SmackDown Women's Champion, Charlotte Flair and Ruby Riott exchanged heated words ahead of WWE FastLane.
With their highly-anticipated SmackDown Women’s Championship Match at WWE Fastlane only five days away, Charlotte Flair and Ruby Riott met in the ring for a heated interview conducted by Dasha Fuentes.
Ever since The Riott Squad handed Flair one of the most vicious beatdowns of her career several weeks ago, the two Superstars have gone back and forth in a game of one-upmanship. The Queen has defeated Squad members Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, while Riott has taken down Charlotte’s friends, Becky Lynch and Naomi.
With so much on the line this Sunday, Charlotte and Ruby did not mince words ahead of their high-stakes showdown. Riott made it clear that she was aiming to destroy the “myth” of Charlotte Flair at WWE Fastlane, while The Queen confidently chirped back that she was every bit as good as advertised. Riott, determined to have the last word, looked Flair dead in the eyes and boldly declared that not only would she take Charlotte’s title, but she would be the reason her entire reality crumbled.
Morgan and Logan, who had been at ringside, climbed into the ring, and Flair appeared to be in a bit of trouble, but combat would have to wait until Sunday, as United States Champion Bobby Roode’s music hit, deescalating the situation between the two Superstars as The Glorious One prepared to do commentary for the next contest. (Via WWE.com)
Ever since The Riott Squad handed Flair one of the most vicious beatdowns of her career several weeks ago, the two Superstars have gone back and forth in a game of one-upmanship. The Queen has defeated Squad members Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan, while Riott has taken down Charlotte’s friends, Becky Lynch and Naomi.
With so much on the line this Sunday, Charlotte and Ruby did not mince words ahead of their high-stakes showdown. Riott made it clear that she was aiming to destroy the “myth” of Charlotte Flair at WWE Fastlane, while The Queen confidently chirped back that she was every bit as good as advertised. Riott, determined to have the last word, looked Flair dead in the eyes and boldly declared that not only would she take Charlotte’s title, but she would be the reason her entire reality crumbled.
Morgan and Logan, who had been at ringside, climbed into the ring, and Flair appeared to be in a bit of trouble, but combat would have to wait until Sunday, as United States Champion Bobby Roode’s music hit, deescalating the situation between the two Superstars as The Glorious One prepared to do commentary for the next contest. (Via WWE.com)
Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton.
With his first-ever clash against Randy Orton occurring at WWE Fastlane on Sunday, United States Champion Bobby Roode took his seat at ringside to scout The Viper from the announce desk. In Orton’s way, however, was the man who caused the initial rift between The Apex Predator and The Glorious One and the Superstar who thought he was being deprived of the United States Title opportunity this Sunday, Jinder Mahal.
The Viper and The Modern Day Maharaja rekindled their rivalry with a hard-hitting contest. Roode unwillingly became involved in the bout when Orton hurled Mahal right into the United States Champion at the announce table, knocking him to the floor.
Back in the ring moments later, Orton looked ready to strike and finish off The Modern Day Maharaja with an RKO, but an angry
Roode hopped onto the ring apron to take issue with Orton, allowing Mahal to shove The Viper into Roode before finishing him off with a ring-shaking Khallas for a statement win. (Via WWE.com)
The Viper and The Modern Day Maharaja rekindled their rivalry with a hard-hitting contest. Roode unwillingly became involved in the bout when Orton hurled Mahal right into the United States Champion at the announce table, knocking him to the floor.
Back in the ring moments later, Orton looked ready to strike and finish off The Modern Day Maharaja with an RKO, but an angry
Roode hopped onto the ring apron to take issue with Orton, allowing Mahal to shove The Viper into Roode before finishing him off with a ring-shaking Khallas for a statement win. (Via WWE.com)
Becky lynch defeated Carmella by Submission.
After she mocked Becky Lynch and Naomi during a Twitter Q&A with the WWE Universe last week, Carmella found herself squaring off one-on-one against a none-too-pleased Irish Lass Kicker on SmackDown LIVE.
Ms. Money in the Bank certainly began to regret some of her virtual words, as Lynch’s straight fire was on full display against The Princess of Staten Island. No amount of moonwalking or trash-talking could save the F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S Superstar, as Lynch cinched in the painful Dis-arm-her to claim the tapout victory. (Via WWE.com)
Ms. Money in the Bank certainly began to regret some of her virtual words, as Lynch’s straight fire was on full display against The Princess of Staten Island. No amount of moonwalking or trash-talking could save the F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S Superstar, as Lynch cinched in the painful Dis-arm-her to claim the tapout victory. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Champion, AJ Styles was interrupted by Dolph Ziggler.
