WWE SmackDown
April 25, 2017
Des Moines, Iowa
Commentary: JBL, Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
Smackdown Live kicks off with Renee Young welcoming Shinsuke Nakamura to the ring! Renee is about to ask Nakamura a question but Dolph Ziggler’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. Dolph takes the microphone from Renee as she leaves the ring. The crowd with a loud “Nakamura” chant.
Dolph asks Nakamura who his favorite WWE superstar is. Nakamura says one word but Dolph cuts him off saying he will translate what Nakamura just said and that Nakamura’s favorite WWE superstar of all time is Dolph Ziggler and he should be in the Hall of Fame. Ziggler says Nakamura’s real name is Michael from Indiana. The camera shows Nakamura who has looks stunned. Ziggler goes on to mock Nakamura, making up stories about his childhood life. He says Nakamura later appeared in Japan under “Shinsuke Nakamura” and that it translates into petty, pathetic, overrated freak.
Nakamura grabs the mic and says now it’s his turn to ask the questions. Dolph, what is your problem? Dolph says a word and Nakamura pulls the mic away. He says for those of you who don’t understand, he will translat. Nakamura proceeds to speak in Japanese and at the end says jackass. Dolph kicks Nakamura in the stomach, goes for the super kick but Nakamura reverses it and throws Ziggler on his back. Nakamura goes for a knee strike but Ziggler rolls out of the ring.
Up next, AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin.
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AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin
Kevin Owens joins the announce team for the match. AJ Styles comes out first. James Corbin’s music hits and this match is underway. Styles goes for a kick but Corbin catches his leg and pushes him away. Styles gets back up and gets Corbin in a headlock. Corbin lifts Styles up, but Styles lands on his feet and gets him in another headlock. Corbin backs Styles up to the corner but Styles gets another headlock in. Corbin throws some matches and sends Styles to the ropes. A shoulder to shoulder as Styles bounces to the ropes and Corbin kicks him out of the ring.
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Back from commercial, Corbin has AJ Styles in an arm lock. They show highlights from during the commercial with Corbin beating up on Styles. Corbin delivers a back breaker on Styles. He goes for the cover but only a 2 count. Corbin on top of Styles with some forearms. He lifts Styles and puts him on the top rope. Corbin goes for a suplex but Styles slides under and trips Corbin. He delivers an overhead kick and takes Corbin out. Styles with some forearms and kicks. He goes for the cover but a 2 count. Styles goes for the Styles clash but Corbin gets out of it. Styles goes for the calf crusher but Corbin holds on to him and hits Styles in the back of the head. Styles slides onto the ring apron, Kevin Owens gets up, Styles kicks him down, he goes for the phenomenal forearm but Corbin slides out of the way. Corbin picks him up and goes for the powerbomb but Styles rolls him up and goes for the cover. He gets the 3 count!
Owens gets in the ring as they start beating on Styles. Sami Zayn’s music hits and he runs to the ring as Owen slides out of the ring. Sami fights with Corbin. HOwens on the apron as Sami hits him. Sami with the helluva kick as Owens hits him from behind. Owens grabs Styles and delivers a powerbomb.
Winner: AJ Styles
Charlotte is interviewed backstage. She says every superstar has blood running through their veins but gold runs through hers. She said she ruled Raw and the queen needs a new kingdom to rule. She will prove to Naomi and the rest of the WWE Universe what they already know. Which is that she is already the greatest superstar in WWE history.
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Beat the clock challenge: American Alpha vs. The Colons
Four tag teams compete in two matches, the winners of the first match will set the time to beat. Winners of the second match will compete the winners of the first match. The team who wins in the shortest amount of time will become the 1 contenders for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team titles.
Gable goes for the backslide cover on Epico but he kicks out. Gable tags in Jordan and he takes Epico down. He goes for the cover but another kick out. Jordan looking at the clock. The Usos are shown backstage watching the match. Jordan tags Gable in and Epico with a big boot on Gable. He goes for the cover but a two count. He tags Primo in he goes for the cover but a kick out. He delivers a few kicks and he tags Epico back in. A running clothesline but a kick out by Gable. Over three minutes on the clock. A headlock by Epico. He picks Gable up and delivers a back breaker. He tags Primo in who geos for the cover but another kick out. A bodyslam and leg drop. Another cover but another kick out. A russian leg sweep by Primo. Epico gets in the ring as they double team Gable, Jordan gets in and cleans house. Jordan picks up Primo and they deliver the Grand Amplitude. Gable goes for cover and gets the 3 count! They did it in 5:17 seconds.
Winners: American Alpha
Tonight, Randy Orton vs. Eric Rowan in a No Disqualification match. Up next, a message from Rusev.
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Rusev Statement
Rusev is shown in a video where he says he doesn’t like Smackdown Live Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. The only way he would come wrestle on Smackdown is when they give him a championship match at Money in the Bank. Otherwise, he would just go back to Bulgaria.
Backstage Becky Lynch is getting interviewed. Regarding Charlotte, she says she’s stepping up but she can appreciate Charlotte getting results. She gets interrupted by Nathalya, Carmella and Tamina. Nathalya says she’s either with them or against them.
Randy Orton vs. Eric Rowan
Randy Orton’s music hits as the WWE champion makes his way to the ring. Eric Rowan’s music hits and we’re underway! Rowan sends Orton to the ropes and an elbow to the face takes the WWE champion down. Both men get up and Orton clotheslines Rowan to the outside. Both men exchange right hands outside. He pushes Rowan into the ring post. Orton pushes Rowan spine first into the barricade. Fighting near the announce table. Orton back drops Rowan on the table but it doesn’t break. Orton about to send Rowan into the ring steps but Rowan reverses it and Orton goes shoulder first into the steps. Rowan throws Orton back in the ring. A dropkick on Orton. He goes for the cover but a 2 count.
