Good evening Fight Fans, and welcome to our coverage of tonight's edition of WWE Smackdown! Live! Enjoy the show and be sure to stick around afterwards for the post-show podcast and 205 Live!
-The Undertaker comes out to the ring to kick things off and talks about his historic career and matches he's had at MSG before he's interrupted by Sami Zayn. Sami then mocks The Undertaker before Taker chokeslams him and his music hits before he leaves.
-We then go to the back where Chad Gable meets with Shane, Shane saying that Chad will compete tonight even if Elias is out of the tournament as we go to commercial.
The Miz vs Andrade
The Intercontinental champion Shinsuke Nakamura is on commentary, speaking entirely in Japanese as Miz hits a hip toss and mocks Andrade with his own Naito pose before Miz monkey flips him out of the ring and Andrade comes back with running knees in the corner for a quick two count as we go to commercial.
Miz is in control as we return from commercial, hitting a kitchen sink into a backbreaker/neckbreaker for a two count before hitting several kicks. Andrade flies out of the ring when he goes after Miz before Miz guts a wrecking ball dropkick and sends Andrade into the announce table before he tosses Andrade into Shinsuke. Miz tosses Andrade back into the ring before Zelina distracts him and drops Miz with a back elbow before Miz hits The Skull Crushing Finale.
Winner: The Miz defeats Andrade via pinfall with The Skull Crushing Finale.
-Chad Gable meets with Shane again and Shane tells him that Chad will face him later tonight.
Mandy Rose vs Nikki Cross
Nikki rushes Mandy and beats on her before Mandy hits a fall away slam and stomps Nikki in the corner before hitting a snapmare and locking in a straight jacket hold. Nikki comes back with a bulldog and goes up top before Alexa pulls Sonya from the apron and Nikki rolls Mandy up for the pin and the win.
Winner: Nikki Cross defeats Mandy Rose via pinfall with a roll up.
Heavy Machinery vs Local Team
Tucker is in control of one until he has had enough and tags his partner in before Tucker hits one with a hip toss and turns the other inside out with a lariat before tagging Otis in. Otis hits both of his opponents with a running splash in the corner and hits The caterpillar before they hit The Compactor for the pin and the win.
Winner: Heavy Machinery defeat a local tag team via pinfall with the Compactor.
-Kevin Owens meets with Shane McMahon who says that he is willing to reconsider the fine if Kevin is the referee for his match against Chad Gable.
-We get a recap of the revelations of the saga between Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan before Rowan comes out to the ring to talk about his match against Roman Reigns at Clash of Champions thus Sunday night and how he's no longer controlled by Daniel Bryan. Roman comes out and hits Rowan with a superman punch that sends him out of the ring before Erick counters a drive by and Roman sends him into the WWE Universe before they brawl until Erick tosses Roman back over the barricade and Roman hits him with several superman punches before Rowan powerbombs a seemingly planted fan out of the crowd and over the barricade into the officials before he takes out everyone including, Roman with a running cross body. They then go back and forth before Rowan sends a crane into Roman and security before leaving.
Bayley vs Ember Moon
Ember sends Bayley out of the ring and goes after her before Bayley knocks Ember off of the barricade and hits her with a knee lift as we go to commercial.
Ember gets a quick two count as we return to the action in the ring before Bayley counters a powerbomb with a huricanrrana and knocks Ember from the apron with a back elbow before Ember catches her going for a suicide dive. Bayley then ducks The Eclipse and hits Bayley to Belly for the pin and the win.
Winner: Bayley defeats Ember Moon via pinfall with a Bayley to Belly.
-The WWE champion Kofi Kingston comes out to the ring and talks about his match against Randy Orton at MSG before he's interrupted by Randy Orton who is in the WWE Universe, Randy baiting him into a fight before laying him out with a chair and hitting a draping DDT onto the floor. Kofi then comes back and laud the chair out in Randy until he sets up a table and lies Randy on it before he hits a Boom Drop onto Randy through the table.
King of the Ring Tournament Semifinal Two Out of Three Falls Special Guest Referee Match
Shane McMahon vs Chad Gable w/Special Guest Referee Kevin Owens
Shane mocks Chad and hesitates to engage before Chad hits a bridging Herman suplex for the pin and the win before Shane makes the match a Two out of Three Falls match before he clotheslines him from behind and smashes Chad's face into the announce table before tossing him into the time keeper's area as we go to commercial.
Chad barely gets into the ring in time before Shane plays to the crowd and kicks Chad before Chad gets a two count off of a crucifix and Shane a near fall off of a fast count by a reluctant Kevin. Chad hits a spinning neckbreaker into a moonsault for a near fall before Shane hits a burning hammer reverse cutter for a near fall and brings a chair into the ring. Chad then locks in an ankle lock before Shane is forced to tap for the second fall and the win.
Winner: Chad Gable defeats Shane McMahon via submission with an ankle lock to advance to the finals of the King of the Ring tournament.
-Shane attacks Kevin after the match before saying that he's fired as we go off the air.
