WWE SmackDown live results: Shinsuke Nakamura returns
Shinsuke Nakamura returns to WWE television on tonight’s SmackDown from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The King of Strong Style last appeared on SmackDown at the end of 2022, losing to Santos Escobar in the first round of the Fox World Cup. Nakamura traveled to Japan to compete in a match for Pro Wrestling NOAH earlier this year. He defeated The Great Muta in one of Muta’s final bouts.
LA Knight and Xavier Woods continue their feud when they go one-on-one tonight. Last week, Knight was furious that he didn’t compete at WrestleMania 39 but Snoop Dogg and Pat McAfee both made appearances. He mocked Woods for playing video games at WrestleMania. Woods didn’t appreciate the comments and challenged Knight to a match.
New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan will take part in a championship celebration tonight. They won the titles from Becky Lynch & Trish Stratus on Raw this Monday.
A singles match between LWO’s Santos Escobar and Judgment Day’s Damian Priest has also been announced for tonight. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Segment
They recapped Jey Uso defeating Zayn with Solo Sikoa’s help last week and Matt Riddle making the save.
Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn entered the ring to a massive reaction. The fans sang Zayn’s music and broke into a “Sami” chant. Zayn noted the tag team champions were in the main event at WrestleMania for the first time. He mentioned their friendship and winning the titles. Zayn said the WWE Draft makes things unpredictable. However, they haven’t thought about it because they’re busy dealing with The Bloodline.
Owens agreed with Zayn but added that The Bloodline is more dangerous than ever. He knows The Usos will come walking down the aisle, demanding a rematch. Right on cue, Sikoa and The Usos came down to ringside. The Usos felt Owens and Zayn were folding under pressure. They mocked the champions and promised they’d win the titles back. Zayn noted they’re not the ones who have to report to Roman Reigns without the title. Jey tried stirring up trouble instead. Jey admitted he was wrong. Owens won’t be the one to turn on Zayn. It’ll be Zayn who’ll stab Owens in the back.
Zayn is impressed with Jey’s ability to lie to himself. Everyone knows Reigns is furious they don’t have the titles.
Owens and Zayn know The Bloodline didn’t come out to talk. Sikoa and The Usos surrounded the ring when Matt Riddle ran down to even the odds. Owens and Zayn brawled with The Usos. In the ring, Riddle rocked Sikoa with a knee to the face.
After the break, Adam Pearce announced Sikoa vs. Riddle in tonight’s main event.
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– A video package recapped Xavier Woods and LA Knight’s feud on social media.
Xavier Woods defeated LA Knight (11:46)
Woods defeated Knight in a great opener. They both were impressive, putting on a killer match. The pacing was outstanding as they started slowly, picking up towards the end. The fans reacted big to the match too.
Knight got another good reaction. Knight started with a side headlock until Woods escaped with a dropkick. Woods took over with a side headlock, sending Knight to ringside. Woods followed with a huge dive to the floor.
Knight lured Woods to the other side of the ring. He sent Woods back first into the ring apron and then face-first into the ring post.
Back from the break, Woods missed a splash in the corner. Knight took advantage, hitting a jumping neck breaker for a near fall. Woods fired up, avoided Knight, slid through his legs, and hit a dropkick for a near fall. Knight recovered with a DDT for a two-count. Frustrated, Knight tried to suplex Woods out of the ring. Instead, Woods dropped Knight on the ropes and hit a double foot stomp to the back. Woods then hit a leg-drop off the second turnbuckle, but Knight grabbed the ropes. That was a great near fall.
Knight used an O’Connor roll, grabbing the tights. The referee caught Knight trying to cheat. Woods recovered with an O’Connor roll, holding the tights for the win. Knight was furious the referee didn’t catch Woods cheating.
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-The WWE Draft starts in two weeks.
-Gunther met with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovani Vinci when Xavier Woods interrupted playing his trombone. Gunther and Woods argued. Woods challenged Gunther for a title shot since he doesn’t know which brand he will end up on in the Draft.
– A video package recapped Sola Sikoa injuring Matt Riddle last fall.
In the back, Sami Zayn’s worried about Riddle taking on Sikoa. He told him to be careful. Kevin Owens disagreed and noted Sikoa injured Riddle months ago. Riddle will do things his way and promises to beat Sikoa later.
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– Kayla Braxton spoke with Judgement Day’s Damien Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Dominik Mysterio. Braxton mentioned Zelina Vega making Ripley look bad. Ripley flipped out, but Dominik calmed the situation. Priest thinks Santos Escobar picks bad friends in Rey Mysterio and the LWO. Priest promised to address Bad Bunny in the ring.
Judgment Day Segment
Judgement Day made their way to the ring. Priest grabbed the mic and brought up Backlash and the host Bad Bunny. He told Bad Bunny he could sit in the front row and enjoy the show. However, he can’t put his hands on his family.
They recapped Priest putting Bad Bunny through a table on Raw two weeks ago.
The LWO’s music hit, and Zelina Vega made her way to the ring. Ripley jumped out to confront her, allowing Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, and Crus Del Toro to jump Priest and Dominik as they went to a commercial.
Damien Priest (w/Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley) defeated Santos Escobar (w/Zelina Vega, Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro) (11:30)
Priest and Escobar brought their A-game tonight. They had an excellent match with a hot crowd. Despite the LWO being a lame WCW gimmick, it’s working better this time.
