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This week's WWE SmackDown began with a special memorial day video package.
John Morrison and The Miz kicked off this week's SmackDown with The Dirt Sheet. The Miz made fun of Otis by calling him a honey-baked ham and Morrison wasn't far behind with the insults.
Miz shifted his attention to Braun Strowman and he said that The Monster Among Men joining forces with Otis made no sense. The A-Lister felt that Strowman didn't deserve a shot at the Universal title against Goldberg at WrestleMania 36.
In a Dirt Sheet exclusive, previously unseen puppets of the Firefly Fun House were revealed on SmackDown. The mock puppets took shots at Strowman and 'Madiquin Rose' was one of the puppets.
Braun Strowman had seen enough of the puppet show and he interrupted the proceedings and made his way to the ring.
Strowman said that The Dirt Sheet wasn't that bad of a show before demanding Miz and Morrison to ask him about Bray Wyatt and his puppets. Miz highlighted the fact that Bray Wyatt may not be done with Strowman. Miz was reminded of his rivalry with Wyatt and he warned Strowman about how bad it can get.
Morrison challenged Strowman to a match on SmackDown on behalf of the Miz and Strowman readily accepted. The Miz didn't look too pleased but the first match of this week's episode of SmackDown was set.
Braun Strowman vs. The Miz
Strowman went for the clothesline but Miz ducked and connected with a right. Strowman didn't flinch and he began to double up on The A-Lister with a series of clubbing blows.
He sent Miz's head crashing into the turnbuckle, before sending him to the corner. Braun got Miz up, threw him into the ropes and took him out with a shoulder tackle.
Strowman flung Miz towards the ropes again but the Miz held onto it. Strowman rushed in and toppled over the ropes. Miz hit Braun with a knee before Morrison attacked the Universal Champion while the referee was distracted.
Miz was in control in the ring as he looked to rally towards the finish. Strowman mounted a quick comeback. He took Miz and Morrison out with a few strikes before setting up the Running Powerslam. The champ got the three-count and that's all she wrote.
Result: Braun Strowman def. The Miz
Match Rating - C
Morrison challenged Braun Strowman to a handicap match for the Universal Championship at Backlash. Strowman confidently accepted the offer to end the opening segment of SmackDown.
AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Intercontinental Championship Tournament First-Round match)
AJ Styles returned to SmackDown, to the house that he built, to rekindle his long-standing rivalry against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Both the Superstars made their respective entrances and they got underway. AJ Styles pressured Nakamura early on by pushing him into the corner.
They jockeyed for position in the early moments of the match. They cancelled each other out with chained counter attacks. Styles double chopped Nakamura to the throat but he got a stomp to the feet in response from The Artist.
AJ took control of the match with a dropkick. The chops on Nakamura's chest echoed around the empty PC. Shinsuke tipped the scales in his favour by connecting with a knee strike to the gut.
They exchanged big blows to the face in the centre. Styles dropped Nakamura with a step-up Enziguri. Nakamura, however, took over with Taiji Ishimori Sliding German Suplex on Styles as we went to a commercial break.
Nakamura pummeled Styles with kicks to the chest as we returned from the break.
It was announced by Michael Cole that Styles was officially moved to SmackDown.
The Phenomenal One stopped Nakamura in his tracks with a Pele kick and both men were down on the mat. Styles followed it up with a clothesline and a spinning elbow combo.
AJ picked Nakamura up and planted Nakamura with a Ushigoroshi. He got a 2-count. Nakamura got up and ended up getting caught in a Calf Crusher. Shinsuke broke the hold by reaching out to the ropes.
Nakamura created some separation, went for the sliding knee, but Styles moved out and connected with an elbow. He got another close fall.
Nakamura fought back and drove Styles into the mat with a Michinoku Driver. Styles kicked out at 2. Nakamura went for the Exploder Suplex but Styles blocked. The Artist connected with a sliding knee and nonchalantly pinned Styles for a 2-count.
