Welcome to the final stop-gap before the highly-anticipated Survivor Series!

Tonight’s show is set to feature two Championship matches that could alter the landscape of Survivor Series. Charlotte Flair returns to her hometown to challenge Natalya for the Women’s Championship. Should Charlotte score a victory and win the Women’s Championship, she will suddenly have to face Alexa Bliss on Sunday night. The other match sees Baron Corbin defend his US Championship against Sin Cara, with the winner moving on to face The Miz at Survivor Series. It seems unlikely that Sin Cara will win because The Miz has done a lot of work to build the match with Corbin and make it even remotely interesting. Let us know if you think either title will change hands tonight.

Also on SmackDown Live tonight, The New Day will face Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The New Day has a massive match coming this Sunday night against The Shield but tonight they must pass the test of Owens and Zayn. The latter two have been under much scrutiny as of late, seeing as they were sent home early from the European tour and there was much speculation as to why. Not to mention, The Shield are highly likely to appear on tonight’s show and either attack The New Day, or cost them their match.

Team Raw is expected to invade SmackDown Live tonight, a mere 5 days before Survivor Series. Kurt Angle’s job is very much at stake, so he is liable to launch an all-out attack tonight against Shane McMahon. Daniel Bryan also returns to SmackDown tonight, after being attacked by Kane on Raw a few weeks back. What will the General Manager and the Commissioner have to say before the showdown on Sunday, or will they even get a chance to speak? It’s all hands-on-deck tonight!

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That’s the preview for tonight’s SmackDown Live. Remember to download the Ringside Talk app and let us know your thoughts and what you’re excited to see before Survivor Series. Enjoy the show!

SmackDown Live opens with Shane McMahon addressing the SmackDown roster backstage. He warns that tonight may be the night that RAW finally retaliates but they’re ready. Shane says after this Sunday, Smackdown will be known as the dominant brand and they will no longer be the “B” show and instead “the” show. Becky Lynch grabs a mic and says she will be the first person to pin Asuka. Then Baron Corbin talks about The Miz, saying this Sunday will be his End of Days. Shane grabs the mic again and talks about Triple H inserting himself onto Team RAW last night, but how they went out and acquired John Cena for Team SmackDown, going overboard. We also hear from The New Day where they talk about accepting the challenge from The Shield, then they lead the roster in a “SmackDown Rocks” chant.


We go live to the arena in Charlotte and out comes the General Manager, Daniel Bryan.  The fans in NC love Bryan. Daniel says it’s great to be back on SmackDown Live. Bryan said he’s lucky to be standing here after getting attacked by Kane and admits it was his fault trying to make peace. He says SmackDown doesn’t back down and doesn’t stay down. Bryan accuses RAW of being afraid by adding Triple H to Team RAW. He knows how vindictive Stephanie McMahon can be and thinks tonight is a good night for a counter-attack. “We are not afraid and we will be ready. And that is why I bleed team blue.” Bryan talks about things changing around here including John Cena joining Team SmackDown. He also would like to introduce the new WWE Champion: AJ Styles!

The newly crowned WWE Champion AJ Styles heads to the ring. Bryan brings up how the “Champion of the Universe” over on RAW has his own personal advocate. He asks Styles if he wants his own just for tonight. Styles agrees. Bryan begins to do the Paul Heyman introduction for AJ Styles. He talks about the things Heyman mentioned last night and how he thinks just because Brock is bigger that he has the advantage. Bryan says Lesnar has a pattern of quitting including deciding to quit WWE and quitting to a “half-assed kneebar” in the UFC. He says Styles will push Lesnar into deep waters. Bryan says when you are that big you can last for about 10 minutes in the deep water. “Brock Lesnar will mentally quit.” He says Lesnar can’t go all night long and can’t keep up with the Phenomenal One. Bryan has one reason to watch Survivor Series: to watch a 6 foot, 280lb man get mentally broken by the best in-ring performer of our generation, AJ Styles!


Styles takes the mic and says unlike Lesnar he isn’t a puppet, he can speak. He says fatigue makes losers of us all. He does agree with Heyman though, he is the underdog, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Styles says this isn’t a Rocky movie and instead an AJ Styles Production. He promises to find a way to beat Brock Lesnar and will prove that Smackdown Live is the house that AJ Styles built.

Later tonight, Charlotte Vs. Natalya, but up next, Baron Corbin Vs. Sin Cara.

*Commercial Break*

We return to see AJ Styles walking backstage. Styles is approached by Jinder Mahal, who says that after Lesnar rips him limb from limb, he plans on beating him to once again become the WWE Champion. Styles snickers and walks off.

Sin Cara is out first to a lukewarm reaction, followed by the Champion Baron Corbin, whose music has really grown on me. We get in-ring introductions for both men.

