Layin' da SmackDown - SmackDown Live recap for April 3, 2018

General Manager Daniel Bryan shows up to start tonight's show. Daniel Bryan welcomes everyone to the show, then welcomes Commissioner Shane McMahon back. Shane shows up for the first time since Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attacked him, and calls Daniel a role model for scratching and clawing his way back to something he believes in: competing in WWE again. Shane congratulates Daniel on being medically cleared to compete once again, and says he could not be more excited to be his tag team partner even as he has been through a rocky road courtesy of Sami and Kevin. Thankfully, he has also been medically cleared, and he and Daniel plan to give it everything they've got this Sunday at WrestleMania. Daniel feels there is one more thing to address: over the past six months, he has made a lot of mistakes, especially when it comes to Kevin and Sami, and he allowed his friendship with them to take him in a wrong directions. He admits Shane was right about them, and he apologizes. Shane says he has done some reflection himself and admits he can be hot-headed and stubborn at times. Daniel says he has learned a bit in the WWE, and when tag team partners have some problems, there is only one to resolve it: hug it out. Shane apologizes, then extends his hand. Daniel says they shook hands two minutes ago, and says the Nashville, Tennessee crowd doesn't want to see them shake hands; they want to see them hug it out. Shane admits he is not much of a hugger, but he says he appreciates it. Nevertheless, this leads to a "Hug It Out" chant from the crowd. Shane and Daniel then hug it out. Shane says that worked and that they are on the same page, and Daniel says them being on the same page is bad news for Kevin and Sami, as they will get payback for everything they have done. Shane then thanks Daniel for reinstating Kevin and Sami so they can rid SmackDown Live of Kevin and Sami once and for all. After Daniel asks the crowd if they are ready to see him and Shane beat the holy hell out of Kevin and Sami, the arena erupts into one big "Yes!" chant.

Charlotte Flair beats Natalya with the Figure Eight. During the match, Carmella tries to cash in her Money In The Bank Briefcase on Charlotte, but Charlotte kicks the briefcase out of her hands before the cash-in can happen. Natalya nearly wins on a schoolgirl pin after Charlotte boots Carmella out of the ring, but Charlotte gets the Figure Eight locked in for the win. After the match, Asuka shows up and tells Charlotte that at WrestleMania, the queen will bow down to the empress, as nobody is ready for her. Charlotte takes the microphone away and says she's ready, then asks Asuka if she is ready. Charlotte and Asuka then stare down.

In footage from earlier today, we hear from "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, who says that "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura must be cute after the games he played with him last week. He admits that he wears his emotions on his sleeve, but that is why he is in the WWE. He says that his emotions are his strength, and that Nakamura has a weakness: he takes him too likely. He then says their dream match is a reality, and that the reality is that he will beat Nakamura.

We see a video package chronicling the recent events in the feud between the team of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens and the team of Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan.

Bobby Roode guests on commentary for the next match.

Rusev beats Jinder Mahal after Sunil Singh's distraction attempt backfires and Rusev kicks out of a surprise schoolboy pin. After the match, Randy Orton shows up out of nowhere to hit an RKO on Rusev, and Aiden English blindsides Orton before going up top. Bobby Roode leaves the commentary table and pushes English off, and English falls victim to another RKO out of nowhere. Roode then hands the United States title over to Orton in a sign of respect.

We hear from "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura in footage from earlier today. Nakamura says Styles thinks he is playing games, and says he is right. However, he takes this game very seriously, as he has worked his way to America to be part of WrestleMania. He does not take Styles lightly as he knows him very well, and he knows Styles is so emotional that he will make a mistake, and when he does, he will become WWE Champion with a knee to the face.

We look back at "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24, courtesy of Snickers.

Backstage, The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) advertise free 30-day trials for the WWE Network, which comes with live streaming of WrestleMania absolutely free. Suddenly, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) show up, and say that it will be free to watch them retain the SmackDown tag team titles. Then, The Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) show up and smash a camera.

Primo Colon, Mojo Rawley, Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin beat Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) Zack Ryder and "The Perfect Ten" Tye Dillinger.

Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin tell the fans that they will send AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura limping into WrestleMania after they beat them tonight.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn storm out through the crowd, and Kevin says this is still their show and they will speak their minds tonight. Sami makes it clear they will beat Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon tonight, and apologizes to Brie Bella and her daughter Birdie for what they will do to Daniel. He then says it is his and Kevin's dream to obliterate Daniel Bryan, and that they will do it at WrestleMania. Backstage, Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan see what is going on, and as Kevin continues speaking, his microphone is cut off. Security runs in, but Kevin and Sami flee through the crowd. Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon show up and stop them, and Daniel Bryan tells everyone to get their cellphone cameras ready as this will be the last time Sami and Kevin will be seen on SmackDown Live. Shane then unites everyone through a chant of Na Na Hey Hey (The Goodbye Song).

"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and "The Artist" Shinsuke Nakamura, despite a tepid relationship between the two, beat Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. After the match, Shelton Benjamin sneak attacks Nakamura, who fights Benjamin off. Styles then goes for a Phenomenal Forearm on Nakamura, but just misses hitting Nakamura with it on the way down in response to the near-hit of last week's Kinsasha and pats Nakamura on the head.

Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!