It’s world title time as we get a video package for AJ Styles Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura.
Nakamura is out first, accompanied by his cool new music. I was hoping this would be the main event – it’s no wonder people never look at SmackDown as the main show, Raw gets the main event even when it doesn’t have a title on the line or a huge feud.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
No Disqualification Match
(C) AJ Styles Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
As soon as the bell rings, Nakamura slides out of the ring. He walks around with gloating expressions, so AJ chases after him but Shin slides back into the ring. Nakamura taunts Styles and when the Champ tries to climb inside Nakamura looks to knee him. Styles is wise to it and drags Nakamura out of the ring, where he slams him into the barricade, then the announce table, and back inside the ring.
Styles chops and kicks Shin in the corner. He goes for it again but Nakamura kicks him away, however Styles counters him with a backbreaker. Nakamura takes control with some cheap tactics. Styles looks to catch him with a dropkick but Nakamura holds onto the ropes. Nakamura then runs at Styles but this time he does eat the dropkick! Nakamura rolls outside again and Styles chases.
Styles slams Shinsuke into the barricade, then the opposite guard. Styles runs, leaps and splashes into Nakamura against the barricade. Styles then goes for the splash again but this time he misses and hits the guard rail. Nakamura grabs AJ and beats him against the barricade, before throwing him knee-first into the steel steps – AJ took that bump like Foley. Shin drapes AJ across the ring apron and knee’s him, then jumps off of the apron with a knee to the back of the head. Inside the ring Nakamura scores a near-fall.
Shinsuke takes control and really slows the pace. He hits Good Vibrations on AJ in the corner and looks for a few pin attempts, unsuccessfully. AJ chops Nakamura but he brushes it off and connects with a stiff forearm shot. Nakamura stays in control for a while, stunting any comeback attempt from AJ. They leave the ring and Nakamura throws AJ into the timekeepers area, where Styles looks to springboard back out but Shin kicks his foot and AJ crashes. Back inside the ring, Nakamura applies a rear chokehold.
Nakamura looks for the reverse exploder but Styles lands on his feet and winds up on the apron. Styles looks for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Shinsuke grabs him and sets him on the top rope, then hits the running knee. Shinsuke takes to the top rope and hits a flying knee to Styles for a near-fall. Nakamura gets AJ onto his shoulders and hits a Michinoku Driver for another near-fall. Nakamura beats AJ down before sliding out of the ring and grabs a chair. He brings the chair into the ring and tries to hit AJ but Styles picks him up. Nakamura escapes and kicks AJ repeatedly, then hits the reverse exploder onto the chair! Nakamura winds-up in the corner for Kinshasha, however AJ throws the steel chair at Shinsuke’s knee!
Both men are down and AJ’s cheek is cut really badly because the chair ricocheted back and hit him in the face. Styles counters Nakamura and applies the Calf Crusher. Nakamura fights out and counters with a slick Triangle Choke, however AJ counters that with a Styles Clash attempt but Shin grabs the ropes and climbs out. AJ hits a stiff running forearm to the back of Nakamura’s head for a near-fall. Styles dodges a clothesline and hits a Pele kick, then looks for the Styles Clash but Nakamura counters with, you guessed it, a low blow! As Nakamura gloats, AJ retaliates with a low blow of his own and New Jersey explodes!
Both men climb up each other, striking one at a time to cheers and boos. Styles gets the better of the strikers, so Nakamura headbutts him, then both men connect with big kicks to the groin! The referee counts as both men are down and that’s all she wrote!
No Contest
The crowd is not happy about the double count-out finish. The announcer says AJ retains his title because of the decision. The referee helps AJ to his feet and to the back, while nobody looks at Nakamura. I’m OK with this finish, it fits the storyline and protects both men.
