WWE SmackDown live results: WrestleMania SmackDown
WWE’s WrestleMania weekend officially kicks off with tonight’s SmackDown from Los Angeles.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns meets Cody Rhodes face-to-face one last time ahead of WrestleMania. Reigns vs. Rhodes is headlining night two of WrestleMania 39 this Sunday.
Tension between Drew McIntyre & Sheamus continues to build, but they’re set to team up tonight against Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci. Sheamus and McIntyre are challenging Gunther for the Intercontinental title in a triple threat match at WrestleMania.
The Andre the Giant Battle Royal returns tonight. It will feature: Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Xavier Woods, Baron Corbin, Karrion Kross, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, Madcap Moss, Elias, Rick Boogs, Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler, Butch, Ridge Holland, Dexter Lumis, Santos Escobar, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, Top Dolla, Humberto Carrillo, Angel Garza, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Mace, Mansoor, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro.
Plus, Raquel Rodriguez, Natalya, Shayna Baszler, and Sonya Deville face off in a fatal four-way bout. It will be a preview of the women’s WrestleMania Showcase four-team tag match.
Our live coverage starts at 8 pm Eastern time.
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The Usos/Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Segment
Unsurprisingly, The Usos, Kevin Owens, and Zayn were excellent in the segment. They each cut a passionate promo while planting seeds for The Usos leaving The Bloodline.
The Usos entered the ring to a loud reaction. Jimmy and Jey started discussing WrestleMania 39 when Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens interrupted. Zayn agreed that tomorrow night would be the biggest tag team match in WWE history. Zayn said that’s tomorrow night. Tonight they have something to say to The Usos.
Owens admitted to feeling conflicted. When Owens first arrived in WWE, The Usos were the first guys to welcome him. Owens would bring his son backstage, and The Usos would hang out with him. He lost all respect when they started doing Roman Reigns’ bidding. Owens was furious that The Usos tried to end his career at the Royal Rumble. They tried to take away the way he supports his family. If it weren’t for Zayn, he wouldn’t be standing there now. Owens promised to beat them for the titles at WrestleMania.
Jimmy pointed out that Zayn and Owens go from being friends to enemies and back to friends. He noted Jimmy and Jey are blood.
Zayn interrupted. He pointed out that loyalty is stronger than blood. Zayn and Owens are loyal to each other. He claimed Reigns isn’t loyal to Jimmy and Jey. Zayn promised they’d win the titles, end the Bloodline, and The Usos could go back to being themselves. The guys they were when Owens first arrived in WWE.
Jey seemed conflicted at first. He changed his tone and told them what was going to happen tomorrow. The Usos will retain their titles, and Owens will backstab Zayn. When the dust settles tomorrow night, The Usos will still be the Undisputed Tag Team Champions. As The Usos walked off, the Street Profits made their way to the ring. They had a brief staredown.
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Fatal Four-way: Ricochet (w/Braun Stowman) defeated Montez Ford (w/Angelo Dawkins), Chad Gable (w/Otis), and Erik (w/Ivar & Valhalla) (9:36)
Phenomenal fatal four-way to start the night. It was fast-paced, with tons of action and an excellent finish.
They paired off at the bell, trading shots. Ford and Ricochet sent Gable and Erik to ringside. They bumped into each other and squared off. They went back and forth but came to a standstill. So, Ford started dancing. Gable jumped in the ring but started dancing until Ford and Ricochet hit a double dropkick. They sent Erik to the floor, allowing Ricochet to dance.
Erik and Gable caught Ford and Ricochet when they both went for a plancha. Erik hit a power slam on Ford as Gable gave Ricochet a suplex. Back in the ring, Ricochet briefly regained control. Valhalla caused a distraction, allowing Erik to take over. Gable blindsided Erik with a clothesline as they went to a break.
Erik hit a superplex back from the break. Ford fired up and ran wild until Ricochet cut him off. Gable appeared out of nowhere and hit a rolling German suplex for a very close near fall. Ford hit a huge flip dive wiping out the heels. The finish came when Ford hit a huge frog splash on Gable but bounced off. That allowed Ricochet to hit the shooting star press on Gable for the win.
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– Roman Reigns met up with The Usos, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman in the locker room.
– An excellent video package previewed the Charlotte Flair-Rhea Ripley feud.
– In the back, an employee exited The Great Muta’s locker room with green mist covering his face.
Bobby Lashley Won The The Andre the Giant Battle Royal (14:30)
Participants: Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Xavier Woods, Baron Corbin, Karrion Kross, Bronson Reed, Johnny Gargano, Madcap Moss, Elias, Rick Boogs, Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler, Butch, Ridge Holland, Dexter Lumis, Santos Escobar, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, Top Dolla, Humberto Carrilo, Angel Garza, Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, Otis, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Ma.ce, Man.soor, Joaquin Wilde, Angelo Dawkins, and Cruz Del Toro
One of the best Andre the Giant Battle Royals of the last few years. Everyone worked really hard, with the fans giving the match a great reaction. They tried telling various stories with different guys. LA Knight was the biggest babyface despite not getting an entrance.
All of the participants entered the ring together except for Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman, who got separate entrances. A video package looked back at Andre The Giant’s career and the creation of the battle royal.
