Backstage, we see footage from earlier today of Jinder Mahal posing with the WWE Championship and getting photos taken. Shane McMahon walks up and says around here titles are earned and that the title isn’t his. Mahal says it will be his soon. Shane tells Mahal he will be facing Sami Zayn tonight and takes away the WWE Championship.
SmackDown Live opens with Shane McMahon coming to the ring. He wastes no time in introducing the newest member of Smackdown Live, the new WWE United States Champion, Chris Jericho!
“THIS IS NEW SHOW OF JERICHO…SMACK IT DOWN, MAAAAAAAAAN!” – @IAmJericho #SDLive pic.twitter.com/Vdabajdc1X
— WWE (@WWE) May 3, 2017
Jericho grabs a mic and a loud “Y2J” chant breaks out. He calls this a special moment. Jericho is giving you what you want, what you need, “the new show of Jericho…Smack it down maaaaaaaaaaan.” Shane is thrilled Jericho is here on Smackdown Live and brings up Jericho defending the United States Championship against Kevin Owens tonight.
AJ Styles decides to interrupt the proceedings.Styles says hello to his old friend Jericho. Fresno starts a loud “AJ STYLES” chant. He wants to inform Jericho where he is standing right now: the house that he built. Styles brings up the past including Y2AJ t-shirts and nothing would please him more than to take that title away from him at Backlash. He wonders if Jericho will even be champion by the end of the night. Jericho talks about making Owens tap out at Payback. He refers to himself as the new face of America. Jericho asks Styles if he knows what happens when you don’t think he can beat Kevin Owens.
“You think the #FestivalOfFriendship was bad…you have no idea what’s coming at you tonight!” – @FightOwensFight #SDLive pic.twitter.com/GQ1LcSW2Fq
— WWE (@WWE) May 3, 2017
Kevin Owens interrupts as Jericho starts to hold up The List. He calls them pathetic for arguing about things that don’t matter. Fresno chants “YOU TAPPED OUT” at Owens. Owens says that doesn’t matter and that tonight he takes back the United States Championship. “Jericho, you think the Festival of Friendship was bad? You think WrestleMania was bad?” He even wonders what Styles is doing out here and tells him to leave the ring.
Owens turns his attention to Shane McMahon when Styles bails out of the ring. Styles walks right at Owens and both Owens and Styles start exchanging right hands. Styles and Owens start brawling on the entrance ramp when WWE officials run out to break it up. Shane bails and tries breaking it up as well near the ramp.
WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion Naomi and Charlotte will face Natalya and Carmella later tonight. Up next, Jinder Mahal faces Sami Zayn.
TONIGHT: #SDLive #WomensChampion @NaomiWWE TEAMS with @MsCharlotteWWE to take on @NatbyNature and @CarmellaWWE! pic.twitter.com/4O1BHK43eC
— WWE (@WWE) May 3, 2017
*Commercial Break*
We return and Tom Phillips tells us that AJ Styles will be banned from ringside tonight – no commentary for AJ then. Sami Zayn makes his way to the ring, meanwhile we see footage of Baron Corbin attacking Sami on Talking Smack last week.
Jinder Mahal Vs. Sami Zayn
The match begins and after a quick series, Jinder catches Sami with a back elbow. Zayn responds by ducking a clothesline and catching Jinder with a headscissors takedown. Sami chops Mahal in the corner then lands a quick dropkick and Jinder rolls from the ring to regain some composure.
Impressive offense from @iLikeSamiZayn in the early going as he looks to knock off @JinderMahal! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/oIXs4YCovu
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 3, 2017
*Commercial Break*
Back live, Mahal has Sami grounded with a headlock. Sami fights out but Mahal regains control with a big scoop slam for a two count. Mahal drops repeated knees over Sami and applies pressure over the throat with his knee as well that gets broken up. Mahal with more elbows. Sami retaliates with a headbutt to Mahal up on the top turnbuckle.
Mahal connects with a big running knee resulting in a near fall. Sami with repeated elbows, then a boot to Mahal in the corner, before connecting with a springboard crossbody from the corner. Mahal with a small package on Sami after a distraction from The Singh Brothers at ringside for a two count.
Sami with a chop to the chest and a bad looking tornado DDT out of the corner. Sami readies himself in the corner for a Helluva Kick but one of the brothers pulls Jinder out to make the save. The other brother pulls the leg of Sami from the outside. This allows Mahal’s to grab Sami and land the Full Nelson slam for the win!
Winner: Jinder Mahal
After the match, we can see Mahal got busted open a bit in his mouth as he celebrates his win over Sami Zayn along with The Singh Brothers.
Backstage, Natalya, Carmella and Tamina try to convince Becky Lynch to join them, saying she deserves a title shot and not Charlotte. Natalya says that Charlotte just walked in here and straight to the top without earning it. Becky seems to consider what they’re saying.
Have @NatbyNature @CarmellaWWE @TaminaSnuka & @realellsworth gotten through to @BeckyLynchWWE? #SDLive pic.twitter.com/oZNRIRPbp3
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 3, 2017
Tye Dillinger is in action next.
*Commercial Break*
Backstage, we see Ziggler complain about how Nakamura hasn’t had a match yet. He doesn’t realise that Shane is standing behind him and continues to complain about the fact that the PPV is built around Nakamura. Shane turns him around and tells him that the man’s name is Shinsuke Nakamura, emphasis on the name. Dolph says that he remembers being really impressed by Nakamura…his entrance that is. Ziggler tells Shane to watch what happens when he goes out there tonight.
Aiden English is standing in the ring, he sings a song for the WWE Universe, who are suddenly very happy to see Tye Dillinger!
?????????? @WWEDillinger takes on @WWEDramaKing RIGHT NOW on #SDLive! #Perfect10 pic.twitter.com/qKw0CehDBV
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 3, 2017
Tye Dillinger Vs. Aiden English
English quickly connects with a running high knee to Dillinger in the corner. Dillinger fires back with a big forearm off the ropes, a clothesline and big stomp to the face. Dillinger with stomps to English as the crowd repeatedly chants “10” with him. Dillinger lifts English onto his shoulders and lands the Tye Breaker for the win!
Winner: Tye Dillinger
Well that was fast. We see a shot of Aiden English looking emotional after the match.
*Commercial Break*