Posted in SmackDown

WWE SmackDown Live Results – March 20, 2018

   March 20, 2018

WWE SmackDown Live
March 20, 2018
American Airlines Center
Dallas, Texas

You can follow us on Twitter @PWTranscripts 

Transcription by Josh Lopez

Daniel Bryan In-Ring Segment: 

Thank you guys very much. Something horrific happened to Shane McMahon last week, but the two people Bryan needs to talk to are not here yet. With that said, Bryan is going to talk about something else. A little over two years ago, when he was forced to retire, it was one of the hardest days of his life. He focused on one thing, being grateful. There were times when he was depressed and angry for not being able to do what he loves the most. Bryan has a lot to be grateful for. A great family, friends, the best fans in the world, and an amazing wife. Brie said that it’s one thing to be grateful, but Bryan needed to achieve his dreams.

There was a time when he wanted to quit, but instead of walking out, she told him you don’t walk out. You fight for your dreams and if you fight for your dreams, your dreams fight for you. Over the last two months, Bryan asked WWE to re-look at his case. They sent him to the best neurologists all over the country. Every doctor has said the same thing. Bryan is officially cleared. There was a time when being cleared to compete in a WWE ring seemed impossible, but it’s real.

Bryan thanks the WWE and its doctors for looking out for his best interest as a person not the wrestler. He’s thankful for them giving him a second look. Bryan thanks the WWE Universe for their continued support over the last two years. Lastly, Bryan is internally grateful for Brie. Now, on to the fun stuff. Bryan doesn’t know when or where he’ll return to in-ring competition. The Dallas crowds points at the WrestleMania sign. Sounds like a good idea right? Will Daniel Bryan compete in a WWE ring? Bryan conducts a long YES! chant to end the segment. 

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/976252083346132992

First Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev w/Aiden English 

AJ Styles is watching the match from the ringside area. Test of strength. Rusev applies a wrist lock. Nakamura reverses the hold. Rusev with a side headlock takeover to Nakamura. Nakamura responds with a head scissors escape. This leads us to a standoff in the center of the ring. Nakamura kicks Rusev in the gut. Nakamura ducks a clothesline from Rusev. Nakamura tells Rusev to bring it. Nakamura drives his knee into the midsection of Rusev. Nakamura and Rusev are trading back and forth kicks/forearm smashes. Rusev throws Nakamura back first to the turnbuckles. Rusev attacks the quads of Nakamura. Rusev with a Spinning Heel Kick for a two count.

Rusev kicks Nakamura in the gut. Rusev follows that with a short-arm clothesline. Rusev repeatedly drives his elbow to the chest of Nakamura. Rusev kicks Nakamura in the back. Nakamura fires back with more forearms. Rusev drops Nakamura with a back elbow smash. Rusev applies a rear chin lock. Nakamura gets back to a vertical base. Nakamura creates distance with a Jaw Breaker. Rusev kicks Nakamura in the face. Rusev with a series of running elbow drops for a two count. Rusev is mauling Nakamura on the middle rope. Rusev with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Rusev goes back to the rear chin lock.

Coming out of the commercial break, Nakamura delivers multiple bodyshots. Nakamura rocks Rusev with a Running Knee Strike. Nakamura follows that with Buzzsaw Kicks. Nakamura connects with Good Vibrations. Nakamura drives his knee into the ribs of Rusev. Nakamura goes for The Kinshasa, but Rusev blocks it. Nakamura slides under Rusev. Rusev drops Nakamura with a Leg Lariat for a two count. Nakamura dodges the Machka Kick from Rusev. Nakamura floats over into the Cross Arm Breaker. Rusev rolls Nakamura over for a two count. Nakamura turns him over to pickup the victory. After the match, Rusev and Aiden English are beating down Nakamura. Nakamura clears the ring before AJ Styles can make the save.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura via Pinfall 

Second Match: Baron Corbin vs. Tye Dillinger 

Dillinger applies a waist lock. Corbin backs Dillinger into the turnbuckles. Dillinger applies a side headlock. Dillinger transitions into a Cravate. Dillinger delivers a Running Forearm Smash. Dillinger dodges a Big Boot from Corbin. Dillinger with a knife edge chop. Corbin responds with a big haymaker. Corbin launches Dillinger to the corner. Corbin goes for a Lariat, but Dillinger counters with a Bicycle Kick.

