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WWE SmackDown Live comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (April 25, 2017) from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, featuring the blue brand bridging the gap until its turn on the pay-per-view (PPV) schedule.
Advertised for tonight: Charlotte challenges Naomi for the women’s championship, Randy Orton vs. Erick Rowan in a No Disqualification match, AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin, and more!
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the SmackDown live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR APRIL 25
When the Sultan gives orders to take your head, you must ride the wind to safety or you'll wind up dead. Through the evil and darkness you make your stand, only skeletons of war will guide you by the hand, because me, I'm just here to liveblog this here pro wrestling show, folks.
The show opens with Renee Young in the ring, she introduces the artist known as Shinsuke Nakamura.
He makes his entrance and Renee begins--
Enter Dolph Ziggler. He takes the mic and Young leaves, Nakamura holding the ropes open for her on her way out. Ziggler says if Shinsuke wants to play interview, they'll play interview, and he asks a pile of superficial questions all at once only to cut him off immediately, explaining that the people don't understand Japanese but he was talking about how Dolph was his favorite and put him over in a myriad ways.
Next question, what's going through your mind when you do your wacky dance moves? Shinsuke just sort of leans back, silent, and Dolph says he must be intimidated being in the ring with his hero before saying Nakamura isn't who you think he is. His name is actually Michael and he grew up in Gary, Indiana and traveled the world singing and dancing with his brothers and sisters, you know, Latoya, Tito, Janet, and so on.
Somehow Shinsuke proved to be the biggest weirdo of them all, with a ferris wheel in the back yard, a guest appearance on the Simpsons, his best friend is a monkey named Bubbles, but somehow he dipped into obscurity and re-emerged in Japan under the alias "Shinsuke Nakamura".
Ziggler says that translates, per Google, to "petty, pathetic, overrated freak". Nakamura yanks the mic away and says it's his turn to ask the questions, asking Dolph what his problem is. Dolph starts to answer and Shinsuke yanks the mic away, "translating" for him same as he got back before, only into Japanese, but he finishes, clearly, by calling him a jackass.
Dolph fires a kick off, tunes up the band, Shinsuke catches the leg, inverted exploder suplex! Charging in for Kinshasa, Ziggler bails and he and Nakamura have a staredown, ramp to ring.
Commentary hypes up our SmackDown Women's Championship match as well as AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin, which is up next, after the break.
Back from commercial Byron Saxton has to talk up a Papa Roach song in the year of our lord two thousand and seventeen, the poor guy.
Kevin Owens will be on commentary for Styles/Corbin.
AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin
Circling, AJ rolls under Baron's grip and keeps his distance, in, go behind, he throws a kick and Corbin catches it, shoving him to the mat. Schoolboy blocked, stomp dodged, leg kick connects and Styles grabs a side headlock, wrenching it in. Baron tries to shoot him off but AJ skids to a stop and blocks it.
Back suplex, AJ lands on his feet and goes right back to the headlock, taking a knee, but this time the Lone Wolf backs him into the corner and throws a lariat on the break. AJ ducks, back to the headlock! Wrenching it down, back to one knee, Corbin out with body blows, shoots him off, shoulder block but Baron's so monolithic that Styles rebounds all the way to the ropes, where the Lone Wolf kicks him to the outside to send us to break.
Back from commercial and Corbin has the Phenomenal One stuck in a half nelson neck crank. Styles to his feet but Baron shoves him back down and locks the hold back in. To his feet again, throwing body blows, a little bit of separation but the Lone Wolf goozles him and shoves him in the corner.
Charge, dodge, pass outside, back in, goozle... CHOKEBREAKER! Only good for two! Mounting AJ now, throwing forearms at his face, taking him in the corner, setting him up top, front chancery but Styles slips out and trips him up! Pele kick connects, but AJ can't capitalize. Stumbling to his feet, leaping lariat, partial Styles Rush into a sliding forearm strike off the ropes!
Calling for the Styles Clash, Baron shoves him off, charges in, Styles trying for the Calf Killer but the Lone Wolf blocks and punches him in the back of the head! Boots up on a charge, a forearm, KO comes over and AJ kicks him away but the delay gives Corbin time to wake up!
In the center of the ring, he lifts Styles up for a powerbomb, AJ floats over...
AJ Styles wins by pinfall with a sunset flip.
Owens and Corbin put boots to Styles after but Sami Zayn makes the save! Kev bails but Sami takes it to Baron, putting him into the post... HELLUVA KICK! Owens back in, he blindsides Zayn and hits the pop-up powerbomb on AJ! He gets his title and stands tall to end the bit.
Charlotte Flair is working out backstage when an interview rolls up. Charlotte says every superstar has blood in their veins but gold runs through hers. She's been women's champion four times, did everything she can on Raw and now the Queen needs a new kingdom to rule. The drive for five is completed tonight and she'll prove to Naomi and the WWE Universe that she's the greatest superstar in WWE history.
Commentary puts over a Beat the Clock Challenge match for contendership to the tag titles and we go to break.
