Last week, Randy Orton defeated AJ Styles to secure his spot in the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania. Styles stormed into the backstage area, and yelled at Shane McMahon since he believes he was robbed of an opportunity he was already given. We see the fallout of that and much more on tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live.
Opening Segment
AJ Styles is irate over not being in the main event of WrestleMania even though he deserves it, and he starts the show by complaining to the WWE Universe. The Phenomenal One goes to the back to have a “conversation” with Shane McMahon. The only problem is that McMahon isn’t here yet.
Becky Lynch vs. Natalya
Both Becky Lynch and Natalya teamed up last week against Alexa Bliss and Mickie James. Lynch was the legal member of her team for most of the match, and Natalya didn’t like that she was tagged in. Natalya would then attack her own partner, hitting the Irish Lasskicker with a German suplex. Along with the rest of the women’s division, they are competing for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.
Natalya has Becky Lynch in the corner, but Lynch rolls into the Disarm-her and forces the submission. While Lynch is celebrating her win, Carmella appears out of nowhere and superkicks both women. Winner (via submission): Becky Lynch
MizTV
Tonight is a special edition of MizTV, where The Miz and Maryse “expose” John Cena and Nikki Bella for the “frauds” that he thinks they are. Cena teamed up with Bella for the first time last week, where they defeated James Ellsworth and Carmella. After the win, they were immediately attacked and disposed of by The Miz and Maryse.
Maryse tells a story about how Nikki Bella “screwed” her out of getting her WWE contract renewed several years ago, and she wants to show the world how Bella is a liar. Of course, Cena and Bella come down to the ring to respond. The longest-reigning Divas Champion challenges Maryse to a fight, but she starts to head to the back with The Miz.
Before they head to the back, Daniel Bryan sets a match for the “face-punching extravaganza,” WrestleMania 33: The Miz and Maryse vs. John Cena and Nikki Bella. This will be Maryse’s first match since returning to WWE television last year.
Mickie James vs. Alexa Bliss
In the tag team match mentioned earlier in the Becky Lynch/Natalya match, Alexa Bliss tagged herself in to steal the pin from Mickie James. After the match, James hit Bliss with the Mick Kick, with her sights set on the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Alexa Bliss lays out Mickie James with a forearm, but she spends too much time gloating. James takes advantage with the Mick Kick, pinning the champion. Winner: Mickie James
Backstage Segment
AJ Styles sees Shane McMahon pull into the arena, and he blindsides the commissioner of SmackDown Live. Styles attacks McMahon all over the backstage area, and he ends the assault by sending him through a car window.
Styles is walking through the back when he runs into Daniel Bryan, who fires him and kicks him out of the building.
Mojo Rawley vs. Dolph Ziggler
Mojo Rawley announced himself as the first entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal last week. Dolph Ziggler made fun of him, and told him that he would never have a WrestleMania moment, but Ziggler has never had one himself.
Rawley throws the Showoff over the rope and to the floor three times, foreshadowing what could possibly transpire in the battle royal. Ziggler gets tired of this and walks to the back. Winner (via count-out): Mojo Rawley
In-ring Segment
Randy Orton has burned down the Wyatt Family compound, and he says that at WrestleMania, he will take all that Bray Wyatt has left: the WWE Championship. Wyatt appears on the screen to say that while the compound was burned, he isn’t destroyed. He is “reborn,” rubs some dirt or something on himself, and that’s it.
American Alpha vs. The Usos
After that odd segment with Bray Wyatt, we change things up with a tag team match. This is the first time in several weeks the tag team division is getting television time, which is strange considering how prominently the SmackDown Tag Team Championships were featured just a few months ago.
American Alpha go for a double team, but Chad Gable gets pulled off of the turnbuckle. One superkick leads to Jason Jordan getting pinned, definitely putting the Usos in the title picture. Winners: The Usos
Announcement
Right before the show ends, Shane McMahon manages to get the the stage to say that AJ Styles now has a WrestleMania opponent in the commissioner of SmackDown Live.
