WWE Friday Night Smackdown Review – April 26, 2024
Kicking off this week’s Smackdown with we go backstage to Kayla Braxton is with Paul Heyman discuss whether or not Roman Reigns will be drafted alongside the rest of The Bloodline. Heyman announces that Reigns has voluntarily withdrawn his name from the eligible pool of talent from the Draft.
We then head over to the NXT Performance Center where Jackie Redmond is standing by with the NXT roster as they find out whether or not they will be among the drafted Superstars.
Corey Graves announces that he will be moderating the upcoming contract signing then introduces AJ Styles & Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Graves hands the contract over to Styles and he looks it over as fans voice their support for Rhodes. Styles says before he signs the contract, 2 Georgia boys are ready to mix it up for the biggest prize in the game. He says he understands why fans boo him but he doesn’t respect LA Knight and he gets under his skin. He says he got his composure back and realized that he’s phenomenal then went on to beat Knight last week and secure his Undisputed WWE Title with Rhodes at Backlash.
Styles addresses Rhodes and says while they haven’t yet crossed paths, they both had to prove themselves outside WWE. He says Dusty Rhodes gave them both the same advice about standing on their own two feet and going their own way then says he looked at Rhodes’ title set up between them and the 2 tables. He says the weight isn’t just of leather and gold and at Backlash, he carries it. He then signs the contract
Rhodes asks Cincinnati what they want to talk about then says they could talk about respect. He says there’s not a locker room on Earth where everyone doesn’t respect Styles. He says he respects the roads Styles has traveled to get to WWE but the respect goes to the wayside at Backlash. He says he respects Styles’ familiarity with his last name but when he puts his first name in front of his last, they’ve never met before. He says his match with Styles isn’t a dream match but a must win.
Rhodes signs the contract and offers his hand to Styles.
Styles tells Rhodes it’s a shame his reign has to end at Backlash then shakes his hand and heads to the back. Rhodes picks up his title and holds it above his head.
Triple H then quickly reviews a couple things about the draft before Rhodes announces that Bianca BelAir is the #1 Draft pick to SmackDown. Triple H then says Jey Uso has been drafted to Raw as the #2 pick, Rhodes announces that Carmelo Hayes has been drafted to SmackDown as the #3 pick and Triple H announces that Seth Rollins is the #4 pick and has been drafted to Raw.
Tag Team Match
Legado Del Fantasma (Angel & Humberto) vs. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee)
Humberto turns Dragon Lee inside out with a clothesline.
Lee fires back with a hurricanrana then goes flying out of the ring to level Humberto.
He gets him back in the ring and ascends to the top rope then connects with a crossbody as we go to a break.
After the break Rey Mysterio hits a hurricanrana to Angel and ascends to the top rope.
He connects with a senton and a boot to his midsection then lands Code Red and goes for a pin. Angelo kicks out and Humberto tries to level him.
Mysterio sends Humberto over the top rope and out of the ring then sends him crashing into the ropes and tags in Lee.
Mysterio dials it up for 619 and Lee follows it up with Project Dragon for the win.
Winners: Latino World Order
After the match LWO celebrates inside the ring. Santos Escobar & Elektra Lopez then march down to the ring and Escobar says he’s not a liar. He says he didn’t attack Dragon Lee and plays security footage of Carlito being the one who attacked Lee. Carlito then sends Lee crashing into Mysterio and hits a backstabber on him then retreats through the crowd.
Bron Breakker vs. Cedric Alexander
Cedric Alexander looks to hit a springboard cutter but Bron Breakker catches him with a spear in mid air for the win.
Winner: Bron Breakker
We then head backstage and see Tiffany Stratton demand a Women’s Title match against Bayley from Nick Aldis. Aldis says he was going to send her to the back of the line but someone convinced him otherwise. He announces that she will be taking on Naomi in another #1 Contenders match later tonight and when Stratton asks who asked Aldis for this match to be made official Bayley reveals herself to be the one who did.
Michelle McCool announces that Randy Orton is the #5 draft pick and will remain on SmackDown. Torrie Wilson then says that the #6 draft pick will be heading to Raw and reveals him to be Bron Breakker. McCool says that the #7 draft pick for SmackDown is Nia Jax & Wilson reveals that the #8 pick is Liv Morgan who will be remaining on Raw.
We then see Paul Heyman meet Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga as they pull up to the arena. Kevin Owens attacks them and rains down right hands on Tonga before officials separate them.
Kayla Braxton then introduces Bianca BelAir and she makes her way down to the ring. They discuss BelAir and Jade Cargill’s upcoming Women’s Tag Team Titles match against Kabuki Warriors at Backlash. Women’s Tag Team Champions Kabuki Warriors then make their way down to the ring and hold up their titles. Cargill then appears to join and both teams begin arguing.
