- Before the show, we see Jinder Mahal forcing a camera man to do a photoshoot for him with the WWE Championship. Shane McMahon says he hasn't earned that title yet. but Mahal says he will earn it at Backlash. Shane also tells him he'll be facing Sami Zayn tonight before Mahal angrily hands him the title belt.
- After that, Shane comes down to the ring to introduce the newest member of the SmackDown roster...Chris Jericho! Jericho calls SmackDown the new show of Jericho before Shane tells him he'll be defending the United States Championship tonight against Kevin Owens. This is followed by AJ Styles coming out. He says SmackDown is the house he built and says he'll gladly take the title from Jericho at Backlash if he's still champion. Jericho says he's the new face of America and prepares to put Styles on the List of Jericho for doubting that he can retain the title tonight, but Kevin Owens comes out before he can. Owens says the three men in the ring are arguing about things that don't matter and he'll take back the United States Championship tonight. He says Jericho has no idea what he's in for and tells Styles to get out of his ring. Styles charges at Owens and the two brawl on the ramp before referees break it up.
- Sami Zayn vs Jinder Mahal with The Singh Brothers-So the Bollywood Boyz are now the Singh Brothers. Instead of Gurv & Harv Shira, they are now Sunil & Samir Singh, respectively. Mahal starts off in control before Zayn hits a head scissor takedown. Zayn follows up with a pop-up dropkick that sends Mahal out of the ring before the commercial break. We come back to Mahal working over Zayn with elbows. Mahal controls the match until Zayn hits a clothesline. Zayn runs wild, hitting a crossbody before Sunil hops up on the apron. Mahal & Zayn trade roll ups before Zayn hits a wristlock springboard tornado DDT that looked messy. Zayn calls for the Helluva Kick, but Sunil pulls him out of the way and to the outside. Zayn goes for the somersault plancha, but Samir trips him up, allowing Mahal to get back in the ring and hits a cobra clutch slam for the win. This was...a match.
- Becky Lynch walks up to Natalya, Tamina, Carmella, and James Ellsworth. She calls Ellsworth a lady before Natalya reminds Becky of how Charlotte turned her back on her and if anyone deserves a title shot, it's her. Natalya asks her to join with them and make SmackDown their division before walking away. Becky looks intrigued.
- Backstage, Dolph Ziggler complains to
indy wrestlersrandom people backstage about all the attention Shinsuke Nakamura is getting as Shane McMahon walks up behind him. Ziggler tells him he wasn't impressed by Nakamura last week and tells him he'll impress when he takes on Sin Cara tonight. - Tye Dillinger vs Aiden English-Before the match, English sings before being interrupted. God, I remember years ago in the Hulu Plus days of NXT when English was doing this before the Vaudevillians were a thing and he's was over like crazy. English blindsides Dillinger when he has his back turned and beats him down, but Dillinger quickly takes control. Dillinger finishes English off with a new finisher, basically tossing him like an F-5 into a GTS. After the match, English freaks out in the ring.
- Renee Young tries to interview Chris Jericho but is interrupted by Aiden English crying. He compliments him before putting him on the List of Jericho for crying. He also puts Renee on the list. Oh, and in case you missed, we just witnessed the complete burial of Aiden English
- Dasha Fuentes interviews Charlotte Flair. She says the "welcoming committee" only stopped the inevitable before saying she'll win the SmackDown Women's Championship. She is then attacked by Natalya, Carmella, and Tamina.
