WWE SmackDown Superstar Shake-up Live Results and Commentary, April 17, 2018: Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy debut, Injured star returns

SmackDown did pretty well in the Superstar Shake-Up although one more big singles name like Rollins or Balor would have helped. Thank you for joining us for our coverage of SmackDown Live. Catch us again next week for WWE RAW.

Daniel Bryan hits the Yes kicks and hits Rusev with the running knee. Nakamura comes out and low blows Syles. When Bryan turns around, Big Cass hits Bryan with a big boot.

Match ends in DQ

AJ finally make the tag. Bryan comes in like a house on fire. He takes Rusev down with a running clothesline and goes to lock in the Yes Lock. English breaks it up.

English is in control after the break as he tags in Rusev. Rusev disrespectfully kicks AJ across the back of the head. AJ hits back with right hands but Rusev locks in a bear hug.

AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan vs Rusev and Aiden English
Daniel Bryan is showing no signs of ring-rust as he's all over Aiden English. AJ tags himself in and hits English with a gutbuster, Rusev enters the ring and both AJ and Bryan look to lock in submissions. Rusev and English barely escape as we cut to our last commercial.

The former NXT Champion Andrade 'Cien' Almas is coming to SmackDown Live! YES!

The Bar are ready to set the bar on SmackDown Live!

.@LukeGallowsWWE & @KarlAndersonWWE just joined a new CLUB, and that's the CLUB of Superstars who are SHAKEN UP to #SDLive! #SuperstarShakeup pic.twitter.com/CjPC20cslW
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2018

The Good Brothers Gallows and Anderson are also on SmackDown!

Asuka destroys the Iiconics and drives them away. Carmella, for her part, was smart enough to run as soon as she saw Asuka.

Asuka is here. The Empress is on SmackDown!

Billie Kay hits a suplex to Charlotte. The Queen hots back with a knee and goes for a neckbreaker but Kay reverses it with a boot to the jaw. Charlotte hits Jay with a big boot and locks in the Figure 8. Kay taps out after an impressive showing.

Charlotte def. Billie Kay

Carmella attacks Charlotte and hits her with the title. Royce attacks Becky Lynch who was at ringside.

Kay is still in control. Charlotte hits Kay with a forearm but Kay pushes her back down and Royce takes a cheapshot with the referee distracted. We head to another commercial break.

Charlotte Flair vs Billie Kay
Charlotte and Kay are brawling at ringside already when we return from the ad-break. The action heads back into the ring as Charlotte sends Kay face-first into the turnbuckle. Kay unloads on Charlotte with left hands and gets a 2-count off the cover. Kay then locks in an armbar from the back.

The Iconics attack Charlotte at ringside. Becky coms out to help Charlotte as we cut to commercial.

The Iconics mock Charlotte. Great stuff from Peyton Royce on the mic as she mocks Charlotte for being a crybaby.

Charlotte gives Carmella some advice, saying that it's harder to stay on top. The Iconics music hits.

Charlotte says she isn't mad because she knows the dirtiest player in the game. Charlotte says she respects it and congratulates Carmella.

Carmella names her title belt "Cleopatra" and says she'll keep the title longer than 287 days. Charlotte's music hits and she looks like she's in no mood to play games.

Carmella says the moment she cashed in was the biggest moment in women's wrestling history. She then says the celebrations were about to begin as a video package of Carmella plays.

Carmlla tells the fans to shut up, accusing them of trying to join her bandwagon. Carmella adds that the fans can call her the "Princess of SmackDown Live". Mella added that she waited 287 days for the perfect opportunity to cash-in and was not at her rightful spot at the top of the women's division.
Carmella adds that she beat Charlotte on her own, the woman he broke Asuka's streak.

It's time for the Mellabration to begin! Carmella is here with her new title. Get ready for shenanigans.

Big Cass interrupts Daniel Bryan backstage. He asks Bryan if he was what all the fuss was about before calling him a "little man"

SAniTy are on SmackDown LIVE!

Be afraid, #SDLive Superstars… @SamoaJoe has ARRIVED on the blue brand! #SuperstarShakeup pic.twitter.com/5K2VzdjqTE
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2018

Samoa Joe says everyone in SmackDown is entitled and thought they were better than they actually were. Joe says he will level any competition thrown against him.

Joe adds that whatever's left of Roman after Brock is done with him, will be taken out to pasture by him at Backlash.

Samoa Joe vs Sin Cara
Joe hits the Muay Thai knees right out of the gate. Sin Cara hits the springboard back elbow but Joe hits back with a combo of strikes. Joe locks in the Coquina Clutch. It's over.
Samoa Joe def. Sin Cara

SAMOA JOE IS ON SMACKDOWN! Joe is out to face Sin Cara. A huge move for SmackDown Live!

The Bludgeon Brothers continue their attack after the match. Rowan looks to end Jimmy Uso's career with the hammer but his wife Naomi comes out to try and save him and Rowan and Harper back off.

