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WWE SmackDown Live comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (May 14, 2019) from the O2 Arena in London, featuring the final build to the upcoming Money in the Bank pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for Sunday night in Hartford.
Advertised for tonight: Kevin Owens invites WWE champ Kofi Kingston onto his talk show, a 4Way featuring entrants in the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match, Paige’s new team in women’s tag action, 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.)
NOTE: Due to the time difference, SmackDown will air pre-taped tonight. We have spoilers for this show HERE, and please keep discussion of those to that post. This comments section should be kept SPOILER FREE.
WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR MAY 14
With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound he pulls the spitting high-tension wires down. Helpless people on subway trains scream, bug-eyed, as he looks in on them. He picks up a bus and he throws it back down as he wades through the buildings toward the center of town. Oh, no, they say he’s got to go, but me? I say he can stay as long as he lets me finish liveblogging this here pro wrestling show for you, folks.
The show opens with Roman Reigns making his entrance.
He says he’s got unfinished business from Raw last night and he’s not waiting for Money in the Bank. He calls Elias out and says he’s a huge problem that we’re going to solve right now, and he introduces one of his solutions, the Miz.
The A-Lister makes his entrance and says it’s good to be back in London and on the blue brand before singing a little Oasis and mocking Elias vis-a-vis his own singing and reminding us it’s just five days until Shane McMahon can no longer run and hide. After putting hands on his father, on Sunday, Shane will be locked inside of a steel cage--
Enter Shane McMahon, flanked by Elias.
Shane begins by saying just because the Big Dog invited Miz doesn’t make him a Wild Card, and in fact, because Miz disgusts him, he’s going to invoke his privilege and ban the A-Lister from the building tonight. Elias tells Reigns to stay right there because he has something to say-- make all the corny jokes you like but underestimating him is going to be the biggest mistake of his career.
At Money in the Bank he’s going to prove why Vince McMahon chose him as the biggest acquisition in SmackDown history and find out that WWE does, in fact, stand for “Walk With Elias.” McMahon suggests that if Roman and Miz aren’t going to leave on their own power, maybe they have to be made to leave, and there are a few other people that hate Miz’s guts willing to help make that happen.
Enter Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan, All four heels advance on the ring and start beating our babyfaces down! Taking them to the floor-- THE USOS ARE ON SMACKDOWN TO MAKE THE SAVE! In the ring, off the ropes... STEREO SUICIDE DIVES TO EVEN THE SCORE! Rowan decks them with a wicked double clothesline and throws them back in the ring where the beatdown continues until Roman saves his cousins!
The babyfaces run the heels off and stand tall.
Commentary hypes up Kofi Kingston on the Kevin Owens show and a replay of Firefly Fun House for later.
Randy Orton makes his entrance, he’ll be in action after the break.
Back from commercial, the four heels from our opening segment are chatting backstage and Shane McMahon says he’s going to prove his point tonight by making a handicap match between the four of them on one hand and Roman Reigns and the Usos on the other, with Miz banned on pain of losing his steel cage match.
Randy Orton gets on the mic and says this Sunday he’s going to climb this ladder and grab the briefcase to become Mr. Money in the Bank for the second time, and then the three most dangerous letters for the WWE Champion will be RKO.
Zelina Vega gets a promo on Andrade’s intro, saying everyone is so sensitive to spoilers, whether Game of Thrones or Avengers: Endgame, but they don’t care about spoilers and Almas wants us all to know his endgame, and they’re going to ruin Money in the Bank for us right now. Cien takes the mic and says that in five days he’s going to climb the ladder and win the briefcase.
We get the rest of our entrances and go to break.
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Finn Balor vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Randy Orton
Back from commercial, Orton is stomping away at Ali, targeting the leg before drawing him up to scrape his bootlaces across his face. Thinking hanging DDT on Balor, Mustafa fires up, laying chops in, whip reversed, snap scoop powerslam catches him! Handful of hair, uppercut, off the ropes, Ali with a pop-up dropkick! Reaching, pulling himself up the ropes, back elbow on the charge, springboard fakeout to block the RKO, tornado DDT... ALMAS BREAKS IT UP!
