The 04/16/19 edition of WWE SmackDown Live, out of the Montreal, Quebec, Canada, just wrapped up. We’ve got the match results, as well as our overall thoughts on the show, for you to check out below. Let us know what you thought about episode #1026 of SmackDown by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
Kevin Owens Show: Kofi Kingston
Does BIG O have moves? Does #TheNewDay like pancakes?#SDLive #SuperstarShakeUp @XavierWoodsPhD @TrueKofi @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/4ksH3lfTlZ
— WWE (@WWE) April 17, 2019
Kevin Owens opened SmackDown with The Kevin Owens Show, but before he got into his guest for the evening, he spent a few moments enjoying being in front of his hometown crowd. He then laid out the events to come in the evening, until he finally welcomed his guest, Kofi Kingston.
In place of his usual antics, Kevin Owens gave Kofi Kingston a genuine congratulations, on behalf of himself and the entire WWE Universe. After thanking Kevin and the audience, Xavier Woods went on a bit of tangent about Vince taking all of his Up Up Down Down stars away from him demanding Tyler Breeze be added to SmackDown.
Kevin Owens addressed Big E’s recent injury, then volunteered himself as temporary third member of The New Day as “Big O.” Xavier and Kofi were skeptical, listing everything involved with being in The New Day, but Big O eventually won them over with an impressive hip swivel.
After gaining the approval of the crowd, Big O was made an honorary New Day member.
A little while later, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston approached Kevin Owens backstage, informing him that he had to eat an entire platter of pancakes in less than 5 minutes (Big E’s record) in order to cement his position as New Day member (which he did).
Finn Bálor vs. Ali
.@FinnBalor isn’t getting an easy welcome to the blue brand. #SDLive #SuperstarShakeUp @AliWWE pic.twitter.com/jd8yxOdnkH
— WWE (@WWE) April 17, 2019
Finn Bálor and Mustafa Ali used the opening moments of the match to feel each other out, but Bálor eventually took the upper hand with a dive to the floor.
Bálor continued to wear down Ali until Ali caught Bálor in the side of the head with a kick, following it up with chops in the corner. Finn ran at Ali but was stopped in his tracks with a superkick. He tried to come back with a Coup de Grâce but Ali blocked him, responding with a top rope hurricanrana.
Ali attempted to continue the string of offense but was caught with a dropkick to the corner followed by a Coup de Grâce, and Finn Bálor took the victory.
Winner: Finn Bálor
Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair
In case you need a reminder, @CarmellaWWE has BEATEN @MsCharlotteWWE… THREE TIMES! #SDLive #WWEMMC counts. pic.twitter.com/j3peE4Xg6l
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 17, 2019
Charlotte thought she had this one in the bag, taking down Carmella quickly, but spending a little too much time taunting the Montreal crowd, allowing Carmella to came back with several kicks eventually followed by a crossbody off the barricade.
Carmella continued to gain momentum until Charlotte wrenched her knee with a dragon screw leg whip on the ropes. At ringside, Carmella tried to regain the upper hand but was ultimately trapped in the Figure Eight and tapped out.
As R-Truth tended to an “injured” Carmella in the ring, Lars Sullivan hulked toward them. To protect his friend, R-Truth threw himself at Sullivan, who demolished him. Sullivan then turned his attention toward Carmella, but she was pulled to safety by the referee.
With no Carmella to occupy himself with, he went back to destroying R-Truth, powerbombing him in the ring then standing over his lifeless body.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Becky Two Belts Has Some Competition
Montreal: BECKY 2 BELTS!@BeckyLynchWWE: DAT’S ME!!!#Becky2Belts #SDLive #SuperstarShakeUp pic.twitter.com/lAIxhvsvKM
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 17, 2019
Becky Two Belts came to the ring to regale the audience with the tale of her defeat of Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35 one more time. She then discussed what was next for her, promising to defeat any and all competitors that were placed in her way.
At this, Ember Moon made her entrance to throw her hat in the ring as a potential contender for her titles. Before the ladies could get too deep in conversation, however, Bayley joined them in the ring. The Huggable One declared that she was now a singles competitor and would also be gunning for Becky’s championships.
The IIconics then interrupted the discussion, mocking Bayley and Ember for having zero belts. They were just getting started on their roast of the three women in the ring when Paige came to the stage.
