Becky Lynch becomes The Man. Daniel Bryan returns to the ring. Paige steps into a new role as General Manager. The New Day joins the Five-Timers' Club. All this and more during SmackDown's 2018 season.
The disunity between Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan came to the forefront during AJ Styles' main event showdown against Sami Zayn, leading to a huge Royal Rumble WWE Title Match announcement. Elsewhere, Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable finally got their two-on-two opportunity at SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos.
Shane McMahon put Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn against a wall when he scheduled them in a 3-on-2 Handicap Match against WWE Champion AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton. However, the challenges presented by the Commissioner wouldn’t stop there for The “Yep!” Movement.
In an impromptu main event, the Final of the United States Championship Tournament went down when Jinder Mahal took on Bobby Roode after each qualified earlier in the night. Elsewhere, the women of Team Blue continued to slug it out as the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble draws near.
Feeling backed into a corner, WWE Champion AJ Styles found himself in another jam when he agreed to take on both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in back-to-back singles matches on SmackDown LIVE. Elsewhere, the Team Blue women threw down in a wild melee just five days before the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match.
With their WWE Title Match at WrestleMania now official, WWE Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura teamed up against Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn on SmackDown LIVE. The one rub? Owens & Zayn were informed beforehand that they would be squaring off against one another next week, with the opportunity to be the next challenger for Styles’ WWE Championship at WWE Fastlane on the line.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s one-on-one encounter to determine a challenger for WWE Champion AJ Styles at WWE Fastlane took a chaotic turn, leading to Daniel Bryan throwing all three a curveball. Elsewhere, United States Champion Bobby Roode defended his title against Rusev.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn tried to take control of their own destiny by ambushing Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin before their match to see who would advance to the WWE Title Match alongside them and WWE Champion AJ Styles at WWE Fastlane. However, their plan would ultimately backfire when SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon flipped the script and gave both Ziggler and Corbin a chance to advance, potentially making it a Fatal-5 Way Match for the title at WWE Fastlane.
With the WWE Championship Fatal 5-Way Match at WWE Fastlane coming into focus, WWE Champion AJ Styles took on Baron Corbin in non-title competition, and Kevin Owens squared off against Dolph Ziggler, with Sami Zayn playing a pivotal role in both bouts.
John Cena arrived on SmackDown LIVE with a clear plan to move forward to WrestleMania, setting his sights on the WWE Title Match at WWE Fastlane. Elsewhere, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan continued to clash over Bryan’s handling of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
The one-on-one main event between WWE Champion AJ Styles and Dolph Ziggler took an unexpected turn after The “Yep!” Movement injected themselves with a surprise attack. Elsewhere, Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal rekindled their epic rivalry, as United States Champion Bobby Roode watched on from the announce desk.
After announcing he'd be taking an indefinite leave of absence from his position, SmackDown LIVE Commissioner Shane McMahon delivered on his promise to make a major WrestleMania announcement, but the plan backfired on him when Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn were not happy with what they heard. Elsewhere, matters intensified between WWE Champion AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, as their WWE Title Match at WrestleMania 34 draws closer.
On one of the biggest nights of his life, SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan spoke emotionally about once again being cleared to compete in WWE. When he fired Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn later in the night, however, his celebration turned upside down, as he suffered a brutal assault at the hands of The "Yep!" Movement.
Shinsuke Nakamura took on Shelton Benjamin in the main event of SmackDown LIVE, with WWE Champion AJ Styles in The King of Strong Style’s corner at the Royal Rumble Winner’s behest. Elsewhere, SmackDown LIVE General Manager Daniel Bryan laid down a once unthinkable challenge to Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn for WrestleMania.
WWE Champion AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura teamed up against Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable, but did their mutual respect last through one final SmackDown LIVE prior to their WrestleMania 34 dream match? Elsewhere, Shane McMahon returned to SmackDown LIVE… and so did Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.
In the wake of WrestleMania, Team Blue saw the dawning of a new era, as Shane McMahon made Paige the new General Manager of SmackDown LIVE. Then, in a fantasy match of Paige's creation, WWE Champion AJ Styles battled Daniel Bryan, a showdown that would fall victim to the wrath of The King of Strong Style. Plus, Carmella cashed in her Money in the Bank contract to become the new SmackDown Women’s Champion after the debuting IIconics laid waste to Charlotte Flair.
AJ Styles & Daniel Bryan formed a fantasy team as they took on Rusev & Aiden English, but Shinsuke Nakamura and the newest SmackDown LIVE Superstar Big Cass made sure to make their presence felt. Elsewhere, SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella’s ’Mellabration was unceremoniously interrupted several times, including one interjection from the division’s newest threat.
In a huge Six-Man Tag Team Match main event, AJ Styles reunited with Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows to take on Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev & Aiden English. Elsewhere, Big Cass’ disdain for Daniel Bryan grew to new heights, which would prove to have a major impact on WWE Backlash.