Primed to put his WWE Championship on the line in a Six-Pack Challenge in just five days at WWE Fastlane, AJ Styles hit the scene on SmackDown LIVE, seemingly ready to remind the WWE Universe why SmackDown LIVE’s WrestleMania main event would still feature him defending the greatest prize in the industry against Shinsuke Nakamura. Styles gave Cena props for getting the best of him last week on SmackDown LIVE, but he made it clear that he didn’t want Cena involved in his monumental WrestleMania moment with The King of Strong Style. Styles seemed at peace with his message … but then the record scratched.
Yes, Dolph Ziggler arrived and proceeded to call Styles a “desperate man.” Styles poked fun at Ziggler for never having reached his full potential, despite being in WWE for 13 years. That led Ziggler down the wormhole of reflecting on his greatest hits and misses during his career, landing on the fact that he’s never had a singles match at WrestleMania, and winning the WWE Title in five days could, among other things, change that fact for him.
No longer looking to chat, Styles reminded Ziggler that they were scheduled to face off in a match tonight, and after this verbal joust, The Phenomenal One challenged The Showoff to throw down right then and there. Ziggler agreed and the match was on. (Via WWE.com)
Yes, Dolph Ziggler arrived and proceeded to call Styles a “desperate man.” Styles poked fun at Ziggler for never having reached his full potential, despite being in WWE for 13 years. That led Ziggler down the wormhole of reflecting on his greatest hits and misses during his career, landing on the fact that he’s never had a singles match at WrestleMania, and winning the WWE Title in five days could, among other things, change that fact for him.
No longer looking to chat, Styles reminded Ziggler that they were scheduled to face off in a match tonight, and after this verbal joust, The Phenomenal One challenged The Showoff to throw down right then and there. Ziggler agreed and the match was on. (Via WWE.com)
WWE Champion, AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler ended in a no contest after Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens attacked both men.
With adrenaline and animosity now flowing through their veins, WWE Champion AJ Styles and Dolph Ziggler squared off on SmackDown LIVE.
The two Superstars dazzled the WWE Universe with an awe-inspiring display of athleticism and competitiveness.
At the contest’s most critical moment, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn ran down to the ring and tried to get the jump on Styles and Ziggler, leading to the match being thrown out by the official. The “Yep!” Movement’s plan was also thwarted when The Phenomenal One & The Showoff put their differences aside and worked together to clear the ring of the meddlesome duo.
The chaos prompted the arrival of SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon, who was flabbergasted with KO & Sami. Shane-O-Mac toyed with the idea of putting together a conventional tag team match, pitting Styles & Ziggler against Owens & Zayn, but he instead opted for a more unique path: A Fatal 5-Way Match between the four men involved in the melee and Baron Corbin. Oh, and that match? Yep, it would be next! (Via WWE.com)
The two Superstars dazzled the WWE Universe with an awe-inspiring display of athleticism and competitiveness.
At the contest’s most critical moment, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn ran down to the ring and tried to get the jump on Styles and Ziggler, leading to the match being thrown out by the official. The “Yep!” Movement’s plan was also thwarted when The Phenomenal One & The Showoff put their differences aside and worked together to clear the ring of the meddlesome duo.
The chaos prompted the arrival of SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon, who was flabbergasted with KO & Sami. Shane-O-Mac toyed with the idea of putting together a conventional tag team match, pitting Styles & Ziggler against Owens & Zayn, but he instead opted for a more unique path: A Fatal 5-Way Match between the four men involved in the melee and Baron Corbin. Oh, and that match? Yep, it would be next! (Via WWE.com)
Sami Zayn defeated Kevin Owens, WWE Champion, AJ Styles, Dolph Ziggler & Baron Corbin.
With AJ Styles and Dolph Ziggler already having gone through a hellacious one-on-one contest, five of the six Superstars in Sunday’s WWE Title Match collided in this impromptu main event on SmackDown LIVE.
In a preview of the thrilling action to come on Sunday, anarchy ruled the night, as all five Superstars went to great lengths to seize a monumental win en route to WWE Fastlane.
After a flurry of activity that resembled a Nor’easter snowstorm, Sami Zayn connected flush onto his best friend (maybe “best friend”?) Kevin Owens with a jaw-jacking Helluva Kick to claim the monumental win before the WWE Title Six-Pack Challenge Match at WWE Fastlane.
