Trouble is brewing ahead of the next big pay-per-view event – Money in the Bank on May 19
WITH its new and improved roster of superstars, WWE SmackDown LIVE has already started gearing up.
Here are some of the talking points from last night’s edition of SmackDown.
KO TURNS ON KOFI
If you didn’t see this coming a mile off, then you really don’t know Kevin Owens very well.
Kofi Kingston battled Shinsuke Nakamura, so Owens was back on duty as an honourary member of The New Day as “The Big O” - and even tossed out pancakes to the fans.
The match was decent enough but Nak was never going to win.
It was pure filler while the commentators harped on about Kofi’s newly won
It ended in a DQ when Nakamura’s partner Rusev jumped in and attacked Kofi – which led Xavier Woods and KO to also jump in and make the save.
During the brawl, Kofi pushed KO out of the path of Nak’s Kinshasa knee strike.
But KO immediately repaid Kofi with a surprise super-kick.
Owens tore off his New Day shirt and savagely beat Kofi.
He then held up the WWE Championship and told Kofi he’s coming for the title.
Xavier Woods tried to save Kofi but got hit with KO’s always-brutal-looking powerbomb on the ring apron.
Expect Owens to challenge Kofi Kingston for the title at Money in the Bank.
SHANE AMBUSHES ROMAN REIGNS
Last week Roman Reigns switched to SmackDown and celebrated by punching out
But it was crafty set-up all along. As Roman stared down Shane, Elias jumped The Big Dog from behind.
It looks like WWE is trying to counteract the onset of boos which have begun again for poor Roman by pairing him up against the easily hateable McMahon.
And it’s working – fans chanted for Roman as he suffered a two-on-one assault from Shane and Elias.
Reigns battled back but Elias put down The Big Dog with the Drift Away.
Afterwards, Shane and Elias boasted that they’d taught Reigns a lesson – and Elias later challenged Roman to a match at Money in the Bank.
BECKY v CHARLOTTE (AGAIN)
Charlotte Flair came to ring and reminded fans that
Becky arrived and said she’s already beaten Charlotte so many times that at Mania she wanted to concentrate on beating “The Baddest Woman on the Planet”.
Charlotte claimed to be in Becky’s head because every time Lacey Evans punches out Becky, all “The Man” can do is compare her to Charlotte.
Becky said she wants Charlotte out of the way to make room for new challengers such as Bayley, Mickie James, and Ember Moon – which prompted Bayley to come to the ring.
Bayley challenged Charlotte to a match right away to determine the next challenger to Becky’s SmackDown women’s title.
It was a spirited effort from Bayley but Charlotte predictably got the win when she hit a spear.
So now Becky will pull double duty at Money in the Bank, defending her Raw title against Lacey Evans and her SmackDown belt against Charlotte in the same night.
ZELINA COSTS ANDRADE
With Andrade back on SmackDown – apparently thanks to
Two weeks ago Andrade had scored a win over Balor with some help from his business manager Zelina Vega, but last night it was a different story.
The action was frenetic and teased what could be the start of a sizzling feud between these two talented superstars.
It ended when Vega went to the top rope and launched a cross body at Balor – but the Irishman ducked and Andrade had to catch Vega mid-air.
In the confusion, Balor smashed Andrade with a running dropkick and Coup de Grace for the win.
Let’s hope this doesn’t cause a split between Andrade and Vega – they’re a perfectly matched on-screen couple.
KAIRI’S VOYAGE CONTINUES
One week after debuting on the main roster, Kairi Sane was in singles action against Peyton Royce, one half of women’s tag champs The IIconics.
It was an easy win for Kairi, who nailed Peyton with her Interceptor spear and Insane Elbow.
Afterwards, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville came out to stare down Kairi and tag partner Asuka from the stage, presumably setting up a match next week.
WITH its new and improved roster of superstars, WWE SmackDown LIVE has already started gearing up.
Here are some of the talking points from last night’s edition of SmackDown.
KO TURNS ON KOFI
If you didn’t see this coming a mile off, then you really don’t know Kevin Owens very well.
Kofi Kingston battled Shinsuke Nakamura, so Owens was back on duty as an honourary member of The New Day as “The Big O” - and even tossed out pancakes to the fans.
The match was decent enough but Nak was never going to win.
It was pure filler while the commentators harped on about Kofi’s newly won
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title and Owens’ unexpected friendship with The New Day.It ended in a DQ when Nakamura’s partner Rusev jumped in and attacked Kofi – which led Xavier Woods and KO to also jump in and make the save.
During the brawl, Kofi pushed KO out of the path of Nak’s Kinshasa knee strike.
But KO immediately repaid Kofi with a surprise super-kick.
Owens tore off his New Day shirt and savagely beat Kofi.
He then held up the WWE Championship and told Kofi he’s coming for the title.
Xavier Woods tried to save Kofi but got hit with KO’s always-brutal-looking powerbomb on the ring apron.
Expect Owens to challenge Kofi Kingston for the title at Money in the Bank.
SHANE AMBUSHES ROMAN REIGNS
Last week Roman Reigns switched to SmackDown and celebrated by punching out
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– so last night Shane McMahon called out Roman.But it was crafty set-up all along. As Roman stared down Shane, Elias jumped The Big Dog from behind.
It looks like WWE is trying to counteract the onset of boos which have begun again for poor Roman by pairing him up against the easily hateable McMahon.
And it’s working – fans chanted for Roman as he suffered a two-on-one assault from Shane and Elias.
Reigns battled back but Elias put down The Big Dog with the Drift Away.
Afterwards, Shane and Elias boasted that they’d taught Reigns a lesson – and Elias later challenged Roman to a match at Money in the Bank.
BECKY v CHARLOTTE (AGAIN)
Charlotte Flair came to ring and reminded fans that
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pinned Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania – Charlotte didn’t tap or get pinned herself.Becky arrived and said she’s already beaten Charlotte so many times that at Mania she wanted to concentrate on beating “The Baddest Woman on the Planet”.
Charlotte claimed to be in Becky’s head because every time Lacey Evans punches out Becky, all “The Man” can do is compare her to Charlotte.
Becky said she wants Charlotte out of the way to make room for new challengers such as Bayley, Mickie James, and Ember Moon – which prompted Bayley to come to the ring.
Bayley challenged Charlotte to a match right away to determine the next challenger to Becky’s SmackDown women’s title.
It was a spirited effort from Bayley but Charlotte predictably got the win when she hit a spear.
So now Becky will pull double duty at Money in the Bank, defending her Raw title against Lacey Evans and her SmackDown belt against Charlotte in the same night.
ZELINA COSTS ANDRADE
With Andrade back on SmackDown – apparently thanks to
You must be registered for see links
– he faced IC champ Finn Balor in another non-title match.Two weeks ago Andrade had scored a win over Balor with some help from his business manager Zelina Vega, but last night it was a different story.
The action was frenetic and teased what could be the start of a sizzling feud between these two talented superstars.
It ended when Vega went to the top rope and launched a cross body at Balor – but the Irishman ducked and Andrade had to catch Vega mid-air.
In the confusion, Balor smashed Andrade with a running dropkick and Coup de Grace for the win.
Let’s hope this doesn’t cause a split between Andrade and Vega – they’re a perfectly matched on-screen couple.
KAIRI’S VOYAGE CONTINUES
One week after debuting on the main roster, Kairi Sane was in singles action against Peyton Royce, one half of women’s tag champs The IIconics.
It was an easy win for Kairi, who nailed Peyton with her Interceptor spear and Insane Elbow.
Afterwards, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville came out to stare down Kairi and tag partner Asuka from the stage, presumably setting up a match next week.
