WWE SmackDown aired live from the ThunderDome. Roman Reigns defended the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan tonight. Daniel Bryan had to win the match or he would be barred from WWE SmackDown. Apollo Crews also put the Intercontinental Championship on the line against Big E in a WrestleMania rematch.
SmackDown Results (4/30)
- Bianca Belair & Street Profits def. Bayley & Dirty Dawgs
- Natala & Tamina def. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
- Big E def. Apollo Crews via DQ (Apollo Crews retained IC Title)
- Roman Reigns def. Daniel Bryan to retain the Universal Championship
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Bianca Belair & Street Profits Picked Up A Win
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair kicked off this week’s show. She was immediately interrupted by SmackDown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. Ziggler told Belair that they will take it from here and began to rant about how great of a team they were.
Street Profits interrupted and said they cannot believe the Dirty Dawgs just interrupted the SmackDown Women’s Champion. Bayley then joined the party and ripped the microphone away from Belair. Bayley laughed into the microphone and Bianca dropped her with a punch. Bayley hit some punches and everyone started brawling as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Bianca Belair teamed with Street Profits to face Dirty Dawgs and Bayley. Belair hit Bayley with a Dropkick that sent her out of the ring to regroup. Ziggler and Ford tagged in as Bayley sent Belair into the steel steps outside the ring.
Ziggler connected with a Superkick for a near fall. Angelo Dawkins and Roode then battled in the ring. Dawkins hit Ziggler with an Exploder Suplex and followed it up with a Running Bulldog to Roode. Belair hit the KOD as Dawkins hit the Spinebuster on Roode. Ford tagged in and connected with the Frog Splash from the heavens for the pinfall victory.
Tamina & Natalya def. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
Natalya & Tamina faced Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler in a non-title match tonight. Before the match, the Women’s Tag Team Champions were interviewed backstage but were attacked by Natalya and Tamina. Nia Jax and Baszler controlled the action early and isolated Tamina in the ring.
Natalya tagged in and planted Shayna with a German Suplex for a near fall. Natalya avoided the Kirifuda Clutch and connected with a Clothesline for a two count. Natalya quickly hit a German Suplex and went for another cover but Shayna was able to kick out at two.
Jax and Tamina then tagged in. Tamina climbed to the top rope but Reginald distracted her. Natalya tried for the Sharpshooter on Reginald but Baszler broke it up. Jax tripped up Tamina on the top rope and tagged Shayna back in. Baszler and Tamina battled on the turnbuckle. Tamina hit a headbutt that sent Shayna to the mat and then hit the Superfly Splash for the pinfall victory.
The IC Title Match Ended In A DQ
Apollo Crews defended the Intercontinental Championship against Big E tonight on SmackDown. Commander Azeez was in Crews’ corner for the match. Big E was interviewed tonight and vowed to overcome the odds and take back the Intercontinental Championship.
The action started off back and forth. Big E took control and hit a Splash on the ring apron and went for the cover but Crews was able to kick out at two. Apollo took control with a Clothesline and followed it up with a Suplex onto the floor outside the ring as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Crews hit a Moonsault but Big E shrugged it off and hit a Belly to Belly Suplex. Apollo dodged a Splash and hit a big boot to the face for a two count. Big E battled back and connected with the Big Ending but couldn’t go for the cover because Commander Azeez dragged him out of the ring ending the match in a DQ.
After the match, Kevin Owens rushed the ring and attacked Azeez. Commander Azeez was about to hit Owens with the Nigerian Nail but Big E broke it up. Sami Zayn showed up and leveled Kevin Owens with a Helluva Kick. Sami tried to tell Commander Azeez what to do and it backfired as Azeez hit him with the Nigerian Nail.
Roman Reigns Retained & Sent A Message To Cesaro
Seth Rollins challenged Cesaro to a match next week and Cesaro later accepted in a backstage interview. Roman Reigns defended the Universal Championship against Daniel Bryan tonight. Daniel Bryan would be barred from SmackDown if he lost the match.
Earlier in the show, Daniel Bryan vowed to win the match and defend the Universal Championship against Cesaro. Several superstars also picked who they thought was going to win the match tonight. King Corbin picked Roman Reigns just because he wanted to see Daniel Bryan go home for good.
Paul Heyman was interviewed before the match as well. Heyman said he is so tired of hearing about Daniel Bryan and that everyone thinks Bryan will win tonight. Heyman claimed that Bryan will never be seen on SmackDown again and did a “no!” chant.
Daniel Bryan hit a Dropkick that sent Reigns to the corner to begin the match. Bryan hit a few Yes Kicks but Reigns put an end to it with a massive right hand to the face. Roman applied a Bear Hug but Bryan escaped and wrestled the Universal Champion down to the mat.
Bryan went for the Yes Lock but Reigns escaped and rolled out of the ring to regroup. Daniel Bryan went after him and connected with a knee to the face off the ring apron as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Bryan was still in control and was working on the Universal Champion’s arm. Daniel connected with two Dropkicks in the corner of the ring and went for another one but Reigns dropped him with a punch to the face. Reigns hit Bryan with a headbutt and then a Suplex for a two count.
Roman controlled the next few minutes and brought Daniel Bryan down to the canvas with a Headlock. Bryan broke free but Roman leveled him with an elbow to the face for a near fall. Roman charged but Bryan was ready and sent him into the middle turnbuckle. Bryan unloaded some Yes Kicks in the corner but Reigns responded with a Powerbomb off the second turnbuckle for a near fall as SmackDown went to a commercial break.
When SmackDown returned, Roman sent Bryan flying into the barricade. Back in the ring, Roman beat Bryan down in the corner of the ring until the referee broke it up. Reigns went for a Superplex but Bryan escaped and crotched Roman on the top turnbuckle. Bryan connected with a Back Suplex off the top turnbuckle and both superstars crashed to the canvas.
Bryan went for a cover but Roman kicked out at two as a “this is awesome!” chant was heard. Reigns battled back with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Daniel went back to work on Reigns’ arm and sent him out of the ring. Bryan went for a Suicide Dive but Reigns countered into a Suplex on the floor. Roman went for a Spear but Bryan got out of the way and the Universal Champion crashed through the barricade as SmackDown went to a break.
Bryan connected with a Diving Headbutt for a two count when SmackDown returned. Reigns hit the Superman Punch and went for the Spear but Bryan countered into a roll-up for another two count. Bryan stomped on Reigns’ face and applied the Yes Lock in the middle of the ring.
Reigns broke free and hit the Spear for a near fall. Roman applied the Guillotine Choke but Daniel was able to escape and got Reigns in the Yes Lock again. Roman escaped again with several forearms to the face and then a Powerbomb. Reigns then applied the Guillotine Choke and Bryan passed out to end the match. Roman Reigns is still the Universal Champion and Daniel Bryan is barred from SmackDown.
After the match, Roman brought some chairs into the ring but Cesaro made the save. Cesaro hit Reigns with some uppercuts but turned around into a Superkick from Jey Uso. Jey then held Cesaro back as Roman Reigns hit Daniel Bryan with the Con-Chair-To to close the show.