This week’s episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro battled The Usos in a Winners Take All Title Unification match in tonight’s main event.
SmackDown Results
- Shinsuke Nakamura def. Sami Zayn
- Gunther def. Drew Gulak
- Raquel Rodriguez def. Shotzi
- Xavier Woods def. Butch
- The Usos def. RK-Bro to become the Undisputed Tag Team Champions
Here are the takeaways from this week’s SmackDown:
Roman Reigns Warned The Usos
Undisputed Universal WWE Champion Roman Reigns & SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (The Bloodline) kicked off the show. Paul Heyman accompanied the champions to the ring. The Tribal Chief asked the crowd to acknowledge him and they obliged. Roman demanded that everyone also acknowledge The Usos and The Bloodline.
Heyman welcomed everyone to the “single biggest night in the history of tag team wrestling”. Paul claimed that Roman Reigns was the greatest of all time and named a bunch of legends including The Rock and Cena. Heyman said that they all would be pinned by the GOAT Roman Reigns as the crowd booed.
Paul told The Usos that in order to become the greatest tag team of all time by winning the Unification match later tonight. Heyman added that The Usos must win the match or they will not come back to the Island of Relevancy at all. Paul added that The Usos will win tonight and that is not a prediction, it is a spoiler.
Roman Reigns asked for the microphone again and shouted “Usos!”. Reigns told The Usos that he expects them to deliver tonight and the only reason he has these expectations is because he loves them. Roman and The Usos shared a hug as the crowd booed to end the promo.
Shinsuke Nakamura def. Sami Zayn
Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn battled tonight. Sami wore a Bloodline shirt to the ring and wore it during the match. Nakamura knocked Sami to the corner and hit him with a stomp to the midsection. Zayn battled back and unloaded some punches to Shinsuke’s face.
When SmackDown returned from a break, Nakamura was back in control and set up for the Kinshasa but Sami rolled out of the ring. Shinsuke followed him out there and Zayn connected with a Michinoku Driver on the floor outside the ring. Nakamura made it back into the ring at a 9 count and Sami barked at the referee. Shinsuke knocked Sami to the outside and leveled him with the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory as he got back into the ring.
Happy Corbin Destroyed The Trophy
Happy Corbin came down to the ringside area with the Andre the Giant Memorial Trophy that he used to bash Madcap Moss with last week. Corbin said that he is the happiest he’s ever been, is wearing a 12k hat and a 70k watch.
Corbin noted that he got fined a lot of money for his attack on Madcap but he’s rich so it doesn’t matter. Happy Corbin then rolled the footage of him slamming the trophy onto Moss’ head several times. Corbin mocked Madcap Moss some more before destroying the trophy to end the segment.
Gunther Dominated
Gunther faced Drew Gulak tonight on SmackDown. Ludwig Kaiser introduced Gunther before the match. Gunther dominated and won the match in a matter of moments. After the match, Gunther locked in a Boston Crab before Ricochet made the save.
Max Dupri Debuted
Max Dupri (FKA as LA Knight) approached Adam Pearce backstage and had an uncomfortably close conversation. Dupri said that Sonya Deville signed him and Pearce noted that Deville has been removed from her position of power. Max Dupri claimed that he has already signed a talent to his agency and Pearce should reach out to his lawyers. Dupri corrected Pearce on how to say his name to end the promo.
Raquel Rodriguez def. Shotzi
Raquel Rodriguez faced Shotzi tonight on SmackDown. Los Lotharious, Xia Li, Natalyam and Shayna Baszler were shown watching backstage. Rodriguez dominated and won the match with a Powerbomb.
Xavier Woods def. Butch
Woods caught Butch with a knee to the face and knocked him out of the ring to begin the match. Xavier followed it up with a Dropkick through the ropes and then rolled Butch back into the ring. Butch attacked Woods as he was getting in the ring and unloaded some punches.
Xavier rolled up Butch for a two count and then Butch started driving his elbow into Woods’ ribs. Butch followed it up with a stomp to the midsection before applying a headlock in the middle of the ring. Woods escaped and connected with a Crossbody for a near fall. Back in the ring, Butch hung up Woods across the ropes and went for a Stomp but Xavier dodged it. Butch unloaded some elbow strikes until the referee pulled Butch away. Woods then rolled up Butch for the pinfall victory. Fight Night attacked Woods after the match.
Naomi & Sasha Banks Suspended, Women’s Tag Title Tournament Announced
Michael Cole spoke before the Winners Take All Tag Title Unification match and said that “Sasha Banks and Naomi disappointed millions of fans with their actions” in reference to walking out of the arena on Monday. Cole added that Banks & Naomi have been suspended indefinitely and there will be a tournament to crown the new Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Roman Reigns Interfered & Helped The Usos Win The Tag Team Championship Unification Match
RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro battled SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos in a Winners Take All Title Unification match in this week’s main event.
RK-Bro dominated early and isolated Jimmy Uso in the ring. Jimmy battled back and got Riddle in a headlock as Orton fired up the crowd. Jimmy slammed Riddle down and the referee separated them. WWE’s medical staff got into the ring to check on Riddle as the show went to a break.
When SmackDown returned, Jimmy planted Riddle with a Suplex. Orton finally got the tag and planted Jey with a Powerslam. Randy followed it up with the draping DDT on Jimmy and then the RKO. Orton went for the cover but Jey broke it up at two. Jey hit Orton with a Superkick but Riddle sent him to the corner. Jey responded with a pop-up Neckbeaker and went for the cover but Riddle kicked out at two. Roman Reigns interfered and hit Riddle with a cheap shot. Jey capitalized with a Frog Splash and The Usos are the Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
After the match, The Bloodline attacked RK-Bro and beat them down. Roman set up Riddle on top of the announce table and Uso connected with a Splash as a bunch of distraught children in the crowd were shown. Roman choked Orton out until WWE officials broke it up. The Bloodline posed in the ring with their titles to close the show.
