning the IC Championship and being greeted backstage by Rawley.
-Backstage at Smackdown, American Alpha were doing squats before they were interviewed about their semifinal match against the Usos. Chad Gable said they are going to treat the Usos with the respect that they’ve earned. Jason Jordan said this is the new era and they have proven they are the best tag team and they will do it again tonight. Gable said no disrespect to the wrestlers in the other semifinal match, but the winner of their match will likely become the new tag champions and they are treating this like the finals.
-The panel closed by discussing the women’s six pack challenge for the new women’s championship. Daniel Bryan will host a women’s championship forum on Smackdown. The hosts closed the show.
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