WWE SmackDown live results: RK-Bro confront The Usos
Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro are headed to tonight’s SmackDown ahead of an eventual title unification match with The Usos.
RK-Bro will confront SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos on tonight’s episode of the show in Worcester, Massachusetts. After Roman Reigns told them it was time to unify the Tag Team titles, The Usos showed up on Raw earlier this week and laid out Randy Orton.
The Usos defeated The Street Profits on Raw this Monday. They then went face-to-face with RK-Bro after the match. The show ended with The Usos blindsiding Orton with superkicks.
WWE has yet to set a date for RK-Bro and The Usos’ title unification match.
The Intercontinental title will be on the line tonight as Ricochet defends against Jinder Mahal. Plus, Drew McIntyre will face Sami Zayn.
McIntyre defeated Zayn by countout last week when Zayn fled the ring and left through the crowd as McIntyre was going for the Claymore.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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They recapped The Usos showing up on Raw, challenging RK-Bro, and defeating the Street Profits. After the match, The Usos knocked out Randy Orton with double superkicks.
RK-Bro Segment
This was a good opening segment. The fans loved RK-Bro, in particular Randy Orton. Both teams were good in their roles.
The Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro made their way to the ring to start SmackDown. The fans broke into a loud “Randy” chant. Riddle’s excited to be back on SmackDown with his best friend, Randy. Orton noted The Usos showed up in his ring last Monday, and now he’s in their ring calling them out.
The Usos’ music hit, and they came down to the ring. The Usos demanded to know RK-Bro’s answer to their challenge. They bragged about their accomplishments and demanded RK-Bro leave their ring.
Orton mocked The Usos and noted he knows their family well. He shared the locker room with their uncles and cousins. He respects their family but not them. RK-Bro accepted the challenge, and they faced off in the middle of the ring.
The Usos left the ring, and RK-Bro posed on the corners. The Usos ran back out and attacked Riddle as he posed.
In the back, Naomi & Sasha Banks laughed at the guys trying to unify the tag team titles. Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan approached the champions. Naomi and Banks mocked them.
Back from the break, Orton and Riddle approached Adam Pearce in his office. They demanded the unification match with The Usos, but Pearce said management is still trying to make a decision. Instead, Pearce announced Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso for tonight.
Rhea Ripley (w/Liv Morgan) defeated Naomi (w/Sasha Banks) (8:45)
Ripley and Naomi had a good match that picked up towards the end.
Ripley had the early advantage with a shoulder tackle. She slowed the pace down and worked over Naomi’s arm. Ripley toyed with Naomi.
Naomi briefly fought back and sent Ripley to the floor with the head scissors. Ripley regained control and climbed to the top rope. Naomi recovered and rocked Ripley with a kick to the head sending her to ringside. Ripley avoided a sliding dropkick and destroyed Naomi with a clothesline.
Back from the break, Naomi fought back with a scissors kick and a flying cross body for a near fall. Naomi tried to slow the pace down with a full nelson. Ripley broke free and hit a Northern Lights suplex for a close near fall.
Ripley climbed to the top rope, but Naomi cut her off. Ripley fought back and attempted the riptide, but Naomi broke free. Ripley then hit a missile dropkick for another close two-count. Naomi recovered with a kick off the middle rope and a sit-out full nelson bomb for a near fall. Ripley fought back and hit the riptide for the win.
Banks and Naomi defend the tag team titles against Ripley and Morgan Monday on Raw.
In the back, Kayla Braxton tried to interview The Usos, but they ignored her and entered Roman Reigns’ locker room.
They recapped Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss splitting up last week.
In the back, Megan Morant interviewed the newly single Happy Corbin. He called Moss his gofer and lackey. At first, he was funny, but then he dragged Corbin down. He said if it wasn’t for Moss he’d still be undefeated. Corbin’s happy to get rid of Moss and expects Moss to fail on his own.
Michael Cole introduced the following interview and noted Drew Gulak is trying out for a role on the broadcast team.
In the back, Gulak interviewed Madcap Moss. Moss is happy that he can finally move on from Corbin. He told bad jokes because he only had one person to impress. He apologized for the bad jokes. He promised to defeat Humberto next.
Madcap Moss defeated Humberto (w/Angel) (2:27)
Moss and Humberto had a good short match.
Humberto jumped Moss at the bell after a distraction from Angel. Humberto was firmly in control and slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Moss broke free and hit a fall-away slam.
Moss took out Angel with a shoulder tackle. He then rocked Humberto with a shoulder tackle in the corner and hit the punch line for the win.
After the match, Angel yelled at Humberto for losing to a joke. Moss kissed the Andre the Giant trophy at ringside.
In the back, Charlotte Flair approached Adam Pearce and demanded to know who authorized her match with Ronda Rousey. Flair was furious when Drew Gulak interrupted.
Gulak wanted to know how he did in his tryout earlier. Flair was even more furious that Gulak interrupted her. She told him to interview a real star in the ring.
Charlotte Flair Segment
This was an interesting segment. Gulak’s in-ring career appears to be over as he auditioned for the broadcast team and then got beat up by Flair. This might have been his initiation to join the broadcast team, or he’ll go back to chasing the 24/7 title.
Drew Gulak introduced Charlotte Flair for the interview. McAfee was hilarious on commentary, sarcastically praising Gulak and saying he might win the Pulitzer Prize. Cole told Gulak that he needed to listen to his producer.
Gulak noted Flair vs. Ronda Rousey in an I Quit match is now official. He wondered if Flair was worried about Ronda Rousey’s submission game.