Nakamura had Styles positioned for the Kinshasa but Styles moved out and reversed it. He got caught in an Arm Triangle choke but Styles lifted Nakamura up and delivered a modified Styles Clash. Both men were down.
Styles was now out on the apron and he first hit Nakamura with the kick followed by Phenomenal Forearm. Pinfall, 1...2...3! AJ Styles advanced to the next round.
Result: AJ Styles def. Shinsuke Nakamura
Match Rating - B+
It was announced during the match on SmackDown that AJ Styles is now officially a full-time member of the SmackDown roster, which makes him the favourite to win the tournament.
WWE aired a vignette of last week's SmackDown segment featuring Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Bayley. Bayley and Sasha Banks were then involved in a backstage segment on SmackDown and Bayley told Sasha to not accompany her to the ring. The Champion vs. Champion match was up next on SmackDown.
WWE plugged the Backlash match between Edge and Randy Orton during the break.
Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley
Both women locked up to kick things off. Charlotte talked trash as she took the upper hand. Bayley yanked Flair down to the mat and went for a quick pin on SmackDown.
Bayley took a shot at Flair with the woo as a visibly pleased Sasha Banks was shown watching the match on a screen in the back.
Bayley took Flair down for a pin but the referee broke it up as her feet was on the ropes.
Bayley sent Charlotte into the corner but The Queen landed on the apron. The SmackDown Women's Champion sent Flair crashing onto the apron. Bayley couldn't capitalize on the momentum as she was sent over the barricade. Flair took the announcer's headset and called for Sasha to come out so that she could beat up both the best friends.
The NXT Women's Champion dominated the proceedings as she had Bayley in a headlock. Flair spoke about levels and constantly talked trash.
The Queen went up to the top for a moonsault but Bayley chopped her legs with an elbow. The action shifted to the outside as Bayley went for the sliding kick between the ring posts. Flair knew Bayley all too well and moved out. Bayley countered with a strike and got back into the ring to get a count-out victory.
Back in the ring, Bayley wore Charlotte down. Flair reversed with a quick roll-up pin but Bayley reasserted control with a kick followed by a neck crank. Both women just kept up with the verbal back-and-forth which made the match better.
Bayley stunned Charlotte with a series of forearms. However, Flair laid Bayley out before sending her face-first into the bottom turnbuckle.
She went up for the moonsault but Bayley wasn't home. Flair still got the better of the exchange with a big boot. Bayley kicked out at 2 but Charlotte wasn't done as she looked to lock in Figure 8.
It was Charlotte's turn now to feel the pain as she rocked Flair with the running knees in the corner. Bayley went up for the elbow drop but she landed on Flair's knees.
The NXT Champion turned Bayley over into a Boston Crab. The hold was broken and Charlotte was the one who was sent face-first into the bottom turnbuckle.
Bayley finally connected with the elbow drop but she only managed to get a two-count. Flair laughed like a maniac as Bayley unleashed the chops. Flair wanted more as she channelled her twisted inner Hulk Hogan to mount a comeback.
Charlotte landed the patented Flair chops this time around. Bayley, however, managed to outsmart Flair with a sneaky roll-up pin.
Result: Bayley def. Charlotte Flair
Bayley and Sasha Banks were shown celebrating the victory backstage on SmackDown after the match.
Dolph Ziggler & Sonya Deville vs. Otis & Mandy Rose
The men started things off in the SmackDown match. Otis displayed his power by swirling Ziggler around in the air before slamming him down to the mat.
Rose and Deville were tagged in. Sonya was ruthless as she connected with the strikes in the corner. Rose got back at Deville with the Lou Thesz Press.
On the outside, Ziggler sent Otis into the steel steps and Rose checked on her man as the show cut to a break.
Deville was all over Rose as she trapped her former tag team partner in a body triangle. Otis was still struggling on the outside as he was flat on his back and writhing in pain.
