WWE made the stakes high for Smackdown Live with a couple of announcements. Paige was about to reveal the next challenger for the WWE Championship.
Plus, a women’s contest was in-store to determine the contender for the women’s title. Check out the results from the show took place at the Ford Arena in Evansville, Indiana.
The Miz and Maryse arrived on Smackdown in the opening sequence of the show. Randy Orton’s music hit the arena, as we went live. He reminded everybody among the fans that he is here for 16 years, unlike Jeff Hardy who was not there for a long time. But the fans chanted for Hardy instead of Orton. Orton continued his heel promo for some more time before leaving the ring.
The opening match of Smackdown took place between Rusev and Andrade Cien Almas. Lana accompanied Rusev to the ring and started a physical battle with Vega. Lana hit a spear on Vega before Aiden English ran out. He accidentally hit Lana to create a distraction for Rusev. Andrade hit the hammer-lock DDT to get a big win.
R-Truth got a match against Samoa Joe. Before it, Tye Dillinger encouraged him for the contest. Truth hit a splash on Joe and went for a second one. But Joe caught him with an Uranangi and locked in the Coquina Clutch to pick up a submission win.
Asuka was ready to embrace the all-women PPV named Evolution. She competed against Billie Kay in a match on Smackdown. Kay hit her with a suplex right after the start of it and started taunting. Asuka sent her to the top rope and gave a knee to Billie. Then she hit two straight kicks onto the head of Billie to get the win.
AJ Styles signed the WWE Championship contract without knowing his opponent. James Ellsworth showed up wanting to be the number one contender. Paige fired him on the spot and called the security to take him out of the ring. Samoa Joe attacked Styles from behind and signed the contract to become the new challenger for Styles.
Smackdown tag team tournament kicked off with math between SAnitY and The New Day. Chaos broke out allowing Kofi to hit Wolfe from outside the ring. Big E capitalised by getting the pinfall win. Becky Lynch had Carmella in a one-on-one contest for the contender’s spot. She was successful by locking in the dis-arm-her on the champion.
The Miz and Mrs. appeared in the final segments of Smackdown to show their baby to the world. But they continued insulting Daniel Bryan who came out for a confrontation. The baby turned out to be a doll and a shield for the Miz.
Miz was able to connect with the skull crushing finale on Bryan to end the show.