As promised, Paige had come to announce which new team she would be managing personally, but before she could reveal their identities, Absolution (Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose) made their entrance.
Paige cut in on Absolution’s bragging, announcing that the team she would be representing was Asuka and Kairi Sane. And what better way to introduce themselves to the division than with their fists? Asuka and Kairi sprinted down to the ring and a brawl ensued…between everyone except Becky Lynch, who wisely stood in the corner, far away from the chaos.
Bayley, Ember Moon, Asuka, and Kairi Sane vs. Fire & Desire and The IIconics
It’s the first time it’s happening on #SDLive, so you have to take in ALL of @KairiSaneWWE‘s #InsaneElbow! #SuperstarShakeUp pic.twitter.com/AYE3B8U0Ps
— WWE (@WWE) April 17, 2019
Back from commercial, the brawl had been made an official 8-woman tag match. Billie Kay and Ember Moon were going one on one, Moon dominating Billie until she tagged out, giving Peyton Royce a shot at The Shenom.
Ember took control over Peyton easily, then gave the ring to Bayley. After a forearm to the face, Peyton brought Bayley over to her corner, where Bayley was clobbered by the entire opposing team. Bayley escaped back to her team, where Asuka tagged in, but Sonya Deville dragged her to the opposite corner, where she was ganged up on as well.
Asuka gained control with a hip attack to Mandy Rose, allowing her and her new tag partner Kairi Sane to double team Rose before Bayley dove on both members of Fire and Desire on the outside.
Back in the ring, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville got a near fall on Bayley, and continued to pummel her though they couldn’t put her away. After a series of strikes, The Empress nearly brought down Peyton Royce, but Mandy Rose broke up the pin.
Asuka came back with a reverse DDT to Peyton Royce, which Kairi followed with an Insane Elbow and won the match.
Winner: Kairi Sane, Asuka, Ember Moon, and Bayley
Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big O vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, and Cesaro
“AWWWWWW MONTREAL, DON’T YOU DARE BE SOUR…”@TrueKofi @XavierWoodsPhD & “The Big O” @FightOwensFight are in action NEXT! #SDLive #SuperstarShakeUp pic.twitter.com/VULn00fOB0
— WWE (@WWE) April 17, 2019
Rusev and Xavier Woods kicked things off, Woods wearing him down before tagging in his partner, Kofi Kingston. Rusev and Nakamura thought they had Kofi where they wanted him, but Kofi brought Nakamura back to his corner, where he was triple teamed by The new New Day.
The bad guy trio gave up their attempts to bring down the champ and instead focused on Xavier Woods. Woods struggled to overcome offense from all 3 members of the opposing team, as well as a strike from Lana when the referee wasn’t looking, but with a missile dropkick to Nakamura, Xavier Woods was finally able to break free.
Kofi Kingston rapidly gained momentum against the opposing team until Cesaro caught him in a swing, then locked in a sharpshooter, but Big O (Kevin Owens) broke up the submission.
Tossing their opponents out of the ring, Kevin Owens launched Kofi Kingston onto all three of them. Back in the ring, Rusev was immediately hit with a Trouble in Paradise, which Big O followed with a Stunner, winning the match.
Winner: Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big O
The Secret is Out
SECRET’S OUT! Former #Cruiserweight Champion @WWE_Murphy is coming to #SDLive! #SuperstarShakeUp pic.twitter.com/dJG34U7hO0
— WWE (@WWE) April 17, 2019
In a purple room somewhere, former Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy announced that he was the newest addition to the SmackDown Live roster.
Our heads are already spinning with possible matches.
The Greatest Acquisition in SmackDown History
You sure you wanna do that, @WWERomanReigns? #SDLive #SuperstarShakeUp @VinceMcMahon pic.twitter.com/EwzWbiAOqj
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 17, 2019
Vince McMahon made his way to the ring to personally welcome the biggest acquisition in the history of SmackDown Live. After listing some of this Superstar’s accolades, he introduced the newest member of the blue brand – Elias.
As he does, Elias came to the ring to talk himself up while tearing the crowd down. He had just strummed his first chord when he was interrupted by Roman Reigns.
Reigns came straight to the ring and flattened Elias right in front of Vince McMahon before delivering a Superman Punch to The Chairman himself.
Roman then picked up a mic and said that he didn’t care who Vince thought was the top guy, SmackDown Live was his yard now.
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) April 17, 2019