Owens was in disbelief after the match, but Zayn had a very concise reason for his actions: to prove he was the absolute best on SmackDown LIVE. (Via WWE.com)
In a preview of the thrilling action to come on Sunday, anarchy ruled the night, as all five Superstars went to great lengths to seize a monumental win en route to WWE Fastlane.
After a flurry of activity that resembled a Nor’easter snowstorm, Sami Zayn connected flush onto his best friend (maybe “best friend”?) Kevin Owens with a jaw-jacking Helluva Kick to claim the monumental win before the WWE Title Six-Pack Challenge Match at WWE Fastlane.
Owens was in disbelief after the match, but Zayn had a very concise reason for his actions: to prove he was the absolute best on SmackDown LIVE. (Via WWE.com)
Drew Gulak defeated Mark Andrews by submission. (ROUND TWO OF THE WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT)
Following a shocking victory against former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Akira Tozawa in the first round of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, Welsh Superstar Mark Andrews set his sights on Drew Gulak. However, Gulak’s newfound aggression was on full display when he decimated his friend and frequent tag team partner Tony Nese in the first round.
Gulak wasted no time showing off his aggressive style, using his size advantage to take control early in the contest. However, the high-fiving and stage-diving Andrews leveraged Gulak’s advances with agility and fast-paced strikes.
Andrews struggled to find an answer for Gulak’s technical prowess, and any attempts to mount an offense were met with powerful counters. Still, Andrews pressed forward and gained control of the bout by taking down Gulak with a moonsault off the announce table.
Andrews unleashed a series of strikes and a jaw-dropping hurricanrana from the top rope that sent Gulak from the ring apron to the arena floor. Not backing down, Andrews dropped Gulak with a moonsault to the outside before nearly scoring the pinfall with an innovative crucifix slam.
Taking to the skies once more, Andrews set his sights on finishing the battle. However, Gulak clotheslines his opponent out of mid-air. Despite a series of clotheslines from Gulak, Andrews recovered with the Stundog Millionaire before taking to the air once more with a Shooting Star Press. Unfortunately for the Welsh competitor, Gulak countered the high-risk move before applying the excruciating Dragon Sleeper for the tapout win. The irate Gulak, however, refused to release the hold, forcing the official to intervene. (Via WWE.com)
Gulak wasted no time showing off his aggressive style, using his size advantage to take control early in the contest. However, the high-fiving and stage-diving Andrews leveraged Gulak’s advances with agility and fast-paced strikes.
Andrews struggled to find an answer for Gulak’s technical prowess, and any attempts to mount an offense were met with powerful counters. Still, Andrews pressed forward and gained control of the bout by taking down Gulak with a moonsault off the announce table.
Andrews unleashed a series of strikes and a jaw-dropping hurricanrana from the top rope that sent Gulak from the ring apron to the arena floor. Not backing down, Andrews dropped Gulak with a moonsault to the outside before nearly scoring the pinfall with an innovative crucifix slam.
Taking to the skies once more, Andrews set his sights on finishing the battle. However, Gulak clotheslines his opponent out of mid-air. Despite a series of clotheslines from Gulak, Andrews recovered with the Stundog Millionaire before taking to the air once more with a Shooting Star Press. Unfortunately for the Welsh competitor, Gulak countered the high-risk move before applying the excruciating Dragon Sleeper for the tapout win. The irate Gulak, however, refused to release the hold, forcing the official to intervene. (Via WWE.com)
Hideo Itami & Akira Tozawa defeated Nemeth Alexander & Scott James.
Encouraged to team up by WWE 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick, Hideo Itami and former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Akira Tozawa – both eliminated from the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament in the first round – did just that, forging a hard-hitting tag team against local competitors Nemeth Alexander and Scott James.
Tozawa and Itami proved relentless, using their respective hard-hitting styles to keep their opponents on the defensive throughout the bout. The Japanese duo proved to be on the same wavelength and displayed incredible teamwork that resulted in Tozawa scoring a pinfall with his patented Senton. (Via WWE.com)
Tozawa and Itami proved relentless, using their respective hard-hitting styles to keep their opponents on the defensive throughout the bout. The Japanese duo proved to be on the same wavelength and displayed incredible teamwork that resulted in Tozawa scoring a pinfall with his patented Senton. (Via WWE.com)
MUSTAFA ALI DEFEATED BUDDY Murphy. (ROUND TWO OF THE WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT)
In the first round of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, NXT Superstar Buddy Murphy impressed in his first cruiserweight contest against Ariya Daivari. Despite Mustafa Ali claiming victory against Gentleman Jack Gallagher, the British Superstar inflicted an extraordinary amount of punishment on the Chicago native. Showing his dedication and conditioning, Murphy weighed in at 197 pounds before his battle with Ali.
