This week's episode of "Smackdown Live" saw Comissioner Shane McMahon finally get a bit of a payback from hated rivals Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn; Becky Lynch makes a statement against the Riot Squad, and the semi-finals for the United States Championship tournament takes shape.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles started the evening as he sat down with Renee young for an interview. "The Phenomenal One" expressed his displeasure regarding Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan's apparent favoritism towards best friends Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, whom the GM scheduled to face Styles in a handicap match for the title at the 2018 Royal Rumble.
Styles vowed that he will walk out with the title still around his waist, prompting Owens and Zayn to come out and taunt the champion. Shane McMahon then entered the arena, and announced a handicap match of his own, but with the advantage going to Styles this time, as he will be paired up with Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura to take on the two for the main event.
Becky Lynch returned to action as she took on Riot Squad leader Ruby Riot. Riot came into the ring with her teammates, but Lynch was also had some backup in the form of Women's champion Charlotte Flair and Naomi, ensuring a fair fight for the Irish "lass-kicker." Lynch locked her "Dis-arm-her" out of nowhere, forcing riot to tap out.
The Bludgeon Brothers made very short work of the Ascension, planting Viktor with their double powerbomb finisher for the win.
Bobby Roode sat ringside to get a first-hand view of his potential opponent in the semi-finals of the United States Championship Tournament, which turned out to be Mojo Rawley when he powered through former friend Zack Ryder to advance. Roode and Rawley had a brief staredown that ended with the latter backing away.
Daniel Bryan arranged a two out of three falls match between the Usos and Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable for the Tag Team Championship.
In the main event, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn tried twice to take the easy way out but was foiled by Shane McMahon each time they did. The Commissioner fist turned the match into no count outs to ensure that the two didn't escape, then turned the match into no disqualifications when they tried to escape for a second time.
This resulted in Styles swinging away on Kevin Owens with a steel chair all the way to the ramp, leaving Sami Zayn on the receiving end of a beatdown from Orton and Nakamura, which finished with an RKO and the three count.
What will Shane's actions cause in his already turbulent relationship with Daniel Bryan? Expect the one-upmanship between the two to continue in the coming weeks.
