Mahal tweeted a promo challenging Reigns to a match on Raw, which Reigns then accepted: “Big words from a scared man. You want to make a challenge? Get ready for the biggest fight of your career. Just another Monday for me.”
Mahal & Elias defeated Reigns & Seth Rollins last Monday, with Elias pinning Rollins after a distraction from Sunil Singh. Reigns and Mahal then brawled backstage later in the show.
Rollins defending the Intercontinental Championship against Elias is also set for Money in the Bank.
In addition to Reigns vs. Mahal, Braun Strowman vs. Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Roode, Sasha Banks vs. Ember Moon vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya, and a face-to-face segment with Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey as the final build to their Women’s title match at Money in the Bank are advertised for Monday’s go-home edition of Raw.
The Big Takeaway: Sasha Banks won the Money in the Bank Last Chance Gauntlet match, becoming the final participant in the Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying match. She joins Alexa Bliss, Ember Moon, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Lana and Naomi. Following his match with Jinder Mahal, Seth Rollins was blindsided with a guitar shot to the back by Elias. Perhaps the most newsworthy item from the show was Roman Reigns wasn’t on the show and his name was barely mentioned.
Show Recap:
The show opened with a very good piece paying tribute to soliders on Memorial Day. A soldier named Mike Zacchea, Army Master Sergeant Luis Sanchez and General Archie Elam discussed their experiences losing friends during combat and the importance of the holiday. Elam had a powerful quote saying “When the soldier enlists, the family serves.”
Braun Strowman started the show. He got a strong reception with “Get these hands” chants. Strowman said when he sees the Money in the Bank briefcase, he gets motivated because it guarantees him a Universal Title opportunity at any arena at any time in the entire world. He said at Money in the Bank he will destroy seven other men, then climb the ladder and get the Money in the Bank briefcase so he will become known as Mr. Monster in the Bank. Strowman said no one can stop him and Brock Lesnar is going to get these hands.
Finn Balor walked out to some boos and said Strowman was getting ahead of himself. Balor said he was the first Universal Champion and he never lost the title, which eats away at him every day. He’s determined to get back to the top, climb one of the ladders and take back what is his. Balor said last week, he gave Strowman everything he had. But at Money in the Bank, there will be six other competitors in the ring with him and it’s every man for himself. Strowman said Balor put up a really good fight for a little guy. Balor slapped Strowman, who responded by flipping Balor across and out of the ring. Balor sold it like he had just suffered broken ribs. Kurt Angle showed up and ordered Balor vs. Strowman immediately.
Finn Balor defeated Braun Strowman by DQ (11:27)
Kevin Owens came out to do commentary. Bobby Roode watched on from backstage and Strowman punched and kicked Balor in the gut repeatedly. After Strowman knocked Balor down with a push kick, Owens got on the PA microphone and screamed at Strowman to pour on the punishment. Strowman gave Owens a dirty look. Strowman sent Balor to the floor with a forearm, then did his wind sprint around the ring and knocked Balor over the barricade with a forearm. There were several security guards there to break Balor fall. Balor started his comeback when Strowman tried to give him a battering ram into the post, but Balor threw him into the post. Owens started screaming advice to Balor, who hit a head kick and somersault tope on Strowman, who popped right up and threw Balor back in the ring. Balor caught Strowman with the sling blade, the Woo Dropkick, a Coup de Grace to Strowman’s back and then the Coup de Grace. Balor went for another Coup de Grace when Owens ran down and attacked Balor.
Owens pulled out a ladder from under the ring and rammed Balor in the midsection. Owens went after Strowman, who caught the ladder and pushed down Owens. As Owens bailed, Strowman threw the ladder halfway up the ramp from the ring, and Owens barely rolled out of the way.
Owens was ready to high tail it out of the building. He ordered an attendant to get his rental car when Angle walked up and asked Owens where he was going. Owens said it was Memorial Day and he was taking the rest of the night off. Angle reminded Owens that he was Canadian and he was going to face Roode tonight.
Sasha Banks did a scripted interview about winning tonight and getting to the Money in the Bank match.
Elias was in the ring. He started to sing but stopped because the Richmond crowd was particularly disgusting. He demanded that his spotlight be narrowed because a male fan at ringside was so ugly he couldn’t ignore it. Then he demanded the sound guy to bring up his microphone so he could hear less of the crowd. Sort of like how Kevin Dunn handles Reigns’ ring entrance. Elias, who was much more of a heel this week, stalled forever and told the crowd to shut up, threatening to sit there all night without performing. Then they cut to a commercial while he was sitting in the ring doing nothing. After the break, Elias was still stalling to get heat. Crowd started chanting “leave.” Jonathan Coachman thought they were chanting “Sing,” which forced Michael Cole to correct him.
