Contract Signing
HERE COMES THE ???????????… #SDLive @shanemcmahon pic.twitter.com/t44GYrbQuk
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2017
Shane McMahon makes his way to the ring after the break. Shane asks the fans in Manchester how they’re doing. He says it’s no secret that he believes SmackDown Live is the best show on WWE Television. And a big reason for that is the women’s division.
Without further ado, Shane introduces the SmackDown Welcoming Committee; Carmella, Natalya, Tamina Snuka, & James Ellsworth. The group comes to the ring and await their opponents. Shane introduces Charlotte, Becky & Naomi separately.
Before the contacts can be signed, Natalya says it’s funny to see Becky, Charlotte and Naomi pretending to be friends. Natalya calls them pathetic and says she can’t wait to tell Becky Lynch that she should have joined them. She says this Sunday we will truly see the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. Natalya and co. sign the contract.
Becky grabs the mic and says that this Sunday they will finally be facing even numbers and she cannot wait to slap them. Naomi says they should be focusing on their next hair appointments because they’re going to get snatched. Especially Ellsworth. Naomi signs the contract, then Charlotte grabs the mic. The Queen says they’ve had a problem with her since she got here and they formed the babysitter’s club. Charlotte says that after they beat them, the Queen is coming for her crown and points to Naomi’s title.
The contract is signed and Shane starts to wrap things up. Ellsworth grabs the mic and says he knows what Shane is trying to do but he can handle himself. Shane says he has no idea what James is talking about. Ellsworth says that all three of the other girls want a piece of him and he shuts them down. He then says Carmella will eventually steal Naomi’s glow, and Naomi grabs him by the shirt. Carmella grabs Naomi by the head and slams her into the table. Shane jumps in between them and books a match between Carmella and Naomi, up next!
This contract signing just got OUTTA CONTROL, but it leads to @CarmellaWWE vs. @NaomiWWE NEXT on #SDLive! pic.twitter.com/KdleYITH9G
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2017
*Commercial Break*
Carmella Vs. Naomi
The bell rings and Carmella tries to run from the ring. Naomi drags her back in and she does it again. The again. Naomi is frustrated. Carmella eventually runs but Naomi catches her with a Thesz Press.
Naomi throws Carmella into the corner, then hits a running bulldog into the opposite corner. Naomi, on the apron now, hits a running dropkick to Carmella in the corner. Naomi starts to ground Carmella with an armlock.
Carmella starts to fight back but Naomi looks for the Rear View but Ellsworth pulls Carmella from the ring. The referee evicts Ellsworth from ringside and the fans love it. Ellsworth throws his hat and storms off angrily.
*Commercial Break*
We return from commercial to see Carmella get caught by Naomi’s legs in the corner. Carmella is shoved away. The two meet in the middle of the ring, talking trash. Carmella hits a leg kick but Naomi no-sells it, leading to Naomi hitting one of her own. They exchange again, then Naomi looks for third and Carmella screams.
Carmella ducks out of the ring and tries to climb over the barricade but Naomi chases her. Carmella catches Naomi with a great superkick and the Champion makes it back into the ring at the 8 count.
Carmella throws Naomi into the corner, then moonwalks into the opposite corner. Carmella hits the Bronco Buster for a near-fall. Carmella gets Naomi in a sleeper hold for a minute.
Is the #PrincessOfStatenIsland @CarmellaWWE on her way to an upset win?! #SDLive @NaomiWWE pic.twitter.com/u0UdY3GH7A
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 17, 2017
Naomi starts a fierce comeback, hitting the scissors kicks and a dropkick before kipping-up and catching Carmella with a big headkick. Naomi heads to the top rope but Tamina and Natalya distract her, forcing the referee to evict them as well. The Welcoming Committee is not happy. Natalya and Tamina run back down the ramp and brawl with Becky Lynch and Charlotte. Naomi kicks Tamina through the rope, allowing Carmella to get the roll-up win!
Winner: Carmella
The announcers promote the WWE Network, as well as the new WWE United Kingdom Championship show, starting this Friday.
