This is the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE Smackdown! Live. Tonight best friends clash for a chance at gold as in our main event Sami Zayn takes on Kevin Owens for an opportunity to face AJ Styles at WWE Fastlane! We also have Bobby Roode defending his United States Championship against Rusev and much more so be sure to come back here at 8 PM EST for all of the action!
-Shane and Daniel start the show and go back and forth about whether the Yep Movement's title shot is warranted. Daniel says that he deserves a raise, but Shane just comes back and says that he believes that Sami and Kevin are manipulating him and that he wants better for him. Shane says that he thinks Daniel is trying to continue his wrestling career through Kevin and Sami before AJ Styles comes out to the ring and talks about how much he's wrestled the past month and that Shane and Daniel are obsessed with Sami and Kevin. AJ then vows to leave WrestleMania as the WWE champion as we go to commercial.
-We come back from commercial to AJ backstage before Shinsuke walks up and talks to him before we cut to our first match of the night between Liv Morgan and Charlotte.
Liv Morgan vs Charlotte
Charlotte backs Liv into the corner and kicks and stomps on her until Liv rolls out of the ring as we go to commercial.
Liv is in control as we come back from commercial until Charlotte comes back with a series of chops, dropping Liv before hitting a fall away slam and a PK. Liv pulls Charlotte off of the top and puts Charlotte in a straitjacket submission that she gets out of and hits a neckbreaker. Charlotte sends Sarah off of the apron before the referee has her and Ruby barred from ringside, then Charlotte gets back in the ring and locks in the Figure Eight for the tap and the win.
Winner: Charlotte defeats Liv Morgan via submission with the Figure Eight.
Bludgeon Brothers vs Enhancement Talent
Luke kills the guy in black tights before Rowan attacks the guy in red at ringside, then takes out both, each with a crucifix bomb for the pin and the win.
Winner: The Bludgeon Brothers defeat local talent via pinfall with a crucifix bomb.
-After the match the Usos come out and face off with the Bludgeon Brothers before walking around them and Luke tells Rowan not to do anything as we go to commercial.
-The Usos come out and talk about a variety of things including prison and Koolaid before saying that they are ready for anything and anyone and how they are the best tag team in the world as we go to commercial.
-We come back from commercial to Daniel Bryan listing off the Smackdown! Live top ten list with AJ Styles at number one. Rusev Day then cut a promo as we go to commercial.
WWE United States Championship Match
Bobby Roode (c) vs Rusev
They lock up to start the match for a clean break before Rusev plays to the crowd and they lock up again for another clean break where Roode plays to the crowd. Rusev takes Roode down before they grapple until they're back to their feet and Rusev drops Roode with a shoulder block and plays to the crowd as we go to commercial.
Roode is in control as we come back from commercial, hitting a blockbuster off of the second turnbuckle for a near fall before Rusev comes back with a fall away slam and puts him in a rear chin lock. Roode comes back with a series of clotheslines and a neckbreaker before hitting a diving clothesline off of the top and plays to the crowd. Aiden then distracts Roode and Rusev hits a roundhouse kick for a near fall as we go to commercial.
Rusev counters a Glorious DDT before Roode hits a spinebuster for a near fall as we come back from commercial, then Roode knocks Aiden off of the apron before Rusev drops Roode with a superkick and goes for the Accolade, but Roode counters. They then counter each other until Roode hits the Glorious DDT for the pin and the win.
Winner: Bobby Roode retains the WWE United States Championship via pinfall with the Glorious DDT.
-After the match Randy Orton shows up and RKO's everyone in the ring as we go to commercial.
Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs The Ascension
Shelton and Konnor start the match with Konnor in control until Shelton comes back and drops him with a knee for a quick two count before tagging Chad in. Chad starts focusing on the leg of Konnor until Konnor hits a flapjack and tags Viktor in, Viktor sending Shelton out of the ring when he tries to come in. Chad then comes back with a rolling German suplex before he and Shelton hit their finisher for the pin and the win.
Winner: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin defeat The Ascension via pinfall with a diving clothesline powerbomb.
WWE Championship Number One Contender Match
Sami Zayn vs Kevin Owens
They lock up to start the match for a clean break before Kevin puts Sami in a front headlock before Sami gets back to his feet and gets to the ropes for the break. Sami takes Kevin down and beats on him before Kevin rolls out of the ring, Kevin trying to get back on, but Sami keeps knocking him off of the apron as we go to commercial.
Kevin is in control as we come back from commercial, chopping Sami in the corner before hitting an enzuigiri into a package neckbreaker for a quick two count. Sami comes back with a tornado DDT for a near fall before Kevin sends Sami off of the top and goes for a swanton bomb, but Sami gets his knees up. They get out of the ring and Sami hits a tornado DDT to the floor before rolling Kevin back into the ring and Kevin catches Sami coming in and hits a superkick into a splash off of the top for a very close near fall. Kevin tells Sami to stay down and he's the one who wins titles before Sami hits a blue thunder bomb for a very close near fall. Kevin falls out of the ring and Sami goes out after him before AJ attacks both of them for the disqualification.
Winner: no contest due to disqualification.
-After the match Daniel Bryan comes out to the ramp and makes yet another triple threat match for Fastlane as we go off the air.
