'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
John Cena returned to SmackDown as he looked to figure out what he was doing for WrestleMania. We also geared up ahead of WWE Fastlane.
John Cena kicks off SmackDown
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John Cena kicked off SmackDown Live. He said that like every other SmackDown star he wanted a path to WrestleMania and with Nakamura the only SmackDown star with a WrestleMania title match, Cena wanted in on the 5-way title match at Fastlane.
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Shane McMahon came out to meet John Cena. Shane welcomed Cena back on SmackDown Live as dueling chants of "Let's go Cena, Cena sucks" broke out. Daniel Bryan soon came out to join Cena and Shane in the ring.
Daniel Bryan had a huge announcement to make. Announcing that he was on the same page as Shane McMahon, Bryan booked Cena to face AJ Styles on the main-event. If Cena won, he would be added to the 5-way match at Fastlane.
Sami Zayn vs Baron Corbin
Unsurprisingly, Kevin Owens was on commentary for this match as Sami Zayn faced Baron Corbin. I'll be honest, from the moment this match began it felt like we've seen this match multiple times already. The match began as expected and we got a backstage segment with Shane berating Daniel Bryan for allowing KO to be on commentary before we headed to a commercial.
We came back from the break to see Bryan and Shane still backstage talking about the match as Corbin wiped Zayn out with a nasty clothesline. Sami kicked out at 2 to Corbin's disbelief. Kevin Owens' commentary at ringside was gold during this period as Corbin launched Zayn face-first into the announcer's table. As Corbin started down Owens, Owens called Corbin and idiot and told him to concentrate on the match before berating his perceived lack of experience.
Dolph Ziggler came out of nowhere at this point and superkicked Kevin Owens. Corbin hit Zayn with the End of Days at this point to pin him for the 3-count.
Baron Corbin def. Sami Zayn
Dolph Ziggler attacked Corbin as he was celebrating, hitting him with a Zig Zag.
Ruby Riott vs Naomi
Ruby was accompanied by the Riott Squad while Naomi was accompanied by her friends Becky Lynch and Charlotte. The match headed to a commercial soon after it began. This segment again felt like we'd seen this in the last few weeks.
The match continued after the break with Ruby locking in a headlock. Both women then dodged high kicks from the other before catching each other at the same time. Both women stumbled to their feet and Naomi hit an enzeguiri for a 2-count. Ruby replied by clocking Naomi with a right hand before catching her with a side kick.
Naomi replied with a Scorpion Kick but Riott replied by throwing her face-first into the turnbuckle. She followed it with the Riott Kick for the win over Naomi. Another big win for Ruby Riott this week as she gears up to face Charlotte at Fastlane.
Ruby Riott def. Naomi
We got a backstage segment with Breezango and Josh Duhamel next. Duhamel was promoting his new show "Unsolved".
The New Day address WWE Fastlane
The New Day were out next and they addressed their longtime rivals The Susos - saying that after Fastlane, they would be headed to New Orleans with the SmackDown Tag-Team titles around their waists.
The Usos music hit and the champs were out to have their say. They said that they'd aready gone head to head with The New Day and there was only one team left standing tall. The Usos said that they used to run around all colourful and cheerful but it didn't take them to the next level. The boys said that even after 9 years in the game, they've had 0 WrestleManias and their time was finally here.
Big E replied that they were hosting Mania while The Usos were eating catering. He also added that they weren't there because of who their dads were. E then said that the New Day would win their 5th Tag-Team titles at Fastlane and no one could stop them.
The Bludgeon Brothers' music hit and the two men came down to the ring. The Usos and the New Day left the ring as the segment ended.
Aiden English vs Shinsuke Nakamura
Aiden English, accompanied by Rusev, started off with a serenade before the match began. Nakamura was in control throughout the opening stages until English distracted the referee while Nakamura was at ringside, giving Rusev the chance to clock Nakamura on the back of the head.
Back from the commercial, English planted Nakamura for a 2-count before hitting a crossbody. Nakamura immediately replied to the crossbody with a running boot to the head. Nakamura followed it up with a couple of strikes before flooring him with a nasty kick to the ear.
Moments later, Nakamura hit English with the Kinshasa for the win.
Shinsuke Nakamura def. Aiden English
AJ Styles vs John Cena
The 4th meeting between Cena and Styles started off at a fast pace as neither man wanted to be outshone by the other. Cena immediately knocked Styles down before the two continued to go back and forth. Cena then hit a tornado DDT for a 2-count as we headed to commercial.
Cena hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle as we came back from the break and AJ replied with an Ushi Goroshi, which Corey Graves inexplicably called a neckbreaker. Cena replied with a TKO, which was Alex Riley's finisher. AJ replied by planting Cena in the middle of the ring.
The two continued to trade blows. Cena charged at Styles who took him out with an enzeguiri as we headed to our final commercial break.
We came back from the break to see both men hit their finishers during the break. AJ attempted a Lionsault but missed and Cena hit a Code Red. He then locked in the STF on AJ. AJ broke free and hit the Phenomenal Forearm for a nearfall.
Out at ringside, Cena went for a shoulder tackle but AJ sent him crashing into the steel steps. AJ stopped the referees 10-count and went outside to meet Cena. Cena planted him with an AA through the announcer's table. AJ somehow made his way back to his feet with the help of a fan and beat the 10-count.
AJ then locked in the STF but Cena powered out and hit one final AA to beat AJ Styles. An incredible match.
John Cena def. AJ Styles
After the match, Cena was ambushed by Corbin, Owens and Zayn. Ziggler came out at chased them away.
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