The March 6th edition of WWE SmackDown Live took place at the Resch Center in Green Bay, WI, and was the go-home show for Fastlane on Sunday.
– This week’s broadcast opens up with Tom Phillips welcoming us to the Resch Center in Green Bay. He’s joined by Corey Graves and Byron Saxton at the commentary table.
– WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair comes down to the ring for an in-ring interview with her Fastlane opponent. Ruby Riott comes out next with the rest of the Riott Squad, but her partners stay back on the stage while Ruby hits the ring. Ruby gets on the mic and discusses her history with Charlotte, and her jealousy of the Women’s Champion. Ruby said she formed the Riott Squad to destroy the myth that Charlotte is the queen of the women’s division. Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan head to the ring now, and it looks bad for Charlotte. Bobby Roode comes out to interrupt, as he’s here to do commentary for tonight’s first match. The Riott Squad backs off and heads backstage. Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal is up next.
– Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal: Sunil Singh comes out and introduces Jinder Mahal. The opening bell sounds and Orton and Sign trade holds. Orton takes over with an elbow to the face, then he puts the boots to Mahal. Orton looks for the RKO early on, but Jinder escapes and regroups at ringside. Back in the ring, Jinder gets some shots in on Orton and then drops him with a flying knee to the face for a two count. Jinder keeps Orton grounded, until Orton finally fights up and hits a powerslam. Orton hits some clotheslines and another powerslam. Orton hits a fallaway slam for a two count. Orton lays into Jinder with chops and uppercuts, then a backbreaker. Jinder rolls outside and uses Singh as a shield. Orton throws Sunil aside, then Jinder nails Orton. Orton counters and throws Jinder into Roode at the announce table. Roode goes down, and Orton brings Jinder back into the ring and hits a DDT. Orton looks for the RKO, but Roode gets on the apron and cuases a distraction. Jinder hits Orton from behind, sending him into Roode on the apron. Jinder follows up with the Khallas on Orton for the three count.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
– After the match, Jinder celebrates as Roode gets back to this feet on the floor. Jinder heads up the ramp with Sunil as Orton recovers on the mat.
– Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are backstage talking about the Six-Pack Challenge. Owens reminds Sami that this is every man for himself, and reminds Sami previously saying he would sacrifice himself for Owens. Sami agrees, and Owens says Sami is a great guy for that. Sami says his time will come, but WrestleMania 34 is Kevin’s time. Sami reiterates that he’ll lay down for Owens at Fastlane, and then they laugh and hug.
– We see Baron Corbin backstage cutting a promo about John Cena coming back to SmackDown. He says he owes Cena a beating, and says he’s going to turn Cena’s WrestleMania dream into a nightmare.
– We see a video package looking at the New Day vs. Usos feud.
– Shinsuke Nkamura is backstage for an interview where he says he hopes AJ wins on Sunday so he can beat him at WrestleMania. Rusev and Aiden English interrupt, and they say Nakamura may have damaged Aiden’s singing voice last week in their match. Rusev challenges Nakamura to a match at Fastlane, and Nakamura accepts, and says Sunday will be Nakamura Day.
– Carmella vs. Becky Lynch: The opening bell sounds and Becky takes control early on. she goes up top, but Carmella drops her and takes hear down with a head scissors. Carmella pummels on Becky now and yells at Becky as she rubs her face into the mat. Becky looks for an armbar, but Carmella locks and continues the offense. Naomi is shown backstage watching on a monitor. Carmella and Becky briefly brawl at ringside, then back in the ring Carmella slams Becky down. Becky drops Carmella with a spinning heel kick, and now both women are down. They get up and trade shots in the middle of the ring until Carmella gets the upper hand with a boot to the face. Becky ducks a shot and hits the Bexploder suplex. They trade strikes until Becky grabs Carmella with the Disarm Her for the win.
Winner: Becky Lynch
– The announcers discuss some of WWE’s international events that were announce this week.
– WWE Champion AJ Styles comes down to the ring to talk about Cena. AJ talks about his journey to the WWE Title, and complains about the possibility of losing the Title without being pinned on Sunday. AJ brings up Cena beating him last week and fans boo. AJ gives props to Cena, but takes issue with some of Cena’s words. He says he’s not interested in making his WrestleMania match a three-way with Cena and Nakamura. AJ says no one ever thought he and Nakamura would have a WWE Title match at WrestleMania, and he doesn’t want Cena there and neither do the fans. Dolph Ziggler comes out to interrupt, and says AJ used to be cool but he changed. Ziggler says AJ isn’t phenomenal, he’s desperate. AJ makes fun of Ziggler for being in WWE for 13 years and not reaching his potential. They trade insults and Ziggler discusses his previous World Title victory. AJ tells Ziggler that’s enough talking, let’s fight. Ziggler seems to accept, and AJ calls for a referee.
