Apollo Crews comes to the ring and Kayla Braxton congratulates him. Apollo says his first week has felt great and the list of feelings goes on and on. Apollo chooses his opponent for tonight, and he chooses Kevin Owens. KO comes to the ring and congratulates the new Champ, then thanks him for the opportunity…but he feels it’s an offer of pity. Apollo says it’s all about respect. Owens says he feels bad because Apollo’s first title reign is going to be a short one.
United States Championship
(C) Apollo Crews Vs. Kevin Owens
The match gets underway with a lock-up, then Apollo ducks and leap-frogs before hitting a dropkick. Owens hits a shoulder tackle and a dropkick, then clotheslines Crews to the outside. Owens runs for a dive over the ropes but Apollo moves, so KO goes after him. Owens hits a senton off the apron, then puts Apollo back inside for a swanton bomb and a near-fall.
Owens looks for a pop-up powerbomb but Crews holds the ropes. Owens kicks him for a Stunner but hit the gonads and Apollo falls. The referee makes Owens hold off until he’s ready, then the two of them brawl and spill out of the ring.
*Commercial Break*
Back from commercial and they’re trading blows in the ring. Apollo hits a powerslam for a two-count. Owens drops Crews and hits a moonsault for a two-count. Crews hits an enziguiri and a standing moonsault for a near-fall. Crews hit a splash, then another, and looks for a third but eats a superkick.
Owens looks for the swanton again but Crews gets his knees up. Andrade and Garza run down and attack both men.
No Contest
*Commercial Break*
Andrade & Angel Garza w/Zelina Vega Vs. Kevin Owens & Apollo Crews
We return to find the match in progress and Crews is beat down by Andrade. Tag to Garza, who takes a headlock, gets shoved off, and hits a dropkick before ripping the prants off. Andrade and Garza make quick tags to keep Apollo isolated, but he finally makes a tag to Owens.
Angel sucker-punches KO and Andrade beats him down. Andrade stomps Owens down and drops him with a dropkick. Apollo tags in again and counters the Three Amigoes with an Angle Slam. Apollo hits an enziguiri and the spin powerbomb for the win!
Winners: Kevin Owens & Apollo Crews
Asuka is interviewed backstage and she says she is excited to face Charlotte because the Empress never bows to anyone.
*Commercial Break*
We join the Street Profits and The Viking Raiders for a round of bowling. So far in this competition, the Profits are up 2-1. The games begin and the Vikings are great while the Profits have no idea. The Vikings give them red cups with goats milk. Ford drops a ball on Angelo’s foot, and Ivar gets his hand stuck in the ball return, only to pull out a chicken leg. The girl who works in the alley thinks Ivar is cute but now Erik. The Profits get the lights out and smoke fills the room, and now they’re awesome. Erik gets mad and throws Ivar down the lane with the ball in his hand. The Vikings win, making it 2-2.
We see last week when The IIconics attacked Cross and Bliss. Their music hits but we see the four women screaming at each other backstage. Kay will face Cross after the break.
*Commercial Break*
Billie Kay W/Peyton Royce Vs. Nikki Cross W/Alexa Bliss
We return and the bell rings. Corss attacks Kay and slams her into the turnbuckles. A headbuttt followed by a dropkick earns Cross a two-count. Kay comes back with a big boot for a two-count. Kay continues the attack and talks trash to Bliss, then drops Nikki with a forearm. Billie takes a rear chinlock.
Cross fights out but Kay hits a backbreaker and poses. Kay argues with the referee and Cross hits a running forearm. Cross hits a corner splash, then dives off the ropes but nobody’s home. Kay hits a sit-out urinage and gets the win!
Winner: Billie Kay
Drew McIntyre is interviewed backstage and he says he has beaten seven Superstars since becoming Champion, so MVP can be number eight. And if anyone in the locker room or off the street wants to step up to him, he’ll be happy to take them to Claymore country.
*Commercial Break*
Rey Mysterio appears via live split-screen and he says he can’t give a return timeframe. He says it’s unreliable because if he were to get an infection it would be the end of his career. Samoa Joe asks if Rey is here to retire and he says he honestly doen’t know. But he’s been thinking about retirement for some time now. Joe asks about Rollins and the ceremony tonight, to which Rey says Rollins is deluded. Rey’s son, Dominic, sits down and he asys someone from the fmaily neeeds to do something. Rey tells him to cool and Dom says he can’t because Seth tried to blind him. Mysterio thanks the fans for their concerns. Rey damns Seth for what he has put his family through, for making them watch as he had his eye mangled. Rey says he is a man of forgiveness, but he can never forgive Seth for what he did. Rey leaves and Dominic looks at the camera. Dom says “an eye for an eye”.
Nia Jax makes her way to the ring for a match but has something to say first. Jax says she didn’t start this feud, that she has been attacked by two women. She says Asuka and Kairi are not what they say, don’t believe the hype. Nia says Asuka didn’t earn the title, she was gifted it by a hormonal woman. At Backlash she will make things right.
*Commercial Break*
