We headed into Smackdown hoping to see new tag team champions on the show. Kevin Owens was about to respond to Kofi Kingston over the upcoming title match. The WWE Championship was on the line in the main event of the night. Plus, former WWE Champion returned to pick up vacant tag team championships. Here are the results from the show that took place at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Smackdown opened with AJ Styles’ music hitting the arena. The former Smackdown show-runner was in the house that he built. While cutting a promo, Sami Zayn arrived in the ring using the wild-card rule just like Styles. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods also appeared in the ring as Sami issued a championship challenge. Kofi ended the segment saying he does not have a problem to defend the title against either of them.
Ali vs. Andrade was the opening match lineup on Smackdown. At one point, both men were down after Ali hit a Spanish Fly on his opponent. Suddenly, Randy Orton hit the ring and attacked Ali to disqualify the match. He went for a DDT to Andrade but Zelina Vega blocked it. Ali tried to prevent the attack but received an RKO. Andrade went for a top rope move only to receive another RKO from Orton.
Shane McMahon came out next to talk about the Smackdown tag team division. There’s no champion on the brand since the Hardy Boyz had vacated the title. So he went on to cut a promo on crowning new champions. Daniel Bryan and Rowan walked out to become new tag champs. But The Usos came out using the Wild Card rules and challenged the two in a match.
So the tag team title match was official between The Usos vs. Daniel Bryan and Rowan. The Usos set their opponent for a double splash. But Bryan pushed off Jimmy from the ring. The Usos sent Rowan outside the ring and hit suicidal dives. But Bryan caught Jimmy with a Running Knee. Rowan sent Jey back to the ring who delivered a Super-kick but Rowan caught him with an Iron Claw to get the pinfall win. Shane McMahon crowned Daniel Bryan and Rowan with Smackdown tag team championships.
Shane McMahon was still in the ring as he had something more to say about Money in the Bank. As he was talking, The Miz appeared and attacked him from the back. Miz sent Shane onto the outside of the ring and into the security rail. The B Team attacked The Miz from behind as Shane hit Miz with a Steel Chair before leaving.
A women’s tag team match was next on Smackdown with the lineup of Ember Moon and Carmella vs. Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose. Carmella was in control hitting a superkick on Sonya. Ember Moon followed up with a suicidal dive on Sonya. Mandy caught her with a knee to the face and hit the Bed of Roses to pin her. After the match, Paige appeared to announce tag Asuka and Kairi Sane will take on Mandy and Sonya.
Kayla Braxton was interviewing Matt Hardy in the backstage where R-Truth was also standing. Moments later, Lars Sullivan came out there and threw Matt Hardy into a door. Truth tried to hit a spear on Lars but got caught in a powerbomb through a table.
A triple threat WWE title match was the main event of Smackdown with the lineup being Kofi Kingston vs. AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn. Kofi neutralized AJ from the match by delivering a Trouble in Paradise. Meanwhile, Owens attacked Xavier Woods outside the ring creating a brawl. Sami Zayn hit the blue thunder bomb on Kofi on three times but Kofi kicked out. Finally, he hit the Trouble in Paradise on Sami to get the win and retain his title.
