WWE SmackDown Live Full Results, Grades and Highlights for October 3, 2017

INTRO: The SmackDown roster (along with Vince and Shane McMahon) stood on the entrance ramp for a moment of silent reflection in remembrance of those lost in the Las Vegas mass shooting. A recap package then replayed last week’s encounter between Shinsuke Nakamura and WWE Champion Jinder Mahal. Nakamura beat down the Singhs and struck Mahal with the Kinshasa.

OPENING SEGMENT: Renee Young stood mid-ring to introduce Nakamura. She asked Nakamura how those remarks affected him. Nakamura appeared to be deep in thought, then said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Even that line elicited a mild cheer. He said the greatest fear of all is the fear of the unknown. Nakamura pledged to beat Mahal and become WWE champion. The Singhs interrupted what they sarcastically dubbed a “thrilling” interview. They gestured toward the entrance as Nakamura steeled himself for a fight.

Instead, Mahal entered the ring from behind Nakamura and blindsided him. He stomped Nakamura while trash-talking him. Once Nakamura made it to his feet, he hit Jinder with a big forearm and floored him with a roundhouse kick. The Singhs entered the fray. Samir got thrown head-first into the middle rope in a nasty sequence; Sunil made it cleanly over the top rope on his turn. Nakamura turned his focus back to Mahal, hitting him with a wheel kick. He set up for the Kinshasa, but the Singhs grabbed his legs, holding him place for a thrust kick from Mahal. Mahal pushed Samir out of his way, and the brothers held down Nakamura so the Maharaja could stomp him at will. The Denver crowd started a “You suck” chant as Mahal brought Nakamura down with the Khallas. The WWE champion held up his title as Nakamura held his neck in pain.

Color commentator Corey Graves said that Shane McMahon and Kevin Owens would stand face-to-face tonight. Up next, Charlotte and Becky Lynch would team up to face SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya and Carmella.

Play-by-play announcer Tom Phillips promoted WWE’s partnership with Susan G. Komen. The program then made an awkward transition back to playing Carmella’s music as she twirled inside the ring. We get a backstage video of Carmella playfully dangling the Money in the Bank briefcase in her tag partner’s face backstage prior to the match.

 

Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch vs. Natalya and Carmella

Carmella started the match by slapping Lynch. Becky stuck to wrestling with a spin kick to the gut, then slapped her opponent back. She threw a dropkick that hit air, somehow sending Carmella to ringside as she held her left ear. Lynch and Flair nailed their opponents with double baseball slides as they convalesced outside the ring, taking us to break.

Shockingly, the momentum had turned by the time we return to SmackDown. Natalya smiled as she gripped Lynch in a reverse chinlock. A replay showed Carmella stunning Lynch with a thrust kick as the Lasskicker fought off Natalya. In real time, Lynch fought to her feet and armdragged Natalya. The champion floored her with a discus clothesline, however, then took a shot at Charlotte for good measure. The heels double-teamed Becky as Charlotte tried to interject against the referee’s guidance. Natalya snap-suplexed Lynch, then goaded Charlotte some more. The champion’s lack of focus lead to Lynch seizing her for an O’Connor roll. Natalya kicked out, leg-pressing Lynch directly into her corner for the tag.

Charlotte entered and furiously dropped both her opponents. She chopped Natalya a half-dozen times, then threw her into the ropes and struck her with lucky number seven. Charlotte drove Natalya’s face into the mat with a knee drop, following up with a Flair strut to pop the crowd. An overhead suplex nearly won the match until Carmella broke up the pin at two. Lynch and Carmella tumbled to the outside, leaving the ring clean for Charlotte to hit a spear on Natalya. The Queen went for a figure four, but Natalya kicked her off and then tried to escape the ring. As Charlotte attempted to pull her foe off the ropes, referee Mike Chioda backed Charlotte off. With his attention diverted, Carmella blasted Lynch with the briefcase outside the ring. Charlotte witnessed the foreign object being used, but Natalya took advantage of the distraction to club the Queen from behind. She applied the Sharpshooter for the tap-out victory.

