WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome. Apollo Crews defended the Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens tonight. A huge Universal Championship match was announced for next week during tonight’s show as well.
SmackDown Results (4/23)
- Daniel Bryan & Cesaro def. Jey Uso & Seth Rollins
- Tamina def. Nia Jax
- Apollo Crews def. Kevin Owens to retain the Intercontinental Championship
- Rey Mysterio & Dominik def. Alpha Academy
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Daniel Bryan & Cesaro def. Jey Uso & Rollins
This week’s episode of SmackDown kicked off with Cesaro in the ring. Cesaro was about to speak but was immediately interrupted by Seth Rollins. Seth said he was out here to congratulate Cesaro on finally reaching his potential. Rollins claimed that Cesaro only reached his potential because he was in the ring with him at WrestleMania.
Seth complained about not getting a thank you from Cesaro and mocked him for going after the Universal Championship. Rollins told Cesaro that nothing is over until he says so and claimed that the rain delay at WrestleMania through him off his game. Seth added that Cesaro could not beat him again and Cesaro challenged him to a match right now.
Jey Uso interrupted and told Cesaro that he doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as Reigns. Rollins told Jey that they should team up and teach Cesaro a lesson. Rollins and Uso started circling the ring but Daniel Bryan’s theme hit. Bryan joined Cesaro in the ring and Jey & Seth retreated.
Bryan claimed Rollins was embarrassed about losing to Cesaro at WrestleMania and Jey was just out here because Roman told him to do so. Bryan said Cesaro has outworked all of them and deserves an opportunity at the Universal Championship. Roman Reigns joined the party with Paul Heyman.
Reigns smirked and boasted about beating Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania. Roman pointed to his new t-shirt with Bryan and Edge being pinned on it and called Daniel a loser. Reigns added that Cesaro is a loser because he is letting Daniel Bryan talk for him. Roman called Bryan stupid for being out here running his mouth when he is surrounded by people that want to whoop his ass.
Rollins and Jey faced Bryan and Cesaro in a tag team match when SmackDown returned. Rollins complained about having to be in the match as Cesaro and Bryan took turns beating down Jey Uso. Rollins tagged in and stomped Cesaro down in the corner of the ring.
Jey tagged in and hit Cesaro with a Superkick. Rollins went for a Crossbody but Cesaro caught him with a Backbreaker. Bryan tagged in and hit Jey and Seth with a couple Dropkicks. Daniel planted Seth with a German Suplex and went for the cover but Rollins kicked out at two.
Bryan went for the Running Knee but Rollins countered with a massive Buckle Bomb. Jey tagged in and hit a Frog Splash but Cesaro broke up the cover. Rollins and Jey brought Cesaro out of the ring and planted him with a Suplex on the floor as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Jey and Rollins had Bryan isolated in the ring. Cesaro got the ThunderDome crowd fired up on the apron and pleaded for a tag. Rollins booted Bryan down to the canvas and started arguing with referee Charles Robinson. Rollins taunted Bryan and sent him to the corner. Bryan broke free and both superstars collided and crashed to the canvas.
Cesaro and Jey then tagged in as Bryan hit Rollins with a Suicide Dive outside the ring. Jey hit a Clothesline that knocked Cesaro to the outside. Jey went for a Suicide Dive of his own but Cesaro caught him with an uppercut. Cesaro jumped off the top rope but Jey was ready and leveled him with a Superkick as SmackDown went to another break.
Jey Uso tagged in when SmackDown returned. Uso made his way to the top rope but Cesaro caught him with another uppercut as Seth made his way up the entrance ramp and left Jey behind. Cesaro brought Jey back into the ring with a Superplex and Bryan tagged in. Daniel did the “yes!” chant and leveled Jey with the Running Knee for the pinfall victory.
After the match, Daniel Bryan dared Roman Reigns to come down to the ring. Jey tried to attack Bryan but Cesaro got him in the Swing. Bryan counted the rotations from the top turnbuckle. Cesaro leveled Jey with an uppercut and Bryan claimed that Roman Reigns is too afraid to accept his challenge. Daniel suggested that Cesaro give Jey another Swing around to see if Roman Reigns will come to the ring and help him.
Cesaro swung Jey around again as Daniel Bryan mocked Roman Reigns for not helping Jey as the head of the table. Bryan continued to say that Reigns was afraid and he couldn’t beat anyone without Jey’s help. Daniel added that Reigns if afraid because if he faces Cesaro and loses, Cesaro will become the new Universal Champion.
Tamina def. Nia Jax
Tamina battled Nia Jax tonight on SmackDown. Reginald, Shayna Baszler, and Natalya were ringside for the match. Nia controlled the action early but got distracted by Shayna and Reginald arguing outside the ring. Baszler got in Reginald’s face and he tumbled over the steel steps. Tamina capitalized on the distraction with a Superkick and then rolled up Nia for the pinfall victory.
Apollo Crews Retained The IC Title
Apollo Crews defended the Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens tonight. Commander Azeez was in Apollo’s corner for the match. Owens brought Crews down to the canvas and applied a Headlock. Kevin started taunting Crews as he battled back to his feet.
