After exchanging verbal blows over social media this past weekend with United States Champion Jeff Hardy, Shinsuke Nakamura took exception to The Charismatic Enigma suggesting that AJ Styles would defeat him in the WWE Championship Last Man Standing Match this Sunday at WWE Money in the Bank. Because of all this, the two Superstars collided for the first time ever on the blue brand.
Nakamura attempted to keep Hardy grounded with his aggressive strong style approach, but The Charismatic Enigma weathered Shinsuke’s best efforts and even stopped a Kinshasa attempt from Nakamura and connected with a Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb. It seemed Hardy was on the verge of victory, but when he couldn’t capitalize immediately on the Swanton due to nagging pain in his back, Nakamura was able to get his foot on the rope to break the count. From there, Hardy tried to seal the deal by connecting with a second Twist of Fate, but with The Artist beginning to feel desperate, he countered the attempt by delivering a savage low blow blatantly in front of the referee for an immediate disqualification.
Seemingly unconcerned with the defeat after using a move that will be legal on Sunday, Nakamura then delivered a ring-rattling Kinshasa to knock him out cold. Shinsuke then proceeded to count to 10, sending one last message to The Phenomenal One: He, much like Styles, firmly believed he would be the last man standing.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > Smackdown > June 12th
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > Smackdown > 2018 > June 12th
Daniel Bryan squared off with Jeff Hardy for the first time ever, and, boy, was it a show.
With Samoa Joe (who will face the winner in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match next week) doing guest commentary, Bryan and Hardy absolutely enthralled the WWE Universe, laying it all on the line.
As the match continued, the two pushed each other to their absolute limits, with Bryan going for the Flying Knee off the apron, only for Hardy to evade it and connect with a Flying Clothesline. After The Charismatic Enigma dropped his opponent with Whisper in the Wind for a two-count, Bryan struck back quickly with the “Yes” Kicks.
Hardy seemed to be closing in on the victory when he executed the Twist of Fate, but Bryan got his knees up when Hardy went for the Swanton Bomb, keeping himself alive in the contest. Hardy then fended off Bryan’s Flying Knee, but Bryan torqued Hardy’s leg and locked him in the heel hook for the submission victory.
The “Yes!” Man could not celebrate for too long after earning another chance at qualifying for the Men’s Money in the Bank Match because Samoa Joe entered the ring to remind Bryan that they would square off next week.
Joe looked ready, Bryan looked ready, and you can bet that the WWE Universe is ready as well.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > Smackdown > May 22nd
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > Smackdown > 2018 > May 22nd
SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige kicked things off on the blue brand and quickly looked back to the events of WWE Backlash, then began to look forward to the upcoming WWE Money in the Bank event and its two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches. Tonight, several bouts would feature male and female Superstars attempting to qualify for the clashes, including the match that was about to begin — United States Champion Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz.
Miz and Hardy both came out firing, with The Charismatic Enigma looking to build off his win this past Sunday against Randy Orton, and The A-Lister was attempting to bounce back after his nail-biting defeat to Seth Rollins in the Intercontinental Title Match at WWE Backlash. In the pivotal moments, Miz was in dire straits when Hardy hit the Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb. However, incredibly, Miz used Hardy’s momentum against him, countering the pin attempt into one of his own to get a surprising three-count for the win, becoming SmackDown LIVE’s first entry into the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > Smackdown > May 8th – Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > Smackdown > 2018 > May 8th – Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz
Jeff Hardy on MIZ TV
With his sights set on his Intercontinental Championship Rematch against Raw’s Seth Rollins this Sunday night at WWE Backlash, The Miz first had to put on his interviewer hat and chat with United States Champion Jeff Hardy on SmackDown LIVE.
A frosty conversation ensued between The A-Lister and The Charismatic Enigma, and they were quickly joined by a surprise guest in Randy Orton. Miz implied that Hardy had disrespected The Viper by taking his place in a match against Shelton Benjamin during the Superstar Shake-up. Orton refuted Miz’s claim, saying that Jeff simply took hold of an opportunity and that he wasn’t upset.
Ever the antagonist though, The A-Lister seemed determined to cause a rift between Hardy and Orton. And, although it didn’t appear to be working, Randy did make it clear to Jeff that he intended to win back the U.S. Title at WWE Backlash after losing it at WrestleMania to Jinder Mahal, who was unseated as champion by Jeff.
Shelton Benjamin then hit the scene, with his ears red hot at the notion that The Viper would be in line for a title opportunity before him, considering he had defeated Orton in one-on-one competition last week. Not thrilled with what he was hearing, Randy then knocked Benjamin down as he attempted to enter the ring, and after The A-Lister tried to blindside Orton, The Charismatic Enigma jumped in and dropped The Miz with Whisper in the Wind in a raucous scene to kick things off on the blue brand.
Randy Orton & Jeff Hardy def. The Miz & Shelton Benjamin
After the flurry of activity that occurred on “Miz TV,” SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige declared that Randy Orton would team up with Jeff Hardy to square off against The Miz & Shelton Benjamin right then and there.
Despite the slight bit of uneasiness between the two earlier in the night, Orton & Hardy gelled well, working in unison to overcome the offensive onslaught that Miz and Benjamin brought their way. In the match’s pivotal moment, Randy Orton went on an absolute tear, hitting both Shelton and Miz with everything in his arsenal (including a ring-rattling RKO to Shelton), leading to Jeff Hardy defeating Shelton with the Swanton Bomb.
However, the good vibes did not last long, as The Apex Predator dropped The Charismatic Enigma with an RKO after the contest, sending a message that he still had Jeff’s championship in his crosshairs.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > Smackdown > May 1st – Miz TV & Tag Match
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > Smackdown > 2018 > May 1st – Miz TV & Tag Match
Last week on SmackDown LIVE, Shelton Benjamin was set to begin a new chapter in his WWE career by asking for a big challenge. Shelton was surprised to see Randy Orton answer the call to be his opponent, but The Viper got a surprise of his own when the newest member of SmackDown LIVE, United States Champion Jeff Hardy, interrupted to answer Benjamin’s challenge first.
Tonight, it appeared Hardy and Benjamin would run it back in a rematch, but The Charismatic Enigma got a dose of his own medicine when The Apex Predator interrupted Hardy’s entrance, almost as a signal to suggest that he was getting him back for last week, taking Hardy’s place in this match.
The United States Champion remained at ringside as Randy and Shelton battled it out on the blue brand. During the match, the two Superstars took the fight to the outside when a masked man suddenly clipped Jeff Hardy’s knee. To avoid security, the culprit darted into the ring, and Orton caught him and removed the mask to reveal Sunil Singh, who tried to plead with The Viper, only for Randy to connect with an RKO, taking out Jinder Mahal’s faithful follower.
This interference would prove costly though, Benjamin took advantage by dropping The Apex Predator with Paydirt for the win.
Credit: WWE.com
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WWE Photos > Weekly & Pay-Per-View Digitals > 2018 > Smackdown > April 24th – Jeff Hardy Ringside
Screen Captures > WWE Programs > Smackdown > 2018 > April 24th – Jeff Hardy Ringside
