WWE SmackDown live results: The Usos vs. Braun Strowman & Ricochet
The build to Elimination Chamber continues on tonight’s SmackDown from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defend their titles against Braun Strowman & Ricochet tonight. Tension continues to build in The Bloodline since Jey Uso walked out on them at the Royal Rumble. He’s had no contact with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns or anyone else since the Sami Zayn beatdown. Last week, Jimmy Uso was confident his brother would show up for the title defense tonight, but Reigns disagreed.
Zayn attacked Reigns later that night to a huge pop. Reigns blamed the problems in The Bloodline and Jey’s absence on Zayn. That led to Reigns agreeing to defend his title against Zayn at Elimination Chamber in Montreal.
Tonight’s episode also includes a fatal four-way match to determine the next challenger for Gunther’s Intercontinental title. Rey Mysterio, Karrion Kross, Madcap Moss, and Santos Escobar will compete in the match.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– A video package recapped The Bloodline-Sami Zayn angle, notably Jey Uso walking out on The Bloodline.
Paul Heyman-Sami Zayn Segment
Heyman and Zayn were excellent in this segment. They both played their roles great. It was also the first part in a series of segments furthering The Bloodline storyline. Tonight was all built around Jey’s role in The Bloodline. The strong storyline was the highlight of the night.
Paul Heyman was already standing in the ring with the titles at the start of SmackDown. Heyman noted that since Brock Lesnar beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania 30, he doesn’t make predictions: he makes spoilers. He promised to make spoilers tonight.
Heyman pointed out that Roman Reigns is facing an attack from SmackDown and Raw. Heyman turned his attention to Sami Zayn, and the fans broke into a loud “Sami” chant. He asked the fans if they could imagine Zayn as the Undisputed champion, and the fans popped. Heyman laughed and announced the first spoiler. Zayn’s not at the show tonight. The fans booed.
Heyman mentioned that the island of relevancy is also facing an attack from Cody Rhodes on Raw. He mocked Rhodes for claiming he just wanted to challenge for a title, but everyone makes it personal. Of course, it’s personal. Heyman didn’t know Dusty Rhodes raised an idiot.
Heyman noted that without the titles, there’s no Bloodline, no Paul Heyman, and no Roman Reigns. Suddenly, Sami Zayn appeared behind Heyman to a huge reaction. The fans broke into a “Sami” chant. Zayn noted Heyman’s alone without the Bloodline because Reigns’ days as champion are over. The Bloodline is crumbling.
Everyone in the group knows it’s over. Zayn wondered what would happen to the Bloodline. He speculated if Jimmy and Jey would stay with their abusive cousin. He added that Solo Sikoa’s thinking for himself. He mocked Heyman for the way he looks at Reigns. Zayn said that it was weird.
Zayn promised to beat Reigns for the titles in eight days in Montreal. The fans broke into another “Sami” chant. Zayn pulled Heyman in for a hug and told him to tell Reigns not to worry about Cody. Zayn’s going to beat Reigns for the titles at Elimination Chamber.
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Drew McIntyre & Sheamus defeated Hit Row (w/B-Fab) (2:53)
McIntyre & Sheamus pretty much squashed Hit Row. They set up a match with The Viking Raiders for next week.
Earlier today, Hit Row approached Adam Pearce. They were mad that Ricochet and Braun Strowman entered the tournament. They claimed they beat Drew McIntyre and Sheamus and should have gone to the finals. Pearce decided to set up this match instead.
After a bad start, Hit Row took over and isolated Sheamus on their side of the ring. Sheamus tried to give Ashante “Thee” Adonis the ten beats of Bodhran, but Top Dolla made the save. Sheamus gave Top Dolla that beating instead.
Sheamus took over and hit white noise on Adonis. He set up for the Brogue Kick when Top Dolla tried to jump in the ring. McIntyre cut him off with a claymore kick. Sheamus then hit the Brogue kick for the win.
After the match, a Viking Raiders vignette played on the screen. They called out McIntyre and Sheamus for next week.
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– In the back, Jimmy Uso called his brother Jey but didn’t get an answer. During the next match, they showed an inset of Jimmy calling Jey again without an answer.