Owens brought the Intercontinental Champion down to the canvas and kept Crews in the Headlock. Crews finally escaped but Owens hit him with a Dropkick. Owens followed it up with some chops to the chest as Commander Azeez looked on from outside the ring.
Kevin hit an elbow to the face and followed it up with a Senton. Owens then Clotheslined Crews out of the ring and was about to jump onto him but Azeez got in the way. Apollo capitalized with a Clothesline and then a Suplex for a two count. The action spilled out of the ring and Owens dropped Crews with a Superkick.
Back in the ring, Kevin Owens climbed to the top rope and hit a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Sami Zayn’s music hit and he danced his way to the entrance ramp as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Sami Zayn joined commentary as Crews and Owens battled on the turnbuckle. Crews knocked Owens to the canvas with a headbutt but Kevin hopped right back up. Owens hit a Superkick and went for the cover but the Intercontinental Champion kicked out at two.
Crews leveled Owens with a Clothesline for a two count. Apollo hit Owens with an Enziguri and followed it up with three German Suplexes for another near fall. Owens battled back and hit the Pop-Up Powerbomb for another two count. Kevin set up for the Stunner but Commander Azeez hopped on the apron.
Crews capitalized on the distraction and rolled up Owens to retain the IC Title. Owens then hit Crews with the Stunner but turned around into the Nigerian Nail (Samoan Spike) from Commander Azeez. Sami Zayn then danced around Kevin Owens after the match.
Big E then attacked Apollo Crews backstage during an interview. Big E threw Crews onto a storage crate and got in some shots before WWE officials broke it up. Commander Azeez showed up and stared at Big E to end the segment.
Aleister Black Returned
A vignette for Aleister Black aired during this week’s episode of SmackDown. Black said that most people are not honest with you but he wants you to know the truth. Aleister opened up a book and read chapter 1 entitled “The Dragon”. Black stated that his father became distant as he grew older because he was training him to become the dragon. Aleister said that everyone watching this right now are monsters and are turning their children into monsters. Black added that they should be scorched from the earth like crops to make room for more fertile things.
Bayley Laughed In Belair’s Face
Bayley approached SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair backstage. Bayley said it will be an honor to be Belair’s first challenger at WrestleMania Backlash. Bayley congratulated Bianca on her victory at WrestleMania and walked away. Bayley then returned and laughed in Belair’s face before walking away again.
Rey & Dominik Picked Up A Win
Rey & Dominik Mysterio faced Alpha Academy (Otis & Chad Gable). Otis slammed Dominik to the canvas and went for a Splash but Dominik got out of the way. Otis got right up and absolutely leveled Dominik with a Clothesline as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Gable planted Dominik with a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Otis tagged in and unloaded some punches to Dominik’s ribs. Otis stared at Rey on the apron before taking Dominik down with another Clothesline. Otis followed it up with a Body Slam and then an elbow to the midsection.
Gable tagged in and drove his shoulder into Dominik’s ribs. Otis tagged in and did the same before connecting with a Splash in the corner of the ring. Gable tagged back in and went for the cover but Dominik kicked out at two. Dominik tried to battle back but Gable halted his momentum with a couple Belly to Belly Suplexes.
Chad went for a third but Dominik escaped and was finally able to tag in Rey. Mysterio connected with a Hurricanrana and then a Destroyer on Gable for a two count. Rey climbed to the top rope and hit Gable with another Hurricanrana for a near fall. Dominik tagged back in and sent Gable to the apron.
Rey tripped up Gable and Dominik followed it up by sliding out of the ring and hitting a Powerbomb into the barricade in an awesome sequence. Dominik sent Otis over the announce table as Rey hit Gable with the 619. Rey then hit a Frog Splash off the top rope for the pinfall victory.
Opinion: This was the second very good tag match of the night. Bryan & Cesaro vs. Jey & Rollins was the match of the night and lasted nearly a half hour. I thought this match was great and Dominik was impressive. He sold the majority of the match but also able to show what he is capable of in the ring.
Reigns Will Defend The Title Against Daniel Bryan Next Week
Cesaro and Daniel Bryan made their way to the ring again in the final segment of the show. Cesaro demanded that Roman Reigns give him answer to his challenge or they will come back there and get an answer.
Universal Champion Roman Reigns made his way to the ring with Paul Heyman and Jey Uso. Reigns told Cesaro that he doesn’t deserve to be in the ring with him and that the answer is no. Roman told Cesaro that he will never be on his level and the Universal Champion issues the challenges around here.
Reigns then stepped away from Cesaro and told Daniel Bryan that he will give him one more opportunity next week on SmackDown. Cesaro gave Bryan the microphone and told Daniel that he has to take the match. Reigns added that if he beats Daniel Bryan next week, he doesn’t ever want to see him again on SmackDown. Bryan accepted the challenge and Reigns raised the Universal Championship in Daniel’s face before exiting the ring to end the show.