WWE SmackDown LIVE Results: April 25, 2017By Cassidy| April 26, 2017 WWE SmackDown Previous Page Detailed Results With Renee Young in the ring, SmackDown LIVE would kick off with “The Artist Known As” Shinsuke Nakamura, who makes his way to the ring in awe-inspiring fashion for an in-ring interview. However, before Nakamura can even answer the first question, the interview is interrupted by “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler, who makes his way to the ring. After taking the microphone away from Renee Young and shooing Renee away, Dolph would ask about who inspires Shinsuke. While Nakamura tries to answer the question, Ziggler doesn’t allow it, saying that he is going to “translate” for Nakamura. Dolph claims that Dolph Ziggler is Shinsuke’s favorite Superstar before Dolph asks Nakamura about his unique entrance. “The King of Strong Style” doesn’t answer the question and Ziggler decides to make fun of Shinsuke, saying that Nakamura’s real name is “Michael” and he used to travel the world, singing and dancing with his brothers and sisters Jermaine, Tito, Latoya, and Janet, alleging that Nakamura is a rip-off of Michael Jackson. Dolph Ziggler continues the mockery of “The King of Strong Style”, saying that Shinsuke Nakamura had a Ferris Wheel in his backyard and a monkey as a best friend. Dolph then says that Shinsuke dipped into obscurity and re-emerged in Japan as Shinsuke Nakamura. Ziggler then says that Shinsuke Nakamura translates to “petty, pathetic, overrated freak”. Having heard enough, Shinsuke takes the microphone and asks Dolph what his problem is, but Nakamura doesn’t let Ziggler answer, speaking in Japanese before calling Dolph a “jackass”. Ziggler then cheap-shots Nakamura, but when Dolph goes for a super kick, Shinsuke catches Ziggler with a suplex before going for the Kinshasa, but Ziggler is able to move out of the way, quickly escaping the ring. With United States Champion Kevin Owens a guest on commentary, the opening match of the night would see the #1 Contender for the United States Title AJ Styles go one-on-one with “The Lone Wolf” Baron Corbin in a rematch from last week. During the match, AJ Styles would size Baron Corbin up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but this is when Kevin Owens would get involved, briefly distracting Styles. AJ would kick Owens away before going for the Phenomenal Forearm, but the distraction would allow Corbin to get out of the way. Corbin then goes for a powerbomb, but AJ counters into a roll-up, securing the three-count to pick up the win. However, there would be no time for celebration as Owens would immediately attack AJ Styles, leading to a two-on-one beatdown by Kevin Owens and Baron Corbin. Sami Zayn would then rush out to make the save with Kevin Owens exiting the ring before Sami arrives as Sami is able to take Baron Corbin out with the Helluva Kick. Owens would then attack Sami from behind, taking Zayn out before the United States Champion picks up AJ Styles and plants the #1 Contender with the Pop-Up Powerbomb! Owens then stands over AJ Styles, holding up the United States Title. New #1 Contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles would be determined on SmackDown LIVE in the unique Beat The Clock Challenge where four teams will compete in two separate matches. In the first match, the winning team will set the time to beat for the two teams in the second match and whoever gets the fastest time out of the two matches will become the new #1 Contenders and will challenge The Usos for the titles at Backlash! The first of two Beat The Clock Challenge matches would see American Alpha face The Colons. In the end, it was American Alpha hitting Epico with Grand Amplitude as Chad Gable pins Epico to pick up the win and set the time to beat at 5:17. For the first time since coming to SmackDown LIVE in the Superstar Shake-Up, “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev, who is recovering from injury, would appear on the Tron with a pre-recorded message regarding the Superstar Shake-Up. Rusev says that he doesn’t like SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan and he doesn’t like SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon and he doesn’t approve of the Superstar Shake-Up. Rusev then says that he told them that the only way that he will come and wrestle on SmackDown LIVE is if they give him a championship match at WWE Money-in-the-Bank in June. Rusev then concludes by saying that, if he doesn’t get his title match, then he will pack his bags and go home to Bulgaria! Before he faces RAW’s Bray Wyatt in a House