Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for July 31, 2018

Renee Young interviews Becky Lynch in the ring to start tonight's show. Becky Lynch says that when you wait so long for something, you doubt it will never happen, but she knew that if she kept pushing, she knew she would get back to where she wanted to be. She has not had a shot at the SmackDown Women's Title since December 2016, and when she earned her title shot, all she could do was think about SummerSlam. She says that she had to fight to become a champion, and she will fight Carmella mind, body and soul to become champion. Suddenly, Carmella shows up. She says that normally, she would make some some sort of excuse for why she lost, but this is not the case. Suddenly, Carmella shows up. She says that normally, she would make some some sort of excuse for why she lost, but this is not the case. It was not until later that it dawned on her how important WWE Evolution is to the history of women's wrestling in WWE, and it made her skin crawl as she feels she has failed as a representative. She says that the women should be building each other up, not tearing each other down, and that Becky has always been one step ahead of her. She was told that she would always be a manager, but Becky was always successful. Through everything, Becky has always been an appreciated centerpiece of the Women's Division while she was such an afterthought and undeserving of being champion. Carmella says she tries every day to block out all the haters on social media, and says there are even legends who say she should go away. She says she has to put on a brave face and tell herself she deserves to be here just like Becky does. Carmella says she could not be more excited to face Becky at SummerSlam with the SmackDown Women's title on the line, as she has always looked up to her, and wishes her good luck before offering to shake her hand. Suddenly, James Ellsworth's music hits. As Becky Lynch turns to face the ramp, Carmella attacks her from behind and grabs a steel chair from underneath the ring, revealing her humility was a front. As Carmella is about to DDT Becky Lynch into the chair, Charlotte Flair runs back into the ring in her first appearance in weeks to hit Carmella with a T-Bone Suplex before checking on Becky Lynch.

We hear from The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso), who says that everyone must come through them. After nearly making a reference to The Rock, they welcome Sheamus and Cesaro to the Uso Penitentiary.

Backstage, General Manager Paige meets with Carmella and chastises Carmella for faking being a good role model, but Carmella says Paige will never be a champion again. Paige tells Carmella she will learn what it is like to be a real champion who never complains even when against the odds, and forces her to face Charlotte Flair. If Charlotte Flair wins, the SmackDown Women's title match at SummerSlam will become a Triple Threat Match.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) guest on commentary for the next match with their very own orange commentary table with plates of pancakes and boxes of Booty-O's on top of it.

Sheamus and Cesaro beat The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) to face The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) in the finals of the SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament next week after Cesaro stops one half of the double top rope splash by The Usos with an uppercut while Sheamus turns the other splash into an inside cradle for the win. After the match, Sheamus and Cesaro stare down with The New Day in the ring.

In the locker room, Renee Young interviews Charlotte Flair, who says tonight is wild and just getting started. She was here to support Becky Lynch, but thanks to Carmella's big mouth, she has a big opportunity tonight. Charlotte says she is back and ready to reclaim her throne.

We get a closer look at "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, thanks to Sonic Drive-In.

Samoa Joe shows up. Samoa Joe takes a stool to sit on alongside the microphone, and says what he did to AJ Styles last week was him sending a message that he is more than familiar with. He hopes there are no hard feelings, as he respects Styles, the house that he has built in SmackDown Live and the prestige he has brought to the WWE Championship. He also respects the grind and sacrifice Styles has made to become champion, and says he has put being a champion before all else, even being a member of his own family. He mentions how Styles says he can look his daughter in the eyes and say she can be anything she wants to be, but he has known Styles for a long time and knows he is barely home long enough to do that. He says that the truth is that Styles feels more comfortable living out of a suitcase on the road than being a loving husband to his wife, as he has put being a champion above all else even if that means he is a failure as a father. He then says that Styles works to the bone and that he plans to take everything to him, as while the fans cheer for him to win at SummerSlam, Styles' family will cheer for him, for when he is done with him, his family will have their father back, but he will be WWE Champion.

