WWE SmackDown live results: Triple H addresses WrestleMania press conference
One day after the WrestleMania 40 press conference in Las Vegas, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H will address Thursday night’s events.
At the press conference, Cody Rhodes announced his intentions to challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. The Rock slapped Rhodes as the event wound down, prompting Rhodes, The Rock, Reigns, and Seth Rollins to be separated.
The Rock and Reigns were angry at Rhodes for talking about their family. They warned Triple H to fix the situation.
Also on tap tonight, Bayley is scheduled to discuss why she left Damage CTRL last week. Bayley will challenge IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.
DIY will take on Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate. The winners of the match advance to Elimination Chamber to challenge Judgment Day for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles.
Bianca Belair will square off against Michin in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match as well. Plus, Nick Aldis will reveal United States Champion Logan Paul’s Elimination Chamber challenger.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– Corey Graves welcomed everyone into the show as video of Triple H walked backstage. A video recapping the WrestleMania XL press conference from Thursday aired. Back in the arena, Triple H’s music hit and out, he came.
The Triple H segment
It’s hard for me to think if you’re a WWE fan that you don’t know about what happened last night, but Hunter did a nice job of solidifying what we all thought was coming after last night. I’m not sure how they shoot the press conference angle and don’t immediately follow that up with Rock and Roman the next night on SmackDown, but I’m just a guy with a keyboard. Plus, there is a PLE in two weeks that they have to start to put together. Anyway, I was expecting a little more from this, but basic isn’t always bad.
Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were already in the ring for the segment. The crowd chanted “Triple H!” Hunter opened by saying it feels like they are on the road to WrestleMania. He followed that up by saying the press conference Thursday kicked off the journey down the road to WrestleMania. The crowd chanted “Rocky sucks!” Hunter said it felt like there was confusion in the air because “some people don’t know their role.”
Hunter mentioned that someone tried to assert their authority, and they don’t have authority. He followed that up by saying there’s only one person who has authority and it’s him. Hunter then made the announcement that Roman Reigns will defend his title against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania. The crowd chanted “Cody!” Hunter said his decision might disappoint some people, but (in a Rock voice) “It doesn’t matter if you don’t like that decision.” Hunter finished up by saying “Welcome to the road to WrestleMania.”
Aldis stepped forward and brought up Seth Rollins and the World Heavyweight Championship. Aldis said that Rollins’s challenger at WrestleMania will be determined at the Elimination Chamber. Aldis then handed things off to Pearce, who announced Randy Orton, Bronson Reed, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul, AJ Styles, The Miz, Bobby Lashley, Ivar, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, LA Knight and Dominik Mysterio will compete in separate matches to determine who will wrestle at Elimination Chamber. Pearce then announced that McIntyre will face Styles will take place right now in the first qualifying match.
McIntyre walked out with a microphone and Drew thanked everyone for feeling the same way about CM Punk as he does. Drew said Punk won’t get any profits from the t-shirt that Drew has been wearing featuring Punk’s grave. McIntyre took credit for Cody choosing Roman and said “you’re welcome” to the crowd. McIntyre said he’s going to save the world title by winning the Elimination Chamber and he would give WWE a champion who is best for business. Styles made his entrance and the show went to a commercial break.
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– Sami Zayn and Randy Orton were shown arriving to the building earlier in the day. Those two will face off in the second Elimination Chamber qualifying match of the night.
– As the Styles/McIntyre match was about to begin, LA Knight’s music hit and Knight walked to the ring to sit in on commentary.
Drew McIntyre defeated AJ Styles to qualify for the Elimination Chamber [11:18]
A pretty good WWE television match. It was a nice touch to see McIntyre on SmackDown if only because it made the match feel fresher than some opening matches have felt in recent weeks/months. At first glance, my guess is Styles costs Knight his spot in the Chamber whenever Knight has his match and Styles and Knight work together at the Chamber, but feel free to rub it in when that prediction turns out to be wrong. Also of note: Wow, that bump Styles took from the top rope to the floor towards the end of the match looked wild for a regular, old SmackDown match. Kudos to him for going for it.
