The 04/24/18 episode of WWE SmackDown Live just wrapped up. We’ve got the match results and our overall thoughts on the show for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about this episode of WWE SmackDown by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
MizTV is Back on SmackDown
UHHHHHHHH… that’s not @WWEDanielBryan?!!?
What is @BigCassWWE doing on #MizTV? #SDlive @mikethemiz pic.twitter.com/KKh265AUNS
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
The show opened with another awesome episode of MizTV. After demanding a warm welcome from the SmackDown crowd, The Miz said that there was only one thing missing from his life: a title. We thought he might be referring to The Miztourage, but no, Miz is way too cool to admit he likes anyone.
His guest for the evening was announced to be Daniel Bryan, someone he was well aware couldn’t wait to lay hands on him. However, Miz said that his daughter, Monroe, changed him as a person and he was surprised that Daniel could still have such violent desires after becoming a father.
The Miz went on to invite Daniel to punch him in the face and get it over with, but Bryan never came. Instead, we got Big Cass, complete with big suit. Cass complained that after months of injury, he was cleared to compete on the same day as Daniel Bryan and it became clear that the fans favored Bryan over him. He then went on a dramatic, overtly self-loathing, tangent about Daniel reminding him of himself and therefore deserving of a beating.
After the segment, we saw Daniel Bryan lying on the ground holding his shoulder in pain while officials tended to him.
The IIconics vs. Asuka and Becky Lynch
Team work makes the DREAM work! #SDLive @BeckyLynchWWE @WWEAsuka @WWEPeytonRoyce @BillieKayWWE pic.twitter.com/35pEEnQQxA
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 25, 2018
Before the match, The IIconics came to the ring to make fun of their opponents, even going as far as to say that they were better than Asuka. Billie and Peyton are fantastic on the mic already and play the mean girls role perfectly.
Asuka and Becky came ready for a fight and were not intimated whatsoever by the Iconic Duo, beating them down with relative ease for the first half of the match. All the skill in the world couldn’t win it for them though; in the end, Peyton Royce pinned Becky Lynch with her feet on the ropes. The IIconics are bad guys, after all.
Winner: The IIconics
AJ Styles Interview
Why WOULDN’T @AJStylesOrg be SMILING!?!
He’s got two #TooSweet tag team partners against @ShinsukeN & #RusevDay TONIGHT! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/U3RYT8tnLY
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
AJ Styles came out of Shane McMahon’s office to the hallway where Renee Young was waiting for him. He told her that he successfully scored a match against Shinsuke Nakamura, but Nakamura was bringing friends. Styles said that he could take on Shinsuke and his friends by himself if he really wanted to, but that he would have teammates of his own and that it would be too sweet.
Andrade Almas Vignette
Respect the man, embrace the legend.#ElIdolo is coming to #SDLive! @AndradeCienWWE @Zelina_VegaWWE pic.twitter.com/h2hiu2fIwq
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
We are so excited for the SmackDown debut of Almas and Zelina. They are no doubt going to do great things on the main roster and, although these video packages are great, we’re ready to see them in action!
Jimmy Uso / Naomi
Should @NaomiWWE worry about The #BludgeonBrothers tonight? #SDLive @WWEUsos pic.twitter.com/A98crqJKv9
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 25, 2018
Jimmy Uso and Naomi had a dramatic discussion in the locker room regarding The Usos impending match against The Bludgeon Brothers. Jimmy asked Naomi to promise that she wouldn’t interfere again, as he was less than pleased about her putting herself in harm’s way last time. She said that she would do no such thing. He assured her that she had nothing to worry about, he and Jey would take down the Bludgeons tonight and then again on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
Jimmy Uso vs. Rowan
Now THIS is an AMAY-AY-AY-AY-ZING victory!#SDLive @NaomiWWE @WWEUsos pic.twitter.com/IvGIetDXKd
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
Yet another brutal beating at the hands of The Bludgeon Brothers. At least until Naomi came out and twerked for Harper and Rowan, distracting them just long enough for Jey to kick Harper in the head and Jimmy to pin Rowan. Interesting tactic, but they won’t have her on Friday, so they may not get quite as lucky a second time.
