Reason Why WWE Aired SmackDown Entrances On Social Media

WWE

Many WWE SmackDown viewers were confused when last night’s episode of the show kicked off.

The show kicked off with the highly anticipated Triple Threat clash between Edge, Rey Mysterio and AJ Styles in the World Heavyweight Championship tournament.

Only Edge made his entrance for the match on the show, with Styles and Mysterio already in the ring as the show started.

Well, AJ and Rey had their entrances shown, just not on the SmackDown broadcast, instead being streamed live on social media minutes before the show went live.

Per Fightful Select (subscription required), WWE’s new method of going live on social media minutes before the show is to serve as an active reminder that the show is starting.

AJ competed twice on the show, defeating Bobby Lashley in the main event to punch his ticket to a match with Seth Rollins at Night of Champions to crown the World Heavyweight Champion.

You can watch the video of the entrances below.

Here are results from the Friday, May 12 episode of WWE SmackDown:

AJ Styles def. Edge, Rey Mysterio in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament

Bobby Lashley def. Austin Theory, Sheamus in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament

Grayson Waller appeared in a backstage segment with Adam Pearce and announced the winner of the Styles vs Lashley main event would appear on his Grayson Waller Effect talk show next week

Cameron Grimes def. Baron Corbin

Roman Reigns made his first appearance since WrestleMania 39 and said that Solo Sikoa has stepped up, but the Usos are a problem and that they embarrassed him

Paul Heyman then announced Reigns and Sikoa would be challenging Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia

Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez def. Bayley & Dakota Kai to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Former NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly made their SmackDown debut backstage, setting up a match against the Brawling Brutes for next week

Bianca Belair appeared for a ‘celebration’ in her hometown of Knoxville, but was interrupted by a returning Asuka who spat mist in Belair’s face

AJ Styles def. Bobby Lashley in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament

Take a LIVE look at #SmackDown before the next match of the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament kicks off the show! Tune in NOW to @FOXTV! https://t.co/lMHabWkewk

— WWE (@WWE) May 12, 2023

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• AJ Styles
• rey mysterio
• social media
• Smackdown
• wwe

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