WWE United States Championship Match

(C) Baron Corbin Vs. Sin Cara

The bell rings and both men lock-up but Cara breaks-free, hits the ropes and catches Corbin with a headscissors takedown. Cara lands some kicks to Corbin, then hits a dropkick that sends the Champion from the ring. Corbin kicks the barricade in anger as we head to a break.

*Commercial Break*

Back live, Corbin clotheslines Sin Cara in the corner and then throws him down face first over the mat. Sin Cara with a springboard elbow and clotheslines Corbin over the top rope. Sin Cara connects with a suicide dive through the ropes to the outside. Back inside, Sin Cara with a close roll up for a two count. Springboard cross body by Sin Cara for another two count.


Corbin connects with Deep Six on Sin Cara for a two count. Sin Cara pulls down the top rope to dump Corbin to the outside. Sin Cara connects with a moonsault off the top turnbuckle to Corbin on the outside! Sin Cara tosses Corbin back in. Sin Cara is looking to setup a swanton bomb, but Corbin hops up, catches him and hits End of Days for the win.

Winner: Baron Corbin

Corbin celebrates with his US Title after the match and Corey Graves says The Miz is somewhere shaking in his boots.

Later tonight, The New Day will face Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. Up next however, we take an in-depth look at the five-on-five men’s elimination match at Survivor Series.

*Commercial Break*

A video package runs showing SmackDown invading RAW several weeks ago, then Bryan being Chokeslammed. The recap also features Triple H announcing himself as a member of Team RAW for this Sunday at Survivor Series.

Backstage, Shane McMahon welcomes Daniel Bryan back to the show. Bryan says they need to have a talk on Sunday regarding cohesion. Shane asks why and Bryan says it’s because Shane didn’t consult him about the invasion of Raw and it ended with him on a stretcher. Bryan interrupts Shane’s apology and says he will see him on Sunday.

Hometown gal Charlotte Flair makes her way to the ring as we prepare for the Women’s Championship match.


*Commercial Break*

We return and out comes the Champion, Natalya. We get in-ring introductions for both women before the bell rings.

WWE Women’s Championship Match

(C) Natalya Vs. Charlotte

Charlotte with an early cover attempt on Natalya. Natalya responds with a big right that drops Charlotte. They brawl to the outside and Charlotte sends Natalya into the ring barricade. Back inside, Charlotte gets a two count. Charlotte with a big boot that sends Natalya to the outside. Charlotte is fired up as we head to the break.

*Commercial Break*

Back live, Natalya has Charlotte in a surfboard submission. Charlotte breaks free and throws a big chop at Natalya. More chops by Charlotte. Natalya with her discus clothesline to respond. Charlotte catches Natalya with a big spear. Natalya avoids a Figure Four attempt and dumps Charlotte to the corner. Charlotte with an overhead suplex to Natalya near the corner. Charlotte kicks Natalya from the ring apron.


Charlotte gets up on the ring barricade, but Natalya gets her on her shoulders and drops her against the steel ring post with a thud. Back inside, Natalya gets the Sharpshooter applied. Charlotte reaches and Natalya pulls her back out. Charlotte cries in pain and reaches finally getting the ropes. Natalya throws lefts and rights over Charlotte. Charlotte dumps Natalya out of the ring. Charlotte with a big boot as Natalya slides back in. Charlotte gets the Figure Four locked on and bridges up into the Figure Eight. Natalya taps out. We have a new champion.

Winner and New WWE Women’s Champion: Charlotte Flair

After the match Renee Young enters the ring to interview Charlotte. She asks her how she feels knowing she has changed Survivor Series and that she will face Alexa Bliss. Charlotte takes a second to get her breath back, then says ever since she moved to SmackDown Live, all she has wanted is the Women’s Championship. She worked towards it everyday and it means so much winning it in her hometown, and the crowd chant “you deserve it”. She then says she will go to SmackDown Live and make Alexa Bliss bow down to the Queen, because before there was a Goddess of Raw there was the Queen. Finally, she mentions that Ric Flair has had some health problems as of late and can’t be here but that this victory was for him. She woo’s and walks off as the crowd cheer. As Charlotte walks up the ramp Ric’s music hits and out comes the Nature Boy to celebrate with a genuinely surprised Charlotte. A great moment.


We see The Uso’s making their way to the ring, where Jimmy will face Chad Gable after the break.

*Commercial Break*

Another video package featuring The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) airs. The video ends saying they will be arriving next week.

The Uso’s make their way to the ring and say they have the SmackDown tag division on lockdown. This Sunday they face The Bar, and they say they have the kryptonite for the Swiss Superman and that Sheamus does indeed look stupid.