Two super-teams squared off as Charlotte Flair teamed with Asuka & Becky Lynch to take on SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella and The IIconics in a memorable main event. Elsewhere, the tension between WWE Champion AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura continued to mount, with a major stipulation being added to their title match at WWE Backlash.
WWE Money in the Bank was the focus of every blue brand Superstar, as three competitors qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder Matches. Elsewhere, the growing beef between The New Day and The Bar continued.
WWE Champion AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura collided in London’s O2 Arena with the winner getting the opportunity to pick the stipulation for their title match at WWE Money in the Bank. Elsewhere, two more Superstars claimed their place in the Money in the Bank Ladder Matches, and Big Cass finally pushed Daniel Bryan past his limit.
Daniel Bryan took on U.S. Champion Jeff Hardy for the first time, with a Men's Money in the Bank Qualifying Match against Samoa Joe hanging in the balance. Plus, Lana and Naomi both qualified for the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson earned an opportunity to battle SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers on June 17.
In a shocking turn of events, a Triple Threat Match between Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe and Big Cass was announced as the final Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match. Elsewhere, The New Day and The Bar squared off in a major Six-Man Tag Team Match.
With WWE Money in the Bank momentum being the theme of the night, all of SmackDown’s participants in the Men’s Ladder Match did battle, as The New Day squared off against The Miz, Rusev and Samoa Joe in Six-Man Tag Team action. Elsewhere, Charlotte Flair took on Becky Lynch, and Jimmy Uso & Naomi faced Lana & Aiden English.
In a thrilling 10-Woman Tag Team Match main event, Asuka made a massive statement heading into WWE Money in the Bank when she defeated SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella just five days before their title match in Chicago, literally putting all eyes of the SmackDown LIVE Women’s division on her.
Rusev won a star-studded Gauntlet Match to earn the right to challenge WWE Champion AJ Styles at WWE Extreme Rules. Elsewhere, SAnitY made an unforgettable debut and left an immediate impression.
Just when it looked like Daniel Bryan was going to take another bludgeoning at the hands of The Bludgeon Brothers, Kane returned to come to the aid of his friend, and the ever-memorable Team Hell No reunited. He and Bryan cleared the ring of Harper & Rowan and got some major news from SmackDown LIVE General Manager Paige regarding WWE Extreme Rules.
Feeling as though Team Hell No was not worthy of their SmackDown Tag Team Championship opportunity at WWE Extreme Rules, The Usos challenged Daniel Bryan & Kane in the main event. If Jimmy & Jey won, they would be added to Bryan & Kane’s championship bout against The Bludgeon Brothers.
After an absolutely wild brawl between the united Team Hell No & The New Day against The Bludgeon Brothers & SAnitY to kick off the show, the two super teams squared off in an epic 5-on-5 Tag Team Match in the main event just five days before WWE Extreme Rules.
In the wake of WWE Extreme Rules, Randy Orton interrupted the heated rematch between newly-crowned United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Jeff Hardy to lay waste to The Charismatic Enigma.
Daniel Bryan attempted to crash the party celebrating The Miz & Maryse’s new reality show “Miz & Mrs.,” but The A-Lister would stoop to an all-time new low to get the jump on The “Yes!” Man.
Charlotte Flair returned to SmackDown LIVE to come to the aid of her friend Becky Lynch after she was assaulted by SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella, but The Queen quickly found herself in the thick of a higher stakes scenario with major SummerSlam implications.
The New Day squared off against The Bar with the opportunity to face The Bludgeon Brothers for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at SummerSlam hanging in the balance. Elsewhere, the tension continued to boil over between The Miz and Daniel Bryan.
WWE Champion AJ Styles arrived at SmackDown LIVE hoping to break out of his vicious mental cycle caused by Samoa Joe over the past several weeks, but his SummerSlam challenger had one last trick up his sleeve that may have driven The Phenomenal One off the deep end just five days before their title clash at The Biggest Event of Summer.
The Bludgeon Brothers and The New Day squared off in a hard-hitting and explosive No Disqualification rematch from SummerSlam with the SmackDown Tag Team Titles on the line. Elsewhere, tempers boiled over further between Daniel Bryan and The Miz in a way that no one could have possibly seen coming.
Charlotte Flair might have repelled the challenge of Carmella in a thrilling SmackDown Women’s Championship main event, but she could not escape an Irish Lass Kicking from her former best friend, Becky Lynch, who challenged The Queen to a title clash at the WWE Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event on Sunday, Sept. 16!
