WWE has begun their weekend-long takeover of Melbourne, Australia, as they prepare to present their first-ever annual live special, WWE Super Show-Down 2018, from the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground venue in Melbourne, Australia.
The WWE Super Show-Down 2018 event kicks off with an extensive video package focusing on the "Last Time Ever" match between Triple H and The Undertaker. From there Michael Cole welcomes us watching along with the 70,309 fans inside the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground to the show.
SmackDown Live Tag-Team Titles
The New Day vs. The Bar
On commentary, Corey Graves questioned New Day’s logic of keeping Big E on the sideline given that they were going against two powerhouses. The challengers dominated the body of the match. New Day came back and there was a nice spot with Woods performing a Backstabber on Cesaro followed by Kingston hitting a double stomp off the top rope, which led to the pin.
Winners and STILL SmackDown Live Tag-Team Champions: The New Day
SmackDown Live Women's Championship
Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair
The second match of the evening sees Becky Lynch defend her SmackDown Live Women's Title against Charlotte. The fans are super into Lynch in Melbourne. Lynch caught Charlotte in an early Fujiwara armbar. Charlotte broke he hold with a side slam. The women traded forearms for the “yay/boo” dynamic with the crowd cheering in support of Lynch. Charlotte caught Lynch with a spear for a two count. Charlotte went for a moonsault, but Lynch put her boot up at 8:35. Lynch went for a top rope legdrop a short time later, but Charlotte rolled out of the way. Charlotte applied a Boston crab at 9:15. Lynch reached the ropes to break it. Lynch grabbed the title belt and wanted to leave, but Charlotte stopped her. Back in the ring, Charlotte speared Lynch again and then applied a figure four. Lynch grabbed her title belt that was on the apron and hit Charlotte with it to get disqualified. After the match, Lynch continued the beatdown of Charlotte, blasting her with an exploder on the floor and then running back to knee her in the grill.
Winner via Disqualification: Charlotte Flair
Kevin Owens & Elias vs. John Cena & Bobby Lashley
Our next bout will be a tag-team contest pitting Kevin Owens and Elias against John Cena and Bobby Lashley. Elias comes out playing the beginning of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," which prompts the fans to sing along. Owens gets some heat trashing the "cesspool of a city" known as Melbourne, claiming he wished Super Show-Down was in Canada instead. Their opponents, John Cena and Bobby Lashley make their way out next. This one gets underway. Lashley gets beat down throughout the majority of the contest until Cena finally makes the save and picks up the win for his team by hitting the AA and his new finisher, a punch, for the pinfall. After the match, Cena talks about his future in WWE being uncertain because his life is changing.
Winners: John Cena & Bobby Lashley
Asuka & Naomi vs. The Ilconics
Women's tag-team action is up next here in Melbourne. This one didn't last long at all either, and was kept very basic. They must be saving their cool stuff for later in the card. IIconics got the heat on Naomi early but she quickly took things over, tagging in Asuka. The two work over Royce and Kaye, sending them to the floor with a double hip attack. Kaye blasted Asuka with a knee as the referee sent Naomi back to the apron. Both IIconics worked over Asuka until she landed a German suplex on Kaye and tagged in Naomi. She hit a springboard moonsault on Royce. Kaye took Naomi to the floor as Royce shoved Asuka into the barricade. The IIconics then double teamed Naomi, with Royce blasting her with a knee for the 1-2-3.
Winners: The Ilconics
WWE Championship (No DQ, No Count-Out)
A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe
Out next comes Samoa Joe. His WWE Championship No Disqualification and No Count Out bout against A.J. Styles is up next. The Phenomenal One comes out next and stops at the top of the ramp. He and Joe stare each other down from a distance before sprinting at each other and exchanging punches and kicks on the floor to start this one off. Joe eventually cut off the opening flurry and kicked Styles to ringside. Joe performed a dive through the ropes and hit Styles with a forearm. Joe worked over Styles with his signature offense, including the step-up enzuigiri. Joe catapulted Styles into the bottom rope and then Styles tumbled to the floor. Joe tried to suplex Styles back into the ring, but Styles slipped over him and threw a series of strikes around 8:30. Styles performed a backflip off the middle rope into a reverse DDT for a two count. Joe came back by catapulting Styles into the corner and then caught him with a clothesline for a two count of his own at 10:05. Joe went to ringside and grabbed a chair at 12:10. Joe brought the chair into the ring and Styles dropkicked it into his face. Styles picked up the chair and jabbed Joe in the gut with it and then slammed it over his back. Styles set up the chair and sat down on it for a moment and looked at Joe, who was selling in the corner. Styles went for a springboard move off the chair, but Joe caught him in the corner and performed a uranage onto the side of the chair and then got a two count. Joe pulled out a table for a pop. Joe slammed the chair over the back of Styles and then set up the table in the middle of the ring. Joe set up for what appeared to be a superplex through the table, but Styles slipped under him and dropped Joe through the table. Joe sold left knee pain. Styles was bleeding from the mouth. Cole noted that Joe told the referee it popped, then said he’s fine and told the referee to leave him alone. Styles pulled the referee back and went to work on Joe’s knee. Styles barked at Joe that there are consequences for messing with his family. Something was censored. Styles went for a Calf Crusher, but Joe countered into a Coquina Clutch. Styles reached the ropes while Cole said the ropes won’t force a break in a No DQ match. Styles reached the ropes and slid to the floor to break the hold. Styles hit Joe with a few shots from the apron that knocked him down. Styles hit a springboard 450 splash on the knee. Styles sent Joe fought to ringside and followed him. Styles ended up in the front row, then used the barricade to perform a Phenomenal Forearm on Joe. Styles rolled Joe back inside the ring. Styles set up for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Joe stepped aside and then applied the Coquina Clutch. Styles backed Joe into the corner twice in hopes of breaking the hold, but Joe performed a wicked suplex and covered Styles for a near fall at 22:20. Joe applied a Coquina Clutch. Styles rolled onto Joe for a two count in a play off their Hell in a Cell finish. Styles applied the Calf Crusher.
