Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/8/22)

SmackDown AFTER Mania!

Published

2 years ago

April 8, 2022

Steven Mitchell

What is next for the Tribal Chief?

The reigning! Defending! And truly UNDISPUTED WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, promised on Raw that SmackDown would reveal his next move. But just what is it?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston VS “Butch” Pete Dunne w/ Sheamus & Ridge Holland; Woods wins.
GUNTHER w/ Ludwig Kaiser VS Joe Alonzo; Gunther wins.
Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
Sasha Banks w/ Naomi VS Liv Morgan; Liv wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Kayla Braxton is in the ring.

And she welcomes the Baddest Woman on the Planet, Ronda Rousey! Ronda high-fives fans on her way to the ring, then gets herself a mic. Fans in Milwaukee cheer Ronda and Kayla says everyone agrees, she was in a very physical match last Saturday. She proved to be a woman of her word and made Charlotte Flair tap out. The recap points it out, the ref was knocked down by a Spear before Ronda clamped on her famous armbar. Kayla says Charlotte felt the pressure, and she did tap. Ronda says she will tap Charlotte out again, but she lost. She will not make excuses. Her mom taught her that to be the best, you have to beat everyone twice, even on your worst day.

Sometimes, you won’t be your best, and sometimes the ref won’t count things right. Ronda beat Charlotte once, but not when it counted. Kayla says later tonight, Roman Reigns reveals his next step, but what is hers? A rematch. But not just any match. Charlotte can’t just get herself disqualified, counted out or whatever. No loopholes, no excuses, no doubts! WrestleMania Backlash, it will be an I QUIT MATCH! However, Charlotte is laughing from the tron. “Ronda, Ronda, Ronda. You couldn’t beat me in checkers, let alone an I Quit Match. I’m Charlotte Flair, I don’t quit. Quitting is not in my DNA. But you know what is? WINNING~!”

Charlotte tells Ronda that she felt the armbar and the pressure, but she didn’t lose! She didn’t tap out, she walked out the champion! And Charlotte is starting to think the Baddest Woman in the Planet isn’t just a catchphrase, it’s a myth! Because Ronda win when it matters. So the answer to the challenge is… NO! So back of the line, BITCH! Charlotte is laughing, but Ronda says she has news for her. This fight is going to happen. And Charlotte wont’ just say, “I Quit,” she’ll scream it when Ronda turns that elbow backwards! The challenge has been issued, but will management give Ronda what she wants?

Xavier Woods w/ Kofi Kingston VS “Butch” Pete Dunne w/ Sheamus & Ridge Holland!

Before the match, the Fight Night Boys are all riled up backstage. Sheamus says Butch is finally being let off the leash. Chew Woods up like a chew toy! Ready for a good bruisin’, Butchy? Cuz every night for them is fight night! Dunne leads the way as they storm out, but will he even be able to control himself against King Xavier?

SmackDown returns and The New Day make their entrance. They have mics and Kofi says, “Well, well, well, well, well. Look at y’all in the ring. Lookin’ all happy comin’ off your first Wrassle Mania Win! Welcome to the club!” Woods wants the music to mute so they can say some things. To back things up, this is the Mania Winners Club, except for Woods. Wait, wait, in 2019, didn’t we all win? But these three here, fresh off a win. Everyone knows this, but especially the young booties, Ridge & Butch, here’s how things work around here. Mania is essentially a “season finale,” which means tonight is the “season opener.”

That means all records are RESEEEEET~! Say it with them: RESEEEEET~! That means the score is 0-0! So, “Butch,” Woods got off a red eye from LA cuz G4. Woods hit the gym and bruised the weights, and he got Auntie Dunne on the line. She can’t wait for Woods to whoop that rabies infested ass! BECAAAAAUSE~! NEW! DAY ROCKS! Woods gets in the ring and the match begins!

Dunne rushes in, Woods dodges, and he headlocks. Dunne powers out, CLOBBERS Woods, and then rains down forearms! Woods shields himself but Dunne starts hammering with both hands! Woods gets away, Dunne storm sin, but Woods headbutts and throws haymakers! Woods bumps Dunne off buckles, CHOPS him, then whips him corner to corner. Dunne blocks, throws body shots, then runs in, but drop toehold into buckles! Dunne just gets mad! Sheamus and Ridge coach him up, Dunne dodges to GAMANGIRI! And knee drop! Dunne pulls the arm way back! Dunne even twists the wrist and bends fingers!

Woods endures, his foot is on the ropes! Dunne lets off, to STOMP the arm! Dunne is bloody from his own nose but he doesn’t care, he drags Woods up. Woods JAWBREAKERS back! Fans rally up, Woods ducks and dodges to tilt-o-whirl RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Woods slides and basement dropkicks! Sheamus and Ridge are worried as Dunne bails out. Woods builds speed and- Dunne dodges! Dunne DECKS Woods, then APRON X-PLEX! Sheamus and Ridge are happy now as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Dunne is using the Bodhrain to CLUB away on Woods! Dunne puts his own twist and he lets off as the ref counts. Woods flops down but Dunne drags him in, and has a chinbar and hammerlock combo. Dunne even pulls on Woods’ ear! The ref reprimands, fans rally up, but Dunne gets the arm to STOMP ribs! Dunne then sits Woods up just to DECK him! And again! And again! Cover, TWO! Dunne is frustrated but he clamps onto the arm again. Woods fights up but Dunne grinds the shoulder. Woods endures, fans rally, and Woods gets up to his feet. Woods throws haymakers, forearms, and CHOPS!

Woods fires off more, and he has Dunne on the ropes! Fans fire up but the ref counts! Woods whips, Dunne reverses, but Woods ducks and dodges to slide under and ROLLING ELBOW! Fans fire up with the LEG LARIAT! Woods hauls Dunne back up, but Dunne fights the suplex. Woods ENZIGURIS! Dunne staggers to a corner, Woods runs in but is put on the apron. Dunne grabs the hand but Woods ROCKS Dunne then GAMANGIRIS! Woods steps in, into a BIG right! Dunne STOMPS both hands, then BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO! Woods survives but Dunne just gets further frustrated. Fans rally but Sheamus and Ridge coach Butch.

Dunne kicks at Woods and stomps away! Dunne aims from a corner, run sin, but Woods dodges and cradles! Woods wins!

Winner: Xavier Woods, by pinfall

Woods said it last week and he showed it here, that is definitely his best move! Dunne got lost in the #BackWoods, and he starts firing off on his own friends! That is one hot temper, will it burn some bridges or just burn Butch himself?

Sami Zayn complains to Adam Pearce.

How did they let all that happen?! It was his idea! No, it was Anything Goes! Not Everyone is Welcome! He was supposed to get revenge but had to deal with Party Boy and Weeman, and that giant hand! Sami is one of the best in the world but has been reduced to a laughing stock! Look at this! Cheese? Why? Because of the mouse traps! Oh, right. Cheese is disgusting, by the way. But Sami says enough is enough! He wants respect. The next man to walk out of the locker room is his opponent so he can kick the crap outta them! The next person? Yes, next person. Okay then> Here goes.

