WWE Smackdown: John Cena, AJ Styles Team up to Face Kevin Owens, Rusev

 By Wade Sheridan (UPI)

(Left to right) John Cena and United States Champion AJ Styles took on Kevin Owens and Rusev in a Tag Team Match on Smackdown Live Tuesday. Photo courtesy of WWE/Twitter

 

July 12 (UPI) -- Former rivals John Cena and newly crowned United States Champion AJ Styles teamed up on Smackdown Live Tuesday to take on the likes of Kevin Owens and Rusev.

The main event of the night came about after Styles opened the show by starting up a United States Championship open challenge.

Cena answered the call, but before a match could begin, former United States Championship holder Owens entered the arena and distracted the pair in order for Rusev to enter the ring. A brawl ensued with Owens and Rusev gaining an advantage by using the Pop-Up Powerbomb and The Accolade.

The Tag Team Match ended differently, however, as Styles landed a Pele Kick onto Owens who was then drilled with an Attitude Adjustment by Cena for the victory.

Styles earned the United States Championship in surprising fashion on Friday during a non-televised WWE Live Event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In the women's division, Smackdown Live commissioner Shane McMahon announced that Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Tamina and Lana will meet at Battleground on July 23 in a Five-Way Elimination Match to determine the No. 1 contender for Naomi's Smackdown Women's Championship.

Flair and Lynch later faced off against Tamina and Natalya in a Tag Team Match that was spoiled by Lana. The Ravishing Russian distracted Flair in order for Tamina to nail The Queen with a devastating kick for the three count.

Also on Smackdown Live, WWE Champion Jinder Mahal defeated Tye Dillinger; Xavier Woods defeated Jey Uso; Shinsuke Nakamura and Baron Corbin were involved in a raucous brawl; and Sami Zayn was assaulted by lovers Maria and Mike Kanellis.

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