The 04/23/19 edition of WWE SmackDown Live, out of the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, 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 #1027 of SmackDown Live by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
Shane McMahon Wants Revenge
#TheBigDog @WWERomanReigns just got lost in @IAmEliasWWE‘s rock and roll… #SDLive #DriftAway pic.twitter.com/g5gVRXH4DF
— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2019
Shane McMahon opened the show and, after tormenting Greg Hamilton for a moment or two, cut to the point. He was there to call out Roman Reigns, who brutally assaulted his father, Vince McMahon, last week on SmackDown Live.
He rolled a clip of the Superman Punch heard round the world that he was certain would be “difficult to watch” but asked the crowd to bear with him. Shane then challenged Roman Reigns to come to the ring so they could settle the issue.
Roman walked to the ring, microphone in hand, but threw it aside as soon as he stepped in, Shane McMahon tossing his down as well. Just as things were about to get physical, Elias attacked Roman Reigns from behind, and he and Shane proceeded to deliver a two-on-one beatdown to Reigns.
With Shane McMahon egging him on, Elias hit his Drift Away on Roman before he and Shane left the ring together. Roman did not stay down for long and sat up to angrily watch them retreat up the ramp.
Andrade vs. Finn Bálor
Idolize this man.#SDLive @AndradeCienWWE @Zelina_VegaWWE pic.twitter.com/xxryLtUQfj
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 24, 2019
Finn Bálor proving a more difficult of an opponent than he expected in their last encounter, Andrade was taking no chances this time around, charging at Bálor the moment the bell rang.
This did not have quite the effect he was probably hoping for, as Bálor quickly came back with some strikes of his own. But with a little help from Zelina, Andrade was able to weather the storm, getting back to his feet and hurling himself over the ropes onto Finn Bálor.
Back from commercial, Andrade set Bálor up for a powerbomb, which Bálor reversed into a DDT. From here, Finn Bálor began to gain steam, connecting with the side of Andrade’s head with a kick, but when he tried to finish him off with a Coup de Grâce, Andrade recovered, dodging the finish.
Refusing to relent, Bálor dove onto Andrade to the outside, then went for a slingblade back in the ring. Andrade responded with his double knees attack, revving up for the finish, but Bálor floored him.
Zelina climbed the ropes, preparing to attack Finn Bálor, but he dodged it, leaving Andrade to catch her. The moment Andrade had put Zelina down, Finn Bálor connected with a dropkick, following it up with a Coup de Grâce and taking the victory.
Winner: Finn Bálor
Elias Issues a Challenge
Your ears do not deceive you…@IAmEliasWWE just challenged @WWERomanReigns to a one-on-one match at @WWE #MITB! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/nXOQOxsYYb
— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2019
Backstage with his guitar, Elias challenged Roman Reigns to some not so friendly competition at Money in the Bank to avenge his new friend Shane McMahon and his father.
Shane overheard Elias and told him that he loved the idea, but that Roman would never accept it. He then hurried Elias off and they left the arena together.
It turns out Shane had misjudged Roman, however, as he later accepted Elias’ challenge in a backstage interview.
Peyton Royce vs. Kairi Sane
One #InsaneElbow later, and @KairiSaneWWE is VICTORIOUS over one-half of the @WWE Women’s #TagTeamChampions @PeytonRoyceWWE!#SDLive @WWEAsuka @RealPaigeWWE pic.twitter.com/rWFjk2PECm
— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2019
Before the match, Fire and Desire (previously known as Absolution) approached Paige to tell her how disgusted they were that she would align herself with another tag team. It’s safe to say they are no longer friends.
On their way to the ring, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce gave reasons why they have been less than successful in their recent matches, citing such issues as “Peyton was dehydrated,” but promised they were in peak condition tonight.
Unfortunately for The IIconics, after an extremely short match where the Pirate Princess showed off a little, winning the hearts of the crowd, Kairi Sane defeated the tag champ with her Insane Elbow.
Winner: Kairi Sane
Chad Gable vs. Jinder Mahal
The @SinghBrosWWE just joined @LarsSWWE‘s list of victims… #SDLive pic.twitter.com/TuYmRUyCyZ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 24, 2019
Jinder Mahal, along with The Singh Brothers, waited patiently in the ring for Chad Gable to make his entrance. As Gable is no longer in a tag team with Bobby (now Robert) Roode, he was no doubt excited to kick off a new singles run.
Sadly, he had no sooner made it to the ring than he was ambushed by Lars Sullivan. Sullivan didn’t stop with Chad, either, attacking every person within reach, laying them all out.
