Five years ago on July 17, 2020, WWE SmackDown aired a memorable episode at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, featuring an intense AJ Styles Intercontinental Title match against Matt Riddle. This match, part of a larger card broadcast on FOX Network, highlighted ongoing rivalries and set the stage for major upcoming events like Extreme Rules and the Horror Show.
The night’s commentary team included Michael Cole and Corey Graves, setting a tense and charged atmosphere throughout the show. AJ Styles promised to retain his Intercontinental Championship, while Matt Riddle, known for his confident and rebellious spirit, positioned himself as a formidable challenger planning to claim the title for himself.
Opening Moments and Rivalries Set the Tone
The show opened with a pre-recorded segment in which Styles vowed to defend his title. Matt Riddle mocked Styles’ initials, jokingly calling them “American Jackass,” and confidently declared his intention to be
“The Bro that Runs the Show.”
Daniel Bryan unexpectedly endorsed Riddle’s chances, providing an unpredictable dynamic prior to the main event.
Elsewhere, Alexa Bliss teased a mystery guest, promising surprises while Miz taunted John Morrison about his upcoming fight with Braun Strowman, revealing an ongoing tension. Strowman himself issued a warning for Bray Wyatt, intensifying their dark and volatile feud. Meanwhile, tag team partners Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro made bold claims about winning upcoming tag titles, with Cesaro teasing a strategic choice of match stipulation based on the outcome of his bout against Big E.
This opening segment combined humor, hostility, and anticipation, reminiscent of classic wrestling promo montages, creating a layered introduction to the night’s conflicts.
Big E vs. Cesaro: A Battle Over Match Stipulations
Big E, accompanied by Kofi Kingston, faced off against Cesaro in a physical match where the winner earned the right to choose the stipulation for their Extreme Rules tag team title match. Cesaro and Nakamura favored a cage match to prevent interference from New Day’s Xavier Woods, while Big E believed a tables match would better suit his strategy.
The match showcased power moves and technical wrestling, with Cesaro unleashing a Swiss Cyborg–style assault and locking Big E in submission holds like the sharpshooter and STF. Despite Big E’s resilience and several comebacks, Cesaro ultimately secured victory after Nakamura interfered with a well-timed kick and Cesaro landed his Neutralizer finisher.
The post-match chaos saw Cesaro and Nakamura attacking Big E, setting up high drama for their tag team clash. Kofi courageously intervened with daring dives and tables, keeping the rivalry alive.
King Corbin’s Warnings and Alexa Bliss’s Mystery Guest Reveal
In a backstage interview, King Corbin dismissed Matt Riddle’s ambitions as naive, warning that the “Bro” was playing a dangerous game and would soon face harsh consequences when Styles took him down. These comments foreshadowed Corbin’s later interference in the main event.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross sat in the ring, acknowledging the five-year anniversary of the WWE Women’s Evolution and sharing predictions for the upcoming pay-per-view matches. The atmosphere quickly shifted as Sasha Banks and Bayley interrupted their conversation, issuing sharp taunts toward Nikki. Bliss then revealed her mystery guest as Asuka, who entered with her characteristic flair. The new alliance of Bliss, Nikki, and Asuka confronted Bayley and Sasha, igniting additional animosity within the women’s division.
Backstage Insights from Daniel Bryan and Matt Riddle’s Preparation
Daniel Bryan appeared in a selfie video discussing Styles’ tough fight style, noting his skepticism but also hinting at Riddle’s advantage due to special coaching sessions. Matt Riddle was seen warming up alongside Drew Gulak, intensifying the anticipation for the evening’s headliner championship bout.
Tag Team Competition: Nikki Cross & Asuka vs. Bayley & Sasha Banks
The women’s tag team match featured Nikki Cross and Asuka taking on Bayley and Sasha Banks in a high-energy contest. Bayley immediately targeted Nikki with a cheap shot, but Nikki’s fiery response helped keep the momentum back and forth. Asuka’s aggressive offense, combined with Nikki’s resilience, created impressive moments including a tornado DDT attempt and risky moves outside the ring.
