WWE SmackDown live results: Return to touring begins
WWE returns to touring, starting with tonight’s SmackDown from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Tonight’s episode is SmackDown’s go-home show for Money in the Bank. The episode will be headlined by Roman Reigns & The Usos facing Edge, Rey Mysterio & Dominik Mysterio in a six-man tag match.
The six-man tag will preview two of Sunday’s title matches. Reigns is defending his WWE Championship against Edge at Money in the Bank, while The Usos are challenging for The Mysterios’ SmackDown Tag Team titles on Sunday’s pre-show.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends her title against Carmella tonight. Originally, Belair was supposed to face Bayley at Money in the Bank, but Bayley suffered a knee injury and will be out of action for approximately nine months. Liv Morgan is taking Carmella’s place in Sunday’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
The participants in the women’s ladder match are now: Asuka, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, Zelina Vega, Morgan, Natalya, and Tamina.
SmackDown’s men’s Money in the Bank ladder match participants (Big E, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Seth Rollins) are facing off in a fatal four-way match tonight. The men’s ladder match on Sunday will also feature Ricochet, John Morrison, Riddle, and Drew McIntyre.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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They started with an awesome video package welcoming back crowds. It featured a series of classic moments with fans. They opened with a shot of the crowd.
Vince McMahon’s music hit, and he walked out to a huge pop. He asked the fans where they’ve been, and the crowd popped again. He took a bow and walked off.
Roman Reigns & The Usos (w/Paul Heyman) defeated Edge, Rey & Dominik Mysterio (9:22)
They had a really good match with a hot crowd.
Reigns came out first, so the fans popped for him initially but quickly started booing him. Rey and Dominik got a great reaction. Cole pointed out this is Dominik’s first match in front of fans.
The fans broke into a loud “Edge” chant right before he made his entrance. Edge got a huge pop when he came out. The cut to a commercial immediately.
Reigns distracted Edge, and Jey attacked him from behind to start the match. The faces took over and worked over Jimmy’s arm. Edge picked up Jimmy, and Rey hit a senton off the top. Dominik followed up with a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Fans broke into a brief “Dominik” chant.
Jimmy gave Dominik a knee from the apron, and Jey hit an uppercut to take over. Reigns put his hand out for the tag, and the fans erupted in boos. Reigns was awesome playing to the crowd and getting more boos.
Reigns pulled Dominik out of the ring and gave him a huge powerbomb through the announce table.
Back from the break, Dominik hit a tornado DDT on Jimmy. Edge got the hot tag and ran wild on the heels. Edge avoided a Samoan drop but got rocked with a superkick.
Rey made the blind tag and scored a near fall.
Dominik hit a huge springboard crossbody block to the floor on Jimmy. Reigns then tossed Dominik into the ring post.
Rey set up for the 619 on Jey, but Reigns grabbed Rey from the floor. Reigns pushed Rey into the apron. Suddenly, Edge hit a spear on Reigns.
The finish came when Jimmy caught Rey with a superkick, and Jey rolled him up for the win.
After the match, The Usos jumped Rey and beat him down. Dominik tried making the save, but The Usos overpowered him. Edge jumped in with a chair and took out the Usos.
Reigns jumped in and hit the superman punch on Edge. The fans erupted in boos as Reigns celebrated. He then broke off a piece of a chair, but Edge hit a spear. He took the piece of chair and put Reigns in the cross face. Reigns tapped, and the fans cheered.
Edge grabbed the belt and posed in the middle of the ring.
Back from the break, Kayla Braxton interviewed Edge. Despite making Reigns tap, he has to go into a dark place of his soul. He promised to do whatever it takes to win the title Sunday.
Seth Rollins started laughing hysterically. He’s sure that Reigns is going to win, but he hopes Edge wins. He promised to win the Money in the Bank ladder match. Then he’s going to finish what he started seven years ago when he had his foot on Edge’s neck.
Sami Zayn came out and claimed he should be in the Money in the Bank ladder match. He said he’s being kept out of the match on purpose. He said now he has the fans to support him.
Zayn tried to get them chanting, but they booed instead. He demanded a spot in the ladder match.
Suddenly, Finn Balor’s music hit, and he made his return to a huge pop. There was a faint “NXT” chant. Zayn welcomed him back and then tried to attack. Balor was ready for him and beat Zayn down. He then hit the coup de grace.
They recapped Shotzi and Nox debuting last week on SmackDown.
They aired an Apollo Crews video package highlighting his recent success.
Non-Title Match: Shotzi & Nox defeated WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Natalya & Tamina (3:18)
They had an okay match with a weak finish. Shotzi and Nox’s victory earns them a future title shot.
Liv Morgan and Zelina Vega joined Michael Cole and Pat McAfee on commentary. Morgan and Vega weren’t good on commentary. They kept arguing, which took away from the match.
Natalya and Tamina had the early advantage as they isolated Shotzi on their side of the ring.
The fans broke into a faint “Shotzi” chant. Shotzi fought back and tagged Nox.
Nox ran wild and hit a cannonball in the corner.
Nox followed up with the shiniest wizard for a near fall. Natalya recovered and went for the sharpshooter on Nox.