And who walks out? Drew McIntyre! Sami just stepped into it. He wants to go again, but no, the deal was the very next person. It is official, it is happening tonight. Well fine. Drew is the toughest guy on the whole roster so Sami wins and he gets his respect back. All he has to do is beat Drew McIntyre. Sami leaves, and a note is given to Pearce. He isn’t happy about it, and has the staffer go tell Ronda he can’t meet with her right away. But what is on the note?

SmackDown welcomes “Ludwig Kaiser.”

Formerly NXT’s “Marcel Barthel,” the Impeccable German is here tonight to introduce us to “the man who is the epitome of efficiency and elegance!” He says it in German for good measure, “DER RING GENERAL! GUNTHA!” IMPERIUM is here on SmackDown, ready to assert their dominance!

GUNTHER w/ Ludwig Kaiser VS Joe Alonzo!

SmackDown returns and Der Ring General’s first victim- er, opponent is one of Milwaukee’s own, will he last all that long? The bell rings, they tie up and Gunther headlocks to THROW Alonzo! Alonzo gets up but gets cornered and Gunther is right on him. Alonzo throws a forearm but Gunther CHOPS him! Gunther puts Alonzo on the top rope, CLUBS him, then STANDS on him! Alonzo is bent back, flops to the apron, but Gunther yanks him back into the ring. And then BOOTS him down! Barth- er, Kaiser, enjoys it like it’s classical music. Gunther CHOPS Alonzo down again! Gunther KICKS Alonzo, too!

Gunther sits Alonzo up to CLUB him again! Gunther drags Alonzo up again, and CHOPS him off his feet! Alonzo clutches his stinging chest but Gunther gets Alonzo up to scoop and SLAM! Gunther mocks Alonzo and asks Milwaukee if this is really their best. Fans chant “WAL~TER!” but Gunther CHOPS Alonzo, then hits a GENERAL BOMB! Cover, Gunther wins!

Winner: Gunther, by pinfall

Imperium stands tall, but what would you expect from such a powerful specimen? Will SmackDown soon be made sacred?

Backstage interview with Raquel Rodriguez.

Big Mami Cool also makes the jump from NXT to SmackDown and Kayla welcomes her. Does Raquel have a message for the roster? Well, SmackDown has one of the most impressive female locker rooms in all of the WWE. But Raquel guarantees they’ve never seen anything like her. But then in walk Los Lotharios. They introduce themselves, and welcome her to SmackDown. As is tradition, they want to welcome her with a kiss. Raquel laughs, and tells them not a chance. Well, her loss. Angel & Humberto leave, and Raquel asks if those guys are always that annoying? Ricky Desperado isn’t here for romance, but for action! Will she get at it soon enough?

Happy Corbin & Mad Cap Moss are here!

But “Happy” isn’t quite so happy after his loss to Drew McIntyre. Moss has a bit of blame in that, but he’s still feeling good after his Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal win. Will an all new episode of Happy Talk cheer Corbin up? We find out, after the break.

SmackDown returns and the Happy Talk set is ready. Corbin and Moss have the mics but Corbin’s still sad. The fans booing doesn’t help. “This was supposed to be the happiest Happy Talk ever. We’re supposed to be reveling in my victory over Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania right now. Now, with these low points, that’s when you figure out what kind of man you are.” Corbin’s been reflecting, and when he was on his yacht, he had an honest conversation with himself. He looked at what kind of man he is and what he’s become. He is ready to admit that there is only one person to blame for this loss to Drew.

“And that man is Mad Cap Moss.” Moss is confused but Corbin says never in a million years, he would have lost if not for those distractions. Moss is sorry! He just felt so excited! Corbin doesn’t care how Moss felts! Somehow, Moss took WrestleMania Weekend and made it about him winning the battle royal! “Look at me, look at me! I finally won something!” Fans cheer for Moss?! Corbin says Moss is getting to big for his suspenders and has forgotten his place. That place is to tell Corbin jokes. Moss is sorry, but.. Oh, wait! What do you call Moss when he’s such a bonehead that he cost Corbin a match? Mad Cap Loss!

Corbin says that is terrible. Try again. Um… Okay. Fans cheer Moss on and he says here’s one. What would you call Adam Pearce if he ran a brothel. MADAM Pearce! That sucked, too! Corbin says Moss should be ashamed! He’s given Moss opportunities, and lately, all of Moss’ jokes are just terrible. Lately? But Corbin gives Moss one last chance. Tell him a joke that is actually funny. A joke like Moss’ job depends on it, because it does. Moss says okay. What do you call a guy who treats his friends like garbage? And who thinks he’s better than everyone else? A guy who dresses like he’s going to a funeral for Tommy Bahama? HAPPY CORBIN!!

Moss laughs out of his seat! The fans cheer but Corbin is upset! Do they all think that’s funny? “YES!!” Corbin CLOBBERS Moss! And stomps away on him on the “CONGRATS” Balloons. But Moss hits back! And whips Corbin into his own table! And RAMS Him in the corner! Corbin flounders but Moss is after him with haymakers! And then he TOSSES Corbin over the chairs and out of the ring! Fans fire up, Moss pursues, but Corbin knees Moss low! And whips him into barriers! Corbin drags Moss back up, and says, “Remember where you came from!” But Moss SMACKS Corbin off the desk! And again! And again!

Moss is dribbling Corbin like a basketball! Then he puts Corbin back in the ring, and ROCKS him with a right! Corbin grabs balloons but Moss ROCKS him again! Moss clotheslines Corbin out of the ring! Fans fire up behind Mad Cap, will he have the last laugh on Corbin?

Jinder Mahal complains to Pearce now.

He is a former world and US champion, but he couldn’t get a Mania match? Pearce says it was nothing personal! Oh, sure it’s not. Make Ricochet put his title on the line! But Pearce can’t even begin to consider that! Ronda storms in, Jinder says he wasn’t finished, but he still backs off. Ronda asks Pearce if she gets her match. It’s not official yet, but an answer will come in tomorrow. Tomorrow? Ronda is getting mad, will she take it out on someone if this isn’t resolved before the end of tonight?

Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre!

The Master Strategist sure didn’t plan this one out right. He already stuck his own foot in his mouth, but will he end up with the Scottish Warrior’s foot in his face soon enough?

SmackDown returns and Sami makes his entrance. The bell rings and Sami bails out of the ring. Fans boo but Sami says he needs a second. Sami shadow boxes, gets on the apron, and fans chant, “CHEESE! CHEESE!” Sami tells them to shut up, then gets in as the ref counts 8 of 10. McIntyre steps up but Sami bails out again. So McIntyre goes out after Sami! And he RAMS him into the barriers, then gives him SNAKE EYES off them! Sami staggers back to the ring and McIntyre pushes him in. Sami staggers to a corner, but he BOOTS McIntyre back! Sami goes up, leaps, but McIntyre catches him! OVERHEAD Belly2Belly!

McIntyre rushes in, clinches and OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes again! Sami stands up, McIntyre CHOPS him against ropes! McIntyre whips, Sami holds ropes and bails out again! Fans boo but McIntyre pursues again. McIntyre SMACKS Sami off the desk, then fireman’s carries him for another SNAKE EYES! Sami flounders, McIntyre puts him in at 8 of 10, but Sami hurries out the other end! Fans boo more, but McIntyre waits on Sami. Sami gets up, but decides to ditch this whole thing! McIntyre won’t let him get away, though, and runs him over on the ramp! Fans fire up as McIntyre drags Sami up to fireman’s carry.

