Today at WWE Super ShowDown, WWE Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt may face his toughest test to date as he takes on Goldberg in the title match main event! Plus, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar takes on Ricochet and Bayley defends the SmackDown women’s title against Naomi in the first women’s title match in Saudi Arabia. All that and more at WWE Super ShowDown!
Charly Caruso, Scott Stanford, and David Otunga host the pre-show from WWE Studios in Stamford, Conn.
Pre-Show Results: The OC defeated The Viking Raiders by pinfall with The Magic Killer.
We are LIVE from the Mohammed Abdu Arena on the Boulevard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton have the call for today.
Tuwaiq Trophy Gauntlet Match: R-Truth vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Andrade vs. Erick Rowan
Bobby Lashley and R-Truth kick the match off. Lashley with the arm wrench and side headlock. Shoulder tackle from Lashley and Truth comes back with a headscissors. Truth sent to the apron and a forearm from Lashley sends him crashing into the barricade. Lashley works Truth down back inside. Delayed vertical suplex gets a nearfall for Lashley. Truth starts a comeback with a reversal into a sleeper. Shoulder tackle from Truth, but Lashley drops him with a tackle of his own. Dominator blocked by Truth and he lands a side slam and Five Knuckle Shuffle. AA blocked by Lashley. Truth with a heel kick. Lashley elbows out of the corner for a flatliner. Lashley tries for a Spear, but Truth sidesteps and Lashley runs himself into the corner. Truth stacks him.
Bobby Lashley eliminated by R-Truth via pinfall.
Lashley beats Truth down post-match and sends him into the barricade and steps.
R-Truth vs. Andrade
Andrade with a knee in the corner and he attacks the injured left arm and shoulder of Truth. Truth gets the advantage when Andrade misses a flying knee in the corner and falls to the outside. Truth comes back with a corkscrew right hand inside and builds momentum. Both men clash heads and Truth falls on top of Andrade.
Andrade eliminated by R-Truth via pinfall.
R-Truth vs. Erick Rowan
Rowan smashes Truth into the corner and slams him down. Rowan punches Truth down. Truth pulls down the top rope on Rowan to send him out and a slingshot crossbody lands outside. Truth sent into the steel steps and it knocks the cage off the steps. Rowan goes crazy and hits Truth with the steps.
Erick Rowan eliminated by R-Truth via disqualification.
Rowan hits the Claw Chokeslam in the ring after the match.
R-Truth vs. AJ Styles
Truth swings at Styles and falls over. Styles laughs at Truth and pop-locks as he stomps Truth down. Styles dances around as he beats Truth down. Styles locks in the Calf Crusher.
R-Truth eliminated by AJ Styles via submission.
Rey Mysterio’s music hits and no one comes out. Styles laughs and smiles in the ring. The music hits a second time and no one comes out. The OC are shown on the screen beating Rey Mysterio down backstage. Styles says Mysterio won’t be getting up from that, so he should be the gauntlet winner by forfeit. Styles tells the referee to raise his hand and tells the timekeeper to ring the bell and hand him the trophy. The referee tells the announcer that if Styles’ opponent doesn’t make it to the ring by the referee’s count of ten, he will be declared the winner.
The OC is shown being thrown to the floor backstage and a big pair of black boots and a trench coat is shown walking past. Styles tells the referee to continue his count, but the lights go out and here comes The Undertaker.
AJ Styles vs. The Undertaker
Chokeslam lands.
AJ Styles eliminated by The Undertaker via pinfall.
Winner: The Undertaker
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
The Truth story early in the match and Styles building to the inevitable finish made this at least tolerable, though it is nothing you couldn’t watch in fast-forward to get the whole picture of the match.
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day backstage and they say this isn’t time to play and they will show The Miz and John Morrison why they are seven-time WWE tag team champions.