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Lacey Evans defeated Carmen Harrass (2:07)
Evans dominated and won easily in another squash match. The crowd was dead. So far, the new version of Evans isn’t catching on with fans.
The finish came when Evans hit the women’s right and locked on the cobra clutch for the win.
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– In the locker room, Jimmy Uso called Jey Uso again but couldn’t get ahold of him. Jimmy claimed that tonight was the biggest night of his career, and he couldn’t go without his partner.
Paul Heyman was sitting next to him. Heyman noted that a psychopathic Canadian cornered him, and Jimmy wasn’t there. Jimmy was trying to find Jey. Not even Solo’s there tonight. He asked Heyman to defend the titles with him. Heyman told Jimmy he was on his own. Jimmy still believes Jey’s going to show up. Heyman was skeptical.
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– The Progressive Match Flo of the week recapped Natalya winning the fatal four-way last week to earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber.
– In the back, Sonya Deville was speaking with Adam Pearce. Deville was furious that she’s not in Elimination Chamber. Pearce tried to explain that she had a title shot last week.
Chelsea Green approached Pearce. She was looking for the SmackDown manager to file a complaint against the Raw manager. That was funny. Pearce noted he’s the same manager. Green claimed to have facial amnesia. Eventually, Pearce made Green & Deville vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan for later.
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SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defeated Ricochet & Braun Strowman to retain the titles (13:16)
The Usos and Ricochet & Strowman had a fun match that dragged in the middle but picked up toward the end. The story of the match was Jey Uso showing up dramatically at the last minute. It was a well-done angle.
Jimmy came to the ring alone for the title defense. They did the special ring introductions. The ring announcer Samantha Irvin was great as she introduced Jimmy defending the titles on his own.
Suddenly, Jey Uso appeared in the crowd to a giant pop. Jey walked to the ring and hugged Jimmy to another big pop. Irvin finished the introduction.
Jey and Ricochet had an excellent exchange to start. Jey took down Ricochet with a shoulder tackle. Ricochet briefly fought back, but The Usos regained control.
Strowman and Ricochet worked together. Strowman threw Ricochet into Jimmy and sent him to ringside. The Usos regrouped. Ricochet maintained control and hit a standing moonsault for a near fall.
The Usos picked up the pace and hit a pop-up Samoan drop as they went to a break.
Ricochet and Jey traded shots, with Jey hitting a hard right. Jimmy went for a splash in the corner, but Ricochet caught him with a clothesline. Strowman and Jey tagged in, but Strowman ran wild. He sent Jimmy to ringside and hit a running splash in the corner.
Jey sent Strowman over the top rope and hit a superkick. He followed with a suicide dive and another superkick. Jey scored a near fall with a flying cross body. Jey rocked Strowman with a superkick, but he fell into his corner. Ricochet hit a springboard crossbody, middle rope moonsault, and shooting star press for a two-count.
Ricochet rocked Jimmy with a jumping knee, setting up Strowman’s running power slam. Ricochet hit a Swanton bomb off of Strowman’s shoulders. Ricochet had the match won, but Jey broke up the pin attempt. The fans broke into a “this is awesome” chant.
At ringside, Strowman charged at Jey. He crashed into the announce table when Jey moved out of the way. The finish came when Jey made a blind tag. Ricochet hit the shooting star press on Jimmy, but Jey hit the flying splash on Ricochet for the win.
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– Rey Mysterio discussed the fatal four-way and promised to win.
– Back from the break, The Usos were walking backstage. Jey said he always has Jimmy’s back. Jimmy wants to know if Jey’s still in the Bloodline. Jey’s not sure and walked off. Paul Heyman showed up. Jimmy claimed Jey didn’t say anything about staying in the Bloodline. Heyman seemed skeptical.
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Natalya-Shayna Baszler/Ronda Rousey Segment
Natalya talked about the Elimination Chamber and Shayna Baszler. She noted Shayna Baszler took her out of action. Natalya bragged about returning and taking Baszler’s place in the Elimination Chamber. She mocked Baszler for being a Ronda Rousey knockoff.
Shayna Baszler came out and entered the ring. Baszler’s frustrated with everyone mentioning Rousey. Baszler talked about her accomplishments.
