This week’s episode of SmackDown show aired live from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It is the first episode of SmackDown following WrestleMania Backlash last Sunday night. Ronda Rousey defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship in an Open Challenge. Naomi & Sasha Banks defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Natalya & Shayna Baszler.
SmackDown Results
- Riddle def. Sami Zayn
- Ronda Rousey def. Raquel Rodriguez to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship
- Sasha Banks & Naomi def. Shayna Baszler & Natalya to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships
- Butch def. Kofi Kingston
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Sami Zayn Interrupted RK-Bro
RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Riddle) kicked off tonight’s SmackDown to a great reaction from the crowd. Orton said he is sick and tired of the chase, and it is very obvious that The Usos don’t have the balls to make any decisions for themselves. Orton added that Roman Reigns makes all the decisions for The Bloodline.
Riddle took the blame for the loss in the 6-man tag match at WrestleMania Backlash. Orton shouted that RK-Bro demands to become the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions. Randy wanted Roman Reigns to come to the ring but Sami Zayn came to the entrance ramp wearing a Bloodline t-shirt.
Zayn wondered if RK-Bro did not understand how things work here on SmackDown and he’s here to address the matter on the Bloodline’s behalf. Sami claimed that nobody wants to see this unification match and told RK-Bro that they would lose the match anyway. Zayn entered the ring and said he’s trying to address this with diplomacy and a loud “Sami sucks!” chant broke out.
Sami suggested that RK-Bro go back to RAW and never come back to SmackDown. Riddle referred to Sami as “Rusty” because he’s a ginger and the crowd chanted “Rusty!”. Zayn boasted about handling Shinsuke Nakamura last week and Orton wondered if he was the shot caller of the Bloodline. Randy added that Sami’s not just out here running his mouth and he’s a vital part of SmackDown.
Orton asked Sami to battle Riddle on behalf of the Bloodline. If Riddle wins, RK-Bro gets the Tag Team Title Unification match. Another “Rusty!” chant broke out and Sami accepted the challenge but wanted to delay it a few weeks. The camera cut to an empty entrance ramp before Adam Pearce showed up. Pearce made the match official, but noted that Sami Zayn cannot speak for the Bloodline and the match (with no stakes) starts now.
Riddle def. Sami Zayn, The Bloodline Will Respond Later Tonight
Sami Zayn then battled Riddle in a singles match. Riddle started off the match in control as Sami cowardly tried to get away. Sami caught Riddle with an elbow and then unloaded a flurry of punches to his face. Zayn taunted the crowd and started shouting at Cole & McAfee. Riddle connected with an Enziguri and both superstars fell to the mat. Riddle climbed to the top rope but Sami shoved him to the floor as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Sami climbed to the top rope but Riddle joined him up there . Sami knocked him down with some punches and went for a Splash but Riddle countered with a knee to the face for a near fall. Zayn battled back with a Michinoku Driver and went for the cover but Riddle kicked out at the last moment.
Zayn went for the draping DDT but Riddle sent him to the floor with a Back Body Drop. Riddle hit a springboard Floating Bro before the action returned to the ring. Riddle followed it up with a Powerslam and the draping DDT. Riddle set up for an RKO but Sami rolled to the outside. Riddle followed him out there and Zayn shoved him into the ring post before dumping him over the barricade.
Sami rolled back into the ring and the referee began her count. Riddle got back into the ring at the last second and Sami started barking at the referee. Riddle capitalized and hit Zayn with the Bro Derek for the pinfall victory. RK-Bro celebrated in the ring after the match as The Bloodline watched from the locker room.
Roman Reigns wondered why are RK-Bro on SmackDown and boasted about beating them at Backlash. The Usos complained about RK-Bro claiming they cannot make any choices for themselves before saying “it is alright, we do this for The Bloodline”. Roman Reigns added “tonight, we’ll give them an answer” to end the segment.
Ronda Rousey def. Raquel Rodriguez To Retain The SmackDown Women’s Championship
New SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey came to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Rousey defeated Charlotte Flair in an I Quit match at WrestleMania Backlash to win the title. Charlotte was written off television with an arm injury. Ronda raised the title and then issued an Open Challenge. Raquel Rodriguez (FKA as Raquel Gonzalez in NXT) answered and vowed to make history tonight.
Ronda Rousey defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship aginst Raquel Rodriguez tonight. Rodriguez slammed Ronda down to start off the match and smiled for the crowd. Rodriguez elbowed Rousey in the face and threw here to the corner. Ronda battled back for a moment but Rodriguez put a stop to it with a massive Clothesline for a near fall.
Raquel beat Rousey down against the turnbuckle before connecting with a Fallaway Slam. She followed it up with another one and went for the cover but the champ kicked out at two. Rodriguez lifted Rousey up in the Torture Rack but Ronda escaped. Rodriguez charged but Ronda got out of the way.