Still to come, Randy Orton faces Baron Corbin in the main event.
*Commercial Break*
We get a promo hyping the debut of The New Day on SmackDown Live.
We see Dolph Ziggler standing beside a TV monitor backstage. Dolph says he’s never understood the hype around Shinsuke Nakamura. He says it comes from a place of ignorance. This Sunday he faces Nakamura and, being a professional, he did his homework. What he found was eye opening. Ziggler will show all the remarkable things Nakamura has done here. A video airs that says, “Footage not found.” Ziggler says Nakamura has done nothing in WWE. Ziggler has done everything. A Ziggler highlight package then plays. Ziggler says everyone is looking forward to Nakamura’s debut. For all his accomplishments, nothing will make him happier than to spit in the faces of the hypocrites that turned their backs on him. Ziggler will beat Nakamura before he begins.
Dasha is backstage with Sami Zayn. Zayn has an announcement: he’ll be facing Baron Corbin at Backlash. Corbin has targeted him since he came to Smackdown Live. Zayn thinks Corbin is threatened by him. He’s a constant reminder to Corbin that he’s not as dominant as he thinks he is. Corbin can’t keep him down. That’s a threat to his ego. Corbin then attacks Zayn from behind. Corbin says he should learn to stay down or he’ll be put down permanently on Sunday. Corbin then walks off.
WWE Champion Randy Orton makes his way to the ring.
#TheViper and @WWE Champion @RandyOrton goes one-on-one with The #LoneWolf @BaronCorbinWWE in #SDLive‘s main event…NEXT! pic.twitter.com/lq834Sd9bV
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2017
*Commercial Break*
Randy Orton Vs. Baron Corbin
The bell rings and they circle the ring before locking up. They break when no one gets the advantage. They shove each other before Orton hooks a side headlock. Corbin tries to shovd him off, but Orton holds on. Orton takes him down with a headlock, but Corbin fights out. Eventually they get to their feet and stare hard. They shove each other again. Orton ducks a clothesline and goes for an RKO, but Corbin pushes him off. Corbin shouts at Orton, “It won’t be that easy!”
Orton latches on a side headlock, but Corbin powers him to the corner and slaps him in the throat. Orton kicks him and hits the ropes, but Corbin shoulder blocks him down. Corbin hits the ropes, but Orton leapfrogs him. Corbin knees him, but Orton takes him down by the hair. Orton rakes his shin on his face and kicks away at the chest. Orton goes to the second rope for a double axe handle. Orton uppercuts him back and punches away at him. Orton whips him to the corner, but Corbin slides out of the ring, gets back in, and clotheslines him down for a two count.
*Commercial Break*
We return as Orton jumps and misses a knee drop. Corbin stomps him in the corner until the ref makes him back off, and then he stomps Orton some more. Corbin grounds Randy with a headlock.
Randy eventually fights out of the headlock, but he gets taken out with a big boot. Corbin soaks in the boos as he stands over the champion. Orton tries to mount some offense, but Corbin stops him with one big shot. The Viper again starts to make a comeback and this time is successful as he lands his beautiful snap powerslam.
Nothing like a good ol’ BOOT to the face to slow down @RandyOrton‘s momentum… #SDLive #OrtonvsCorbin @BaronCorbinWWE pic.twitter.com/v8d0myfMeM
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 17, 2017
Orton hits the rope-hung DDT before coiling up for the RKO. Corbin counters and hits Deep Six for a close near-fall. Orton rolls out and Baron slides out of the ring after him. After throwing Orton back inside, Corbin returns and he runs right into an RKO for the end of the match.
Winner: Randy Orton
As soon as the match is over, Jinder Mahal comes out and distracts Orton, allowing The Singh Brothers to attack from behind. Orton fends them off until Mahal makes the numbers game too much to deal with. Jinder hits Randy with the Cobra Clutch slam. The show ends with Mahal standing tall with the WWE title.
What did you think of tonight’s SmackDown Live? Let us know in the comments and be sure to jump over to our 205 Live results! As for SmackDown, I will see you back here on Sunday night for Backlash! Until then, safe travels!