Back from commercial, American Alpha make their entrance.
American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan) vs. The Colons (Epico & Primo Colon) (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Beat the Clock Challenge Match)
Epico and Chad start, backslide from Gable, no good, so he grabs a side headlock. Epico to his feet, shoots him off, drop-down but Chad stops himself and grabs a Gedo Clutch for two. Tag to Jordan, big dropkick gets one, front chancery, gator roll to a pin, no good. Wristlock, Epico breaks with a punch, Jason gets a waistlock takedown for one.
Gable back in, O'Connor roll for two, wristlock, Colon pulls the hair, backs him in the corner but Gable throws hands to keep himself from getting locked down. Whip to the corner, Primo yanks his cousin away and Epico lays the Olympian out with a boot before laying stomps in for two.
Tag to Primo, slingshot dropkick over Chad in the ropes for two, another cover gets two more, then to mounted punches. Scraping his boot across Gable's face, kneeling armbar applied. Gable to his feet, Epico tagged back in, off the ropes, leapfrogs, a punch and a knee, then a lariat from Epico for two.
Reverse chinlock applied, taking the Alpha man to the mat before wrenching him around to seated. Chad to his feet, arm drag escape but he gets caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a nearfall. Back suplex, a tag, Primo in with a slingshot senton, two more. Scoop and a slam, leg drop, again Gable stays in it.
Side Russian legsweep into a grounded octopus hold, Chad is in a bad place but manages to slip out and only Primo knocking Jordan off the apron blocks a tag. Epico in, up for the powerbomb but Jason comes in to help...
American Alpha win by pinfall with Grand Amplitude on Epico Colon, setting a time of 5:17 to beat.
The Usos are watching backstage, seemingly unbothered by these happenings.
Commentary informs us that Rowan/Orton and a message from Rusev are up next, and we go to break.
Back from commercial we get a New Day vignette, reminding us that they are coming... soon.
We then toss to Rusev's message. He starts off by saying he doesn't like Daniel Bryan or Shane McMahon and he doesn't approve of the Superstar Shake-Up. So the only way he's wrestling for SmackDown is if he gets a title match at Money in the Bank, or he'll pack his bags and go right back home to Bulgaria.
Becky Lynch is interviewed backstage about Charlotte's arrival. She doesn't approve of her tactics but she appreciates that she's getting results, and Natalya, Tamina, and Carmella (with James Ellsworth in tow as always) roll up, Nattie asking her where she stands on the whole Charlotte situation. Either she's with them, or against them, and grail knight Carmella tells her to choose wisely.
Randy Orton makes his entrance, his match against Rowan will be after the break.
Back from commercial in time for Erick Rowan's entrance.
Erick Rowan vs. Randy Orton (No Disqualification Match)
Collar and elbow, Rowan forces Orton in the corner and clobbers him with punches, whip across, back elbow and the Viper is knocked loopy. Another whip, Randy's ready, kick to the chest, clothesline to the outside but Erick yanks him outside. Orton throwing punches, backing Rowan against the barricade, the Wyatt man goes for a scoop, Randy slips out and shoves him into the post.
Shove into the barricade, followed by the back suplex on the barricade! Putting Erick's face into the announce table a few times in a row now, then the back suplex onto the announce desk! The champion scraping his bootlaces against Rowan's face but the bearded giant gets back, throwing the Viper into the steps and back in the ring.
Corner avalanche, dropkick gets two and Erick rolls outside for plunder, coming up with a kendo stick. Lying in wait, he cracks it across Orton's shoulder and back a few times before running him over with it for a nearfall. Back outside for more plunder, a table this time, Rowan sets it up outside while Randy wakes, kendo stick in hand.
Erick to the apron, he drags the Viper to his feet and clubs him over the back, thinking to suplex him outside but Orton blocks, a flurry of body blows, he snaps Erick's neck over the top ropes, the big man teeters and Randy gets the kendo stick! One shot, two shots, the third charging one puts Rowan through the table and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Rowan whips Orton corner to corner before posing. Boots in the corner, literally stepping on the Viper's neck before dragging him up and clubbing his back. To the outside, smashing the champion's face into the announce table a few times before throwing him back in the ring and retrieving the kendo stick.
Orton cuts him off on the apron, the rope-hung DDT connects, and Randy goes to that special place... RKO blocked, Erick with a kendo stick to the gut before rolling him back outside. Separating the steel steps, he picks the top piece up and clobbers Orton with it! He rolls the Viper back inside and goes to collect a chair from the timekeeper's area.
Rowan sets it up in the corner, wedging it between the ropes. Whip, Orton stops himself short, Erick charges in, sidestep, head through the chair, he's ready...
Randy Orton wins by pinfall with the RKO.
Randy gets on the mic and says he doesn't know what a House of Horrors match is, but for some reason he feels like he's gonna find out on Sunday. (Maybe because you're gonna wrestle in it?) He denies Bray's conception that the match will be his purgatory, insisting instead that it'll be Wyatt's eternal hell.
