Good evening Fightful faithful and welcome to our coverage of WWE Smackdown! Live's 1,000th episode! Be sure to check out the post show afterwards and our forums!
-We open the show with a video package showing various significant events in the history of Smackdown! Live before we go to Ｒ-Truth and Carmella in the ring for Truth-TV. They dance before they're interrupted by Stephanie McMahon to a cacophony of boos and Stephanie is interrupted by the commissioner of Smackdown! Live, Shane McMahon. Shane thanks the crowd and talks about the video package that started the show and how it was because of the fans. Stephanie mocks Shane for pandering to the crowd before Shane says that it is the A show only to be interrupted by Mr. McMahon. Vince says that the people are there to be entertained, not to sit and listen to Shane and Stephanie bicker back and forth.
Vince initiates a dance break before everyone starts dancing and they cut away to promote the rest of tonight's show. AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan then come out to the ring as we go to commercial.
AJ Styles & Daniel Bryan vs The Usos
Daniel and Jey start the match off with Daniel getting an early quick two count off of an inside cradle before Jimmy comes in and the Usos double up on Brian for a quick two count. Daniel hits a dragon screw leg whip and tags in AJ who kicks the legs of Jimmy and the Usos hit a double enzuigiri for a quick two count. Jey beats AJ down in the corner and stomps on him before AJ comes back with a couple of forearms only for Jey to whip him into the corner sternum first. AJ and Daniel then lock in dual submissions before sending them out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Daniel gets the tag as we return to the action and hits a suicide dive to Jimmy on the outside and a missile dropkick to Jey in the ring. Daniel hits the Yes Kicks and a roundhouse kick for a near fall that Jimmy breaks up before AJ sends Jimmy out of the ring and Daniel accidentally hits AJ before Jimmy takes AJ out with a superkick. The Usos then hit a double superkick to Daniel for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Usos defeat AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan via pinfall when they pin Daniel with a double superkick.
-Evolution come out to the ring and Triple H talks about the impact Evolution has had on the industry before Randy thanks the rest of the group for his start. Randy says that he will continue to cement his legacy in the business while they're all finished as full time in-ring competitors. Batista says that he's nervous, but he intends to enjoy the moment and ignore what Randy says before saying that he lists off four things. Batista says that he wanted to be there for the 1,000th episode of the brand he helped build, secondly because it's his home town, third is all of the fans around the world regardless of their feelings about him and lastly for Evolution and all of their accomplishments. Batista proceeds to give everyone the rub before saying that Triple H has never beaten him, but Ric makes sure that cooler heads prevail. Everyone then hugs before we get a vignette for the return of The Undertaker as we go to commercial.
WWE World Cup Qualifying Match
Rusev vs The Miz
Rusev drops Miz with a wheel kick immediately before Rusev gets distracted by Aiden English and Miz rolls him up for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Miz defeats Rusev via pinfall with a roll up to gain entry to the WWE World Cup.
-Edge comes out to the ring for The Cutting Edge and talks about his time on the blue brand and his famous matches and his marriage and subsequent divorce to Vickie Guerrero. Edge says that he will be Smackdown! Live's moral compass before introducing Smackdown! Women's champion Becky Lynch. Edge says that they have a lot of similarities and that he understands what she's going through and that he had to fight to get to the top of the industry like she did. Edge calls into question Becky's decision to throw away her friendship with Charlotte. Edge says that he ruined all friendships and relationships to become who he wanted and that the choices will hurt you in the end.
Edge says that you'll be left alone reminiscing about your accomplishments before Becky tells him to get out of her ring. Charlotte comes out to the ramp and says that all Becky cares about is the title and why she keeps running from her. Charlotte then gets in the ring and tackles Becky before they brawl until they're pulled apart.
-The New Day come out to the ring as we see Jerry Lawler and Booker-T at their own announce table before New Day's match against The Bar.
New Day vs The Bar
Xavier starts the match with Sheamus by hitting him with several high paced moves, using his superior speed and athleticism to his advantage. Sheamus then drives Xavier back into his corner before Cesaro comes in and they double team Xavier as we go to commercial.
Big-E hire a series of suplexes to Cesaro as we come back to the action before Sheamus gets a blind tag and rocks E before E hits a suicide dive to the outside. E rolls Sheamus back into the ring before Xavier hits a shining wizard for a near fall before everyone hits a move and Cesaro get a near fall off of a dominator as we head back to break.
We come back to the ring to The Bar hitting a European uppercut powerbomb off of the top for a near fall before driving Xavier into the barricade and Big Show comes out to the ring. Big Show then chokeslams Kofi through a table before Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Bar defeat New Day via pinfall when Sheamus pins Big-E with a Brogue Kick.
-John Cena thanks everyone in a message via his phone and talks about his career beginning on the brand with him slapping Kurt Angle.
WWE World Cup Qualifying Match
Rey Mysterio vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke immediately goes after Rey with knee strikes before Rey comes back with kicks and Shinsuke locks in a front choke. Rey fights out of the choke and hits a huricanrrana before Shinsuke drops Rey with several knees. Shinsuke rolls out of the ring when Rey goes for a 619, then Rey hits a baseball slide into a baseball splash before Shinsuke puts him in the tree of woe once they're back in the ring. The referee then makes Shinsuke back to the other side of the ring as we go to commercial.
Rey hits a seated senton off of the top as we return to the action before Rey hits a frankensteiner for a quick two count and Shinsuke catches him in midair when he goes for a springboard move before hitting a running knee attack in the corner. Shinsuke hits an exploder suplex before Rey counters the Kinshasa into a roll up and counters another Kinshasa before hitting the 619. Rey then pins Shinsuke with a springboard splash for the win.
Winner: Rey Mysterio defeats Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall with a springboard splash to gain entry to the WWE World Cup.
-After the match The Undertaker comes out to the ring and
