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SmackDown Live marched on towards Fastlane with a surprising ending and a great championship match. Singles runs were teased, new title challengers were clear, and so much more!
Shane McMahon & Daniel Bryan's dispute wages on
Shane & Bryan started the show with their dispute over giving Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn getting a title opportunity. Shane argued that Bryan keeps rewarding them with opportunities, while Bryan argued that he was pitting two people Shane hated against each other, and he should've, in fact, be rewarded.
Shane accused Bryan of vicariously living through Owens & Zayn, especially because he knew that Bryan wanted to compete in the ring more than anything. That's the first time since The Miz feud in 2016 that they've teased Bryan's return to the ring.
AJ Styles came out and simply told both of them to keep their obsession aside for the night because Styles could control his own path.
Backstage, AJ Styles walked into Shinsuke Nakamura, who said "I'm going to beat you at WrestleMania"
Charlotte Flair vs Liv Morgan
Byron Saxton on commentary made sure to remind us that Charlotte still has a possible threat of Asuka looming at WrestleMania. Charlotte started off on the aggressive but Liv Morgan would soon get the better of her.
The Riott Squad would soon interrupt and eventually be ejected from ringside by the referee. Once the outside factors were no longer in play, Charlotte didn't take long to land the big boot and then the figure-8 leg lock.
Charlotte Flair defeated Liv Morgan
Renee Young asked Kevin Owens if his upcoming match against Sami Zayn would affect their friendship. Owens said that it was upto Sami and if he could handle losing to him.
The Bludgeon Brothers vs Local tag team
Luke Harper and Erick Rowan absolutely decimated the local enhancement talent in a matter of two minutes. It was pure destruction and aggression from start to finish, putting their opponents out of their misery with the double-crucifix bomb.
The Bludgeon Brothers defeated local tag team
After the match, The Bludgeon Brothers exited the ring and The Usos came out, with the two teams meeting face to face before walking past the other. Definitely the next title program.
The Usos cut a promo about the state of mind, the psychology behind their success and how they stay on top. They talked about their turn around in 2017 and how they went from face paint to what they are now. A good, intense promo
.
Daniel Bryan announced the SmackDown top 10 list. What the criteria is, we have no idea. Here is the list:
10- Tye Dillinger
9 - Randy Orton
8- Becky Lynch
7- The Usos
6- The New Day
5- Bobby Roode
4- Naomi
3- Shinsuke Nakamura
2- Charlotte Flair
1- AJ Styles
Aiden English cut a promo backstage about how "Bob" Roode's US title reign was in threat at the hands of Rusev.
Bobby Roode(c) vs Rusev - United States Championship
Aiden English blessed the audience with a melodious performance, introducing the US title challenger, Rusev!
The crowd was definitely hotter for Rusev. He taunted Bobby Roode in the beginning of the match and the crowd was loving it. Roode taunted Rusev soon after.
After the commercial break, the champion was in control, hitting a blockbuster off the second turnbuckle. Rusev outpowered Bobby Roode and would soon take entire control. When Roode got his momentum back, Aiden English caused a distraction, which saw Rusev hit a kick to the head for a near-fall.
When Aiden tried to cause another distraction, Roode knocked him off the apron, only to be knocked out himself by a Machka kick. Rusev almost finished Roode by locking the accolade, but Roode found his way out and retained the US title.
Bobby Roode defeated Rusev to retain the United States Championship
After the match, Bobby Roode was met with an RKO outta nowhere! Aiden English and Rusev, who were still in the ring were victim of RKO. It looks like Randy Orton is now in the United States Championship picture.
Backstage, Gable & Benjamin trashed Breezango and said that they would make examples out of The Ascension.
Gable & Benjamin vs The Ascension
While The Ascension got a mild amount of offence, it was the former tag title challengers that showed nothing short of tag team excellence when they controlled the Ascension and dominated, getting the victory.
Gable & Benjamin defeated The Ascension
Backstage, New Day were interacting with social media. When asked about the top 10 list, Xavier & Big E admitted that Kofi would be the highest among the 3 in the top 10. Kofi seemed to confirm that he's going for the WWE Championship this year.
Sami Zayn vs Kevin Owens - WWE Championship #1 contenders match
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens start the feeling out process, but it was Sami Zayn who began to take it right to Owens. KO told Zayn to "calm down" but in competition, Zayn was having none of it.
The two would soon stop holding back and it was still Sami Zayn who had the fire in him. Even when Kevin Owens tried a top-rope senton, Sami had his knees up. He was finally stopped in his tracks when his Helluva kick attempt turned into a superkick to his face and KO landed the frog splash.
Sami Zayn even countered a pop-up powerbomb attempt into an exploder suplex. Soon after, Sami Zayn taunted and provoked AJ Styles, who was ringside. AJ eventually fought back and attacked both Zayn & Owens, causing a DQ.
Sami Zayn defeated Kevin Owens by Disqualification
AJ Styles cleared both Zayn & Owens from the ring and Daniel Bryan came out to announce that due to the circumstances, Fastlane will have a triple threat match between Styles, Owens & Zayn for the WWE Championship.
AJ Styles laid out his title in the centre of the ring with the other three outside as the show closed.
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