Styles went after McIntyre’s knee to begin the match. McIntyre chopped the hell out of Styles, though, and that took Styles down. Styles went for a splash, but McIntyre caught Styles and slammed Styles. McIntyre hit more chops until Styles stood right back up and chopped McIntyre, who eventually hit a back-breaker to keep control. Styles fired up with a dropkick and went back to Drew’s knee. Styles went to the top and McIntyre chopped Styles off the top to the floor outside. From there, McIntyre threw Styles into the timekeeper’s area as the show went to a commercial break.
Back from that break, the match was in the ring and Styles landed a tornado DDT. Styles followed that up by kicking McIntyre’s knee and landing a running elbow. Styles fired the crowd up so I guess he’s a babyface again? Styles set up for a Styles Clash, but McIntyre countered and ran Styles into a corner. McIntyre lifted Styles and went to the second rope, but Styles countered that into a running powerbomb for a two-count. A “This is awesome!” chant broke out.
Styles tried to lift McIntyre, but Drew got out of it and landed a Future Shock DDT. McIntyre sold knee pain while setting up for his finisher. Drew ran at Styles, but Styles moved and worked a calf crusher until McIntyre made it to the ropes for a break. Styles went for a springboard move, but McIntyre caught Styles and threw him to the floor, where Styles hit an enziguri before McIntyre threw Styles over the commentary table. Knight poured water on Styles and that made Styles mad. Drew then hit Styles and rolled him back into the ring. Styles rolled McIntyre up, but Knight distracted the referee. As a result, McIntyre followed that up with a Claymore Kick and got the win.
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– Kayla Braxton interviewed Sami Zayn backstage. Zayn said nothing is certain in WWE around WrestleMania season. Zayn noted how he was in the main event of WrestleMania last year and this year, he’s watching as his window for this year is closing fast. Zayn said Randy Orton is one of the best to ever be in a WWE ring. Zayn said it won’t be an easy path to get to WrestleMania, but it’s a path, so he’ll take it.
– Footage of NASCAR champion Ryan Blankey arriving to the building earlier today aired.
– Pretty Deadly were shown walking outside. They looked to the sky and Queen Elizabeth appeared. Kit Wilson showed the effects Pete Dunne’s work on his hand in last week’s match. Wilson and Prince then yelled “Yes boy!” as the segment ended. Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne – as well as #DIY – were shown warming up for their match backstage.
– A video recapping the Damage CTRL breakup from last week aired. Bayley was then shown arriving to the building earlier in the day. Bianca Belair made her entrance for the next match.
Bianca Belair defeated Michin to qualify for the Elimination Chamber [7:07]
This was nice in that Michin got more shine than I anticipated she would. It was also a welcome touch to see Belair become borderline obsessed with the WrestleMania sign, signaling how much it would mean to her to punch her ticket to the show. Yeah, two minutes of this was lost to commercial, but all told, this was a pleasant surprise, if only because of how gracious Belair was for Michin, taking her finisher, giving her a lot of offense, etc. Michin is a weird one these days. It’s hard to expect she’ll ever win whatever match she is in, but she’s had some pretty good outings lately, and her match with IYO SKY was a fun television title bout. This was one of the better women’s matches on SmackDown recently.
Michin started fast and Belair ended up on the outside of the ring. Michin then kicked Belair and the show went to a commercial break. The show returned and both women were down inside the ring. The two traded blows until Michin landed a series of kicks and a neck-breaker. Michin went for a Cannonball, but Belair moved and hit a back-breaker. Belair was on the top rope and Michin landed a super-plex for a two-count. Michin went for Eat Defeat, but Belair countered into a KOD attempt. Michin worked out of it and did hit Eat Defeat, but Belair rolled to the outside. Back inside the ring, Michin set up for a Styles Clash, but Belair back-body-dropped her way out of it, kit the KOD and that was it.