Rollins came out for his title defense against Mahal. Elias and Rollins had a staredown, then Rollins threw Elias’ stool out of the ring and asked Elias to leave. Elias slowly walked out of the ring.
Jinder Mahal (w/ Sunil Singh) defeated Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins by DQ, so Rollins retained the Intercontinental Championship (12:53)
They had a good match going where Rollins hit a tope. He built several spots around the stomp, but Mahal kept escaping. Sunil Singh grabbed Rollins’ leg, which led to the referee ejecting Singh from ringside. As the referee ordered Singh to the back, Mahal grabbed a chair and rammed it across Rollins midsection for only a two count. Mahal went for the Khallas, but Rollins escaped again. Singh ran back down, but Rollins flipped him into the ring. Somehow, this wasn’t a DQ. Rollins gave Singh a Buckle Bomb into Mahal. Rollins went off and grabbed the chair that Mahal used, took it in the ring, smashed Mahal over the back for it for the DQ. Rollins belted Mahl in the shoulder with the chair several times as they fought up the ramp. Singh raced up from behind and grabbed Rollins’ leg, but Rollins hit Singh on the back with a chair, as well. Mahal ran off.
Rollins posed by standing on the commentator’s table. Then Elias ran up from behind and shattered his guitar across Rollins’ back. Rollins took a bump to the floor and Elias’ guitar turned to dust at the moment of contact. Rollins was placed on a stretcher with a neckbrace around his throat. Rollins tried to get up as Adam Pearce, Jamie Noble and several emergency personnel attended to him. Rollins was in the midst of selling this injury angle and several fans were singing “Happy Birthday’ to him. Rollins got up on his own and refused to accept a stretcher ride out of the building.
Jax came out, but Rousey interrupted her ring entrance to a big pop. Rousey went to the commentator’s table for Jax’s exhibition. Jax told her over the PA she would show Ronda what she would do to her at Money in the Bank. Jax allowed her opponent, Michelle Webb, to put her in an armbar. So Jax power bombed her. Jax told Rousey that the armbar didn’t mean that much to her and that’s what she would do to Rousey, if Rousey even got the armbar on her in the first place. Jax said Webb still had some more fight in her. Corey Graves said Webb was the Surry County Judo Champion. Jax gave Webb a Samoan Drop. Jax said she could pin Webb now but she wasn’t done with her. Jax gave Webb a legdrop and just laughed. Jax said you could count to 10, 20, 30, or 40 but Webb wasn’t getting up. Jax said that Rousey has never faced anything like that in the UFC. Jax said her leg could crush a woman’s chest. Then Jax did a rolling senton on Webb. Jax said it looks like that Webb needed assistance, just like Rousey will need assistance at Money in the Bank, so Jax challenged Rousey to come in the ring and help her out.
Rousey got in the ring. Jax was playing heel, telling the fans to shut up. Webb disappeared as Rousey gave Jax the mean stare. Jax said she wasn’t intimidated by Rousey’s stare, but she wasn’t scared by Rousey’s stare, in fact she found it humorous. Jax laughed in Rousey’s face and walked off as Rousey looked confused and bewildered.
Brooke did an interview in front of a board with various mathematical equations to play up her statistician gimmick. She claimed to have the right formula to win tonight’s gauntlet match.
Raw Tag Team Champions Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt defeated the Ascension in a nontitle match (4:46)
Matt Hardy pinned Viktor after the Kiss of Deletion. Bray Wyatt got the hot tag and after making his comeback, he did his bridge in the corner, which Graves now calls “The climax.” Coachman and Cole cracked up.
Backstage, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel approached Angle. They wanted a tag team title shot against Hardy and Wyatt. This was pretty funny. Axel claimed The B Team was undefeated. Angle said just because they beat the same tag team twice doesn’t mean they get a title shot. Axel blurted out “What’s with this guy, man?” Angle reminded Axel he could hear what Axel was saying. Angle asked what would the other tag team think of them if he let the B Team leap frog over top of them. Dallas thought Angle was saying the B Team have to win over all the tag teams in the division and get their blessing. Angle said that isn’t what he was saying at all. Dallas asked Axel “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Axel said “No, because that jerk Kurt Angle wouldn’t let us have a tag team championship match.” Angle reminded Axel he could hear every word Axel was saying, but Axel was completely oblivious to Angle, who was standing right beside him. Dallas saying in order to get the other tag teams’ blessing,.they have to give them something to win them over. Dallas proposed a Memorial Day B Team BBQ for tonight. Angle reiterated that wasn’t what he was saying at all, but they left to start the BBQ party.
