So Just before SmackDown started this week I had the bright idea to do a sort of recap/review of it, so this is that.
If you dig it, maybe I’ll do more, if not all’s good.
Anywho, for the April 14th edition of SmackDown, here is my rundown…
Opening segment: The Men’s Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owen’s make their way to the ring for a promo, as we get a flash back to KO being taken out last week and Matt Riddle assisting Sami against Solo Sikoa & Uso.
Sami takes about he and KO main eventing WrestleMania and their history. KO mentions the Usos and they soon show up, with Solo.
The Usos proclaim the Bloodline is more stronger than ever and that they’ll reclaim the Tag Titles soon, and predict Sami will soon turn on KO.
The 3 Bloodliners surround the ring and Matt Riddle attacks before they can outnumber and overpower the Champs.
End segment.
Segment 2: Backstage, Adam Pierce makes a Match between Solo & Riddle.
Match 1: Xavier Woods Vs L.A. Knight
Knight gets an early advantage with a side head lock and a shoulder tackle, but Woods turns the tide with a snappy drop kick.
We get some great back and forth offense from both competitors until Knight gets the upper hand and we head to commercial.
Back from the break, Woods is in control for a moment before Knight takes over.
We get a few pin attempts from both men.
After about 11 and a half minutes, with a failed attempt by Knight, Woods gets the win by using the tights for leverage.
Segment 3: We get Imperium backstage jaw jacking as Woods interrupts with his tomebone and challenges Gunther to an Intercontinental Title match.
Elsewhere, Sami advises Riddle to be careful against Solo, and KO tells him to throw careful out the window.
We then get Kayla interviewing Judgement Day, before they make their way to the ring…
Match 2: Damien Priest Vs Santos Escobar
Before the match, Priest cuts a promo on Silly Wabbit (Bad Bunny) about getting involved at Backlash. We then see footage of Bunny putting hands on Dominik Mysterio on the Raw after Mania.
Escobar & the LWO attack from behind as we head to break.
Back from commercial, the match has already started and we see Escobar fighting his way out of the corner.
Priest is using his size to his advantage and manhandling the smaller man in Escobar.
Escobar uses his quickness to get the upper hand and gets a near fall, but soon after Priest takes control again and kicks Escobar out of the ring.
Priest takes Escobar down outside and we head back to commercial.
Back from the break, Priest is still in control.
Escobar keeps making attempts at a come back, but Priest stops him in his tracks.
Escobar eventually gets the upper hand and launches Priest from the top rope.
Priest tries to fight back, but Escobar is building momentum.
Another near fall, and Dom & Rhea distract long enough for Priest to get a hit in.
The LWO and Judgement Day battle it out around the ring as Priest slams Escobar for the win after nearly 13 mins.
Afterthe match, Rey Mysterios music hits and he appears to support the LWO, almost hitting 619 on Dom.
Segment 4: Paul Heyman hypes up Solo, telling him when somebody embarrasses him they embarrass the entire Anoa’i family.
Solo stops Paul’s speech.
The Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez make their way to the ring for a celebration, as we head to commercial…
Segment 5: Back from commercial, we get a recap of how Liv & Raquel won the titles this past Monday night on Raw.
In the ring, the ladies talk about how they’ve bonded so quickly, but they’re soon interrupted by Sonya Deville & Chelsea Green who call their legitimacy as champs into question.
After some jaw jacking, Liv says the 2 interrupters would make for good challengers and launches an attack.
We get a tease that Shinsuke Nakamura is returning next as we head back to commercial.
Back from commercial, with a tweaked entrance theme and new gear, Shinsuke makes his way to the ring for a match against Madcap Moss.
Match 3: Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Madcap Moss
Madcap comes off the bell strong and quickly gets Shin down on the mat, but Shin fights back fast.
After a minute and a half, Nakamura hits his finisher and gets a clean win.
After the match, Moss attempts to sneak attack and gets taken down with ease.
Backstage, we see Scarlett & Karrion Kross who lay out a tarot card with Nakamura on it, officially setting him in their sights.
We then see Riddle preparing for his match, up next, as we head to commercial.
Segment 6: Richocet & Braun Strowman are walking backstage and the Viking Raiders attack them out of nowhere.
Back from commercial, Riddle makes his way to the ring accompanied by the Men’s Tag Team Champions.
Solo Sikoa comes out with his brothers, The Usos, and Paul Heyman at his back.
Paul announces a Tag Title rematch 2 weeks from tonight.
We then head back to commercial.
Main Event: Matt Riddle Vs Solo Sikoa
Back from commercial, we get a rundown of what’s coming next week.
The match begins with Riddle taking control early, kicking Solo into the corner then twice going for a sleeper.
Solo breaks the hold both times.
Riddle goes for it a third time, and Solo breaks it again and gives Riddle a stiff right hand to the chin, taking over the momentum.
Riddle starts fighting back, but he’s tripped but the Usos.
As KO, Sami, & the Usos come face to face outside the ring, the ref throws all out and we take our final commercial break.
Back from the break, Riddle was in control, but Solo quickly slows him down with an elbow.
We get a back and forth slugfest, that leads to Riddle taking control again.
Riddle gets a near fall, but the Usos & the Champs make their way back to ring side.
Riddle knocks down Solo, he takes out the Usos, heads to the top rope, but Solo kicks him as he jumps off, hits a Samoan Spike, and gets the win after about 11 mins.
After the match, Solo decimates Riddle with Uranagi then flips the announce table over onto him.
We end the show as Solo & the Usos head out.
Overall: Not a bad show.
We got some good set-ups for the next couple of weeks, but also some damn solid matches.
SmackDown has always been the show that showcases wrestling more so over the dramatics, and this proves it.
Hell, even the major non-wrestling segment had a good brawl this week as well.
The fallout of WrestleMania is still being felt and the build-up to Backlash is kicking into high gear.
So yeah, all in all, this was a tight and coherent show this week, and I dug it.
Worth checking out on YouTube, if you have the time and interest.
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