WWE SmackDown live results: Becky Lynch vs. Bayley
SmackDown takes place tonight from the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
After Kevin Owens turned on The New Day last week, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston will address Owens. The former honorary New Day member nailed Kingston with a superkick and gave Woods a powerbomb on the apron last Tuesday.
Roman Reigns is set to take on Elias at Money in the Bank. Shane McMahon confronted Reigns last week. Shane and Elias beat down Reigns, which was the follow up to Reigns interrupting Elias and Superman punching Vince McMahon. Reigns is scheduled to appear tonight.
The SmackDown participants in the Money in the Bank ladder matches will be announced tonight. The Raw participants have already been revealed, with Ricochet, Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, and Braun Strowman set for the men’s ladder match. Alexa Bliss, Dana Brooke, Naomi, and Natalya will be in the women’s match.
Plus, Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch takes on Bayley in a non-title match tonight.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Michael Cole was already in the ring to start SmackDown. He introduced WWE Champion Kofi Kingston. Kingston came out alone but was still skipping and throwing out pancakes.
Cole noted he was excited to be there tonight to celebrate a remarkable 11-year career. He talked about Kingston winning the title at WrestleMania. They showed footage from Elimination Chamber and the gauntlet match from last month, which Kingston lost. Cole asked Kingston if he thought he would get the title shot after losing both those matches.
Kingston said he had to fight through and is proud of his achievement. He noted he couldn’t do it without Xavier Woods and Big E. Cole said it’s an honor to know Kingston and pointed out he called the moment magical at WrestleMania. Cole said Kingston winning the WWE Championship is the greatest moment in WrestleMania history. They showed footage from WrestleMania of Kingston winning the title.
The fans broke into a loud “You Deserve It” chant. Cole pointed out that Kingston now has a target on his back. They showed footage from last week of Kevin Owens turning on Kingston. Kingston blamed himself for trusting Owens. He said The New Day thought Owens really wanted to change.
Kingston said if Owens wanted a title shot all he has to do is ask. Kingston challenged Owens to match for Money In The Bank. He’s not afraid of Owens or losing his title.
Kevin Owens interrupted and walked out on the ramp. He accepted the challenge and admitted Kingston gave the fans a WrestleMania moment to remember. Owens said the fans don’t believe Kingston’s championship material. He told Kingston not to believe it either.
Xavier Woods suddenly jumped Owens from behind. Owens fought back and ran off as Kingston made the save. The fans broke into a “New Day Rocks” chant.
Later tonight, SmackDown tag team champions The Hardy’s will address their future in the WWE. They were shown talking backstage.
In the back, Kofi Kingston checked on Xavier Woods. Kingston told Woods not to get involved because of his back injury.
Bayley was announced as the first SmackDown participant in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Raw & SmackDown Woman’s Champion Becky Lynch defeated Bayley in a non-title match
Bayley gained control after Lynch tweaked her knee. She hit Lynch with a clothesline and a knee for a near fall. Bayley missed a knee lift and Lynch fought back. They traded forearm shots in the middle of the ring.
Lynch nailed Bayley with a kick and suplex. They collided in the middle of the ring when they both went for a clothesline. Bayley used an inside cradle for a two count. Bayley went for an elbow off the top but Lynch got her knees up. She then locked on the Dis-arm-her for the win.
After the match, Charlotte Flair jumped Lynch and tossed her out of the ring. She then sent Bayley shoulder first into the ring post.
In the back, Aleister Black said fear is a powerful paralyzing tool. It’s in man’s nature to fear what he doesn’t understand. His opponents try to figure him out but by the time they think they have the referee counts three in Black’s favor. Any hope of conquering that fear left earth. They take one look in his eyes and don’t like the abyss that stares back at them. It unveils a truth about them, a truth that allows them to fade to black.
SmackDown tag team champions The Hardy Boys made their way to the ring to address their future. Jeff came out on a crutch. Kayla Braxton asked about the severity of his injury and how it happened. They showed footage of Lars Sullivan and his recent attacks including attacking Matt and Jeff.
Jeff said he is unable to walk on his own because of Sullivan. He said he needs surgery and will be out of action for a long time. Matt then announced that they must give up the SmackDown tag team championship. Jeff promised to return and to win back the SmackDown tag team titles.
Lars Sullivan came out and attacked Matt. Jeff tried to leave but he couldn’t get out of the ring. Matt jumped Sullivan from behind but Sullivan fought back. He nailed Matt with the Freak Accident. Sullivan faced off with Jeff when R-Truth attacked him from behind with a chair. Truth tried to hit Sullivan with the chair but Sullivan punched the chair. He hit the Freak Accident and running powerbomb on Truth.