Tama Tonga & Kevin Owens then appear brawling down the ramp and Owens rains down right hands on Tonga in the ring. Solo Sikoa joins Tonga in beating down Owens and security follows him to separate everyone. Tonga throws them all out of the ring but Randy Orton runs down to even the odds. Owens & Orton then hug.
Bubba Ray Dudley announces that LA Knight is the 9th overall pick and will be remaining on SmackDown. D Von Dudley announces that Ricochet is the 10th overall pick and will be staying on Raw and Bubba Ray announces that Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga & Paul Heyman are the 11th overall pick and will be staying on SmackDown. D Von then reveals that the 12th overall pick that will be staying on Raw is Sheamus.
Women’s Title #1 Contenders Match
Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi
Naomi hits a Thesz Press on Tiffany Stratton then Stratton rolls out of the ring and Naomi dropkicks her through the bottom rope.
She sends Stratton’s face bouncing off the ring apron then gets her back inside the ring.
Naomi ascends to the top and looks to fly but Stratton moves out of the way and sends Naomi crashing into the middle rope.
Naomi then hits a split legged crossbody to Stratton off the apron as we go to a break.
After the break Stratton connects with a spinebuster on Naomi.
Naomi hits a sunset flip to Stratton then sends her head crashing into the mat.
Stratton then lands a jawbreaker on Naomi but Naomi fires back with an enzuigiri.
Nia Jax blindsides Bayley at the commentary table then sends her crashing into the ring post. The referee then calls for the bell.
Winner & #1 Contender To The Women’s Title: No One (No Contest)
Jax hits a splash to Bayley & Stratton gets Bayley & Naomi back inside the ring. She then lands the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on both Bayley & Naomi.
After the break we see Authors of Pain attack New Catch Republic as Karrion Kross sends a message to the WWE roster and Scarlett & Paul Ellering watch on.
Teddy Long announces that AJ Styles will be staying on SmackDown and is the 13th overall pick and JBL says that the 14th overall pick is Alpha Academy who will be staying on Raw. Long says the 15th overall pick is Andrade who will be moving over to SmackDown and JBL announces that Kiana James is the 16th overall pick and will be heading to Raw.
After the break Nick Aldis & Teddy Long announce that a couple matches have been added to Backlash. Aldis declares that Bayley will defend her Women’s Title against Naomi & Tiffany Stratton in a Triple Threat match and Long announces that Kevin Owens & Randy Orton will be squaring off with The Bloodline.
Non Title Match
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes
Match starts off with a lock up before Cody Rhodes hits a open palm strike to Carmelo Hayes but Hayes responds with a springboard lariat to Rhodes.
Rhodes responds with a clothesline of his own as we go to a break.
After the break Rhodes fires off strikes on Hayes then hits a boot to Rhodes’ midsection then lands a couple strikes on Rhodes and jams his boot into his neck in the corner.
Hayes & Rhodes then exchange chops in the adjacent corner before Rhodes hits a back body drop to Hayes.
Rhodes then connects with a shoulder tackle but Hayes responds with a facebuster and Fade Away.
He looks to connect with Cross Rhodes on Hayes but Rhodes rolls Hayes up but Hayes kicks out.
Rhodes hits Disaster Kick to Hayes then follows it up with a running powerslam and goes for a pin. Hayes kicks out and Rhodes catches him with a Cody Cutter.
He goes for another pin but Hayes kicks out.
Hayes lands The First 48 and ascends to the top then looks to land Nothing But Net.
Rhodes avoids it and hits a superkick before both men fly off the ropes looking to level one another. Rhodes then hits Cross Rhodes for the win.
Winner: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes
After the match Rhodes celebrates his win with the WWE Universe and holds up his Undisputed WWE Title. AJ Styles appears to stare down Rhodes and they shake hands to close out this week’s Smackdown.
Notes
More draft picks were made after Smackdown
Cedric Alexander & Ashante Thee Adonis (Smackdown)
Baron Corbin (NXT To Smackdown)
Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (Smackdown To Raw)
Ivar (Raw)
The OC (Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows & Mia Yim) (Smackdown)
Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark (Raw)
Next Week’s Smackdown
Tag Team Match
New Catch Republic (Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne) vs. Authors Of Pain (Akam & Rezar)
WWE Tag Team Titles Match
A Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) (c) vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Updated Backlash Card (May 4th)
Undisputed WWE Title Match
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles
World Heavyweight Title Match
Damian Priest (c) vs. Jey Uso
Women’s Title Triple Threat Match
Bayley (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi
Tag Team Match
The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) vs. Randy Orton & Kevin Owens
Women’s Tag Team Titles Match
Kabuki Warriors (Kairi Sane & Asuka) (c) vs. Bianca BelAir & Jade Cargill
