WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: AJ Styles, Matt Riddle deliver in intercontinental title main event

King Corbin, however, was right there to ruin the post-match handshake between Styles and Riddle

After debuting on SmackDown with an upset win over intercontinental champion AJ Styles in a non-title match, Matt Riddle was given his first chance at "main roster" gold when he took on Styles for the title in the main event of SmackDown. While Riddle ultimately pushed Styles to the limit in what was a tremendous match, he came up just short when Styles was able to counter the Bromission into a sneaky pin to retain the title

Riddle's problems didn't end with losing his shot at intercontinental gold, though. After the loss, Riddle took Styles up on the offer of a post-match handshake, only to be attacked from behind by budding rival King Corbin. Corbin ended his post-match attack by laying out Riddle with End of Days, setting up a new rivalry for The King of Bros and leaving Styles unscathed in the aftermath of a fierce title defense.

What else went down on this week's edition of SmackDown? Read on for a full recap of the action along with grades and highlights from the go-home edition of SmackDown ahead of Sunday's Extreme Rules pay-per-view, including Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman delivering their final messages ahead of Sunday's Wyatt Swamp Fight.

WWE SmackDown recap, grades

Cesaro def. Big E via pinfall: Big E took it to Cesaro early, battering him outside the ring and ramming him into the ring steps with a big shoulder block. A Cesaro comeback was cut off by a string of belly-to-belly suplexes by the tag team champion. Big E countered a Neutralizer attempt with a Stretch Muffler submission that was, in turn, countered into a pin and then the Cesaro Swing. With Big E locked in a Sharpshooter, Shinsuke Nakamura attacked Kofi Kingston on the outside. An angry Big E went for a Big Ending, but as the ref was distracted, Nakamura hit Big E and allowed Cesaro to hit the Neutralizer for the pinfall and the victory. After the match, Cesaro and Nakamura left Big E down and out and tried to pull out a table when Kingston hit them with a dive. Cesaro was then placed on the table, but Nakamura made the save before Kingston could put him through it. Later in the show, Cesaro and Nakamura teased that their match with New Day on Sunday would be a cage match, but instead made it official that it will be a tables match. This was a solid singles match and the Extreme Rules tag match should be even better if given time. Of course, a tables match is a significant downgrade from a cage match, so teasing the better match was a letdown. Grade: B

Sasha Banks & Bayley def. Nikki Cross & Asuka via pinfall: The match came after Banks and Bayley interrupted Cross and Alexa Bliss' plans to introduce as the special guest on "A Moment of Bliss." Cross was isolated early, with the tag team champions keeping her away from her corner and unable to tag in Asuka. Cross eventually managed to duck between Bayley's legs to make the tag, allowing Asuka to clean house. Asuka also avoided a Banks baseball slide attempt, trapping her with the ring apron and administering a beating before doing the same to Bayley moments later. Banks turned things back around by ducking a Cross crossbody and hitting a low dropkick for a two count. Bayley eventually managed to score the cheap pin on Cross, scoring a jackknife pin with her feet on the ropes for the win. Again, another very good match featuring top-tier in-ring workers. The recipe to entertaining wrestling is really simple. Later in the night, a frustrated Cross attacked Bayley backstage after a promo segment. Grade: B

Bray Wyatt took a trip back to the swamp: Ahead of his Swamp Fight with Braun Strowman at Extreme Rules, Wyatt was back in the swamp. Wyatt said Strowman was nothing but a lost sheep looking for a family, who found exactly that when he joined The Wyatt Family. Wyatt took credit for "creating a monster" before Strowman left him. The swamp is a place where the devil comes to dance and all the horrors of the world can call home, an evil place you can never truly live, according to Wyatt. Wyatt also said he knows the monster he created is scratching and waiting to return home. This was a nice setup segment for the Swamp Fight, which remains a match with potential to either hit big or miss badly on Sunday. Grade: B-

Braun Strowman def. John Morrison via pinfall: Before the match, Strowman said there's a time in every man's life where he has to choose to grow up and face his fears, which is what he plans to do on Sunday. After the opening bell, Strowman exploded on Morrison, tossing him across the ring and laying him out with a massive clothesline. Moments later, Strowman finished off Morrison with a running powerslam for the win. After the match, Strowman said he hoped Wyatt was watching because he's coming home. Morrison was nearly stretchered out of the ring but refused medical attention as Miz helped him to the back. There was nothing to the match, which is for the best in the Strowman story but not exactly high entertainment. Grade: C+

