WWE SmackDown live results: RK-Bro vs. Usos Tag Team title unification match
A Tag Team title unification match headlines tonight’s SmackDown from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos will face off in a winner-take-all unification match. This bout was originally announced for WrestleMania Backlash but turned into a six-man tag with Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre added.
Last week, RK-Bro showed up on SmackDown to challenge The Usos. Instead, Sami Zayn interrupted and claimed to represent The Bloodline. That led to Riddle defeating Zayn in a singles match. After the match, Zayn was worried that Reigns might be mad at him. Paul Heyman assured Zayn that Reigns respects him.
Later that night, RK-Bro confronted The Bloodline. Eventually, The Usos accepted the challenge. Riddle then took out Reigns with a jumping knee before RK-Bro walked off.
Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura is also set for tonight, along with Xavier Woods vs. Butch.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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They showed a video package hyping tonight’s winner-take-all unification match.
Bloodline Segment
This was a good but typical opening segment.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos slowly made their way to the ring. They recapped RK-Bro confronting The Bloodline last week.
Reigns took the mic and demanded the fans acknowledge him. They got a mixed reaction. Some fans cheered, but others broke into a brief “You suck” chant. However, Reigns noted the fans would also acknowledge The Usos tonight.
Heyman said tonight is the biggest night in tag team wrestling history. Heyman claimed that Reigns could smash and stack Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He added that Reigns is the greatest of all time.
Heyman discussed The Usos becoming the greatest tag team of all time. He mentioned Afa and Sika, The Wild Samoans are the greatest team. The Usos must unify the titles to prove they’re the greatest team and better than The Wild Samoans. He added that The Usos must win the titles tonight, or they’re not coming home to the Island of relevancy. Heyman promised that The Usos would win the titles. He added it’s not a prediction but a spoiler.
Reigns took the mic back and addressed his cousins. He demanded they win the titles tonight. Reigns noted he has high expectations because he loves them. Reigns then gave them both a hug.
In the back, Sami Zayn was watching the promo on the monitor. Zayn was wearing a Bloodline t-shirt and started walking to the ring.
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Sami Zayn (10:36)
Zayn and Nakamura had a great match with a good finish.
Zayn grabbed a headlock at the bell, but Nakamura broke free. Nakamura avoided a leapfrog and rocked Zayn with a kick to the chest. Nakamura was firmly in control until Zayn yanked him down by the hair. He followed up with a clothesline for a near fall.
Zayn climbed to the top rope, but Nakamura cut him off. Zayn blocked a superplex attempt. They fought on the top rope until Nakamura knocked Zayn down. Zayn avoided the Kinshasa and threw Nakamura out of the ring.
Back from the break, Zayn had Nakamura in a chin lock, but he broke free. Nakamura followed up with a sliding German Suplex in the ropes.
Nakamura hit a knee off the middle rope for a close near fall. He set up for the Kinshasa, but Zayn rolled out of the ring. Nakamura went after Zayn on the floor. Zayn fought back and hit a Michinoku Driver. Zayn almost won by countout, but Nakamura barely beat the ten count. The fans broke into a “Rusty” chant.
Nakamura and Zayn brawled around ringside. Nakamura tossed Zayn over the barricade. Nakamura almost won by countout, but Zayn barely beat the ten count. However, Nakamura hit the Kinshasa as Zayn got back in the ring.
They aired an Usos video package.
Happy Talk
This was a fine segment. The fans seemed dead until Corbin destroyed the Andre the Giant trophy.
Happy Corbin talked in front of the Andre the Giant trophy. He bragged about injuring Madcap Moss last week. They showed clips of Corbin attacking Moss with the trophy.
Corbin got back in the ring and called the attack a work of art. He decided to look at the work of art again. They showed the attack over and over.
Corbin pointed out that Moss had it good. Corbin even paid for Moss to fly first class. He claimed that Moss wanted to get out of his shadow.
Corbin mentioned that Moss would make jokes and called him the big bald wolf. He might be the big bald wolf because he huffed and puffed and put Moss down. Corbin jumped out of the ring and destroyed the Andre the Giant trophy.
They recapped Ricochet encouraging Drew Gulak to confront Gunther last week.
Gunther (w/Ludwig Kaiser) defeated Drew Gulak (1:06)
This was a quick squash match. It was more about setting up a Ricochet vs. Gunther feud.
Ludwig Kaiser introduced Gunther, and they went to a commercial.
Back from the break, the match was already in progress. Gulak didn’t even get an entrance.
Gunther took over with a boot to the face. He rocked Gulak with a series of hard chops. He then hit a powerbomb for the win. After the match, Gunther attacked Gulak and put him in the Boston Crab. Ricochet then ran out of the save.
L.A. Knight debuted as Max Dupri. He approached Adam Pearce in his office. Dupri is the CEO of the hottest new agency. He’s looking for superstars that can headline Fashion week in Paris and headline WrestleMania.