Result: Natalya and Carmella beat Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch when Natalya submitted Charlotte with the Sharpshooter.

Grade: B

A video package recapped the Owens vs. Shane-o-Mac feud. This package included a clip of Shane and a then-U.S. Champion Owens sniping at each other on Talking Smack earlier this year. It seemed quaint to watch Owens threaten to sue all of WWE just last month. KO assured us that he’ll go to Heaven for what he does to Shane at Hell in a Cell.

Phillips announced that Maria and Mike Kanellis are expecting their first child in April. Mike stood mid-ring while Maria was absent. Oh, man. If she’s not part of this package, which is based around their endless love, it’s tough to see what Mike is going to accomplish in WWE for the next half-year.

 

Bobby Roode vs. Mike Kanellis

Roode backed Kanellis into the turnbuckle. He stepped back, waved his arms, and was kicked by Kanellis before he could get glorious. Kanelli followed up with straight rights to a prone Roode. He yelled at the crowd, then charged directly into a Roode spinebuster. Roode exploded in a “Glorious” exultation, then executed the Glorious DDT for the win.

Result: Bobby Roode pinned Mike Kanellis with a Glorious DDT.

Grade: D

Ziggler cut off Roode’s celebration with something that is hopefully not another entrance/impersonation. He said he was working on a new entrance for their match Sunday. Police sirens rang out. Ziggler cut that off and said he had a new idea. He went behind the curtain as a “CM Punk” chant started. Ziggler walked out beating a marching band bass drum. He put it down and grabbed some cheap party store accessories to wave around. Ziggler blasted an air horn at Roode, then directly into a live mic. Ziggler told Roode that his entrance is the only reason he made it to WWE, and claimed he’d give the world an entrance Sunday that they’ve never seen before.

Ziggler said that Roode can bring all the bells and whistles he wanted, but the bell would ring at some point. Roode just won a match, you dumbass. After Ziggler threw down the stick, Roode grabbed the mic and told Dolph his entrance was terrible. He belted out “Glorious” after a hip-swiveling buildup as the fans yelled along.

The Usos walked out to read The New Day their rights. Phillips said they were looking to capture their fifth world tag team championship at Hell in a Cell. Uce said this match would be two-on-two, so the third New Day member would be stuck outside the ring eating Booty-Os. They welcomed New Day to the Uso Penitentiary, and informed us what it would not be inside that house of corrections:

– Booty-Os
– Rainbows
– Sunshine
– Twerking
– Trombones

They threatened to throw New Day and every other team on SmackDown into the cell to show they’ve got the division on lock. Big E cut them off into the middle of their “It’s not paranoia, it’s the Usos” line. Kofi Kingston shilled for New Day underwear, tossing a pair into the crowd. Getting serious, Xavier Woods said their two teams have left everyone in awe that the SmackDown tag team division could be so good. Big E said they have given fans the best match of the night for the past several months. But the last time they met, Woods said, the New Day left with the SmackDown tag team title. On the other hand, Kofi said, the Usos were left in a pile of their own “Day One Ish”. They vowed to leave the Cell with the tag team championship.

Backstage, Mahal looked directly into the camera and spoke Punjabi. He told fans to look at what he did to their hero Nakamura earlier tonight. We get that replay. Wow, they almost executed a decent Khallas that time. Mahal said that Nakamura underestimated his intelligence. At Hell in a Cell, Jinder said, he’d stand tall as Nakamura crinkled his ugly face in a pile of regret. That sounds like a threat Morrissey would make to a prying journalist.

Color commentator Byron Saxton announced that the Fashion Files return would be postponed until Hell in a Cell. With that bad news publicized, the chanting monks summoned Baron Corbin. In a great line, Graves said that Tye Dillinger is looking for revenge tonight, but Corbin is not a man you ever go looking for.

