Welcome to Smackdown! Championship contenders will be decided tonight in this ring! New stars will get the chance to make waves in their debuts and the women's champ and United States champ will be in action! But first, we kick things off in the ring with General Manager, Shane McMahon!
Shane McMahon: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to SmackDown Live! Before we get to our matches, we've got some business to attend to. You see, we have no number one contender for the WWE title at Backlash...So we're gonna do something about that. Whoever wants to come out and make a case for themselves, I'm all ears.
The lights dim. "MI-MI-MI-MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" Aiden English steps out onto the stage.
Aiden English: SHANE MCMAHON...DO YOU KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS?
Shane McMahon: It--It's Tuesday.
Aiden English: WHILE IT IS INDEED, TUESDAY, IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE RUSEV DAY!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa21bNWzLR4
Rusev: AJ Styles wants a fight at Backlash? He has very good timing, because this year, Backlash fall on RUSEV DAY!
Shane McMahon: But...I thought today was Rusev Day?
Rusev: It is.
Aiden English: Every day is Rusev Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TeXQHirMJE
It's Samoa Joe! One of this biggest acquisitions of SmackDown Live in the Superstar Shake-Up!
Samoa Joe: Look, I don't care what day it is. Shane, it was YOUR decision to take me from Raw. You're a smart man, and I know that YOU know it would be absolutely stupid for you not to utilize me immediately. Besides, I know you're not about to give this opportunity to someone who LOST at WrestleMania.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivFjmmhYBmo&t=2s
Daniel Bryan: You know, Joe's got a point, Shane. Why should you give it to someone who lost at WrestleMania? Luckily, you now have someone who won at WrestleMania right in front of you. Thanks for your help on that, by the way. But either way, if I was still GM, I'd at least prefer someone who actually HAD a match at WrestleMania.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHtEfvg2zd0
Chris Jericho?! He's been gone for almost a year! What could he possibly have to say here?
Chris Jericho: I--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibhuPO9nSmM
Randy Orton: C'mon, Shane, are you kidding me? I mean...Daniel's been gone for two years...Jericho, you took your ball and went to Japan...Joe, you just got here, sorry, back of the line for you, bud...and Rusev, where do I even begin--
Chris Jericho: You know where you can begin? With the part where you SHUT. THE HELL. UP! Oh, Randall...Do you know what happens? Randall? Do you know what happens when you interrupt me, Randall? Do you know what happens? YOU JUST MADE THE LIST!
Shane McMahon: Alright, alright, listen. Here's what we're gonna do. In our main event tonight, it's going to be Rusev...vs. Samoa Joe...vs. Daniel Bryan...vs Chris Jericho...vs Randy Orton...the winner gets a one on one shot at AJ Styles at Backlash.
Wow! What a colossal main event we have for tonight's show!
Well, without further ado, let's kick off the night with a number one contender match for the Women's title! It's the Empress of Tomorrow Asuka taking on a debuting Shayna Baszler!
Asuka vs Shayna Baszler
In the closing moments of this match, Asuka locks in the Asuka Lock, but Baszler stays on her feet! She can't waste her energy trying to find the ropes! Shayna uses Asuka's weight against her and throws her forward over her head and KIRIFUDA CLUTCH! BASZLER HAS IT LOCKED IN! WILL ASUKA TAP?? NO! SHE JUST BARELY GETS HER FOOT ON THE ROPES! The referee separates them. Shayna charges back in but SPINNING HEEL KICK! ASUKA INTO THE COVER! 1. 2. 3.
What a tremendous win for Asuka, who will meet Carmella this Sunday at Backlash! Baszler held her own against very stiff competition.
Next up, Kassius Ohno makes his debut against the returning Rey Mysterio!
Kassius Ohno vs Rey Mysterio
The difference in styles is apparent in this one. Once Ohno got his hands on Rey, he manhandled the smaller competitor with a series of sentons and boots. Mysterio managed to duck under the Ohno Kill and deliver a dropkick to the small of Ohno's back, sending him into the second rope. You know how it ends from there...