Enter Jinder Mahal. He berates Orton for overlooking the Maharaja and disrespecting him. He shouldn't be worried about Bray Wyatt or the House of Horrors, because he's the true horror. He'll take his title-- he has more wealth, more talent, more class, more culture than anybody in this arena, including Orton.
He says Randy is like all these people, disrespecting him because he looks different and because of his arrogance, his lack of tolerance. But at Backlash, he'll take back his respect, take the glory of the WWE Championship back to him and his people, who we will now address in his language of Punjabi.
He does indeed cut a promo in Punjabi, of which I follow less than I did of even Nakamura's Japanese earlier. He throws a punch to end it, Orton fends him off, sets him up for the rope-hung DDT but the Bollywood Boyz hit the ring for the save and they hold Randy down while Jinder puts boots to him before dragging him up for a cobra clutch slam.
Mahal takes the title with him and poses with the Boyz on his way out.
Commentary puts our remaining matches over and we get another Lana vignette where she sticks to dancing and does not appear to be insulting anyone on Twitter before heading to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of what just happened, because SmackDown has two hours to-- wait, what?
Jinder and his Boyz are shown getting in a stretch limo with the title, leaving the arena.
Breezango (Fandango & Tyler Breeze) vs. the Ascension (Konnor & Viktor) (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Beat the Clock Challenge Match)
Viktor in on Breeze, leaping corkscrew uppercut starts off with a nearfall! Stomp, body blows, tag to Konnor, double hip toss powerbomb, another nearfall but Fandango breaks it up! A right hand, another cover, mounted punches, repeated covers, Tyler won't lay down and he hits an enzuigiri for some separation.
Viktor back in, Breeze dodges a corner avalanche and tags Fandango in. He knocks Konnor off the apron, turning punches on Viktor a lariat, but the wastelander runs him over with a lariat for a nearfall. To the corner, tag to Konnor, whipping the ratman into Fandango, he follows with a lariat and mroe covers as the timer ticks down.
Tag to Viktor, setting Fall of Man but Breeze runs interference, Supermodel Kick, Fandango is ready...
Breezango win by pinfall with a Falcon Arrow from Fandango on Viktor in 2:36, beating the clock and becoming #1 contenders to the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship!
Commentary hypes up Charlotte/Naomi and we head to break.
Back from commercial, we get some hype for Talking Smack and then a promo from Neville for 205 Live, telling Austin Aries that he'll learn that he's not playing as he dismantles Jack Gallagher.
We then get a Bray Wyatt video package, largely reprising his promo from Raw.
Naomi is interviewed backstage about her match, saying that Charlotte has been a standout competitor and beat her fair last week, but she's running her mouth about being the best and the greatest? Who does she think she is, Muhammad Ali? Where Naomi's from, you gotta be on top to be the best, and it seems to her like she's Ali in this case.
She's gonna go out there and do what she does best and prove why she's champion, and Charlotte will feel the glow.
Naomi makes her entrance, and the match is after the break.
Back from commercial, commentary hypes up the Payback pre-show a bit.
Charlotte Flair vs. Naomi (c) (WWE SmackDown Women's Championship)
Charlotte off the ropes for a "Wooo!" to kick us off, into the collar and elbow, she grabs a side headlock, takeover, Naomi to her feet and throws her off, side headlock of her own, bulldog into the turnbuckles! To the apron, Charlotte trips her up, double leg takedown to the floor and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Flair has Naomi grounded with a cravate. Champion to her feet, throwing punchs and Charlotte biels her across the ring for her trouble. Naomi hung up in the ropes after some struggle, Flair drops a knee across her face, whip to the corner and a chop on the rebound, the Queen berates referee Dan Engler to count but her cover is only good for one.
Chops in the corner, knocking Naomi to the mat, yanking her out of the corner but the champion stuns her with a jawbreaker. Hamstring kicks set up the Speedball kicks, Flair catches one, going for a slam, Naomi slips out, headscissors takeover, a corkscrew back elbow, followed with the wheelbarrow stunner!
Charge in the corner, pass to the apron, roundhouse kick connects, slingshot sunset flip, Charlotte rolls away but takes a kick to the gut... BENADRYLLER! NOT ENOUGH! Forearm for forearm, slugging it out, Naomi with a double wristlock inverted stomp facebreaker, Rear View... NO GOOD!
Straight kick, off the ropes, going for a headscissors but Charlotte blocks and hits a sitout powerbomb... NOPE! Setting the champion up, Flair climbs the turnbuckles, hits the moonsault but the knees are up! Carmella and Natalya hit the ring...
The match goes to a no contest, presumably.
Chaos ensues as Tamina joins the beatdown and Ellsworth cheers them on from ringside. Holding Charlotte up, Tamina drops her with a superkick! Carmella gets one in next as the crowd chants for Becky Lynch and Charlotte writhes in agony.
Natalya's music hits, they head up the ramp, and that's the show, folks.