McIntyre carries Sami all the way back and TOSSES him into the ring! McIntyre shrugs and gets in. The countdown starts up, THREE! TWO! ONE, Sami bails out again. Sami climbs over the barrier and runs up the stairs through the bleachers! The ring count is climbing but McIntyre just lets him go this time. Sami gets counted out, McIntyre wins!

Winner: Drew McIntyre, by count out

The Scottish Warrior is a bit disappointed in Sami, but then he draws his sword and points it at Sami. Will McIntyre keep this in mind the next time these two cross paths?

Lacey Evans speaks.

The Model Soldier opens up about herself. “I was born in a small town in Fannin County, Georgia. My father worked construction, and my mother was a young mom of five. Life from the very beginning was very rough because my father suffered from mental health and drug addiction problems, and my mom got caught in the middle of it being the wife that she could be.” But the physical, emotional and mental abuse came too much, and before Lacey even started school, she was taken away from everything that she knew. Her mother loaded everything they owned, put it in the car, and left Lacey’s father without knowing.

After that, they jumped around from state to state, women’s shelters and camp grounds for the rest of her life. But moving around as much as she did, it made lacy learn to either adapt and overcome. Either roll with things or give up. She refused to give up. She may not have the same straight shot to stardom that some others have been blessed with, but that’s alright. That makes her different from the rest. Because of what she’s gone through, she is the woman she became today. She is ready for anything, confident and caring, a mother, wife, sister, daughter, US Marine. And of course, WWE Superstar.

Lacey says that doesn’t make her any better, but they ain’t better than her. Lacey is back, will she finally reach the top of the Women’s Division?

Sasha Banks w/ Naomi VS Liv Morgan!

The Boss & The Glow won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in a Fatal 4 Way, but they’re already preparing for their first defense! Will the Living End be able to break the Banks before Monday’s title match?

SmackDown returns and Naomi has joined commentary for this match. Liv is alone backstage and Megan asks her why. Liv says she’s here to beat Sasha Banks. If Liv does that, then the momentum will help her and Rhea! But is Rhea here tonight? No… Rhea will be there on Monday, though, and we’ll see NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions! Okay, gotta go! Liv heads out, will we #WatchHer triumph?

The bell rings and Liv circles with Sasha. They tie up, go around, Liv rolls Sasha up, ONE! Sasha dodges Liv to CHOP her! Sasha says that’s why she’s a champion! Sasha knuckle locks, goes up and up and arm-drags Liv away! Fans fire up and Sasha runs in, but Liv spins her around, WING SNAPPER into the buckles! Liv then hurries up top, leaps, missile dropkick! Liv roars and fans fire up, she runs at the ropes but no Oblivion! DRAPING BACKSTABBER! Naomi and the fans cheer Sasha while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Sasha suplexes Liv to complete Three Amigos! Fans fire up and Sasha climbs a corner. FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Liv survives and Sasha can’t believe it! Sasha hurries to drag Liv up but we see Natalya and Shayna are watching backstage. Liv ENZIGURIS Sasha down! Liv then runs in, FLYING- NO! Sasha shoves Liv away, blocks the kick and kicks, but Liv blocks! CODE B- NO! Sasha blocks, turns Liv over, rolling clutch, TWO! Liv sits on the prawn hold, TWO! Sasha, ONE! Liv, ONE! Sasha has it again, TWO!! Liv escapes, fans fire up, and Naomi gives Liv her props.

Sasha trips Liv, jackknife, but bridge! Liv spins it around, Sasha fights the backslide to backslide, but Liv flips over! Only for Sasha to block the kick and KNEE! But Liv hits a CODE BREAKER! Fans fire up as both women are down, and even Harts & Spades are impressed. Fans rally up as Liv and Sasha stir, Sasha stands first. Liv eggs her on, but Sasha spins Liv to a clinch. Liv elbows out hard, kicks back and KICKS again! Liv ROUNDHOUSES Sasha, and Sasha goes to a corner. Liv runs in but only gets buckles! Sasha shoves Liv into them, then DOUBL EKNEES! Sasha runs cornet to corner but Liv follows, SHINING WIZARD!

Liv snapmares, goes up and up, but Sasha SHINING WIZARDS back! Sasha has Liv up top now, and fans fire up, SUPERPLEX! But Liv blocks the cradle into a cradle! LIV WINS!!

Winner: Liv Morgan, by pinfall

Sasha can’t believe it, but Naomi nods respect! Liv snatches victory from the legs of defeat, will she and Rhea be able to do even better on Monday?

SmackDown plans big stuff for next week!

After running away from McIntyre, Sami has to face the music in a rematch! Will the Scottish Warrior be able to hit the Master Strategist with a Claymore this time? And though Jinder hadn’t quite earned it, it seems upper management sees him as worthy of the Intercontinental Championship! Will the Modern Day Maharaja take the title off Ricochet? Or will Ricochet still be the One and Only?

Roman Reigns is here!

Milwaukee is ready with fingers to the sky, because the Head of the Table is coming! The UNDISPUTED WWE Universal Champion has Paul Heyman hand him the belts so that the Bloodline can cue the pyro. A recap video reminds us how Roman won the biggest, most historic, most STUPENDOUS WrestleMania main event ever while the Bloodline continues on to the ring. Then they raise their belts again for more pyro. Raw set the table for tonight, but what will be the Tribal Chief’s plan for the future? We find out after the break.

SmackDown returns once again and fans cheer and jeer as Heyman hands Roman the mic. “Milwaukee! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” Roman wants to let us all in on something private that he and the Wise Man discussed rather frequently. It pains Roman to say this, but SmackDown and the Universal Championship just wasn’t enough. Roman went to WrestleMania Mania and he SMASHED Cowboy Brock and took Monday Night Raw and the WWE World Championship! Fans cheer and jeer again. But when talking about what’s next, Roman doesn’t really think he can do much more. He did it all!

But there’s still plenty left for The Bloodline to achieve. This week, so many videos, historical pictures, and Roman couldn’t help but to keep seeing one thing. He saw his two belts, but then he only saw the Usos with one belt each. Hear him out. He is just one man with two, they’re two men with two total, but that’s not enough! Jey, what did Roman say a long time ago? They were gonna elevate Jey to heights he’d never known, show him greatness. There’s only one way to do that. It is time that they unify the tag titles, too! The Usos should go to Raw and bring Roman those RAW Tag Team Championships!

Roman wants the Usos to get those for themselves, because that gets those belts for the Bloodline! Deal? Deal, Uce. Well there you have it. Bloodline’s gonna have all the gold soon! But here comes SHINSUKE NAKAMURA! The King of Strong Style is without Rick Boogs after Boogs’ knee blew out at WrestleMania, but he still steps to the Bloodline as Milwaukee sings Nakamura’s theme. Nakamura gets a mic to tell Roman something, but Roman says Nakamura doesn’t have to say anything. The Tribal Chief understands how he feels. Nakamura lost his tag partner. Y’know, Boogs? And Roman gets that.

