WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome. It was the final episode of SmackDown before WWE WrestleMania Backlash this Sunday night. Cesaro battled Jimmy Uso in the main event and will face Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at the PPV. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Natalya and Tamina tonight.
SmackDown Results (5/14)
- Natalya & Tamina def. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax to become the new Women’s Tag Team Champions
- Rey Mysterio def. Dolph Ziggler
- King Corbin def. Shinsuke Nakamura
- Cesaro def. Jimmy Uso via DQ
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Jimmy Uso Challenged Cesaro
Jey Uso kicked off the show and said his brother disrespected the head of the table (Roman Reigns) last week. Jey introduced Universal Champion Roman Reigns as the man that is going to handle Cesaro this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
Roman claimed to like Cesaro and referred to him as a top tier talent. Roman added that Cesaro could be considered one of the greatest wrestlers in the world, but he is so much more, he is the Tribal Chief. Reigns boasted some more and said that there is no way that Fox wants to see Cesaro replace him as Universal Champion.
Reigns brought up Jimmy Uso and he immediately interrupted. Jimmy was sporting a shirt that read “nobody’s bitch” and got into the ring. Jimmy said that all he hears is Reigns running his mouth while Jey stands here like his bitch. Jimmy asked his brother if he likes his shirt and claimed to have one waiting for him.
Jimmy added that he is not sure if Reigns is going to make it past Cesaro on Sunday. Jey interrupted and told Jimmy to show Roman Reigns some respect. Jimmy shouted that Roman is part of their family but not all of it. Roman interrupted and asked Jimmy thinks he can beat Cesaro on Sunday. Jimmy responded “no”.
Roman wondered if Jimmy thinks he can beat Cesaro and Jimmy said he can beat him with Jey. Jimmy asked if they would become the Head of the Table if they won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships and Reigns lost the Universal Title. Roman told Jimmy that isn’t how this works and went on a rant about putting food on the table and being the face of the WWE.
Reigns mocked Jimmy for believing that he could be the man in WWE and dared him to try and beat Cesaro. Jimmy and Reigns then had a stare down before Jimmy asked for Cesaro to come to the entrance ramp. Jimmy challenged him and Cesaro accepted the match. Cesaro said he is going to beat Jimmy Uso tonight and then Roman Reigns this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
Tamina & Natalya Won The Tag Titles
Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax defended the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Natalya and Tamina tonight on SmackDown. Jax beat Tamina down in the corner of the ring and tagged in Shayna.
Baszler got in some offense but Tamina quickly battled back and tagged in Natalya. Tamina hit a Samoan Drop and Natalya went for the cover but Reginald hopped on the apron for a distraction. The referee sent Reginald to the back and SmackDown went to a commercial break with the Women’s Tag Team Champions back in control.
When SmackDown returned, Shayna and Nia had Natalya isolated in the corner of the ring. Natalya escaped and tagged in Tamina. Nia Jax tagged in as Natalya and Shayna battled outside the ring. Natalya planted Shayna with a German Suplex on the floor and then got back into the ring. Jax planted Natalya with a Samoan Drop but Tamina caught Nia with the Superfly Splash for the pinfall victory. Tamina and Natalya are the new Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Crews Gave Commander Azeez A Medal Of Honor
Intercontinental Champion Apollo Crews came to the ring with Commander Azeez for a “Nigerian Medal of Honor” ceremony. Commander Azeez stood on a platform as Crews said he brought honor back to the IC Title and his home country. Apollo vowed to the Intercontinental Champion for life and presented Azeez with a medal for his hard work and loyalty. Azeez placed the medal around his neck and Big E interrupted.
Big E showed up on the Jumbotron and said that Crews stole the title and shouldn’t get too comfortable with it. Sami Zayn joined the party but was quickly cut off by Kevin Owens. Kevin ran to the ring and got beat down by Azeez and Apollo. Big E rushed the ring but Azeez attacked him as Apollo traded punches with Owens.
Big E blocked the Nigerian Nail and sent Azeez to the floor. Kevin Owens leveled Big E and Apollo with a couple Superkicks and then delivered a Stunner to Sami Zayn. Owens then turned around into a Big Ending from Big E. Big E went for a Big Ending on Crews but Commander Azeez dragged the Intercontinental Champion out of the ring. Big E stood tall to end the segment.
