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After an incredible WrestleMania 34 and one of the most shock-filled episodes of Monday Night Raw of all time, it was no huge surprise that all eyes were on the blue brand to see if they could continue with WWE's great form.
Well, in the words of Shane McMahon, this episode was truly the exclamation point in an incredible week of WWE television.
Shane McMahon announces a new General Manager
Shane McMahon addressed the WWE Universe to open the show, thanking everyone for making WrestleMania such a huge success.
The Universe chanted back, "Thank you, Shane." before he said this Sunday was special for him and ranks high amongst his personal WrestleMania moments as he got to witness the return of Daniel Bryan from the best seat in the house.
Shane O'Mac commented that Daniel Bryan was born to do this and should transition back to a full-time in-ring talent. Shane went on to say that he has accepted Daniel Bryan's resignation as GM - but when one door closes, another opens.
Shane then shocked the world by confirming the new SmackDown General Manager as Paige!
The Anti-Diva confirmed her in-ring retirement last night on RAW but she said Shane was the first person waiting after she walked through the curtain for what felt like the last time and the crowd chanted, "This is your house" again.
As her first act as General Manager, Paige said she wasn't waiting for the Superstar Shake-Up to change things and that she was making sure this SmackDown was a show to remember - before announcing that Daniel Bryan would perform later in the evening, taking the lengthiest of pauses before confirming his opponent as WWE Champion AJ Styles!
The Usos vs The New Day - SmackDown Tag Team Title #1 Contenders Match
At WrestleMania, new SmackDown Tag Team Champions were crowned when the Bludgeon Brothers won a Triple Threat Match, but tonight, the two teams they defeated would go head-to-head to determine the number one contenders for the titles.
Now, anyone who paid any attention to the SmackDown Tag Team Division over the last year will have known to expect nothing short of a classic here and, while it wasn't quite the epic we've witnessed in the past, this was a pretty amazing match to start off SmackDown Live with.
Xavier Woods and Jimmy Uso start things off in a physical fashion with Jimmy Uso hitting Woods with a flying forearm before being sent to the apron, but Jey made the tag and the Usos hit Woods with a double kick for a near fall.
Big E tagged in and hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex before Woods came back in to put New Day's powerhouse on his shoulders for a wheelbarrow splash, resulting in a near fall.
The teams exchanged tags and physical encounters, but New Day seemed to be the team taking control of the match. Woods sent Jey into the turnbuckle and Big E tagged in to flatten his foe with a running shoulder. Woods hit a gutbuster from a fireman's carry position and Big E got another near fall.
We saw more aggressive offence from The New Day and another two near falls, but the turning point came as Big E went to the apron for a splash, taking too long and allowing Jey to escape. Both men made tags and Jimmy ran roughshod over both opponents before getting a near fall of his own from a Samoan drop.
Jey tagged back in but was met with a DDT by Woods before Big E speared Jimmy through the ropes. Woods got another near fall from a leg drop before pulling off Jey's shirt to work on the injured ribs.
The pair then exchanged strikes before Jey hit a superkick. Big E tagged in and the pair looked to decimate Jey, but Uso kicked out. New Day set up for the Midnight Hour but were met with a double superkick.
Jey rolled up Woods for a near fall after Woods hit a huge missile dropkick on Jimmy. Jimmy then hit a superkick on his own, tagged in Jey, who hit a frog splash for the win.
The Usos will challenge the Bludgeon Brothers for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at the Greatest Royal Rumble.
The new champions then came out and had a staredown with their newly named opponents.
The Usos def. The New Day to become #1 contenders to the SmackDown Tag Team Championship
We then saw Naomi standing backstage with her trophy from earlier today, being interviewed before Natalya interrupted to say her victory was disappointing.
Natalya added that she was looking forward to Naomi being sent to Raw, with Naomi replying that, if this was her last time on Smackdown, she wanted to go out beating Natalya.
Naomi vs Natalya
Shortly after seeing what happened earlier in the day, we discover that the match was made official.
Naomi started the match by being put in an abdominal stretch, but she hit Natalya with a hip toss to escape. Natalya hit the first-ever WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal winner with a clothesline and posed for the crowd. Natalya kicked Naomi in the midsection and hit her with a suplex, before delivering a stiff forearm and returning to the abdominal stretch.
Natalya then went for a belly-to-back suplex but Naomi countered into a wheelbarrow stunner. Naomi then unloaded on her opponent with a variety of kicks but Natalya regained control with a spinning sit-down powerbomb for a near fall.
Naomi blocked the sharpshooter but Natalya hit a discus lariat for a near fall. Natalya then tried to send Naomi into the turnbuckle but Naomi escaped.
Naomi hit a spin kick and her patented split-legged moonsault for the three count.
Naomi def. Natalya
Next up was an interview with Shinsuke Nakamura about his actions at WrestleMania.
Renee Young asked why Nakamura would tarnish his dream match with his actions after the match. Nakamura said he doesn't know what came over him, maybe he was too emotional, and apologises.
Renee called Nakamura disingenuous and asked for the real reason, but Nakamura simply said he does not speak English.
Charlotte Flair gets an iconic surprise
Smackdown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair then made her way to the ring to speak about her match with Asuka. She called the match the toughest challenge in her career.