The Riott Squad did a promo in the locker room where they appeared to be destroying the clothes of Banks and Bayley. Riott said the final place in the Money in the Bank match belongs to the Riott Squad.
Kevin Owens defeated Bobby Roode (9:41)
Owens won clean when Roode attempted a sunset flip to escape a power bomb, but Owens sat down on top. Roode clotheslined Owens on the floor and hit a blockbuster before the finish.
Afterwards, Strowman came out and chased Owens around the ring. Roode stood in Owens’ way, allowing Strowman to catch him. With Roode cheering him on, Strowman gave Owens a powerslam. Roode tried to lead cheers but the crowd just looked at him in silence as Strowman gave Owens another powerslam. Roode cheered and smiled standing on the second rope, but Strowman grabbed Roode by the throat and gave him a powerslam, too.
Zayn came out for what was supposed to be an apology to Lashley after his display last week. Zayn said last week didn’t go as he hoped and he admitted going too far. He said WWE management has been gracious enough to allow him to issue a formal apology. Zayn pulled out reading glasses and read a note apologizing for a “highly rated” interview that some reacted as being in poor taste. Zayn said one young fan went on social media saying he was embarrassed to be a Zayn fan. Even the 30-year-old man from Syracuse, New York who got evicted from his parents’ home DM’d him and said Zayn should be ashamed of himself. Zayn said he did something he promised he would never do and that’s lie to the fans. Zayn said that was not Lashley’s real sisters, in fact they were men. They were men he hired to have fun at Lashley’s expense. Zayn said to Lashley, to the WWE Universe that he was sorry.
Zayn paused and said however, everything he said last week was true. Zayn said that like good art, everything he said about Lashley last week was rooted in reality, even if everyone couldn’t see it. Zayn said he was doing the right thing because he was the one trying to expose Lashley for being a liar, which is what he is. Zayn said people should be apologizing to him because he deserves better and deserves to be facing Rollins for the Intercontinental Championship instead of issuing an apology in front of a repulsive crowd in Richmond. Lashley came out to no reaction. Lashley said Memorial Day is a special day for family’s like his, so if anyone has a loved one that has served in the military, he salutes them. That got polite applause.
Lashley said his sisters are quite entertaining and he and Zayn have an issue. He challenged Zayn to a match at Money in the Bank. That got a mild response, at best. Lashley wanted Zayn to shake his hand. They shook hands and Zayn said he was going to Helluva kick that stupid smile off of Lashley’ face. Lashley wouldn’t let go of the handshake and Zayn screamed in agony as Lashley squeezed harder and harder. Lashley said he had an apology of his own saying he was sorry for everything he was going to do to Zayn at Money in the Bank. Lashley vs Zayn was officially announced for the PPV later on.
Drew McIntyre (w/ Dolph Ziggler) defeated Chad Gable (4:44)
Drew McIntyre won with the Claymore kick. The usual big man/little man match featuring Chad Gable, who hit a moonsault press for a near fall. Gable tried a plancha from the second rope, but McIntyre caught him and threw him into the post. McIntyre looked dominant, but the crowd is worn out.
Dallas and Axel were in the ring for their Memorial Day BBQ. The Revival, The Ascension, Titus Worldwide, Breeango and Rhyno & Heath Slater attended the celebration. Dallas and Axel had plain baloney sandwiches, hot dogs, potato chips. Rhyno had three times as much food as anyone else. After Dallas invited everyone to dig in, Axel said everyone could agree since the B Team is undefeated, they should be the next ones to challenge Hardy and Wyatt. Titus O’Neil objected got mad, saying they had no ribs, no microroni and cheese and none of the food was seasoned. Slater spoke up and said this was a feast. In West Virginia, this would be like Thanksgiving. Slater said look at Rhyno, he’s still eating. Slater got in O’Neil’s face and said “I can’t see him, but is Rhyno still eating?” O’Neil confirmed he was. Coachman and Cole were snickering at all this. Slater said the B Team would not cut in ring for the Raw Tag Team Championship shot. Axel said fine, then we’re taking our food back. Axel took a plate full of hot dogs from Fandango. O’Neil dumped baked beans over Dallas head, which started a huge food fight in the ring. Everybody was getting pelted. Scott Dawson somehow took a bump out of the ring. Rhyno was the only one left unscathed. Axel and Dallas kicked Rhyno in the midsection and gave him a double chokeslam through a table.