Dillinger clotheslines Corbin over the top rope. Corbin catches Dillinger in mid-air. Corbin goes for the ChokeSlam BackBreaker, but Dillinger lands back on his feet. Dillinger thrust kicks the midsection of Corbin. Dillinger rolls Corbin back into the ring. Dillinger negates The End Of Days from Corbin. Corbin throws Dillinger out of the ring. Corbin bounces Dillinger head on the ring apron. Corbin plants Dillinger with The End of Days to pickup the victory.

Winner: Baron Corbin via Pinfall 

Third Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya 

Charlotte woos at Natalya. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Natalya applies a wrist lock. Charlotte delivers a deep arm-drag. Back to the collar and elbow tie up. Charlotte applies a wrist lock. Natalya reverses the hold. Natalya with a double leg takedown to Charlotte. Charlotte floats over into a front facelock. Natalya transitions into a hammer lock. Natalya rolls Charlotte over for a two count. Charlotte with a waist lock takedown for a two count. Charlotte goes back to the front facelock.

Charlotte PowerSlams Natalya for a two count. Natalya with a clubbing blow to the back of Charlotte. Charlotte with a Bridging Jack Knife Cover for a two count. Charlotte applies a Cravate. Charlotte connects with a series of Leg Scissors TakeOvers for a two count. Natalya kicks Charlotte in the gut. Natalya talks smack to Charlotte. Charlotte rams her shoulders into the midsection of Natalya. Charlotte hits the Hangman’s NeckBreaker. Charlotte follows that with a Big Boot. Natalya rolls herself out of the ring.

Coming out of the commercial break, Natalya has Charlotte trapped in the Abdominal Stretch. Natalya goes for the backslide, but Charlotte lands back on her feet. Charlotte decks Natalya with a Basement Dropkick. Natalya responds with a Back Elbow Smash. Natalya avoids a SlingShot Knee Drop from Charlotte. Natalya whips Charlotte’s head across the top turnbuckle pad. Natalya repeatedly stomps on Charlotte’s chest in the corner. Natalya goes for a Running Basement Dropkick, but Charlotte counters with a Lariat. Charlotte with a series of knife edge chops to Natalya. Charlotte connects with an Exploder Suplex.

Natalya drives Charlotte face first to the bottom turnbuckle. Natalya goes for a Discus Lariat, but Charlotte counters with a Big Boot. Charlotte with a Back Breaker/FlatLiner Combination. Natalya trips Charlotte on the top turnbuckle. Natalya with a SitOut PowerBomb for a two count. Natalya locks in the Sharpshooter. Charlotte crawls to the bottom rope to create separation. Natalya slingshots Charlotte neck first to the middle rope. Natalya drops Charlotte with The Discus Lariat for a two count.

Charlotte responds with an inside cradle for a two count. Natalya kicks Charlotte out of the ring. Charlotte Spears Natalya on the floor. Charlotte rolls Natalya back into the ring. Charlotte applies the Figure Four Leg Lock. Charlotte and Natalya are trading back and forth slaps. Charlotte tumbles to the outside. Natalya connects with a SuperPlex. Carmella storms to the ringside area with the Money in the Bank Briefcase. Charlotte drops Carmella with a Big Boot. Natalya rolls Charlotte over to pickup the victory.

Winner: Natalya via Pinfall 

The Usos Promo: 

Fourth Match: Jimmy Uso w/Jey Uso vs. Luke Harper w/Erick Rowan 

Harper chases Jimmy around the ringside area. Jimmy knocks Harper off the ring apron. Jimmy goes for a Suicide Dive, but Harper counters with a double throat thrust. Harper throws Jimmy out of the ring. Harper delivers a knife edge chop. Harper follows that with a uppercut. Harper rips off Jimmy’s shirt. Harper is mauling Jimmy in the corner. Harper lights up Jimmy’s chest with more knife edge chops. Jimmy fires back with a chop/forearm combination. Harper slaps Jimmy in the face. Harper runs through Jimmy with a Back Elbow Strike.

Jimmy side steps Harper out of the ring. Jimmy drop toe holds Harper to the LED Board. Jimmy is distracted by Rowan. Jimmy knocks Rowan off the ring apron. Jimmy decks Harper with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Jimmy SuperKicks Harper for a two count. Jimmy goes for the Running Stinkface, but Harper counters with a SuperKick. Jimmy creates distance with a Big Boot. Harper has Jimmy perched on the top turnbuckle. Harper bounces Jimmy’s head on the steel ring post. Harper connects with The Discus Lariat to pickup the victory.