Chops in the corner, whip across, charging in but Mustafa goes up and over, off the ropes, tijeras puts him into the ropes but Cien blasts him with a lariat! Finn in, Andrade with a boot, slingshot dropkick to Orton, he dumps Ali and charges at Balor only to get decked by boots! Back elbow from the Intercontinental Champion, double leg into a double stomp, inverted headlock elbow drop for the Viper!
Andrade reverses one, floats over, eats the gamengiri from the apron and Finn heads up top only for Almas to crotch him! Corner knees... NO! Vega directing traffic, ordering her man to get some ladders out from under the ring and introduce them to the match. One to Finn’s gut, blasting Randy, Mustafa cuts him off with a superkick! Going for a plancha... CIEN COUNTERS WITH A LADDER TO SEND US TO BREAK!
Back from commercial, Alams puts Balor hard into a ladder leaned in the corner of the ring. Fired up, Finn cuts him off with the Sling Blade, shotgun dropkick into the ladder, Ali with the rolling thunder X-Factor on the Irishman! Up top, 450 lands on his feet... RKO OUTTA NOWHERE! Cien with a missile dropkick for the Viper, back elbow for Finn, drawing him up, hammerlock reversed into a small package... NOT ENOUGH!
Lariat sends Andrade to the floor, Balor off the ropes... TOPE CON GIRO! Almas throws Finn into the steel steps, hammerlock...
Andrade “Cien” Almas wins by pinfall with the hammerlock DDT on Finn Balor.
Almas climbs the ladder to remind us of the rules of Money in the Bank and here comes Ricochet to climb the ladder with him and knock him down! Ricochet retrieves the briefcase and leaves with it!
Commentary hypes up the Kevin Owens show and our handicap match for later tonight.
Carmella gets a handcam promo about how she’s going to win Money in the Bank.
Commentary promises us a look at the rivalry between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair later.
Kofi Kingston is backstage contemplating the WWE Championship when Xavier Woods rolls up.
Kofi asks him to hang back tonight because he’s so banged up and let him handle business with Kevin Owens. Woods agrees, and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Charlotte Flair makes her entrance and we get a recap of last night’s contract signing.
She gets on the mic and says Sunday will see her leave victorious as the SmackDown Women’s Champion before cueing the video package covering her rivalry with Becky Lynch that was previously promised.
Lacey Evans is staring in a mirror backstage before asking if they forgot about her and addressing the camera directly.
She says she guesses people are too busy watching reruns of the Becky/Charlotte show and have forgotten that Lynch has got two title matches on Sunday, one of which she’s going to lose. After Lacey teaches her about a Woman’s Right, she’ll be Becky Black Eye.
Shane McMahon makes his entrance, he’ll be in action after the break.
Back from commercial, Aleister Black gets a promo.
He talks a bit about Shakespeare and the struggle between ambition and the manner how one pursues their goals, and for opponents that try to get in his head, he guarantees they won’t like the place they venture into, and thus he clothes his naked villainy. Fade to black.
Daniel Bryan, Elias, Erick Rowan, & Shane McMahon vs. the Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, & Roman Reigns) (Handicap Match)
Bryan and Jimmy to start, circling, Dan on all fours briefly before the collar and elbow. Go-behind, waistlock, Uso pops his hips and reverses to a wristlock. Bryan rolls through, looking for a trip, arm wringer, side headlock, shot off, shoulder block! Test of strength, Jimmy back to the wristlock before laying a series of chops in. Shoulder thrust, tag to Jey, charigng lariat, snapmare, into a pin, only one!
Bryan picks the leg, tag to Elias, in with a stomp, a chop, into the corner, whip reversed, Jey charges in and gets back body dropped to the apron. Enzuigiri connects, Uso up top, nobody home on the splash and he lands on his feet! The Drifter freight trains him, stomping away, tag to McMahon. Leg pick, elbow drop to the knee, another one, knee drops to the knee, deathlock STF applied!