Next week on Raw in Texas, it’s Balor vs. Owens, Roode vs. Strowman and Jax vs. Natalya.
Angle was backstage when the B team walked up completely drenched in food. Axel demanded a Raw Tag Team title shot. Angle said next week there will be a tag team battle royal with the winners facing Hardy and Wyatt for the Tag Team Championships. Axel hugged Angle, leaving him a mess.
Bayley was the first person in the Last Chance Money in the Bank Gauntlet match. She did a brief interview with Charly Caruso saying she drew the unlucky number one tonight. She looked like her fate wasn’t good, but told Banks that Banks was wrong when she said earlier than the Money in the Bank contract had her name on it. Bayley said the contract actually has her name on it and Banks was going to have to go through her to remove it.
Bayley defeated Liv Morgan (:11)
Bayley pulled off a classic Magnum T.A. win from 1985 by giving Liv Morgan a Bayley-to-belly suplex for the kick pin.
Bayley defeated Sarah Logan (1:16)
Bayley pinned Sarah Logan with a victory roll. Postmatch, Logan and Morgan jumped Bayley and double-teamed her, just as Riott walked out for the next match.
Ruby Riott pinned Bayley (4:28)
Riott pinned Bayley after a Riott kick.
Ruby Riott defeated Dana Brooke (:56)
Riott pinned Brooke after another Riott Kick.
Ruby Riott defeated Mickie James (6:23)
James got a good hometown pop and the fans chanted for her, which was really the biggest reaction since Rollins’ match. James did flying head scissors and a dropkick for a two count. James did a flap jack and climbed the top rope for a flying Thesz Press for a near fall. James missed a Mick Kick, but Riott missed a Riott Kick. James went for a DDT, but Riott reversed it into a cradle and pinned her while holding the trunks. Crowd booed the result and a few people could be seen heading to the exits after Banks came in.
Sasha Banks defeated Ruby Riott by tapout to win the Money in the Bank Last Chance Gauntlet Match (5:52)
Riott escaped a Bank Statement and hit a downward spiral for a near fall. Banks hit a Meteora for a two count. Riott reversed a monkey flip into a Tornado DDT for a two count, which was followed by a superkick for another two count. Riott got on the top rope, but Banks gave her a power bomb while Riott was on the top rope for a two count. Banks put the Bank Statement on Riott, but Morgan ran down. Banks kicked Morgan to the floor. Logan ran down but Banks disposed of her. Banks put the Bank Statement on Riott for the tapout.
Two matches, including a title bout, have been set for next week’s episode of Raw.
The Intercontinental title will be defended as Jinder Mahal faces champion Seth Rollins. This stems from a match that opened the show tonight on Raw where Rollins and Roman Reigns defeated Mahal and Kevin Owens. Mahal jumped the two from behind after the match, smacking Rollins with a chair shot that sent him off the entrance ramp and to the floor.
Meanwhile, a battle Royal will determine the a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Sasha Banks, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Bayley and Dana Brooke will compete in what is being called a last chance battle royal. This will fill out the last spot in the Women’s Money in the Bank match that already includes Ember Moon, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch and Natalya. Billie Kay and Lana will determine the second to last spot on tomorrow’s edition of SmackDown.
Raw next week will be at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia.
Another match has been made for Money in the Bank, as Roman Reigns will battle Jinder Mahal.
The match was made following the events of the first hour of Raw tonight. Mahal interfered in a singles match between Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens that kicked off the show. Seth Rollins helped even the odds and the situation turned into a tag team match where Rollins and Reigns scored the win.
Mahal jumped the both of them as they were coming up the ramp with a steel chair, then focused on Reigns as he battered him with chair shots.
Mahal has been a thorn on Roman Reigns’ side ever since Mahal was denied an opportunity to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match. He cost Roman Reigns his show a few weeks ago, then Reigns retaliated by laying out Mahal the following week prior to his qualifying match.
Money in the Bank takes place June 17 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
Two more title matches have been set for the Greatest Royal Rumble later this month.
