WWE SmackDown live results: Women’s Tag Team titles on the line
The build to Backlash continues as SmackDown takes place from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida tonight.
Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross will defend their titles against Bayley & Sasha Banks. The match was made after Banks defeated Bliss in a singles match last week.
Jeff Hardy will explain his side of the story of last week’s hit-and-run angle. Last Friday’s show opened with the revelation that Elias had been hit by a car outside of the Performance Center. Hardy was taken into custody but returned at the end of the show and attacked Sheamus. WWE announced that Hardy “was released from custody by the Orlando police after successfully passing the required sobriety tests, therefore absolving Hardy of the charges of public intoxication, driving under the influence, and the hit-and-run on Elias.”
Hardy and Elias were taken out of WWE’s Intercontinental title tournament as part of the hit-and-run angle. Daniel Bryan wanted to face a new opponent, but AJ Styles wanted to advance automatically. Bryan ended up facing Sheamus in last week’s main event and got the win after Sheamus was distracted by Hardy.
Ahead of next week’s IC title tournament finals, Bryan and Styles will take part in a face-to-face segment tonight.
Universal Champion Braun Strowman is defending his title against The Miz & John Morrison in a handicap match at Backlash. WWE.com is teasing that Miz & Morrison have a surprise for Strowman tonight.
Our coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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In the back, Jeff Hardy spoke with a bunch of guys.
They recapped the hit and run angle involving Jeff Hardy and Elias last week.
Jeff Hardy made his way down to the ring. Michael Cole gave on update on Elias’s injuries.
Hardy thanked WWE and FOX for giving him the time to speak. He discussed the hit and run incident and Elias’ injuries.
Hardy gave his version of events. He noted he arrived at the WWE Performance Center, and suddenly something hit him in the back of his head. The next thing Hardy knew, he was being handcuffed and smelt like alcohol.
Hardy questioned himself and felt he let his wife and daughters down again.
Hardy noted he passed every sobriety test at the police station last week. A witness showed up and revealed they saw a person with red hair and beard run out of the car. Hardy pointed out that Sheamus fits that description.
Sheamus came out. He said Hardy’s in denial and can’t accept responsibility for his actions. Sheamus demanded Hardy be a man and admit what he did. Sheamus said Hardy’s not a man. He’s just a junkie.
Sheamus said Hardy doesn’t have to worry about letting down his wife and daughters because they’re used to it.
Hardy attacked Sheamus, and they brawled on the stage.
Sheamus took over and beat down Hardy.
He threw Hardy into the barricade and around ringside. This was a fine opening segment.
In the back, Otis and Mandy Rose passed by a chair with King Corbin’s crown. Otis took the crown. Rose was very impressed, and they walked off.
Corbin walked up and noticed his crown was gone. He was furious when he found out that Otis took it.
Otis (w/Mandy Rose) defeated King Corbin
There wasn’t much to this match. Otis and Corbin worked a slow pace, and it dragged with the finish coming out of nowhere. Otis had the early advantage and clotheslined Corbin to the floor. They brawled around ringside. Corbin took over after pushing Otis into the apron. Otis avoided Corbin’s around the ring post clothesline, but Corbin hit a spinebuster for a near fall.
Corbin backed Otis in the corner and rocked him with body shots. Corbin jumped on Otis’ back, but Otis backed him into the corner. Corbin hit a series of kicks, but Otis absorbed all the shots.
Otis made a fiery come back and hit a splash in the corner. Otis teased the caterpillar, but Corbin rolled out of the ring.
Corbin hit Otis with a chair for the disqualification. Otis absorbed the chair shots and made another comeback. Otis then hit the caterpillar on Corbin.
The Miz and John Morrison were sitting in a white van with spying equipment. They watched Universal Champion Braun Strowman arrive.
Back from the break, The Miz & John Morrison talked about annoying co-workers. They noted that some people might say what they’re about to do next is senseless and idiotic. They promised to make Strowman’s life a living hell until Backlash.
Miz and Morrison watched as Strowman put water in his bottle. Suddenly, his protein shake exploded and went everywhere. Miz and Morrison laughed and mocked Strowman. This is an interesting way to build the Universal Championship match.
Kayla Braxton tried to interview Shorty G, but Mojo Rawley interrupted. He mocked Shorty G and made a bunch of short jokes. Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura showed up. The three heels beat down Shorty G until The New Day made the save.
Lacey Evans made her way down to the ring, but Sonya Deville jumped her before she made it to the ring.
Lacey Evans defeated Sonya Deville
They had a basic match that dragged at times, but they worked hard. Deville is great in her role. Evans took over and hit a slingshot elbow for a near fall. Deville rocked Evans with a shot to the stomach. Evans fought back, but Deville caught Evans with a big boot.
Deville slowed the pace down and stood on Evans’ hair. Evans recovered and nailed Deville with a series of knees. Evans then tried rolling up Deville but she fell into the referee. The referee went down and grabbed his leg. He couldn’t get up and yelled to the back for help. Evans and Deville just stood around.
A bunch of referees ran out and told Deville and Evans to wait. They abruptly cut to commercial.
Back from the break, Deville was firmly in control. The match continued with a new referee. During the break, Deville attacked Evans as officials took the original referee out of the ring.
Deville pulled Evans to the apron and dropped her on the back of her head. Evans fought back and hit a series of knees. Evans followed up with a moonsault for a close near fall. Deville dropped Evans on the top rope and hit a running knee for a near fall.
Mandy Rose appeared on the big screen. She mocked Deville and called her a failure.
Deville freaked out and called her barbie doll. Suddenly, Evans rocked Deville with the woman’s right for the win.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves announced Shorty G & The New Day versus Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura & Mojo Rawley later tonight.