On commentary, Vega and Morgan started arguing. Eventually, they started brawling at ringside. Their brawl distracted Natalya and Nox used a small package for the win.
After the match, Tamina and Natalya beat down Morgan and Vega. Morgan fought back and posed in the ring to cheers.
Bianca Belair was on her way to the ring. Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode tried to talk to her, but she ignored them.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defeated Carmella (10:59)
Belair and Carmella had a good match. The fans loved Belair and went crazy for everything she did.
They did the special ring introduction for the match. The crowd gave Belair a huge reaction and chanted, “E.S.T.”
Carmella slapped Belair to start the match. Belair chased Carmella around ringside and gained the early advantage. Carmella backed Belair in the corner and beat her down to boos.
Belair did a backflip and hit a shoulder tackle to regain control. They fought on the apron until Carmella pulled Belair into the ring post. She then threw Belair into the steps for a near fall.
Carmella dragged Belair back to the floor and threw her into the barricade.
Back from the break, Belair regained control and hit a headspring splash for a two-count. She climbed to the top rope, but Carmella cut her off. They fought on the top turnbuckle until Carmella hit a hurricanrana for a near fall.
The fans broke into another “E.S.T.” chant. Belair tried to roll up Carmella, but she kicked off, and Belair went head-first into the middle turnbuckle. In an impressive spot, Carmella locked on a guillotine submission, but Belair fought out into a delayed vertical suplex for a close near fall.
They fought on the floor until Carmella hit a superkick. She grabbed at Belair’s hair out of frustration.
Belair recovered and whipped Carmella with her ponytail. She then hit the KOD for the win to a huge pop.
In the back, Otis and Chad Gable discussed Otis’ upcoming match with Cesaro. Gable promised that Otis is going to beat Cesaro later. Cesaro interrupted and mocked Gable and Otis. Otis jumped Cesaro and knocked him down.
They aired a Toni Storm vignette.
They recapped Otis destroying The Street Profits.
Cesaro defeated Otis (w/Chad Gable) via DQ (1:05)
Cesaro and Otis didn’t have a good match. They barely went a minute when it ended in a disqualification.
They showed highlights of Cesaro giving various stars the giant swing.
Otis backed Cesaro into the corner for the early advantage. Cesaro fought back and rocked Otis with a series of uppercuts. Gable jumped on the apron, but Cesaro knocked him off. Otis took advantage and regained control.
Otis missed a splash and went shoulder-first into the ring post.
Gable jumped in and hit a German suplex on Cesaro for the disqualification. Cesaro fought back and gave Gable the giant swing to a huge pop.
Otis attacked Cesaro and beat him down. He followed up with the Vader Bomb.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Paul Heyman. Heyman promised that Reigns is going to beat the sins out of Edge on Sunday. He also promised Reigns would beat Edge to retain the title.
Heyman was about to say that’s not a prediction; it’s a spoiler when Big E interrupted. Big E promised to win the Money in the Bank ladder match. He mocked Reigns and mentioned Edge putting him in the cross face.
Baron Corbin Segment
They recapped all of Corbin’s recent problems.
Corbin walked to the ring, looking sad. He hasn’t shaved in days and had a stain on his shirt. Corbin talked about the bank threatening to foreclose on his house. The fans broke into a “What?” chant almost instantly. He noted that he might have to move in with his in-laws because times are so tough. He started a Corbin Fund Me page and is trying to raise $100,000.
Corbin got on his knees and begged the fans. Suddenly, Kevin Owens’s music hit to a big pop. Corbin begged Owens for money. He pointed out that Owens doesn’t spend money on his wardrobe so he can afford it. Owens snapped and hit the stunner. Big E’s music hit, and he came out for the main event.
The end of the segment got a good reaction, but the rest of it was mixed.
Fatal Four-Way: Seth Rollins defeated Big E, Kevin Owens, and King Nakamura (8:01)
This was a good main event to end a fun SmackDown with a hot crowd.
Back from the break, Nakamura and Rollins made their entrance. The bell rang, and Rollins told the other three to fight it out. He stepped onto the apron and promised to see them Sunday.
Big E then hit the spear on Rollins off the apron. Rollins barely missed hitting his head on one of the ladders set up at ringside. Owens then hit a dive onto Big E, and Nakamura followed up with a knee off the apron. They then cut to another commercial break.
Back from the break, Owens climbed to the top rope, but Big E cut him off. He attempted a superplex, but Owens blocked the move. Nakamura and Big E teamed up to give Owens a double superplex.
Rollins missed a frog splash. Nakamura took over and knocked Rollins to the floor with a knee. He went for the Kinshasa on Owens, but Big E caught Nakamura with the Big Ending for a near fall. Rollins broke up the pin attempt and brought in a ladder.
Rollins knocked Nakamura to the floor and cleared the announce table. Rollins started climbing the ladder, but Owens pulled him down. Owens then climbed to the top of the ladder and hit a huge elbow on Nakamura. The crowd popped huge for the spot.
In the ring, Rollins hit the curb stomp on Big E on the ladder for the win.
After the match, Rollins climbed up the ladder and pulled down the briefcase to a chorus of boos.
Next Week: SmackDown takes place from Cleveland and Rolling Loud in Miami.