WWE SmackDown results, live blog (July 26, 2016): Battleground fallout

WWE SmackDown comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (July 26, 2016) from the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, featuring the fallout show from the Battleground pay-per-view (PPV) that went down this past Sunday night in Washington D.C.

Advertised for tonight: It's the first show after the brand split!

Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)

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WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JULY 26

Chris here. Let's see what SmackDown has to offer after last night's Raw.

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WWE Signature and we start backstage where Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan start the show by saying that the new SmackDown is all about the superstars and the fans.

As expected, SmackDown has a completely new theme and intro.

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After the intro, Shane and Daniel are in the ring surrounded by the SmackDown roster.  Shane quickly drops the fact that Backlash will be the first real SmackDown pay-per-view

But SummerSlam is coming, and WWE Champion Dean Ambrose needs an opponent. Our champion is summoned and he comes out and approves of his next challenge.

Ambrose lays out the challenge for anyone, something that Daniel completely approves of....and he has a plan.

Tonight, there is a six-pack challenge #1 contender's match. The entrants are as follows:

John Cena
Bray Wyatt
Dolph Ziggler
Baron Corbin
AJ Styles

But there are only five competitors. The 6th spot? It's open to the winner of a Battle Royal, and that's happening right now!

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Battle Royal (Final Spot for the Six-Pack Challenge)

This was your basic battle royal, but it really started to go off the rails toward the end. The final four consisted of Apollo Crews, Zack Ryder, Kalisto,....and Kane.....yeah. Crews eliminated Kane last to win.

Apollo Crews wins the Battle Royal; goes on to the Six-Pack Challenge

Afterward, Renee Young interviews Crews, who says that he is the happiest man on earth right now, but he has no plans to celebrate. After all, he does have a match to win later...

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It is announced that one Shelton Benjamin will be returning to SmackDown soon.

Dolph Ziggler cuts a promo for tonight's main event. Ziggler said that he's lost his way, and tonight he's determined to start anew, and it's all on him.

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Becky Lynch vs Natalya

This was pretty much the same match we got at Battleground. This time Becky got the win with the Disarmer because 50/50

Becky Lynch def Natalya

Afterward, Renee Young starts to interview Becky Lynch when Alexa Bliss interrupts with a promo. Naomi interrupts, then Carmella, then Eva Marie to make Geno a happy man.

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Baron Corbin cuts a promo saying that he's gonna win.

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It's time for MizTV. Maryse welcomes The Miz. Miz welcomes us and hypes SmackDown before welcoming his guest......HIMSELF!!!!

The Miz interviews himself and give himself the usual praise, and Maryse praises him as well, saying that she gets to wake up with Miz every day. They smooch.

During the smooch, Randy Orton interrupts, and the crowd smells the RKO coming.

The Miz welcomes Orton to MizTV and came out because he thought that Miz was referring to him. He then makes a masturbatory reference.

After comparing Orton to the Blair Witch Project, Miz asks why Orton is really here. He reminds us that he was the Legend Killer and one RKO can take Lesnar to Viperville.

Miz calls it a shame that Orton's first match is against Lesnar (and it could be his last). However, Orton says that SummerSlam won't be his first match. Instead, Orton proposes that he faces The Miz tonight.

The Miz teases accepting before saying no. Orton reproposes the match - no title on the line; just two old friends going at it. However, The Miz digs in by reminding us that he beat Orton for the WWE Championship.

Orton starts to edge closer and asks if Miz is scared of getting an ass whippin'. Orton digs into their marriage before Maryse accepts on Miz's behalf.

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The Miz vs Randy Orton

Quick. Orton won with two RKOs

Randy Orton def The Miz

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Video package for American Alpha, who debut next week.

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Some dude is in the ring until Heath Slater kicks him out of the ring. He then complains about being undrafted and wants put into the main event for a seven-pack challenge.

#SignHeathSlater

Shane McMahon comes out and reminds Slater that the show is live. Shane tells Slater to submit a resume, and Slater tells Shane to go onto the WWE Network to see it for himself. He claims to be the brains for the Nexus, Corre, and others.

Slater rants and hollers until Rhyno comes in to Gore him.

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AJ Styles cuts a promo on tonight's match, calling out the new authority figures in Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan. AJ is without The Club, and he has to face five other people to qualify for a title shot. However, AJ is gonna beat everyone, including John Cena.

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John Cena vs AJ Styles vs Dolph Ziggler vs Baron Corbin vs Apollo Crews vs Bray Wyatt (#1 Contender's)

As you would expect, this was a crazy spotfest with lots of finishers, pin attempts, a ref bump, and the other usual stuff. In the end, after AAs were delivered to everyone by John Cena, AJ Styles forearmed Cena out of the ring. Soon after, Styles ate a Ziggler superkick to earn the win for Ziggler.

Dolph Ziggler wins the Six-Pack Challenge; becomes #1 Contender for WWE Championship.

I'm going to type that last part again: Styles ate a Ziggler superkick to earn the win for Ziggler....yes.

Afterward, Dean Ambrose comes out for a staredown before Daniel Bryan raises the arms of Ambrose and Ziggler to end the show. Shane McMahon also comes out to join.