– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown
opens up with a video package hyping Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair and WWE Champion
Daniel Bryan vs. Mustafa Ali.
– We’re live from the T-Mobile
Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada as Tom Phillips welcomes us. He’s joined by Corey
Graves and Byron Saxton.
– We go right to the ring and
out comes WWE Champion Daniel Bryan as Greg Hamilton introduces him. We see a
clip from last week when Bryan tried to injure the leg of AJ Styles ahead of
their match at TLC on Sunday.
Fans boo as Bryan takes the
mic and looks around the crowd. Bryan says he called everyone sheep last week
and he wants to come out and apologize now…. apologize to the sheep that don’t
deserve to be compared to you idiots. Bryan says the sheep aren’t the ones
destroying the Earth with mindless consumption and their carbon footprints.
Bryan says the fans aren’t like sheep, they’re more like parasites. A “Daniel
sucks!” chant starts up. Bryan responds with a “Fickle!” and goes on about how
fans take and take with never giving anything back like parasites, especially
here in Las Vegas.
Bryan isn’t surprised because
the fans latched onto the old Daniel Bryan and the Yes Movement, living
vicariously through him. Guess what? The old Daniel Bryan is dead and the Yes
Movement is dead. But just like any parasite, the fans have moved onto the next
fickle field and now they all reside on the couch in the house that AJ Styles
built. Bryan raises the title and says he is the WWE Champion, not AJ. Bryan
says he will crush AJ’s dreams of becoming WWE Champion again at TLC on Sunday.
Bryan says at the end of the match the WWE Champion will be the new Daniel
Bryan. Fans boo. You don’t believe him? Fans respond with a “no!” chant. Bryan
goes on knocking the fans, calling them idiots. The music interrupts and out
comes Mustafa Ali.
Ali has a mic and walks to the
ring. Bryan introduces Ali and says he is the heart of WWE 205 Live, and he’s
an incredible performer. Bryan tells Ali he is an incredible performer. Bryan
says he sees a lot of himself in Ali. Bryan wants to give Ali some advice –
they don’t need to have this match tonight. Bryan says after the match, the
people won’t care because they’re too self-absorbed, too xenophobic, too
consumed with mindless consumption. Fans give Bryan the “what?!” treatment.
Bryan says the truth is these fickle people don’t deserve their match. Fans boo
and Bryan responds with a “fickle!” chant. Ali asks Bryan what happened to him.
Ali says Bryan inspired him and made him realize it was possible to become a
WWE Superstar. Ali talks about guys in the back looking up to him and about how
he had heart. Ali says Bryan keeps talking about the old Daniel Bryan but the
old Daniel Bryan would have fought and that’s what Ali wants to do, fight. A “fight!”
chant breaks out.
Bryan asks Ali what kind of
car he drives. Ali says he drives a SUV. Bryan calls him a small, little man
and asks why he would drive in a SUV. Ali says he has a wife and two small
children. Bryan interrupts with a slap to the face, sending Ali to the mat.
Bryan calls him ignorant and keeps hitting him. Ali fights back and gets the
upperhand. Ali knocks Bryan out of the ring and dropkicks him back to the
floor. Ali goes to the top and leaps out, taking Bryan back down on the floor.
Ali returns to the ring and plays to the crowd for a big pop. We go to
commercial.
DANIEL BRYAN
VS. MUSTAFA ALI
Back from the break and this
first-time-ever non-title match is already underway. Bryan drops Ali and works
him over while talking trash.
Bryan takes Ali to the corner
and beats him down. Bryan keeps Ali down and works him around the ring, taking
his time. Bryan starts working on the left leg now. Bryan keeps control and
stomps on Ali’s back. Bryan plays to the crowd for boos. Bryan with kicks to the
chest while Ali is on his knees. Some fans chant “yes!” while he kicks. Ali
avoids the last kick and drops Bryan for a 2 count.
Bryan retreats to the floor
for a breather. Ali with a baseball slide, sending Bryan back into the barrier.
Ali launches himself over the top rope but Bryan ends up catching him and
sending him face-first into the steel ring post. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Bryan
has Ali down in a Yes Lock in the middle of the ring. Ali makes it to the
bottom rope to break the hold. We see replays of how Ali hit a top rope Spanish
Fly during the commercial. Ali ends up missing the 054. Bryan goes back to work
on the leg and slams it into the ring post. Bryan ends up applying the Heel
Hook for the submission win.