This was exactly the kind of competition that Ohno was expecting and he'll be hungry for more of it! We'll see what kind of opportunities open up for Mysterio after this win.
It's more women's action up next as the Women's champ Carmella takes on Becky Lynch!
Becky Lynch vs Carmella
Carmella did everything she could to evade Lynch here. In the end, it was inevitable that Becky would slap on the Dis-arm-her for the victory--what's this? Hey! What the hell? That's Peyton Royce and Billie Kay! They're attacking Becky Lynch!
The IIconics continue the beatdown until Charlotte comes out to make the save!
Jeff Hardy vs R-Truth
R-Truth got in a lot more offense than would be expected, but in the end, it was the Twist of Fate that sealed the deal on a victory for the US Champ!
Jeff Hardy gains some momentum heading into Backlash and his opponent will be decided in the next match! Lets see who it's gonna be!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOgwy9jSIVk
It's Lars Sullivan! The Freak looks to wreak havoc tonight and show why he deserves this shot at Backlash! He and Jeff Hardy lock eyes as they pass one another on the ramp. But who will his opponent be?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cSZ3Vsugso
He's gonna have his work cut out for him. Aleister Black looks to make an impact in his own debut while spoiling Lars Sullivan's!
Lars Sullivan vs Aleister Black
It's a miracle that the ring was even standing after this one was over! Sullivan's hard hitting offense was on display and Black had to use his full range of kicks and strikes! In the closing moments of the match, Black goes for a clothesline on a running Sullivan, but Sullivan shakes it off and continues running! He hits the ropes to come back and BLACK MASS! BLACK HITS IT! 1. 2. 3.
So there we have it! Jeff Hardy will take on Aleister Black at Backlash! Both of these men can be proud of the statements that they just made through that match!
Next up: It's John Cena's open challenge! Will Cena be at one hundred percent tonight after his match last night on Raw? Who will take his challenge? Let's find out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-VyG3V-l2I
It's the King of Strong Style! I hope Cena's ready for another war tonight, because that's exactly what he'll get!
John Cena vs Shinsuke Nakamura
The two lock up to start the match. Shinsuke pushes John into the corner and shakes about. The mindgames have started early. Nakamura flashes that signature grin. They lock up again. This time, Cena has the advantage and pushes Nakamura into the corner. The ref separates them. Cena waves his hand in front of his face. "You can't see me." Shinsuke runs at Cena, but Cena dodges and trips him. STF! STF! Cena's got it locked in! What will Nakamura do! Oh, he's biting the hand! Shinsuke forces the release by biting the hand! What a cunning move! The match is controlled mostly by Nakamura from this point on. Nakamura goes for an inverted exploder and Cena flips and lands on his feet! Nakamura has no clue! AA! AA! AA! CENA WITH THE COVER! 1. 2. 3.
Cena snatches yet another victory by the skin of his teeth! Nakamura sits in the ring with that same grin on his face...what could he possibly be thinking?...
Well, no matter, we're on to our main event! A five way contest with title implications! And it's up next!
Rusev vs Samoa Joe vs Daniel Bryan vs Chris Jericho vs Randy Orton
This match was utter chaos from the start! Samoa Joe and Randy Orton teamed up out of necessity midway through. They put Jericho through the announce table before laying out Rusev and Bryan outside the ring! The alliance fell apart after that as Orton went for an RKO! But Joe catches him in the Coquina Clutch! Meanwhile, Jericho is somehow back to his feet! He slides back in and hits a Lionsault, breaking the hold! He locks Joe in the Walls of Jericho! OH! Rusev with a Machka Kick on Jericho! He's out! Rusev stomps on his back and locks in the Accolade! BRYAN! DANIEL BRYAN HITS THE RUNNING KNEE! HE LOCKS IN THE YES LOCK ON RUSEV! RUSEV HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO TAP!
What a comeback story for Daniel Bryan! It's been just a month, but already his first title match since his return! Styles comes to the ring to shake Bryan's hand as the two stare down. They're sure to have a match of the year candidate on their hands when they meet this Sunday! From SmackDown Live: Good Night!