Jinder Mahal will get a rematch for the United States title at the event. Having just won it at WrestleMania a couple of weeks ago, he lost the championship tonight on Raw to Jeff Hardy after switching to Raw. Following the loss, he immediately invoked his rematch clause.
Meanwhile, the new team of Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt defeated the Revival tonight, effectively putting them in the Raw tag team title match against former champions The Bar. The titles were vacated after Braun Strowman and Nicholas, who beat The Bar at WrestleMania, gave the titles to Kurt Angle saying that due to other commitments Nicholas couldn’t defend the titles.
Other title matches announced for the show include Brock Lesnar defending the Universal title against Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins facing Finn Balor, The Miz and Samoa Joe in a ladder match for the Intercontinental title and The Bludgeon Brothers defending the Smackdown tag team titles against The Usos.
Beyond the 50 man Royal Rumble match, additional matches that have been announced include John Cena taking on Triple H and The Undertaker squaring off against Rusev in a casket match.
The event will take place April 27 at King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It will air live on the WWE Network.
Jinder Mahal was the first wrestler to switch brands in this year’s Superstar Shakeup.
Tonight’s Raw opened with Mahal being revealed as the newest member of the show’s roster. He argued with Kurt Angle about the perks he would get, with Angle immediately making him defend the United States Championship against Jeff Hardy. Hardy won the title after hitting a Swanton Bomb.
Mahal then declared that he would be getting his rematch at the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia on April 27th.
Mahal moved from Raw to SmackDown in last year’s Shakeup, becoming number one contender and going on to win the WWE Championship from Randy Orton. Mahal defending the US title against Orton had been scheduled for Backlash on May 6th.
The Intercontinental and United States titles swapped places last year as Dean Ambrose went to Raw and Kevin Owens joined SmackDown. Raw currently has both titles ahead of the Shakeup continuing on SmackDown tomorrow night.
Randy Orton will get another shot at the United States Championship.
Orton defeated Bobby Roode and Rusev in a triple threat match to become the new number one contender for the United States Championship tonight on SmackDown. He pinned Roode after hitting an RKO. This will pit him in a singles match with new United States Champion Jinder Mahal, who won the United States championship a few days ago at WrestleMania in a fatal four-way match featuring the participants in tonight’s triple threat.
It’s interesting to note that it was nearly one year ago at Backlash that Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton to win his first WWE Championship.
Backlash will be the first co-branded pay-per-view event after the single-brand events were dropped earlier this year. Already set for the event is The Miz vs. Seth Rollins for the Intercontinental title and Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns in a singles bout. It will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on May 6.
The mind games between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura continued on the SmackDown go-home show for WrestleMania.
Styles & Nakamura teamed against Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin in this week’s main event. Styles won the match with a Phenomenal Forearm after he refused to tag Nakamura in at the finish. He didn’t look too interested in helping Nakamura as he fought off Benjamin, then Styles played off last week by stopping short on hitting Nakamura with a forearm and patted him on the head.
Shane McMahon returned to television and hugged it out with Daniel Bryan in the opening segment. They were on the same page heading into WrestleMania, singing goodbye to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn when they tried to crash the show later.
Elsewhere on SmackDown, Asuka told Charlotte Flair that the queen will bow down to the empress on Sunday, Rusev took on Jinder Mahal, and an eight-man tag built to the 2018 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
The triple threat match for the United States title at WrestleMania has now been turned into a fatal four way.
Rusev was added to the United States title match tonight on SmackDown after he pinned champion Randy Orton during a tag team match pitting Rusev (who subbed for a apparently injured Sunil Singh) and Jinder Mahal against Bobby Roode and Orton. After the match, Mahal met Rusev backstage and thanked him for picking up the win. Rusev mentioned since that he just pinned the United States champion, he should be in the title match at WrestleMania. Jinder Mahal said he’d get him tickets instead.
Announcers later said that SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan added Rusev to the match at WrestleMania.
Roode, Mahal and Orton have been feuding with one another for the last couple of months, with Roode pinning Mahal in the finals of a tournament to win the title. Orton defeated Roode last month at Fastlane to win the championship for the first time.
Randy Orton will have not one, but two challengers for this year’s WrestleMania.
WWE announced this afternoon that Randy Orton will defend his newly won United States championship against both Jinder Mahal and Bobby Roode in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 34 on April 8. The trio have been feuding for the last month, with an angle originally centered around the SmackDown top ten list. Randy Orton faced then champion Bobby Roode at Fastlane, where he defeated Roode to win the United States championship for the first time in his career.
