– We see what happened between Ricochet and Happy Baron Corbin last week. Kayla is with Corbin backstage now, asking about the loss. Corbin says he’s happy and lives a good life, he doesn’t live in the past. Corbin says sometimes when you have a string of bad luck you gotta double down, and he knows he’s the best man in the locker room. Corbin says he’s going to the ring to issue an open challenge and whoever comes out will crawl back. Corbin walks off and we go back to commercial.

Happy Baron Corbin vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

We go back to the ring and Happy Baron Corbin is waiting to see who he answers his open challenge. The music hits and out comes Shinsuke Nakamura to a big pop.

The bell rings and Corbin works Nakamura over in the corner, then yells back at the referee after she warns him. Fans chant “Bum Ass Corbin!” now. Nakamura fights back and drops Corbin for a pop.

Nakamura with big kicks to send Corbin into the corner, then Good Vibrations. Corbin rocks Nakamura to turn it around. Nakamura with a kick to the face to put Corbin back down. Corbin blocks the Kinshasa with Deep Six for a close 2 count. Corbin is a bit frustrated now.

Fans chant “Corbin sucks!” now. Nakamura blocks End of Days. Corbin ducks, slides out of the ring and then rushes right back in but Nakamura is waiting for him with a Kinshasa. Nakamura covers for the pin to win.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

After the match, Nakamura stands tall and celebrates as the music hits. We go to replays.

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Ricochet vs. Happy Baron Corbin

We go right to the ring and out comes Ricochet to a pop as Samantha Irvin does the introductions. Out next comes Happy Baron Corbin as the pyro goes off. His elbow is braced up. Cole shows us a pre-recorded video from earlier today where Corbin takes shots at Ricochet and says there’s no way this little punk will beat him.

The bell rings and Corbin charges but misses. Ricochet comes back and sends Corbin flying to the floor after a hurricanrana. Ricochet shows off some in the middle of the ring as Corbin re-groups at ringside. They bring it back in and Ricochet dropkicks Corbin, then takes his knees out. Ricochet keeps control but gets sent to the apron as he charges in the corner.

Ricochet fights back with a shoulder from the apron, and goes to fly back over the top rope but Corbin knocks him out of the air with a big right hand as fans boo. Corbin works Ricochet over in the corner now as a “you suck!” chant starts.

Corbin works Ricochet against the ropes now with shots to the kidneys. Ricochet fights back and hits a handspring back elbow to send Corbin to the floor. They tangle on the floor now and Corbin sends Ricochet into the ring post but he hangs onto the post, then leaps back to the floor to take Corbin down with a corkscrew plancha. Ricochet stands tall at ringside as fans cheer him on and we go to commercial.

Back from the break and they’re going at it. Ricochet dropkicks Corbin through the bottom rope. Ricochet goes to the apron and kicks Corbin but he catches it, then scoops Ricochet on his shoulders. Corbin with a World’s Strongest Slam on top of the announce table to boos. Corbin launches Ricochet into the barrier now. Corbin with right hands at ringside before bringing it back in the ring.

Corbin works Ricochet over in the corner now, then launches him into the turnbuckles. Corbin picks Ricochet up from behind and slams him face-first into the turnbuckle. Ricochet kicks out at 2. The referee warns Corbin now. Ricochet fights back with lefts and rights but Corbin puts a knee in his gut. Ricochet goes for another back elbow but Corbin drops him with ease. Corbin sends Ricochet into the corner now and he ends up on the floor.

Corbin keeps contorl after bringing it back in. Ricochet counters End of Days and turns it into a big DDT. They’re both down now. Ricochet fights back with punches and kicks now against the ropes. Corbin shoves him but he stuns Corbin with a kick to the head. Ricochet with a running shoulder to the gut int he corner. He leaps off the top but lands on his feet. They trade more counters until Corbin hits Deep Six for a close 2 count.

Corbin shows frustration now. Corbin takes Ricochet to the top but Ricochet knocks him back down with right hands, then drops him to the mat with a big boot from the top. Ricochet goes for the 450 now but he has to roll through. Corbin with a big boot and a big slam face-first into the mat for a 2 count. Corbin yells at the referee. Corbin keeps control and talks trash to the fans as they boo him.

Ricochet fights back but Corbin blocks Recoil. Ricochet with a knee strike and a superkick, then another kick to send Corbin to one knee, then down. Ricochet goes back to the top and wastes some time but hits the Shooting Star Press for the pin to win.

Winner: Ricochet

After the match, Ricochet stands tall as the music hits. We go to replays. McAfee draws on the screen and taunts Corbin as he sits up in the corner to recover.