Ronda Rousey walked out and entered the ring. She teased a confrontation with Baszler. Instead, they beat down Natalya and Shotzi, who tried to make the save.
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– In the parking lot, Jey Uso ran into Sami Zayn. Zayn knows Roman Reigns will remember Jey’s actions at the Royal Rumble.
Zayn thanked Jey for walking out at the Rumble. He doesn’t know how, but he’s going to beat Reigns. He knows Jey wants to see Reigns lose the titles. Zayn then acknowledged Jey Uso. Zayn put out his fist, but Jey told him to leave. They finally did a fist bump to a big pop. This was a tremendous backstage segment.
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– LA Knight spoke with Megan Morant. He refused to talk about the Pitch Black match and stormed off.
Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan defeated Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green (4:09)
Deville and Green isolated Morgan on their side of the ring. Morgan avoided Deville, who knocked down Green. Rodriguez got the hot tag and hit a fallaway slam on Deville. She followed with a twisting elbow for a near fall.
Deville tagged in Green, but she didn’t want to be in the match. Rodriguez hit the powerbomb, and Morgan followed with oblivion. Rodriguez then power bombed Morgan onto Green for the win.
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– Madcap Moss admitted things haven’t been going his way. Emma told him that he looked great. Moss credited Emma with looking so good. He promised to win the four-way later.
Michael Cole Interviews Charlotte Flair
Michael Cole had a sit-down interview with Charlotte Flair earlier today.
Cole discussed Flair and Rhea Ripley’s past and their upcoming match at WrestleMania 39. They talked about Ripley challenging Flair to a match three years ago at WrestleMania. They never mentioned it was for the NXT Championship. Flair noted Ripley was impressive, but she was green, and Flair won. Cole wondered if Ripley was on Flair’s level now. Flair believes it takes more than three years to get on her level. Flair promised to put Ripley in her place at WrestleMania.
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Fatal Four-Way Number One Contenders Match: Madcap Moss (w/Emma) defeated Karrion Kross (w/Scarlet), Rey Mysterio, and Santos Escobar (w/Zelina Vega) (12:57)
Madcap Moss got the surprise win in the fatal four-way main event. All four guys worked hard, with Mysterio and Escobar being the highlights.
Gunther and Imperium watched the match from the sky box.
In an inset interview, Santos Escobar promised to prove why he deserves a title shot next week.
Mysterio and Kross fought on one side of the ring as Escobar and Moss traded shots on the other. Kross sent Moss to the floor and tried to focus on Mysterio. Escobar and Kross argued over beating up Mysterio. Kross threw Escobar out of the ring.
Mysterio caught Kross with a seated senton. Escobar sent Mysterio into Kross, hitting a hurricanrana. Moss recovered and ran wild on Escobar and Kross.
Escobar and Mysterio squared off one-on-one. Escobar caught Mysterio with a dropkick. Mysterio fought back and set up for the 619, but Kross made the save.
Back from the break, Moss ran wild with running shoulder tackles on all three. Moss then hit a spinebuster on Kross for a near fall. Mysterio took out Kross with a DDT. Escobar took advantage and hit the Phantom Driver on Mysterio, but Moss broke up the pin attempt.
Moss and Escobar fought on the top rope. Escobar got the better of Moss and hit a hurricanrana for a two-count.
Mysterio hit the 619 on Kross, but Scarlet tripped him up. Kross hit Mysterio in the back of the head, knocking him out. Escobar then tackled Kross to ringside. Moss took advantage and hit a flying elbow for the surprise win.
Moss challenges Gunther for the Intercontinental title next week.
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Jimmy Uso-Paul Heyman Segment
In the locker room, Paul Heyman approached Jimmy Uso. He just got off the phone with Roman Reigns. He admitted that Jimmy was right that Jey would have his back. He told Jimmy that they had Montreal figured out.
Reigns have a special assignment for The Usos. He wants them to stay home to watch Elimination Chamber because you get a different perspective from watching TV. Heyman implied that Reigns saw Jey and Jimmy’s exchange about the Bloodline and Jey talking to Sami Zayn. Jimmy was skeptical.
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Next Week: Drew McIntyre & Sheamus take on The Viking Raiders. Plus, Natalya & Shotzi vs. Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler. Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends his title against Madcap Moss.