This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Live. Tonight we have the end of the first round of the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament as Mojo Rawley faces Zack Ryder, The Ascension look to derail The Bludgeon Brothers and much more so be sure to come back here at 8 PM EST for all of the action and stick around after the show for the post show podcast!
-We open the show with AJ having a sit-down interview in the middle of the ring where he talks about his handicap title defense at the Royal Rumble. AJ says that he was being sarcastic and that it's not fair, but life is not fair and that they both deserve a title shot. Renee asks AJ if he thinks Daniel is playing favorites, AJ saying that he has no idea and wants nothing to do with what's going on between him and Shane. Kevin and Sami come out to the ramp and insult AJ be saying that they will become the first co-WWE World champions. They go on to say that Smackdown! Live will become their playground and they will be able to do whatever they want before starting a yep chant only to be interrupted by Shane McMahon. Shane then makes a handicap match between Sami and Kevin against AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton as we go to commercial.
Becky Lynch vs Ruby Riott
Becky immediately takes Ruby down before she backs into the ropes and is forced to back off by the referee as we go to commercial.
We come back from commercial to Ruby in control, keeping a leg scissor on Becky Ruby puts Becky in an abdominal stretch that she fights out of, then rolls her up for a quick two count. Becky then hits a series of forearms and a European uppercut before hitting a sidewalk slam and a reverse exploder suplex before Ruby sidesteps a boot and goes for her finisher, but Becky locks in the Disarmer for the tap and the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch via pinfall
-We then have a quick video of how Sami Zayn and Becky became partners for the WWE Mixed Match Challenge beginning next week as we go to commercial.
The Ascension vs The Bludgeon Brothers
Luke turns Konnor inside out with a boot as soon as the match starts when Konnor tries to back him into the corner. Luke then knocks Viktor off of the apron and tags Harper in and they immediately hit their finisher for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Bludgeon Brothers via pinfall
Mojo Rawley vs Zack Ryder
They lock up to start the match before Mojo backs Zack into the corner for a clean break, then Zack dropkicks Mojo for a quick one count. Mojo runs at Zack, but he gets his knees up in the corner, then Mojo yanks Zack off of the middle turnbuckle before beating him down.Mojo keeps Zack grounded until he fights back and sends Mojo back into the corner and goes for a the Browski Boot in the corner, but Mojo counters. Mojo comes back and sends Zack shoulder first into the ring post before and laying Zack out with a running forearm for the pin and the win.
Winner: Mojo Rawley wins via pinfall to advance to the next round of the WWE United States Championship Tournament
-After the match Bobby Roode who had been watching the match at ringside comes in and faces off with Mojo before leaving as we go to commercial.
-Natalya finds out that her Mixed Match Challenge teammate will be Shinsuke Nakamura. Chad and Shelton come out to the ring and talk about how they deserve a rematch against The Usos before Daniel Bryan comes out to the ring and makes a two out of three falls match for the Royal Rumble as we go to commercial.
Breezango vs Rusev Day
Tyler is in control to start the match before sending Aiden out of the ring as we go to commercial.
We come back from commercial to Aiden holding Tyler down before he tries to fight him off and tag Fandango in, but he just drops him and goes for a swanton bomb, but misses. Tyler finally tags Fandango in and he chops Aiden repeatedly before Rusev gets the blind tag and drops Fandango. Rusev drops Fandango with a series of kicks before splashing him in the corner and dropping him with a spinning heel kick before playing to the crowd. Rusev then takes out Tyler before Fandango rolls Rusev up out of nowhere for the pin and the win.
Winner: Breezango via pinfall
Three on Two Handicap Match
Randy and Kevin start the match, Randy teasing an RKO early before Kevin rolls out of the ring. Kevin gets back in and takes control before tagging Sami in. Sami and Kevin keep Randy isolated in their corner before Randy fights his way out and takes Shinsuke in, Shinsuke repeatedly kicking Sami in the chest before tagging AJ in. Sami tags Kevin in and the two try to leave and get counted out before Shane makes the match no countouts as we go to commercial.
AJ tags Randy in as we come back from commercial before hitting Sami with a clothesline and a powerslam, then a draping DDT. Randy then teases an RKO before Kevin comes in and hits Randy with a steel chair and Sami and Kevin then get disqualified.
Winner: AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura & Randy Orton via disqualification
