Tonight’s episode of SmackDown LIVE opens up from The Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio as Tom Phillips welcomes us to the show which is The Fallout Episode from this past Sunday’s WWE Fastlane PPC. Tom is joined by Corey Graves & Byron Saxton.
We go right to the ring and out comes Shane McMahon. We see replays of his heel turn on The Miz at Fastlane on Sunday. The WWE World Cup trophy is on display in the ring.
He enters the ring and stands next to his Best in The World trophy and waits a long beat until the ring announcer Greg Hamilton comes over. Hamilton introduces him as The Best in The World and then makes him do it again and chokes him in the corner, unhappy with his lack of conviction. Greg then introduces him a third time and McMahon shakes his hand this time, finally pleased.
Shane gets on the mic and says that the people are asking him why he turned on Miz and quite frankly he is sick of it. Shane then says that he is tired of all the people in his life and not just all of them, or all The Superstars in the back, or all The WWE employees, everyone asking him what he will do to get them ahead in life. Shane then says that his entire life people have been rubbing up against him for promotions, for stock options and the people have no idea what he does behind the scenes for them every day.
Shane then says them, them, them, always what he can do for them and that stopped Sunday when he beat the holy hell out of The Miz in his own hometown. Shane then says that he is not The Best in The World because he won a trophy or became Tag Team Champions, no, he is The Best in The World because he was born that way. And from this point forward he is doing things for himself and that is why it felt so good on Sunday when he beat the hell out of The Miz.
Shane then says that the sweet part is the last thing Miz saw when he was choking him out was his father’s baked potato face and that felt good. Shane then says that that set off a spark in McMahon that is never going away and he tells The Miz he has got, not a request, but an order and he had such an amazing time beating his ass that he is gonna continue that very notion on The Grandest Stage Of Them All, WrestleMania. Shane then says so get ready for another Best in The World beating and it is gonna make Shane feel awesome. He then makes his leave.
Aleister Black makes his entrance as he will be in action in an 8-Man Tag Team Match after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and The 8-Man Tag Team Match is underway.
The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro), Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev vs. Aleister Black, Ricochet & The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy) (8-Man Tag Team Match): Matt hits a flying leg drop on Sheamus early on, then Jeff tags in for the double team for a two count on Sheamus. Rusev tags in next, then Cesaro. Rusev & Nakamura all trade tags to take turns beating on Jeff in the corner. Jeff finally ducks a shot and hits a jawbreaker on Rusev, then he tags in Ricochet. Ricochet hits a hurricanrana on Rusev, then a dropkick and a spear in the corner. Ricochet kicks Nakamura off the apron and Rusev capitalizes on the distraction and hits Ricochet down to the ringside floor. Sheamus tags in now and works over Ricochet. Ricochet fights back, but then Cesaro tags in. Cesaro knocks Black off the apron, then Ricochet hits a back body drop on Cesaro. Matt Hardy gets the tag and he repeatedly slams Cesaro’s head into the aprons. Jeff tags in for the Poetry in Motion on Cesaro, then Matt hits the Side Effect on Cesaro too. Everyone runs in from the aprons and Jeff (the legal man) clears the ring. Jeff hits the Twist of Fate on Cesaro, then hits the Swanton Bomb off the top, but Sheamus breaks up the pin. The New Day runs in now and they start brawling with The Bar, Nakamura & Rusev. The referee calls for the bell. Winners via DQ: The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro), Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev
After the match, The New Day starts clearing the ring. Big E goes outside and sends Sheamus into the steel ring steps. Big E & Kofi double team Cesaro now. Big E rams Cesaro back into the barrier. The New Day works on Rusev & Nakamura in the ring now while the others are down on the outside. Kofi ends the beatdown with a Trouble In Paradise to send Rusev out of the ring. The New Day gets hyped up and stands tall in the ring as their music hits.
The Usos are backstage talking about how they get why The New Day are frustrated and they run down all the other tag teams as not being worth their time on one level or another before welcoming them to The Uso Penitentiary.
Randy Orton makes his entrance and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and Randy Orton gets on the mic.
He starts by saying that there is something he has to get off his chest. This is The House That AJ Styles Built, right, well in 2002 AJ was wrestling for ten bucks a night in a high school gymnasium in front of ten people while he was here making his WWE in-ring debut. In 2004, Styles was shaking hands with his opponents in bingo halls and Orton was the youngest WWE Champion ever.
In 2005, AJ was down in Florida getting a tan with Dixie Carter while Randy was wrestling The Undertaker at WrestleMania. 2006, 2007, 2008 and so on, Orton was here and he was a champion, this isn’t The House That AJ Styles Built, it’s the House That Randy Orton Built.