Rousey looked for the armbar but Rodriguez countered into a Side Slam. Raquel climbed to the top rope and went for a Splash but Ronda dodged it. Ronda went for a Guilotine choke but Raquel countered into a massive Suplex for a close two count. Rousey caught Rodriguez with a knee strike and some jabs. Ronda went for her judo throw but Rodqiguez wouldn’t go down. Rodriguez responded with a slam for another near fall.
Raquel lifted Rousey up for a Chokeslam but the champ locked in an armbar. Raquel broke the hold by slamming Rousey to the ropes. Ronda then applied an Ankle Lock but Rodriguez booted her away. Raquel hit a big boot for a two count and went for a Powerbomb but Rousey countered into a cradle for the pinfall victory. Ronda Rousey is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Rousey and Rodriguez shook hands after the match.
Aliyah and Shotzi argued backstage and claimed they were going to answer the Open Challenge as Adam Pearce haplessly stood in between them.
Happy Corbin Brutally Attacked Madcap Moss
Kayla Braxton interviewed Madcap Moss tonight on SmackDown. Happy Corbin interrupted the interview and bashed Madcap with a steel chair several times. Corbin hit Moss a few more times before bring the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy in the ring. Corbin put Moss’ head inside the steel chair and bashed it with the trophy as the crowd booed. Happy Corbin mocked Madcap Moss on the stretcher backstage after the attack.
Sasha Banks & Naomi Retained The Women’s Tag Team Championships
Sasha Banks & Naomi defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Natalya and Shayna Baszler. Banks dominated the match early and hit Double Knees on Natalya for a near fall. Sasha went for the Bank Statement but Natalya got to the ropes to break it up. Baszler tagged in and beat Banks down as SmackDown went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Natalya connected with a Spinebuster on Banks and tagged in Baszler. Shayna hit a kick and went for the cover but Naomi broke it up at two. Naomi tagged in and hit Shayna with a Crossbody off the ring apron and to the floor. Back in the ring, Naomi hit a Jawbreaker on Shayna but ran into a big boot. Shayna went for the cover and tried to use the ropes but the referee caught it.
Natalya tagged in and Naomi hit Shayna with an Enziguri. Naomi ducked under a Clothesline and hit a springboard kick. Naomi hit a slam and went for the cover but Shanya broke it up. Shayna went for the Kirifuda Clutch but Banks hit her with the Backstabber. Natalya set up for the Sharpshooter but Naomi rolled her up for the pinfall victory. Naomi & Sasha Banks are still the SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
Butch def. Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kington battled Butch tonight on SmackDown. Before the match, Drew Gulak and Gunther had an altercation backstage. Gunther absolutely leveled Gulak with a chop to the chest.
Kingston hit a Dropkick right away and unloaded some punches in the corner. Butch exploded out of the corner with a Clothesline as Sheamus & Ridge Holland cheered him on from ringside. Butch hit some more punches and started bending back Kofi’s fingers. Kingston escaped and taunted Butch as Woods played the trombone. Kingston hit Butch with a boot to the face and celebrated with Woods as SmackDown went to a break.
Kofi connected with a Dropkick and followed it up with SOS for a near fall. Kingston climbed to the top rope and went for a Crossbody but Butch countered with a jumping forearm to the face for a near fall. Butch hit an Enziguri but Kingston responded with a Double Stomp. Kingston geared up in the corner but Ridge hopped on the apron. Woods dragged him down but Sheamus caught Xavier with the Brogue Kick. Butch planted Kingston with the Bitter End for the pinfall victory. Butch left through the crowd after the match because he’s a crazy person. He then showed back up on the entrance to pose with Fight Night to end the segment.
Tag Team Unification Match Set For Next Week
Sami Zayn approached Paul Heyman backstage and needed to know if he overstepped his boundaries by accepting the match on behalf of The Bloodline. Sami then boasted about being the one that stood up to RK-Bro and needed to know if the relationship between “The Locker Room Leader” and the Head of the Table. Heyman told Sami that the Tribal Chief appreciates Sami before heading back into Reigns’ locker room.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos made their way to the ring with Paul Heyman at the end of this week’s SmackDown.
The Bloodline raised all of their championships in the air as pyro went off. Reigns grabbed the microphone and said “commonwealth of Pennsylvania, acknowledge me” and the crowd erupted. Roman stated that we’ve been doing this for a minute, smash their opponent on Sunday and come to the ring on Friday to tell you who is next. Reigns noted all the people he’s defeated and mentioned John Cena.
Reigns boasted about The Bloodline’s victory over RK-Bro & Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania Backlash. Roman claimed that nobody wants to step up to “The Mountain” here and that The Tribal Chief is untouchable. Reigns noted that there is a challenge on the table for The Usos and the question is, what are they going to do about it? Roman handed the microphone to Jimmy Uso but RK-Bro interrupted.
The RAW Tag Team Champions joined The Bloodline in the ring. Randy Orton told Roman Reigns that John Cena is ten times the superstar that Reigns will ever be. Orton called The Usos stupid and very slowly said they want the unification match. Orton added that after they take The Usos titles they will merge them to form the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles. The Usos accepted the challenge and the match was made for next week. RK-Bro got in a shot at Roman Reigns before leaving the ring to end the show.
