Tonight is the last night of main roster WWE television before WrestleMania, and SmackDown looks to get the fans excited for the “Ultimate Thrill Ride.” Last week we saw the SmackDown Tag Team Championships change hands, as well as a video series parodying Total Bellas. Tonight, we have the finale to that series, as well as Luke Harper taking on Bray Wyatt in the main event.
Contract Signing – Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles
Contract signings tend to close a show, but this week it opens SmackDown Live. Over the past two weeks, AJ Styles and Shane McMahon have attacked each other and sent each other through car windows and announce tables. Styles accepted McMahon’s WrestleMania challenge last week, and now Daniel Bryan is here with the paperwork to make it official.
Becky Lynch vs. Carmella (w/James Ellsworth)
Two weeks ago, Becky Lynch defeated Natalya and Carmella would attack both women after the match. Lynch would go on to face Carmella last week, but Natalya interrupted the match, and now a rematch takes place tonight. This is the last time either woman can gain momentum before the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania, which features every available woman on the roster.
Mickie James and Alexa Bliss are on commentary during the match, and verbal jabs to each other lead to them fighting into the ring. Carmella tries to get them out and a punch from James throws the match out. Result: No Contest
Becky Lynch & Mickie James vs. Carmella & Alexa Bliss (w/James Ellsworth)
During the commercial break, Daniel Bryan did Teddy Long proud by turning this into a tag team match. It will be interesting to see how well Lynch and James get along, considering that they were rivals just a couple weeks ago.
Natalya comes down to ringside to try and make herself important, and the referee has his back to the match. James Ellsworth trips up Becky Lynch, and Carmella steals the roll-up victory. All of the women brawl and former SmackDown Women’s Champion Naomi makes a surprise return and cleans house. She stands tall and enters herself in the WrestleMania championship match. Winners: Carmella & Alexa Bliss
MizTV
In this special edition of MizTV, we have the finale to Miz and Maryse’s parody of Total Bellas. This week, This Miz also mocks Daniel Bryan as well as John Cena. Towards the end, it takes a serious turn when The Miz breaks character to address John Cena, revealing his intention to make WrestleMania their “curtain call.” Once their episode is over, Cena and Bella come down to the ring.
American Alpha, Heath Slater, Rhyno, & Mojo Rawley vs. Dolph Ziggler, Breezango, & The Usos
The SmackDown Tag Team Division doesn’t have a title match at WrestleMania, so this match is a preview for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. The good news for the Usos (who just won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships last week) is that they will definitely walk out of WrestleMania as champions.
Each team takes turns sending an opponent over the top rope (foreshadowing for the Battle Royal) and only Mojo Rawley and Tyler Breeze are left in the ring. Breeze knocks Rhyno to ringside, and Rawley steamrolls Breeze in the corner with a running forearm, giving his team the victory. Winners: American Alpha, Heath Slater, Rhyno, & Mojo Rawley
Bray Wyatt vs. Luke Harper
Just a few months ago, the possibility of this match was unheard of. Randy Orton joined the Wyatt Family, then drove a wedge between Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper, ruining what was once Harper’s family. Harper would go his own way and even though Orton turned on Wyatt, Harper won’t return to his former leader because he sees through Wyatt’s brainwashing ways. This Sunday, Bray Wyatt defends the WWE Championship at WrestleMania against Randy Orton.
Harper hits Wyatt with the discus clothesline, but Wyatt grabs the bottom rope to break the pin. While Wyatt gets back up, Harper seems to be in a bit of a trance, giving the WWE Champion the perfect opportunity to hit Sister Abigail. Winner: Bray Wyatt
