Tonight on Smackdown Live’s 999th episode. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch’s feud goes to new heights. World Cup qualification matches. The Miz professionalism is tested. The “One night in Milwaukee” is concluded. The Big Show’s first match in a year. Let’s dive in to tonight’s Smackback!
An epic match bringing a feud to new heights.
Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair for WWE Women’s Title. Double count out, Becky Lynch retains championship.
What a way to start out tonight’s show! A WWE Women’s championship match between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. The stipulation is, if Lynch is disqualified, then she will lose the title. The match started off with both fighters locking up. Becky gets Flair in to a wrist lock, working on an injured arm from the Super Showdown PPV match. Charlotte tries to regain control, but halted by Lynch and mocked as well. Eventually, Flair regains control and lands a Dragon Screw on Lynch.
The Women’s champion, Lynch locks up Charlotte with a beautiful and painful looking bridging hammerlock. Again, the champion is working on the injured arm of Flair. Charlotte fights out of the hold, Becky attempts a double drop kick, only to be countered by Flair. Charlotte attempts a Sharpshooter, but Lynch finds her way to the ropes and outside. The Queen then lands a Suicide Dive on Lynch that takes us to commercial.
After the break is where the match picks up and both ladies take each other to their limits. Flair climbs to the top rope, only to have Lynch meet her and toss her across the ring. Becky attempts a pin, only for a two count. Shortly afterwards, Becky lands a big Exploder and a again only gets a two count. Charlotte fights back with some vicious chops, climbs again to the top rope, only to have Lynch yank her down to the apron.
Lynch then climbs the ropes as well, but misses a flying shoulder tackle. After a short exchange, Becky is on top of the turnbuckle again, and Flair counters again. Yet this time Lynch re-counters and attempts to lock in the Disarmer. Charlotte displaying her strength Power Bombs Lynch from the Disarmer.
The epic match turns it to 11.
The two warriors make it to their feet, start hard striking each other for about two minutes straight, and both get laid out. Flair is 1st to her feet and attempts a Figure Four. Lynch counters with a flying Forearm. Becky then grabs the title and start to run. Flair quickly grabs Becky and lands hits that leads to a missed Moonsault outside. With Flair now vulnerable Lynch hits an Exploder. The ref starts to count, Flair breaks the count at nine. Flair attacks Lynch and hits the Natural Selection, but out of instinct Lynch rolls outside. The two fighters start to brawl outside, with the ref counting.
Charlotte and Becky do not care anymore as they both battle and are counted out. Lynch retains her title, however the fight continues up the ramp. As an exclamation for this match, Charlotte spears Lynch through the LED background, and Flair having visible cuts on her arm. Later on, SDL General Manger Paige announces that both will fight again for the title at Evolution. This was an epic match that the rest of SDL had to measure up to.
World Cup qualifying match. The Miz is tested. Shelton Benjamin shines vs Aj Styles.
Jeff Hardy vs Samoa Joe. Jeff Hardy wins via no contest.
In this World Cup qualifying match, Jeff Hardy wrestles for the first time since Hell In The Cell, and Samoa Joe is fighting since his hard-fought title match at Super Showdown. After a quick flurry between both men, Joe ends it with a big headbutt. Quickly following the exchange, Hardy targets Samoa Joe’s injured leg. This was a trend throughout the match. Every time Joe string together an assault on Hardy, The Enigmatic one, Hardy shows a newer vicious side and targets the injured leg. Eventually it got to a point that Samoa Joe could no longer stand up and the referee called the match in favor of Jeff Hardy.
The Miz attempts to remain professional.
The Miz states that he will remain professional throughout Miz TV tonight, while interviewing The WWE Champion AJ Styles and the number one contender Daniel Bryan. The Miz was professional throughout the segment, even with AJ and Bryan making jokes on The Miz behalf. Eventually, The Miz turns the words from both men into getting heat between the two. Both men remained calm , in which infuriated Miz. The Awesome One then loses it and declares, no matter who wins, he has next. Also, AJ’s next opponent is someone who defeated Bryan last week, Shelton Benjamin.
AJ Styles wins over Shelton Benjamin via pin fall.
Shelton actually shined in this match. Whether this a testament to Benjamin’s skill, Styles’ skill, or both. The Gold Standard showed that he still is a dangerous opponent in the ring. The two lock up, with Shelton gaining control. Styles launches a small offense, but Benjamin quickly squashes it with a huge backdrop. AJ goes for the Styles Clash early, but Shelton powers though it, Styles re-counters and attempts the Phenomenal Forearm. This exchange leads to Shelton landing a vicious step up knee to Styles for the counter.
Later on, Shelton works AJ to the top turnbuckle in attempting a high risk move. AJ then slides out and hits an Electric Chair Drop. On his feet, Shelton goes for a suplex, with AJ flipping out of it and locking in the Calf Crusher. Benjamin powers out, however AJ lands a Phenomenal Forearm for the pin. Great match to showcase an under rated Shelton Benjamin.
One Night In Milwaukee concluded. Quick Main Event.
The Milwaukee night is over.
Aiden English comes out and shows another part of the “Milwaukee” tape. Again, it does not show anything incriminating. This time it ends on Aiden touching Lana’s arm. English calls out Rusev for a proposal, The Bulgarian Brute arrives, and Aiden states that he will destroy the footage if Rusev dumps Lana and they become a team again. Lana then states, that she will show the rest of the tape. Aiden asks how, Rusev then replies that he was hacked. The video is shown with Aiden trying to get comfortable with Lana, the First Lady of Rusev Day refusing, and leaving. Now, Rusev makes a bee line towards Aiden. The former crooner of Rusev Day makes haste on leaving the ring. Very anti-climatic.
Randy Orton wins over Big Show via RKO pin fall.
In the first match for The Big Show in a year. The World’s largest athlete is facing off against The Viper Randy Orton for a spot in the World Cup. Big Show quickly takes control of the match, overpowering Orton. However The Apex Predator finally regains control. With every attempt that the Big Show has, Orton slithers his way out of a predicament. eventually Orton lands the dreaded RKO on Big Show for the win. A very anti-climatic ending to a great start of the show.