Kevin Owens hosts The KO Show later tonight with special guest Xavier Woods.
Ali, Intercontinental Finn Bálor, Andrade and Randy Orton were announced as the SmackDown participants in the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. Ali & Bálor takes on Andrade and Orton later tonight.
Asuka & Kairi Sane (w/Paige) defeated A Local Team
Women’s tag team champions The IIconics joined in on commentary. Asuka and Sane completely dominated the match. Sane hit the Insane elbow for the win.
In the back, Mandy Rose approached Sonya Deville. She revealed that Shane McMahon is letting one of the two of them in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Deville let Rose take the spot in the ladder match because she deserves it.
Roman Reigns made his way down to the ring. There was a loud “Roman” chant but he did get a mixed reaction. He talked about knocking out Mr. McMahon, which got a big pop. He just wanted to get the point across that he’s the Big Dog and SmackDown is his yard now.
Shane McMahon interrupted and walked out on the stage. McMahon forced Greg Hamilton to give him a special introduction. McMahon said it might be Roman’s yard but the McMahon family owns the land. Reigns pointed out that Vince McMahon owns the land, not Shane.
Reigns challenged McMahon to come down to the ring. McMahon said he’d love to come down and slap Reigns. He doesn’t have time because he’s going to jump on a plane to Michigan to get trained by a world-class team. He’s training intensely for his cage match against Miz. McMahon then announced Reigns vs. The B Team in a handicap match with Elias as the special referee.
Roman Reigns defeated The B Team with Special Referee Elias
Elias is actually the second referee for the match and is outside the ring. Curtis Axel distracted Reigns and Bo Dallas jumped him from behind to take over. The commentators pushed the idea that Reigns wasn’t part of The McMahon Family’s plans for SmackDown. They actually want to make Elias the face of SmackDown but Reigns ruined that plan.
Reigns fought back and regained control. Elias distracted the referee in the ring and the B Team took back over. Elias attacked Reigns on the floor. Dallas slowed the pace down and applied a chin lock. Reigns rocked Dallas with a clothesline. Axel charged but Reigns moved and he hit the ring post. In a cool spot, Reigns hit a Samoan Drop on Dallas and DDT on Axel at the same time.
Reigns hit the Superman punch on Dallas but Axel rolled up Reigns for a two count. Reigns hit the Superman punch on Axel but Elias pulled the referee out of the ring. Elias jumped Reigns and threw him into the ring post. Axel hit the Perfect Plex for a near fall even with Elias counting.
Elias grabbed his guitar but Reigns hit the Superman punch on Elias. The first referee recovered and Reigns hit the spear on Axel for the win.
Bray Wyatt hosted the Firefly Fun House. He paints a picture of the cabin burning. It included appearances by Rambling Rabbit and Abby The Witch. Wyatt apologized for his past actions. He called Abby a sociopath, which also happens to be the word of the day. This was creepy.
Finn Bálor & Ali defeated Randy Orton & Andrade (w/Zelina Vega)
Before the match, Andrade said he doesn’t respect Bálor or Ali. He told Orton to tag him in if he wants to learn something.
The heels took over when Ali went for a springboard but Orton pushed him off the apron. Orton caught Ali with a power slam for a near fall. Bálor got the hot tag and ran wild on the heels. Andrade climbed to the second rope but Bálor knocked him off the top.
Bálor and Ali hit dives on separate sides of the ring. Ali hit Orton so hard he went over the announce table. Vega distracted Bálor and Andrade took over. Andrade went for the Hammerlock DDT but Bálor fought out. The finish came when Bálor hit the sling blade on Andrade and Ali hit the 450 for the win.
After the match, Orton hit the RKO on Bálor. Ali made the save and sent Orton out of the ring.
Ember Moon and Carmella were announced as the final two participants in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Kevin Owens made his way to the ring to host The Kevin Owens Show with Special Guest Xavier Woods. He pointed out that the graphics and table are gone. Now the set is just two chairs. He doesn’t need that because he is the show.
Owens pointed out that Kingston is over his head. He promised to relieve Kingston of that burden at Money In The Bank. He’s positive that he’s going to take the WWE title from Kingston.
Owens asked Woods to trust him and come down the ring for a chat. He said it’s been all about Kingston and he wants to give the spotlight to Woods. Woods didn’t come out. Owens pulled out Xavier Woods and Big E action figures. He threw the toys down.
Kofi Kingston ran down and started brawling with Owens. Kingston leaped off the stairs and knocked down Owens. He threw Owens over the announce table. Owens raked Kingston’s eyes and ran into the crowd. Kingston jumped back in the ring and challenged Owens to come back to fight.