Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
This week’s episode of Smackdown starts off with a look at what happened on Raw when Roman Reigns came to the aid of his cousins when Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows attacked Jimmy and Jey. Then we see AJ Styles confronting Luke and Karl about the attack and the discussion suggesting that maybe they are working together. We see what happened at the end of Raw when Styles and Reigns clashed after Roman’s match.;
We are in Manchester, New Hampshire and your announcers are Mauro Ranallo, Byron Saxton, and Jerry Lawler.
Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring and he has something to say.
Roman reminds us that he gave AJ Styles a Superman Punch on Raw and he will do it again at Payback. Roman says he did it because AJ said he was not teamed up with Gallows and Anderson, but he does not believe him. He respects AJ as a singles wrestler. He knows about AJ being all over the world and he knows they are his friends. He knows AJ’s history. He says that AJ is not fooling anyone and we know they are all together. He wants AJ to man up and come out and tell the truth.
Instead of AJ Styles, Miz’ music plays and Maryse leads her husband onto the stage and then to the ring.
Miz asks Roman if he thought AJ was coming out. Miz introduces his wife to everyone. Miz asks Roman if he thinks she is gorgeous. He says he was the first to state that Gallows, Anderson are more than just friends, they are working together. They are thick as thief. Miz references the Shawshank Redemption and he says that makes Roman the warden. When the deception is revealed, you will be dumbfounded and speechless looking at a hole in the wall while AJ Styles becomes the new WWE Champion.
Miz says that he thinks he deserves a little recognition for that.
Reigns punches Miz and then clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor.
Maryse checks on her husband.
Roman hands Maryse her husband’s title belt.
We go commercial.
We are back and we see Rusev, Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio with Renee Young in the interview area. Renee says that they look stronger than ever after excommunicating Wade Barrett. Sheamus says he couldn’t have said it better himself. At Wrestlemania, they proved that no three people can beat them. Just ask the New Day.
Alberto says Wade was the weak link and they look better than ever.
Rusev says that they should be called the United Nations.
Match Number One: Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, and Rusev versus Kalisto, Sami Zayn, and Cesaro
Kalisto starts off while Sheamus and Rusev argue over who should start. Del Rio jumps in because he sees Kalisto in the ring. Sheamus tells Rusev he’s got it and he starts for his team. Kalisto with kicks to the leg but Sheamus with a back elbow. Rusev and Del Rio tag in but Rusev get in first and he punches Kalisto. Del Rio with a suplex and kick to the back. Sheamus tags in and he kicks Kalisto and connects with a knee lift. Rusev tags in and punches Kalisto and slams Kalisto.
Rusev with an elbow drop for a near fall. Rusev with a bear hug on Kalisto. Kalisto with punches but Rusev with a knee after releasing the hold. Kalisto makes the tag to Zayn and Zayn with a shoulder from the apron followed by a head scissors. Zayn with a forearm in the corner. Zayn with more forearms. Rusev with an Irish whip and Zayn with an elbow and kick. Sheamus distracts Zayn on the turnbuckles and Rusev with a super kick for a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Sheamus with a kick to Zayn followed by a leg drop for a near fall. Sheamus with a front face lock and Del Rio tags in and punches Zayn and then kicks him in the midsection. Del Rio punches Zayn in the corner and Rusev tells Del Rio something before Del Rio hits a DDT and gets a near fall. Del Rio with a reverse chin lock. Zayn with punches but Del Rio with a lungblower.
Rusev makes the tag while Del Rio set for a super kick. Sheamus knocks Cesaro off the apron and pulls Zayn into his corner. Rusev and Del Rio continue to argue and Sheamus gets involved as well. Del Rio walks out of the ring and goes to the back. Rusev wants to know what is going on while Zayn recovers.
Rusev with a punch to Zayn and then Rusev and Sheamus argue. Sheamus tags in and he goes up top and accidentally punches Rusev when Zayn moves. Sheamus kicks Zayn and Rusev pushes Sheamus and they start to push back and forth. Rusev leaves the ring and heads to the back.
Sheamus misses a shoulder in the corner and Kalisto tags in and hits a springboard rana followed by kicks and a springboard corkscrew cross body. Sheamus goes to the floor and then Cesaro makes the tag and hits a running European uppercut on the floor. Cesaro with a cross body and he gets a near fall. Cesaro with a flurry of European uppercuts. Cesaro with an Irish whip and running European uppercut. He hits a second one and then connects with a drop kick.
Cesaro sets for the Giant Swing but Sheamus gets to the floor and he heads to the ramp and to the back.
The referee makes his count and he counts out Sheamus.
Winners: Cesaro, Kalisto, and Sami Zayn
We go to commercial.
We are back and we see Sheamus, Rusev, and Alberto Del Rio in the back. They are arguing about the match and Del Rio pushes Rusev but Rusev tells Del Rio he walked out on him and sends him into the door. Sheamus goes after Rusev and says that he walked out on both of them and he says the League is over.