Pearce was confused. Dupri noted Sonya Deville hired him a few weeks ago. Pearce pointed out that she’s no longer in management. Dupri noted his agency has a signed contract. Pearce tried to pronounce Max Dupri, but he was saying it wrong. Dupri tried to correct him.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed RK-Bro. They heard The Usos earlier tonight. Riddle pointed out that he beat The Usos one by one every week. Orton promised to defeat The Usos and unify the titles.
They recapped Ronda Rousey vs. Raquel Rodriguez from last week. In the back, Shotzi claimed she was about to accept Rousey’s challenge, but Rodriguez pushed her out of the way.
Aliyah approached and claimed Shotzi locked her in the locker room last week. Rodriguez showed up and got in Shotzi’s face. Shotzi called Rodriguez an absurd amazon and six feet of disappointment. She promised to defeat her next.
Raquel Rodriguez defeated Shotzi (2:57)
Rodriguez and Shotzi had an okay match. Rodriguez dominated and looked good.
Los Lotharios, Xia Li, Aliyah, and more watched the match backstage on the monitor.
Rodriguez backed Shotzi into the corner for the early advantage. She worked over the arm, but Shotzi fought back. Rodriguez then tossed Shotzi into the corner. Shotzi locked on a sleeper, but Rodriguez broke free.
Shotzi attempted a hurricanrana, but Rodriguez caught her. She transitioned into a fallaway slam and hit a corkscrew splash. She followed up with the one-arm powerbomb for the win.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Xavier Woods in the back. They recapped Butch defeating Kofi Kingston last week.
Woods admitted it was a big win for Butch. He wondered if Butch could beat him without Sheamus and Ridge Holland. Woods pointed out that Kingston’s on New Day business. He challenged Butch to face him without Sheamus and Holland.
Xavier Woods defeated Butch (3:44)
Woods and Butch had a good match while it lasted.
Sheamus and Holland pumped up Butch before he made his entrance. Butch came out without Sheamus and Holland. Their team name appears to be The Brawling Brutes.
They started fast with Woods rocking Butch with a forearm. He followed up with a sliding dropkick through the ropes. Butch fought back and took Woods down with elbows.
Woods rolled up Butch for a near fall. Butch briefly regained control, but Woods hit a rolling DDT for a two-count. Butch took over with kicks to the head. Woods rocked Butch with a kick and went for a DDT off the middle rope. Butch recovered and hit a stiff forearm. Suddenly, Woods caught Butch with the Backwoods for the win.
After the match, Butch ran out through the crowd and disappeared. As Woods walked back, Sheamus and Holland walked out. Suddenly, Butch reappeared and attacked Woods.
They showed a RK-Bro video package.
Back from the break, Megan Morant approached Woods backstage. Woods was furious about the attack. He noted that Kingston is back next week, but Big E is still out with an injury. He promised to have a partner to even the odds.
Michael Cole addressed the Sasha Banks and Naomi situation from Monday night. He described the events from Raw that ended with Banks and Naomi leaving the arena. He said, “Sasha and Naomi let us all down.” He explained that they were supposed to participate in the six-pack challenge.
Instead, Banks and Naomi left the tag team titles with the head of talent relations and walked out of the building. He announced that Banks and Naomi had been suspended indefinitely. He also announced they’ll have a tournament to crown new champions in the future.
Winner-Take-All Tag Team Title Unification match: The Usos defeated RK-Bro to unify the SmackDown and Raw titles (11:52)
The Usos and RK-Bro had a really good match. The fans were into it, and the post-match beat down. There was even a shot of a young boy in the crowd crying.
Paul Heyman joined Cole and Pat McAfee on commentary.
RK-Bro had the early advantage. The fans broke into a loud “Randy” chant. The Usos took over, but Riddle appeared to suffer an injury. The action stopped as the doctor and referee checked on Riddle. They quickly went to a break.
Back from the break, The Usos isolated Riddle on their side of the ring. Cole noted Riddle suffered a bruised hip before the break. Jimmy attacked the bruised hip and hit a back suplex. Riddle rocked Jey with a jumping knee. Orton got the hot tag and ran wild on the heels.
Orton hit the draping DDT on Jimmy and followed up with the RKO. Jey broke up the pin attempt. Riddle tagged back in and hit a series of forearms. He went for the Bro-ton, but Jey got his knees up. He followed up with a pop-up neck breaker for a close near fall.
Riddle and Jey fought on the top rope. Riddle went for the Super RKO, but Heyman distracted the referee. Suddenly, Roman Reigns ran out from the crowd. He grabbed Jey and Riddle crashed into the ring. Jey then hit the splash for the win to become the Unified Tag Team Champions.
After the match, The Bloodline attacked RK-Bro at ringside. The Usos beat down Orton with the steps as Reigns locked on the guillotine on Riddle. Jey then hit a splash off the top rope onto Riddle on the announce table.
The Bloodline celebrated with all the titles to end SmackDown.