Two nights later on SmackDown, Orton came to the ring and said that the only list that mattered was being on the Grand Slam champions list. Roode came out and said that he would regain the title at WrestleMania and it would be glorious. Mahal then followed, and after congratulating Orton on his win had a match with Roode, which he won. After the match, Orton came back to the ring and planted Mahal with the RKO.
Despite the tournament finals originally being scheduled for the Royal Rumble (and then briefly being advertised for next week), WWE crowned a new United States Champion on SmackDown tonight.
Bobby Roode defeated Jinder Mahal in the main event to win the title. The three tournament matches that were on SmackDown took up the vast majority of the episode. Mahal advanced over Xavier Woods and Roode defeated Mojo Rawley to make it to the finals.
After he was attacked by The Singh Brothers following his first match, Roode challenged Mahal to face him tonight instead of next week. Mahal declined the offer, but Daniel Bryan came out to make the match official for later in the show.
The Singh Brothers were barred from ringside for the finals. The story of the match was that Roode was selling his ribs and Mahal was the healthier of the two, but Roode countered the Khallas into a Glorious DDT for the win. Bryan and Shane McMahon presented Roode with the US title to close the show.
There was only one non-tournament match on SmackDown this week, with The Riott Squad defeating Charlotte Flair, Naomi & Becky Lynch in a six-woman tag.
Date: January 16, 2018 Location: Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, TX
The Big Takeaway —
Not only did both US title semifinal matches take place, but the finals did as well. Bobby Roode challenged Jinder Mahal to the match after they each won tonight, and Daniel Bryan made it official. Roode won the title clean in the main event. (Shane McMahon was there as well and there were no issues with the two this week.)
Also, Jey Uso appeared despite his arrest on Sunday.
If you missed it, this was the worst Smackdown show in quite a while.
Show Recap —
The New Day came out to start the show. Tom Phillips announced that the finals of the US Title tournament would happen next week. I was amazed to see a WWE show might actually start with a wrestling match, but New Day made sure to cut a promo first.
They had a podium set up in the ring draped in the American flag and pancakes sitting on top. They mocked Jinder Mahal and reminded the crowd how much he hates them. Woods said he would become United States champion. This was one of the weakest New Day segments in a while.
US Title Tournament Semi-Finals Match: Jinder Mahal (w/Singh Brothers) defeated Xavier Woods (w/Big E & Kofi Kingston) (18:01)
This match actually went through two commercial breaks. Mahal had the heat from the very beginning. The Singhs got a little too close to the action at one point, so Big E whipped pancakes at them like frisbees.
The crowd chanted “we want pancakes” as Mahal and Woods botched a spot by the ropes. Mahal went to give Woods a back body drop to the outside but he just sorta fell on the top rope instead.
After the second break, Woods headbutted Mahal off the ropes and hit a missile dropkick, then followed with clotheslines and a forearm. Woods then hit an enziguri and shining wizard for two. The Singhs got on the apron so Big E and Kingston chased them up the ramp.
Woods hit a back suplex but Mahal dodged his springboard elbow drop attempt. Mahal then slid Woods into the bottom rope like Enzo Amore to knock him out and followed with the Khallas for the win. This sucked.
Baron Corbin cut a promo backstage where he held the camera himself, kind of like the old Shield promos. He said the Royal Rumble would have no distractions or Smackdown politics and anyone who got in his way would be eliminated. Corbin said it was his time to main event WrestleMania. This was fine.
They announced Goldberg would be inducted into the Hall of Fame by showing us how many news outlets wrote articles about it.
Renee Young interviewed AJ Styles. Styles said his match at the Rumble was a 3-on-1 handicap match because he counted Kevin Owens as two people. He said the “yep” movement made them sound like muppets and gave them the nickname “Kami” (Cammie). Styles said the idea of those two being champion made him sick, but he would overcome another obstacle and reminded us this was his house.
They aired a video of the Smackdown woman cutting quick promos about the Rumble match in selfie videos. And here’s what they said: Carmella said the Rumble would be fabulous, Natalya said it would take cat-like reflexes to win, Tamina said she would make everyone believe they could fly by throwing them over the ropes, Lana said she would crush the competition, Naomi said everyone would feel the glow, Ruby Riott said nobody could stop her, Sarah Logan said she doesn’t run from anything, Liv Morgan said she would live (liv) forever, and Becky Lynch said she would be the last woman standing. This was no good.