(Commercials)
WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The New Day (c) (Kofi Kingston & Big E) vs. The Miz & John Morrison
The Miz starts with Big E. Miz works the arm and Big E pulls him into strikes. Big E tosses Miz across the ring. Miz doubles Big E over, but Big E comes back with an abdominal stretch. John Morrison gets the tag and Big E with a belly-to-belly suplex. Kingston in with a senton for a nearfall. Morrison worked in the New Day corner. Big E sent outside by Morrison and Miz drops from the apron for a big boot. Corkscrew plancha from Morrison follows and Big E worked in the Miz and Morrison corner. Miz with a rear chinlock. Big E lifts him up on his back, but Miz with a dropkick to the knee. Big E tries to fight out of the corner, but a springboard dropkick Hart Attack puts him back down. Big E drops Morrison down and lands a uranage on Miz to create separation. Kingston in against Morrison and he works the comeback for New Day. Kingston with a jumping double stomp for a nearfall. Boom Drop lands and Miz runs in, but gets sent out. Trouble in Paradise caught for a rolling Alabama Slam and shining wizard from Morrison for a nearfall. Morrison and Kingston exchange and an S.O.S. from Kingston gets a nearfall. Morrison left in the New Day corner for a double stomp Doomsday Device. Nearfall for Big E.
Miz throws Kingston into the barricade ringside. Miz lands a DDT on Big E inside for a nearfall. Yes Kicks from Miz and Big E hit with a neckbreaker and double stomp combo from Miz and Morrison. Morrison misses on Starship Pain. Big E gets the tag to Kingston and he clears the apron. Morrison takes a Big Ending and flying kick combo that is saved by Miz. Miz thrown out and Kingston dives over the top, but Miz moves away and Kingston crashes to the floor on his back. Big E hit with the Skull-Crushing Finale for a nearfall. Miz with corner kicks and knees. A third one misses and crotches Miz on the second turnbuckle. Kingston comes in and victory rolls a Skull-Crushing Finale for a nearfall. Kingston rolls Miz and Miz kicks Kingston out into a sneaky chair shot from Morrison. Miz rolls him up with a handful of tights.
Winners by pinfall and NEW WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Miz & John Morrison
Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars
Good tag title match with the crowd hot for both teams and Kingston delivering an absurd spot by taking the unprotected dive over the top rope. Miz and Morrison aren’t missing a beat in their return and their cutting off New Day comebacks played really well here.
Byron Saxton with WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Murphy. Saxton asks about their plan to ensure victory against The Street Profits. Rollins asks about Saxton’s negativity and he says he respects The Street Profits as athletes, but they have chosen to stand in front of Rollins’ vision. Rollins doesn’t need a plan because it is a matter of destiny that he and Murphy will walk out as tag champions.
(Commercials)
Angel Garza vs. Humberto Carrillo
Counters and evasions exchanged. Carrillo cartwheels out of the corner and lands a kick combo. Springboard flying headbutt by Carrillo. Springboard arm drag sends Garza out. Handstand hurricanrana off the apron by Garza. Suicide dive headbutt by Carrillo and he lands an elbow drop from the barricade. Carrillo with a nearfall inside and a basement dropkick gets a nearfall. Garza crotches Carrillo on the second turnbuckle and lands a dropkick out of the tree of woe after he pulls off his long trunks. Camel Clutch in by Garza. Carrillo flips out of a back suplex for a jawbreaker. Tornado kick from Carrillo and a springboard kick knocks Garza off the top rope for a nearfall. Carrillo and Garza fight up top. Garza sent to the mat, but he dropkicks Carrillo out of the air for a nearfall. Garza tries to get Carrillo up and they exchange superkicks. Garza barely connects on a destroyer that puts both down. Garza kicked down, but a small package gets a nearfall on Carrillo. Carrillo kicks Garza down and a moonsault misses as they exchange pinning predicaments. Garza stacks Carrillo.
Winner by pinfall: Angel Garza
Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars
Not their best outing. It looked like they were going through the motions at some points and the finish was lackluster, in addition to being done sloppily altogether.
WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley with Byron Saxton backstage. Saxton says this will be the first women’s title defense in Saudi Arabia and asks her about making history. Bayley says she will be making history once again, like she always has and everyone is catching up to. Bayley says tonight is about beating Naomi and proving her dominance again and again again.
