WWE SmackDown live results: Daniel Bryan’s next challenger
The build to Fastlane picks up tonight as SmackDown takes place from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
WWE Champion Daniel Bryan retained his title in the Elimination Chamber match Sunday by defeating five other wrestlers. Tonight, Bryan finds out who his next challenger is at Fastlane.
Charlotte Flair is set to challenge Raw Woman’s Champion Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania. Becky Lynch attacked both with crutches at Elimination Chamber. Tonight, Flair responds to Lynch’s attack.
The Usos defeated The Miz and Shane McMahon to capture the SmackDown Tag Team titles on Sunday night. Tonight, The Miz has promised to issue an apology to McMahon for the loss.
NXT stars Ricochet, Aleister Black, NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano, and NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa made their Raw debuts last night. WWE.com is teasing that all four could appear tonight on SmackDown as well.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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SmackDown started with a video package highlighting Kofi Kingston’s performance in the Elimination Chamber this past Sunday. They announced Kofi Kingston, AJ Styles & Jeff Hardy vs. WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe & Randy Orton in the main event later tonight.
Shane McMahon came down to the ring. He talked about the NXT stars who made their debuts last night. He was so impressed that he wants them here tonight. He announced that Ricochet, Alistair Black, Johnny Gargano, and Tommaso Ciampa are appearing tonight.
The Miz interrupted and came down to the ring. He discussed losing the SmackDown tag titles. Miz admitted that he used McMahon. He said he knew McMahon could relate because of his dad.
Miz talked about winning the titles and celebrating two days later. McMahon surprised him that night by bringing out his dad. His dad told him he was proud of him that night. That was the first time his father had said that.
Miz noted that he let McMahon down at Elimination Chamber. He said he knows there’s no automatic rematch clause but if anyone can get the rematch its McMahon. This brought out the SmackDown tag team champions The Usos.
They told McMahon to forgive Miz and they’d give them a rematch. However, they know McMahon doesn’t want the rematch because Miz is a joke, a failure, and a fraud. He’s a wannabe A-lister with C-list skills. They told McMahon to find another partner. McMahon told them not to disrespect his partner. He agreed to the match but it takes place in Miz’s hometown at Fastlane.
Alistair Black defeated Andrade (W/Zelina Vega)
Fans chanted “NXT” at the start of the match. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were shown watching the match backstage.
Andrade had the early advantage and rocked Black with vicious chops. Black fought back and sent Andrade to the floor. He teased hitting a dive to the floor but instead hit a black flip off the second rope into his cross-legged pose in the ring.
They traded shots in the middle of the ring. Black rocked Andrade with a knee. He attempted a moonsault off the middle rope but Andrade pushed him to the floor. Black hit the double knees of the middle turnbuckle and a German suplex for a near fall.
Andrade fought back and hit the double knees in the corner for a two count. He attempted the Hammerlock DDT but Black reversed and dropped him on the top turnbuckle. Black then hit Black Mass for the win.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. The fans broke into a “Johnny Wrestling” chant. The Bar interrupted and noted nobody knows who they are. Cesaro told them to go back to Raw or NXT. Ciampa said they’re here to take over. Gargano noted they’re not here to set the bar; they’re here to break the bar. The Bar laughed and walked away.
Backstage, Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles met. They promised to put their differences aside for the main event. Kofi Kingston and New Day approached. The fans broke into a huge “Kofi” chant. Kingston offered pancakes as a truce. He knows they were opponents on Sunday but are partners tonight.
NXT Champion Tommaso Ciampa & NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defeated The Bar
Before the match, Cesaro and Sheamus were still laughing at Ciampa and Gargano. Ciampa and Sheamus started the match with Ciampa getting the better of Sheamus. Cesaro tagged in and demanded Gargano tag in. They traded holds on the mat but Cesaro took over with an uppercut.
Ciampa made a blind tag and caught Sheamus with a knee. Gargano followed up with a suicide dive. Ciampa attempted a cross body on Cesaro but he got caught and Cesaro hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on the floor.
Ciampa and Sheamus fought on the top turnbuckle. Ciampa hit a somersault powerbomb off the top but Sheamus landed on Ciampa’s knee.
Gargano got the hot tag and ran wild. He hit a superkick on Cesaro off the apron and a dive on Sheamus. He hit a slingshot DDT on Cesaro for a close near fall. Gargano applied the Gargano lock but Cesaro powered out. The Bar hit a backbreaker/knee drop combo but Ciampa broke up the pin attempt.
