WWE SmackDown Live
May 1, 2018
Bell Centre
Montreal, Canada

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

Paige Announcement: 

Miz TV with Special Guests: Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton and Shelton Benjamin 

Miz brought Maryse to Hollywood. His guest last week pulled a no show. Going forward, Daniel Bryan is banned from MizTV. Miz has a message for his friend on the B Show, Seth Rollins. Rollins has something that’s his. He can’t hide on Sunday when he gets back the title he made relevant and prestigious. Miz has a champion as his guest tonight, The WWE United States Champion, Jeff Hardy. Is Miz is a better Intercontinental Champion than Seth Rollins? If being obnoxious and overbearing while being a wannabe Hollywood star, then yes you are Hardy recently disrespected a future Hall of Famer twice.

Why don’t we find out what Randy Orton has to say? The voices in Orton’s head are saying how disrespectful Hardy was. Orton wasn’t disrespected because he did the same thing last week. They’re both cool. Orton doesn’t play well with others. This isn’t the first time Orton has been disrespected around here? Remember the Smackdown Top 10  List? That’s true, but no one really cares about a Smackdown Top 10 list. Miz continues to stir the pot. Miz doesn’t know who he’s talking to.

No one tells Orton when to strike. He strikes when he wants to. Orton earned his rematch three weeks ago. At Backlash, it doesn’t matter how cool they are with each other, he’s taking his title back. Miz is shocked at a mutual agreement. Shelton Benjamin makes his way to the ring. Orton doesn’t deserve a damn thing. Benjamin defeated him last week in the middle of that ring. If anybody deserves a title match, it’s him. Orton goes for The IEDDT, but Miz gets in the way. A pier six brawl breaks out. Up next, we have ourself a tag team match playa. 

First Match: Randy Orton & Jeff Hardy vs. The Miz & Shelton Benjamin 

Orton and Benjamin will start things off. Orton whips Benjamin to the corner. Benjamin uppercuts Orton. Benjamin is dishing out multiple forearm shivers. Benjamin kicks Orton in the gut. Orton responds with a back elbow smash. Orton bounces Benjamin’s head on the top turnbuckle pad. Orton repeatedly stomps on Benjamin’s chest. Orton is choking Benjamin with his boot. Orton applies a wrist lock. Orton tags in Hardy. Hardy lands a Flying Double Axe Handle Strike. Following a snap mare takeover, Hardy dropkicks the back of Benjamin for a one count. Hardy tags in Orton.

Stereo Back Elbow Strikes for a two count. Benjamin is teeing off on Orton. Benjamin goes for a Stinger Splash, but Orton ducks out of the way. Benjamin blocks The RKO. Benjamin drops Orton with a Spinning Heel Kick for a two count. Benjamin tags in Miz. Miz stomps on Orton’s ribs. Benjamin levels Orton with a Knee Lift. Miz with the cover for a one count. Miz applies a rear chin lock. Orton with a Belly to Back Suplex. Orton tags in Hardy. Hardy with a series of haymakers to Miz. Hardy hits an Inverted Atomic Drop. Hardy follows that with a Basement Dropkick for a two count.

Miz blocks The Twist Of Fate. Hardy knocks Benjamin off the ring apron. Hardy side steps Miz into the turnbuckles. Hardy rolls Miz over for a two count. Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Hardy counters with a Victory Roll for a two count. Miz tags in Benjamin. Hardy tosses Miz out of the ring. Hardy connects with The Twist Of Fate. Hardy sets up for The Twist of Fate. Benjamin blasts Hardy with a Running Knee Strike. Miz sends Hardy crashing to the outside. Coming out of the commercial break, Miz has Hardy in a rear chin lock. Hardy is looking to create separation. Miz drops Hardy with an Implant DDT for a two count. Miz tags in Benjamin.

Miz and Benjamin are cutting the ring in half. Benjamin tells Hardy to bring it. Hardy decks Benjamin with a SitOut Jaw Breaker. Benjamin tags in Miz. Miz transitions into a ground and pound attack. Miz is putting the boots to Hardy in the corner. Miz mocks Daniel Bryan with Running Corner Dropkicks. Hardy takes down Miz with a SlingBlade. Hardy makes the hot tag to Orton. Orton fires up with a series of clotheslines. Orton PowerSlams Benjamin. Orton deposits Miz on the announce table. Orton ducks a clothesline from Benjamin. Orton dropkicks Benjamin. Orton hits The Double IEDDT. Orton plants Benjamin with The RKO. Orton tags in Hardy. Hardy lands The Swanton Bomb to pickup the victory. Afte the match, Orton drops Hardy with an RKO.

