The show opens up with Tom Phillips welcoming us to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. He is joined by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton.
We head right to the ring and Daniel Bryan makes his entrance.
He welcomes us to the show and introduces his tag team partner at WrestleMania, Shane McMahon. Shane greets Nashville and puts them over before correcting Bryan on something he said the other week, he is a role model and he’s fought and clawed to return to something he believes in, and he congratulates Bryan on getting cleared to do what he loves. Shane says that he is excited to be Bryan’s tag partner, and it’s nothing compared to Bryan’s last three years, but he’s been through some stuff over the past three weeks.
A bout of diverticulitis, hospitalization with an umbilical hernia at the hands of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, but he’s excited to tag up and take care of business. Bryan then says that he has something he would like to address as a man and as a general manager. Over the past six months he’s made a lot of mistakes, especially when it comes to Owens and Zayn. He’s known them for years and he let them manipulate him, but he wants to apologize to Shane because he was right all along.
McMahon says that there is no reason to apologize, because he’s done some reflection himself, and he knows he’s hot-headed and stubborn. Bryan scoffs at the idea of a stubborn McMahon before saying that if they’re going to resolve their differences, he’s learned a lot about being in the WWE over the last several years and when tag team partners have their differences, there’s only one way to resolve it.
The crowd chants “Hug it out!” and Bryan opens his arms wide but Shane starts talking and apologizes, saying that he has been hotheaded and he offers a handshake instead. Bryan says that he just shook his hand two minutes ago and McMahon offers a high five, but Bryan is not buying it, Nashville wants a hug. He polls the crowd, who are very into it, but Shane says that he is not much of a hugger.
Bryan lets the crowd make his case and Shane gives in. They hug it out. McMahon admits that kinda worked and they’re on the same page now. Bryan says that them being on the same page is bad news for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, and they’re going to get their payback for everything that they have done. Shane thanks him for reinstating Owens and Zayn and he’s looking forward to take the opportunity to rid themselves of those two cancers, saying that they will never be seen in a SmackDown arena again.
Bryan asks the crowd if they’re ready to see the two of them beat the hell out of Sami and Owens at WrestleMania and the crowd chants “Yes!” as Bryan’s music hits. They celebrate and share another hug then they head to the back.
Charlotte Flair makes her way down to the ring and we cut to a WrestleMania 34 promo for Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Triple H & Stephanie McMahon while the SmackDown feed airs in a box on the lower left corner. Natalya makes her way down to the ring next and we go to a commercial break before the match begins.
Back from the commercial break and the match begins.
Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya: This one is a non-Title match. Natalya takes control early on and tries to keep Charlotte grounded after a headlock take down. They run the ropes and Natalya goes to take out Charlotte’s leg but Charlotte no-sells it, then they collide in the middle of the ring. They fight into the corner, where Charlotte rolls up Natalya in a pin for a two count. Charlotte tries to keep Natalya grounded now with headlocks. Charlotte stomps on Natalya in the corner until senior official Charles Robinson pulls her off. Charlotte slams Natalya’s head against the mat and puts her in a head scissor hold. The fight spills out to ringside where Charlotte lays into Natalya with chops to the chest. Back in the ring, Charlotte drops Natalya then climbs to the top turnbuckle. Natalya gets up and throws Charlotte off the top, then goes for a surfboard submission. Charlotte fights out and drops Natalya with a kick to the face for a two count. Natalya goes for a sleeper hold, but Charlotte slams her back on the mat. Charlotte goes up top for a moonsault, but Natalya blocks it with her knees. Carmella’s music hits and she comes out with her Money In The Bank briefcase. Carmella gets in the ring with a second referee, and Charlotte kicks her briefcase away. Charlotte boots Carmella in the face and she rolls out of the ring. Natalya comes back in and rolls up Charlotte from behind for a two count. Charlotte comes back and drops Natalya and puts her in the Figure Eight Submission for the win. Winner: Charlotte Flair
After the match, Flair stands tall with the title as her music hits. Asuka’s music hits and she interrupts Charlotte Flair’s celebration as she makes her way down to the ring for a pop. Asuka enters the ring and dances right past Flair, going to the corner to pose. Flair watches as Asuka dances around. Asuka takes the mic and says that at WrestleMania, The Queen will bow down to The Empress because no one is ready. Flair snatches the mic from Asuka’s hand. Flair says that she is ready but the question is, is Asuka ready? They face-off in the middle of the ring and look back up at the WrestleMania 34 sign. The stare-down continues as Flair’s music hits.
