WWE Smackdown Results
April 7, 2016
Houston, Texas
Report by: Alex Kahrs of Wrestleview.com
“WWE: Then. Now. Forever.”
We get a video recap of the sports entertainment spectacle that was Wrestlemania, from the big matches to the entrances and stunts pulled off. The video ends with Roman Reigns holding his WWE World Heavyweight Championship up high, before the Smackdown intro brings us to a packed arena in Houston. Mauro welcomes us to Smackdown when Roman Reigns’ music hits, bringing out the divided opinion of the crowd as the new champion makes his way to the ring. Commentary talks about Roman winning the title on Sunday from Triple H, and we see that Roman has a mic in hand but the crowd is keeping him from talking at first with a large contingency of booing.
“At Wrestlemania, I fought the Authority and I won! And I took back MY WWE World Heavyweight Championship. When you have this, everybody wants it so it’s one versus all. You can love me, or you can hate me. I don’t care, because I’m not the bad guy or the good guy, I’m THE guy! I gotta do what I gotta do, and I’m gonna beat AJ Styles!”
AJ’s music hits, bringing the Phenomenal One out to interrupt the champ. AJ stares Roman down before getting a mic from ringside as the crowd begins a dueling “AJ Styles/Roman Reigns” chant. AJ says Roman had a HECK of a Wrestlemania! Truth is, I came out here to congratulate you on being the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. AJ and Roman shake hands, and AJ says “BUT…I had a heck of a Monday Night RAW!” I beat three other Superstars to become the number 1 contender, and I’m coming after that (pointing to the title) next! I’ve beaten the best, and I’ve had a title, so if I have to beat THE guy to be the best so be it! Roman says AJ hasn’t been around here that long…to be THE champ, you’ve gotta have THE championship! And if you want this, you have to beat THE guy! Dueling chants for both men from the crowd again, as Roman says AJ’s been all over the world but he hasn’t beat Roman…and he never will. He drops the mic, patting AJ as he walks out of the ring. Commentary puts over the impending match before going back to Monday night, when Mr. McMahon allows Shane to run RAW that night. Commentary hypes a big tag match for later tonight as AJ Styles teams with Cesaro to take on Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens!
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, the Lucha Dragons make their way out to the ring for the opening match of the night when we see curtains close on the WWE logo before a man in a top hat comes out with a megaphone.
“Gather round everyone, and witness the debonair devastation of such exisquite sophistication! Aiden English, Simon Gotch…the Vaudevillains!”
The Vaudevillains make their way to the ring, as commentary puts over the former NXT Tag Team Champions, letting us know they believe “Old School is Cool” and mentioning their history with the Lucha Dragons back in NXT.
The Lucha Dragons vs. The Vaudevillains
English and Cara start things off with a lock up, but Cara hits a shoulder tackle. Sin Cara follows with a back body drop and a body slam before tagging in Kalisto, who gets the assist on a monkey flip 450 splash for a nearfall. Kalisto wrings the arm of English as Sin Cara tags back in, laying into English with a chop on the ropes and in the corner. Gotch tags himself in as Sin Cara takes English out of the ring. Sin Cara goes for a tope but Gotch catches him with a knee to the face on the apron! Gotch comes in with some ground and pound, driving a knee into the back and hitting Sin Cara with an European uppercut before tagging in English. Both men hit “Dukes Up” on Sin Cara before English going back to work on Sin Cara. English poses, allowing Sin Cara to get some momentum and getting a tag to Kalisto as English tags in Gotch. Kalisto hits a springboard corkscrew on Gotch, followed by some hard kicks and a rollup into a kick to the head for a nearfall before English breaks the count. Sin Cara takes English out of the ring before diving to the outside on him! Gotch hits a dropkick on Sin Cara, but takes a spinning heel kick by Kalisto who goes for the Salida Del Sol but English gets a tag and helps Gotch slam Kalisto onto the mat! English tags Gotch back in, before they hit the Whirling Dervish for the win!
Winners via pinfall: The Vaudevillains
Gotch and English celebrate in the ring as we get a replay of the highlights and finish. Commentary talks about Wrestlemania, focusing on the Intercontinental Championship ladder match and the shock of Zack Ryder winning! We then go to Monday night, when Ryder defended his title against The Miz. Highlights included Miz talking down Ryder’s dad and the return of Maryse, who indirectly helped Miz win the title from Ryder! We then get hype for the rematch as Ryder takes on Miz later tonight!
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, we get some more photos from Wrestlemania before going to Summer Rae in the ring for the next match! We then see that Charlotte is hanging out at commentary as we go back to Monday where a special presentation leads to Natalya locking Charlotte in the Sharpshooter! Speaking of, Natalya makes her way to the ring before the match gets underway!