Jey understands, too. They lost Jimmy to a knee injury for over a year. Roman is a loving and compassionate Tribal Chief, so he gets it. Since they have all the gold, the Island of Relevancy is a place of love. So Roman wants to help Nakamura. He wants to hug? Nakamura isn’t sure but Roman’s got him already. And then the Usos DOUBLE SUPERKICK Nakamura down! Fans cheer and jeer but Roman soaks it all up. Roman wants the Usos to do the same to RKBRO. Jey says they’re going to Detroit! They’ll get those Raw Tag Team Championships in the Motor City, Uce! The Bloodline hold up the belts they have, but will they be holding even more soon enough?

My Thoughts:

It seems post Mania episodes don’t mean as much as they used to for the WWE themselves. We only got so much out of this that mattered, and just a CRAP ton of aggravating choices from Vince. The name changes are still inexplicable, and in Imperium’s case, rather stereotypical. Marcel Barthel becoming “Ludwig Kaiser” to go along with Walter now becoming “Gunther.” Why not just make them Hans and Franz so they can pump people up? But at the very least, Gunther/Walter destroyed some rando and people understand who he is. Not sure why they needed to be in red-orange track suits when their basic black look just fine.

In similar, Pete Dunne being “Butch” in all things to RawDown is still dumb but at least his moveset is as we’ve seen. He just wrestled like he was in fast-forward against Woods. Woods had a great line in “bruising the weights,” him winning with a package was great, as was McAfee’s name for it, “The Back Woods.” I just hope that bit with Dunne lashing out at Sheamus and Ridge is a sign that Dunne will break off from them to actually be Pete Dunne on RawDown. That guy doesn’t need anyone being his mentor, he should just be twisting joints and snapping fingers solo.

Raquel Gonzalez becoming Rodriguez is the least upsetting but most confusing. Are we to believe anyone would mistake a connection to Giant Gonzalez? If anything, kayfabe that and play it up. Instead, Los Lotharios flirt with her as if the NXThirst followed her here. A really strong point for tonight was Lacey Evans’ return through her promo vignette, telling us about her life growing up and how that influenced her to be a United States Marine and Military Police before then entering pro-wrestling. Her “Lady of WWE” character wasn’t working, so going with her honest self will definitely get more fans behind her.

Ronda and Charlotte had an okay opening segment, but again it’s cuz Ronda talked and didn’t really pace out her words. The one good thing she said was that she wants an I Quit Match for WrestleMania Backlash. Charlotte of course declines, hiding her fear with her arrogance, but then that note from upper management to Pearce was a curious one. I bet they’ll play up the WWE brass favoring Charlotte a bit, Ronda will do something badass and that’ll get her the match with Charlotte, and then who knows. Maybe Ronda makes Charlotte say, “I Quit,” because other than to introduce the match type, I don’t think Ronda has ever really said those words.

Jinder also had a good bit with Pearce where Ronda scared him off. But Jinder is still getting his Intercontinental Championship match with Ricochet, and that should actually be good stuff. Sami also had a good bit with Pearce, and as soon as Sami said “the next person,” it was gonna be Drew. Sami of course runs because it fits into his character right now, and the rematch happening will surely be a proper match. Happy Talk was actually a good segment because Corbin turned on Moss, fans sided with Moss, and Moss fought back to get the upper hand. Corbin VS Moss probably happens on WM Backlash since both guys are billed as stars, and it could go either way.

A surprisingly good segment was Liv going out on her own to have this match with Sasha, having a great match with Sasha, and then getting a great win. I’m sure Rhea will feel upset Liv did this on her own, they probably lose that title match, and then sadly, another team bites the dust. But Shayna and Natty were watching, so that is going to be the first SmackDown exclusive feud for Sasha & Naomi. And then to end the night, The Bloodline is here and they technically swerve us. Roman never planned on telling us what was next for him, because honestly, he’s right, he’s been booked to a point where he has nothing more to do.

But Nakamura going out there on Boogs’ behalf is a great way to perhaps give us a proper feud between the King of Strong Style and the Tribal Chief. If it were me, these two need to give us a Mania level match for WM Backlash or it’ll just be a letdown. If Vince had booked Nakamura better, Roman’s reign would actually be in doubt, but of course Roman is gonna retain. As for Usos VS RKBRO, that could go either way. Fans have been wondering when RKBRO would finally break up, and Bloodline all being undisputed champions would make a lot of sense. But it’d be a great twist if RKBRO somehow became undisputed champions so that Orton and Riddle can be on both shows for both networks to have them.

My Score: 8.1/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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It’s a slam dunk!

Published

1 hour ago

April 27, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Guns up for all the Jacksonville Gold Members!

Another three hour block of All Elite Wrestling starts with a Collision! But will the Bang Bang Gang still be the best three man unit ever? Or will Top Flight go from the coldest to the goldest trio in the game?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

The Acclaimed VS Grizzled Young Veterans; win.
Toni Storm w/ Mariah May & Luther VS Anna Jay; wins.
Unified AEW & ROH World Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold VS Top Flight; wins and
AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Claudio Castagnoli; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

Swerve Strickland is here!

Prince Nana again leads the way as the NEW AEW World Champion makes his way out here. The Realest opened Dynamite with a win, but he walks back out to Daily’s Place to stand in the ring to finally acknowledge his victory at Dynasty. Nana says, “Ladies and gentlemen, the man standing in front of you today is the Boss of Bosses! The man standing in front of you today is the Anointed One in Professional Wrestling! The man standing in front of you is one hell of a wrestler. And he’s none other than the AEW World Heavyweight Champion, Swerve Strickland!” The fans cheer and chant, “Thank You, Swerve!”

Swerve says what a week we’ve had here in AEW! Let’s run it down: a NEW TBS Champion in Willow Nightingale; by the grace of God, Adam Cole can walk; Adam Copeland got misted in the face by The House of Black; Will Ospreay and Bryan Danielson tore the house down; and then… Jack Perry returned. The fans boo but Swerve says Jack’s back in AEW, and he struck Tony Khan, the founder of AEW, who put his faith in Swerve. On top of that, The EVPs, the Young Bucks are again the AEW World Tag Team Champions, and they hit Tony Khan with the whatever it is driver, and now TK is in a neck brace and who knows when we’ll see him in healthy condition.

Now, Swerve will be the first to tell everyone, he’s done some horrible things. Once, twice, three, four times. But something about four elite athletes beating down a non-fighter in TK, that sounds like a b*tch move to him. The fans echo “B*TCH MOVE!” but Swerve wants to get to business. The most important thing that happened this week is Swerve went into Dynasty and he made history by dethroning Samoa Joe and becoming the NEW AEW World Champion! Now, a pet peeve of his is those going around calling themselves “Best in the World.” But make no mistake, the Best in the World is the one holding this title right here!

Last week, it was Samoa Joe. This week, it’s Swerve, baby. And Swerve got here by fighting, but also by making sacrifices. Swerve says the night he won this title, he went to his daughter. She said, “Dad, I love you, I’m so proud of you. But I feel like I just don’t know you.” That hit Swerve to his core. His relationship with his children is everything. But he’s missed birthdays, holidays, basketball games, dance recitals, Father-Daughter dances, and he can’t make up for lost time. But what he can do is set the example and blaze a trail, to make sure this was all worth it. The fans cheer that!