Winner: Luke Harper via Pinfall 

Jinder Mahal, Bobby Roode, and Randy Orton In-Ring Segment: 

The members in the WWE Universe booing Jinder Mahal are hypocrites.  He has sacrificed everything to be on the grandest stage. Jinder doesn’t have to be here.  He could be vacationing anywhere.  He could be the biggest star in Bollywood. Jinder restored glory into the WWE Championship. He made Smackdown the premiere show.  Yet the WWE Universe continues to shower him with their jealousy. 

They should be worshiping the ground he walks on. They claim to be open minded and look for change, but the WWE Universe just wants the status quo with Randy Orton and Bobby Roode. Roode says that Jinder is the only hypocrite. Respect is a two way street.  As a matter of fact, the only thing Jinder deserves at WrestleMania is a beatdown from Roode. When Roode becomes the United States Champion it will be absolutely glorious.

Randy Orton joins the conversation. Will Jinder shut the hell up?  Jinder is not one of the greatest champions of all time. The WWE Universe hates Jinder because without the help his little stooge, he absolutely sucks. Jinder shoves Sunil into Orton. Orton drops Sunil with a IEDDT. Roode follows that with a Glorious DDT. Orton goes for the RKO, but Roode blocks it. 

Fifth Match: Becky Lynch & Naomi vs. The Riott Squad w/Ruby Riott 

Naomi and Sarah Logan will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Logan drives Naomi back first into the turnbuckles. Logan tags in Morgan. Naomi is trying to negate the tandem offense from The Riott Squad. Naomi clocks Morgan with a Leg Lariat for a two count. Naomi tags in Becky. Stereo Hip Tosses from Becky and Naomi. Becky delivers a Spinning Heel Kick. Becky follows that with a uppercut. Morgan backs herself in between the ropes. Morgan sends Becky crashing into the turnbuckles.

The Riott Squad are cutting the ring in half. Following a snap mare takeover, Logan connects with a Running Double Knee Strike. Logan applies a rear chin lock. Becky gets back to a vertical base. Becky creates distance with a deep arm-drag. Logan responds with a SpineBuster. Becky throws Logan out of the ring. Logan knocks Naomi off the ring apron. Logan goes for a Saito Suplex, but Becky counters with a Side HeadLock TakeOver. Naomi drops Morgan with The Rear View. Becky locks in the Dis-Arm-Her which forces Logan to tap out.

Winner: Becky Lynch & Naomi via Submission 

Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn In-Ring Segment: 

This has been a big night for Daniel Bryan, but there’s one more thing to address. Bryan calls out Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. They are so thrilled for Bryan. They weren’t going to come tonight, but they got the news everyone has been waiting for. Daniel Bryan has been cleared for in ring competition. Owens and Zayn had a run in with Walker, Texas Ranger. They got out of the ticket because everyone is dumber in Texas. Bryan has been their biggest supporters since day one. No one understood them like Bryan. When everyone was jealous of their success, he was fair. This is a classic case of good things happening to good people.

You talk about A show versus B show. Any show with a roster that has Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Daniel Bryan is the dream show. Bryan appreciates the kind words, but that’s not why he brought them out here. We get a recap of Owens and Zayn’s vicious attack on Shane McMahon. Owens is man enough to say that they went too far. At the same time, Shane deserved it. Bryan is perturbed by their enthusiasm. This is a big deal. Owens and Zayn are two of the best performers in this generation.

When Shane McMahon said that Bryan was living vicariously through them, it was the truth. They’ve known each other for fifteen years. That was more than getting carried away. Owens and Zayn assaulted their boss. Shane admitted that he was wrong. He gave them  a singles match on the grandest stage of them all. Shane was leaving to get out of their way. Bryan has been fired by this company twice and he came back a better man.

Bryan proceeds to fire Owens and Zayn. This doesn’t mean that they’re gone forever. Bryan shakes hands with Owens and Zayn. Owens drops Bryan with a Big Haymaker. Zayn transitions into a ground and pound attack. Bryan fires back with a series of corner dropkicks. Bryan connects with a Dragon Suplex. Bryan follows that with YES! Kicks to Owens. Zayn attacks Bryan from behind. Owens SuperKicks Bryan. Zayn lands a Helluva Kick. Zayn throws Bryan out of the ring. Owens PowerBombs Bryan on the apron to close the show. 

Author: Josh Lopez