Summer Rae vs. Natalya
Both women lock up, and Natalya gets a rollup for a nearfall. They exchange holds and Natalya gets an armlock until Summer powers out. Natalya hits a slam off the ropes and a stomp on the head of Summer, but Summer starts countering and takes Natalya to the ropes and out of the ring. Summer hits a snap suplex on the outside before taking Natalya back in for a nearfall. Summer with a kick to the back of Natalya twice over for another nearfall, and now locking in a chinlock as Natalya struggles to build to a vertical base. Natalya is out, but Summer catches her with a heel kick for a nearfall. Natalya in the corner now, counters another kick for a single leg takedown before locking Summer in the Sharpshooter. Summer has no choice but to tap out!
Winner via submission: Natalya
Natalya calls out Charlotte from the apron, staring the Women’s Champion down as we talk about AJ Styles becoming the #1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship! We’ll see how that came about, up next!
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, we see clips of media coverage for Wrestlemania before going to the RAW Rebound, focusing on the road ahead for new champion Roman Reigns. A Fatal Four Way main event determined a new #1 contender, ending in AJ hitting the Styles Clash on Jericho to win! Commentary hypes the big tag match later tonight, as Styles and Cesaro team up to face Jericho and Owens.
“WOO WOO WOO, YOU KNOW IT!”
Zack Ryder makes his way to the ring for his big rematch against The Miz up next, as we go to commercial.
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, Maryse makes her way to the stage to introduce herself and her husband, YOUR Intercontinental Champion, The Miz! The now five time champion makes his way out as commentary talk briefly about the history of the title and what happened on Monday. With that the rematch is underway!
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Miz (c) vs. Zack Ryder
Both men lock up, and Miz gets Ryder in a headlock before going off the ropes to hit a shoulder tackle. Miz going for a neckbreaker but Ryder rolls him up for a nearfall, hitting a backslide and a jackknife cover for another one each. Ryder off the rope for another nearfall. Miz gets back in control, but Ryder gets out of a suplex attempt and sends Miz to the outside before hitting a dropkick off the apron to Miz on the outside! Ryder brings Miz back into the ring for a nearfall as we go to commercial.
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, Miz is starting to get back into control as he slams Ryder down and hits a boot to the head. Miz locks in a rear chinlock on Ryder, who struggles to his feet and drops Miz on his jaw. Miz answers with a neckbreaker for a nearfall, before driving his right hand and a boot on Ryder. Miz with a hard boot to the back of Ryder’s head for a nearfall, locking in the rear chinlock again. Ryder back on his feet, but Miz hits him with a knee to bring him back to the mat. Miz lifts Ryder for a suplex, but Ryder counters into a neckbreaker. Ryder with a back elbow and a back lariat sending Miz into the corner, but Miz counters into a nearfall! Ryder blocks a shoulder tackle with a boot to Miz, who gets his knees up and hits a DDT on Ryder for a nearfall. Miz looks ready for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Ryder blocks it before hitting a facebuster and a reverse bulldog for a nearfall! Miz in the corner now as Ryder catches him with a leaping forearm, but Miz avoids a Broski Boot. Ryder stops him sending his leg into the corner, dropkicking him to the floor before hitting the Broski Boot on the barricade. Ryder climbs to the top, hitting the El-Bro Drop…but Miz just barely kicks out! Miz gets to the corner, surprising Ryder with a kick to the head, but Ryder responds with some elbows and stomps in the corner as Maryse removes the bottom turnbuckle, tossing it into the ring. Ryder picks it up, but the ref takes it away to put it back in the corner as Miz hits a thumb to the eye and the Skull Crushing Finale for the win!
Winner via pinfall and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: The Miz
Miz and Maryse go up the ramp as commentary hypes the tag match later tonight as Styles and Cesaro take on Jericho and Owens!
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, we see more photos from Wrestlemania before going back to ringside, where the Social Outcasts are sitting on the apron. Heath Slater says that one of them has to take on that kid Apollo Crews. They proceed to decide who goes via rock paper scissors, won/lost by Curtis Axel before Apollo Crews makes his way to the ring for his Smackdown debut!
Curtis Axel vs. Apollo Crews
Curtis leaves the ring, leading the Social Outcasts in a victory lap around the ring before going back in…only to take a hard right hand by Crews sending him over the rope! Back in the ring is Axel, who locks up with Crews and ends up in the corner as Crews lays into him with a shoulder and some punches. Social Outcasts get involved on the apron, enough of a distraction for Axel to drop Crews to a knee. Crews in the corner now, as Axel lays into him with some stomps and a dropkick off the ropes. Axel drives a knee into the back of Crews, locking int a sleeper hold but Crews powers out of it quickly. Crews hits a dropkick and a shoulder tackle on Axel, before landing a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Outcasts get involved again, but not enough to stop Crews hitting a spinning sitout powerbomb for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Apollo Crews
We get highlights of the match, including the finish as Apollo challenges the Outcasts to get involved. They think better of it, regrouping on the ramp as commentary talks about the street fight between Dean Ambrose and Brock Lesnar and the fact Ambrose is back on Smackdown tonight! They then hype the tag match before going to commercial.
