WWE Smackdown Live Results for 9/18/18 AJ Styles vs Andrade Almas, United States Championship Match

WWE champion AJ Styles faces Andrade Almas in a non-title match, and Shinsuke Nakamura defends his United States Championship against Rusev on tonight’s edition of WWE Smackdown! Live!

Good evening Fightful faithful  and welcome to our coverage of tonight’s edition of WWE Smackdown Live! While you’re here you can leave a comment below, and be sure to stick around afterwards for the post-show podcast!

-We open the show with a video recapping Hell in a Cell, specifically the Smackdown! Women’s Championship match where Becky Lynch defeated Charlotte to become the new champion. We then open the show in the arena with The Miz for Miz TV where Miz announces that he and Daniel Bryan will square off at the Super Showdown where the winner will get a shot at the WWE Championship. Miz goes on to say that he is above Daniel and that he has beaten him twice and will beat him again in three weeks. Miz introduces his guest Maryse where she says that Brie didn’t stand a chance against her and that she felt that her heart wasn’t in the match. Miz says that Brie married Bryan because he’s a star and for her to stay relevant in WWE.

Miz asks Maryse what’s next before she announces that tonight is her last night on Smackdown! Live and that she has to go back home to take care of their child. Miz then demands that Daniel comes out to the ring, Daniel obliging and the two brawling until Daniel dropkicks Miz into Maryse. Daniel then sends Miz out of the ring after Maryse seemingly recovers out of nowhere as we go to commercial.

Kofi Kingston vs Cesaro

The match starts during the commercial as we return to the action with Cesaro in control, Kofi getting a quick two count before Cesaro nearly knocks him out with a European uppercut for a near fall. Kofi hits an enzuigiri that rocks Cesaro before Cesaro catches him up top and hits a dropkick before Kofi counters a gut wrench superplex into a tornado DDT for a near fall. Kofi sends Cesaro out of the ring before hitting a senton over the top and onto Cesaro at ringside before rolling him back into the ring for a quick two count. Cesaro then hits a neutralizer for the pin and the win off of a Kofi back slide for a near fall.

Winner: Cesaro defeats Kofi Kingston via pinfall with a neutralizer.

-After the match we see Rusev Day at each others throats backstage ahead of Rusev challenging for the United States Championship later tonight.

-Randy Orton threatens someone operating the footage in the control room as he talks about what he did to Jeff Hardy at Hell in a Cell before we cut back to the announcers and a recap of the WWE Championship match between the champion AJ Styles and the challenger Samoa Joe where AJ retained his title in controversial fashion. AJ is then interviewed about the match and his match tonight against Andrade Almas before Shinsuke Nakamura comes out for his United States Championship match against Rusev as we go to commercial. 

United States Championship Match 

Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs Rusev

They start the match off by exchanging several standing switches before Rusev drops Shinsuke with a shoulder block. Shinsuke catches Rusev coming in with a knee before hitting Bad Vibrations and Rusev hits an overhead belly to back suplex. Rusev sends Shinsuke out of the ring before Shinsuke yanks him down across the top rope and hits a single leg dropkick for a quick two count as we head to break.

Shinsuke is in control as we come back to the match until Rusev fights out of a front choke and hits a scoop slam. Rusev drops Shinsuke with a series of strikes and a wheel kick before dropping him with a roundhouse kick for a near fall. Shinsuke hits a diving knee strike off of the apron before sending Rusev into the barricade and back into the ring before Rusev catches him coming in for the Kinshasa and hits a superkick. Aiden then distracts Rusev before Shinsuke rolls him up for the pin and the win.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura retains his United States Championship by defeating Rusev via pinfall with a roll up. 

AJ Styles vs Andrade Almas​​​​​​

Almas attacks AJ before the match starts and stomps on him repeatedly until the referee pulls him off and starts the match. Almas hits a running forearm in the corner before AJ comes back with a flurry of strikes. Almas drops AJ with a running boot before hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a quick two count as we go to commercial.

Almas misses a moonsault before Almas catches AJ in the ropes and hits a diving foot stomp onto the apron and they both end up on the floor. AJ gets back onto the apron at the count of eight before Almas boots him back off of the apron and down onto the floor as we go to commercial.

Almas misses a running knee and ends up over the top rope and crashing down onto the floor when we come back to the action before AJ drops him with a sliding knee and hits a springboard forearm to the back of his neck for a near fall. Almas counters a Styles Clash into a springboard dropkick before Almas hits a running knee attack in the corner for a near fall. AJ then counters a hammer lock DDT into the Styles Clash for the pin and the win.

Winner: AJ Styles defeats Andrade Almas via pinfall with the Styles Clash.

-After the match Samoa Joe attacks AJ before AJ runs him off and into the crowd as we go to commercial.

Asuka vs Billie Kay

Asuka backs Kay into the ropes before Asuka gets distracted by Peyton at ringside, then Billie attacks Asuka from behind for a quick two count. Asuka hits a running hip attack before Kay drops her with a boot for a quick two count. Asuka then locks in the Asuka Lock for the tap and the win.

Winner: Asuka defeats Billie Kay via submission with the Asuka Lock.

-Paige is in the ring before introducing Becky Lynch and unveiling the Smackdown! Women’s Championship with custom plates on it before handing it to Becky. Becky says that she’s back where she belongs and it’s her show and her title now before she tells Charlotte to come out. Charlotte says that she’s not there to fight or steal her spotlight and says that Becky was the better woman that night. Becky demands that Charlotte raise her hand and put the title around her waist before Charlotte starts to leave and Becky calls her a bitch. Charlotte attacks Becky before Becky sends her over the announce table and into the barricade before rolling her back into the ring and locking in the Disarmer and holding up the title. Becky then hits an exploder suplex before leaving as we go off the air.