Good evening Fight Fans, and welcome to our coverage of tonight's edition of Smackdown! Live as we continue the King of the Ring tournament. Feel free to leave a comment below and be sure to stick around afterwards for the post-show podcast!
-We get an extended video package for the attacks on Roman Reigns before the WWE champion Kofi Kingston comes out to the ring and we get a video recapping the past few weeks between him and Randy Orton. Kofi says that he will defeat Randy at Clash of Champions and get revenge for Xavier Woods. Randy shows up on the big screen and calls Kofi stupid among other things before Kofi rushes to the back and they brawl until they're separated after Randy DDTs Kofi onto the floor as we go to commercial.
-We come back to Big-E coming out of the trainers room and giving an update on Kofi before he's told he has a match against Randy tonight before we get a recap of the King of the Ring tournament so far.
King of the Ring Tournament First Round Match
Ali vs Buddy Murphy
Ali sends Buddy out of the ring with an arm drag before Buddy comes right back in and hits a high knee for a two count as we go to commercial.
We return from commercial to Ali dropkicking Buddy out of the ring and hitting a suicide dive as Elias looks on from backstage before Ali hits an enzuigiri and Buddy launches him out of the ring when he goes for a rolling sit-out facebuster. Buddy hits a tope and rolls Ali back into the ring before Ali hits a superkick and a reverse huricanrrana for a near fall before Buddy counters an 054 into a cheeky nandos and a powerbomb into a brainbuster for a near fall. They then exchange strikes until Ali hits a draping tornado DDT into a 450 for the pin and the win.
Winner: Ali defeats Buddy Murphy via pinfall with a 450 to advance to the next round of the tournament.
-is backstage before Ember Moon shows up and they talk before they're interrupted by Lacey Evans ahead of her match against Bayley later tonight.
-The Miz comes out to the ring and challenges Sami Zayn to a match, but Sami comes down and they exchange words before Miz starts to go after Sami and Shinsuke attacks Miz from behind. Shinsuke then a Kinshasa with Sami holding him up before they leave as we go to commercial.
-Kevin Owens confronts Elias in Shane's office who says that Shane isn't there before Kevin leaves.
Bayley vs Lacey Evans
Lacey tries to get a shot in before the match starts, but Bayley is ready and takes her down when she rushes her once it does get started. Bayley locks in a straight armbar before Lacey hits a scoop slam and kicks Bayley in the corner before Bayley takes her out ah ringside and is distracted by Charlotte who makes her way down to ringside as we go to commercial.
We come back from commercial to Lacey in control, Lacey having sent Bayley into the ring post during the break before locking in a unique submission in the corner. Lacey gets a quick two count and starts focusing on the arm of Bayley until Bayley hits a dropkick in the ropes for a two count as Charlotte looks on from ringside. Bayley traps Lacey in the ropes and hits her with forearms before clotheslining her and locking in a submission, but Lacey is right to the ropes. Lacey hits a moonsault for a near fall before Bayley suplexes her onto the floor before they exchange pin attempts once they're back in the ring. Bayley then hits the Bayley to Belly for a near fall, Lacey grabbing the bottom rope at the last second before Bayley hits a fall away slam and a diving elbow for the pin and the win.
Winner: Bayley defeats Lacey Evans via pinfall with a diving elbow drop.
-Daniel Bryan and Rowan are interviewed backstage where Daniel says that they demand an apology from Roman Reigns.
Randy Orton vs Big-E
E rushes Randy and hits him in the midsection before Randy rolls out of the ring and E sends him into the steps and over the announce table and almost over the barricade. Randy the pokes E in the eye before E sends Randy into the WWE Universe and back into the ring for a quick two count before locking in an abdominal stretch. Randy digs his thumb into eye of E and sends him into the post before E comes back with clotheslines and misses a splash onto the apron and Randy drops him across the announce table as we go to commercial.
We return to E dropping Randy across the table before Randy dropkicks him once they're back in the ring for a quick two count before E hits several suplexes. E then hits a belly to belly before he's distracted by The Revival and Randy counters the Big Ending into an RKO for the pin and the win.
Winner: Randy Orton defeats Big-E via pinfall with an RKO.
-After the match they hit a super RKO before posing as we go to Chad Gable being interviewed ahead of his match against Shelton Benjamin up next as we go to commercial.
-We get a recap of the Superstars at the fox studios in which the 24/7 championship changed hands several times before we see Elias in the ring on the King of the Ring throne before he's attacked by Kevin Owens. Kevin then hits a stunner while contemplating pinning him, but just opts to leave before R-Truth shows up and gets a near fall before Drake Maverick pins him for the win to become the champion 24/7 champion before he runs away.
Chad Gable vs Shelton Benjamin
Shelton hits a spinebuster for a quick two count and hits a snap suplex before Chad takes him down and Shelton whips him sternum first into the corner for a two count as Andrade and Zelina Vega look on from backstage. Chad comes back with a flurry of strikes and a rolling kick before hitting a spinning neckbreaker, the two dropping each other before Shelton locks in an ankle lock and Chad sends Shelton out of the ring. Shelton then slings Chad into the barricade before rolling him back into the ring and drops Chad with a bicycle knee before Chad counters the Gold Standard into a powerbomb for the pin and the win.
Winner: Chad Gable defeats Shelton Benjamin via pinfall with a powerbomb to advance to the next round of the tournament.
-Roman Reigns comes out to the ring while Daniel and Rowan are on the big screen demanding an apology before Roman shows us a video of Rowan being there when Roman was first attacked. Daniel then goes crazy on Rowan and makes his way out to the ring, saying that he didn't know anything and that Rowan betrayed him before Roman spears him as we go off the air.