It was later announced that Crews will defend the IC Title against Big E, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn in a Fatal 4-Way match next week on SmackDown.
Rey Mysterio def. Dolph Ziggler
Rey Mysterio faced Dolph Ziggler tonight on SmackDown. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode) will defend the titles against Rey Mysterio and Dominik this Sunday night at WrestleMania Backlash.
Mysterio sent Ziggler out of the ring and hit him with a Splash as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Ziggler was in control and was beating him down in the corner of the ring.
Ziggler dominated the next few minutes and got Rey in a submission hold in the middle of the ring but Mysterio was able to make his way to the bottom rope. Rey connected with a Tornado DDT and made his way to the top rope.
Dolph hit Rey with a punch and went for a Superplex but Mysterio blocked it. Rey knocked Dolph to the canvas and hit a Senton from the top rope. Mysterio went for the 619 but Dolph countered with a Fameasser for a near fall.
Ziggler went for a Superkick but Rey was able to avoid it. Rey then went for the 619 again but Ziggler was ready and hit the Superkick this time. Ziggler hit a Body Slam and went for another one but Rey countered into a roll-up for the victory. Robert Roode tried to attack Rey after the match but Dominik Mysterio made the save.
Bayley Warned Bianca Belair
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair was interviewed by Michael Cole tonight on SmackDown. Belair said she is the bEST and that people have been doubting her for her entire life but she doesn’t pay any attention to them. Bayley then appeared on the Jumbotron and poked fun at Bianca’s earrings.
Bianca dared Bayley to come to the ring to come see her braid and Bayley called her an idiot for thinking she would get in the ring with her before Sunday. Belair claimed that Bayley was just mad because The Bella Twins through her down the ramp at WrestleMania while she was main eventing and winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Bayley got pissed off and claimed that she sees her past in Bianca Belair swinging her stupid ponytail. Bayley added that fairytale title reigns do not end will and that she will put an end to Bianca Belair for good this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.
Nakamura Took Corbin’s Crown
Shinsuke Nakamura faced King Corbin tonight on SmackDown. Before the match, Shinsuke Nakamura said Corbin is the “King of Suckness” while he is the King of Strong Style. Nakamura added that only one kingdom will survive tonight and it will be his.
Nakamura controlled the action early and hit Good Vibrations in the corner of the ring. Corbin unloaded some elbow strikes and went for the cover but Shinsuke kicked out at two. Shinsuke battled back and applied an Armbar but Corbin countered with a Powerbomb for the pinfall victory. After the match, Shinsuke hit Corbin with the Kinshasa and put on his crown. Nakamura was shown backstage staring at himself while wearing the crown later on the show.
Cesaro Sent A Message To Roman Reigns
Cesaro battled Jimmy Uso in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. The action started off back and forth but Jimmy took control as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Jimmy connected with a Superkick and went for he cover but Cesaro kicked out at two.
Cesaro connected with an uppercut and followed it up with a massive Superplex off the top for a near fall. Jimmy rolled out of the ring to regroup but Cesaro hit him with a Cannonball off the ring apron. Cesaro followed it up with an uppercut against the barricade and rolled Jimmy back in the ring.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns showed up and attacked Cesaro from behind. Reigns sent Cesaro over the announce table and Jimmy Uso got pissed off. Jimmy told Reigns that he just had to make it about him didn’t he. Jimmy left the ring and Reigns followed him to the entrance ramp.
Reigns told Jimmy that nobody cares about these stupid little matches and it is the big money matches keeps their family on top. Back in the ring, Cesaro attacked Jey and beat him down. Reigns got back into the ring and leveled Cesaro with a Clothesline. Roman demanded that Jimmy get into the ring and help but he just stood outside the ring.
Cesaro hit Roman with a couple uppercuts but Jey attacked him from behind. Jey demanded that Jimmy get into the ring and turned around into an uppercut from Cesaro. Jimmy hopped on the ring apron but Cesaro caught him with a kick to the face. Cesaro then hit Jey with the Neutralizer and shouted at Reigns that this will be him on Sunday.
Reigns stood with Heyman on the entrance ramp and Paul handed him the Universal Championship. Cesaro dared Roman to get into the ring and planted Jey with another Neutralizer. Reigns smirked and then stared at Cesaro to close the show. Roman Reigns will defend the Universal Championship against Cesaro this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.