WINNER: DANIEL
BRYAN
– After the match, Bryan
attacks Ali up on the ramp and beats him up some more. Bryan apples the Heel
Hook submission until referees come and breaks things up. Bryan takes the WWE
Title and raises it on the ramp as his music hits. The crowd responds with loud
boos.
– The announcers go over the
card for Sunday’s WWE TLC pay-per-view.
– We go back to the ring and
it’s time for the Rap Battle. Out comes The New Day – Kofi Kingston, Big E and
Xavier Woods. We go to commercial.
– Back from the break and The
Usos – Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso – are already out, as are SmackDown Tag Team
Champions The Bar – Cesaro and Sheamus. The New Day are in between the two
teams and they will be hosting the Rap Battle. Cesaro and Sheamus are dressed
like Run DMC in the 80s.
The New Day mentions how they
will become champions again at TLC on Sunday. Big E says for some ungodly
reason The Bar requested this battle, so they are up first. The Bar channels
their inner Vanilla Ice with their own version of his “Ice Ice Baby” hit. It’s
horrible. The Uso are up next. They take shots at the champions but their bars
aren’t much better. This leads to a “you look stupid!” chant at Sheamus.
The Usos’ rap goes long and
they go to make a threat for Sunday but The Bar attacks. The Usos avoid the attack,
causing The Bar to hit the floor. The New Day faces off with The Usos in the
middle of the ring. The Bar attacks from behind. Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick on
Big E and then they double team Jimmy. Sheamus and Cesaro raise the titles in
the middle of the ring while standing over Uso.
– The announcers hype Asuka
vs. Charlotte Flair for later tonight. We go backstage for a pre-recorded video
from Asuka. She talks about striking until she wins the title on Sunday at TLC
but first she will defeat Charlotte tonight.
– Still to come, Rusev and
Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and The
Miz is in the ring with the World Cup trophy. He says this week he has custody
of the trophy but he wants SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon to come out so
Miz can get some things off his chest. Miz say don’t make me beg. He gives in
and begs, dropping to one knee. Miz says this is about life choices and so much
more than Shane knows. He asks Shane to please come out. The money music hits
and Shane makes his way out.
Fans chant for Shane and he
gives a shout-out to Las Vegas. Shane asks Miz why he’s out here. Miz mentions
how Shane hasn’t returned his calls or texts, then goes on about how they could
be something big together in WWE. Miz says they could be the best tag team in
the world. Shane says this whole thing with the trophy is getting a little
weird. Miz says this isn’t about the trophy; it’s about so much more. Miz says
he’s going to do something he’s never told anyone before. He calls for a
referee to come out.
Fans chant for Shane again as
the referee enters the ring. Shane says he’s a little confused. Miz says
tonight, he and Shane will face two of the finest from Las Vegas. Out comes two
local enhancement talents, Chip and Chad – The Vegas Boys.
THE VEGAS BOYS
VS. THE MIZ AND SHANE MCMAHON
The bell rings and The Vegas
Boys immediately attack Shane from behind, laying him out near their corner
right in front of Miz, who is still holding the trophy.
Shane fights both jobbers off,
throwing one of them out of the ring. Shane fights the other jobber into the
corner and drops him. Shane, wearing jeans and a Polo, drops the guy again and
botches it. Shane ends up applying a triangle choke for the submission win.
WINNERS: SHANE
MCMAHON AND THE MIZ
– After the match, Shane looks
up at Miz like he’s useless as he never tagged in. Miz enters the ring and runs
a victory lap with the trophy in the air.
– Still to come, Asuka vs.
Flair. Back to commercial.
– Back from the break and
SmackDown General Manager Paige is in her office yelling at the referee for
officiating the last match without her permission. He blames it on The Miz. The
Vegas Boys walk in and hand her an invoice for $5,000. Paige rips it up in
their faces.
– We go to the ring and out
comes Randy Orton. Orton grabs a steel chair from ringside and brings it in the
ring as the announcers hype Orton vs. Rey Mysterio in the Chairs Match at TLC
on Sunday.
Orton says there’s nothing
like a good ol’ steel chair, especially for making a statement or sending a
message. Orton tells the producers to “roll the tape” and they finally start
showing a replay of Orton taking Rey’s mask three weeks ago and wrapping the
chair around his neck. Orton says that was good but we can do better, right?