The showed a Matt Riddle video package.
Kayla Braxton interviewed Universal Champion Braun Strowman in the back.
The Miz & Morrison were watching from the van. They pressed a button, and green slim fell on Braxton but was meant for Strowman. Strowman knew it was Miz and Morrison and apologized. Braxton was furious and walked off. Miz and Morrison were upset at first but laughed that they got Braxton.
Renee Young was in the ring with the Intercontinental Championship title. She introduced her guests Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles. Styles knows that Bryan’s going to call him a coward because he took the bye to the finals. Bryan noted Styles shows traits of being a coward.
Styles pointed out he did the smart thing by taking the bye, but Bryan is stupid for taking on Sheamus last week. Bryan noted they have two very different world views. Bryan’s vision of being the I.C. champion is defending the title every week against upcoming stars and veterans.
Styles noted he doesn’t give handouts. He mocked Drew Gulak and said, that’s another handout. Bryan and Styles were good in this segment. It was a simple segment as they both want to win the I.C. title but have different views on what type of champion to be.
Styles decided to give Gulak an opportunity and challenged Gulak to a match. Gulak came out and tackled Styles.
Drew Gulak (w/Daniel Bryan) defeated AJ Styles
This was a good hard-hitting, and fast-paced match with a surprise ending.
Styles had the early advantage and backed Gulak in the corner. Gulak recovered and avoided a leapfrog. He attacked Styles’s shoulder, but Styles made it to the ropes to break the hold.
Styles rocked Gulak with elbows and chops in the corner. Styles hit a unique backbreaker for a close near fall. Gulak fired back, but Styles decapitated him with a hard clothesline.
Styles slowed the pace down with a chin lock. Gulak fired back with hard shots in the corner.
Gulak hit a shotgun dropkick and release suplex. He followed up with a Michinoku Driver for a very close near fall.
Styles poked Gulak in the eye to regain control. He followed up with an inverted DDT. Styles taunted Bryan and set up for the Styles clash. Gulak reversed and rolled up Styles for the surprise win.
In the parking lot, The Miz & John Morrison approached Braun Strowman’s car. They destroyed the windshield with a golf club and baseball bat. They laughed and can’t wait to see Strowman’s reaction. Miz and Morrison returned to the white van.
Shorty G & The New Day defeated Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura & Mojo Rawley
This was a good six-man tag team match that featured a lot of fast-paced action. Shorty G charged at Cesaro, but he caught him. Shorty G rolled through and scored a near fall. Cesaro rocked Big E with an uppercut, and Rawley hit a running cross-body for a near fall.
Shorty G hit an assisted moonsault on Nakamura, and Big E followed up with a big splash. Kingston then hit a frog splash off the second turnbuckle for a near fall.
Kingston hit a dive to the floor, wiping out Cesaro and Nakamura but injured his knee. Rawley then charged at Kingston and rocked him with a vicious shoulder tackle.
Back from the break, the heels were firmly in control and isolated Kingston on their side of the ring. Shorty G got the hot tag and ran wild. He hit a flying crossbody on Rawley and gave Cesaro a massive belly to belly suplex.
Shorty G followed up with a huge moonsault on Rawley for a close near fall. Shorty G applied the ankle lock on Rawley but Nakamura hit a running knee to break the hold.
Rawley hit the hyperdrive on Shorty G for a near fall. Big E made the blind tag and hit the Big Ending on Rawley for the win. Shorty G prevented Cesaro and Nakamura from interfering.
In the parking lot, Braun Strowman discovered his destroyed car and freaked out. The security guard told Strowman that Miz and Morrison are hiding in the white van. Miz and Morrison were mocking Strowman from inside the van.
Strowman tried getting in the van. He couldn’t get in, so he flipped it over instead. He laughed and walked off.
All of these segments came across like a cartoon. It did very little to build anticipation for the Universal Championship match at Backlash.
Michael Cole and Corey Graves announced Jeff Hardy versus Sheamus at Backlash.
Bayley & Sasha Banks defeated Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross to win the Women’s Tag Team Championship
This was a good main event that continues to build tension between Banks and Bayley.
Cross jumped Bayley to start the match. The faces had the early advantage and isolated Bayley in their corner.
Bayley fought back and backed Bliss in the corner. The heels took over and kept Bliss on their side of the ring.
Bliss rolled up Bayley for a near fall. The faces regained control, and Cross hit a running bulldog on Bayley. Cross followed up with a flying crossbody off the apron. Banks distracted Cross, and Bayley knocked her out of the ring. Banks followed up with the Meteora off the apron on Cross.
Back from the break, the heels were firmly in control. They isolated Cross on their side of the ring. Banks hit running double knees in the corner for a near fall.
Banks slowed the pace down with a front face lock. Cross fought back, and Bliss got the hot tag. Bliss ran wild and scored a near fall.
Bliss attempted Twisted Bliss, but Banks tripped her up. Bayley hit the Bayley-to-Belly off the top, and Banks hit a running knee for a near fall.
Bliss fought back and sent Banks face-first into the turnbuckle.
Cross gave Bayley a tornado DDT on the floor. Bliss then hit a sunset bomb on Banks for a close near fall.
Banks tried to make a tag, but Bayley was on the floor. Banks hit the Bank Statement, but Bayley made the blind tag and made Banks leave the ring. Banks wasn’t happy.
Banks tagged back in and locked the Bank Statement on Cross. Bliss tried to make the save, but Bayley cut her off. Cross tried to roll up Banks, but Banks countered into the crucifix to win the Women’s tag team championships.
Banks and Bayley were over the moon and celebrated their win.
Next Week: Daniel Bryan takes on AJ Styles in the finals of the Intercontinental Championship tournament.