AJ Styles then makes his entrance. He says that for someone who looks down on the indies, Orton paid close attention to his career, but he is proud that he comes from the indies. AJ then says that they say Randy was built for WWE and that’s good, because he couldn’t have made it on the indies. Not with things like his intro pose and a knockoff Diamond Cutter. Orton then asks if he is saying it face-to-face and man-to-man that he and his indie pals never ripped anybody off before making a Too Sweet.
Styles then points out that Randy is now surrounded by his indie pals backstage because they earned the right to be in The WWE and they didn’t go to their father to get them a job. Styles then says you wanna talk about a career then he will talk about it. Styles then says that Randy’s first year he had a stroke from HHH, the cunning of Ric Flair, the muscle of Batista, all to make sure he didn’t fail. Orton then says that he accomplished more by 24 than anyone in the industry has dreamed of accomplishing.
Orton then lists off all of his accomplishments and says that nobody has ever had to help him. Styles again reminds him of Evolution and about Legacy and Rated-RKO and The Wyatt Family, saying that it sounds to him like Orton had a lot of babysitters. Styles then says don’t get him wrong, Orton is exactly who he says he is, using people and tossing them to the curb and that is why he got the jump on him at Fastlane, because he is not gonna be his next victim.
Orton then says that he doesn’t get a choice, because he is the landlord and rent is due, you SOB. Orton then says that you can make that check out to the most destructive three letters in sports entertainment, RKO. Orton then drops the mic and walks away, but Styles stops him in his tracks by saying that if he wants his rent he can come and take it, while pointing at The WrestleMania sign. The Viper leaves, staring The Phenomenal One down the entire way.
Asuka makes her entrance as she will be facing Sonya Deville after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and the match between Asuka & Sonya Deville is underway.
Asuka (c) vs. Sonya Deville (Non-Title Match): Mandy Rose is at ringside for this Non-Title Match. Asuka looks for an ankle lock early on, but Sonya shoves her away and connects with some kicks. Deville hits a dropkick and then a spear for a two count. Asuka rolls outside and drops Mandy on the floor. Sonya follows and there is a mix-up when Sonya is getting back in the ring. Asuka puts Sonya in the Asuka Lock on the mat for the win via submission. Winner: Asuka
After the match, Asuka celebrates as her music hits. Rose looks on from the ground. Rose goes to leave the ringside area and Deville stops her. It appears Deville wants to apologize for messing up but Rose turns and keeps walking up the ramp by herself.
The IIconics get a promo mocking Deville & Rose and calling The Boss ‘N’ Hug Connection out, telling them that they can’t run forever and that they need to come to SmackDown LIVE for an iconic future.
Becky Lynch makes her entrance, still hobbled on a crutch, before casting it aside and walking her way down to the ring.
And so we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we get a video package recapping The RAW Women’s Championship feud.
In the ring, Becky Lynch says that it feels good to walk down the ramp on her own two feet and everyone got brave when she was suspended, hurt, unsuspended, arrested and then disqualified right into the biggest match of her career, but she is back on her feet and into the main event of WrestleMania. Lynch then says that let’s not forget that she set this match into motion and she had to earn her way into the match twice.
Lynch then says that she got Ronnie so wound up that she did her bidding for her and she will repay the little weirdo by taking her title and ripping her arm off at WrestleMania. Lynch then says that she doesn’t care who she has to beat anymore and at WrestleMania she is going to reclaim everything that belongs to her that they have tried to give to someone else.
Charlotte Flair makes her entrance. She congratulates Becky for finally making it into her main event and says that while she was off getting suspended and arrested, Charlotte has been putting the work in and her resume speaks for itself. Charlotte then says that it is one thing to be hot for six months, but she has been hot for four years. Charlotte then says that no matter how hard Becky tries to spin it, she got a handout and Charlotte has never seen someone do so little while taking credit for so much and that is why she is going to make her & Ronda relevant again when they bow down to The Queen. Lynch then offers a rebuttal and holds her fist high in the air.
An interview is waiting for Daniel Bryan when he & Rowan come out of Vince McMahon’s office. Bryan admits that it is about Kofi Kingston and he says that he thought Vince deserved to hear his honest feedback. Bryan then says that Mr. McMahon booked them in a match against Mustafa Ali & Kevin Owens and they depart.
Rey Mysterio makes his entrance as he will be in a Tag Team Match after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for Samoa Joe’s entrance.