Flair mocked Rousey, but Gulak pointed out that Rousey made her tap out at WrestleMania 38. The fans broke into a “you tapped out” chant. Flair denied tapping out and claimed she was fixing her bra.
Gulak noted Rousey could be standing there as champion if the referee saw Flair tap. Flair became enraged and mocked Gulak for quitting as a competitor to join the broadcast team. She mocked the fans for being quitters as well. Flair bragged about being a winner and yelled at Gulak to leave the ring.
As Gulak walked away, Flair gave him a chop block and locked on the figure eight. Gulak screamed in pain, but she wouldn’t release the hold. Flair demanded that he say, “I quit.” Gulak eventually said, “I quit,” and she let him go.
In the back, Ludwig Kaiser praised Gunther as they showed clips of Gunther destroying people. Gunther promised that everyone would obey.
Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn via countout (2:49)
McIntyre and Zayn had the same match as they did last week. The entire match was Zayn trying to get away and eventually running off for the countout.
They recapped McIntyre vs. Zayn from last week. Before the match, Zayn was furious about the video package and promised to make an example out of McIntyre.
The bell rang, and Zayn jumped out of the ring. McIntyre went after Zayn, but he rolled out of the ring again. Zayn tried to hide behind McAfee. McAfee ducked, and McIntyre rocked Zayn with a forearm. McIntyre thanked McAfee.
McIntyre threw Zayn across the ring with a belly-to-belly suplex. He followed up with the Glasgow kiss. McIntyre set up for the Claymore Kick, but Zayn jumped out of the ring again. McIntyre threw Zayn back in the ring and went for the Claymore again, but Zayn slipped out of the ring. Zayn jumped over the barricade and ran off for the countout.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Ricochet. He noted that Mahal looks mean and opposing, but he can’t match Ricochet’s talent. He promised that the title isn’t going anywhere tonight.
Back from the break, Pearce was furious that Zayn ran out of the ring again. He announced Zayn vs. McIntyre in a lumberjack match for next week.
Intercontinental Champion Ricochet defeated Jinder Mahal (w/Shanky) (3:02)
Ricochet and Mahal had a fine match that improved when Ricochet was on offence.
Mahal had the early advantage as he slowed the pace down with a chin lock. He backed Ricochet in the corner and beat him down. Ricochet fought back and hit a springboard flying crossbody. He followed up with a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Mahal went for the Khallas but Ricochet broke free. He hit the recoil and climbed to the top rope. Shanky pulled Mahal out of the ring. Ricochet changed direction and hit a huge flying crossbody to the floor, wiping out the heels. Ricochet then hit the shooting star press for the win.
In the back, Megan Morant interviewed Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch. Morant noted they had some problems last week. They recapped Butch fighting with Sheamus and Holland after losing to Xavier Woods. Sheamus denied them having any problems.
Holland and Sheamus pumped up Butch and said the enemy is the New Day. Butch agreed and walked off. Sheamus kept talking until Holland pointed out they had lost Butch. Sheamus and Holland were concerned.
Tonight’s classic SmackDown moment was from June 27, 2002, when John Cena debuted and accepted Kurt Angle’s challenge.
In the back, New Day were signing merchandise when Butch attacked Xavier Woods. They had a pull apart brawl until officials broke it up.
The Story of Lacey Evans Part 2
Lacey Evans continued the emotional story of her life. After her mother ran, her father eventually found them. The anger in the house grew. She was working by the time she was in middle school. Her father was an angry man that flipped over tables. They had to clean up his mess of broken tables and glass. Eventually, her father went on the run from the law. He took the family with him.
Evans learned never to give up and keep her head up. She wasn’t handed anything in life. She works hard and is comfortable at rock bottom. There’s nothing the roster can do to her. She mentioned being a daughter, a mother, a marine, and now a WWE superstar.
In the back, Natalya and Shayna Baszler watched Lacey Evans’s story on the monitor. Natalya noted they’ve all had tough lives. She complained about all the new faces.
Natalya pointed out that the new girl’s stuff was all over the locker room. Raquel Rodriquez was sitting in the background. She tried to introduce herself, but the heels walked off.
Riddle (w/Randy Orton) defeated Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso) (9:04)
Riddle and Jimmy had a really good match. The fans were into it and loved RK-Bro.
Riddle went for the RKO immediately, but Jimmy slipped out. Riddle chased him around ringside, but Jimmy took over when they got back in the ring.
Jimmy slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Riddle broke free and caught Jimmy with a kick. He sent Jimmy to the floor with a suplex. Jimmy recovered, grabbed Riddle’s leg, and dropped him on the apron.
Jimmy threw Riddle into the barricade. He then rocked Riddle with a superkick sending him over the barricade.
Back from the break, Riddle regained control with a forearm in the corner and a suplex. He missed a running knee but hit a senton. Riddle went for the floating Bro, but Jimmy got his knees up. Jimmy followed up with a pop-up Samoan drop for a close near fall.
Jey got in Orton’s face at ringside. Jimmy took advantage and took out Orton with a dropkick. Jimmy then rocked Riddle with a superkick and climbed to the top rope.
Jimmy went for the splash but was distracted by Orton and Jey fighting at ringside. Orton gave Jey a back suplex on the announce table. Riddle then avoided the splash from Jimmy.
In an excellent finish, Jimmy went for the pop-up Samoan drop again, but Riddle countered into the RKO in mid-air for the win. Orton jumped in the ring before the referee counted three because he couldn’t wait to celebrate.
Orton and Riddle celebrated to end SmackDown.
Next week: Drew McIntyre takes on Sami Zayn in a lumberjack match. Plus, Madcap Moss goes one-on-one with Angel of Los Lotharios.