What Happened Prior to SmackDown Going on the Air in London

Before WWE SmackDown went live from the O2 Arena in London on March 28, fans in attendance were treated to a high-octane dark match—and it brought two of the most respected tag teams in the game back into the spotlight.

In a rematch of their Royal Rumble showdown, DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) squared off against The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley). And this time, the win went to the veterans from Detroit.

The match wasn’t televised, but the crowd reaction said it all. The MCMG duo—known for their work in TNA/Impact Wrestling—picked up a huge victory, showing they’re still a major force in WWE’s stacked tag division.

The rivalry between DIY and the Machine Guns has been brewing since their hard-hitting 2-out-of-3 falls bout at the Royal Rumble, where the WWE Tag Team Titles were on the line. While DIY came out on top in that one, today’s dark match result shows the MCMG haven’t forgotten and aren’t going away quietly.

Meanwhile, tonight’s live SmackDown broadcast will feature more tag team drama, with the Street Profits set to defend the WWE Tag Team Titles against England’s own Pretty Deadly. Expect the O2 crowd to be loud for that one.

Also making his WWE debut on tonight’s show is new SmackDown ring announcer Mark Shunock, best known for his work with Top Rank Boxing on ESPN. He’ll now be using the name Mark Nash inside the WWE ring.

Which team do you want to see challenge for the tag titles next—DIY or the Motor City Machine Guns? Drop your picks in the comments and let us know who you’re riding with in the tag team division.