Rose tried to get one up against Deville with a roll-up. Rose created some space with the jawbreaker but Deville took back control of the match. She landed kicks to Rose's body as Ziggler called for the finish.
Rose took Deville out with a kick and she began to head towards Otis. The hot tag was made and in came Mr MITB. Otis tossed Ziggler around the ring and splashed into him a few times into the corner.
Deville made the tag which forced Mandy to get back in. Rose took the fight to Deville. She drove Sonya into the corner with a running knee followed by a sliding knee. Otis and Ziggler, in the meantime, brawled near the ramp.
Deville cracked Rose with a running knee to the back of the head and she got the 3-count.
Otis rushed in to check on Mandy. Ziggler added insult to injury with a superkick to Otis' face.
Sonya and Dolph celebrated their victory as Otis and Mandy recuperated in the ring.
Result: Sonya Deville & Dolph Ziggler def. Mandy Rose & Otis
Match Rating - B+
Jeff Hardy cut a backstage promo on SmackDown in which he spoke about how all the positive vibrations have led him on the path to claim the Intercontinental Championship. He swore to tear down Sheamus, who he billed to be a Bully.
A graphic in memory of Shad Gaspard was shown on SmackDown.
The Forgotten Sons cut a backstage promo on SmackDown.
WWE confirmed the Universal title match for Backlash. Morrison and Miz will have the numbers advantage against The Monster Among Men in a handicap match for the title at the upcoming PPV.
Renee Young caught up with Miz and Morrison for their first reactions to the news of their Universal title match. They ended the SmackDown segment with the usual "Hey hey, ho ho, Miz and Morrison" song-and-dance routine.
Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus (Intercontinental Championship Tournament First-Round match)
A well-made video package aired recapping the rivalry between Jeff Hardy and Sheamus.
Jeff Hardy made his entrance as the show cut to another commercial. Sheamus made his entrance as well after the break and the final first-round match kicked off.
Sheamus tried to isolate Hardy in the corner. Jeff caught Sheamus in a side headlock. The Celtic Warrior powered through to take control of the match. He shoved his boot into Hardy's face. He sent Hardy into the ropes. Jeff Hardy connected with a few kicks but he got bulldozed over with a big elbow.
Jeff Hardy bought some time and sent Sheamus to the outside. He connected with a dropkick that sent Sheamus crashing into the edge of the announce table.
Sheamus, however, stopped Hardy's momentum, carried him up and slammed him into the announcer's table.
Sheamus had Hardy trapped in a side headlock after the break. Hardy fought back with a few forearms into the gut. Sheamus continued to dominate though, as he dropped a knee on Hardy's face.
Sheamus connected with a hard clothesline and the Irish Superstar talked trash as he looked down on a battered Jeff Hardy.
The Charismatic Enigma began to gather some steam as he landed a few strikes. He climbed up to the top and connected with the Whisper in the Wind. Hardy had an opening and looked to capitalize on it. Sheamus didn't allow it to happen and he punished Hardy with three consecutive Irish Curse Backbreakers.
Sheamus set Hardy up for the ten beats of the bodhran. Sheamus was enjoying the 'workout' but Hardy began to show signs of life. Hardy sidestepped and Sheamus went crashing into the ring post.
Jeff dropped Sheamus with the atomic drop followed by the basement dropkick to the face for a 2-count. The action moved to the outside. Hardy walked the tightrope on the barricade and delivered the flying clothesline.
Back in the ring, Hardy went to the top and attempted a Swanton Bomb. Sheamus got his knees up before taking Hardy out with a knee. He pinned Hardy for a 2-count.
Sheamus went for the Brogue kick but Hardy moved out of the way. Hardy then rolled up Sheamus and got the three-count.
Hardy moved on to the next round and he will take on Daniel Bryan in the semi-finals.
Result: Jeff Hardy def. Sheamus
Match Rating - B
Episode Rating- A
There were many good matchups on the show tonight. Sonya Deville continued to impress on the Blue brand while Styles marked his return with a fine win.