 

Tye Dillinger vs. Baron Corbin

Dillinger battered Corbin with punches, forearms, and chops. Corbin stopped him with a knee and hurled his opponent outside the ring. Tye immediately reentered and laced into Corbin again. After absorbing more strikes, Corbin gained the upper hand and sent Tye face-first into the turnbuckle. When Corbin missed a corner charge, he swept around the ring post, dove back into the ring, and ate a superkick. Tye got fired up as we go to break.

Back in action, Corbin shoved Dillinger off the apron onto the steel steps. Corbin grinned and threw Dillinger back inside the ring. Corbin lifted Dillinger into a suplex and dropped him gut-first across the top rope. He maneuvered Tye outside the ring. Corbin hung him upside on the top rope in a modified tree of woe, belting him with a running shot to the midsection. Back in the ring, Corbin lifted Dillinger for a suplex, but Dillinger snared him with a small package for the surprise win.

Result: Tye Dillinger pinned Baron Corbin with a small package.

Grade: C+

Corbin threw a fit, yelling at the ring announcer that it was only a two count. Phillips said the Lone Wolf blew an opportunity to put an opponent behind him. AJ Styles hollered at Corbin on the Titantron. From the backstage interview area, Styles said that nothing makes him happier than seeing Corbin blow an opportunity. I’m sensing a theme here. Styles told Corbin, “It’s because you have the ability of a thoroughbred, but the attitude of a jackass.” Styles asked Corbin if he thought success would be handed to him. He said Corbin could have beaten Cena at SummerSlam, successfully cashed in the Money in the Bank contract, or pinned Dillinger tonight if he’d worked harder. He promised that Corbin wouldn’t be able to take shortcuts at Hell in a Cell. That entire promo felt like WWE executives sending a pointed message to Corbin.

A Susan G. Komen video aired. Back in the arena, Dana Warrior introduced the three breast cancer survivors standing with her. The women each held up their individual championship belts as the crowd cheered. Dana and the three women did the Ultimate Warrior rope shake together, which was kind of great. They huddled up in the ring with various WWE women’s wrestlers to exchange hugs.

Graves said that Kalisto would make his 205 Live debut tonight. In the ring, Rusev accompanied Aiden English. We rewatch Orton attacking them during their Rusev Day celebration last week. Rusev growled that Orton ruined Rusev Day. But that is alright, for there would be many more happy Rusev Days to come. “For examples, this Sunday at Hell in a Cell, when I bake you in front of the WWU Universe.” English applauded these words, as we all should have. Orton interrupted Rusev when the Bulgarian Brute insulted his family. This angle should make Rusev a face based on his inherent likability and pure joy at winning his quickie match against Orton a few weeks back.

 

Randy Orton vs. Aiden English

Rusev immediately jumped onto the apron, distracting Orton so that English could hit him from behind. English whaled on Orton in the corner. The Viper fired back with right hands, but ran into a boot. English hoisted himself onto the middle turnbuckle, and nearly jumped off into another RKO. He countered the move this week, then hit Orton with one boot on a dropkick attempt for a one-count. As Orton recovered in the corner, English launched himself backfirst into his opponent. He alternated stomps on Orton’s left and right sides. English attempted to Irish whip Orton into the ropes. Orton reversed the whip, missed a big right, then nailed English with a sweet pop-up RKO. He sat up unperturbed for a few seconds before hooking both legs for the cover.

Result: Randy Orton pinned Aiden English with a pop-up RKO.

Grade: C-

Rusev tried to roll into the ring after the match, but Orton quickly turned to meet his gaze. Orton stared Rusev down as the Bulgarian Brute retreated up the entrance ramp.