US Title Tournament Semi-Finals Match: Bobby Roode defeated Mojo Rawley (13:15)
Like the earlier match, the heel took the heat almost right away. After 10 minutes, Roode made a comeback after Rawley ran shoulder-first into the post. Rawley cut him off briefly, but Roode nailed a spinebuster and Glorious DDT for the win. A nothing match.
The Singhs attacked Roode after the match and scampered off. Samir might’ve twisted his ankle leaving the ring because Sunil had to help him up the ramp. Mahal told Roode he would win the title next week. Roode grabbed a mic and said they should do the match tonight. The crowd chanted for Roode.
Mahal said no, because they would do it when he decides (even though the match has already been announced, which he just acknowledged a moment ago). Daniel Bryan showed up and announced that the match would happen tonight and the crowd chanted Yes. (Should be noted that Roode is selling a rib injury.)
Like Corbin and the women did earlier tonight, Randy Orton cut a selfie promo about the Rumble. Orton said he likes being surrounded by chaos which makes the Rumble his match and he would win it for the third time.
6-Woman Tag Match: Riott Squad defeated Women’s champion Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch & Naomi (8:09)
The babyfaces had control before a break, but not after. The Riott Squad worked over Lynch until she made a hot tag to Naomi, who ran wild on Morgan. Charlotte speared Logan to get her out of the ring, but the referee was distracted by something which allowed Riott to hit a Naomi with a kick on the apron, and Morgan followed with a jawbreaker for the win.
Dasha Fuentes interviewed The Usos. Both of them. They wondered how Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin even became a team. They said it must’ve been Tag Team Tinder because Gable has been on the rebound since Jason Jordan left.
Jimmy and Jey claimed Gable and Benjamin couldn’t even tell them apart, when Gable and Benjamin suddenly attacked them from behind. Gable said they knew exactly who the Usos were–former tag team champions. After Gable and Benjamin left, officials ran in to check on the Usos, who got to their feet on their own. After they stood up, they just stood there seething.
They should’ve had the Usos stay down after the beating. There’s no reason why they couldn’t have just chased after Gable and Benjamin other than they exited the frame already.
They aired a long video package for the WWE title match at the Rumble.
Shinsuke Nakamura cut a selfie promo of his own. “Thirty men. One destiny. One winner. Me. Let’s Rumble.”
Shane McMahon came out. Phillips said the Singh brothers were banned from ringside for the US title match, but Shane and Bryan would be out there.
They aired a clip from the Fashion Files where Aiden English (with Rusev) challenged Breezango to a match next week on Rusev Day. Tyler Breeze appeared to be doing his Renee Young impression. Fandango accepted the match on behalf of the Ascension, who were minding their own business in the locker room reading Gluten Free magazine.
Bobby Roode defeated Jinder Mahal to become United States Champion (15:44)
Both guys are wearing blue trunks and knee pads, with black boots and wrist tape (and neither guy wears elbow pads). Roode is really selling his ribs. Mahal worked him over by driving him into the side of the ring and dropping him rib-first on the barricade. Then they went to commercial 3 minutes into this important title match.
After the break, Mahal worked over Roode’s ribs for an hour. Roode eventually hit a blockbuster but Mahal slipped out of a Glorious DDT and they took each other out with clotheslines. Mahal countered another DDT attempt and went for the Khallas, but Roode countered that into the Glorious DDT for the win.
McMahon and Bryan stood and applauded as Roode celebrated. After a replay, they presented him with the title and he posed to end the show.
Final Thoughts —
This was a really bad show. There were two Jinder Mahal matches totalling 33 minutes and 45 seconds. None of the main event acts were featured on the show, outside of one lame promo from AJ Styles and quick backstage promos from Orton and Nakamura (who, to be fair, was busy with the Mixed Match Challenge). The women were presented as one-note characters with nothing interesting to say.
The only positive, I guess, is that Roode won the title. I don’t like Mahal, but even if you’re okay with him as a mid-card champion, it’s too early to give him another title reign after we just endured one. One negative to that reign was it cut off Nakamura’s momentum, and they ran the risk of doing that with Roode (whatever momentum he does have).
Submitted by reader Zack Morgan from Raw’s house show in Waco last night
– Matt Hardy defeated Bray Wyatt
– Cesaro & Sheamus defeated Apollo Crews & Titus O’Neil
– Asuka defeated Dana Brooke
Asuka won by submission.