R-Truth & Rey Mysterio vs. WWE United States Champion Samoa Joe & Andrade: Carmella & Zelina are at ringside for this one. Rey starts off strong against Andrade, but Joe gets the blind tag and levels Rey. Joe tees off on Rey with strikes, then Andrade tags back in for a series of suplexes on Mysterio. Andrade wastes some time and Rey comes back with a sunset flip powerbomb. Zelina tries to get involved, but Carmella pulls her out to the ringside floor. Truth gets the tag and hits some shoulder blocks and a back suplex on Andrade followed by the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Truth goes for the Attitude Adjustment, but Joe tags himself in on Andrade’s back. Truth hits some kicks on Joe, but then he misses a clothesline and Joe fires back with a kick of his own. Rey tags in and hits a kick on Joe, then Andrade runs in, which leads to Rey hitting a double 619 on both Joe & Andrade. Rey hits the frog splash on Andrade, but Joe is the legal man and he hits a splash on Rey. Joe picks up Rey, but Rey reverses into a small package pin for the three count . Winners: R-Truth & Rey Mysterio
After the match, Rey hits the floor as his music hits and a furious Joe gets up to his feet. Joe snaps and nails the Uranage on Truth. Joe then drives Andrade into the mat. Rey’s music resumes as he and Carmella check on Truth on the ramp. Joe stares them down from the ring.
Kevin Owens then makes his entrance for his Tag Team Match and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and The Tag Team Match between WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. Kevin Owens & Mustafa Ali is underway.
WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. Kevin Owens & Mustafa Ali: Owens & Bryan start this one off and Owens hits a shoulder block and a senton drop early on. Bryan quickly tags in Rowan who connects with some body shots on Owens. Ali tags in and connects with a kick to the face of Rowan. Rowan misses a couple of shots, but then connects with a cross body on Ali. Rowan knocks Owens off the apron, then Bryan tags back in to continue the offense on Ali. Ali finally fights back and Owens gets back on the apron. Ali hits a backstabber on Bryan, but Rowan breaks up the pin with a stomp on Ali. Owens runs in and superkicks Rowan, then Owens & Ali double superkick Rowan to ringside. Rowan slams Owens on the apron as Ali & Bryan go at it in the ring. Rowan gets the blind tag, then he slams Ali down by the head for the three count . Winners: WWE Champion “The New” Daniel Bryan & Rowan
After the match, Rowan & Bryan make their exit as the music hits. The “No Chance” music interrupts as WWE Chairman Vince McMahon comes walking down the ramp past them. Vince hits the ring to present his WrestleMania offer to The New Day.
We go to a commercial break as Vince grabs a microphone.
Back from the commercial break and Vince McMahon is in the ring.
We see a video package looking at Kofi’s recent matches. Vince then says that people hear what they want to hear and Vince never really said that he would put Kofi in The WWE Title match at Fastlane. Vince then says that he gave Kofi a chance, but Kofi failed and it was a teachable moment. The New Day then comes out to interrupt. Big E gets on the mic and says that they aren’t in the mood for Vince to teach them anything. Vince then tells him to watch his mouth and Woods says that they are sick of it. Big E then adds that they did everything WWE asks of them and Woods says that Vince treats them like garbage. Big E then says that Kofi deserves more. Vince then says that Kofi doesn’t deserve a damn thing and neither does The New Day or the fans. Vince then says that the fans don’t deserve to breath in and out and neither does he. Vince then says that he created SmackDown and all of this and he may as well created heaven and earth, but no one deserves a damn thing. Big E then says that this issue is bigger than McMahon’s ego, but McMahon says that nothing is bigger than his ego. Woods pleads his case to McMahon and Big E says that The WWE Universe demands that Kofi has a Title match. Vince then says that if Kofi was worth of being in a Championship match, it would have happened a long time ago. Vince then says what Kofi does in the ring is incredible and he is an extraordinary athlete. Vince then says that Kofi will be in The Hall Of Fame one day, but not as himself, it will be as a member of The New Day. Vince then says that Kofi’s age is a factor against him and he implies that Kofi lets the younger New Day members do all the work while Kofi takes the glory. Vince then says that he talked to Daniel Bryan earlier and Bryan was right when he said that Kofi is a good “B+ player.” Kofi then tells Vince that he is not asking for a free ride or demanding a Title shot. Kofi then talks about the sacrifices he made and never complaining. Kofi then says that Vince never let someone like him compete for The WWE Title. Kofi then says what he needs Vince to do is tell him what he can do to get a Title shot. Randy Orton then comes out to the stage and Vince says that Kofi has to beat that man and then he goes to the promised land. Then Samoa Joe comes out and Vince says that he must beat Joe too. Sheamus & Cesaro come out next and Vince says that he must beat them too. Rowan joins them on the stage and Vince says that Kofi must beat him too. He then says that Kofi will face all of those men next week in a Gauntlet Match. They all run down the ramp and hit the ring now and brawl with The New Day. The New Day manages to clear the ring after beating down everyone in their sight. Kofi yells from the ring at Bryan on the ramp as SmackDown goes off the air.