Shane walked backstage and quickly ran into Sami Zayn. Sami said he’s hurt, but he’ll live. He told McMahon that he’s only caught glimpses of how ruthless Owens can be, but KO has officially snapped. Shane ripped off Rorscharch’s line in Watchmen, telling Zayn that he’s not going to be locked up in Hell in a Cell with Owens; KO will be locked up with him. Zayn warned him that Owens has become something more than his old obnoxious, snarky self. Owens and Zayn were like brothers, yet Owens almost ended his career last week. McMahon tersely told Zayn to take care of himself, as he had business to attend to in the ring.

Shane McMahon entered the ring in his dad gear consisting of a dress shirt, vest, blue jeans, and Nike high-tops. He invited Owens to join him. Long pause. Shane said KO must be a no-show. He told Owens that he talked a big game, but he showed his true colors when his back is against the wall. Shane called Owens a coward for disparaging his children, assaulting his father, and hiding behind Zayn to escape from Shane. There would be nowhere to run Sunday. And when that cell closes, Shane said, “I’m gonna change your life.”

McMahon said the Hell in a Cell match would now be contested under falls-count-anywhere rules. So this is all gonna spill out of the cell on Sunday, huh? He threatened to beat Owens beyond recognition. KO’s disembodied voice spoke back, asking Shane if he was looking for something. Owens made himself known, walking down the arena aisle through the fans. McMahon invited Owens into the ring. KO acquiesced, then changed his mind. He told everyone that he’d already spent too much time in Denver, and walked back up the stairs to leave.

McMahon called him a coward again. Owens briefly reconsidered doing something about it, then left. Shane said that, if Owens wouldn’t bring the fight to him, he’d bring the fight to Owens. He vaulted the ringside barricade and chased Owens up the same arena stairs. Shane cautiously opened the curtain and entered the concourse. As he searched for Owens, KO struck him from behind and landed kicks to McMahon. He threw a trashcan onto Shane. McMahon fought back and smashed Owens’ face into a merchandise stand table. On either side of them, security minded fans to stay away from the action. Those views can’t help but make the action look scripted. Owens bashed Shane against a hot dog stand, then flung him into a pillar. Returning to the merch stand, Owens sent McMahon through a table with a powerbomb.

Owens ignored the outstretched hands of small children to return to the live arena. Shane began to stir on top of the broken table. And … we go abruptly to an episode of the reality show Chrisley Knows Best without even giving the announce team a chance to sign off. This looks like the end of SmackDown Live, which is promptly resurrected as Owens badmouthed Shane in the ring. Wow, never seen that before. Someone is going to catch hell for preemptively (albeit temporarily) ending this episode of SmackDown, potentially causing hundreds of thousands of American viewers to turn the channel and miss the end of this segment as WWE makes its hard sell for Sunday’s pay-per-view.

Finally in the ring (and back on live television), Owens said he liked the falls-count anywhere stipulation. Despite the fact that it telegraphs where the action will take place and waters down the basic concept of a cage match. Owens threatened to powerbomb McMahon until he can’t remember his children’s names. He asked Shane not to worry about jumping off the cell again because he’d throw McMahon off it Sunday. This time, Owens said, there’d be no getting up. Tough words from a serious heel.

Suddenly, Shane reappeared. Owens warned Shane to stop as McMahon hobbled down the arena stairs. KO changed tactics, encouraging Shane to keep walking and show people what it means to be a McMahon. He jumped over the barricade to repeatedly punch Shane, who countered Owens’ onslaught by throwing him back over the barricade. Shane climbed the barricade and flew off with a clothesline. They traded right hands before Owens grabbed McMahon and heaved him over the announce table. Shane resurfaced as Owens stared at him dumbfounded. McMahon rolled into the ring and fought back with right hands. Owens threw his own right, then cracked McMahon with a superkick. He started to leave before noticing Shane stirring once more. Owens stepped back between the ropes; Shane fought back again. KO floored McMahon with a headbutt similar to that which he used against Vince last month. He stuck Shane with a pop-up powerbomb, which mercifully ended the beating. As Owens walked away, McMahon rolled to his side and pointed at his foe to end the program.