– Elias came out to perform and heckled the crowd to thunderous boos. He was then interrupted by Finn Balor.
– Finn Balor defeated Elias
– Sasha Banks & Mickie James defeated Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss & Nia Jax
Alicia Fox was the special guest referee for this. It was a fun match and the crowd was very into it.
– WWE Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Amore defeated Cedric Alexander to retain his title
Amore pinned Alexander while using the ropes for leverage.
– Braun Strowman defeated Curt Hawkins
– Intercontinental Champion Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins defeated The Miz, Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas
This was the match of the night. It was two-on-three due to Jason Jordan missing the show.
Submitted by reader Jaime Garcia from SmackDown’s show in Hidalgo
– The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) defeated Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
– Breezango, Zack Ryder & Sin Cara defeated Mojo Rawley, Mike Kanellis & The Colons
Sin Cara pinned Primo after hitting a high-angle senton.
– SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defeated Rusev & Aiden English and The Bludgeon Brothers to retain their titles
The Usos retained with superkicks and a splash on English.
– SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defeated Natalya in a steel cage match to retain her title
Charlotte won by submission with the Figure Eight.
– Naomi & Becky Lynch defeated Carmella & Lana (w/ Tamina) and Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan (w/ Liv Morgan)
Naomi hit Lana with the Rear View for the finish.
– Bobby Roode defeated Baron Corbin and Tye Dillinger in a triple threat match
Roode hit the Glorious DDT on Corbin and pinned him.
– WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal (w/ The Singh Brothers), Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and Sami Zayn in a fatal five-way match to retain his title
Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Mahal to retain
After Mojo Rawley advanced over Zack Ryder in the final first round match, the United States Championship tournament will continue on SmackDown next Tuesday.
Jinder Mahal vs. Xavier Woods in a semifinal match is scheduled for next week. Mahal defeated Tye Dillinger and Woods beat Aiden English in the opening round, and Mahal cut a promo on Woods last night where he said he has his eyes on the United States title and called Woods and The New Day a fad.
Bobby Roode, who defeated Baron Corbin in the first round, will take on Rawley in the other semifinal match. That will take place over the next couple of weeks, with the finals set for the Royal Rumble on January 28th.
In an indication of where the tournament could be heading, Roode teamed with The Usos against Mahal, Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin in a dark match after SmackDown last night.
The Riott Squad vs. Charlotte Flair, Naomi & Becky Lynch has also been set up for next week.
– SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods), Rusev & Aiden English, and Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin in a fatal four-way match to retain their titles
This was a really fun opener and the perfect way to start the show. They did lots of good chain wrestling and mixed in some comedy, with The Usos winning after hitting a lot of superkicks and a double splash.
Rusev and English were really over, but the fans liked pretty much everyone.
– Mojo Rawley defeated Zack Ryder
Rawley won with a running elbow. This didn’t have much heat. Before it started, Ryder cut a pre-match promo about wanting to punch Rawley in the face. That led to the punch happening and the match starting, which was about the only thing that got a pop.
– Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan defeated Naomi & Becky Lynch
Logan pinned Naomi with a roll-up after Ruby Riott distracted the referee.
– Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura & Bobby Roode defeated Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Baron Corbin
Roode didn’t get as big of a pop as expected, but there were huge reactions for Orton and Nakamura. The match was basic but solid, with Orton hitting an RKO on Zayn for the win.
Orton and Nakamura spent a lot of time taking pictures and signing things for the fans at ringside after the match.
– The Bludgeon Brothers defeated Breezango
They showed a pre-taped Fashion Files video of Breezango talking about being afraid of Harper and Rowan. This was a complete squash, ending after Harper hit a powerbomb.
– SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defeated Natalya, Carmella, and Lana in a fatal four-way match to retain her title
Charlotte and Natalya were clearly the better workers, but that’s to be expected. Charlotte retained by submitting Natalya with the Figure Eight.
– WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal and John Cena in a triple threat match to retain his title
Cena and Styles were far and away the most over guys on the show. This was a really fun main event. Mahal got the jump on the faces early and got the heat until they made a comeback. The Singh Brothers would constantly interfere, but the babyfaces would mount comebacks.
Pretty much all of the Cena vs. Styles stuff was fantastic. They did a stereo Styles Clash/Attitude Adjustment on the Singhs to take them out. The finish came when Cena grabbed a table from the outside and set it up in the corner. Mahal put Cena through it, but Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Mahal to retain.