Breaking it in favor of kicks to the hamstring, Elias tags back in and puts boots to him, stepover knee drop to the leg and a tag to the American Dragon. Chest kick in the corner, wrenching Uso’s leg over the middle rope, off the ropes and dropkicking the injured leg, cover attempted but Jey’s feet were under the ropes! Back suplex lift sets him up top, climbing after, jockeying for position and Jey knocks him down.
Perching, fending Elias off... AND BRYAN PUSHES HIM OFF THE TOP AND INTO THE BARRICADE TO SEND US TO BREAK!
Back from commercial, Rowan is working Jey over, giant step, putting boots to him, repeated knees to the ribs, off the ropes for the big splash... NOPE! Elias tags in, repeated covers, no good, tag to McMahon, a bit of shuffle, jabs but Uso gets a kick off and the path is clear! Tag to Reigns, Bryan in as well, the Big Dog running hot with lariats!
Big rights to clear the apron, corner lariats, finishing with a boot, calling for it... right hand to fend Elias off, Superman Punch countered and Dan tags Rowan in! Elias tags in on Erick, right hands to Roman, referee Mike Chioda warning him off and he comes off the ropes with a huge knee strike... NOPE! Rowan back in, scoop and a slam, elbow drop for two and into the two-fisted head vise!
Out of it and off the ropes, the big man decks the Big Dog with a back elbow and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Elias lands an elbow drop on Reigns and poses for the crowd. Drawing him up, right hand blocked and Roman hits the big slicing right. Another one, the Drifter cuts him off with a knee, clubbing blow, knee lift, off the ropes, Samoan drop clears the way! Tags made, Jimmy in on Bryan, right hands, whip across, backflip up and over, off the ropes, duck a lariat, avoid the superkick but McMahon and Elias and Rowan all take their medicine!
Jey tags in, Superkick Party takes Erick out, Bryan off the top... SUPERKICK PARTY! Shane breaks the cover up and gets dumped to the floor, Elias with knees, Drift Away but Jimmy hits a superkick! Dan with the Busaiku knee, legal men... THE BIG DOG MAKES THE SAVE! Rowan with a headbutt to Reigns before clotheslining him to the floor and following out after... SUPERMAN PUNCH TAKES HIM OUT!
Elias puts Roman into the steel steps, Shane is up top...
Daniel Bryan, Elias, Erick Rowan, & Shane McMahon win by pinfall with Coast 2 Coast from McMahon on Jey Uso.
HERE COMES THE MIZ, CHAIR IN HAND! He takes Elias out and slides in the ring, shots to Erick, McMahon runs away, Superkick Party takes Bryan out and the Big Dog spears Rowan for good measure as Shane gets to the stage.
We get a replay of yesterday’s edition of Firefly Fun House.
Asuka and Kairi Sane make their entrance, flanked by Paige as always, to send us to break.
Back from commercial, Ember Moon gets a handcam promo talking about how she’s going to manifest her own greatness and win Money in the Bank.
As does Bayley’s, whose promo hinges around it being a chance for her to step out of the shadows and prove she’s not just a hugger or a weak link.
We see the Iconic Duo have joined commentary.
In the ring, Paige cuts a promo.
She says it’s good to be home and she introduces her clients as the Kabuki Warriors. You’re not just looking at the next WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, but the future of the entire division.
Fire and Desire come out with microphones during their entrance and Mandy Rose tells Paige to take it down a notch, she just named a tag team. Sonya Deville chimes in and Mandy says names matter, like Ms. Money in the Bank, which is what they’ll call her after Sunday, and then they’ll go after the tag titles together, so they’re actually the future of the women’s division.