Fans pop and agree. Orton tells them to roll the tape again and we see footage
from last week where Orton drove the chair into Rey’s throat. Orton can’t
believe Rey knows what he can do and is still OK with facing him in a Chairs
Match at TLC.
Orton says Rey is a victim and
he’s Orton’s victim, and victims never get revenge. Once a victim, always a
victim he says. Orton hypes TLC and says Rey only needs to be concerned with
the three most devastating letters in WWE – R… K… Rey suddenly attacks from behind
with a chair and lays Orton out. Rey works Orton over and hits 619. Orton
retreats up the ramp as Rey looks on from the ring, taunting him with the
chair.
– Kayla Braxton stops
SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch backstage and asks if Asuka & Charlotte
Flair taking each other out tonight is an advantage for Sunday’s TLC match.
Becky gives Flair and Asuka some props and says there is no advantage for her
because her first match back is against them both. Becky goes on and reveals
that she will be watching tonight’s match from ringside, scouting. Becky says
she can’t wait to remind the world just how much chaos can happen when The Man
comes around. Becky walks off.
– Still to come, Joe and
Nakamura vs. Hardy and Rusev. Back to commercial.
RUSEV AND JEFF
HARDY VS. SAMOA JOE AND SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
Back from the break and out
first is Jeff Hardy along with Rusev and Lana. Samoa Joe is out first for his
team, followed by WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura.
The bell rings but Carmella
and R-Truth interrupt from the ramp. They call for a dance break and the music
hits. They stop dancing and tell everyone to proceed. Nakamura takes advantage
of the distraction and kicks Hardy in the head from behind. Nakamura drives
knees into Hardy on the mat now. Joe tags in and keeps up the attack but Hardy
fights him off. Joe rolls to the floor and Hardy is out with him. Joe counters
a shot and launches Hardy into the barrier. We go to commercial.
Back from the break and Joe
keeps control of Hardy. Joe drops Hardy with a big kick in the corner. Nakamura
tags in and works Hardy over, keeping him near their corner. Nakamura places
Hardy on the top turnbuckle and drives a knee to the gut. Nakamura with a 2
count. Joe tags back in and kicks Hardy in the back. Joe puts a knee into
Hardy’s back now, keeping him grounded in the middle of the ring while talking
trash.
Fans start chanting for Hardy
as he fights up. Joe avoids the Twist of Fate but Hardy keeps fighting. Hardy
goes to the top and hits Whisper In the Wind as Rusev cheers him on. Fans do
the “Rusev Day!” chant now. Nakamura and Rusev tag in at the same time. Rusev
levels Nakamura and unloads with strikes. Rusev with a splash against the
ropes. Rusev goes on and hits a fall-away slam for a pop. Rusev with a running
shoulder in the corner and a spin kick. Rusev stands tall and poses for a pop.
Nakamura gets back up and fights Rusev off with back elbows. Rusev drops him
with another kick to the head for a 2 count as Joe breaks the pin up.
Hardy comes in with the Twist
of Fate to send Joe retreating to the floor. Hardy runs and leaps off the
apron, taking Joe back down on the floor. More back & forth in the ring
now. Nakamura avoids The Accolade. Rusev ends up flooring Nakamura with a big
jumping kick for the pin to win.
WINNERS: RUSEV
AND JEFF HARDY
– After the match, Lana enters
the ring to celebrate with Rusev and Hardy. They raise their arms in the middle
of the ring as Rusev’s music hits.
– Shane McMahon approaches The
Miz backstage, takes the World Cup trophy and says his behavior has crossed the
line, including paying people to attack and tricking a referee into calling a
match. Miz admits he did cross the line and goes on getting fired up, saying
he’s done a lot in his career but he’s never been considered the best in the
world until Shane came along. Miz extends his hand for a shake and says please.
Shane just walks off. Fans boo as Shane walks off with Miz looking on stunned
at him.
– Back from the break and we
get the latest “coming soon” vignette for WWE NXT Superstar Lars Sullivan.
– Tom leads us into a video
package for AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan at Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view. Kayla is
backstage with AJ now, asking if he’s prepared to take the WWE Title back on
Sunday. AJ says he’s biding his time because no one wants to beat the hell out
of Bryan like he does. AJ knew if he attacked Bryan earlier then Bryan wouldn’t
be able to compete on Sunday at TLC. AJ goes on about the new Daniel Bryan and
says there’s only one AJ, and he knows how aggressive he needs to get on Sunday
to take the title back. AJ walks off.