Swerve continues by saying AEW has set people in front of him and he’s knocked them all down! Kyle Fletcher was just one. Now, how about an Open Challenge for the AEW World Championship? But only to someone who really wants to fight! So how about it, Jacksonville? We’re entering a new era in AEW, the Dynasty Era! And the elite of that era is whose house? “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” But then here comes Claudio Castagnoli! The Swiss Superman is in a suit, not his gear, but he does get in the ring. Claudio circles Swerve, then takes the mic and holds up a finger. The fans still chant, but Claudio says, “You’re on.”

Swerve says see you later tonight then, in whose house? But then Claudio snatches the mic again! “It’s gonna be mine.” The fans are intrigued but Claudio is looking to end Swerve’s Dynasty the same week it started! Will the Swiss Superman bring even more gold to the Blackpool Combat Club?

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/26/24)

It’s Draft Day!

Published

1 day ago

April 26, 2024

Steven Mitchell

And with the first overall pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects…

The WWE Draft returns for 2024, the first four rounds being right here on Friday Night SmackDown! With champions protected, who ends up where to challenge them?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo; Rey & Dragon win.
Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander; Bron wins.
WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton; No Contest.
Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes; Cody wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Backstage interview with Paul Heyman.

Kayla Braxton is with the Wise Man and says that here on night one of the Draft, there are already rumors circulating, including those about The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Heyman will clarify these are not rumors regarding The Tribal Chief, Roman… Reigns. These are facts! Ladies and gentlemen, Your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility for this year’s Draft. That is not a negative but a positive. Who built SmackDown since the Pandemic? Roman Reigns. Who is the biggest star in the entire industry? Roman Reigns. Why would Roman Reigns hog the number one draft pick spotlight when he won’t be returning in the immediate future?

Read into his words, Kayla, that is not what a real Tribal Chief would do. Instead now, the pressure is on Nick Aldis. Because if Roman Reigns isn’t the first draft pick, then who is? The first two picks make history in a brand new era. And Heyman doesn’t know about you, but he is intrigued. No Tribal Chief up for grabs, who gets their opportunity to shine in the spotlight?

SmackDown throws it to the NXT Performance Center.

Jackie Redmond says the emotion down here is palpable! There is excitement, hope, and a little bit of nerves. But for these NXT Superstars, tonight is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, dedication, a little bit of luck and a whole lot of self-belief. It was just last year that the NEW WWE Tag Team Champion, Grayson Waller, was hoping his name would be called. And it is funny this is NXT, but time to buy a vowel, throw in an E! Who is next? We find out tonight! The draft pool is deep, who rises to the top of the list?

Corey Graves is in the ring.

Corey welcomes Cincinnati and all of us at home to night one of the 2024 WWE Draft. Understandably, the GMs have their hands full, so Corey will be moderating the contract signing for the WWE Championship match that takes place next Saturday for Backlash: France. Without further ado, it’s the #1 contender, The Phenomenal AJ Styles! Styles makes his entrance, taking a seat at the table on camera right. And now, the Undisputed WWE Champion, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes! Cincy fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” as Cody makes his entrance and gets his pyro before joining everyone in the ring.

Styles looks over the contract, absolutely tuning out the fans going wild for “CODY! CODY!” Styles then gets the mic to say before he signs, he doesn’t know if we realize that we’ve got two Georgia boys about to mix it up for the first time, and for the biggest prize in the game. Styles understands why they boo, but they gotta know that he doesn’t respect LA Knight, LA Knight got under his skin. He accepts that. But that’s why Styles lost at Mania. But what happened? Styles got his composure back and realized that he is Phenomenal. Styles BEAT Knight to earn the right to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash.

Now unlike Knight, Styles does respect Cody. They hadn’t crossed paths yet, but they’ve been down the same roads. They had to prove themselves outside of the WWE. And Styles is willing to believe that the same man who gave him advice a long time ago gave Cody the same advice, on how to stand on their own two feet and be the men they are today. That man was The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. The fans cheer for “DUSTY! DUSTY!” Styles learned a lot from Dusty. Styles gets a little emotional thinking about Dusty, he was a good man. Dusty taught Styles how to carry himself, and to carry the weight of a championship.

And Styles looks at this WWE Championship here. The weight of this isn’t just the leather and gold. And at Backlash, we see if Cody can carry it. Styles goes back to his table, signs the contract, and then hands it off to Corey. Corey brings that to Cody, and Cody picks up his mic. “So… Cincinnati…! Whadda we wanna talk about? Certainly, we can talk about respect. There is not a locker room on Earth that you’ll find where everyone in it, every single person, they all respect AJ Styles. Last week, I went on to say you are the modern day Excellence of Execution. I respect the roads that you have traveled down to get here, the parallel paths that perhaps you and I have.

“Mutual respect, much respect. But that respect goes by the wayside at Backlash. I can feel it in your words to a degree. You’ve been here before. And it seems you’re implying that I cannot carry the weight of that championship. Well, good thing the man who trained me not far from where I sit now used to tell me all the time, it’s not about winning the title, it’s about keeping it.” The fans cheer that. Cody says boy does he respect Styles’ familiarity with Cody’s last name. But when you put C O D Y in front of it on this paper, that means they’ve never touched before. That means Backlash is a level playing field.

That means no matter how Phenomenal Styles is, this isn’t a dream match for Cody. It’s a must-win! Cody signs while the fans cheer, and it is official! Cody even throws the pen to the crowd as a free souvenir. Cody then offers a handshake, and Styles says y’know what? It was a beautiful thing to see Cody #FInishTheStory and win the title. But it’s a shame that Cody’s title reign will end at Backlash. Styles still shakes Cody’s hand, and then walks away. Cody picks up the belt and holds it high, will he get to hold it high again in Lyon, France?

Triple H is here!

Just as Cody was on his way to the back, The Game makes his way out here! HHH raises Cody’s hand, then invites him over to the podium. HHH welcomes us to the first round of the 2024 WWE Draft. It is a night that changes the landscape of the WWE going into the future, and things are a bit different this year. As the GMs ponder their next steps, they have to understand it is about protecting the roster they have as it is making the roster they want. Meaning that when they use their picks, they have just as much of a chance gaining a superstar as they do losing one they already have.

HHH just felt that since champs are protected and Cody will be staying here on SmackDown, maybe Cody could help read the SmackDown picks and HHH can read the Raw picks. And since SmackDown goes first, Cody reads first. Cody takes the card to say that with the first pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… The E S T, Bianca Belair! The stongEST, fastEST, roughEST, toughEST stays on Friday nights! HHH reads that for the second pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, Raw selects… YEET! JEY USO! Monday nights will still have Main Event Jey Uso! And the fans “YEET!” Cody says for the third pick, SmackDown selects… NXT’s Carmelo Hayes!