(Commercials)
WWE Raw Tag Team Championships: Seth Rollins & Murphy (c) vs. The Street Profits
Angelo Dawkins with a spear on Murphy and he punches him down. Montez Ford in with a dropkick. Rollins sent outside and Ford hits a dropkick for a nearfall on Murphy. Ford hits a penalty kick on the apron to Rollins. Murphy takes advantage by knocking Ford off the apron and into the announce table. Rollins works Ford down and Murphy in to do the same. Ford fights up, but Murphy with a meteora to stop the tag. Ford sent outside and Murphy tries to attack, but Ford reverses a whip into the barricade. Rollins dives and misses Ford, falling into the barricade. Ford looks for the tag, but Murphy pulls Dawkins off the apron just before. Falcon Arrow from Rollins gets a nearfall. Buckle bomb and kick combo land, but Ford fights out of the corner for the tag to Dawkins. Dawkins works the comeback for Street Profits. Things break down and Ford dropkicks Murphy to the outside. Rollins rolls Ford for a nearfall. Enzuigiri from Ford connects and a Frog Splash follows for a nearfall as Murphy drags Ford out. Ford taken out and Rollins and Murphy look for a double Pedigree, but Street Profits with double DDTs to send the champions out. Ford with a flip dive outside, but he gets caught and run into the barricade. Dawkins hits a double clothesline on the champions and flapjacks Rollins on the floor.
Back inside, Rollins holds the leg of Dawkins as he gets in the ring. Jumping knee from Murphy lands. The referee tries to separate Murphy from Dawkins and it allows Rollins to land the Stomp from the apron.
Winners by pinfall and STILL WWE Raw Tag Team Champions: Seth Rollins & Murphy
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
This only got rolling just as they hit the finish really. Definitely just a sort of busy work match to tease the best of what these teams have to offer, which seems like a theme on these shows.
(Commercials)
Dolph Ziggler (w/Robert Roode) vs. Mansoor
Roode gets in Mansoor’s face before the match and tells him to show some respect. Mansoor dropkicks him out of the ring after Roode tries an attack and the referee ejects Roode from ringside.
Ziggler backs Mansoor into the corner and kicks him down into a side headlock. Shoulder tackle knocks Mansoor down and Ziggler rakes the eyes. Mansoor applies a chinlock counter and a shoulder tackle of his own. The crowd cheers for Mansoor and a victory roll into a standing moonsault gets a nearfall. Ziggler with an elbow between the ropes that gets a delayed reaction from Mansoor. Ziggler drags Mansoor’s face across the top rope. Standing elbow drop nearfall for Ziggler and a rear chinlock from Ziggler as he works Mansoor down. Mansoor fights up, but Ziggler goes to the knee. Neckbreaker and Ziggler continues to ground Mansoor. Ziggler tries to run Mansoor into the corner, but Mansoor kicks and elbows away. Apron enzuigiri and a slingshot neckbreaker drops Ziggler. Mansoor with a nearfall on Ziggler and he goes up top, but gets crotched. Ziggler with a Zig-Zag. Mansoor able to kick out. Ziggler misses on a superkick and Mansoor tries to get him up. Ziggler with a small package nearfall. Mansoor with an inverted Sliced Bread out of the corner. Mansoor up top and a moonsault lands with the knees to the body of Ziggler.
Winner by pinfall: Mansoor
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Mansoor has some impressive offense, but really struggles at much else. Some of the offense here was sloppy and took too long to set up. This was an obvious carry for the hometown talent who isn’t quite able to pull his weight just yet, which sort of depends on setting him up with the right opponent too.
Byron Saxton with Mansoor in the ring post-match and he congratulates him. Mansoor takes the microphone and thanks the crowd for picking him up and giving him hope. Mansoor says they showed him that Saudi Arabia is ready for its first WWE Superstar. Mansoor says he just showed that they are here to stay. As he showed on the TakeOver pre-show and in this promo, Mansoor at least has a good presence to build on.
Video package previews WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Ricochet.
WWE Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Ricochet
Paul Heyman does the intros for Lesnar.
Ricochet tries a dropkick and gets swatted out of the air. Lesnar with a suplex that dumps Ricochet and German suplexes take Ricochet to Suplex City. F5 lands.
Winner by pinfall and STILL WWE Champion: Brock Lesnar
No Rating
Were you expecting anything more?
Video previews Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin.
