This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Live. We see forty eight hours removed from the biggest event of the year; WrestleMania where AJ Styles defended his WWE Championship against Shinsuke Nakamura, Charlotte put an end to Asuka's undefeated streak and we have new WWE Smackdown Tag Team champions in the Bludgeon Brothers. There are many questions that will be answered tonight; what will AJ so about Shinsuke's betrayal, what's next for Charlotte and who will make their main roster debuts for the blue brand? Be sure to come back here at 8PM EST to find out and be sure to stick with us after the show for the post show podcast!
-Shane McMahon comes out to the ring and talks about WrestleMania this past Sunday night where he and Daniel Bryan defeated Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens to keep then fired. Shane talks about the return of Daniel Bryan to in-ring action before announcing that Paige will now be the Smackdown! Live general manager now that Daniel Bryan has returned to in-ring competition on a continuous basis. Paige thanks Shane for the opportunity to become the new general manager of the Smackdown! brand before saying that Daniel Bryan will be in his first televised match in three years when he goes one on one against WWE champion AJ Styles later tonight.
WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Championship Number One Contender Match
New Day vs The Usos
The Usos double team Xavier to start the match before Big-E gets the blind tag and hits an overhead belly to back suplex to Jey before tagging in and out and doing the unicorn stampede as we go to commercial.
New Day are in control as we come back from commercial until Jey tags Jimmy in and Jimmy hits a tope to the outside to Big-E before hitting a pop-up Samoan drop for a quick two count. Xavier hits a spike DDT before Jimmy hits another tope to the outside, then New Day hit a double team move for a near fall before the Usos send E out of the ring with a double superkick. Jey then hits a splash off of the top to Xavier for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Usos defeat New Day via pinfall with a splash for the pin and the win to get a shot at the WWE Smackdown Championship at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
-We get a segment from earlier today that set up our next match between Naomi and Natalya.
Naomi vs Natalya
They exchange head scissors before Naomi sends Natalya out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Natalya is in control as we come back from commercial, dropping her repeatedly and slamming her to the mat by her hair before kicking her in the back and putting her in a submission. Naomi comes back with a series of kicks before Natalya hits a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall, then Naomi counters a sharpshooter only for Natalya to drop her with a discus lariat for another near fall. Naomi then comes back and hits a moonsault for the pin and the win.
Winner: Naomi defeats Natalya via pinfall with a moonsault.
-We go backstage after the match where Renee interviews Shinsuke about what he did to AJ WrestleMania before he apologizes and says he doesn't speak English before leaving as we go to commercial.
-Charlotte comes out to the ring and talks about her defeating Asuka and beating her streak before The Iconic Duo (now being called the Iconics); Billie Kay and Peyton Royce come out to the ring and mock her before they attack Charlotte before Carmella comes out and cashes in the Money in the Bank briefcase.
WWE Smackdown! Women's Championship Match
Charlotte (c) vs Carmella
Carmella immediately drops Charlotte with a boot once the match starts after the onslaught by the Iconics moments earlier for the pin and the win.
Winner: Carmella defeats Charlotte via pinfall with a boot to become the new WWE Smackdown! Women's champion.
WWE United States Championship Number One Contender Triple Threat Match
The match starts during the commercial before we come back from commercial to Roode in control until Randy teases an RKO that Roode counters before Rusev comes in and takes them both out momentarily. Roode hits a blockbuster off of the second turnbuckle before Randy sends him out of the ring and Rusev drops him with a roundhouse kick for a quick two count. They brawl at ringside before Randy and Roode get back in the ring and Roode hits a neckbreaker before hitting a flying clothesline and playing to the crowd. Randy comes back with a series of clotheslines before hitting a powerslam, then they counter each other until Rusev backdrops Randy into the announce table. Rusev hits a series of kicks and clotheslines before hitting the Machka Kick, then he goes for the Accolade before Randy breaks it up and tosses him into the ring post.
Randy then hits an RKO to Roode after sending Rusev into the ring post for the pin and the win.
Winner: Randy Orton defeats Bobby Roode & Rusev via pinfall when he pins Roode with an RKO to gain a title shot against Jinder Mahal.
AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan
They go back and forth to start the match before Daniel takes control, then AJ hits a sling shot cross body to the outside and onto the floor as we go to commercial.
Daniel hit a running elbow that drops AJ as we come back from commercial before hitting a series of kicks. AJ counters a kick and hits a dragon screw leg whip before AJ catches Daniel when he goes for a moonsault and hits a reverse DDT for a near fall. AJ hits a flurry of offense before Daniel locks in an armbar that AJ counters into the Calf Killer. Daniel gets out of it before AJ hits a Pele kick, then AJ counters a running knee into the Styles Clash before Daniel counters that into the Yes Lock. AJ manages to get his foot on the bottom rope for the break before Daniel puts him in the tree of woe and kicks him repeatedly. Shinsuke then comes in and attacks Daniel for the disqualification.
Winner: Daniel Bryan defeats AJ Styles via disqualification when Shinsuke Nakamura attacks him.
-After the match Shinsuke low blows AJ twice before hitting AJ with the Kinshasa.
