WWE SmackDown live results: Roman Reigns vs. King Xavier
Tonight’s SmackDown takes place from the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns takes on King Xavier Woods in non-title action. Last Friday, Reigns was furious that The Usos lost to The New Day the previous week and blamed Jimmy Uso for taking the pinfall.
A match between Woods and Jimmy headlined last week’s SmackDown. If Woods won, he would have had to acknowledge Reigns. If Jimmy lost, he had to bend the knee to King Xavier.
Woods got the win, but Reigns attacked Woods and Kofi Kingston before Jimmy could bend the knee. Reigns and The Usos viciously beat down Woods and forced him to watch them injure Kingston’s leg. During the week, Woods called out Reigns on social media ahead of their match tonight.
Tonight’s SmackDown will also feature Sasha Banks’ first appearance since being attacked by Shotzi two weeks ago. Shotzi turned heel and attacked Banks after losing a non-title match against SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. Banks and Shotzi will both be on SmackDown’s women’s team for Survivor Series.
Plus, Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs take on Los Lotharios (Angel & Humberto).
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Michael Cole and Pat McAfee discussed tonight’s Roman Reigns vs. King Xavier main event. Cole mentioned that Reigns and The Usos injured Kofi Kingston last week, so he’s not at SmackDown.
Women’s SmackDown Survivor Series Team Segment
This was a fine opening segment. They did the typical story of the team members not getting along.
Sonya Deville introduced the women’s SmackDown Survivor Series team members, including Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Natalya, and Aliyah. Deville then introduced the team captain Sasha Banks to a big pop from the fans.
They recapped Shotzi attacking Banks a few weeks ago. Banks jumped in the ring and went after Shotzi, but the other teammates kept them apart. Suddenly, Naomi’s music hit, and she ran down to the ring. She got in Deville’s face, and a huge brawl broke out. Baszler and Banks were fighting in the ring as they went to a commercial.
Sasha Banks, Naomi & Aliyah defeated Shayna Baszler, Shotzi & Natalya (12:49)
This was a fun opening match.
Banks ran wild for the early advantage. Baszler briefly took over until Banks rocked her with double knees in the corner. Aliyah came in with a hurricanrana on Baszler and followed up with a dropkick.
The heels took over and isolated Aliyah on their side of the ring. Baszler locked on the Kirfuda Clutch on Aliyah, but she rolled through, and Naomi got the tag. Naomi briefly ran wild until Natalya made a blind tag. Natalya took over with a suplex off the apron on the floor. Naomi briefly fought back, but Natalya rocked her with a vicious clothesline for a near fall. Naomi rolled to the floor, and Baszler tossed her into the barricade.
Back from the break, the heels were firmly in control. They kept Naomi on their side of the ring and cut her off from her corner. Baszler stomped on Naomi’s arm and slowed the pace down. Naomi fought back, but Baszler locked on the Kirifuda Clutch. Naomi briefly broke free, but Baszler dragged her back to the heels corner. Naomi broke free again, and Aliyah got the hot tag.
Aliyah ran wild with a flying cross body on Natalya for a near fall. She followed up with a neck breaker, but Natalya fought back with a Michinoku Driver for a two-count. Banks sent Baszler and Shotzi to the floor. She followed up with a Meteora off the apron on Baszler.
Naomi then took out Shotzi with the Rear View. The finish came when Natalya got the sharpshooter on Aliyah. She grabbed the top rope for leverage, but Naomi hung her on the middle rope. Aliyah then countered and pinned Natalya for the win. The fans popped huge for the finish.
In the back, Sami Zayn practiced an inspiring speech in the mirror but didn’t realize that Jeff Hardy was in the room the whole time. Hardy laughed at Zayn and told him the speech sucked.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman were walking in the back.
Cole and McAfee made a big deal out of Aliyah getting the pin in the tag match. In the back, Aliyah celebrated the win and is happy to be on the Survivor Series team. Sonya Deville approached and questioned her about knowing Naomi. Deville claimed she was told to remove Aliyah from the Survivor Series team. The fans erupted in boos.
They recapped King Xavier Woods beating Jimmy Uso last week and almost bending the knee until Reigns ran out.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Reigns and Heyman in front of their locker room. Reigns assumed she was either there to talk to him or flirt with the wise man, Paul Heyman. Reigns walked off, and Heyman noted if Woods loses tonight, he must bend the knee to Reigns. However, if Reigns loses then, he’ll bend the knee. If he doesn’t bend the knee, they can strip him of the Universal title and banish him from SmackDown.
In the back, Madcap Moss and Baron Corbin told jokes about The Viking Raiders and laughed uncontrollably.
Los Lotharios (Angel & Humberto) defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs (4:46)
This was a fine tag team match. They didn’t get a lot of time, although it still dragged. Los Lotharios have a lot of potential as a team.
Boogs gained the early advantage for his team until Angel made the blind tag. The heels took over and hit a double basement dropkick in the corner. Los Lotharios isolated Boogs on their side of the ring and cut him off from Nakamura.
Angel hit a dropkick to Boogs head and slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Boogs broke free and dropped Angel on the corner. Nakamura and Humberto both got the tag. Nakamura ran wild and hit a sliding German suplex on Humberto. Nakamura followed up with a knee off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall, but Angel broke up the pin attempt.
Boogs tackled Angel over the top rope to the floor. Nakamura set up for the Kinshasa, but Angel pulled Humberto out of the ring. Nakamura took out Angel but Humberto recovered. He went for a dive, but Nakamura cut him off. The heels fought back and hit their finisher for the win.
