Welcome to our exclusive coverage for tonight’s episode of WWE Smackdown Live. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to our newsletter to receive the latest edition of the PW Daily Report directly to your inbox every single day.
WWE Smackdown Results
March 13, 2018
Report by Mike Killam for ProWrestling.com
– Tom Phillips welcomes us to Smackdown Live alongside Byron Saxton and Corey Graves. We’ve got a stacked show tonight as Asuka makes her blue brand debut, Shane McMahon is set to make a huge WrestleMania announcement, and…
IN-RING SEGMENT
WWE Champion AJ Styles makes his way to the ring to get things started, not waiting for Tom to finish his introductions. The crowd gives him a warm welcome and chants his name as he talks about barely surviving the main event at Fastlane, especially after John Cena put him through the commentary table. He says that after everything he went through he is still standing here on live television in “the house that AJ Styles built”, and can now wrap his mind around headlining WrestleMania 34…
The crowd bursts into a huge “YOU DESERVE IT” chant but it’s cut off by Shinsuke Nakamura’s music. The crowd goes wild as the two old rivals stare each other down. The Artist eventually takes the mic and congratulates Styles on his victory at Fastlane. He acknowledges that Styles is the WWE Champion and a match between them at WrestleMania is “a dream come true” for both of them. That being said, his new “dream” is putting his knee in AJ’s face. Before the two can say anything else, Rusev’s music hits and looks like the champ will be in action to kick off this show tonight!
AJ STYLES vs. RUSEV
The match is already underway as we return from commercial break. The crowd is split in half dueling back and forth with “AJ STYLES” and “RUSEV DAY” chants that never seem to end. The champ controlled a lot of the early actual using his speed and technical skill to keep the Bulgarian Brute off his feet as much as possible. It’s worth noting that Rusev looks phenomenal and is probably in the most trim shape of his entire life.
After a second commercial Rusev managed to throw Styles off the top rope, crashing to the mat below. They traded heavy strikes and kicks before Rusev connected with an absolutely brutal spinning kick to the side of his opponent’s head. He started tuning up the band for a running boot but AJ ducked underneath and connected with the Ushigoroshi! The champ set up for the Styles Clash but too much damage had been done to his knee apparently (must have happened during the two breaks), and Rusev managed to break free.
He tried for the Accolade but Styles rolled into the Calf Crusher, prompting Aiden English to rush in and make the save for his friend. The two beat AJ down and put the boots to him all around the ring until Nakamura, who was sitting at ringside throughout the match, slowly got to his feet and considered getting involved. Eventually the Artist rushed the ring and fought off Rusev, planting English with a Kinshasa. Nakamura and Styles starred each other down before leaving with a begrudging sign of respect.
Winner via DQ: AJ Styles