The April 30th, 2019 episode of WWE SmackDown aired live from the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH. During tonight’s show, the SmackDown superstars in the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Matches were announced.
Men’s MITB Ladder Match: Ali, Finn Balor, Andrade, Randy Orton, Ricochet, Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin
Women’s MITB Ladder Match: Bayley, Mandy Rose, Ember Moon, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Dana Brooke, Naomi, Natalya
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s show:
Kofi Kingston Will Defend The Title Against Kevin Owens At Money In The Bank
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston kicked off this week’s show by launching pancakes into the crowd. Kingston joined Michael Cole in the ring to discuss what went down on last week’s show. Kevin Owens attacked Kingston during last week’s main event and told Kofi that he was coming for the WWE Championship.
WWE rolled footage of Kingston’s journey to WrestleMania and the crowd getting behind him. Kofi said that he has learned over the past 11-years to fight through the lows and keep on pushing. Kingston added that he was proud to become WWE Champion with Big E and Xavier Woods by his side.
Michael Cole suggested that Kofi’s win at WrestleMania was the greatest WrestleMania moment of all time. Finally, Kofi addressed Owens attacking him last week. Kingston admitted that he should have seen it coming, but New Day believes in giving people second chances. Kofi added that he wanted to defend the WWE Championship against Kevin Owens at Money in the Bank.
Kevin Owens interrupted and accepted Kofi’s challenge. Owens noted that Kingston gave the WWE Universe a WrestleMania moment, but moments are fleeting. Kevin claimed that the WWE Universe doesn’t actually think that Kofi is championship material.
He claimed that Kofi knows that he is in way over his head and doesn’t deserve the title. Xavier Woods attacked Owens from behind but Kevin battled back with a Superkick. Kingston ran up the entrance ramp and Owens retreated backstage.
Charlotte Flair Attacked Becky Lynch & Bayley
Bayley battled Becky Lynch tonight on SmackDown. It was announced that Bayley will be in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at the PPV next month. Lynch connected with a Body Slam but Bayley got right up and got in Becky’s face.
Lynch leveled Bayley with a shoulder tackle and then threw her out of the ring. Back in the ring, Lynch connected with a Clothesline as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Bayley was in control and hit Clothesline of her own for a near fall. Bayley followed that up with a knee to the face for a two count. Lynch battled back with a Dropkick off the top turnbuckle for a two count. Bayley and Becky traded shots and Lynch got the upper hand with an Exploder Supex.
Bayley and Becky hit a Clothesline at the same time and both superstars fell tot he canvas. Bayley hit a Belly to Back Suplex and then made her way to the top rope. Bayley went for the Elbow Drop but Lynch got her knees up and locked in the Dis-Arm-Her for the pinfall victory. After the match, Charlotte hit Lynch with a big boot and then launched Bayley into the ring post.
Bayley and Becky Lynch put on a solid match tonight. I don’t like Becky Lynch being on both shows and hope that ends following Money in the Bank. She is the best thing going in WWE right now and I’d hate to see her lose all momentum because the fans get sick of her.
The Hardy Boyz Relinquished The Tag Titles
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz addressed the injury to Jeff Hardy on this week’s show. Jeff said that he unable to walk under his own power because of Lars Sullivan and he needs surgery. Jeff added that he will be out of action for a long time.
Matt stated that The Hardy Boyz must give up the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Jeff vowed to come back better than ever. Sullivan interrupted and marched his way down the entrance ramp.
Lars got into the ring with Matt and grabbed him by the neck. Sullivan sent Matt out of the ring as Jeff struggled to escape to the outside. Matt got back into the ring but Sullivan planted him with the Freak Accident. Jeff lifted up his crutch and dared Lars to come at him.
R-Truth hit Lars in the back with a chair but Sullivan shrugged it off. Lars then slammed R-Truth to the canvas and followed it up with a massive Powerbomb.
It was a good choice by WWE to use Jeff Hardy’s injury as a way to try and get Lars Sullivan over. WWE desperately needs Lars to resonate with the audience. They need the same thing to happen for Aleister Black, who is now cutting forgettable ominous pre-taped promos in a dark room.
Roman Reigns Overcame The Odds
Roman Reigns kicked off the second hour of SmackDown and got his usual mixed reaction from the crowd. Reigns boasted about making a good first impression on SmackDown by knocking out Vince McMahon.
Reigns stated that he just wanted to get the point across that he is still the Big Dog and SmackDown is his yard now. SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon interrupted and demanded that Greg Hamilton properly introduce him as the best in the world.
Shane reminded Reigns that the McMahon family owns all the land, so it doesn’t matter if Roman is the biggest dog in the yard. Shane bragged about leaving Reigns laying on his back last week on SmackDown. Roman pointed out that Shane needed Elias’ help and challenged Shane to come down to the ring.
Shane said that he doesn’t have time because he has to train for his Steel Cage Match at Money in the Bank. McMahon brought out the B-Team (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) and announced a Handicap Match. Shane added that Elias will be the special “enforcer for the match.
Elias distracted referee Mike Chioda during the match and B-Team beat Reigns down. Elias followed that up with a Clothesline on Reigns while the referee was arguing with Axel and Dallas. Reigns hit Axel with a Superman Punch and went for the cover but Elias pulled the referee out of the ring.
Roman chased Elias around the ring and hit Bo with the Drive-By. Elias slammed Roman into the ring post and sent Reigns back into the ring. Axel hit the Perfect Plex and Elias rolled into the ring for the count but Roman still kicked out at two. Elias got his guitar but Roman hit him with a Superman Punch. Reigns then hit Axel with the Spear for the pinfall victory.
I find it impossible to get invested in yet another Roman Reigns storyline that involves him overcoming the odds. I’ve seen it too many times and am incredibly bored with it.
Kofi Kingston Got Revenge On Kevin Owens
Xavier Woods was a guest on the Kevin Owens Show in the main event of this week’s SmackDown. Owens laid out Woods with a Superkick in the beginning of tonight’s show.
Owens once again said that Kofi Kingston is in way over his head and told him not to worry because help is on the way. Kevin vowed to take the WWE Championship from Kingston at Money in the Bank and then asked Woods to come down to the ring for a chat.
Woods didn’t come down to the ring and Owens pulled out an Xavier Woods action figure from his pocket. Owens called it a piece of crap and blasted New Day for shamelessly pumping out cheap merchandise for years.
Kevin then brought out a Big E action figure with his leg all taped up. Owens kicked the action figures to the floor as Kofi Kingston showed up on the entrance ramp.
Kofi ran to the ring and traded punches with Owens. Kingston tackled Owens out of the ring and hit him with a Clothesline off the steel steps.
Kofi then launched Owens over the announce table and threw a computer chair on top of him. Owens poked Kingston in the eye and retreated through the crowd. Kingston stood on the turnbuckle and shouted at Owens as SmackDown went off the air.
RAW and SmackDown are both absolutely terrible right now. Bayley and Lynch had a solid match tonight and Lars Sullivan looked dominant. The rest of the show was very boring and didn’t do much to hype up the Money in the Bank PPV.
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