- Naomi & Charlotte Flair vs Natalya & Carmella with Tamina & James Ellsworth-Well, do to that backstage attack, Charlotte doesn't come out, leaving Naomi to fight on her own. Naomi starts with an atomic drop on Carmella before kicking her hard. Carmella tries to kick her, but it has no effect on Naomi, who hits her quick kicks followed by a roundhouse kick. Natalya tags in Naomi gets a springboard sunset flip for a near fall followed by an arm drag. Natalya comes back with a slingshot atomic drop, but Naomi cuts off her momentum with a hurricanrana. Natalya leaves the ring and blocks a baseball slide, turning Naomi around and ramming her face into the steel steps. The heels control the match before a double crossbody spot. After that, Charlotte comes out and down to the ring. She gets on the apron and gets the hot tag. Charlotte runs wild, chopping Natalya before hitting a neckbreaker and a big boot. Charlotte holds off both Natalya & Carmella before getting forearmed down to the apron by Natalya before the commercial break. We come back to Carmella working over Charlotte with body scissors. Charlotte is able to fight to her feet and rams Carmella into the corner, but Carmella throws her to the floor by her hair. Carmella goes for the Bronco Buster, but Charlotte dodges it and tags in Naomi. Naomi runs wild, hitting a springboard crossbody on Carmella before hitting a jumping roundhouse kick, a jawbreaker, and the Rear View. Naomi makes the cover, but Natalya distracts the referee. Naomi takes her out with an enziguri, but a distraction from Ellsworth allows Carmella to roll up Naomi for the win. After the match, the heels beat down Naomi & Charlotte before Becky Lynch comes down to the ring. She stands in the ring before shaking hands with all three women and hugging Natalya. Ellsworth goes for a handshake, but Becky tosses him into Tamina and goes after the heels. However, the numbers become too much for her and Tamina superkicks her. The heels boot Charlotte & Naomi from the ring before Carmella superkicks Becky.
- Dolph Ziggler vs Sin Cara-Sin Cara has an ugly new bodysuit. The two go back and forth before Sin Cara hits a springboard crossbody. Sin Cara follows up with a springboard back elbow and a springboard moonsault. Sin Cara controls the match until Ziggler catches Sin Cara coming through the ropes with a superkick and a rope hung neckbreaker for a near fall. Ziggler follows up with another neckbreaker and a dropkick for a near fall. Ziggler goes for the Famouser, but Sin Cara counters it with a schoolboy powerbomb for a near fall. Sin Cara goes for a springboard moonsault, but Ziggler blocks it with his knees and hits a superkick for the win. Fine match, nothing special.
- We get a new Lana vignette.
- We get a parody of Law and Order called "The Fashion Files." Fashion police Fandango & Tyler Breeze say they closed the case on the Ascension and now they're going to deal with the "Ugos." They run down their crimes, such as disorderly conduct for their old entrance dance and visual assault for their style. They say at Backlash in Chicago, the "windy apple", they'll bust the Usos for their crimes against fashion.
- Chris Jericho (c) vs Kevin Owens-United States Championship-Owens has his left hand heavily bandaged up due to the vicious beating his finger took at Payback. Also, AJ Styles is banned from ringside for this match. The two brawl to start before Jericho hits a dropkick that sends Owens out of the ring. Jericho targets Owens' finger again before Owens takes control back in the ring. Owens continues to control the match before Jericho hits a second rope dropkick. Jericho goes for a corner forearm, but Owens dodges and sends him out of the ring. Jericho lays against the barricade, putting him right in position for a cannonball by Owens before the commercial break. We come back to Owens countering a double axe handle with a punch. Owens goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Jericho hops over him and floors Owens with a back elbow. Jericho goes for the Lionsault, but Owens blocks it with his knees. Owens goes for another Cannonball, but Jericho dodges it and hits the Lionsault for a near fall. Jericho locks in the Walls of Jericho, but Owens is able to get to the bottom rope. Jericho goes for a triangle dropkick to Owens on the apron, but Owens counters it and hits a superkick for a near fall. Owens goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Jericho counters it with a hurricanrana, rolls through and locks in the Walls of Jericho again. Owens is able to make it to the bottom rope again and leaves the ring. Jericho goes for a baseball slide, but Owens dodges it, hits a superkick and a DDT onto the unpadded section between ringside and the entrance ramp. Back in the ring, Owens hits another superkick but only gets a two. Jericho gets a near fall off a flash small package before Owens hits the Pop-Up Powerbomb for the win and the United States Championship. Really good match. Afterwards, EMTs check on Jericho, only for Owens to return to the ring and Pop-Up Powerbomb Jericho one more time. Owens leaves again as referees escort Jericho to the back, only for Owens to return, wedge Jericho's head in a chair, and ram him into the ring post This is presumably the last we'll be seeing of Jericho for a while. All I can say is props to Jericho for pulling off one of the best runs of his career.
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