Rowan goes to the outside of the ring and grabs a kendo stick. He hits Orton with it across the back and chest. He goes for the cover but another 2 count. Rowan goes back to the outside of the ring and grabs a table. He sets it up outside of the ring. He gets on the ring apron and grabs Orton. Rowan goes for the suplex but Orton hangs on. Orton fights out of it and delivers some punches. Orton grabs the stick and hits Rowan with it who’s hanging onto the ropes. Orton hits him with it as Rowan falls and goes through the table.
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Back from commercial, Rowan beating on Orton. Orton slides to the outside of the ring. Rowan smashing Orton’s head into the announce table. He throws Orton back in the ring and grabs the kendo stick. Orton with a kick to the face and a DDT! Orton setting up the RKO but Rowan pushes him away and hits him with the kendo stick. He throws Orton back to the outside of the ring. Rowan grabs the ring steps and he hits Orton with them. Rowan sends Orton back into the ring as he grabs a steel chair with him. Rowan places the chair in the corner between the middle and top rope. Rowan grabs Orton and looks to send him into the chair but Orton stops. Rowan runs towards Orton who moves out of the way and Rowan hits the chair. He turns around and an RKO! Orton goes for the cover and gets the 3 count!
Winner: Randy Orton
Orton grabs a microphone and says he doesn’t know what a House of Horrors match is but he gets a feeling that Sunday he will find out. Orton says that the House of Horrors match will be his eternal hell.
Jinder Mahal’s music hits. He says how dare Orton overlook him. How dare he disrespect him. He shouldn’t be worried about Wyatt but he’s the true horror he should be worried about. He says he will take his WWE title. He has more wealth, talent, class and culture than anyone in the arena. Including Orton. He gets in the ring. He says Randy is just like all the fans, he disrespects him because he looks different. He disrespects him because of his arrogance and lack of tolerance. But at Backlash he will take back his respect. He will take the glory of the WWE championship to himself and his people. Who he will address in his language. His language of Punjabi. Mahal speaks in Punjabi. He goes to attack Orton but Orton blocks it and goes for the DDT but the Bollywood boys stop him and attack Orton. They all beat up on the WWE champion. Mahal takes Orton down, holds the WWE title and takes it with him.
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They show Mahal and The Bollywood Boys with Randy Orton’s WWE title leaving the arena in a limousine.
Beat the clock challenge: Breezango vs. Ascension
The Ascension are already in the ring as Breezango’s music hits. Victor with a corkscrew uppercut on Tyler Breeze. He tags Connor in. Connor beating on Breeze, he goes for the cover but a kick out. Victor tagged in as he goes after Breeze who’s in the corner but Breeze moves and tags in Fandango. Victor with a knee to the face on Fandango. He tags Conor in. They double team Fandango. Another knee to the face, Conor goes for the cover and another kick out. He tags Victor back in. Victor goes for a clothesline on Fandango, Fandango ducks, a superkick by Breeze. Fandango goes for the cover and gets the 3 count! They beat the 5:17 of American Alpha and are the number 1 contenders for the Smackdown Tag Team championships!
Winners: Breezango
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Neville is backstage and he says that he will dismantle Jack Ghallager tonight on 205 Live. And the same thing will happen to Austin Aries this Sunday at Payback.
A video package showing the feud between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt is shown.
Renee Young is backstage with Naomi. Naomi says Charlotte has been a standout competitor since she stepped foot in WWE. But that she runs her mouth, who does she think she is, Muhammad Ali? Where she’s from, she has to be at the top to be the best. She says she’s Ali and Charlotte is Foreman. She will go out and show her why she’s the WWE Smackdown Women’s champion.
WWE Women’s Title: Naomi (c) vs. Charlotte
Namoi’s music hits as she makes her way to the ring first.
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Charlotte’s music hits and she makes her way to the ring. The bell rings and we are underway. They lock up and a headlock takedown by Charlotte. Naomi rolls out of it and a headlock of her own. Naomi with a running bulldog and sends Charlotte face first into the turnbuckle. Charlotte rolls to the outside of the ring. Naomi on the ring apron but Charlotte trips her down. Charlotte grabs Naomi by the legs and drops her to the floor.
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Back from commercial, Charlotte has Naomi in a headlock. Naomi gets up and tries to fight out of it but Charlotte drops Naomi face first. A knee to the face by Charlotte as she goes for the cover but only gets a 2 count. Both women back up, Charlotte with a chop and takes Naomi down. She goes for the cover but another kick out. Naomi in the corner and some chops by Charlotte. Naomi fights out of it and starts delivering some kicks. Naomi runs to the ropes and delivers a hurricanrana. Naomi back up, she goes to the ring apron and goes for the sunset flip but Charlotte rolls out. Naomi with a kick to the head, she goes for the cover but Charlotte kicks out.
Both women back up and Naomi delivers the Real Deal! She goes for the cover but Charlotte kicks out! Both women back up, Naomi goes for the hurricanrana but Charlotte catches her and delivers a powerbomb! She goes for the cover but a 2 count. Charlotte goes to the top rope, she goes for the moonsault but Naomi puts her knees up and blocks it. Nathalya, Carmella and Tamina run to the ring and attack Charlotte. Naomi gets in the ring and fights back. Nathalya and Carmella hold Charlotte as Tamina delivers a superkick. The Welcoming Committee beating up on Charlotte. Carmella with a super kick to Charlotte who’s down. All three women with James Ellsworth pose in the middle of the ring.