Winner: Jimmy Uso
Carmella / Charlotte Contract Signing
.@CarmellaWWE looks THRILLED to see @MsCharlotteWWE! @MsCharlotteWWE, not so much… #SDLive #WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/Er1qaPZECT
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
Carmella moonwalked to the ring and reminded everyone that she is the Women’s Champion, meaning that SmackDown was her show now, not Charlotte’s, and that she deserved respect from the WWE Universe. She demanded that her highlight reel be played again since the crowd didn’t appreciate it enough the first time. After the video, the audience still wasn’t getting it, so it started again, but before it could really get going, Charlotte cut in.
Charlotte gracefully took her seat across from The Princess and, after putting her name on the contract, slammed Carmella’s head into the table.
Randy Orton vs. Shelton Benjamin
.@Sheltyb803 sees you, @RandyOrton…#SDLive pic.twitter.com/nMTesds7wZ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 25, 2018
This match was billed as Jeff Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin, but in the middle of Jeff dancing/high-fiving his way down the ramp, Randy Orton’s music hit and The Viper made the ultimate heel move by cutting Hardy’s entrance short. Orton took the spot in the match, but Hardy came to ringside anyway to watch, as both men are currently gunning for his title.
Orton and Benjamin wasted little time in getting started. They went after each other hard, making the US Title feel important, which we appreciated. Towards the end of the action, Sunil Singh ran down in a lucha mask and attacked Jeff Hardy before turning on Randy Orton. Orton was prepared, however, and RKO’d him before he could do any further damage.
The distraction from the Singh brother was enough to allow Benjamin to take the victory.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Good Brothers for Life
UP NEXT. #TooSweet#SDLive @AJStylesOrg @LukeGallowsWWE @KarlAndersonWWE pic.twitter.com/w6g207MnQm
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
AJ Styles was preparing for his match against Nakamura backstage when his partners for the evening surprised him. To Styles’ delight, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson walked into the locker room, reuniting The Club, at least for the night (sorry, Finn).
Daniel Bryan Interview
.@WWEDanielBryan will seek his RETRIBUTION when he goes one-on-one with @BigCassWWE at #WWEBacklash! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/mzxzT9sPH1
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
Daniel assured Renee that, although he was injured, he would be ready for The Greatest Royal Rumble on Friday. He also confirmed that it was Big Cass who attacked him and that he wasn’t afraid of him, regardless of the size difference, and would be more than happy to make him tap out at Backlash.
Samoa Joe is Going to Destroy Everyone
.@WWERollins. @FinnBalor. @mikethemiz.
NO ONE is safe in this Friday’s #ICTitle #LadderMatch at #WWEGRR. @SamoaJoe #SDLive pic.twitter.com/S2v2QyWWHQ
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
Samoa Joe got in one more vicious promo before the Rumble, saying that he was going to bring down everyone in the Intercontinental Title scene and when he was finished with all of them, he would be coming after Roman Reigns at Backlash.
AJ Styles and The Club vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev Day
Don’t turn around, @LukeGallowsWWE…
A KINSHASA puts aways #TheClub on #SDLive. @ShinsukeN pic.twitter.com/mihCSrikZQ
— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2018
Normally, we’re all for Rusev Day, but we can’t lie, seeing The Club together again was pretty neat. Nakamura came out to a shiny new version of his song (with Japanese lyrics over the music so the crowd can’t sing along anymore) and they got to work.
This was an even back and forth bout with each team fighting fair…until they weren’t. Things were getting a little too close for comfort for Nakamura, so he attacked Luke Gallows from behind to get the pin, low-blowed AJ Styles, and Kinshasa’d Karl Anderson, then kneed him in the head for good measure.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev Day
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) April 25, 2018