ASUKA VS.
CHARLOTTE FLAIR
We go to the ring and out
comes Asuka for tonight’s main event, a rematch from WrestleMania 35. Back to
commercial.
Back from the break and Kayla
Braxton is backstage with Charlotte Flair, asking about tonight’s main event
and the women’s TLC Triple Threat on Sunday. Flair says tonight Asuka and The
Man will get a preview of what will happen to them on Sunday when they bow down
to the queen. Flair walks off and heads to the ring, making her way out. Flair
and Asuka wait for the match to begin but the music interrupts and out comes
SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch to a pop.
The bell rings and they size
each other up for a second. Flair charges with a big boot but Asuka moves and
goes to work as Becky watches from a chair at ringside. Flair blocks a Hip
Attack but Asuka drops her and tries to lock in a knee bar. Flair gets free and
they size each other up again. Flair with stiff chops. Asuka counters and hits
a big German suplex. Flair dodges the Hip Attack and drops Asuka. Flair goes to
the top for a moonsault but Asuka gets her knees up.
Asuka turns the moonsault
counter into an Asuka Lock attempt but Flair resists. Flair stands up with
Asuka on her back. Flair drives Asuka back into the mat. Asuka pulls Flair into
the Asuka Lock in the middle of the ring but Flair resists as Asuka tries to
get it locked in. Flair makes it to the bottom rope and the hold is broken. We
go back to commercial.
Back from the break and they
trade shots in the middle of the ring. Asuka unloads. Flair goes for a
neckbreaker but it’s blocked. Asuka with a standing submission in the middle of
the ring now. More back and forth on the mat now. Asuka with an armbar,
tightening the hold with Flair face down. Becky watches from ringside.
Flair looks to break free but
Asuka pulls her back into a triangle. Flair with punches to the face. Asuka
keeps the hold locked. Flair powers up and nails a sitdown powerbomb for a 2
count. Flair and Asuka stare each other down as they get up from their knees,
taunting each other. Flair with a slap and some trash talking. Flair escapes a
pin attempt and applies the Figure Four in the middle of the ring.
Flair screams at Asuka to tap
to the Figure Four. Asuka finally reverses it and the hold is broken as Becky
looks on. Flair goes to work on Asuka’s left leg with a submission now. Flair
pulls Asuka back but Asuka kicks her. Flair drops a knee onto Asuka’s leg and
keeps her grounded with another submission. Flair with more strikes but she
can’t put Asuka away. Flair drags Asuka over and slams her leg into the ring
post near Becky. Flair comes back in and covers for a 2 count. Asuka counters a
Figure Four with a quick pin attempt. Flair with chops as they fight on their
feet now. Asuka with a takedown and a kick to the back. Flair goes for the
Spear but Asuka drops her into knees for another close 2 count.
Asuka with kicks while Flair
is on her knees now. Flair blocks a kick but Asuka comes right back with
another. Asuka with forearms to the head and neck now. Asuka with kicks to the
face, toying with Flair while Flair is still on her knees. Asuka runs the ropes
but Flair stops her with a Spear. Asuka still kicks out at 2 as The Man watches
from the edge of her seat. Fans start dueling chants as Flair goes back to the
top for the moonsault. Flair misses it but immediately goes for the Figure
Four. Asuka turns it around with the Asuka Lock. Flair powers up with Asuka on
her back again. They both tumble out of the ring in front of Becky. Fans chant
for Becky now.
Flair brings a kendo stick
from under the ring and nails Asuka with it for the disqualification.
WINNER BY DQ:
ASUKA
– After the bell, Flair keeps
swinging the stick at Asuka while she’s down. Becky stands up from her chair,
clutching the title, looking down at Flair. Becky walks away but turns around
as Flair charges with a kendo stick shot to the knee. Becky goes down. Flair
goes back to working on Asuka with the stick but Becky comes from behind and
attacks her. Becky sends Flair into the steel ring steps. Becky grabs the kendo
stick and unloads on Flair with it now. Becky turns back around and Asuka kicks
her in the gut. Asuka tosses Becky over the announce table. Asuka grabs the
stick and raises it in the air. Asuka unloads on Flair with the kendo stick
now. Asuka hits Becky with the stick while she’s on top of the announce table.
Asuka with more kendo stick shots to Flair and Lynch. SmackDown goes off the
air with Asuka standing tall.
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