Cesaro got the tag and tried to knock Ciampa off the apron but Ciampa dropped off before he could hit him. Gargano rolled up Cesaro for a near fall. Cesaro backed Gargano in the corner. Ciampa made the blind tag and rolled up Cesaro for the win.
Daniel Bryan and Rowan met with Samoa Joe and Randy Orton backstage ahead of their six-man tag match later.
Kayla Braxton interviewed SmackDown Woman’s Champion Asuka in the ring. Braxton ran down all of Asuka’s accomplishments. Braxton noted that fans are talking more about Raw Woman’s Champion Ronda Rousey. She wondered if Asuka felt lost in the shuffle. Asuka noted she’s ready for the next challenger. She beat Charlotte Flair and made Becky Lynch tap. She wants to know who’s ready for Asuka. This brought out Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville.
Mandy Rose (w/Sonya Deville) defeated SmackDown Woman’s Champion Asuka in a non-title match
They hooked up and Asuka nailed Rose with a dropkick. Suddenly, Lacy Evans music hit and she walked down the aisle. Deville told Evans to leave. Rose jumped Asuka from behind and took over.
Rose rocked Asuka with a knee on the floor. Asuka fought back and caught Rose with a dropkick off the second turnbuckle. She hit a spinning back fist and a kick for near fall. Asuka nailed Rose in the face with a knee. Rose pretended her eye was injured and tossed Asuka in the ropes. She then rolled up Asuka for the win.
In the back, Charlotte Flair discussed Becky Lynch attacking her at the house show and Elimination Chamber. Flair called Lynch selfish and noted if she does it again Lynch will be arrested.
The Miz was walking backstage and approached Shane McMahon. He informed him that his father, Mr. Miz, will be at ringside at Fastlane.
Ricochet defeated Eric Young (w/SAnitY)
Ricochet was firmly in control and sent Young to the floor. He teased a dive but did a backflip instead and did his pose in the middle of the ring. Alexander Wolfe distracted Ricochet and Young rocked him with a forearm.
Young slowed the pace down but Ricochet fought back. He hit a springboard uppercut and standing shooting star press for a near fall. Ricochet caught Wolfe with a dropkick and hit a dive onto Young and Killian Dain on the floor. Young was bleeding from the side of the head. Ricochet nailed Young with a kick and hit the 630 for the win.
Kayla Braxton interviewed The New Day backstage. Kofi Kingston got another big reaction. Braxton talked about Kingston’s impressive performance at the Elimination Chamber. Xavier Woods noted this has been 11 years for Kingston. They talked about all the things that didn’t exist 11 years ago. They noted Kofimania was trending on Twitter. Big E did New Day’s intro on camera.
AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy & Kofi Kingston (w/The New Day), defeated WWE Champion Daniel Bryan (w/Rowan), Samoa Joe & Randy Orton
Before the match, Bryan noted the fans tried to will the title off of him by forcing him in the chamber match. However, he survived because he serves a higher purpose to enlighten and educate.
He’s going to educate the fans about his opponent at Fastlane. Instead of saying who it is, he’s going to say who it’s not. It’s not any of the guys standing in the ring because he beat them all on Sunday.
Bryan teased starting the match with Kingston but tagged out to Joe. The heels took over by isolating Hardy in their corner. Bryan tagged in once Hardy was down. He rocked him with kicks for a near fall.
Kingston got the tag and nailed Orton with a dropkick and hit the boom drop. He sent Bryan and Orton to the floor. Kingston climbed to the top but Bryan pushed him off. Orton then gave Kingston a back suplex on the announce table.
The heels now isolated Kingston on their side of the ring. Orton gave Kingston a second back suplex on the announce table. Orton missed a charge in the corner and Styles got the tag. He ran wild on the heels. Styles locked on the calf crusher on Bryan but Joe broke it up. Bryan was able to lock on the Labelle Lock on Styles.
Kingston got the hot tag and ran wild. Bryan back-dropped Kingston to the floor but he landed on the other guys. Kingston nailed a dropkick on Bryan and followed up with a dive to the floor on Bryan and Rowan. The finish came when Kingston hit Trouble in Paradise on Bryan for the win.
After the match, Shane McMahon came out to announce that WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defends against Kofi Kingston at Fastlane. The fans broke into a “Kofi” chant before he announced it. Kingston and New Day celebrated in the ring.