WWE SmackDown Live (7/18) Birmingham, Alabama

Welcome to WWE Smackdown Live and this is the go home show for this Sunday's WWE Battleground PPV and we kick things off with The Singh Brothers out to introduce the WWE Champion, The Modern Day Maharajah...Jinder Mahal

Mahal demands silence as The Singh Brothers go over the rules of The Punjabi Prison where there are four doors attended by four referees and once a door is open it will remain open for 60 seconds and oncde it's shut, it remains shut and the only way to win is to climb out of both structures and the most important rule is there are no rules. No disqualification

Randy Orton comes out and says Mahal is making a conscious decision to be locked in a cage with Orton and says the only reason Mahal took the title from Orton is because he had The Singh Brothers. Orton surveys the Prison and says at Battleground Sunday they'll be locked in this prison and there'll be no running, no hiding, no escape.

Orton says he has nothing to lose. Mahal took his title, embarassed his family, tried to take Orton's dignity and left him for dead. Orton begins climbing the prison and says he has nothing to lose but Mahal has everything to lose and says Mahal is the 50th champion and he has the weight of the entire country of India on his shoulders and what is Mahal going to do when the 1.3 souls consider him a disgrace and the view from the top of the prison will be Orton's view when he leaves Jinder for dead on Sunday

Tonight: John Cena Addresses The Flag Match, AJ Styles/Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kevin Owens/Baron Corbin and Jimmy Uso vs Kofi Kingston

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JIMMY USO VS KOFI KINGSTON

jimmy with a right hand to Kingston but Kingston side steps putting the boots to Jimmy. Running dropkick in the corner by Kofi and a nearfall on Jimmy. Jimmy rushes Kingston but gets sent over the top ropes to the floor and Kingston goes airborne taking Jimmy out

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Kingston rolls Jimmy back in and connects with a kick. Kingston goes to work on the arm and Jimmy back to his feet. Irish whip reversed by Kingston and Jimmy slides to the outside but Xavier Woods is standing in his way. Jimmy slides back in but gets clotheslined by Kingston. Jimmy trips Kingston up as he falls face first on the apron. Jimmy bounces Kingston's face off the apron and now it's Jimmy putting the boots to Kofi

Chinlock being applied by Jimmy. Kingston still in control but Kingston with a jawbreaker trying to create separation and Jimmy with a kick to the side of the face. Jimmy rushes at Kofi but Kingston nails Jimmy with a knee and executes a series of dropkicks. Boom Drop on Jimmy. Trouble In Paradise countered as Kingston's neck collides with the top turnbuckle. Jimmy follows up but gets caught with a kick to the bridge of the nose. Kingston going airborne and Jimmy joins him

Jimmy looking for a superplex but Kofi blocks it knocking Jimmy to the mat. Jey with the distraction. Kingston airborne once more connets with a crossbody for the three count

The winner of the match: Kofi Kingston

Backstage: The women's division is with Shane discussing who will give the most competitive match tonight and they all argue over who will fight Lana and finally the decision is made that no one will fight Lana. After thinking, Shane finally makes the decision that tonight Becky Lynch will fight Charlotte Flair

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We are back from commercial and take a look back at Kurt Angle's big announcement from last night's Raw where it was revealed that Kurt Angle's son is WWE Superstar Jason Jordan.

CHAD GABLE INTERVIEW

Gable says as a Smackdown superstar you never think your whole life changes after watching Raw one night and a heads up would have been nice but it changed not only Kurt's life and Jason's life but also Gable's life.

Gable said they accomplished alot together by winning the Smackdown Tag Titles and he supported Gable so Gable will continue to support Jason Jordan and this is a great time for everyone to see Chad Gable on his own.

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MIKE KANELLIS VS SAMI ZAYN

Sami with punches and he sends Kanellis into the turnbuckles and punches him.  Zayn with punches and chops.  Sami with punches on the turnbuckles.  Mike goes to the floor and Sami with a clothesline. They return to the ring and Mike with a kick and forearm.  Sami with a clothesline that sends Mike over the top rope to the floor.

Sami sends Mike into the ringside barrier.  Sami sends Mike back into the ring and Mike with forearms as Sami returns to the ring. 
Mike with a kick to Sami but Sami with a clothesline.  Sami with an Exploder into the corner.  Maria gets into the ring and stands between Sami and MIke.  The referee holds Sami back while Maria protects her husband.  Mike with a punch and a Samoan Driver for the three count.

The winner of the match: Mike Kanellis

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John Cena comes out to the ring and says Sunday the WWE Universe will see amazing things such as Shinsuke Nakamura, The Women's Revolution and something they haven't seen in 10 years. Punjabi Prison Match. But of all the amazing things they will see, what will they remember.

Cena goes over the rules of the Flag Match which will take place Sunday and says he doesn't like Rusev and Rusev tries to run down the USA every chance he gets and the reason they will remember the Flag Match Sunday is the USA Flag waving in victory or the Victory of the Bulgarian Flag? Cena says he knows he hasn't always been everyone's favourite but they can all agree they love the American Flag but the question is, this Sunday will the US Flag fly or will the US Flag fall and he can already hear how the WWE Universe feels about that and it all rests on Cena and he's ready and if there's anyone who can get the job done it's John Cena and he promises he is ready.

He calls the US a nation of fighters who are not afraid to stand up and fight for what they believe in and they never give up. There's a reason everyone chants USA, because they believe what Cena believes and US fought for its Independence and gives a history lesson on the flag of the US. Cena says this Sunday the colours of the flag do not hide, they kick ass and climbs the corner taking the flag and says this Sunday the US flag will fly high.