On a whirlwind SmackDown LIVE, Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella thwarted an attack from Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega in order to send a strong message to their WWE Hell in a Cell opponents The Miz & Maryse. Plus, Rusev Day earned the right to face The Bar next week to establish The New Day's SmackDown Tag Team Championship opponents at the Sept. 16 pay-per-view, WWE Champion AJ Styles attacked Samoa Joe, and SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair engaged in a war of wars with Becky Lynch.
Brie Bella and Maryse’s one-on-one showdown quickly turned into a chaotic brawl when Daniel Bryan and The Miz got involved. Elsewhere, WWE Champion AJ Styles and Samoa Joe delivered personal messages to each other ahead of their title clash this Sunday at the WWE Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event.
In the wake of WWE Hell in a Cell, newly-crowned SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch unleashed a vicious attack on Charlotte Flair during her SmackDown Women’s Championship Coronation. Plus, Shinsuke Nakamura battled The Bulgarian Brute for the U.S. Title on Rusev Day, and Samoa Joe and AJ Styles continued throw fists in a post-match collision.
Samoa Joe took his conflict with WWE Champion AJ Styles to the next level when he delivered on his promise from several weeks ago by showing up at Styles’ family home in Georgia while The Phenomenal One was thousands of miles away in Denver. Elsewhere, The Miz and R-Truth clashed over the rights to “Miz TV” … sort-of.
Poised for WWE Super Show-Down in Melbourne, Australia, the blue brand descended into all-out chaos as Charlotte Flair hurled SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch through her own custom poster, Randy Orton injured Tye Dillinger’s finger in the turnbuckle and The Bar served up SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day.
Randy Orton squared off against the returning Big Show in a WWE World Cup Qualifying Match that pushed both Superstars to their limits. Elsewhere, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair saw their saga take a devastating turn as they faced off in a WWE Super Show-Down title rematch.
An absolutely loaded SmackDown 1000 saw Rey Mysterio make an unbelievable return to the blue brand, cameos from Mr. McMahon, Batista, Ric Flair and Edge, as well as The Big Show making a catastrophic impact on the SmackDown Tag Team division.
Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy rekindled their rivalry with another barbaric encounter on the blue brand. Elsewhere, the footage from the wild brawl between SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at the WWE Performance Center was finally revealed.
During an unpredictable SmackDown LIVE, Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio took on Randy Orton & The Miz ahead of their scheduled clashes in the WWE World Cup, but The Viper went the extra mile to dismantle his fellow tournament entrants as they all aim to be named the best in the world. Elsewhere, WWE Crown Jewel came early, as WWE Champion AJ Styles defended the title against Daniel Bryan with Samoa Joe lurking in the wings.
The blue brand began to put its Survivor Series teams together for the battle for brand supremacy against Raw at WWE’s Survivor Series, but it soon became obvious that there could be a few bumps in the road with Daniel Bryan and The Miz co-captaining the men’s team.
In one of the most shocking SmackDown LIVE episodes of all time, Daniel Bryan stunned the WWE Universe in his WWE Championship Match against AJ Styles, and Becky Lynch made a very surprising decision regarding her replacement to face Ronda Rousey this Sunday at Survivor Series.
Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton’s main event match took a horrifying turn when The Viper sadistically targeted The Biggest Little Man after the bell. Elsewhere, Charlotte Flair and Daniel Bryan addressed their surprising actions over the past week.
Asuka won a Battle Royal to secure her place in the SmackDown Women’s Championship TLC Match against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. Elsewhere, Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton engaged in a wild brawl one week after The Viper stole Mysterio’s mask.
Two weeks from WWE TLC, AJ Styles’ pursuit of the “New” Daniel Bryan led him into a showdown with The Miz. Plus, Samoa Joe continued to antagonize Jeff Hardy, and the contract signing for the first-ever Women’s Triple Threat TLC Match resulted in a reluctant tag team partnership between Charlotte Flair & Asuka.
The WrestleMania rematch between Charlotte Flair and Asuka ended when The Queen bashed The Empress of Tomorrow with a kendo stick, but that was only the start of SmackDown LIVE's chaotic conclusion. Though she took the first blow, it was Asuka who stood tall at the end, battering both Flair and SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch with the kendo stick. Was this a preview of what lies ahead for all three women in this Sunday's Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match?
In one of the biggest upsets in SmackDown LIVE history, Mustafa Ali got the best of “The New” Daniel Bryan when the newest SmackDown LIVE Superstar teamed up with AJ Styles to take on the WWE Champion & Andrade “Cien” Almas in a major main event on the blue brand.
What was a festive Christmas night edition of SmackDown LIVE took a shocking turn when AJ Styles met with WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, who said he wanted to see the “animal” inside The Phenomenal One. A slap from The Chairman to Styles’ face did the trick, as the former WWE Champion struck Mr. McMahon with a thunderous right hand. Also, a new United States Champion was crowned and “The New” Daniel Bryan continued to run roughshod over anyone in his path.