Jey Usos vs Harper
Harper gets hit by a kick to the gut and a right hand early. Rowan attacks Jimmy Uso, causing the distraction. Jey Uso gets hammered with a Discus Clothesline for the 3-count.
Harper def. Jey Uso

Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose are coming to SmackDown!

Hardy hits a Twist Of Fate and heads to the top rope. Swanton Bomb! 1-2-3!
Jeff Hardy wins!

Jeff Hardy is on the top rope and Shelton Benjamin hits a jumping knee strikes. Jeff knocks Bejmanin off the turnbuckle and hit the Whisper In The Wind.

Back from the break, Jeff Hardy hits a neckbreaker. Both men are back to their feet and Jeff takes Shelton down with a clothesline followed by an Atomic Drop. 2-count off it.

In a TWIST OF FATE, @JEFFHARDYBRAND has been shaken up to #SDLive, and he’s bringing his #USTitle with him! #SuperstarShakeup pic.twitter.com/vY1tgzQoug
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2018

Jeff Hardy vs Shelton Benjamin
Benjamin tosses Hardy out of the ring as we immediately cut to commercial.

Jeff Hardy came out after Orton. The new US Champ will face Benjamin.

Shelton Benjamin is out next, as a single's wrestler after Gable moved to RAW. Benjamin takes a shot at Gable saying he never needed Chad Gable and that Gable needed him. Benjamin says he needs title opportunities and said he was ready for competition. Randy Orton answered.

SmackDown GM Paige announces that the main-event will be Bryan and Styles vs Rusev and English.

Nothing but RESPECT between these two as @WWEDanielBryan comes to the aid of @AJStylesOrg! #SDLive @RusevBUL @WWEDramaKing pic.twitter.com/tEv5lK74Tc
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2018

English and Rusev attack Styles and Daniel Bryan comes out to make the save. He drives Rusev and English away.

AJ Styles vs Rusev

AJ Styles puts Rusev in a calf-crusher early on and Aiden English immediately causes the DQ.

AJ Styles wins by DQ

Aiden English and Rusev interrupt Nakamura. English takes a quicky survey and turns out it's Rusev Day. Rusev heads to the ring and the match starts.

AJ says Nakamura may not speak English but he wasn't out in the ring for a conversation.

AJ says that one gets to know a man by their failures and Nakamura failed and showed his true colours at WrestleMania. Styles calls Nakamura a con-artist as a dual chant begins.

SmackDown Live kicks off with WWE Champion AJ Styles. After getting blindsided by Nakamura last week, let's see what is in store for AJ tonight.

The Superstar Shake-up continues

Night one of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up proved to be momentous, as Team Blue stalwarts like Bobby Roode, Jinder Mahal, Dolph Ziggler and Natalya made their way to Monday nights.

On the flip side, former Intercontinental Champion The Miz was acquired by Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Paige at the behest of former GM Daniel Bryan. Who else will be joining The A-Lister on Tuesdays?

Will Shinsuke Nakamura continue to antagonize AJ Styles?

Shinsuke Nakamura has unveiled a new side of his eccentric persona in the days following his shocking attack on WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania. The Rockstar taunted his opponent with a disingenuous apology for the low blow on The Grandest Stage of Them All, then ruined the fantasy match between The Phenomenal One and Daniel Bryan, clobbering The “Yes!” Man with a thunderous Kinshasa and hitting Styles with another heinous low blow.

Will Nakamura continue to torment Styles when he least expects it, or will The Phenomenal One get the payback he’s looking for?

Princess Mella’s reign begins

Last Tuesday, Carmella stunned the WWE Universe. After the debuting IIconics opened the door for her with a vicious attack on Charlotte Flair, The Princess of Staten Island walked through and cashed in her Money in the Bank contract on the spot. With one boot to the battered Queen’s face, Carmella left New Orleans with the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Now that she’s on top of the mountain, how will the moon-walking, trash-talking Princess of Staten Island officially kick off her reign? Will The Queen be waiting to dethrone her?

Are The Usos ready for a bludgeoning?

The Usos defeated The New Day last week to earn a SmackDown Tag Team Championship opportunity against The Bludgeon Brothers at the Greatest Royal Rumble event next Friday. Jimmy & Jey did not have any time to celebrate their victory, as Harper & Rowan arrived to remind them of what awaits in Saudi Arabia, pointing their mighty mallets at their challengers.

The Usos have stated that they are ready to take on the champions, but are they truly prepared to do what it takes to knock off the malicious duo and reclaim their titles?

The Miz returns to Team Blue

One of the most shocking moments of the first night of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up came when Kurt Angle arrived on “Miz TV” to tell The Awesome One that he would be heading to SmackDown LIVE without The Miztourage.

The A-Lister’s first turn on Team Blue was controversial, as he clashed with John Cena and was a consistent antagonist of then-General Manager Daniel Bryan, who was not cleared to compete at the time. Now, Bryan apparently demanded Miz’s return to SmackDown LIVE. Does he have payback on his mind?

What does the first new arrival to Team Blue have in store? Find out during night two of the 2018 Superstar Shake-up on SmackDown LIVE, tonight at 8/7 C on USA Network!