Winner and STILL WWE Champion: A.J. Styles
Six-Woman Tag-Team Match
Ronda Rousey & The Bella Twins vs. The Riott Squad
All six women make their way to the ring for our next featured match. Rousey and Nikki have a debate over who is going to start the match off for their team, already teasing some issues between each other. Nikki ended up starting for her team. Brie and Morgan ended up in the ring together early on. Brie grabbed Morgan’s colored tongue. Brie yelled Brie mode a short time later to a minimal reaction. Riott Squad isolated Nikki, who eventually made a hot tag to Rousey. Ronda worked over Logan and performed a twisting Samoan Drop style move. Riott and Morgan ran in and were cut off by the Bellas. Rousey set up for her finisher on Logan, but Morgan ran in and broke it up. Moran and Logan went for a double team on Rousey, who tossed them both around and then put them in a double armbar for the victory.
Winners: Ronda Rousey & The Bella Twins
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Cedric Alexader vs. Buddy Murphy
It's time for another championship contest, as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship is on-the-line in our next match here at WWE Super Show-Down. Murphy, complete with the Australian flag on the back of his tights, gets the big hometown hero reception coming out for this one here in Melbourne. The fans start chanting "Buddy! Buddy!" as soon as the bell sounds. Murphy immediately starts going to work on the champion. He knocks Alexander out of the ring and hits a big dive on him on the floor. Murphy hits a big tope con grio. He continues on offense until Alexander gave him a falcon arrow off the top rope, then followed with a tope con grio of his own. Alexander went for the lumbar check but Murphy blocked it. Alexander hit a step up enziguri and went for Murphy’s law but Alexander instead hit the standing spanish fly and lumbar check. He goes for the pin, however Murphy kicks out. Alexander goes for a springboard, but Murphy instead catches him coming in with a big knee, then hits his Murphy’s Law finisher for the victory to become the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion. The fans inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground go insane for this. This was probably the loudest and most passionate crowd reactions of anything on the show so far.
Winner and NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion: Cedric Alexander
Six-Man Tag-Team Match
The Shield vs. Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre
We head back to the ring for another six-person tag-team contest, however this time it's the fellas. The Shield -- Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, will be taking on the trio of Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. The Shield makes their trademark entrance through the crowd, wearing masks that covered up the bottom half of their faces. The heels are out now and this one is officially underway. All six guys brawl as soon as they hit the ring. Ziggler got the better of Rollins as the bell rang. All of the heels ganged up on Rollins, not letting him tag out. He hit a slingblade on McIntyre and tried for a tag, but Strowman ended that quickly. Rollins buckle bombs Ziggler, but Reigns and Ambrose aren’t on the apron, as they were laid out by Ziggler and McIntyre. Strowman goes to the top rope for a splash, but Rollins moves out of the way as he crashes. Rollins finally tags in Ambrose, who runs wild and even plants Ziggler with the dodon. They go at it until a double crossbody attempt sends them both to the floor. Reigns is tagged in as he goes after McIntyre. He inadvertently hits Ambrose on the apron while fending off McIntyre. Everyone gets in. Strowman posts himself to the floor as Reigns laid out McIntyre. Eventually, all three appear on the apron. Ambrose follows, not happy about being struck. Ambrose acts, attacking Strowman as they target McIntyre. They went for the triple powerbomb, but Strowman speared everyone. He throws Rollins and Reigns to the floor and takes him both out with shoulder tackles as Ziggler hit the zig zag, but Ambrose kicked out. Strowman went to attack Ambrose, but Reigns countered with a spear that drove Strowman through the guardrail. Rollins took out McIntyre with a superkick as Ziggler took out Rollins. When all was said-and-done, Ziggler walked directly into a Dirty Deeds DDT from Ambrose for the finish. The Shield wins.