The fans fire up as SmackDown manages to snag… HIM! The former NXT Champion makes history again by being the first NXT superstar to be chosen this high in the Draft! HHH says that’s a hell of a pick. But then the fourth and final pick of this first round, Raw selects… SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! It is still going to be Monday Night Rollins as the Visionary stays on the red brand! Cody and HHH shake hands, and then Melo makes his way out! Melo has the mic to say when they talk about who’s next up, about who’s the hottest out, they don’t call them “the hottest out,” they just call him “Carmelo Hayes.”

The fans chant “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” to remind Melo how he’s leaving NXT. Melo says okay, okay. But then to Cody Rhodes, ever since Cody won the title, he’s been talking about “If you aim for the king, you best not miss.” Well, funny how that works. Because when Melo shoots, Melo don’t miss. And as a first round draft pick, what better way to shoot his shot on SmackDown than to shoot it right at Cody? Melo leaves the mic with Cody but Cody picks it up to say, “Fortune certainly favors the bold, but I dunno. You folks don’t wanna see me in action tonight, do ya?” The fans go wild! Oh, but what if Cody forgot his gear?

Oh that’s right! He didn’t forget his gear! And this title right here, for Cody, means absolutely 100%, Melo’s on! They shake on it, and we’re about to see a huge first-time-ever showdown! But will this bold first move work out for… HIM?

Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo!

The LWO is still not convinced Legado Del Fantasma had nothing to do with the beating that took the Boy Wonder out ahead of WrestleMania. Will the King of Lucha help get to the bottom of things? Or will Angel & “Berto” make it as easy as ABC, 1-2-3?

The teams sort out, Dragon runs up on Humberto but Humberto LARIATS him down! Humberto drags Dragon up, tears the shirt away and CHOPS! Humberto whips, Dragon ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Humberto tumbles out, Dragon builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Humberto! The fans fire up as Dragon pushes Humberto into the ring, goes up a corner, and then CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Dragon facelocks to drag Humberto up, but Humberto wrenches out to CLUB Dragon down. Humberto waistlocks but Dragon throws elbows. Angel tags in as Humberto shoves Dragon. Dragon ducks but Angel holds ropes open, and Dragon tumbles to the floor!

The fans boo and LWO hurries to check on Dragon! Angel & Humberto just soak up the heat as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and both Dragon and Humberto are down! They crawl, hot tags to Angel and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirl RANAS! Angel ends up in a corner, he puts Rey on the apron, but Rey ROCKS Angel! Rey goes up to SEATED SENTON! Rey keeps moving, wrenches and kicks, then hops on! CODE RED! Cover, Humberto breaks it! The fans boo but Humberto hauls Rey up. Rey fights and RANAS Humberto up and out! But Angelo kicks, scoops, but Rey slips free! Angelo kicks low, reels REy in, and underhooks, but Rey fights those to RANA Angel onto ropes! Rey dials it up to 619!

Tag to Dragon and he takes aim! Angel stands, into the tilt-o-whirl, PROJECT DRAGON!! Cover, LWO wins!

Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall

Carlito and Zelina hug it out with the team, but then Santos Escobar & Elektra Lopez walk out here. Santos says whoa, whoa, whoa, hold that celebration. Because Santos is many things, but a liar is not one of them. And when Santos said he did NOT attack Dragon that night before Mania, he meant it. Elektra has been working for weeks to track down the security footage from that night. And Rey… Oh, Rey. What you’re about to see, you will find very, very interesting. The footage plays, and it was CARLITO!! Carlito throw Dragon around backstage! No one can believe it, because of how well Carlito fooled even Dragno.

Speaking of, Carlito RAMS Dragon into Rey, then hits a BACKSTABBER! Never has that move’s name been more fitting! Carlito runs away in a panic, and Rey stands back up in a rage! Santos says he told Rey that he was right all along. They were supposed to be family, and yet look how that turned out. How will the LWO recover from this shocking development?

Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander!

The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been making a case for himself ever since showing up on SmackDown, and he’s already bringing the straps down! Is he going to break PRIMED Alexander while also breaking match time records? Or will Cedric prove he’s too fly for Bron?

The bell rings and Cedric dodges Bron to CHOP and ROCK! Cedric whips, Bron reverses and Cedric handsprings, into a SPEAR!! Cover, Bron wins!

Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall

Well, hard to say if that’s an all-time fast match, but that was a fast match! QR Code stuff going on, but will we all see Bron take the world by storm?

Nick Aldis heads out.

And waiting is Tiffany Stratton. She asks if he saw what she did last week. Wait, of course he did. Because she is the Center of the Universe. She dropped Naomi and Bayley, where is her title match? Aldis tells Tiff to look at his watch. It is NOT set to #TiffyTime. And he was this close to sending her to the back of the line. But then someone convinced him otherwise, good for her. Tonight, she goes 1v1 with Naomi again, and the winner faces Bayley for the title at Backlash. Whose stupid idea was that?! Bayley says DING DONG, it was hers. It is a win-win situation here. If Naomi wins, she gets the match she got cheated out of.

And if Tiff wins, then she’ll find out when she attacks the Role Model. Tiff gasps as she has a #TiffanyEpiphany. Bayley should be ringside for that match so she can see Tiff do what Bayley couldn’t, and that’s beat Naomi. Tootles. Tiff leaves, but will the only thing she gets is to #FeelTheGlow?

Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson are here!

One is a former WWE Women’s Champion, the other is a WWE Hall of Famer, but they’re both here to present Draft picks! Michelle says with the first pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… The Viper, Randy Orton! SmackDown will still have to watch out for an RKO outta nowhere! Torrie says that with the second pick of the second round, Raw selects… BRON BREAKKER! We just saw Bron make quick work of opponents here on SmackDown, but now he’s gonna be rampaging on Raw!

Michelle says that with the third pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… NIA JAX! The Irresistible Force may have to change targets from the Women’s World to the Undisputed Women’s title, but will she be unstoppable all the same? And with the fourth and final pick of this round, Raw selects… LIV MORGAN! The Revenge Tour will still be part of Monday nights, will we watch Liv rise to the top?

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

Paul Heyman is there to greet them and open the door to the SUV. He apologizes for not being faster about that, but Solo Sikoa asks The Bloodline if they’ve been drafted. Not yet. Then give Solo the details. Okay, well, Roman Reigns withdrew right before the show began, and then Solo keeps adding members, so no one really knows what they’re getting if they draft The Bloodline! Solo sighs, and here comes Tama Tonga. Heyman asks they be patient but Solo wants Heyman to repeat that for him. Heyman gets scared, but then KEVIN OWENS jumps in! Kevin fires off on Tama, security and refs rush in to stop it!

The Prizefighter wants Solo’s “MFT” to bring the fight like he did last week! Security still drags Kevin away, but will he get that fight he wants?

Kayla Braxton is on stage.

SmackDown returns and Kayla welcomes us back to the show. And please welcome out the first overall pick, Bianca Belair! The fans fire up as The EST walks out on stage, and Kayla congratulates her on being the first overall pick. But let’s talk Backlash. Breaking news, Bianca and Jade Cargill are going to challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, against the Kabuki Warriors. How satisfying would it be to dethrone them on the stage of this magnitude? Bianca says so satisfying. She really hopes Jade gets drafted to SmackDown because given all this history with Damage CTRL, all the partners by her side, Bianca has never been the one to finally end it with them.

