WWE Smackdown results: Tensions between Roman Reigns and Randy Orton reach boiling point while Rusev continues to dominate
Reigns' main event against Rusev ends in chaos as Battleground move ever closer
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Your support makes all the difference.Rusev and Lana started the show with a salute to Vladmir Putin before diverting their attention to WWE World Championship contender Roman Reigns. Lana said Reigns will be proven to be as worthless as the leaders of Canada, which Smackdown was taped at. Reigns made his way through the crowd to confront the duo about their remarks. The former Shield member confronted Rusev to a fight but the Russians retreated, which set up a match for the main event.
The first match of the night saw AJ take on the recently independent Cameron following the breakup of the Funkadactyls on Raw. The match was quite aggressive as the two strong personalities grappled across the mat but it was the Divas Champion AJ that came out as the winner with an impactful Shining Wizard to the chin of Cameron. The fans learnt that there will be a rematch between AJ and Paige for the title at Battleground following the surprise win from the returnee two weeks ago.
Fandango made his way out to the ring accompanied by his girlfriend Layla for a match with the flamboyant Adam Rose. Summer Rae was part of the "Exotic Express" to further instigate tensions between her and her former dance partner. Rose got the better of a distracted Fandango and won the match with his Party Foul finisher. The rivalry between Summer and the partnership of Fandango & Layla was set to continue but later on in the show the two Divas called a truce and attacked Fandango before celebrating with a dance off.
Next we saw Randy Orton take on the recently returned Chris Jericho as the latter prepares for his match against Bray Wyatt at Battleground. Y2J went for the Walls of Jericho but the "Viper" managed to reach for the ropes to break the hold. Jericho countered the middle rope DDT as Bray Wyatt's music hit to cause Orton to take advantage and hit the RKO.
Bo Dallas took on El Torito and Diego in a handicap match following Dallas' attack on cruiserweight last week on Smackdown. The "Boliever" continued his antagonist run and hit Torito with the "Bodog" and gloated about the win in front of the fans.
The main event between Reigns and Rusev got off to an action packed start as the powerhouses traded strikes over the ring. Reigns connected with the Superman punch and signalled for the spear but Orton ran in and attacked the former Shield member to end the match in disqualification. Orton looked to continue attack but Reigns hit the Superman punch on the former World Champion. Rusev however recovered to knock down Reigns as Orton picked himself up to end the show with the RKO.
The show delivered a few shifts in storyline with Summer and Layla aligning against Fandango and Orton aggressively provoking Reigns ahead of the fatal-four way at Battleground. Reports have stated that Reigns is set to take on Orton at Summerslam ahead of a showdown with Triple H at Night of Champions. This summer is set to be a busy one for the powerhouse who will be looking to prove himself amongst the elite.
Results:
AJ defeats Cameron by pinfall
Adam Rose defeats Fandango via count out.
Usos beat Heath Slater and Titus O'Neal by pinfall.
Orton defeats Jericho by pinfall.
Layla and Summer Rae ends as a no-contest.
Goldust beats Axel by pinfall.
Bo Dallas pins Diego, defeating Diego and El Torito in a handicap match.
Reigns wins after Rusev gets a DQ due to interference by Orton.
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