Lacey Evans def. Naomi via pinfall: Evans tangled Naomi's hair up in the ropes -- interestingly playing up a bit of a Twitter dust-up between the two over Naomi's hair earlier in the day. When Naomi freed herself, she turned into a Woman's Right, allowing Evans to score the victory. Grade: C+

Jeff Hardy was attacked by Sheamus: Hardy discussed how he will continue beating his demons when he battles Sheamus in a Bar Fight on next week's SmackDown and was then was asked for his pick in the upcoming match between Matt Riddle and AJ Styles when he was laid out by a blindside attack from Sheamus. Sheamus then told Hardy he would see him next week. Grade: B-

Intercontinental Championship -- AJ Styles (c) def. Matt Riddle via pinfall to retain the title: Riddle used waist control early to control Styles and hit a few gut-wrench suplexes. Styles rolled out of the ring and was kneed back to the floor when he tried to reenter the ring. Styles eventually was able to drop Riddle with a facebuster and then hung him op the top rope to overcome the early momentum of Riddle. Styles tried to go strike-for-strike with Riddle but ate several big knees to the face. Styles came back again by hitting a huge kick to Riddle's face, but Riddle managed to counter the follow-up Styles clash and hit a ripcord knee. Styles had Riddle locked up in the calf crusher late in the match, but Riddle countered into the Bromission. As it seemed Riddle had the win locked up, Styles reversed the hold into a pin to retain the title. After the match, Styles offered a handshake to Riddle, which Riddle accepted, only to be attacked from behind by King Corbin. Corbin then eventually hit End of Days on Riddle to end the show. Outstanding stuff in the match and Riddle has been excellent in his work early in his SmackDown run. Riddle mostly controlling the match was a nice touch, simply falling when the veteran was a little too crafty for the kid. Grade: B+

[Jul 17, 2020 at 9:58 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Intercontinental Championship -- AJ Styles (c) def. Matt Riddle via pinfall: Riddle used waist control early to control Styles and hit a few gut-wrench suplexes. Styles rolled out of the ring and was kneed back to the floor when he tried to re-enter the ring. Styles eventually was able to drop Riddle with a facebuster and then hung him op the top rope to overcome the early momentum of Riddle. Styles tried to go strike-for-strike with Riddle but ate several big knees to the face. Styles came back again by hitting a huge kick to Riddle's face, but Riddle managed to counter the follow-up Styles clash and hit a ripcord knee. Styles had Riddle locked up in the calf crusher late in the match, but Riddle countered into the Bromission. As it seemed Riddle had the win locked up, Styles reversed the hold into a pin to retain the title. After the match, Styles offered a handshake to Riddle, which Riddle accepted, only to be attacked from behind by King Corbin, who eventually hit End of Days on Riddle to end the show. Outstanding stuff in the match and Riddle has been excellent in his work early in his SmackDown run. Riddle mostly controlling the match was a nice touch, simply falling when the veteran was a little too crafty for the kid. Grade: B+

[Jul 17, 2020 at 9:30 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Nikki Cross attacked Bayley backstage: After a Bayley and Sasha Banks promo where the duo discussed holding all WWE gold as their destiny, a frustrated Cross was talking to Alexa Bliss about getting pinned by Bayley. She then saw Banks and Bayley and attacked Bayley from behind before being pulled off the SmackDown champ.

[Jul 17, 2020 at 9:23 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Jeff Hardy was attacked by Sheamus: Hardy discussed how he will continue beating his demons when he battles Sheamus in a Bar Fight on next week's SmackDown and was then was asked for his pick in the upcoming match between Matt Riddle and AJ Styles when he was laid out by a blindside attack from Sheamus. Sheamus then told Hardy he would see him next week. Grade: B-

[Jul 17, 2020 at 9:21 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Lacey Evans def. Naomi via pinfall: Evans tangled Naomi's hair up in the ropes -- interestingly playing up a bit of a Twitter dust-up between the two over Naomi's hair earlier in the day. When Naomi freed herself, she turned into a Women's Right, allowing Evans to score the victory. Grade: C+