Fire and Desire (Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville) vs. Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
Deville and Asuka to start, go-behind, side headlock, Empress shoots her off and nails her with the running hip attack! Tag to Sane, double whip, drop down, knee and an axe kick, bulldog and a dropkick and the Kabuki Warriors are running hot! Kairi off the apron to nail Rose with a forearm, Asuka off the ropes, she knocks Deville down with a hip attack and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Sane laying chops in on Rose, whip reversed but she lands a crossbody for a nearfall. Kairi marching, sliding forearm, Deville running interference and Mandy lands the knee! Tag to Sonya, putting boots to her, snapmare, off the ropes for a sliding knee... NOPE! Tag back to Rose, backbreaker into a backbreaker submission, whipping Sane hard into the ropes but it takes Sonya off the apron and Kairi is able to kick Mandy aside and make the tag!
Asuka in hot, running dropkick, Alarm Clock, German suplex, running hip attack in the corner, roundhouse kick, flying Asuka Lock but Deville makes the save! Tag to Sonya, she comes in with chest kicks, Asuka catches the buzzsaw, rolling solebutt, chest kicks of her own, and now it’s Deville’s turn to catch the buzzsaw! Throat thrust to a spinebuster, tag to Mandy, Asuka reverses...
Kabuki Warriors win by pinfall with a crucifix pin from Asuka on Mandy Rose.
Backstage, Kayla Braxton is set to interview Lars Sullivan but he’s nowhere to be seen and she’s visibly nervous as we cut to a video package for the big average dork.
When it’s over, he’s there and she stutters her way through part of a question before leaving as he remains silent.
Kevin Owens is backstage to hype up the Kevin Owens Show and explain why only Kofi Kingston is on his show tonight-- it’s because he’s the only one he’s wrestling, and he’s asking the question of if Kofi can stand on his own. He knows the answer, and on Sunday, so will the entire WWE Universe after he breaks his back or his rib or knocks a shoulder out of socket or...
He’s cut off by Kingston making his entrance as we go to break.
Back from commercial, Kofi Kingston is chilling in one of the Kevin Owens Show set’s office chairs with microphone in hand.
He says he received his invitation, so here he is. Kevin said that he wanted Kofi and the title, well on Sunday he’s gonna get his chance. But what about tonight? He’s here on the KO Show as a guest and it’d only be fitting if he came out here to be the host, so here’s an introduction. Owens doesn’t come out and so Kofi asks if he’s shook. Of course he couldn’t be shook, talking such a big game, so come on out here and make good on--
Kev interrupts from the tron and says he guesses his little buddies couldn’t make it. It’s lonely at the top, isn’t it? For the first time in eleven years, Kofi finds himself alone, and at the worst time possible. It really was a dream come true, winning the title and sharing it with his brothers and his family, but during those eleven years did he ever wonder what happens when the dream ends?
Reality sets in, and reality is he’s only champion because of New Day, and that means he loses on Sunday, and here’s proof. His proof comes in the form of a video package covering KO’s debut against John Cena and the way he tore through New Day that establishes him as a dangerous man. Kingston says that didn’t prove anything and he’s getting tired of hearing him talk, so he dumps the chairs from the ring and says if he’s not coming down there--
Owens says he’ll come down and leaves the screen immediately.
Lo and behold, enter Kevin Owens. He heads towards the ring and stops a little short of ringside before turning around and leaving. A few more steps and he turns back around and again stops short before leaving. Kingston slides out and gives chase and we got a brawl in the ramp! SAMI ZAYN MAKES THE SAVE FOR HIS BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD!
They put boots to Kofi together and throw him into the apron before setting him up for the powerbomb... XAVIER WOODS MAKES THE SAVE! Frye/Takayama punches with Owens, he gets thrown into the post but Kingston has had a moment to recover and starts fighting back! The Canadians hammer him with punches and throw him into the steel steps!
Back inside, putting boots to him again, choking him in the corner and yelling, KO says he could end it right now but he’s not, he’s going to leave just enough for him to make it to Sunday so he can take the title! He backs off.. KOFI DODGES THE CANNONBALL! Sami attacks and hooks Kingston over the ropes for punches to the face, off the ropes... HE DODGES THE HELLUVA KICK TOO! TROUBLE IN PARADISE CONNECTS!
Kofi Kingston stands tall.
That’s the show, folks.