Despite strong efforts from Cross and Asuka, Bayley and Sasha ultimately triumphed after a leverage-assisted pin that highlighted the competitive, yet sometimes controversial nature of tag team wrestling in WWE’s women’s division.
Build-Up to Braun Strowman vs. John Morrison
Backstage and in-ring promos had Miz encouraging Morrison in his fight against Braun Strowman, framing the battle as a classic horror movie duel of hero versus monster. Braun intensely expressed his internal struggle with Bray Wyatt’s influence, describing himself as a monster needing to be confronted before the evil overtakes him. His unusually frantic demeanor underscored the dark psychological themes central to their storyline.
The match itself was brief but forceful, with Braun overpowering Morrison in under two minutes using powerful moves including a chokeslam and bearhug. Afterward, Braun issued a haunting message to Bray Wyatt, promising to “come home” and end their conflict at the forthcoming Horror Show event.
Lacey Evans vs. Naomi: A Short but Fierce Contest
Lacey Evans and Naomi fought a quick but impactful match, with Lacey scoring a victory after using a strategic hair knot maneuver followed by her signature Woman’s Right finisher. Commentary reflected on Lacey’s struggle to fit in with the roster’s dynamics and hinted at underlying tensions related to her personality and alliances within WWE.
Jeff Hardy Opens Up About His Struggles and Upcoming Showdown
In an emotional backstage interview, Jeff Hardy discussed his fight to maintain sobriety amid encouragement from rival Sheamus to revert to drinking. Hardy compared his battle to dealing with a bully, focusing on the necessity of confronting his demons daily. He also touched on the impact of Sheamus’s interference on his career and upcoming matches. Sheamus ominously promised to “cleanse” Hardy of his inner struggles, setting a dramatic tone for their future encounters.
Sasha Banks and Bayley’s Confidence Sparks Tension with Nikki Cross
Backstage conversations between Sasha Banks and Bayley revealed their confidence and dominance heading into the pay-per-view, proclaiming a plan to collect multiple championships. Bayley taunted Nikki Cross, insinuating her impending defeat and encouraging dismissive attitudes toward Nikki, who responded with frustration and concern for her own performance and family watching from Scotland. The heated exchanges heightened the rivalry among these women heading into their featured matches.
Final Showdown: AJ Styles vs. Matt Riddle for the Intercontinental Title
The main event featured formal introductions for AJ Styles defending the Intercontinental Championship against Matt Riddle. The match rapidly escalated as Riddle aggressively launched attacks, including a gut wrench and leaping knee that dropped Styles early on. Styles showed visible frustration, ramping up the intensity.
As the match progressed, momentum swung between the competitors with both landing signature moves. Riddle’s “Bro To Sleep” and a running knee nearly secured a pinfall, but Styles maintained resilience and countered with strikes and submission attempts such as the Calf Crusher. Riddle fought back with his Bro-mission hold, but Styles cleverly leveraged Riddle’s shoulders for a three count, retaining his title after an 18-minute hard-fought match.
In a post-match moment filled with respect, Styles extended a handshake to Riddle. However, King Corbin ruthlessly attacked Riddle from behind, delivering heavy punishment and ruining the moment. The audience loudly expressed their disapproval as Riddle struggled to recover under Corbin’s assault, while Styles remained apart, allowing Corbin’s brutal message to land.
The Significance and Aftermath of the Title Match and Ongoing Storylines
The AJ Styles Intercontinental Title match against Matt Riddle served as a critical chapter in both competitors’ story arcs, blending athletic competition with personal rivalries and larger faction tensions. Styles’ win solidified his dominance, while Riddle’s valiant effort and subsequent attack by Corbin set up a sympathetic underdog narrative for him moving forward.
This episode of SmackDown also effectively built anticipation for Extreme Rules and the Horror Show pay-per-view, with multiple intertwined storylines involving Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt, tag team rivalries, and women’s division conflicts. The complex character dynamics and intense promos added emotional depth to the wrestling action, creating a charged atmosphere that kept fans invested in what promises to be high-stakes encounters in the near future.
