Neville, The Usos capture gold during SummerSlam kick-off show
The WWE doesn't want you to skip a kick-off show for any of its major events ever again.
Two championships changed hands before the main event even got underway Sunday night at Barclays Center, with Neville defeating Akira Tozawa to regain his Cruserweight title less than one week after dropping it, and The Usos becoming SmackDown Tag Team Champions with a huge victory over The New Day's Xavier Woods and Big E.
All it took was a #RedArrow, and @WWENeville regains his position atop the #Cruiserweight division on #SummerSlam Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/jGGzumyBI8
— 205Live (@WWE205Live) August 20, 2017
It's DAY ONE...of the @WWEUsos' SECOND reign as #SDLive #TagTeamChampions! WHAT A MATCH on #SummerSlam Kickoff! #TagTeamTitles pic.twitter.com/N6xwdre0ZP
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2017
With Tozawa leaping off the top rope to attempt his signature Senton Bomb, Neville blocked the high-risk maneuver by putting his knees up.
Just call him #KneesUpNeville! #SummerSlam @WWENeville pic.twitter.com/OIFsGDHARN
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 20, 2017
That move presented the self-proclaimed "King of the Cruiserweights" with an opportunity to head to the top himself, and he subsequently nailed his Red Arrow for the three-count.
👑 once again.@WWENeville is your NEW @WWE #Cruiserweight Champion! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/NhHyPsLI5s
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2017
Neville became the first two-time champion since the division was reformed following the Cruiserweight Classic last summer.
Meanwhile, the Usos and New Day put on an absolute clinic in tag-team wrestling that will be hard to overshadow - even by the superstars on the main card. In a bout filled with near falls, double teams, and power offense, Jimmy and Jey used their veteran savvy to isolate the larger Big E, which ultimately led to their win.
EVERYONE watching this match right now = @TrueKofi#SummerSlam #TagTeamTitles pic.twitter.com/X36vtd2sV9
— WWE (@WWE) August 20, 2017
With Woods and fellow New Day member Kofi Kingston laid out outside the ring, The Usos took advantage by connecting on a series of superkicks to Big E. One double-team splash later, and that was all she wrote.
The New Day previously defeated The Usos - who are now five-time champions, with two coming on the blue brand - at Battleground on July 23, holding the straps for 28 days before losing Sunday.