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– Bron Breakker and Triple H were shown talking backstage. Hunter said Bron has been impressive and he’s anxious to see what he can do on the main roster. Breakker said he wanted to pick Hunter’s brain about where he thinks Bron should go. Paul Heyman walked into the frame out of nowhere and shook Bron’s hand. Breakker then left the scene and Hunter asked Heyman what Heyman wanted. Heyman said he’d give Hunter some space, but he’ll be back next week and when he’s back next week, he’s going to bring Roman Reigns and The Rock.
The Bayley segment
Umpf. And I say that respectfully. I root for Bayley as a performer. I really do. And I’m inclined to like Dakota Kai, too. But I’m still a little confused about how this ended. Kai looked like she was going to attack Bayley, she then kind of/sort of tried to, but Bayley moved and Kai kind of/sort of hit SKY and then followed that up by trying to hit Asuka and Sane … but Kai initially came at Bayley, right? Or am I imagining things? Kai and Bayley standing tall and together in the middle of the ring to end the segment (I guess?) suggests they’re aligned in some way, but perhaps not? I’m not sure what they were trying to accomplish, but whatever that was, I don’t think they did it. On the bright side, at least the crowd seems to be fully behind Bayley, which is fun to see again after so many years of her being a heel.
Bayley soaked in cheers as she stood in the ring. Bayley said she’s been having a tough time trying to put words together about what happened last week. The crowd chanted “Bayley!” and Bayley smiled. Bayley said maybe she had it coming last week, but right now, she and the fans “are cool right now.” Bayley noted how the fans know how much she gives to pro wrestling. Bayley said Damage CTRL meant everything to her and “You deserve it!” chants broke out. Bayley said Damage CTRL was her family and she always put the group ahead of herself. She said all Damage CTRL did was take from her.
Bayley said she thought her former stablemates would be happy for her after she won the Royal Rumble, but she knew they were talking about her behind her back. Bayley said at WrestleMania, SKY is going to learn the hard way. Dakota Kai interrupted things without music and walked to the ring saying she’s been worried Bayley had been ghosting her. Kai said she was put in a tough spot, but she always believed in Damage CTRL. Bayley asked Kai why she didn’t tell Bayley what was happening. Kai said she and Bayley were like sisters and they always had each other’s back. Kai said she wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for Bayley.
Kai touted Bayley winning the Royal Rumble. Kai said she thought the situation with Kairi Sane and Asuka would blow over, but it didn’t. Bayley asked Kai where she stands. Before Kai could answer, IYO SKY’s music hit and out came SKY, Asuka and Sane. Kai rolled out of the ring and Sane, Asuka and SKY surrounded Bayley. Kai grabbed a chair and set up to hit Bayley, but instead, Kai hit Sane and SKY with the chair. Kai looked confused and dropped the chair. “Hug it out!” chants began. Bayley’s music hit to end the segment as both Kai and Bayley looked confused and reluctant.
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– Kayla Braxton interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton recalled Zayn’s words that it’s not a given that people make it to WrestleMania. Orton recalled how he was injured for ‘Mania last year. Orton said he learned patience because of that. Orton said he plans on getting to the Elimination Chamber and the three most destructive letter in all of sports entertainment are “RKO.”
– Turns out, Bronson Reed and Bobby Lashley will be one of the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches.
Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne defeated #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa) to advance to face the Judgment Day at Elimination Chamber [8:28]
Hey there. I didn’t know I was covering AEW’s Rampage again. Or. I went to a SmackDown and an AEW tag team match broke out. Or … all right, that’s enough. This was a lot of fun and not what we’re used to seeing on WWE TV. You could tell all four guys wanted to go out and burn the place down and they pretty much did just that. Good on them, too, because the crowd got behind them at various spots and it felt like both teams benefited from this match, no matter the winner. I don’t know what Triple H has up his sleeve for Dunne and Bate, but I’m not going to complain about this little push they’re receiving. Considering the earlier Pretty Deadly vignette, my guess is they figure into Dunne and Bate losing at the Chamber, but the match should be pretty good before it gets there. This was really fun.
Bate and Gargano started the match and shook hands. They traded a ton of pin attempts. Dunne tagged in and shoulder-blocked Gargano to the canvas. Ciampa tagged in and took Dunne down before the action spilled outside, where things broke down and Gargano landed a splash on Bate. Gargano and Ciampa did the pat-themselves-on-the-back thing and the show went to a commercial break. Back from that break, Ciampa was cleaning house and landed an inverted DDT on Bate for a two-count.
