Shinsuke Nakamura was not ready to give up his US title and Randy Orton was not ready to give up on his grudge.
Only 48 hours after Nakamura defeated and won the US title from Jeff Hardy, with a brilliant strategy, the two men ran it back in the main event of SmackDown tonight (Jul. 17). Invoking his champion’s rematch clause, Hardy showed up to the blue brand teasing some ‘broken’ tendencies.
To his credit Nakamura didn’t care how weird Hardy was becoming because you can’t out weird the King of Strong Style.
What a great guy! pic.twitter.com/ge1PYm2eEN
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 18, 2018
Not THIS time, @ShinsukeN...#SDLive #USTitle pic.twitter.com/XL3CzqQzrw
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2018
Nothing but respect to Nakamura for starting his title defense with Hardy with this nut shot strategy.
Once the match got going it was Nakamura who dominated the early portion of the match-up.
Can @JEFFHARDYBRAND succeed in his quest for COMPLETION and reclaim the #USTitle? #SDLive @ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/jjrmpJ3Sj4
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2018
Just when it looked liked Hardy was going to mount a crazy comeback Randy Orton showed up. Hardy hit Nakamura with a Swanton Bomb but was yanked out of the ring by The Viper when the count began.
Then Orton lost his god damn mind on Hardy.
This #USTitle match has ended in a disqualification...because of @RandyOrton! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/j4ruXaEFXl
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2018
WHAT has gotten into @RandyOrton? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/vNnAArlZ5m
— WWE (@WWE) July 18, 2018
Oh then Orton did.....oh God, can’t watch it again. He went into the hole? Why?
NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE. pic.twitter.com/OvpGwSD3R7
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 18, 2018
OW. pic.twitter.com/yh2PF4Upzu
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 18, 2018
Ow indeed.
Shinsuke Nakamura retains his title and was nowhere to be found during the Orton run-in. Maybe this leads to a triple threat at SummerSlam?
Or maybe Jeff Hardy really needs to get revenge, by himself, versus Randy Orton because the guy just tried to rip his ear off his skull.
Get complete SmackDown results and coverage here