This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Live. Tonight we have a great show, John Cena is in the building in hopes of earning a match for WrestleMania, Sami Zayn faces Baron Corbin, Naomi faces Ruby Riott and much more so be sure to come back here at 8 PM EST for all of the action and to stick with us for the post show podcast!
-John Cena comes out to the ring and talks about wanting a match at WrestleMania before Shane McMahon comes out to the ring and talks about the fatal five-way before Daniel Bryan comes out to the ring. Daniel says that he agrees with Shane and that they will give John am opportunity to face AJ in the fatal five at WWE Fastlane. John agrees to the match before Daniel announces that he will face AJ Styles to earn his spot as we go to commercial.
Sami Zayn vs Baron Corbin
They lock up to start the match twice, both time having clean breaks before they go to the outside and Sami sends Corbin over the barricade. Sami then rolls Baron back into the ring after we have a cut away to Shane and Daniel debating Kevin Owens being allowed to join on commentary as we go to commercial.
Corbin is in control as we come back from commercial, Shane eating popcorn backstage alongside Daniel as we see how Baron countered a diving move off of the top with a chokebreaker. Baron gets a quick two count before Sami sends him over the top rope and onto the floor. Baron gets distracted by Kevin before Sami gets a near fall off of a roll up, then Sami hits a DDT for a very close near fall. Dolph Ziggler then randomly shows up out of nowhere and attacks Kevin, Sami getting distracted before Corbin hits Sami with The End of Days for the pin and the win.
Winner: Baron Corbin defeats Sami Zayn via pinfall with The End of Days.
-After the match Dolph hits Baron with the Zig-Zag before leaving, then we cut to Shane and Daniel backstage before Daniel decides to go home as we go to commercial.
Ruby Riott vs Naomi
They exchange forearms to start the match before Naomi sends Ruby out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Ruby is in control as we come back from commercial, having Naomi in a stock submission before transitioning into an headlock that she fights out of. They both miss kicks before hitting each other with a roundhouse, then Ruby counters the Rear View and drops Naomi from behind. Ruby then counters a bulldog and hits the Riott Kick for the pin and the win.
Winner: Ruby Riott defeats Naomi via pinfall with the Riott Kick
-New Day come out to the ring and cut a promo as we're informed that they will be challenging The Usos for the WWE Smackdown! Live Tag Team Championship at Fastlane. The Usos come out to the ring and talk about how they're the greatest tag team in the world and that they will retain the titles at WWE Fastlane before they're interrupted by the Bludgeon Brothers. Both teams then get out of the ring and leave as they want nothing to do with them as we go to commercial.
.-We get an interview backstage with Bobby Roode before he's interrupted by Randy Orton, then Aiden and Rusev come out to the ring before Aiden's match with Shinsuke Nakamura.
Aiden English vs Shinsuke Nakamura
They exchange wrist locks before they get out of the ring and Rusev drops Shinsuke with a roundhouse kick as we go to commercial.
Aiden is in control as we come back from commercial, hitting a slam for a quick two count before Shinsuke comes back with a kick to the face. Shinsuke then hits the Kinshasa for the pin and the win for a short match minus the commercials.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Aiden English via pinfall with the Kinshasa.
AJ Styles vs John Cena
Cena counters a standing switch to start the match before taking AJ down and trying various submission attempts, but AJ manages to get to the ropes each time. John then hits a tornado DDT for a quick two count as we go to commercial.
Cena is in control as we come back from commercial, hitting a back drop into the five knuckle shuffle before AJ counters into an ushigaroshi for a quick two count. Cena counters the Styles Clash before hitting a TKO for a quick two count, then AJ hits a backbreaker bomb for another quick two count. John hits a sit-out facebuster for a quick two count before turning AJ inside out with a lariat for another quick two count as we go to commercial.
We come back from commercial to seeing how AJ Styles hit a Styles Clash during the commercial for a near fall before John counters a springboard moonsault into a code red for a near fall. John locks in an STF, but AJ counters for a near fall, then AJ hits the Phenomenal Forearm, but John kicks out at the last second. John counters a springboard 450 splash into an AA, then they topple out of the ring and Cena hits an AA through the announce table. AJ then gets back in the ring at the count of eight before AJ counters the AA into the Calf Killer, Cena powering his way back to his feet and hitting another AA for the pin and the win.
Winner: John Cena defeat AJ Styles via pinfall with an AA and gains entrance to the WWE Championship match at WWE Fastlane.
-After the match everyone involved in the match comes out to the ring and hits a move until Cena hits an AA to Dolph as the feed cuts.