For everything they’ve done to her and this division, Bianca feels Jade is the perfect woman to help her end this. Now, DMG CTRL is falling apart piece by piece, and that final piece is the tag titles. So once Bianca & Jade take the gold at Backlash, the Kabuki Warriors won’t even have a reason to come back to SmackDown. But wait, they’re here now! Asuka & Kairi walk out here and Kayla moves aside. The Empress of Tomorrow and the Pirate Princess taunt the EST, but here comes The Storm! Jade makes her way to stand right by Bianca’s side. The four shout and argue, but this will be settled on May 4th!

WHOA! Tama and Kevin are brawling their way out here! The ladies move aside so the gentlemen can brawl all the way down to ringside! Tama hits low, gets in the ring, but Kevin pursues! Kevin TACKLES Tama, but Solo CLOBBERS Kevin! The fans boo as The Bloodline beats Kevin down! The refs hurry out here but clearly Solo’s Bloodline won’t listen! Tama DECKS producers, DECKS guards, HEADBUTTS them, throws hands and even THROWS the guards! Tama and Solo beat Kevin down again, but here comes Randy Orton! The Viper is still on SmackDown and he’s still pals with Kevin, so here he comes!

Orton DECKS Tama, fires hands on Solo, then RK- NO, Solo gets free and gets away! Orton wants to pursue, almost runs Jamie Noble and refs over to do it, but the Bloodline has gotten away! The fans cheer Randy on, and KAevin even hugs him! But then Kevin and Randy try to give chase! Security stops this, when and where will we see #RKKO strike down Solo and Tama?

The Dudley Boyz are here!

The fans fire up as Bubba Ray & D-Von are both here for the next round of picks! Cincy chants for “E C DUB! E C DUB!” Bubba and D-Von look at the cards, it’s hard to read. So out come the glasses! Bubba says with the first pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… L A KNIGHT! YEAH!! The Mega Star stays on Fridays! D-Von says with the second pick of the third round, Raw selects… RICOCHET! Mondays still has the One and Only, is Ricochet going to bring that WWE Speed Championship home to Raw, too?

Bubba says with the third pick of the third round, SmackDown selects… THE BLOODLINE! That means Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman are staying right here on Friday nights. And D-Von says with the final pick of this round, Raw selects… SHEAMUS! The Celtic Warrior just got back, but he won’t have to worry about going anywhere else but Monday nights.

WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton!

It’s time to run it back once again! The Glow got robbed by the Spoiled Rich Girl, but supposedly, it’s #TiffyTime. Will Naomi prove there’s no such time on the clock? Or will Bayley be the one feeling the Backlash over giving Tiffany one more chance?

The bell rings and Naomi hits a THESZ PRESS! Naomi rains down fists, Tiffy shoves her away and goes to ropes, but Naomi gets up in Tiff’s face. Naomi whips, Tiff holds ropes to bail out and fans boo. Naomi scowls, runs in and WRECKS Tiff with a dropkick! Naomi then gets Tiff up, SMACKS her off the apron, and then SMACKS her off it again! And again! Naomi puts Tiff in, goes up a corner, but Tiff gets under the jump! Naomi runs back up but Tiff YANKS her into ropes! Tiff runs to HIP ATTACK! Naomi sputters, Tiff scowls and drags Naomi up, to then put through ropes. But Naomi RAMS into Tiff!

Naomi reels Tiff in, for a HEATSEEKER! Tiff flops to the floor, and then Naomi SPLIT LEG DROPS! Naomi says it’s #NaomiTime, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Naomi runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Naomi survives and Tiff is frustrated but the fans rally up. Tiff drags Naomi up, whips her to a corner, but Naomi goes up and sunset flips! TWO! Tiff escapes, knees Naomi low, then whips. Naomi slides under the lariat to then mule kick! Then she headscissor SPIKES Tiff down! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives but barely, and Naomi keeps her cool. Naomi headlocks, but Tiff shoves her into buckles! Tiff runs, but Naomi follows, DOUBLE RUNNING FACEBUSTERS take them both down! The fans fire up as the two rise!

Naomi KICKS, ROCKS and ROCKS Tiff again! Naomi fires shots again and again but Tiff knees low! Tiff reels Naomi in, but Naomi wrenches out to ENZIGIRI! And then BUCKLE BULLDOG! But then NIA JAX attacks Bayley!? Nia SMACKS Bayley off buckles, rains down fists, and this momentarily distracts Naomi. Naomi refocuses, but by now, Tiff’s slipped away! Nia KICKS Bayley in the side, so Naomi goes out to ROCK her! Nia POSTS Naomi and that throws the match out!

No Contest

The fans boo as Nia ruins the fun, then runs Bayley over! Nia smiles as she blows kisses to Cincy. Tiff smiles, she drags Naomi up and puts her in the ring. Then she drags Bayley in! Tiff wants a repeat of last week as she puts them side by side in the drop zone! Tiff then goes up and up for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Tiff says it’s her time, but the #1 contendership is still in question. Who gets their shot at the Role Model at Backlash?

B-Fab and the Street Profits meet up backstage.

Angelo Dawkins has a “WHO-DEY” sign, but Montez Ford is wondering where Bobby Lashley is right now. B-Fab says calm down, he’ll be here. Byron Saxton walks over and apologizes for interrupting. He doesn’t know what the Draft destination for this group will be until Monday Night Raw, but we do know that The Profits will challenge A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championships. YESSIIIIIIR~! B-Fab says it doesn’t matter where they get drafted. The Profits are going to take down A-Town Down Under and take those titles. Then they’ll have their first class tickets right back to SmackDown.

SmackDown? Did someone say SmackDown~? In walk Austin Theory & Grayson Waller, showing off the titles. And Theory says you can’t have SmackDown without the GREATEST undefeated tag team of all time. And sorry, Dawkins, but these are championships, something the Bengals know nothing about! B-Fab keeps Dawkins back, but then in steps Bobby Lashley! The All Mighty scares Theory & Waller right off, and Dawkins says see y’all next Friday! Will there be nothing keeping these Profits down the night before Backlash?

The Final Testament speaks.

Karrion Kross says good evening. What’s going on here? You guessed it! More random acts of violence! Just follow him. Kross & Scarlett lead the way to show The Authors of Pain beating down New Catch Republic! Rezar beats down Pete Dunne while Akam victimizes Tyler Bate! Paul Ellering says they will know about sacrifice! Kross says whether they get drafted to Raw or stay on SmackDown, the violence will continue until they get what they want! So sayeth The Final Testament!!

Teddy Long and JBL are here!

The Hall of Famer General Manager and the Hall of Famer WWE Champion are both here, ready to give us the fourth and final round of picks tonight! Teddy gets right to it! The first pick of the fourth round, SmackDown selects… AJ STYLES! The Phenomenal One is really an obvious choice, because one way or another, the WWE Championship stays with SmackDown! JBL says the second pick of the fourth round, Raw selects… THE ALPHA ACADEMY! Raw keeps Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri & Akira Tozawa, A THANK YEW~!