Winners: The Shield
No. 1 Contender Match
Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz
Up next is our number one contender match between bitter rivals The Miz and Daniel Bryan. As soon as these two get in the ring, Miz goes to work immediately on Bryan's ribs. He focuses on them throughout the early portion of the contest. Bryan fights back and connects with "Yes!" kicks but Miz fired back with Bryan’s own running knee strike. The Miz went for his Skull Crushing Finale finisher, however Bryan goes for a cradle pin out of nowhere and gets it. Whoa. That came out of nowhere. Just like that, Bryan wins and will move on to challenge for the WWE Championship. It was announced that Daniel Bryan will challenge A.J. Styles for the title at the upcoming WWE Crown Jewel event.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
LAST TIME EVER
The Undertaker (with Kane) vs. Triple H (with Shawn Michaels)
It's time, folks! The video package airs for the Last Time Ever main event between WWE legends The Undertaker, with Kane in his corner, and Triple H, with Shawn Michaels in his corner. HBK makes his way out first. Triple H then comes out with a hood over a skull mask that he takes off once he gets on the stage. Out next is Kane with a pyro-less entrance. Finally, The Undertaker makes his traditional, iconic entrance as Michael Cole plays up the historic nature of this final meeting of two of WWE's biggest legends of all-time. JoJo announces that this will be a No Disqualification match. The Undertaker glares at Triple H once she makes that announcement. That seemed telling. The announcers speculate that Triple H used his WOO status to make the last-minute change in rules for the match. The bell sounds and here we go. This one went on for a long time. In the beginning, "The Game" teased doing Undertaker's "Old School" top-rope walk to him. Undertaker took him down with punches. Undertaker then connected with old school and hit the snake eyes in the corner but Triple H responded with a high knee. Undertaker and Shawn end up having a scuffle on the outside as Kane keeps him at bay. Triple H threw Undertaker into the steel steps as he and Shawn set up a table. Triple H went for a pedigree on the Undertaker but Undertaker responded with a back body drop. They go at it with some back and forth in the ring before Undertaker takes him outside and sends him into the ring announcer’s area. Undertaker sets up the table, but Triple H fights back until Undertaker throws Triple H over the barricade and into the crowd. They brawl around the arena, with Undertaker choking Triple H with cords at one point. He eventually takes Triple H back into the ring, laying out HBK with a punch and introducing a chair. Putting Triple H on the table, Undertaker went to the apron and fought off HBK. Triple H went back to the ring, but Kane pulled him out. HBK superkicked Kane on the table as Triple H drove him into the table with an elbow. Back in the ring, Undertaker actually connected with the tombstone piledriver, but Triple H kicked out. The Undertaker punches out the referee as he continues to beat Triple H with steel chair shots. Undertaker wraps the hair around Triple H’s head. HBK tried to reason with him. He entered the ring, but Undertaker punched him out. Triple H made a comeback and hit the pedigree, but Undertaker kicked out. So Triple H wrapped Undertaker’s head around the chair like Undertaker did to him earlier. From the second rope, he stomped on the chair and went for a cover, but Kane dragged the second referee out of the ring. Shawn Michaels introduces the sledgehammer as he gives him the sledgehammer. Kane gives Undertaker another steel chair. Triple H wins, smashing the sledgehammer into the chair, striking Undertaker. There’s no referee, so Triple H went to use the sledgehammer again when Undertaker caught him in the hell’s gate. With no referee, both collapsed to the floor. HBK went to use the sledgehammer on Undertaker, but Kane evened things out as Undertaker dumped HBK to the floor. Undertaker decided not to use the sledgehamemr and avoided the pedigree. He went for a tombstone on HBK, but Triple H blasted Undertaker with the sledgehammer. HBK then superkicked Undertaker and walked into a Triple H pedigree for the win. HBK and Triple H were emotional after the match. Undertaker was slumped in the corner. He took the sledgehammer and handed it to Triple H. He responded by dumping it on the floor and extending his hand. Triple H helps Undertaker to his feet as all four men posed, pyro going off in a big celebration. Unfortunately, things didn't end on that positive note. Undertaker and Kane ended up pulling a shocking move and turning on Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Taker took out HHH with a Tombstone Piledriver, while Kane took Michaels out to the floor and chokeslammed him through the announcers table. Michael Cole put over what a huge betrayal this was on the part of The Brothers of Destruction. The show ended with Taker and Kane walking up the ramp. It looks like the legends tag-team match is also set for WWE Crown Jewel. Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of WWE Super Show-Down.
Winner: Triple H