We look at the Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn video package that has aired many times this week.
Match Number Two: Baron Corbin versus Damien Sandow
Corbin with a kick and he sends Sandow to the floor. Corbin runs Sandow into the ringside barrier and then connects with forearms to the back of the head. Corbin kicks Sandow and then connects with forearms to the back of the head. Corbin sends Sandow back into the ring.
Corbin chokes Sandow in the corner and the referee warns him. Corbin chokes Sandow again. Sandow kicks and punches Corbin but Corbin with a punch and then he drops Sandow on the top rope. Corbin with a forearm to the back of the head and then he catapults Sandow into the bottom rope. Corbin with End of Days for the three count.
Winner: Baron Corbin
We see AJ Styles in the back and Renee Young stops AJ to ask him about Roman’s statements that he thinks AJ is working with Gallows and Anderson.
AJ says he does not care about what Roman thinks. He will take the title from Roman on Sunday and they won’t be calling him a liar, but he will call him champ.
Renee mentions that Roman called him out earlier tonight.
AJ says that he does not answer to Roman. He will step on his cape when he wants to. He will be out there to watch Roman’s match later tonight.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring.
We see what happened on Raw between Ambrose and Jericho when Jericho used the table to apply the Walls of Jericho because an announce table is more dangerous than any other surface.
Dean is by the announce table and he wants to talk about what happened on Raw before he does his part time job. Chris Jericho had him in the Walls of Jericho and a world of hurt, but Chris made a mistake. He released the hold. Dean says he does not let go and he can hold a grudge. Nothing will get him off of that. Nothing will get him off Chris Jericho on Sunday night.
Behind that silly scarf and shoes, he is a tough competitor. Chris will be in the Hall of Fame some day, but on Sunday, Chris Jericho will be looking across the ring at the man who will turn Bon Jovi into Meatloaf.
Dean goes into the ring and say that he has to change hats.
Dean welcomes everyone to the Ambrose Asylum. He mentions that his first guest will be wrestling for the WWE Women’s Title on Sunday. He brings out Natalya.
Dean welcomes her to the show.
Natalya says it reminds her of a dentist’s office with the plant.
Dean shows us why Natalya is facing Charlotte on Sunday.
Dean says he saw what everyone else saw. Charlotte was tapping out, but her father was the deciding factor, running interference. Dean asks how will this be different on Sunday.
Natalya says it will be different on Sunday when she has someone in her corner. She will have Bret Hart in her corner.
Ric Flair comes out with his daughter and current WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte.
Dean says things are heating up with Charlotte in the ring, along with her father.
Dean tells Charlotte that Natalya said things will be different on Sunday because Bret Hart will be in her corner.
Charlotte says that will be disturbing. How could you? Everything Uncle Bret has been through and you are going to parade him around all of these people.
Natalya brings up how Charlotte is doing the same thing with family.
Charlotte says that is different. She says that her father is legendary. He is a two time Hall of Famer. He is the Sixteen time world champion. Her father is her coach.
Natalya says that her father is a lying, screaming, creepy old man who knows he has to cheat to help his daughter win because she is not good enough. If your father tries to do anything underhanded at Payback, Bret will be there to stop him and you will tap again.
Ric says he beat Bret Hart in the WWE. He beat Bret Hart in WCW. He owned him. If he had to wrestle Bret on the moon, he would have beaten him there.
Natalya says it is time for a new era and it is time to give these people a champion that they deserve.
We go to commercial.
We are back and the New Day make their way to the ringside area. They join Mauro and Jerry at the announce table and they take over doing commentary for this match.
Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady make their way to the ring and they do their usual introduction.
Enzo says that Big Cass and Muscles Marinara are going to go upside your head with the sauce. He says you are looking at the new number one contenders.
Match Number Three: Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel (with Heath Slater) versus Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady
Bo and Enzo start things off and Bo with an arm drag and Bo celebrates. We see Byron sitting sadly next to the announce table. Enzo flicks a booger at Bo and Enzo follows with a cross body. Enzo charges into the corner and tags Colin. Colin sends Enzo into Bo. Enzo tags back in and Slater distracts Enzo. Bo with a back elbow but Enzo with a drop kick. Axel tags in and misses a clothesline but he hits a Northern Lariat. Axel with punches to Enzo.
Aiden English and Simon Gotch watch from the stage while Axel Irish whips Enzo into the corner. Curtis with a running elbow but Bo tags in and he misses a splash and Bo goes to the floor. Axel and Colin tag in and Colin with running forearms to Axel and a splash to Bo. Colin with a slam to Axel and then he hits a leaping elbow drop. Colin with a splash to Axel followed by a boot that knocks Slater off the apron and onto the announce table. Colin with a Bossman Slam and he tags in Enzo for the Rocket Launcher and the three count.