R-Truth bravely made his entrance, looking to make a stand against Sullivan, but he was taken out as well, leaving Lars standing tall.
SmackDown Fades to Black
Is every Superstar on #SDLive inevitably going to #FadeToBlxck, courtesy of @WWEAleister? pic.twitter.com/3THWbruFMR
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 24, 2019
Aleister Black sat in a dark room and cut an extremely cryptic, but compelling promo. We can assume he will be a singles star now that he and Ricochet are on separate brands, but regardless of where he’s going with this, we’re here for it.
The Queen, The Man, and The Bayley
Are we about to see a FIGHT between @itsBayleyWWE and @MsCharlotteWWE?! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/PXdT4hS7T5
— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2019
Charlotte Flair came to the ring and immediately launched into a complaint about WrestleMania 35. To her, it made no sense that The Man was now Becky Two Belts, even though Charlotte was never pinned or submitted. She then demanded Becky come to the ring to explain it to her.
Becky Lynch gave the obvious answer: it was a winner take all match (duh?), meaning the fact that she defeated Ronda Rousey meant that she received both titles. Not just Ronda’s.
Charlotte responded by reminding Becky that she couldn’t seem to keep Charlotte’s name out of her mouth, both in the ring and online. And since Lacey Evans has already staked claim to the Raw Women’s Championship, Charlotte wanted a shot to regain the SmackDown title.
Bayley then joined her former fellow horsewomen in the ring, demanding a match against Charlotte to prove who truly deserved to face Becky for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley
Winner Faces Becky Lynch for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Money in the Bank
With a title opportunity at stake, @itsBayleyWWE is NOT to be taken lightly!#SDLive @MsCharlotteWWE pic.twitter.com/SC2L4uRLgJ
— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2019
Determined to demonstrate that she is just as worthy of a championship title as Charlotte, Bayley went after The Queen with an aggression seldom seen from The Huggable One.
Bayley and Charlotte started the match with a shoving contest, neither able to overpower the other. But with a DDT to Charlotte, Bayley began to pull away.
Bayley got a near fall on Charlotte with a crossbody, which appeared to enrage The Queen, who went after Bayley with renewed vigor. As we said before, however, Bayley was on a different level in this match, and refused to be defeated, coming back with another crossbody and a near fall.
Charlotte began to get a little too cocky, and caught a knee from Bayley for her carelessness. Bayley followed it up with a clothesline, but couldn’t put The Queen away. Charlotte got a near fall of her own after a big boot, and was astonished when Bayley kicked out.
Throwing herself from the top rope in a moonsault, Charlotte was sure she was about to score the win, but Bayley rolled out of the way, responding with a suplex and nearly defeating Charlotte. When that didn’t work, she tried a sunset flip, and again came close, but Charlotte powered out.
Desperate for the win, Bayley climbed to the top rope, but Charlotte knocked her down and immediately went for the Figure Four, but Bayley reversed it into a roll-up.
The Queen escaped at the last second, slamming into Bayley with a massive spear and winning both the match and a chance to recapture the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kofi Kingston
ALL OUT CHAOS has erupted as @FightOwensFight @TrueKofi & @XavierWoodsPhD fight off @ShinsukeN & @RusevBUL…
— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2019
WAIT, WHAT?! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/caq1b3pceV
With Rusev/Lana and Xavier Woods/Big O (Kevin Owens) in Shinsuke and Kofi’s corners, respectively, Kofi Kingston and Shinsuke Nakamura went to battle.
Demonstrating exactly why he is WWE Champion, Kofi Kingston grabbed the upper hand early and held it for a solid portion of the match. However, when Kofi Kingston went for a dive onto Nakamura outside of the ring, he was instead caught with a boot to the face, and Nakamura gained momentum from there.
Nakamura threw a barrage of kicks, but Kofi eventually caught one, rolling out of the attack and responding with a few strikes and a dropkick. Shinsuke came back quickly with a snap suplex, then attempted to follow it up with a Kinshasa, but Kofi stopped the attack with a double stomp.
Kofi was about to take the victory after an SOS when Rusev interfered, causing a disqualification. A brawl broke out between all the men, leading to Kevin Owens turning on Kofi Kingston, ripping his New Day shirt off to reveal a Kevin Owens Show shirt underneath.
Xavier Woods made an effort to avenge his New Day brother but was beaten down by Kevin Owens as well, who hit his signature powerbomb on the apron before walking back up the ramp.
Winner: Kofi Kingston (via disqualification)
What letter grade would you give tonight’s show? #SDLive
— Rumble Ramble (@TheRumbleRamble) April 24, 2019
