PROVIDENCE — Following Shinsuke Nakamura’s blindside attack on WWE Champion AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan at the conclusion of last week’s SmackDown LIVE, Styles kicked tonight off looking to get his hands on WWE’s Rockstar. However, AJ’s call-out did not summon The King of Strong Style, but instead Rusev & Aiden English. English sang his typical song, but Styles made it very clear that he was not in the mood for any song or dance. If Rusev wanted a fight, he could come get one.
And so he did, as the two Superstars went at it to kick off the second night of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up. Right off the bat, The Phenomenal One locked The Bulgarian Brute in the Calf Crusher. When it appeared Rusev was going to tap out due to the excruciating pain, English attacked AJ, and Styles won by disqualification. A limping Rusev soon joined in on the beatdown of the WWE Champion until Styles got a helping hand from Daniel Bryan. The “Yes!” Man rushed to Styles’ aid, causing the Rusev Day celebrators to flee.
The two would not be able to escape, however, because new SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige decreed that she had found her main event for tonight — AJ Styles & Daniel Bryan vs. Rusev & Aiden English!