of Horrors Match this Sunday at Payback, the WWE Champion was in action on SmackDown LIVE as Randy Orton would go one-on-one with former Wyatt Family member Erick Rowan in a non-title, No Disqualification match. It wouldn’t take long for the action to spill outside of the ring as Randy Orton would drop Erick Rowan back-first on the barricade before slamming Rowan on the announce table. Rowan is then able to battle back, sending the WWE Champion into the ring steps before rolling Orton back into the ring. Rowan then grabs a kendo stick from under the ring, using the weapon to wear Orton out but when “The Viper” is able to kick out, Rowan pulls a table out from under the ring, setting the table up at ringside. With an evil smile on his face, Erick Rowan would set Orton up for a suplex to the outside, but the champion would fight back before grabbing the kendo stick, twice striking Rowan with the kendo stick before getting a running start and knocking Rowan off of the apron and through the table at ringside! Despite going through a table, Erick Rowan would not stay down as Rowan mounts a comeback against Randy Orton, but when Rowan tries to bring the kendo stick back into the ring, the WWE Champion is able to catch Rowan with his signature DDT. Rowan is then able to avoid the RKO before bringing “The Viper” to the outside, blasting Orton in the head with the steel steps! Rowan then rolls Orton back into the ring before grabbing a steel chair, wedging the chair in the corner. However, Orton is able to avoid contact with the chair, dodging an oncoming Erick Rowan as Rowan goes head-first into the chair. The champion then follows this up with the RKO, pinning Erick Rowan to pick up the win and picking up some major momentum heading into Payback this Sunday. After the match, Randy Orton says that he’s going to find out what a House of Horrors Match is this Sunday before saying that the House of Horrors Match will be Bray Wyatt’s “eternal hell”. The #1 Contender for the WWE Championship then comes out, saying that Randy Orton should be worried about him, saying that he has more “wealth” and more “class” than anyone in the arena. Now on the ring apron, Jinder says that Randy Orton disrespects him because of how he looks and because of Orton’s “arrogance”. Getting in the face of the WWE Champion, Jinder Mahal says that, at Backlash, he is going to take the WWE Title from Orton and take the title back to his people. The #1 Contender then speaks in Punjabi before trying to cheap-shot Orton, but the WWE Champion battles back before The Singh Brothers again get involved with the numbers game overwhelming Randy Orton as Jinder hits “The Viper” with his full-nelson slam. Jinder then grabs the WWE Title belt, holding it high in the air before leaving the ring with the WWE Title belt! The second match in the Beat The Clock Challenge to determine new #1 Contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles would then take place as Breezango would face The Ascension with a time to beat of 5:17 as one of the teams has to win in less than 5:17 to become the #1 Contenders and, if they do not, then American Alpha will become the #1 Contenders. With just over two and half minutes left in the match, Tyler Breeze would catch Viktor with the Super Model Kick before Fandango hits the Falcon Arrow, pinning Viktor to beat the clock as Breezango become the new #1 Contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles at Backlash! Then it was time for the main event as the SmackDown Women’s Championship would be on the line as Naomi would defend the SmackDown Women’s Title against Charlotte Flair. During the match, Charlotte Flair would go for the moonsault, but Naomi would get her knees up. This is when Carmella, Natalya, and Tamina would emerge with Natalya pulling Naomi out of the ring as Carmella and Tamina gang up on Charlotte Flair, bringing an end to the title match. Charlotte is able to break free and catch Natalya with a big boot, but the numbers game would be too much for Charlotte before Naomi would try to combat the contingent. After Natalya takes Naomi out with a Discus Clothesline, the trio would return their focus to Charlotte as Carmella and Natalya would hold Charlotte up for a super kick from Tamina. Tamina then holds Charlotte up as Carmella blasts Charlotte with a super kick as well. Natalya, Carmella, & Tamina then stand tall in the ring before exiting the ring as a cohesive unit, having made their statement by leaving both Naomi and Charlotte Flair laid out. What did you think of this week’s SmackDown LIVE? Post your comments in the box below.