In the back, Adam Pearce was with Von Wagner in his office, but they never acknowledged him. Pearce wondered why Sonya Deville removed Aliyah from the team. She claimed it was to make the team stronger. She told Pearce he should do the same and walked out.
Sami Zayn entered and started ranting. Pearce made Zayn vs. Jeff Hardy for later tonight and whoever loses is off the men’s Survivor Series team.
Charlotte Flair Segment
Flair was good in the segment, although it ended abruptly.
Charlotte Flair made her way to the ring. Cole and McAfee discussed Flair vs. Becky Lynch at Survivor Series. McAfee mentioned the last time they were in the ring and eluded to the controversy.
Flair discussed her upcoming match with Becky Lynch. She mocked Lynch for not being natural and her fake catchphrases, fake orange hair, and whatever else. Flair admitted that Lynch had a lot of great accomplishments. Flair claimed that after she beats Becky, she’s going to be Becky Uh Oh. Flair then got the fans repeating Uh Oh with her everytime she said Becky Uh Oh.
Flair noted that Shotzi became a star for just being in the same ring with her. Flair called herself the star-maker. Suddenly, Toni Storm’s music hit, and she made her way to the ring. Storm noted Lynch defended her title on Raw and then challenged Flair to a title match. Flair turned down Storm’s challenge and walked off.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed King Xavier Woods. Woods couldn’t believe that Roman Reigns wants him to bend the knee. Woods took his crown off and became serious. He noted it’s been a tough week for The New Day. He promised to defeat Reigns later.
A distraught Aliyah was on the phone talking about getting removed from the Survivor Series team in the back. Mustafa Ali approached and tried giving advice, but Ricochet interrupted. Ricochet said it didn’t matter that she got removed because she was great in the tag match earlier. Aliyah and Ricochet walked off together.
Loser Gets Removed From The Survivor Series Team: Jeff Hardy defeated Sami Zayn (9:08)
Hardy and Zayn had a good match.
Zayn rocked Hardy with a knee to the face to take over. The fans broke into a loud “Hardy” chant. Hardy fought back, so Zayn jumped out of the ring. Hardy caught him with a sliding dropkick. He leaped off the stairs, but Zayn moved and he crashed into the barricade.
Back from the break, Zayn hit a hard clothesline for a near fall. He then slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Hardy fought back and hit a basement dropkick for a close two-count.
Hardy then hit whisper in the wind for another close near fall. The fans reacted big for the near fall. Hardy went for the twist of fate, but Zayn countered with a backslide for a near fall. Hardy missed a splash in the corner, and Zayn rolled him up with his feet on the ropes. The referee caught Zayn, and they started arguing. Hardy took advantage and hit the twist of fate, followed up with the Swanton Bomb for the win.
Zayn is no longer on the Survivor Series team. After the match, they showed the graphic of the Survivor Series team, and they removed Zayn’s image as he watched.
In the back, Hit Row cut a promo about coming to SmackDown and briefly mentioned their sneakers. They cut to Jinder Mahal and Shanky in the back. They mocked Hit Row and did a rap. Shanky did his rhyme in Punjabi, and Mahal followed up with a terrible verse. They danced and mocked Hit Row. Mahal called Shanky Slim Shanky and Ice Ice Shanky.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Ridge Holland about praising Sheamus last week. Holland praised Shaemus again and is proud to follow in his footsteps. Cesaro interrupted and mentioned his friendship with Sheamus. He told Holland not to trust Sheamus. Holland claimed they’re going to be a better team than The Bar. He noted Sheamus returns next week.
They promoted Xia Li’s upcoming debut.
They aired a Raw recap.
They recapped WrestleMania in Dallas in 2016.
Non-TItle Match: King Xavier Woods defeated Universal Champion Roman Reigns (w/Paul Heyman) via DQ (10:18)
Reigns and Woods had a good hard-hitting match until the weak finish.
As Reigns made his entrance, Cole and McAfee discussed the stakes for the match. They stressed that the loser must bend the knee. If Reigns doesn’t bend the knee, he’ll be stripped of the Universal title and banished from SmackDown.
Woods gained the early advantage with a dropkick. Reigns rolled to the floor, but Woods then hit a dropkick through the ropes. He rocked Reigns with hard chops and slammed his head against the announce table.
Woods was running wild, but Reigns rocked him with a right hand. Reigns then gave Woods a Rock Bottom on the announce table.
Back from the break, Reigns continued to beat down Woods. Woods briefly fought back, but Reigns rocked him with a big boot to the face for a near fall. He followed up with a series of clotheslines in the corner. Woods fought back, but Reigns cut him off again. Woods rocked Reigns with a boot to the head and hit a DDT.
Woods fought back with chops and right-hands, but Reigns cut him off. Woods fired up and scored a close near fall. He hit a low superkick and dropped Reigns face-first for a two-count.
Woods claimed to the top rope, but Reigns cut him off again and hit the Rock Bottom. Reigns went for the spear, but Woods avoided the move. Woods then hit his elbow drop off the top rope and had the match won. Suddenly, The Usos pulled Woods out of the ring and beat him down for the disqualification. They continued to beat him down and threw him into the steps.
Reigns posed in the middle of the ring on one knee as The Usos placed Woods’ crown on his head. Technically, Reigns can claim that he did bend the knee after losing. Reigns and The Usos posed in the ring to end SmackDown.
Next Week: Sasha Banks goes one-on-one with Shotzi. Plus, Sheamus returns.