The match started during the break. Escobar was firmly in control until Priest caught him with a right hand. Escobar fought back with a dropkick for a near fall. Escobar hit nine punches in the corner, but Priest broke free. Priest sent Escobar to ringside with a big boot. He then jumped off the steps with a double ax handle on Escobar as they went to a break.
Priest slowed the pace down, with knees to the face. Escobar and Priest fought on the top rope. Escobar got the better of Priest, hitting a hurricanrana for a close near fall. Escobar and Priest broke out into a slugfest. Escobar fired up with a running hurricanrana and a moonsault for another close near fall. The fans broke into a “Santos” chant.
Mysterio got involved, but Wilde and Del Toro attacked Mysterio. Priest made the save, allowing Escobar to hit a suicide dive to a giant pop. Ripley grabbed Escobar’s leg, but Vega took her out with a hurricanrana to another massive pop. In the ring, Priest rocked Escobar with a kick to the face and hit South of Heaven for the win.
After the match, Priest went to choke slam Escobar on the table, but Rey Mysterio made the save to a giant pop. Rey and Dominik traded shots in the ring to another big reaction. Rey set up for the 619, but Priest saved Dominik.
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– In the Bloodline locker room, Paul Heyman informed Solo Sikoa that he got off the phone with Roman Reigns. He noted that Riddle didn’t just embarrass Sikoa and The Usos. He also embarrassed and insulted Afa, Sika, Yokozuna, Umaga, Rikishi, and the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns. Sikoa stopped Heyman and spoke. He told Heyman to tell Reigns that he’s got this.
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Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan Segment
New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan came to the ring dressed up to celebrate their win.
A video package recapped Morgan and Rodriguez beating Becky Lynch & Trish Stratus for the titles on Raw.
They made a big deal out of Rodriguez and Morgan winning the titles with fireworks going off. Rodriguez thanked Morgan for letting her throw her at people. Morgan told Rodriguez she could throw her anytime.
Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green interrupted the celebration. Deville correctly pointed out that Rodriguez and Morgan didn’t beat the champions since someone attacked Lita, and Stratus filled in for her.
Green believes Adam Pearce overlooked that important detail. Morgan and Rodriguez decided Deville and Green would be their next challengers. The champions then cleared the ring of the heels to end the segment.
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Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Madcap Moss (w/Emma) (1:29)
Nakamura looked great, squashing Madcap Moss. Nakamura returned to a big reaction with a slightly different look.
In the back, Emma told Madcap Moss not to listen to the fans. Only listen to her. Nakamura has nothing on Moss. Moss is stronger, faster, and better looking. Emma noted they needed the win tonight. That way, Moss can be the top pick in the Draft.
Moss jumped Nakamura at the bell. Nakamura fought back with a spinning heel kick. He followed up with a kick to the head and a sliding German suplex in the ropes. Nakamura hit a knee off the middle rope to set up the Kinshasa for the win.
After the match, Emma instructed Moss to attack Nakamura. Nakamura got the better of him with an armbar.
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– Ricochet and Braun Strowman were going for a leisurely walk backstage when The Viking Raiders jumped them. Ricochet tried to fight back, but the Raiders hit Ragnarok onto a table.
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– After the entrances for the main event, Paul Heyman grabbed the mic to announce Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens defending the tag team titles against The Usos in two weeks in a rematch.
Heyman added that The Usos will win the titles because Roman Reigns is getting “impatient with the two of you.” Heyman was speaking to The Usos, but he was standing behind them. So they assumed he was talking to Zayn and Owens. Heyman walked to the back.
Solo Sikoa (w/The Usos) defeated Matt Riddle (w/Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens) (10:41)
Sikoa beat Riddle in a fun and hard-hitting main event.
Sikoa used his power for the early advantage. Riddle kept going for a sleeper, but Sikoa escaped each time. Riddle tried fighting back, but The Usos interfered.
Owens and Zayn argued with The Usos, resulting in the referee sending both teams to the back. Riddle tried to take advantage with a roll-up. Sikoa recovered and took over as they cut to a break.
Riddle and Sikoa traded shots, with Sikoa getting the better of Riddle. Sikoa slowed the pace with a nerve hold. The fans broke into a “Riddle” chant. Sikoa missed a splash in the corner, allowing Riddle to recover. Riddle fired up with an exploder suplex. Riddle missed a kick and a moonsault. He went for a senton, but Sikoa got his knees up. Riddle fought back with the floating bro for a two-count.
The Usos returned to ringside, so Owens and Zayn came back too. Both teams brawled at ringside. The Usos took out Owens and Zayn with superkicks. Riddle then wiped out The Usos with the floating bro.
The finish came when Sikoa caught Riddle with a superkick as he jumped into the ring. Sikoa then hit the Samoan Spike for the win.
After the match, Sikoa gave Riddle the spinning Solo onto the announce table. He then turned the table onto Riddle. Owens and Zayn recovered to lift the table off Riddle. Sikoa and The Usos celebrated to end SmackDown.
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Next Week: Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against Xavier Woods. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan defend against Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green. Plus, Ricochet & Braun Strowman take on The Viking Raiders.
In Two Weeks: WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defend against The Usos.
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