Steel Cage Match: King Corbin vs. Roman Reigns
Reigns chains the door shut and Corbin attacks Reigns from behind. Corbin clotheslines Reigns into the corner and strikes him down. Corbin works Reigns down and bounces him against the cage. Corbin tries to escape over the top and Reigns and Corbin fight up top. Corbin looks for a powerbomb off the top rope. Reigns punches Corbin down and lands a flying clothesline. Reigns with short-arm clotheslines in the corner. Superman Punch blocked by Corbin for a Deep Six that gets a nearfall. Corbin looks for the key to Reigns’ chain. Reigns punches up and Corbin with a one-arm powerbomb for a nearfall. Corbin finds the key and unlocks the chain. Reigns tackles Corbin in the corner. Corbin gets the chain off and reaches for the door. Reigns drags him down and Corbin with ground-and-pound. Reigns bounces the door off the face of Corbin, but a Superman Punch turned into a chokeslam for Corbin that gets a nearfall. Corbin wraps the chain around his hand and goes for a Superman Punch, but he runs into one from Reigns that almost wins the match. Corbin pulls himself up the cage and elbows Reigns away. Reigns climbs with him and they both sit up top. Reigns tries to climb out, but Corbin pulls him back in by the vest.
They exchange punches on the top rope and Corbin bounces Reigns’ face off the cage. Reigns crotches Corbin on the top rope. Superman Punch from Reigns and another follows with Corbin against the cage. Reigns gets the chain around his fist and hits a Superman Punch.
Winner by pinfall: Roman Reigns
Rating: 1.25 out of 5 stars
This had nothing going for it. The crowd wasn’t into it at all and the cage really added nothing but a few searches for the key and the chain playing a part in the finish.
(Commercials)
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) vs. Naomi
Naomi with a side headlock and shoulder tackle, Bayley with a trip and side headlock. Naomi with another shoulder tackle and Naomi with a diving uppercut. Split-legged leg drop gets Naomi a nearfall. Bayley goes to work on the left arm of Naomi. Naomi kicks Bayley down and another leg drop gets a nearfall. Bayley begs off and goes to the ropes, where she hammerlocks the arm of Naomi between the ropes. Naomi comes back with a headscissors to send Bayley out. Corkscrew plancha lands for Naomi. Apron head kick sees Bayley tie up Naomi with a headlock and an elbow drops Naomi to the floor. Bayley throws her into the barricade for a nearfall back inside. Bayley works Naomi down back inside. Naomi tries to flip Bayley, but Bayley with a clothesline nearfall. Suplex from Bayley gets a nearfall. Bayley tries to work Naomi into the corner, but Naomi kicks out and follows with clotheslines and a jawbreaker. Springboard kick and an apron head kick are followed by a springboard attack that barely connects for a Naomi nearfall. Naomi works with kicks and a double Eat Defeat connects. Bayley catches with Bayley-to-Belly for a nearfall.
Bayley stomps the leg of Naomi and a back suplex drops Naomi. A driver from Bayley blocked, but she follows Naomi with a knee in the corner. Naomi meets her with an enzuigiri. Split-legged moonsault misses and Bayley hooks Naomi’s leg in her t-shirt. Headlock driver by Bayley.
Winner by pinfall and STILL WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion: Bayley
Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars
Decent match in front of a crowd that is burnt out. Bayley’s way of winning was a new one and adds to her character even if it wasn’t too smooth of a finish.
(Commercials)
Video package previews WWE Universal Champion “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt vs. Goldberg.
WWE Universal Championship: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Goldberg
They go face-to-face and Wyatt takes off his jacket. Goldberg uses it to Spear Wyatt. One-count and Wyatt sits up to lock in the Mandible Claw. Goldberg runs him into the corner. Three Spears land and The Fiend kicks out. Mandible Claw locked in by The Fiend. Goldberg fights up from his knees and lands headbutts. A weak Jackhammer lands.
Winner by pinfall and NEW WWE Universal Champion: Goldberg
No Rating
Goldberg didn’t really look great in the limited action, but maybe this will allow them some time to work out the kinks with The Fiend’s sputtering title run.
Post-match, The Fiend stands back up and stands behind Goldberg. The lights hit and The Fiend disappears. Goldberg comes down from the top rope and celebrates.
Overall, the WWE international shows have a decent match or two along with house show level matches that just have bigger stakes and stipulations. This was no different. The most you can hope for is these shows ending up being inoffensive and this show JUST managed to make it past that mark.