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#1 Contenders Fatal 5 Way: Sheamus vs. Madcap Moss vs. Happy Baron Corbin vs. Ricochet vs. Sami Zayn

We go back to the ring and out comes Sheamus for the next match, which will determine the new #1 contender to WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther for a title match at WWE Clash at The Castle. Out next comes Madcap Moss, followed by his former mentor, Happy Baron Corbin. Ricochet is out next to a pop. Hometown star Sami Zayn is out last to a huge pop and he’s running wild on the stage as they give him a standing ovation.

Fans chant “Sami!” as Zayn hits the ring now. The bell rings and Ricochet goes for Corbin but he treats tot he floor. Moss ends up clotheslining Sheamus to the floor. Sami grabs Ricochet from the side as a huge “ole!” chant continues. Sami and Ricochet tangle and Ricochet nails a hurricanrana into the corner. Corbin ends up nailing a chokeslam to Ricochet for a close 2 count as others go for the pin as well. Sheamus sends Moss to the floor. Sami unloads on Corbin in the corner now, beating him down as fans cheer him on. Sami stomps away on Corbin as we go back to a break.

Back from the break and Sheamus brawls with Ricochet at ringside, then rams him into the barrier. Corbin drops Sami at ringside, then goes to work on Ricochet. Sheamus slams Moss into the barrier. Moss runs Sheamus into the barrier. Corbin launches Ricochet into the corner now, forcing him to hit the ring post. Moss ends up sending Sheamus into the timekeeper’s area while Ricochet and Corbin tangle in the ring. Corbin drops Ricochet with a big right hand. Moss comes back in but Corbin gets the upperhand, launching him face-first into the corner.
Corbin continues to dominate as fans try to rally for Sami. Moss mounts some offense on Corbin but Corbin levels him with a clothesline as the “ole!” chant picks back up. Corbin knocks Sami off the apron to the floor with a big right hand as fans boo. Ricochet goes for a big springboard clothesline but Corbin knocks him out of mid-air. Sheamus rushes in and beats Corbin up. Corbin drops Sheamus. Ricochet with a dropkick to Corbin. Moss runs in but Ricochet takes him out, then takes Sami back down for boos… Ricochet counters Corbin with a big DDT for a pop. Ricochet with a standing Shooting Star Press to Corbin in the middle of the ring but Corbin kicks out at 2.

More back and forth among everyone in the ring now. Moss unloads on Sheamus to keep him down in the corner. Sheamus fights out as fans try to rally for Sami again, as he recovers at ringside. Sheamus with the Irish Curse backbreaker to Moss. Sami runs back in but he also takes the Irish Curse. Sheamus with 10 Beats of the Bodhrán to Moss now, sending him to the floor. Sheamus then catches Corbin with 10 Beats of the Bodhrán. Ricochet comes in and cuts them off but Sheamus fights back and sends him to the apron. Sheamus with 10 Beats of the Bodhrán to Ricochet now, and then some. Sheamus goes out and brings Sami back in to boos. Sami blocks 10 Beats of the Bodhrán and hangs Sheamus over the top rope. Corbin charges but Sami sends him to the floor. Sami runs the ropes and leaps out, taking Corbin and Sheamus down on the floor for a big pop.

Sami plays to the hometown crowd for a big pop. Sami and Ricochet go at it in the middle of the ring now. Ricochet mounts offense but Sami nails a Michinoku Driver in the middle of the ring for a close 2 count. Sami can’t believe it. Fans sing “ole!” again. Moss intercepts Sami as he goes for a Helluva Kick on Ricochet. Sami tangles with Moss and nails a Blue Thunderbomb in the middle of the ring for another close 2 count. Fans chant Sami’s name again. Sami goes to the top but Corbin cuts him off. Sami knocks him back away. Ricochet leaps to the top and grabs Sami but Sami knocks him back down to the floor. Sheamus climbs up to Sami and hits a super White Noise to hush the crowd.

Sami immediately goes to the floor and clutches his arm, distracting Sheamus and the referee. Ricochet with a running dropkick to Sheamus’ back. Moss is also back in. Moss and Ricochet take turns with Sheamus. We see trainers checking on Sami on the entrance-way. Corbin runs in and hits Deep Six to Sheamus. Ricochet flies off the top with a missile dropkick to Corbin. We go to commercial with all four competitors down on the mat, while trainers are tending to Sami on the stage.