Teddy says with the third pick of this round, SmackDown selects… ANDRADE! A big move as now El Idolo will be part of Friday nights. And with the final pick of this fourth round, Raw selects… NXT’S Kiana James! The Calculator, the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, has the Raw hat to put on, and after a quick hype package, Jackie Redmond is there to interview her. Kiana, congratulations! You are heading to Monday Night Raw! How much does this mean to her? This means the world to her. She is filled with gratitude, but also knows every decision she has made up to this point has been by design to get her here.

Kiana is so proud of her time in NXT, but she’s ready to show Raw why she is the One Percent. Was she surprised? Of course she was! HBK is here to wish her luck and congratulations. Is Kiana going to start the hostile takeover of the Raw Women’s Division?

Backstage interview with Nick Aldis.

Kayla is with the SmackDown GM and says that with night one in the books, how does he feel about SmackDown’s selections? He feels really good about them. SmackDown’s future is bright, he can’t wait for the new recruits to show up and show out for the blue brand. But he also wants to turn attentions to Backlash, because he’s got some new matches to announce! The first PLE in France, this is exciting stuff, Kayla. Aldis says that the WWE Women’s Championship will now be on the line in a Triple Threat! Bayley VS Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton! Will the odds make it that much harder for the Role Model to succeed?

There’s one more match to announce, but Aldis will let the GM GOAT take it from here. Teddy Long steps in, and don’t forget. We’ll talk about this tag team match. The Bloodline VS Kevin Owens & Randy Orton! Holla, players. Solo & Tama will have to face The Viper and the Prizefighter, will #RKKO strike fast and strike hard?

Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes!

The American Nightmare just put pen to paper for his match with the Phenomenal One, but he isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. The former NXT Champion is shooting his shot, but will this be nothing but net? Or will it be a frustrating airball?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, the fans rally for Cody as he puts Melo in a corner then arm-drags him away. Melo runs up, Cody headlocks, Melo powers out then drops. Melo hurdles, but Cody kicks low to RHODES UPPERCUT! Melo staggers to ropes, the fans fire up, but then melo throat chops and springboard FLYING LARIATS! Melo says that’s why he’s a first round pick! But then Cody CLOBBERS him! Cody asks if Melo’s ready for this, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns once again and Cody has a headlock. Cody hits a takeover, Melo flails and kicks around, but Cody grinds him down. Melo pushes with his forearm, then headscissors, but Cody kips free. Melo CHOPS, the fans “WOO~!” but Cody brushes himself off. Melo pie faces Cody! Cody fires forearms on Melo, then whips, but Melo reverses. Melo ELBOWS Cody, then runs up to KICK him in the side! Melo fires forearms and CHOPS in a corner, then throws body shots. Melo digs his boot in, the ref counts, and Cody goes to another corner. Cody eggs Melo on, Melo storms up, but Cody puts him in the corner to CHOP!

Cody swings, Melo dodges and CHOPS! Cody turns things around to CHOP! The fans rally, Cody whips corner to corner, then he back drops Melo away! Melo staggers up, Cody runs, and he rallies on Melo with forearms! Cody goes up and over in a corner but Melo tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! Melo springboards, FADE AWAY! Cover, TWO! Cody survives that flying DDT, but we see the NXT roster all fired up watching Melo take it to the champ. Melo sits Cody up, drags him into a facelock, but the fans rally for Cody. Cody fireman’s carries but Melo slips free to dragon sleeper! Melo grins, but Cody cradles! TWO!!

Melo swings, Cody boots, then Cody springboards to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER! Melo flips inside-out, Cody covers, TWO! Melo is still in this and he snarls up at Cody. Melo gives a forearm, Cody gives it back, and the fans rally up. Cody scoops Melo, storms around, and then hits a RUNNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Melo survives and Cody grows frustrated. Cody pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and then Cody goes to ropes. Cody springboards again, CODY CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives yet again, proving why he’s a former NXT Champion, on top of NXT North American Champion! But then Cody drags him up!

Cody back suplexes, Melo lands out of it, then FIRST 48! Doe goes Cody and Melo goes up! Melo is setting up for the game winner! NOTHING BUT- NO, Cody avoids the flying leg drop! Melo rolls through, Cody dodges to SUPERKICK! Cody brings Melo around, but Melo gets free! They both run, both springboard, but completely miss each other, and Cody takes a rough landing! Melo drags Cody up, reels him in, but Cody wrenches out to dragon sleeper! CROSS RHODES!! Cody shakes out the bad arm but still makes the cover, and Cody wins!

Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall

Melo took his shot but it was blocked! Even so, Cody sits Melo up to show him respect and tell him he’s still the future. But did this match end up more of a trap game for Cody after that crash landing? Or will he be alright in time for Backlash and his phenomenal opponent?

Speaking of, Styles sneaks right into the ring! Cody sees him in time and Styles stays back. Cody and Styles stare down, but Styles says it was that close. Styles offers a handshake, and Cody takes it. There’s still respect here, for now. But will nothing stop Styles from turning Cody’s story into a tragedy after all?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown to open the WWE Draft but to also set up Backlash. To recap, SmackDown took Bianca, Melo, Orton, Nia, LA Knight, The Bloodline, Styles and Andrade while Raw took Jey, Rollins, Bron, Liv, Ricochet, Sheamus, The Alpha Academy, and Kiana. Many of those choices made sense, as picks won’t be wasted on keeping champions on brands, and just need to be used to keep most stories alive and change up a few others. Kiana is perhaps one of the more surprising moves, but well-deserved. She has been a solid character and solid in-ring performer almost from the start, she’s a solid addition to Raw.

Bron of course demolished his opponent tonight, it’s just a shame it was Cedric and not local enhancement talent. But Bron will also be a good addition to Raw, but maybe he can move past his squash match phase and get right to story. Melo being a first round pick was great stuff, and he had a great promo with Cody to give us tonight’s main event. That double springboard whiff was definitely a timing problem, but at the same time, a Fade Away countered into a Cody Cutter would’ve been way too epic just for TV. Cody with a great win, and we got a really good contract signing segment, but you can bet Cody retains.

Really good tag match from LWO VS Legado but naturally Rey & Dragon won. I knew it was only a matter of time before Carlito was outed, and how he handled being exposed was pretty good. And with Andrade being drafted to SmackDown, you just know that means Andrade joins the LWO. The Final Testament attacking New Catch Republic was a wild moment, I almost thought Ellering was going to use the pliers in his hands to grab at fingers. Maybe we get that next week for SmackDown in France. Good promos from A-Town Down Under and the still technically unnamed faction of Bobby Lashley’s. As great as The Profits are, it feels like Theory & Waller will cheat to retain.

Really good promo with Tiff and Bayley to set up Naomi VS Tiff round 3, but I did not think Nia Jax would disrupt all that. A Triple Threat at Backlash is good stuff, it will protect Bayley if she loses, but can also protect Naomi and Tiff if Bayley uses them against each other to win. Good promo from Bianca that then turned into the shouting match of Bianca & Jade with Kabuki Warriors. Their tag title match is official, and I’m pretty sure Bianca & Jade win. I also liked that this segment ended up having Kevin and Tama brawl right through it. Orton saving Kevin was a great move, RKKO VS Solo & Tama is going to be awesome stuff, I can’t wait to see it.