Jeff Hardy shows up. Jeff says the United States Championship is more than a title to him; it is a part of his lifeforce and his fifth eye, as it revitalizes him, restores his sense of purpose and makes him one with the fans. When he lost the title, a piece of him was severed away, and now he plans to beat "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura and take it back. However, there is one thing that is just as important: beating the hell out of Randy Orton. He then says he is here to do just that tonight, and calls Orton out. Orton shows up, but before Orton gets in the ring, Jeff is attacked from behind by Nakamura, who has come out of the crowd. Orton watches as Nakamura goes to work, but stops him from hitting the Kinshasa by standing in front of him. He then motions to Nakamura to then go after him after Hardy gets up, and Nakamura then hits the Kinshasa. Nakamura and Orton continue to stare down in the ring, then Nakamura rolls out of the ring. As Nakamura leaves, Orton then focuses on Jeff, then calls from the RKO. He waits for Hardy to get up, but instead performs a double leg takedown and proceeds to stomp on specific points on Jeff's body. Jeff tries to roll out of the ring, coughing and in pain, and Orton hits the draping DDT off the second rope as referees show up to check on Jeff and force Orton out of the ring. Orton then hits another draping DDT, this time to the outside. Orton then proceeds to break down the announce table, and gets Jeff on top of it. He hits Jeff several times, much to the protest of the SmackDown Live referees, then rips off Jeff's armbands and shirt. After all this, Orton rips the necklace off of Hardy's neck and puts it in his jacket. He then grabs a bottle of water and pouring it all over Jeff's face before punching him a few more times and wiping the facepaint off Jeff's face with a washcloth. Orton then rams the back of Jeff's head into the announce table before looking at Jeff's necklace again. He points at Jeff while looking at the crowd as they call for an RKO. Instead, Orton walks away with Jeff's necklace still in his hand, and the referees check on Jeff.

Backstage, Renee Young interviews Becky Lynch. She is happy that Charlotte Flair is back and has a golden opportunity tonight, and while Charlotte Flair might wreck her chances at becoming champion again, she is still behind her.

Zelina Vega beats Lana after Aiden English inadvertently trips her off the top rope while yanking Andrade "Cien" Almas off the apron, allowing Zelina Vega to grab the tights for the win.

We hear from The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan). Harper says that if Sheamus and Cesaro want to set the bar, they will berak it. Rowan says they will shatter The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods). At SummerSlam, nobody will escape, as nobody can escape the bludgeoning.

Backstage, Aiden English talks to Lana, saiyng he only wanted to do the ring thing and help. Lana tells Aiden to leave, which he does as Rusev searches for Aiden English. Rusev shows up, and says that would not have happened if he were out there. Lana tells Rusev that even though he is looking out for what is best for Rusev Day, she really could have used his help tonight.

Daniel Bryan is in the ring. He talks about the announcement for WWE Evolution, and he could not help but feel proud for his wife Brie Bella, as she was in the ring in a 30-second match when #GiveDivasAChance took over the Internet. He calls the announcement a huge step forward. He then says that sometimes a step forward comes with two steps back, and after what happened between him and The Miz is shown on the Titantron, he says watching that footage bothers him. He says Miz taunted and got at him for two years because Miz felt safe without him medically cleared. Suddenly, he got cleared, and The Miz brought his wife as well as a baby doll to stand behind his walls for Miz knows he will destroy him. He calls The Miz out to prove him wrong, as he is in the ring by himself and there is nothing he would love more than to punch him in the face. Suddenly, The Miz is seen with security guards on the TitanTron. Miz tells Daniel he is not in the indies anymore, and if he wants to fight him, he has to earn it. He says that he is currently on location for Miz and Mrs., then plugs the second episode of the show. Daniel Bryan says he does not care about his TV show or his Hollywood lifestyle, and accuses The Miz of hiding as he says that he is nothing more than a coward. Miz says the last time Daniel called him a coward, Daniel did not fight him and instead walked away, and says he only wants to face him to further his career. Miz says he has carried Daniel Bryan for all these years, and says that all it took to make him famous was getting in his face. Daniel says he has a passion, but The Miz is in it for the fame and his career path has been done by men better than him. He tells Miz he will never be The Rock or John Cena, and that nobody will remember him as a great Superstar because he is too soft. However, if Miz needs a big stage to come out and fight to, he can talk to his agent and face him at SummerSlam. Miz says the cycle keeps repeating and that Daniel does the same thing over and over again, and he is done with him riding his coattails. He says that Daniel's career is over and that the fans have moved on. He tells Daniel to let his contract expire and go back to the indies, as the fans are tired of him and they only see a crying baby whenever they see him. The TitanTron then shows images and plays sounds of crying babies. Daniel Bryan is unperturbed. Miz then says "Wah, wah, wah" before putting on his sunglasses.

Next week: "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles returns!

Backstage, Renee Young interviews Carmella, who says that she wants Becky Lynch alone as she knows she can beat Becky one-on-one. She also does not buy Becky's "best friends" statements, as she feels she knows Becky is rooting against Charlotte Flair.

Charlotte Flair beats Carmella by reversing an inside cradle into a Figure Eight to make the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship match at SummerSlam a Triple Threat Match.

Here's the top 10 moments for tonight's show!