This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown Live! After Randy Orton's refusal to challenge Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania Daniel Bryan decided to hold a battle royal to find a new number one contender. Tonight, in our main event we shall do just that as John Cena, Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose, AJ Styles, The Miz, Luke Harper, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Mojo Rawley, Apollo Crews and Kalisto will all be vying for the opportunity to dethrone The Face of Fear.
Be sure to come back here at 8PM EST for all of the action and to find out who will challenge Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania!
-We open with a video package explaining how we got where we are in the main event, including the triple threat match and Randy's subsequent refusal to face Bray at Wrestlemania.
-Daniel Bryan comes out and addresses the crowd and talks about the main event tonight before bringing Naomi out. Daniel says that she will not be able to defend her belt in 30 days and demands that she relinquish the title. Naomi goes on to talk about life and how she got the belt. Naomi with a heavy heart gives up the belt and says she will be back. Alexa comes out and mocks her then says that Daniel should give her the title back. Daniel doesn't give her the belt back and decides to give her an opportunity to win the belt against Becky Lynch.
Alexa Bliss vs Becky Lynch WWE Smackdown! Women's Championship Match
Becky gets a quick 2 count off of a series of roll ups, then hits Alexa with an enzuigiri for another quick 2 count; Becky coming out aggressive from the start.. Becky gets a few more quick 2 counts before Alexa rolls to the outside as we go to commercial.
We come back to Becky in control, hitting Alexa with a forearm in the corner for a quick 2 count, then hits a missile dropkick for another quick 2 count. Alexa then hits Becky in the throat before rolling her up for the pin and the win.
Winner: Alexa Bliss via pinfall
-After the match Mickie goes to attack Becky, but she sees her coming and sends her out of the ring.
-Next we have a promo by Dean Ambrose then The Miz backstage for their match tonight.
Breezango vs American Alpha
Tyler and Fandango attack AA before the match then start tagging in and out, isolating Jordan as Gable is down at ringside. Gable gets back on the apron, Jordan tagging him in then sending Tyler out of the ring, American Alpha hitting a doomsday device for the pin and the win.
Winner: American Alpha via pinfall
-After the match The Usos berate them from the crowd, but won't get into the ring as we go to commercial.
-We come back to a backstage segment with AJ, Dolph, Mojo and Luke, each talking about their match tonight.
-Next Nikki gets interviewed before her match with Natalya.
Nikki Bella vs Natalya Falls Count Anywhere Match
Nikki takes Natalya down immediately then gets a quick 2 count before getting out of the ring and getting a table out from under the ring. Natalya puts the table back then rolls Nikki up for a quick 2 count before Nikki grabs a Kendo stick out from under the ring. Nikki hits Natalya with the stick several times for a quick 2 count then throws her into the barricade for another. They fight in the crowd then Nikki hits an enzuigiri for a near fall before sending Natalya over the barricade. Natalya makes her comeback and throws Nikki into the barricade, ring post then the steps for a near fall. Nikki hits Natalya with a series of forearms then rolls her back into the ring before Natalya tries to powerbomb her into the announce table, but she fights her off. Nikki then hits an Alabama slam on the table for a near fall as we go to commercial.
We come back to the two fighting backstage then Nikki slams Natalya's face into a mirror for a near fall. Nikki spears Natalya for another near fall then puts Natalya in an STF, but Maryse comes out and hits her with a pipe before Miz comes down and grabs her. Natalya then pins Nikki for the win.
Winner: Natalya via pinfall
-We come back to a backstage segment with Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews and Kalisto for their match tonight.
10-Man #1 Contender Battle Royal
Everyone brawls in the ring as the match starts then Dolph and Cena are nearly eliminated, Miz next to nearly be eliminated as we go to commercial.
We come back to Corbin eliminating Mojo after they exchange strikes then Dolph superkicks Kalisto over the top rope. Crews then eliminates Dolph before Corbin sends Crews out. Cena and AJ exchange strikes then Luke superkicks Cena before everyone takes each other out. Miz hits Cena with a series of kicks then Cena sends Miz over the top rope as we go to commercial.
Corbin hits Cena with The End of Days then Dean eliminates Corbin, Corbin dragging Dean out of the ring and hitting him with The End of Days. The Miz eliminates Cena after having already been eliminated, then Luke, Dean and AJ are on the apron, exchanging strikes. Both Luke and AJ then eliminate each other as they and multiple referees argue about who won then Daniel Bryan comes out and declares the match a draw and a winner will be determined next week as we go off the air.