Charlotte says Asuka made her work harder and dig deeper than she ever thought and the Women's Champion thanks Asuka for that but she then asked who she will make magic with next.
Charlotte was then interrupted by two NXT stars - Peyton Royce and Billie Kay.
Peyton said she knows a couple of wizards who can make that title disappear from around Charlotte's waist, imitating and mocking the Women's Champion before dishing out a brutal attack.
Charlotte tried to put up a fight but the numbers game was too much for her and the Iconics sent Charlotte over the announce table twice and the ring post and steps before hitting a big suplex.
Kay and Royce rolled Charlotte back into the ring and officials come out to clear the Iconics away from the ring - but Carmella's music hits and she drags one of the referees clearing the pair away with her.
Carmella relentlessly asked for the official to cash in her contract, but the official delayed and delayed before the match was made official.
Carmella vs Charlotte Flair for the Women's Championship
This one was over before it began, thanks to The Iconics.
Carmella hit Charlotte with a superkick for the three count and we have a new Women's Champion.
Carmella def. Charlotte Flair to become the new SmackDown Women's Champion
Randy Orton vs Bobby Roode vs Rusev - US Title #1 Contenders Match
We had another Number One Contender's Match to determine which former United States Champion would face Jinder Mahal next for the belt.
Roode and Orton started the match with an attack on Rusev before turning on each other. The pair exchange some heavy blows before Orton comes out on top and goes after Rusev.
Orton sent Rusev into the ringside barrier before Aiden English distracted The Viper. Orton returned to the ring and went back after Roode.
Orton and Roode continued to exchange blows before Orton went for the RKO - only for Roode to evade. Rusev came back with a clothesline to Orton and a kick to Roode. Roode got a near fall before Orton sent him over the top rope.
Rusev hit Orton with a big kick for a near fall, and the pair go to the outside. Rusev sent Orton into the announce table but Orton turned the tables and returned the favour.
Roode and Orton went back to work, with Roode going for the Glorious DDT only for Orton to avoid and roll up Roode. Orton got a two count then hit two big clotheslines and a powerslam on Bobby Roode.
Rusev came back into the ring and looked to pick up the pieces, hitting a Machka Kick before going for the Accolade on Roode, but Orton booted The Bulgarian Brute in the back and sent Rusev into the ring post.
Roode rolled up Orton but was caught with an RKO off the two-count, and Orton booked his rematch against Jinder Mahal at Backlash
Randy Orton def. Bobby Roode & Rusev to become #1 contender for the United States Championship
Next up, Carmella was interviewed about becoming the new SmackDown Women's Champion. Renee Young asked what made tonight the right time and Carmella replied saying, when a queen overstays her welcome, there's a princess ready to take over.
Carmella commented that she waited 287 days until the perfect time to cash in. Carmella gets emotional and apologises, before saying there was someone she wanted to thank.
She thanked herself. Renee asked about The Iconics and Carmella asked, "Who?"
On his way to the ring, AJ Styles was stopped by Renee Young. Young asked about Nakamura's comments earlier but Styles played down the comments and instead spoke about his upcoming match. He said Daniel Bryan might be great, but he isn't phenomenal.
AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan
Well, who could have seen this coming a month ago? AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan on SmackDown. What a main event.
Bryan resigned from his GM duties to become a full-time WWE Superstar again, and what better way to start than taking on the top man in a non-title match?
Styles and Bryan started the match with a lock-up before Styles took down Bryan. Bryan escaped, they locked up again and Styles locked inside headlock before hitting Bryan with a strong shoulder tackle.
This encounter was nothing short of incredible, and it was all go from the get-go. We saw some beautiful technical wrestling, as well as some really stiff kicks.
Bryan took over with a variety of strikes and holds, then Styles hit back with an elbow, only to be on the wrong end of a European Uppercut. Styles hit a wonderful dropkick on Bryan followed by a slingshot forearm before we hit the commercial break.
When we came back, Bryan hit Styles with a big knee to block a suplex followed by a flying clothesline. The Yes man hit his patented running dropkick into the corner followed by more kicks - but Styles blocked and hit a dragon screw.
Styles got a flying clothesline then Irish Whipped Bryan. The former GM flipped over but his knee buckled. Styles hit a moonsault into a reverse DDT for a near fall then caught Bryan with a plethora of his own kicks and strikes. Bryan hit a butterfly suplex into an armbar but Styles blocked it, escaped and locked in the Calf Crusher.
Bryan managed a unique counter by rolling into the Yes Lock but Styles countered and got a near fall. Bryan missed a round kick and Styles hit back with Pele Kick and a clothesline for another near fall.
We saw more kicks exchanged before Bryan went for a flying boot, but Styles caught Bryan to set up for the Styles Clash. In the spot of the night, Bryan escaped and rolled into a Yes Lock - but Styles got his foot on the ropes.
Bryan puts Styles in the tree of woe then set up for a super belly-to-back suplex but Styles countered and landed on Daniel Bryan.
Shinsuke Nakamura interrupts the match by sliding into the ring. The Royal Rumble winner hit Bryan with a Kinshasa and the referee called for the bell. Bryan wins by disqualification.
After the match, Nakamura assaulted Styles, hit him with another low blow and a Kinshasa, like last night, before another low blow added insult to injury.
Daniel Bryan def. AJ Styles by disqualification
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