Back from the break and Cole says this has been one of the best SmackDown matches ever. Moss hits a big fall-away slam to Sheamus for a close 2 count. Ricochet runs over with a springboard moonsault to Moss for 2. Corbin rolls in and mounts Ricochet with right hands for boos from the crowd. Ricochet counters a Corbin clothesline and dumps Corbin over the top rope to the floor. Corbin catches Ricochet’s springboard back elbow, then levels him with a big boot. Ricochet is dazed and confused. Corbin with a Torture Rack into a neckbreaker but Ricochet still kicks out at 2. Corbin and Sheamus unload on each other with big punches now. Sheamus clotheslines Corbin over the top rope to the floor but Moss rolls Sheamus up for 2. Moss runs the ropes but Sheamus nails a huge knee to the mouth for another close pin attempt.
Sheamus is the only one on his feet now as fans chant for Zayn. Sheamus calls for the Brogue but Moss moves and catches Sheamus with a side-slam. Ricochet with a Recoil to Moss to send him back to the floor. Ricochet goes to the top for the Shooting Star Splash on Sheamus but Corbin breaks the pin up just in time. Ricochet blocks End of Days and sends Corbin to the floor. Sami comes stumbling from the back as fans go wild and give him another ovation. Sami returns to the ring as fans chant his name now.

Sami catches Ricochet and launches him into the turnbuckles with a big Exploder. Sami with a Helluva Kick to Ricochet for a close 2 count as Corbin yanks Sami out of the ring, dropping him on the floor to boos. Corbin sends Sami into the ring post as an “asshole!” chant starts up. Corbin goes back in for Ricochet but Sheamus levels Corbin with a Brogue Kick out of nowhere for the pin to win and get the title shot.

Winner and New #1 Contender to WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther: Sheamus

– After the bell, Sheamus stands tall as the music hits and we go to replays. Sheamus poses to celebrate the win as the announcers confirm Sheamus vs. Gunther for WWE Clash at The Castle, with the title on the line.

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Ricochet vs. Happy Corbin

In a match made backstage following Ricochet’s reaction to Pat McAfee’s recap of his win over Happy Corbin, The One and Only battled Corbin in singles competition to kick off Friday’s show.

Ricochet used his speed and agility to frustrate the former King of the Ring early but the bigger, stronger, former Golden Gloves boxer flattened him with a hard right hand to turn the tide in his favor entering the commercial break.

Corbin overwhelmed his opponent with his size advantage, delivering a torture rack neckbreaker for a count of two. Unfortunately, he allowed his vendetta against McAfee to distract him. Ricochet capitalized, delivered the Recoil and scored the win with the 630 splash.

This was a fun, somewhat unexpected way to kick off the show.

McAfee is so likable and is a mainstream media personality, so it would make sense that the creative team would want to capitalize on his popularity among the WWE fans and feature him early.

It came at the expense of a top heel who is perpetually over with fans and featured Ricochet, one of the many underutilized talents of his generation, scoring a much-needed win.

The One and Only is one of Triple H’s guys dating back to his days in NXT. He is the former United States and Intercontinental champion but somehow, feels like he has only scratched the surface of what he is capable of achieving in WWE

His utilization in hyping the crowd off and creating energy from the opening match may prove telling of the new Head of Creative’s plans for him moving forward.

Result: Ricochet pinned Corbin

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Happy Corbin bumrushes Pat McAfee at the announce table and beats him down!

Pat chases him to the back and gets the better of him just as road agents swarm to pull them apart and send us to break.

Back from commercial, we get a recap of what we just saw, because that’s just how it is sometimes.

Pat McAfee hits the ring and cuts a promo before going back to commentary.

He has one thing to say to bum-ass Corbin, at SummerSlam he won’t be able to cheapshot him or blindside him, they’ll go one-on-one, man vs. big dumb bald baby, and when this foot hits his ugly head, he’s gonna put him down for a nap for good.

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• Corbin popping, then rocking out on the air guitar while mocking Pat McAfee’s love for Nakamura, was great television and popped this writer.
• Cole attempted to knock Corbin’s NFL career during his stint with the Indianapolis Colts, only to be shut down by Happy, who reminded him of his offensive line career with the Arizona Cardinals.

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There was the typical back and forth, followed by appearances from The Miz, Happy Corbin, Madcap Moss and Ezekiel, which led to a Battle Royal to kick off the night’s in-ring action.

A week after they coexisted long enough to defeat The Usos and preserve their spots in Saturday’s match, Sheamus and McIntyre found themselves battling late in the contest. The Scottish Warrior dumped Zayn over the top rope and turned his attention back to his foe, only for Corbin to slide in from out of nowhere to eliminate them both and earn the win.

An overly happy Corbin taunted color commentator, and newfound rival, Pat McAfee following the win.

Corbin defeated Rollins, Zayn, Sheamus, McIntyre, Ezekiel, Miz, Riddle, Moss and Omos

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