The April 24th edition of WWE SmackDown aired from the Performance Center in Orlando. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross defended their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Carmella and Dana Brooke. Lacey Evans battled Sasha Banks and Drew Gulak will faced King Corbin in Money in the Bank Qualifying matches. WWE also celebrated Triple H’s 25 years with the company during tonight’s show.
WWE SmackDown Results (4/24)
- King Corbin def. Drew Gulak to qualify for the Money in the Bank Ladder match
- Sheamus def. Daniel Vidot
- Lucha House Party def. Miz & Morrison
- Lacey Evans def. Sasha Banks to qualify for the Money in the Bank Ladder match
- Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross def. Dana Brooke & Carmella to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships
Here are 5 takeaways from this week’s episode:
The Forgotten Sons Sent A Message To The SmackDown Tag Team Division
SmackDown Tag Team Champions New Day kicked off tonight’s episode. Kofi stated that Big E was responsible for them being champs once again. Kingston said that they have more title reigns than great teams like the Hart Foundation, New Age Outlaws, etc.
Big E added that they have 8 championships and that is more that new Tampa Buccaneers QB Tom Brady. Lucha House Party interrupted and congratulated New Day on being champions again and said that was “Lucha lit”. They were about to challenge New Day but Miz & Morrison interrupted.
Miz said “really” a few times before claiming New Day weren’t legit champions because they won the titles in a single’s match. Morrison noted that New Day has never beaten them in a traditional tag team match. The Miz told New Day that they make the titles look like jokes and they want them back right now.
The Forgotten Sons joined the party and Miz joked that he had no idea who they were. Steve Cutler stated that they have served their country and ever since they came home they have been treated like trash. Jaxson Ryker called Miz a poser for playing a marine in the movies but he is a real marine.
Wesley Blake added that they are savages that will strike anywhere and a brawl broke out. The Miz and Morrison retreated out of the ring and stood on the entrance ramp. The Forgotten Sons beat everyone down and Powerbombed Kofi on top of Big E.
King Corbin Qualified For The Money In The Bank Ladder Match
King Corbin faced Drew Gulak in a Money in the Bank Qualifying match tonight on SmackDown. Daniel Bryan accompanied Drew Gulak to the ring.
Match Recap: Corbin controlled the action early and sent Gulak out of the ring. Drew battled back and applied a Headlock. Corbin broke free and shoved Drew up against the ropes. Corbin connected with a couple punches but Gulak connected with a boot to the face that sent Corbin out of the ring. Gulak Dropkicked Corbin over the announce table as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Corbin was back in control and hit a massive Clothesline for a near fall. Corbin followed it up with a slam for another two count. Bryan tried to fire up Gulak as Corbin taunted him. Baron stomped on Gulak’s knee in the corner of the ring while shouting at him to give up.
Gulak fought back with several forearms to the chest of Corbin. Drew hit King Corbin with a Dropkick and followed it up with a Crossbody for a two count. The action spilled out of the ring and Gulak sent Corbin into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Gulak hit a Dropkick off the top rope for a two count.
Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro came out of nowhere and attacked Daniel Bryan. Corbin capitalized on the distraction and shoved Gulak into the ring post. Corbin then planted Gulak with the End of Days for the pinfall victory. King Corbin has qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder match. After the match, Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro held up Drew Gulak and Corbin hit him with the scepter.
Lacey Evans Qualified For The Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Sasha Banks faced Lacey Evans in a Money in the Bank Ladder match tonight. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley accompanied Sasha to the ring. Banks had a picture of Lacey Evans’ daughter with her.
Match Recap: Bayley hopped on the apron with the picture for a distraction and Banks capitalized. Lacey quickly battled back and sent Banks into the barricade. Bayley once again distracted Evans and Sasha slammed Evans’ hand into the ring post.
Back in the ring, Banks slammed Lacey’s hand into the post and followed it up with Double Knees for a two count. Sasha connected with a Powerbomb and locked in the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring. Lacey escaped but Banks stomped on her injured hand. Lacey hit the Woman’s Right and went for the cover but Bayley put Sasha’s foot on the rope.
Sasha Banks then rolled up Lacey but the referee was distracted by Bayley. Sasha got pissed off at Bayley and told her to stay out of this. Lacey then leveled Sasha with the Woman’s Right for the victory. Lacey Evans qualified for the Money in the Bank Ladder match. Tamina then leveled Bayley with a Superkick on the entrance ramp.
Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss Retained
Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross defended their Women’s Tag Team Championships against Dana Brooke and Carmella tonight.
Match Recap: The action spilled out of the ring right away and Dana hit Nikki with a Crossbody off the barricade as SmackDown went to a break. When SmackDown returned, Carmella and Alexa were battling in the ring. Carmella hit a Bronco Buster and followed it up with a kick to the face for a near fall.
Dana Brooke leveled Nikki outside the ring as Carmella rolled up Bliss for a two count. Alexa and Nikki slammed Carmella to the canvas for the pinfall victory. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross are still the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Vince McMahon Interrupted Triple H & Shawn Michaels
Triple H came down to the ring to celebrate 25 years in WWE. Shawn Michaels immediately interrupted and joined Triple H in the ring. Michaels said Triple H is one of the greatest WWE performers of all time. Triple H went for a hug but Shawn said that they need to social distance.
Shawn asked Triple H what was his favorite moment of his 25th anniversary show before shouting that he never had one. Michaels said he was joking and brought up how much fun he had in DX with Triple H. They then rolled highlights of DX bloopers and funny moments.
Michaels complimented Triple H on his WrestleMania resume and rolled footage of all of Triple H’s losses at the biggest show of the year. Shawn joked that Triple H wasn’t that good. Triple H thanked all of his opponents and claimed his career would be nothing without them.
Shawn then brought up Stephanie McMahon and called her “Stephanie no fun”. Stephanie then Facetimed in and wondered why Shawn was talking about her. Michaels started mocking her and Stephanie poked fun at Shawn’s lazy eye. Ric Flair called in and congratulated Triple H. Flair told Triple H to not let Michaels Superkick him at the end of the segment.
Road Dogg poked fun at Flair before Michaels told Triple H to stop answering his phone. Michaels brought up the Katie Vick before Vince McMahon interrupted. Vince joked that if there was an audience here they would be chanting “boring”. McMahon poked fun at thinking the Gobbledy Gooker was going to work and the terrible Bayley “this is your life” segment.
Vince told Triple H that he loved him and Triple said the same. Shawn hopped into frame and said that they loved both of them. McMahon told Triple H that his performance tonight was horrible and joked that he is ashamed of them. McMahon told them to wrap it up and the lights went out. Crickets sounds played as SmackDown went off the air.
Opinion: I think a lot of people were expecting an attack from someone to happen at the end of this segment but I still thought it was entertaining for what it was. It was essentially a roast of Triple H for twenty minutes. Overall, tonight’s episode of SmackDown was an interesting show. Lucha House Party upsetting Miz and Morrison makes me believe that they are heading towards a break up as a team.
The Women’s Tag Team Championship was pretty bad and there simply isn’t enough established teams to care about that division. Banks blaming Bayley for her loss and then just standing there when Tamina attacked her was great. WWE has been airing vignettes on Jeff Hardy and the final part is next week. I’m looking forward to see what they have planned for him when he shows up on SmackDown.