All four were in the ring again and Gargano landed an assisted Poison-Rana on Dunne. Gargano hit a discuss lariat on Bate, but before long, Bate worked an airplane spin/swing combination on Ciampa and Gargano. Dunne got back into the mix and stomped on Gargano’s hands. Ciampa tagged in and kneed Bate. Ciampa hit a Project Ciampa on Bate for a good near-fall. Bate and Ciampa traded strikes and Bate got the best of it until Ciampa kneed Bate in the head and tagged in Gargano.
Gargano was bleeding from the nose (I think). Bate hit a double clothesline on Gargano and Ciampa. Bate hit a suicide dive on Ciampa outside the ring. Meanwhile, inside the ring, Dunne landed the Bitter End on Gargano for the win.
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– Byron Saxton interviewed Dominik Mysterio backstage and Dom said he’s going to win Elimination Chamber. Dom said he doesn’t care who he has to face in a qualifying match … and Kevin Owens walked into the shot saying he will face Dom next week in a qualifying match. Owens said he’s going to beat Dom next week and dedicate the win to Rey Mysterio. R-Truth then showed up and called Owens “Miz.” The crowd chanted “We want Truth” very loudly.
– Pearce and Aldis were shown talking backstage. Logan Paul walked into the room and complained about being in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Paul whined about having to wrestle next week in Utah. Paul said he should be getting “The Rock Treatment,” but said he’ll still do it, even though he won’t be happy about it. Aldis said next week, Paul will face The Miz on next week’s SmackDown to qualify for the Elimination Chamber.
– Next week, Logan Paul vs. The Miz and Kevin Owens vs. Dominik Mysterio will take place. Also, Shotzi vs. Tiffany Stratton and Naomi vs. Zelina Vega will happen. All four matches will be Elimination Chamber qualifying matches.
Randy Orton defeated Sami Zayn to qualify for the Elimination Chamber [10:50]
Poor Sami Zayn. The guy was in the middle of the hottest his career has ever been in pro wrestling last year around this time and 12 months later, he feels … directionless? Kind of. Maybe. Probably. Much like I do for Bayley, I root for Zayn, but he feels cold now and the prospects of that changing soon seem slim. In the meantime, he worked hard here and along with Orton, produced a good-enough match. Of all the matches tonight, this suffered the most from predictability – Randy Orton isn’t missing the Elimination Chamber, friends – but that didn’t stop both guys from going out there and doing what they could to get the crowd up. With McIntyre and Orton as the first two who secured their spot in the Chamber, it should be fun to see who joins them as the weeks unfold.
Orton had control early. It wasn’t long until Orton found himself on the outside and Orton walked around the ring. Back in the ring, Orton worked a series of punches, until Zayn turned things around and worked his own punches. Orton returned the favor and finished things with a European Uppercut. The two went outside the ring and Zayn hopped on the barricade and landed a moonsault on Orton. Zayn tried to another dive, but Orton caught him with a forearm. Zayn then slammed Orton on the commentary table and the show went to its final commercial break of the night.
When the show returned, Zayn was pounding on Orton inside the ring. Zayn landed a tornado DDT for a two-count. Zayn went to the top, but Orton cut him off. Orton hit a super-plex from the top. Zayn eventually fought back with some shoulder blocks. Orton came back with a series of clotheslines and a snap powerslam. Orton set up for a draping DDT, but instead, Zayn dumped Orton to the outside and Zayn landed a suicide dive. Orton then slammed Zayn on the commentary table.
From there, Orton ultimately hit the draping DDT. Orton set up for the RKO, but Zayn rolled Orton up for a two-count. Zayn followed that up with a Blue Tunder Bomb for a good near fall. Zayn tried a springboard move off the second rope, but Orton moved, hit an RKO and that was enough for the win.
After the match, Drew McIntyre stepped into the ring. Orton and McIntyre jawed at each other to close the show.