Commentary discusses the WWE Title match at WrestleMania 34. We head backstage where AJ Styles is talking about last week when Shinsuke Nakamura pulled away from hitting the Kinshasa at the last second and patted his head like he’s a dog, but this dog bites. Styles says that Nakamura thinks he is real emotional and he’s right, he wears his emotions on his sleeve, and this is just like when he was a kid scrapping it up with the big boys.
Styles continues by saying that his emotions aren’t his weakness, they’re his strength. If you want to talk about weaknesses, Shinsuke has one, and that is that he takes Styles too lightly. He’s the WWE Champion, and this isn’t the Tokyo Dome, it’s WrestleMania, and this is a dream match, but it’s not a dream, it’s reality, and the reality is that he’s beating Shinsuke Nakamura.
Commentary hypes up the tag team main event for later tonight and a closer look at the Bryan/Shane vs. Sami/Kevin feud and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we see footage from outside the arena at a country music bar in Nashville.
Commentary then introduces us to a video package for the Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn feud.
Bobby Roode makes his way down to the ring to join commentary for the Jinder Mahal vs. Rusev Match, which will begin after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we are just in time for the entrances of the next match, including the usual big intro from Sunil Singh for his guy, Jinder Mahal and this time Sunil Singh mocks Aiden English’s singing.
Aiden English then sings Rusev his usual ring introduction.
Randy Orton is shown backstage watching on a monitor.
Rusev vs. Jinder Mahal: Rusev takes control early on and sends Jinder outside for a breather. Back in the ring, Jinder gets back in the game and hits some knees to the face of Rusev. Jinder hits a neck-breaker on Rusev and follows up with a knee drop. Jinder continues the offense until Rusev dodges a shot and takes down Jinder. Sunil Singh gets on the apron to try to distract Rusev, but Rusev kicks him in the head to knock him off. Jinder tries to capitalize on the distraction, but Rusev shuts him down with a Machka Kick for the three count. Winner: Rusev
After the match, Rusev stands tall as his music hits. Rusev stands in the corner and looks up at the WrestleMania 34 sign. United States Champion Randy Orton appears out of nowhere and drops Rusev with the RKO. English attacks Orton from the side. English waits for Orton to get to his feet, waiting on the second turnbuckle. Roode comes up to the apron and shoves English off the second rope, right into the RKO. Roode enters the ring and hands the title belt to Orton, with a little bit of hesitation. Fans chant “Rusev Day” as Orton and Roode face off. Orton’s music hits as we get replays. Roode and Orton have some words.
We head backstage where Shinsuke Nakamura is being interviewed and he admits that he has been playing games, but he takes this game very seriously. Nakamura says that he has come to America for one reason, WrestleMania. Nakamura also says that he doesn’t take AJ lightly, and he knows him very well. Nakamura then says that he knows Styles is very emotional, so emotional that he’ll make a mistake and when he does, Shinsuke will become WWE Champion with a knee to the face.
Commentary hypes up the tag team main event once again and we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we get a hype reel for tonight’s Mixed Match Challenge finals.
We head backstage where The New Day are making noise. It turns out that they are hyping up how WrestleMania is free for new subscribers of the WWE Network. Xavier Woods asks Big E for his phone but he pulls out a pancake and a bag of Booty-Os first. Woods walks us through signing up on any device and Big E pulls a tablet out of his pants and a tablet out of Kofi Kingston’s pants.
Kofi wants Big E to pull an XBox out of Xavier’s pants but The Usos roll up before he can do it. The Usos says that it will cost nothing to see them defend their tag titles, but The New Day and The Bludgeon Brothers are gonna have a price to pay and it’s gonna be lockdown at The Uso Penitentiary. The New Day have a laugh about this when The Bludgeons roll up, with mallets in hand. They smash the camera to end the segment.
Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Mojo Rawley & Primo Colon vs. Breezango (Fandango & Tyler Breeze), Tye Dillinger & Zack Ryder: Mojo and Ryder start things off, and Ryder hits a missile dropkick for an early 2 count. Mojo rams Ryder into the turnbuckle, and the aprons start clearing into the ring as the referee tries to restore order. Mojo and Dillinger go at it now, and Tye drops him. Fandango comes in and knocks Corbin off the apron, then starts brawling with Primo. Ziggler runs in and interferes, but Ryder runs in and clotheslines him outside. Fandango throws Corbin outside next, then Ryder hits a Rough Ryder on Mojo. The ring starts clearing and it comes down to Fandango and Corbin. Fandango rolls up Corbin for a two count, then goes to attack Corbin but Corbin catches him and hits the End of Days for the three count. Winners: Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Mojo Rawley & Primo Colon
After the match, Corbin stands tall as his music hits. Corbin goes to the floor and checks out the Andre the Giant trophy. Corbin then poses with the Andre the Giant trophy.
Commentary runs down the card for WrestleMania before informing us that the main event is coming up next after the commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we get a promo from Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin talking about how not only are they gonna beat AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura tonight, but they are gonna send them limping to WrestleMania.
We head back to the arena where we see that Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn just jumped the rail and climbed on the announce table. Owens begins by saying that this is still the Sami & Kevin Show and nothing is gonna stop them from speaking their minds tonight. Sami says that he saw McMahon and Bryan’s apology session from earlier but they have some people to apologize to. Bryan’s wife and daughter, for example. He is sorry Birdie’s not gonna grow up with fond memories of her dad’s big WrestleMania comeback.
He is also sorry to Brie because the man they send back isn’t going to be put back together by her love and support. Owens then says that she gave him great advice about fighting for his dreams, but Zayn adds that their dream is now obliterating Bryan and that will be their WrestleMania moment. Sami then says boo all you want because it doesn’t matter, they deserve it. We then cut to Shane watching backstage and we see that Bryan has rolled up.
They decide to head out to join Owens and Zayn as Owens starts running Shane McMahon down and says that he is gonna send him back to Titan Tower where he can cry on his daddy’s lap and look at the scar on his forehead and the disappointment in his eyes because once again he’ll have failed. The mic cuts out and and they decide to take their leave, shrugging security off and booking it up the steps as McMahon makes his entrance, with Bryan right behind him.
Bryan stops them in their tracks and asks cameras to get on them, asking everybody to start filming them on their cell phones because this is history in the making, the very last time either man will be on SmackDown. Shane offers up a song, and of course it’s Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye, the traditional wrestling sendoff song.
On that note, we go to a commercial break.
Back from the commercial break and we get some hype for WrestleMania week and the WWE Network.
WWE Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin: The opening bell sounds for tonight’s main event, with Nakamura and Gable starting things off. Nakamura tags in AJ by patting him on the head. AJ and Nakamura exchange words, and Gable and Benjamin attack both of them while they’re distracted. Styles and Gable go at it now in the ring. Nakamura and Benjamin tag in at the same time and Nakamura unloads with strikes. Gable tags in and joins Shelton to briefly double team Nakamura. Gable hits a moonsault off the top on Nakamura for a near-fall. Benjamin tags back in and continues working over Shinsuke. Benjamin looks for a running knee strike in the corner, but Nakamura dodges it and boots Shelton in the head. AJ and Gable tag in, and AJ clotheslines him down. AJ unloads with strikes on Gable, then hits a Pele kick on Shelton. Gable drops AJ from behind and rolls him up for a 2 count. AJ comes back with a neck-breaker, but then AJ gets distracted by Nakamura again. AJ stares down Nakamura, then hits the Phenomenal Forearm on Gable for the three count. Winners: WWE Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura
After the match, AJ stands tall as his music hits. AJ goes to ringside and retrieves the WWE Title belt, talking trash to Nakamura while he’s still in the ring. Benjamin comes from behind and lays Nakamura out. AJ watches from the ramp. Nakamura fights Benjamin off as AJ looks to be coming back into the ring. Nakamura turns around as AJ springboards in with a Phenomenal Forearm. AJ puts the brakes on just in time, exactly like Nakamura did last week. AJ taunts Nakamura and pats him on the head as Nakamura stares him down. AJ leaves with the WWE Title in the air as his music plays. We go to replays. Nakamura looks on from the ring as AJ stands tall on the ramp. The final show before WrestleMania 34 goes off the air.