AJ Styles, Carmelo Hayes, LA Knight Segment
AJ Styles: I have missed you guys, so much. And it’s only fitting that I’m here in Nashville, Tennessee, tonight. This is where it all started for AJ Styles. And over the past couple of months, I’ve done a lot of things that I regret, things I may not be forgiven for. But I’m not here to talk about my past, I’m talking about tonight, and rebuilding the legacy of AJ Styles. So, I know there’s a lot of guys that don’t like me, and I don’t blame them. There’s a lot of guys that need to be reminded that, this is still the house that AJ Styles built.
Carmelo Hayes: AJ, after everything that you’ve done, I’m not surprised there’s not a long line of guys there to welcome you back. But that’s okay, because you know what? I’ve taken it upon myself to be that guy to do that. Because AJ, you know, I don’t need to reintroduce myself to you. You know who I am. I’m him, Carmelo Hayes, the one that beat Andrade three times, and the one that’s been holding it down here on SmackDown while you’ve been gone. But believe it or not, I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m actually a huge fan of you. I love old timers like you. And I’m sure you’re out here to announce some legends contract that you just signed, and believe me, you deserve it, but if we’re going to talk about things that deserved, allow me to talk about myself for a minute. A guy like me, who deserves to be the US Champion, not LA Knight, and not Andrade. A guy like me.
AJ Styles: Well, if it’s okay with you, I would like to maybe give you some friendly advice. I’ve been in the ring with LA Knight before, and the guy is relentless. YEAH! He came to my house. We had a match at WrestleMania.
Carmelo Hayes: AJ, I don’t need your advice, because I don’t take advice from quitters.
AJ Styles: Nope, I earned that one. You really think you’re that good. Okay. If you were that good, if you were HIM, you would be United States Champion, right now, wouldn’t you?
Carmelo Hayes: Well, AJ, if you’re so phenomenal, then you would be WWE Champion, right now, wouldn’t you? See what you started.
AJ Styles: I’ll tell you what we’ll do. You’re in your wrestling gear, I’m in my wrestling gear, there’s ropes, a ring, it’s Nashville, Tennessee, why don’t you and I fight, right here, right now, in this very ring?
Carmelo Hayes: Nah, I’m good.
LA Knight: Let me talk to you. My god, ain’t this a familiar sight. Somebody wants to fight Carmelo, what does he do, he’s just going to run away, ain’t he? AJ, I’m not going to come out here and pretend that you and I are friends. Like you said, I’ve been to your house, we’ve been through it all. Let me be honest, the last time I saw you, you were busy misleading me and everybody in the entire world, telling everybody, basically, you were going to retire, and then you made a liar out of yourself. So, I don’t have a lot to say to you. But what I will say is this. I look at Carmelo, he comes out here, and he says, I deserve this, I’m HIM. I’ll tell you what. You are HIM. You’re the guy that is going to get stomped out, right here, tonight.
The only question is, there’s two options in this. The first option is, I can basically come down there, punch you in the mouth about four or five times, walk out of here, go down Broadway, have a couple of drinks, and have myself a goodnight. Or the other choice in this whole thing is, AJ, it seems like you made a little challenge here to Carmelo. He seems like he’s not ready to take it. So, I’ll tell you what, I’m gonna go ahead and make sure that you want to take it, Melo. Here’s what you got, if you can beat AJ Styles, right now, I’ll make a really convincing case to Nick Aldis that you can get the shot that you so hardly think you deserve at the US Championship. But I’m gonna tell you what. Regardless, the chances are, you’re going to get stomped out, tonight. I’m still going out to Broadway. And when it’s all said and done, after AJ Styles stomps you, I’ll tell you what, you’re still going to hear everybody saying, LA Knight. YEAH! Now, get me a referee out here, and let’s get this done.
AJ Styles vs. Carmelo Hayes
LA Knight is watching this match from the ringside area. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Hayes outpowers Styles. Styles with a BackBreaker. Styles slams Hayes head on the top turnbuckle pad. Styles unloads two knife edge chops. Short-Arm Reversal by Hayes. Hayes kicks Styles in the gut. Hayes with clubbing blows to Styles back. Hayes kicks Styles in the chest. Hayes with a straight right hand. Chop Exchange. Short-Arm Reversal by Hayes. Hayes rocks Styles with a forearm smash. Styles reverses out of the irish whip from Hayes. Styles leapfrogs over Hayes. Styles drops down on the canvas. Styles dropkicks Hayes. Hayes regroups on the outside.
Hayes with a toe kick. Hayes with a cross chop. Hayes whips Styles across the ring. Styles decks Hayes with a back elbow smash. Hayes avoids The Springboard Reverse DDT. Hayes with The Springboard Clothesline for a two count. Hayes with a Snap Vertical Suplex for a two count. Hayes dumps Styles out of the ring. Hayes poses for the crowd. Hayes with forearm shivers. Hayes sends Styles face first into the announce table. Hayes talks smack to Knight. Hayes has complete control of this match during the commercial break. Hayes applies the single leg crab. Styles kicks Hayes in the face. Styles delivers The Phenomenal Blitz. Styles with a Basement Forearm. Styles with a leaping corner clothesline. Styles hits The Ushigoroshi. Styles starts favoring his injured left ankle and the referee was forced to call off the match. After the match, Knight plants Hayes with The BFT.
Winner: Carmelo Hayes via Referee Stoppage
