The 04/30/19 edition of WWE SmackDown Live, out of the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, 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 #1028 of SmackDown Live by tweeting us, @TheRumbleRamble.
Kofi Kingston’s Journey
#TheNewDay‘s @XavierWoodsPhD to the RESCUE…for a bit.@FightOwensFight is a DANGEROUS man. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/1TvcZwygpg
— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2019
Michael Cole opened the show with Kofi Kingston, giving one more overview of his 11-year journey to WrestleMania and becoming the WWE Champion.
After talking about how much that moment meant to him, Kofi and Cole turned to a less happy subject – that of Kevin Owens’ betrayal. Kofi said that he probably should have seen it coming, but he wanted to believe the best of Kevin Owens. Obviously, he was mistaken, but he wasn’t afraid of Kevin, either, and would gladly take an opportunity for payback.
At this, Kevin Owens made his way to the stage, accepting the invitation to challenge Kofi for the WWE Championship. He said that there was no doubt Kofi Kingston gave the WWE Universe a WrestleMania moment, but Kofi couldn’t deny that he wasn’t champion material.
He didn’t get far with this vitriolic speech before he was attacked from behind by Xavier Woods. Unfortunately, Kevin Owens flattened Xavier, running to the backstage area before any more damage could come to him.
Becky Lynch vs. Bayley
KNEES UP. #TheMan @BeckyLynchWWE just stopped @itsBayleyWWE‘s momentum in its tracks! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/Qt6nzF8fqh
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 1, 2019
Becky Lynch did her best to gain control of the match the moment the bell rang, but Bayley refused to let anything the champ champ could throw keep her down.
This did not stop Becky from using every move in her arsenal in an attempt to defeat her former fellow horsewoman. At one point, the women clotheslined each other at the exact same time, causing them both to be laid out in the ring, which pretty much sums up the match.
Eventually, Becky Lynch caught Bayley in the Dis-Arm-Her, and Bayley soon tapped out. The bell had barely rung, however, when both women were attacked by Charlotte Flair, who was ultimately the last woman standing.
Winner: Becky Lynch
SmackDown Fades to Black
Good luck solving @WWEAleister, #SDLive Superstars. #FadeToBlxck pic.twitter.com/ajzNxpaZja
— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2019
In another cryptic backstage promo, Aleister Black continued to reveal pieces of his character to those who may not know him. He said that people often fear what they don’t understand, and not one Superstar had been able to figure him out yet. But SmackDown Live would soon fade to black.
The Hardy Boyz Have Bad News
THAT’S WHAT’S UP, @RonKillings! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/UIJDteNVFk
— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2019
The SmackDown Live Tag Team Champions, The Hardy Boyz, came to the ring to, sadly, relinquish their titles, as Jeff Hardy was recently injured “by Lars Sullivan” and requires surgery.
As if this wasn’t hard enough for Matt and Jeff, Lars Sullivan came to the ring to beat down the Hardys, and successfully did so with Matt, but before he could get to Jeff, he caught a steel chair across the back, courtesy of R-Truth.
Truth may have saved Jeff Hardy, but caught the punishment meant for Jeff, and perhaps a little more for making Lars angry.
Kairi Sane and Asuka vs. Red Hair and Tiger Tights
The PIRATE and the EMPRESS are BRUTALIZING the competition…#SDLive @WWEAsuka @KairiSaneWWE @RealPaigeWWE pic.twitter.com/n9eExaEniW
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 1, 2019
To give her new clients a chance to show their skills, Paige scored Kairi Sane and Asuka a match against enhancement talent, whom we have dubbed red hair and tiger tights.
Tiger tights got the beatdown first, and when she couldn’t take anymore, red hair tagged in – and received a beatdown of her own. Kairi and Asuka won with Kairi’s Insane Elbow.
This match was closely watched by two tag teams – The IIconics, who sat at the announce table and gave their commentary during the match, and Fire and Desire, who watched from a monitor backstage.
Post-match, we saw Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville deliberating over which one of them would be the one to enter the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. This could have easily devolved into an argument, but Sonya quickly conceded the position to Mandy, telling her partner it was her time.
Winner: Asuka and Kairi Sane
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
THE FIELD IS SET for the Men’s #MITB #LadderMatch:
— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2019
🔵 @AliWWE
🔵 @FinnBalor
🔵 @AndradeCienWWE
🔵 @RandyOrton
🔴 @KingRicochet
🔴 @BraunStrowman
🔴 @DMcIntyreWWE
🔴 @BaronCorbinWWE#SDLive pic.twitter.com/2sPXPCgMKA
Unlike last night, there were no introductions or arguments, simply an announcement from the commentators regarding the identity of the 4 SmackDown Live representatives for the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. The four men will be Andrade, Ali, Finn Bálor, and Randy Orton.