Jimmy Uso Vs. Chad Gable

The bell rings and Jimmy throws quick rights early. Jimmy catches Gable with another big right that drops him. Gable rolls to the outside. Jimmy jumps out, throws a headbutt and tosses Gable back inside. Shelton Benjamin tries to distract Jimmy. Gable with an ankle takedown and stomps away at Jimmy in the corner.

*Commercial Break*


Back live, Gable connects with Jimmy in the corner. Gable goes up top, attempts a moonsault, Jimmy moves and Gable lands on his feet. Jimmy kicks away at the knee of Gable to take him off his feet. Jimmy with clotheslines, superkick and uppercut combo. Jimmy connects with a Samoan drop on Gable.

Jimmy splashes Gable in the head in the corner and gets a close two count. Gable catches Jimmy with a somersault flip and then sends Jimmy face first into the second rope. Jey with a shot to Benjamin. This distracts Gable allowing Jimmy to connect with a superkick on Gable to pick up the pinfall.

Winner: Jimmy Uso

After the match the commentators talk Survivor Series and NXT War Games.

*Commercial Break*

Backstage, Sami Zayn complains to Kevin Owens how they aren’t even involved with Survivor Series this Sunday. Owens blames Shane McMahon and says they should be the ones to face The Shield instead.

Before the match, New Day cut a promo about The Shield. Kofi wonders why anyone would want to refer to themselves as dogs as dogs eat their own poop. Big E says Shield have over 13 title reigns between them and that a lot but they have more, mostly because of Kofi. Big E says they haven’t betrayed each other like The Shield has in the past and that makes them stronger. They are the only team that hasn’t turned on one and other and that’s because New Day Rocks.


*Commercial Break*

The New Day Vs. Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens

We start with Xavier Woods and Sami Zayn. Kofi Kingston is on the outside tonight. Woods with a head scissors takedown early on Sami. Tag to Big E who stomps away. Tag back to Woods who stomps. Tag back to Big E who continues the stomps. Woods gets the tag and is launched into Sami in the corner after Big E taunts at Owens.

Tag to Owens who works over Woods in the corner. Woods with a drop toe hold to Owens and follows it up with a big dropkick to the back of Owens. Tag to Big E who spears Owens in the corner and eats a clothesline from Woods on his way out. Quick tag back to Woods who is tossed down over Owens with help from Big E. Woods levels Sami when he jumps in the ring. Owens trips up Woods and pulls him out of the ring. Owens with a senton over Woods on the floor.

*Commercial Break*

Back live, Owens has the tag and keeps Woods grounded preventing a tag out. Owens with a DDT to cut off Woods again. Sami tags himself in and throws rights at the ribs of Woods. Hot tag to Big E who launches Sami over his head with repeated overhead suplexes. Big E with a belly to belly catching Sami coming off the ropes. Big E with a splash over Sami.

Big E tosses Owens out of the ring. Woods flips over the top rope catching Owens. The Shield’s music hits! Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are in the crowd. Kofi Kingston jumps in the ring and New Day stare down The Shield. Owens and Zayn stop going after New Day and stand with them inside the ring. The Shield jumps the ring barricade and get up on the ring apron. Owens and Zayn bail and the crowd laugh. The Shield jumps in and attacks New Day.

No Contest


The Usos hit the ring. Shield goes after them. Sheamus and Cesaro are in the house and go after The Usos and New Day. We see the women’s Team RAW running into the Smackdown women’s locker room area and starting a big brawl. Alexa Bliss takes out Charlotte.

Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Titus O’Neil and Apollo Crews now hit the ring. Shane and the SmackDown roster run down and slide inside the ring. A huge brawl is breaking out. We see Kurt Angle walk out on the stage and he calls out Braun Strowman!


Strowman stomps to the ring, booting Mojo Rawley and others on his way there. He clears out an Uso, then Shane goes after Strowman and gets levelled. We see Kurt Angle smiling at ringside. The Shield wraps up Shane against the ropes and make him watch the SmackDown roster getting beat up by members of RAW at ringside.

The Shield has Shane down and held back as Angle gets inside the ring. Angle gets in Shane’s face asking him how it feels. Angle backs up and puts his thumbs down. The Shield give Shane the Triple Powerbomb, then Angle stands over him. Angle then directs his Hounds to pick Shane up and proceeds to hit him with an Angle Slam. Braun Strowman is back in the ring and The Shield hit Shane with one more Triple Powerbomb before leaving. The Raw roster stands on the stage, observing their handiwork as SmackDown goes off the air.


That’s it for this week’s SmackDown Live, remember to jump over to our 205 Live results. I will see you back here on Saturday night for NXT War Games. Until then, safe travels.

Curtis Dillion

Curtis does our weekly live match-by-match coverage of WWE RAW and SmackDown for Ringside News. In addition to SmackDown, Curtis also does WWE & NXT special event coverage as well. He has been helping out at for Ringside News for many years.

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