– Dolph Ziggler vs. AJ Styles: This one is a non-Title match. The opening bell sounds and Ziggler goes for a superkick early, but AJ dodges it and unloads on Ziggler with strikes. Ziggler rolls outside for a breather, then comes back in the ring and wrestles AJ down to the mat. AJ slams Ziggler down, then Ziggler gets up and hits a dropkick. They fight into the corner now, then Ziggler drops AJ and hits an elbow drop. AJ fights up and hits some elbows, then the Champion hits a running dropkick. Ziggler rolls outside again, and AJ goes flying onto him with a suicide dive. Ziggler knocks AJ off the apron and AJ is hurt. Back in the ring, Ziggler pounds on AJ in the corner then hits a backdrop. Ziggler hits some more strikes before AJ fires back with some of his own. AJ hits a running forearm on Ziggler, then a splash in the corner. Ziggler hits a cheap shot to the eyes, then a Fame-asser for a two count. They trade strikes again until Ziggler kicks out AJ’s leg, then kicks him int he head. They fight out to the apron where Ziggler throws AJ into the ring post. Back in the ring, Ziggler tries to do a Styles Clash, but AJ escapes. AJ looks for the Calf Crusher, but Ziggler fights up and hits the Zig Zag for a two count. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens run in, which puts an abrupt end to this one. The referee calls for the bell and it’s a no contest.
Winner: No contest
– Zayn and Owens attack both AJ and Ziggler. AJ and Ziggler finally fight up, and they beat down Owens and Zayn and throw them out of the ring. Shane McMahon comes out to try to restore order. Shane calls out Owens and Zayn for the sneak attack, and books a five-way match that will start right now: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin.
– Fatal 5 Way: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn vs. AJ Styles vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin: AJ and Sami start going at it, then Corbin comes over and throws Sami into the fan barrier. Corbin throws Owens next, then beats on Sami back in the ring. AJ and Corbin go at it now, but Corbin gets the better of him and stomps out the Champion. Owens comes back in, but Corbin drops him too. Corbin and Ziggler start going at it, and Ziggler throws Corbin outside. Owens and Sami gang up on Corbin at ringside and throw him into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Sami beats on Ziggler while Owens attacks AJ. Owens then hits a senton on Ziggler, and Sami stomps on Corbin on the apron. Sami and Kevin double team AJ now, and Owens hits a senton on AJ for a two count. They kick Corbin back outside the ring, but Corbin comes right back in and drops Sami. Corbin walks into a superkick from Owens, but then Ziggler drops Owens. AJ hits a Pele kick on Sami elsewhere in the ring.
Everyone starts fighting in the corner, which leads to a five-man powerbomb pyramid spot. Everyone is down, and AJ and Owens roll out to ringside. Sami, Corbin and Ziggler go at it in teh ring now. Corbin falls out to ringside, and Sami hits a Blue Thunderbomb on Ziggler, but AJ breaks up the pin attempt. Sami throws AJ outside, then Ziggler throws Sami outside. Owens hits the ring and hits a German suplex on Ziggler, then drops Corbin. Owens hits the cannonball on Ziggler in the corner, then a KO Bomb, but AJ breaks up the pin. AJ gets thrown outside, and Ziggler hits a Zig Zag on Corbin. Ziggler hits a superkick on Sami next. Corbin beats on AJ and throws him outside, then he clotheslines Sami down. Corbin hits a chokeslam backbreaker on Ziggler, then a Deep Six on Owens. Corbin covers, and AJ breaks up the pin.
AJ boots Corbin down, then kicks Ziggler in the head too. Sami nails AJ in the corner, but AJ comes back with a big reverse DDT. AJ drops Corbin on the apron, then throws Ziggler outside. Owens and Sami throw AJ outside next. Sami turns around and hits a big boot on Owens, and the crowd goes nuts. Sami covers for the three count.
Winner: Sami Zayn
– After the match, Sami is on his knees next to Owens, as the others recover at ringside. We see replays as the announcers promote Sunday’s Fastlane show. Sami makes his exit, and Owens looks mad. Dasha Fuentes comes out to interview Sami, and asks why he attacked Owens. Sami says her question is stupid and he did that because he’s the most underlooked performer in WWE. Sami says tonight wasn’t about the WWE Title, it was just to prove who is the best, and he proved he is. Sami heads to the back as SmackDown goes off the air.
