WWE SmackDown live results: Naomi vs. Charlotte Flair

Date: April 25, 2017 
Location: Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA 

The Big Takeaway — 

Nakamura’s main roster career is off to a rough start thanks to a segment with Dolph Ziggler, the Women’s title main event ended in a no contest, Jinder Mahal stole the WWE championship belt, and Breezango are the number one contenders for the tag team titles. Also, Rusev appears to be targeting Money in the Bank in June as a return date. 

Show Recap — 

Shinsuke Nakamura Interview 

Cold open to start SmackDown. Renee Young introduced Shinsuke Nakamura who was wearing his own Nakamura t-shirt. Dolph Ziggler interrupted before Renee could finish her first question. Renee was annoyed but handed the mic to Ziggler and left. Nakamura held the ropes open for her.

Ziggler sarcastically asked him who he’s wearing and who his influences were. Nakamura was about to answer but Ziggler cut him off because nobody knew Japanese. Ziggler answered the question for him and said he was Nakamura’s biggest influence. Ziggler asked him something else but Nakamura just ignored him.

Ziggler made up a story about Nakamura really being an American named Michael Jackson. After going on about this forever, Ziggler said Nakamura reemerged in Japan and called him an overrated freak.

Nakamura grabbed the mic and interviewed Ziggler instead. Nakamura asked Ziggler what his problem was but pulled the mic away before he could answer. He spoke Japanese then called Ziggler a jackass. Ziggler kicked Nakamura and tried for another, but Nakamura hit a reverse Exploder. He went for the Kinshasa but Ziggler bailed. The crowd cheered once Nakamura attacked him. This was not a good segment.

AJ Styles defeated Baron Corbin

Kevin Owens in a suit is on commentary. Owens trimmed his beard again. Saxton asked Owens to let us know how he was preparing for his match on Sunday to which he responded, “Why would I do that, you idiot?”

Corbin controlled the match until Styles slipped out of a superplex attempt and nailed a Pele kick, followed by quick strikes and a forearm for a two count. Owens jumped off commentary as Styles set up for the Phenomenal forearm, so Styles kicked him in the face. It seemed like the distraction would lead to a win for Corbin, but Styles rolled him up for the win.

The heels attacked Styles afterwards until Sami Zayn made the save. He nailed Corbin with a Helluva kick but Owens attacked Zayn from behind. Owens then laid out Styles with a pop-up powerbomb.

Backstage, Charlotte told Dasha Fuentes that gold runs through her veins, which sounds like a problem. Charlotte said she needs the title to exist and would complete the “drive for five.” She concluded tonight would reaffirm that she is the greatest superstar in WWE history.

Beat the Clock Challenge: American Alpha defeated The Colons (5:17)

The team with the fastest time will become number one contenders. There’s a second match later tonight between Breezango and The Ascension.

Jordan and Gable were all over the Colons early on going for quick covers but the Colons were able to get the heat on Gable. After a while, Jordan intercepted the Colons’ combo backstabber attempt and AA hit Grand Amplitude for the win at 5:17.

They aired a pre-taped video sent in by Rusev. He doesn’t like Daniel Bryan, he doesn’t like Shane McMahon and he doesn’t agree with the shakeup. He said he would only appear if it’s in a championship match at Money in the Bank otherwise, he’ll head back to Bulgaria, which the crowd cheered. This has potential. 

Fuentes asked Becky Lynch about Charlotte. Lynch admitted to having a complicated relationship with Charlotte, and while she doesn’t agree with how she goes about it, she does think Charlotte is doing what everyone should and that’s go right after the championship. Natalya, Tamina, Carmella and James Ellsworth all jumped in at once. Basically, they want to know whose side she’s on.

Non-title no DQ match: WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated Erick Rowan

An announcer mentioned that Orton made his WWE debut 15 years ago today. Orton hit a backdrop onto the announce table, which he does in regular matches. Rowan managed to cut him off and take over, even hitting a (bad) dropkick. He grabbed a Kendo stick and whacked Orton with it a few times.

Rowan set up a table outside the ring and attempted a vertical suplex but Orton fought out. Orton hit Rowan with the Kendo stick and knocked him through the table. Commercial break.

Rowan was back in control after the break not selling a thing. Orton caught him with a draping DDT and set up for the RKO. Rowan blocked it and hit him with the Kendo stick, then hit him with the steel steps.

Rowan placed a chair between the ropes and tried an Irish whip (instead of just destroying him with the chair). Orton reversed it and whipped Rowan into the chair and followed with an RKO for the win.

Afterwards, Orton told Bray Wyatt that he still doesn’t know what a House of Horrors match is but does know it will be Bray’s eternal hell.

Jinder Mahal came out, pissed that Orton was overlooking him. Mahal claimed to have more talent and class than anyone in the arena, including Orton. The crowd chanted “USA.” Mahal said he was disrespected because he looks different.

Mahal claimed he would he would take back his respect and take the WWE world title back to his people. He then spoke in Punjabi before trying to take a cheap shot, but Orton blocked it and knocked him down. Orton was about to hit a draping DDT but the Singh brothers jumped in. Mahal nailed Orton with a cobra clutch slam then left with the WWE title belt.

A Lana promo aired.

After a break, Mahal was shown leaving in a limousine with the Singh brothers. Mahal stood up through the moonroof and held the WWE title belt high in the air, which was a pretty great visual.

Beat the Clock Challenge: Breezango defeated The Ascension (2:41)

Breezango are number one contenders. Fandango picked up the pinfall win after hitting a Falcon Arrow on Viktor with 2:36 left on the clock.

Becky Lynch, Sami Zayn and Breezango will be the guests on Talking Smack with Renee Young and JBL. Neville plugged 205 Live.

Naomi told Renee Young that Charlotte beat her last week but she’s out of her mind if she thinks she’s the best ever. Naomi was the champ, which made her Muhammed Ali to Charlotte’s George Foreman. She also quoted Ali saying that Charlotte would feel the glow.

Women’s Championship match: Naomi NC Charlotte Flair

Naomi came out first. She took a long look at the belt before handing it over to the referee. Charlotte yanked Naomi out of the ring and she landed hard on the black mats. They went to commercial a minute into this championship match.

Charlotte hit chops but Naomi came back with a jaw breaker, kicks, hurricanrana, back elbow and neckbreaker. Naomi sort of hit a detonation kick for a nearfall. She followed with a Rear View for another nearfall.

Charlotte countered a hurricanrana into a sitout powerbomb for a nearfall. Charlotte attempted a moonsault but Naomi got her knees up. With both women down, Natalya, Tamina and Carmella (with Ellsworth) ran down and attacked them for the DQ.

They tossed Naomi from the ring and Carmella finished off Charlotte with a kick to the face. The crowd chanted “We want Becky” but she never showed. The heels posed. Match was getting good before the interference.

Final Thoughts —

This was not a good show and the finish to the Women’s title match was a fitting end. The Nakamura segment went almost as poorly as you could imagine. AJ Styles helped carry SmackDown for a long while, but he can’t do that if he’s wrestling Baron Corbin and battling for position in the US title picture.