WWE SmackDown aired live from the Performance Center in Orlando tonight. Daniel Bryan battled Cesaro in a MITB Qualifying match and the SmackDown Tag Team Championships were on the line in the main event.
WWE SmackDown Results (4/17)
- Tamina def. Sasha Banks to earn a title shot
- Sheamus def. Denzel Dejournette
- Dana Brooke def. Naomi to qualify for the women’s MITB Ladder match
- Daniel Bryan def. Cesaro to qualify for the men’s MITB Ladder match
- King Corbin attacked Elias
- Big E def. The Miz, and Jey Uso to capture the SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Here are 6 takeaways from tonight’s show:
Bray Wyatt Gave Braun Strowman A Gift
Women’s Tag Team Champions Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss came down to the ring to begin this week’s show. Alexa and Nikki hosted “A Moment of Bliss” and welcomed Universal Champion Braun Strowman as their guest.
A graphic for Strowman versus Bray Wyatt at Money in the Bank was shown as Braun entered the ring. Alexa congratulated Braun on winning the title and he responded by congratulating them on defeating the Kabuki Warriors twice.
Braun said he used to be a part of the Wyatt Family but that is a part of his past that he is trying to forget. He added that he doesn’t owe Bray an apology and that Wyatt likes to get inside people’s head in order to make them doubt themselves.
Strowman claimed that Wyatt will not get the Universal Championship, instead he will just get these hands. Braun grabbed a gift that was in the corner of the ring and thanked Alexa for it.
Bliss told Braun that she didn’t get him a gift but Braun opened it anyway. Strowman took his old black sheep Wyatt Family mask from out of the box as Wyatt’s laugh echoed throughout the Performance Center.
Tamina Earned A Shot At The SmackDown Women’s Title
Sasha Banks faced Tamina tonight on SmackDown. Tamina would earn a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Championship if she won the match. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley joined commentary for the match.
Match Recap: Banks gave a Tamina a small “Legit Boss” t-shirt before the bell rang. Tamina shouted that she wars an XL and then launched Banks across the ring. Sasha rolled up Tamina for a two count. Tamina took control and threw Banks out of the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Banks had Tamina against the ropes and connected with a kick to the face. Banks applied a Headlock but Tamina escaped and hit a Uranage. Sasha rolled out of the ring to try and regroup but Tamina followed her out there. Bayley distracted Tamina and Banks capitalized by shoving her into the ring post.
Sasha launched Tamina into the steel steps and Lacey Evans’ music hit. Evans hit Bayley with a forearm to the face and Tamina hit Banks with a Superkick for the pinfall victory. Tamina earned a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
After the match, Lacey Evans was interviewed backstage and made sure to mention she is a marine before vowing to knock out Sasha Banks.
Opinion: Banks losing to Tamina is just ridiculous. I don’t have much interest in Bayley vs. Tamina and I certainly don’t have interest in Tamina as the SmakcDown Women’s Champion. I’m hoping that Sasha Banks is going to win the women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match in a few weeks and her friendship with Bayley continues to deteriorate.
Dana Brooke Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Naomi faced Dana Brooke in a Money in the Bank Qualifying match tonight.
Match Recap: Naomi rolled up Brooke for a two count right away. Naomi followed that up with a Dropkick and went for another cover but Dana was able to kick out at tow. Brooke sent Naomi to the outside and pointed at the MITB briefcase suspended above the ring.
Brooke hit a Dropkick and locked in a submission in the middle of the ring. Naomi escaped and caught Dana with a kick to the face. Dana battled back with a Powerbomb for a near fall.
Naomi went for the Rear View but Brooke countered into a roll-up. Naomi then hit the Rear View but Brooke kicked out at two. Naomi went for a Moonsault but Dana got out of the way. Brooke then rolled up Naomi for the pinfall victory. Dana Brooke qualified for the women’s Money in the Bank match in a few weeks.