Winners: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady
After the match, we see the Vaudevillains ‘golf clapping’ to show their thoughts on the match.
Colin tells the Vaudevillains on Sunday there is only one word to describe them and he will spell it out.
We see R Truth and Goldust in the locker room. Goldust tells Truth it felt so right when they were dancing last week.
Tyler Breeze arrives and Truth tells Goldust he was right. He says Goldust looked so happy last week and he wants nothing more than Goldust’s happiness. He found a tag team partner and they are going to be called The Gorgeous Truth. Truth says it is better that they are just friends.
Goldust tells Truth to ‘forget it’ but Truth says he cannot forget what was said.
They leave and Fandango stops by and he gets Goldust to start dancing, but he has to stop.
We go to commercial.
We are back with the Primo and Epico Puerto Rico Tourism Bureau videos showing the nightclubs of Puerto Rico.
Match Number Four: Apollo Crews versus Stardust
Stardust tries to take advantage as the bell rings but Crews moves and Crews with a waist lock take down and Stardust goes to the floor. Stardust pulls Crews to the floor and send him intot he apron. Stardust with a forearm to the back and Crews sends Stardust into the apron. Stardust with a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes and then he kicks Crews in the corner.
Stardust kicks Crews in the knee and drops an elbow to the leg. Stardust punches Crews and then he keeps Crews down with a leg trip and he kicks Crews in the leg. Stardust works on the knee but Crews with a kick to the head. Stardust with a forearm but Crews with a clothesline and punches. Crews with a pump handle power slam and he gets a near fall. Crews favors his injured leg and Stardust with a drop kick to the knee. Crews avoids a leg sweep and hits an enzuigiri followed by a second one. Crews with the tossed sit out power bomb for the three count.
Winner: Apollo Crews
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look at what happened on Raw when the McMahons confronted each other.
AJ Styles comes to the ringside area to watch the next match next to the announce table.
Match Number Five: Roman Reigns versus Miz (with Maryse) in a Champion versus Champion Non Title Match
They lock up and Reigns backs Miz into the corner. Miz goes to the mat when Reigns sets for a punch and then Miz goes to the floor. Reigns tries to pull Miz back into the ring but Miz drops Reigns on the ropes and then hits a shoulder tackle. Reigns with a punch and clothesline that sends Miz over the top rope to the floor. Reigns with the Juggernaut Broad Jump Drop Kick and then he gets in AJ’s face and the referee has to separate them.
Miz sends Reigns into the announce table and ring post after the distraction. Miz sends Reigns back in and gets a near fall.
We go to commercial.
We are back and Miz with a reverse chin lock. We see Styles standing next to the announce table. Reigns with punches to Miz but Miz with an Irish whip and Miz with the Awesome Clothesline. Miz goes up top and hits a double sledge for a near fall. Miz chokes Reigns in the ropes and then Miz with a splash to the back and he gets a near fall.
Miz with knees to the back followed by a boot to the head and he gets a near fall. Miz punches Reigns and then sends another knee into the back before returning to a rear chin lock. Reigns powers out of the hold but Miz with a knee. Miz goes for Reality Check but he cannot hit the second neck breaker. Reigns with a Samoan Drop and both men are down.
Miz runs into an elbow and Reigns with punches to Miz. Reigns with a kick and clotheslines. Reigns with a flying clothesline. Reigns with Neverending Story in the corner and then he connects with an uppercut. Reigns pounds the mat to signal for the Superman punch. Maryse pulls Miz out of the ring and Miz drop kicks the ring steps into Reigns’ legs. Miz with a rollup for a near fall. Miz is kicked away from a figure four leg lock set up. Miz with a DDT for a near fall.
Miz sets for the Skull Crushing Finale but Reigns with elbows and a spear for the three count.
Winner: Roman Reigns
After the match, Styles stares down Reigns from ringside and then he gets on the apron. Styles gets into the ring and he gets face to face with Reigns.
Reigns turns around and Anderson and Gallows come to the ring. Reigns takes care of Anderson and Gallows with an uppercut. Anderson and Gallows double team Reigns and send him into the ring steps.
Styles stands in the ring and he does not want this to happen. Gallows says something to Styles and Gallows with a boot.
The music for the Usos play and the Usos come to the ring and they go after Gallows and Anderson while Styles watches. Jimmy with a super kick to Anderson and then he punches Styles. Jimmy with a super kick to Gallows. Styles with an enzuigiri to Jimmy and then he goes after Jimmy on a springboard attempt. Gallows clotheslines Jimmy over the top rope to the floor. Reigns spears Gallows. Styles tries to give Reigns a Styles Clash but Reigns with a back drop that sends Styles to the apron. Reigns goes for a Superman punch, but Styles gets to the floor.
We go to credits.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
