AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura rekindled their epic rivalry as Rusev watched from ringside, providing guest commentary and spouting off about how was ready to dethrone The Phenomenal One for the WWE Championship this Sunday. 

Styles and Nakamura picked up right where they left off, laying into one another with hard-hitting strikes and counters for the other’s counters. During the contest, the hard-hitting action spilled out of the ring to the commentary desk, where Styles could not help but clock a chattering Aiden English, who was getting too close for comfort. 

The King of Strong Style used the distraction to knock AJ down on the outside, but the WWE Champion evaded the Kinshasa and caused Nakamrua to drill English instead. An incensed Rusev blindsided Styles, who won by disqualification. Rusev and Nakamura then began to put the boots to The Phenomenal One, but the tables turned quickly when United States Champion Jeff Hardy came out to even the odds.  

During this melee, SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige arrived with an announcement that would prolong the insanity, as a tag team match pitting Styles & Hardy vs. Rusev & Nakamura would happen… oh, and it would be next.