Out of nowhere Rusev attacks Cena leaving him laying and applies the Accolades on Cena. Cena fights to his feet and backs Rusev into the corner trying to break the hold but Rusev is still holding on. Cena passes out and Rusev reaches up to grab the Bulgarian Flag holding it high as he exits the ring.

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BECKY LYNCH VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR

Becky and Charlotte lock up and Charlotte with a side headlock on Becky, Irish whip by Becky and Becky with a side headlock. Armdrags by Becky and dropkick to Charlotte. Charlotte with a nearfall. Waistlock into a german suplex attempt by Charlotte. Becky looks for the Dis-Arm her but Charlotte slides out of the ring

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Back in the ring, Charlotte drives a series of knees into Becky's back. Chinlock applied by Charlotte.  Charlotte puts the boots to Charlotte. Charlott runs into an elbow. Becky blocks a right hand and a kick sends Charlotte from the apron to the floor. Dropkick by Becky and a forearm lays Charlotte out.

Back in the ring, Charlotte with a right hand and now both trading right hands. Charlotte lights Becky up with a series of chops. Clothesline by Charlotte and a running knee. Kneedrop onto Becky and a nearfall as Naomi looks on from the backstage area.

Figure four countered by Becky. Another right hand and kick to Charlotte. Beck-sploder by Becky and the firearm to Charlotte but kick out at 2. Dis-Arm Her countered by Charlotte but Becky locks it in again. Charlotte kicks out of a nearfall delivering a big boot and Becky kicks out. Charlotte goes to the top rope executes a moonsault but misses as Becky locks in the Dis-Arm Her. Charlotte reaches her foot on the bottom rope but Becky pulls her back to the centre locking it in forcing the submission

The winner of the match by submission: Becky Lynch

Post Match: Lana and Tamina come out and a brawl ensues

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We are back and Renee Young is with Naomi in the interview area. Naomi says while she won't be defending her title on Sunday, she will be the first in the ring to congratulate the number one contender.  Naomi says she wants every match to be her biggest challenge.  It does not matter who it is because they better be ready to go because when it is GLOW TIME . . . 
Carmella stops by with her briefcase held high.  She tells Renee to leave.  Carmella tells Naomi wherever Naomi goes she will be there with her briefcase.

-Commercial-

We are back with the Fashion X Files, the Truth is Not H.
Fandango is checking the board.  Tyler says they need to deal with Skience.  Tyler says there is no such thing as aliens or ghosts. There is a moaning sound and they pull back the curtain to reveal Aiden English warming up.

A light appears from above and Tyler says he wants to meet ET, Alf, Max Moon, and Chewbacca. Fandango sees a little green man but it was a delivery man who turned on the light. Fandango points out that he looks so human and can breathe our air. Fandango wants to know what is in the box while Tyler tells him not to look. Fandango opens the box to find Tully's head. There is a note inside and it says Battleground. Fandango says it ends on Sunday

-Commercial-

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA AND AJ STYLES VS BARON CORBIN AND KEVIN OWENS

Corbin attacks Nakamura as Nakamura comes out but Nakamura avoids him.  Kevin Owens comes out and then AJ Styles join the brawl.  They stand off on the stage and we go to commercial.

-Commercial-

The match is joined in progress and Corbin takes Styles down with a punch and then he kicks Styles.  Corbin with a knee to the midsection and then he chokes Styles in the ropes.  Owens tags in and Corbin slides to the floor and punches Styles while Owens kicks Styles.  Owens punches Styles.  Owens with another punch but Styles with a drop kick.  Nakamura tags in and he kicks Owens and connects with a forearm.  Nakamura with punches and a series of kicks in the corner.  Owens grabs the leg but Nakamura with an enzuigiri.

Nakamura with a snap mare and leaping knee drop.  Nakamura with a forearm and knee.  Nakamura with another knee.  Corbin pulls the ropes down and Nakamura goes to the floor.  Corbin sends Nakamura back into the ring and Owens with a back senton and he gets a near fall.

Corbin tags in and kicks Nakamura.  Owens tags in and he punches Nakamura.  Owens with a kick to the head and then he tags in Corbin.  Nakamura with forearms but Corbin with a bear hug.  Nakamura with elbows to the head followed by a forearm.  Corbin with a knee but he misses Nakamura and slides to the floor and returns.  Nakamura with a flying boot to the head.  Corbin sends Nakamura to the mat and knocks Styles off the apron.  Nakamura with forearms and kicks.

Corbin with an Irish whip but he misses a splash.
Nakamura puts Corbin on the turnbuckles adn he kicks Owens to the apron.  Corbin recovers and hits Deep Six but Styles breaks up the cover.  Corbin with forearms to Nakamura but Nakamura with a knee and enzuigiri.  Owens and Styles tag in and Styles with a take down and punches.  Styles blocks a clothesline and hits one of his own.

Styles with a sliding forearm for a near fall.  Styles misses a splash into the corner.  Styles with a sit out gourdbuster for a near fall.  Styles tries to get Owens on his shoulders but Owens gets to his feet and he hits a clothesline.  Corbin tags in and Styles kicks him in the knee and Styles goes for the Calf Crusher
but Corbin blocks it and biels Styles across the ring.  Styles with the Calf Crusher but Corbin gets to the ropes.  Corbin sends Styles to the apron and Styles with a forearm but Owens clips him.

Nakamura goes after Owens on teh floor and Corbin sends Nakamura into Yeatonville.  Corbin brings Styles back into the ring.  Styles with an enzuigiri after escaping End of Days.  Styles with a Pele Kick but Owens makes the blind tag.  Owens with a super kick and pop up power bomb for the three count.

The winners of the match: Baron Corbin and Kevin Owens