Winner: Randy Orton & Jeff Hardy via Pinfall 

The Iconics & Carmella Backstage Interview: 

Daniel Bryan Interview: 

The New Day & The Bar Backstage Segment: 

Rusev, Aiden English and Lana Backstage Segment: 

Big Cass Promo: 

For those who don’t know, Cass is from New York City. Being from New York City, they carry the stigma of a lot of negative stereotypes. People think they’re not friendly to people from other cities. That’s true. People think they are better than others. New Yorkers are better than everybody. Cass is better than Daniel Bryan. When you think of a WWE Superstar, you don’t know thing of someone who likes you.

A WWE Superstar is seven feet tall and has super strength. That’s the complete opposite of Bryan who is small and weak. When Cass faces Bryan, the WWE Universe will not get their five star match. They’re going to get a five second match. He doesn’t need an arm bar, wrist lock, or reverse wrist lock, or a Yes Lock. Cass doesn’t need time to prepare.

Why wait until Backlash? Why don’t Bryan come out here so Cass can kick his teeth down his throat. A Mini Daniel Bryan comes down to the ring. Bryan looks a little different tonight. You look a little taller. Are you wearing lifts? Bryan has a short tempter. Don’t short sighted and look at the bigger picture. The mini Bryan is, Pierre Lafleur. Cass proceeds to destroy Lafleur. 

AJ Styles, Renee Young, Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura In-Ring Segment: 

Renee Young asks Styles if the No Disqualification Stipulation will help him retain the WWE Title at BackLash?  Nakamura can play his games because that’s the benefit of a No Disqualification match. Styles goal is to defend the gold while Nakamura seems to be going after the wrong jewels. Renee brings up the altercation at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Will Styles apologize to Nakamura? Nakamura should be sucking sand in the Saudi Arabian desert. Nakamura ruined his WrestleMania moment and ruined the Daniel Bryan match for the WWE Universe. He went after his friend and tried to injure him.

On Sunday, Styles will break the rules. Low blows will be the least of Nakamura’s worries. Styles will find pieces of Shinsuke in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The look on Nakamura’s face will be the look of torture. Samoa Joe appears on the stage. Styles is making a spectacle out of himself filled with rage and anger. He has lost focus on the danger that’s surrounding him. Styles is not focused on the right match.

The match Styles should be focused on is the one when Samoa Joe’s hand is raised in victory after proving that Roman Reigns is a failure. The same Reigns who lost in Saudi Arabia. Brock was the first out of that cage and Brock is still Universal Champion. Styles needs to make peace with one destiny that is coming his way. After Joe is done putting the Big Dog to sleep, whether it’s Styles or Nakamura who’s victorious on Sunday, he’s coming after the WWE Championship. Believe That. Nakamura delivers a low blow to Styles. Nakamura connects with The Kinshasa. 

Charlotte Flair, Asuka and Becky Lynch Backstage Segment: 

Second Match: Xavier Woods w/The New Day vs. Sheamus w/Cesaro 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Sheamus shoves Woods to the canvas. Sheamus drives Woods back first into the turnbuckles. Woods kicks Sheamus in the jaw. Woods with a Chop/Forearm Combination to Sheamus. Woods dives over Sheamus. Woods ducks a clothesline from Sheamus. Woods with a Basement Dropkick. Sheamus blocks the Tornado DDT from Woods. Woods slides under Sheamus. Woods blasts Sheamus with a Forearm Smash. Woods dropkicks Sheamus out of the ring. Woods lands a SomerSault Plancha. Woods rolls Sheamus back into the ring. Woods is distracted by Cesaro.

Sheamus with a Bicycle Knee Strike for a two count. Sheamus with clubbing blows across the chest of Woods. Sheamus whips Woods sternum first to the bottom rope. Sheamus applies an arm-bar. Woods attacks the midsection of Sheamus. Sheamus with a Irish Curse Back Breaker for a two count. Woods starts lighting up Sheamus chest. Sheamus goes for a Belly to Back Suplex, but Woods lands back on his feet. Woods thrust kicks the midsection of Sheamus. Woods levels Sheamus with a High Knee Strike.

