WWE SmackDown saw a couple of matches for WWE Backlash hyped but it was the Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt announcement that stood out. Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles added some flavor to their title match as well before the show went off the air.
WWE Backlash happens on Sept. 11 with most of the matches booked for the upcoming pay-per-view being ramped up. Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles took on separate opponents but both ended up trading blows before the show came to a close.
Ambrose was facing Baron Corbin in the main event with Styles joining the TV panel. And as one would expect, Styles would get involved which eventually turned the match into a melee, WWE.com reported.
The WWE heavyweight champion eventually stood tall against Corbin and Styles, adding expected hype to the storylines. But the night was not simply about Ambrose and Styles.
Equally interesting was that exchange between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt. After engaging in a verbal exchange last week, the botched matchup that should have taken last year was officially made.
Orton was, in fact, ready to go and face Wyatt right then and there but “The Eater of Worlds” ended up mysteriously disappearing as he always does as the mind games continue.
Dolph Ziggler faced off against The Miz and Marysse as they ramp up their Intercontinental title match as well. Following a controversial segment featuring The Miz and SmackDown general manager Daniel Bryan, “The Showoff” was the chosen one to pay the IC champion some form of retribution.
This segment was obviously meant to mold the whole issue involving Bryan to a star vs. star encounter. There was no participation or mention of the SmackDown general manager, Rolling Stone reported.
Nothing physical came out of the exchange as both ended up trading verbal jabs instead. Like Wyatt, The Miz played his own mind games on Ziggler as they prepare for their clash at Backlash.
Looking over the middle cards, Heath Slater’s journey to a potential show sign up got another big boost when he and Rhyno defeated “The Headbangers” in a Tag Team Championship tournament match.
There will be one more WWE SmackDown show before Backlash which should add more color to the planted storylines.
Check out the video below showing highlights of the Aug. 30 episode of WWE SmackDown.