Sonya Deville Cut A Great Promo On Mandy Rose
Sonya Deville asked Mandy Rose to join her in the ring so that she can make things right. Mandy didn’t come to the ring and Sonya got emotional. Deville said that she has never had someone like Rose in her life and begged for her to come down to the ring.
Mandy Rose came to the ring and told Sonya that she has nothing to say to her. Sonya told Mandy that she has spent more time with her than her family in the past five years. Deville changed her tune and called Mandy the most selfish human being she has ever met in her life.
Deville claimed that Mandy was so ready to kick her to the curb and that Fire & Desire was always about Rose. Sonya added that Mandy Rose is just eye candy with no talent. Dolph Ziggler joined the party and told Mandy that he made a huge mistake. Ziggler told Rose that he will spend however long it takes to make it up to her.
Dolph asked Mandy to look him in the eye and tell him that she doesn’t feel anything for him. Rose told Ziggler not to touch her and Sonya leveled Mandy with a punch. Otis rushed the ring and punched Ziggler in the face. Mandy tried to attack Sonya but Deville retreated out of the ring. Otis then hit Dolph with a Splash and then the Caterpillar Elbow to end the segment.
Opinion: I wasn’t expecting Sonya Deville to be the star of this segment but she was. Her promo was terrific tonight and hopefully we see more of that going forward.
Daniel Bryan Qualified For The MITB Ladder Match
Cesaro faced Daniel Bryan in a Money in the Bank Qualifying match. Shinsuke Nakamura and Drew Gulak were ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Bryan controlled the action early and knocked Cesaro out of the ring. The glitch appeared and the masked man said that they have heard all the lies but when will they hear the truth. The masked man said “some keep their friends close but others keep their enemies closer”.
Bryan focused his attack on Cesaro’s left arm and dragged him to the canvas. Cesaro battled back and hit a Body Slam for a two count. Cesaro locked in a Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring but Bryan was able to get to the ropes to break the hold.
Daniel went for an Arm Bar but Cesaro quickly escaped. Bryan hit Cesaro with a kick to the back of his head for a near fall. Cesaro connected with a knee to the face for a near fall and then locked in a Crossface in the middle of the ring. Daniel escaped but walked right into a massive Clothesline from Cesaro.
Cesaro unloaded several uppercuts but Daniel battled back and applied the Yes Lock in the middle of the ring. Shinsuke Nakamura tried to interfere but Gulak launched him into the barricade. Cesaro reached for the ropes but had no choice but to tap out. Daniel Bryan qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder match.
New Day Are The New SmackDown Tag Team Champions
Big E, Jey Uso, and The Miz battled in a Triple Threat match in the main event of this week’s show. The Miz and John Morrison’s SmackDown Tag Team Championships were on the line.
Match Recap: Big E planted The Miz with a Belly to Belly Throw and knocked Jey out of the ring to start the match off. Big E brought Miz to the outside and launched him into the barricade. Big E cleared off the announce table but turned around into a Superkick from Jey.
The Miz booted Big E in the face and teamed up with Jey. The Miz and Jey Suplexed Big E through the announce table as SmackDown went to a commercial break. When SmackDown returned, Jey Uso hit a Samoan Drop on Miz and followed it up with a Suicide Dive.
Back in the ring, Big E planted Jey with a Uranage. Jey battled back and hit Miz and Big E with a Superkick. The Miz hit Jey with the Skull Crushing Finale but Uso kicked out. Miz applied the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring as Big E was laid out on the floor outside the ring.
Big E got up and broke up the Sharpshooter. Big E then planted The Miz with the Big Ending for the pinfall victory. New Day are once again the SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
Opinion: I find it impossible to get invested in the tag team divisions in WWE. New Day winning the titles once again does nothing for me. Overall, SmackDown was still a solid show this week. Cesaro and Daniel Bryan had a very good match tonight, but I think Sonya Deville stole the show with her promo.