Woods sends Sheamus crashing shoulder first to the steel ring post. Woods with a Twisting Leg Drop for a two count. Sheamus rolls Woods over for a two count. Woods connects with The Shining Wizard. Woods goes for The SpringBoard Elbow Drop, but Cesaro gets in the way. Cesaro whips Big E face first across the steel ring post. Woods takes out Cesaro with a Wrecking Ball Dropkick. Sheamus throws Woods back first to the ringside barricade. Sheamus yells at Kofi. Woods catches Sheamus off guard with the inside cradle to pickup the victory.

Winner: Xavier Woods via Pinfall 

Paige & Absolution Segment: 

Andrade Cien Almas & Zelina Vega Vignette: 

Sanity Vignette: 

WWE Backlash 2018 Match Card: 

1.) AJ Styles (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a No Disqualification Match For The WWE Championship

2.) Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe

3.) Daniel Bryan vs. Big Cass

4.) Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn

5.) Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte Flair For The WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship

6.) Nia Jax (c) vs. Alexa Bliss For The WWE RAW Women’s Championship

7.) Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Randy Orton For The WWE United States Championship

8.) Seth Rollins (c) vs. The Miz For The WWE Intercontinental Championship

Third Match: Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Asuka vs. Carmella, Peyton Royce and Billie Kay in a 6-Woman Tag Team Match 

Carmella playing keep away with Charlotte after the bell rings. Royce and Becky are tagged in. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Becky with a Hip Lock TakeOver to Royce. Becky applies a waist lock. Royce decks Becky with a Back Elbow Smash. Royce slams Becky’s head on the canvas for a one count. Becky dropkicks Royce. Becky takes a swing at Kay. Becky goes for a Running Leg Drop, but Royce ducks out of the way. Royce kicks Becky in the chest. Royce tags in Kay. Becky reverses out of the irish whip. Becky with a Running Forearm Smash for a two count. Becky applies a wrist lock. Becky tags in Asuka.

Kay slaps Asuka in the face. Asuka responds with her lighting quick offense. Asuka drops Kay with a Running Hip Attack. Asuka applies a wrist lock. Asuka tags in Charlotte. Charlotte lands a Flying Double Axe Handle Strike. Charlotte with an unique cover for a two count. Charlotte with a knife edge chop to Kay. Kay side steps Charlotte into the turnbuckles. Kay tags in Carmella. Carmella goes for a SuperKick, but Charlotte counters with a single leg takedown. The Iconics drags Carmella out of the ring. Charlotte wipes out The Iconics with a SlingShot Crossbody Block.

Coming out of the commercial break, Royce has Becky trapped in a rear chin lock. Royce tags in Carmella. Becky kicks Carmella in the chest. Becky with a Back Elbow Strike to Royce. Becky knocks Kay off the ring apron. Becky tosses Royce out of the ring. Carmella cheap shots Charlotte. Becky with a Single Leg Dropkick to Carmella. The Iconics prevents Becky from making the tag to Asuka. Iconics throws Asuka back first to the steel ring steps. Becky makes the hot tag to Charlotte. Carmella attends the Knife Edge Chop Convention. Charlotte delivers Two Exploder Suplex’s. Charlotte with a Belly to Back Suplex to Carmella. Carmella sends Charlotte face first across the steel ring post. The Iconics and Carmella are cutting the ring in half.

Kay attacks the back of Charlotte’s neck. Royce with a Spinning Heel Kick for a two count. Kay launches Becky out of the ring. The Iconics has Charlotte perched on the top turnbuckle. Carmella connects with a Handstand Hurricanrana for a two count. Carmella starts showing her frustration. Carmella rubs Charlotte’s head on the mat. Carmella tags in Royce. Royce kicks Charlotte in the gut. Royce repeatedly drives her elbow into Charlotte’s chest. Royce applies a rear chin lock. Charlotte gets back to a vertical base.

Royce catapults Charlotte to the corner. Asuka tags herself in. Asuka dropkicks Royce. Asuka clears the ring. Asuka with a Pop Up Knee Strike to Royce. Asuka delivers a Sliding Dropkick. Kay and Carmella are trying to save Royce. Asuka clocks Kay and Carmella with a Double Hip Attack. Royce with the inside cradle for a two count. Royce SuperKicks Asuka for a two count. Asuka responds with a Spinning Heel Kick. Becky with a Missile Dropkick to Kay. Carmella SuperKicks Becky. Charlotte Spears Carmella. Charlotte takes out Kay and Carmella with a Massive MoonSault. Asuka applies The Asuka Lock which forces Royce to tap out.

Winner: Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Asuka via Submission 

Check out Episode 103 of The Josh Lopez Wrestling Podcast