Within seconds, Corbin was the first one eliminated. Cole picked Top Dolla to win and took a shot at him for the botch from months ago. Lashley then dumped out Hit Row. Lumis and Gargano worked together to eliminate the Models. Otis had an impressive showing as he threw out Gallows. Boogs and Elias eliminated Otis. Los Lotharios took advantage and threw out Elias. Boogs snapped and tossed out Garza and Carrillo as they cut to a commercial.
Moss threw out Lumis as Kross tossed out Woods. Ali and Ziggler fought on the apron. Knight took advantage and knocked Ali off the apron to a huge pop. Kross put the Kross jacket on Knight to loud boos. Lashley and Kross squared off to a big reaction. Reed and Strowman went face-to-face, but Lashley interrupted by throwing out Ziggler.
Reed, Lashley, and Strowman fought. Gargano and Butch fought in the middle of the ring. Everyone started hitting big moves, leading to Lashley dumping out Gargano. Reed dumped Butch over the ropes, but he landed on the apron. Reed then threw out Holland. Reed pushed Butch off the apron, but Holland caught him and put Butch on the apron. Reed eventually threw out Butch.
It came down to Knight, Reed, Lashley, and Strowman. The fans were going crazy for Knight. Reed threw out Knight to a chorus of loud boos. The fans chanted for Knight as he walked off. Strowman power slammed Lashley, but Reed took advantage and eliminated Strowman.
The final two were Lashley and Reed. Reed went for the splash, but Lashley moved. Reed recovered and tried to throw out Lashley, but he held on. Lashley fought back and threw out Reed for the win.
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– They showed a Cody Rhodes video package.
Fatal Four-Way: Raquel Rodriguez (w/Liv Morgan) defeated Shayna Baszler (w/Ronda Rousey), Natalya (w/Shotzi), and Sonya Deville (w/Chelsea Green) (2:52)
Natalya and Rodriguez cleared the ring to go one-on-one. Natalya rolled up Rodriguez, but Deville caught her with a knee to the face. Natalya got the sharpshooter on Deville.
Baszler took advantage and locked on the kirifuda clutch on Natalya. Rodriguez lifted both Baszler and Natalya on her shoulders. However, Deville used a chop block to take over. Everyone started hitting big moves, ending with Rodriguez hitting the powerbomb on Deville for the win.
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– In the Bloodline locker room, Heyman spoke with Reigns as Sikoa stood around looking mean.
– The Progressive Match Flo of the Week recapped the Rey Mysterio-Dominik Mysterio feud. It included Rey snapping on Dominik last week and Legado Del Fantasma saving Rey from a Judgement Day beatdown on last Monday’s Raw.
The LWO Returns
– As Rey Mysterio was getting ready for the Hall of Fame in the back, Legado Del Fantasma approached. Santos Escobar promised they would have his back again if Judgment Day tried getting involved at WrestleMania.
Rey liked that idea but feels they have to do it in style. He gave Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, and Zelina Vega each an LWO t-shirt. Rey proclaimed themselves as the new Latino World Order. Everyone celebrated.
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Drew McIntyre & Sheamus defeated Imperium (8:46)
McIntyre and Sheamus beat Imperium in a fun match revolving around McIntyre and Sheamus having problems.
McIntyre interrupted Sheamus’ entrance and introduction.
Gunther watched the match from the back.
Imperium had the early advantage as they backed McIntyre against the ropes. Sheamus tagged himself in and ran wild on Kaiser. After the ten beats of Bodhran, Sheamus set up for the Brogue kick, but McIntyre tagged himself into the ring. After a brief argument, Imperium jumped the faces. McIntyre and Sheamus recovered, clearing the ring.
Back from the break, Imperium was firmly in control. Sheamus fought back with the Irish Curse backbreaker. McIntyre got the hot tag and ran wild. He hit the neck breaker and set up for the Claymore. Instead, Sheamus tagged himself into the match. Vinci knocked Sheamus into McIntyre. Imperium was briefly in control, but Sheamus recovered. Sheamus hit the Brogue kick on Vinci for the win. Kaiser tried to break it up, but McIntyre took him out with the Claymore.
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– Micheal Cole and Wade Barrett ran down the WrestleMania lineups for Saturday and Sunday.
All Rhodes Lead To Roman Segment
Rhodes cut an excellent show-closing promo heading into WrestleMania weekend. Reigns and Rhodes had a brief interaction, but it was effective.
Cody Rhodes made his entrance to a massive pop. The fans broke into a loud “Cody” chant. Rhodes noted it’s the end of the road, and WrestleMania’s here. He’s done everything right this week to ensure he wins the Universal Championship Sunday night. However, right now, he feels unprepared. Rhodes is willing to talk about anything. He rapped a few bars from 2 Pac’s “California Love” to a huge reaction.
Rhodes thanked the fans for welcoming him back and bringing his audience with him. Rhodes mentioned Reigns mocking him for not being the guy in his own company. Rhodes thinks that’s funny since Reigns didn’t become the guy until year eight of his push. Rhodes introduced himself to Reigns as his successor.
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman interrupted to loud boos. Reigns took his time walking to the ring. The fans broke into a loud “Cody” chant. Reigns was about to demand that Los Angeles acknowledge him, but he stopped. He turned to Heyman and noted he didn’t care about any of them. Instead, he turned to Rhodes and demanded that he acknowledge him. Reigns and Rhodes went face-to-face as SmackDown went off the air. The WWE Hall of Fame is next on the WWE Network.
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