Roman Reigns’ Feud with Shane O’Mac Continues
Yeah. He’s feeling right home on #SDLive! @WWERomanReigns pic.twitter.com/f9XC4h2iqb
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 1, 2019
After showing a video package of the events leading up to the match between Roman Reigns and Elias at Money in the Bank, Reigns said that he was simply trying to make an impact on SmackDown Live, and what better way than to knock out Vince McMahon. And he understood that he would be facing Elias because Elias is currently the McMahon’s chump (?).
Shane McMahon came to the stage, criticizing Roman for attacking a “national treasure” like Vince McMahon. He then reminded Roman that he and Elias left Roman lying flat on his back last week.
Roman challenged Shane to come to the ring so they could settle their differences one-on-one. Shane said he had an appointment to make, but he had two men who would be more than happy to accept the challenge in his place – Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.
Roman mocked Shane for placing him in a handicap match, so to make things even harder for Roman, Shane appointed Elias as guest enforcer for the match.
Roman Reigns vs. Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel
It ain’t easy to keep #TheBigDog down, @IAmEliasWWE!#SDLive #HandicapMatch @RealCurtisAxel pic.twitter.com/bXyk4JZZZ2
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 1, 2019
Roman Reigns seemed less than concerned over this handicap match, but possibly took the challenge a little too lightly, as Dallas and Axel were able to work together to wear down The Big Dog.
Plus, Elias was at ringside to distract the referee as often as possible, giving The B-Team plenty of opportunity to ignore the rules, while getting in a few attacks of his own.
Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds, Roman Reigns began to pick up steam, Samoan Dropping Curtis Axel before Superman Punching Bo Dallas. Axel tried to pin Reigns with a roll-up, but Reigns escaped, throwing another Superman Punch, this time at Curtis, and would have won, but Elias pulled the referee from the ring at the last second.
Elias pummeled Roman at ringside, setting Curtis Axel up for a suplex, but Roman kicked out. Enraged, Elias brought his guitar into the ring, ready to attack Roman, but Roman took care of him with a Superman Punch before spearing Curtis Axel for the victory.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Finn Bálor and Ali vs. Randy Orton and Andrade
The TANDEM of @FinnBalor and @AliWWE = 💲💲💲 #SDLive pic.twitter.com/uAyYk43PYS
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) May 1, 2019
To demonstrate their talents ahead of the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, the four men chose sides, Finn Bálor and Ali teaming up against Randy Orton and Andrade.
However, the dissension between Andrade and Orton began before the bell even rang, Andrade informing Randy that if he felt like learning a thing or two, all he had to do was tag Andrade into the match. Bálor and Andrade, on the other hand, shook hands before the match, clearly putting their coming rivalry aside for the occasion.
Presumably to show that he was just fine on his own, Randy Orton took on Ali on his own, refusing to tag Andrade in until he absolutely had to. Ali tagged out as well, leaving Finn Bálor to go one-on-one with Andrade.
Andrade and Randy Orton outside of the ring, Ali and Bálor hit matching dives on their opponents, Bálor attempting to follow it up with a Coup de Grâce, but was thwarted by Zelina Vega.
With a slingblade from Finn Bálor followed by a 450 from Ali, the good guys defeated Andrade and Randy Orton. To top it off, Randy Orton tried to attack Ali post-match, but Ali fought him off, standing tall to close the segment.
Winner: Ali and Finn Bálor
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Here are your Women’s #MITB #LadderMatch participants:
— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2019
🔵 @itsBayleyWWE
🔵 @WWE_MandyRose
🔵 @CarmellaWWE
🔵 @WWEEmberMoon
🔴 @AlexaBliss_WWE
🔴 @NatbyNature
🔴 @NaomiWWE
🔴 @DanaBrookeWWE#SDLive pic.twitter.com/r1SDjhdeRf
We already knew that Mandy Rose and Bayley would be representing SmackDown Live in the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match, but the remaining two were still a mystery.
Backstage, the two women revealed themselves to be Carmella and Ember Moon, who, of course, each staked claim to the briefcase.
The Kevin Owens Show: Xavier Woods
.@TrueKofi has heard ENOUGH out of @FightOwensFight! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/ZlL6Afw9EH
— WWE (@WWE) May 1, 2019
Abandoning any pageantry to highlight the contrast between himself and The New Day, Kevin Owens had no signs, props, or decoration at all for this edition of The Kevin Owens Show.
Before welcoming his guest, Kevin Owens continued his earlier diatribe, tearing the WWE Champion Kofi Kingston down and saying that he would be taking everything from Kofi at Money in the Bank.
Owens asked Xavier Woods to join him in the ring, and when Woods didn’t appear, Kevin produced action figure models of Xavier Woods and Big E from his pocket, insulting the miniature version of his new enemies.
Xavier Woods never came, but Kofi Kingston did, viciously attacking Kevin Owens. When Owens realized he had little chance of overcoming Kingston, he escaped through the crowd while Kofi screamed after him from the top rope.