Brimming with confidence, Murphy used his size and strength advantage to force Ali to recalibrate his strategy. Growing frustrated with the Australian Superstar, Ali attempted to outmaneuver his opponent, but continued to struggle against Murphy’s speed and physical advantage.
Fed up with Murphy’s taunting, Ali delivered a hard-hitting kick to the face before the two exchanged harsh words in the center of the ring. As the jawing continued, Murphy responded with a massive clothesline, allowing him to take control of the contest and start to methodically dismantle Ali.
However, if the Chicago native proved anything against Gentleman Jack Gallagher, it’s that he is incredibly resilient. Keeping Murphy at bay, Ali turned the table with an incredible 450 Splash onto his opponent’s arm. Wasting little time, Ali capitalized by targeting Murphy’s arm.
Regaining control by dropping Ali to the outside, Murphy battled through the pain to sail over the top rope. Despite the advantage, Murphy could not secure a victory, and Ali struck back, nearly claiming the win following a reverse hurricanrana and a tornado DDT.
As Ali dished out punishment, a defiant Daredevil from Down Under called for more, and the two exchanged blows. Unfortunately for Murphy, his injured arm became a major detriment, as he couldn’t execute Murphy’s Law or maintain a pin. Taking advantage of the injury, Ali rolled up his opponent and scored the victory to advance to the semifinals. (Via WWE.com)
Brimming with confidence, Murphy used his size and strength advantage to force Ali to recalibrate his strategy. Growing frustrated with the Australian Superstar, Ali attempted to outmaneuver his opponent, but continued to struggle against Murphy’s speed and physical advantage.
Fed up with Murphy’s taunting, Ali delivered a hard-hitting kick to the face before the two exchanged harsh words in the center of the ring. As the jawing continued, Murphy responded with a massive clothesline, allowing him to take control of the contest and start to methodically dismantle Ali.
However, if the Chicago native proved anything against Gentleman Jack Gallagher, it’s that he is incredibly resilient. Keeping Murphy at bay, Ali turned the table with an incredible 450 Splash onto his opponent’s arm. Wasting little time, Ali capitalized by targeting Murphy’s arm.
Regaining control by dropping Ali to the outside, Murphy battled through the pain to sail over the top rope. Despite the advantage, Murphy could not secure a victory, and Ali struck back, nearly claiming the win following a reverse hurricanrana and a tornado DDT.
As Ali dished out punishment, a defiant Daredevil from Down Under called for more, and the two exchanged blows. Unfortunately for Murphy, his injured arm became a major detriment, as he couldn’t execute Murphy’s Law or maintain a pin. Taking advantage of the injury, Ali rolled up his opponent and scored the victory to advance to the semifinals. (Via WWE.com)
Cedric Alexander and Roderick Strong to battle in tournament semifinal.
For the final four Superstars in the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament, the opportunity to compete on The Grandest Stage of Them All is but one victory away. Next week on WWE 205 Live, the first semifinal contest will feature Cedric Alexander against NXT Superstar Roderick Strong.
The stakes are higher than ever for both Superstars. Strong seized the opportunity to compete in the tournament, defeating Hideo Itami and former Cruiserweight Champion Kalisto to advance to the finals. Additionally, Strong has managed to compete on both WWE 205 Live and WWE NXT without skipping a beat, showing off his incredible endurance and versatility inside the ring.
Cedric Alexander is no stranger to the WWE Cruiserweight Championship being within reach. Before the title was held in abeyance, Alexander was scheduled to challenge for the title at Royal Rumble. Despite the change of plans, Alexander has remained laser-focused on his goal, and he defeated Gran Metalik and the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion TJP to advance to the semifinals. (Via WWE.com)
The stakes are higher than ever for both Superstars. Strong seized the opportunity to compete in the tournament, defeating Hideo Itami and former Cruiserweight Champion Kalisto to advance to the finals. Additionally, Strong has managed to compete on both WWE 205 Live and WWE NXT without skipping a beat, showing off his incredible endurance and versatility inside the ring.
Cedric Alexander is no stranger to the WWE Cruiserweight Championship being within reach. Before the title was held in abeyance, Alexander was scheduled to challenge for the title at Royal Rumble. Despite the change of plans, Alexander has remained laser-focused on his goal, and he defeated Gran Metalik and the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Champion TJP to advance to the semifinals. (Via WWE.com)