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, commentary talks about the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and surprises like Shaq and DDP, before seeing Baron Corbin win the match and make a statement the next night on RAW in a match against Dolph Ziggler that ended in a double count out. The brawl continued until Corbin delivered the End of Days on Ziggler. Backstage, Tom Phillips is with Baron Corbin, who says he won’t waste his time. He’s had two matches in WWE, won a trophy at Wrestlemania and put a dent in the floor with Dolph Ziggler’s head on RAW. The End of Days isn’t coming…it’s here. He walks off as commentary talks about the Women’s Championship match at Wrestlemania, which ended with Charlotte getting just a little help from her father en route to winning the WWE Women’s Championship. Backstage, Renee Young is with Becky Lynch asking her thoughts on Wrestlemania. Becky said Sunday was the most brutal match of her career, and she gave it everything she had. That’s what the Women’s Championship is all about: it’s all about heart, passion, and the fight to be the best. That’s why on Monday, when Charlotte had to make it all about herself, she walked away. She says she’ll be back in the title picture, because she still owes Charlotte for what she did. Emma appears, making jokes about her eye and saying Becky was handed all these title opportunities and belongs in the back of the line. Becky tells her to walk off or she’ll give her a similar effect to the eye. Back at ringside, Dean Ambrose makes his way to the ring as he is set for action next!
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, we get a video for the Colons from Puerto Rico, the shining star of the Caribbean! Dean Ambrose is still in the ring as we see photos for the No Holds Barred Street Fight between him and Brock Lesnar, which ended with Brock hitting an F5 onto steel chairs for the win. Tyler Breeze makes his way to the ring now, as commentary talks some more about the battle royal at Wrestlemania. Breeze sets down his selfie stick, and this match is underway!
Dean Ambrose vs. Tyler Breeze
Dean immediately on the offensive with some hard chops, but Breeze hits an enziguri to get some momentum. He follows with some more kicks, but Dean hits the whirlybird lariat and Dirty Deeds for the win!
Winner via pinfall: Dean Ambrose
Dean celebrates before leaving the ring, when Jericho makes his way out. Ambrose just looks at Jericho, who ignores him on his way to the ring as we go to commercial.
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, Goldust is on the phone with someone when R-Truth appears with a camera before talking about Shattered Dreams Productions 2. Next Monday on RAW, we’re in LA…and Truth has a connection with a top Hollywood producer that can give Goldust an audition. Back at ringside, Owens makes his way down to the ring as we go to RAW on Monday, when Owens took out Sami Zayn with a powerbomb through a table backstage forcing Zayn out of the Fatal Four Way match that night. Owens and Jericho talk each other down as Cesaro makes his way to the ring next, doing the pullaway suit gag from RAW before heading to the ring to a big pop from the crowd as AJ Styles makes his way out to the ring.
Main Event – Tag Team Match
Chris Jericho & Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro & AJ Styles
Styles and Jericho start things out with a lockup, but Jericho dodges one dropkick only to take another before Cesaro is tagged in. Cesaro gets the drop on Jericho with a double axe handle before landing a European Uppercut as he tags in Styles. Double stomp and elbow drop gets a nearfall for Styles, before Jericho leaves the ring in frustration. Jericho takes the top off the announce table and Owens pulls the top steel step off as we go to commercial.
-Commercial-
Back from commercial, Styles gets an armdrag on Jericho before tagging in Cesaro, who wrenches the arm of Y2J. Jericho counters, tagging in Owens. Owens goes for an uppercut, but Cesaro hits one of his own as Owens goes to tag in Jericho. Jericho in, but Cesaro powers out before landing European Uppercuts on both opponents. Jericho falls, nearly getting swung until Owens interrupts, nearly taking a swing for himself. Owens gets to the rope, leaving the ring as Jericho takes Cesaro over the top rope out of the ring. Owens grabs Cesaro, throwing him into the announce table as the ref starts the count after accosting Owens. Jericho hits Cesaro, bringing him back into the ring to hit a slingshot splash for a nearfall. Jericho hits a chop and a right hand as he tags in Owens, as the two of them lay into Cesaro before Owens mocks Styles. Owens with a clothesline for a nearfall, still going to work on the Swiss Superman as he tags in Jericho. Jericho hits a vertical suplex, with a cocky cover for the nearfall. Cesaro slowly gets to a vertical base, and Jericho catches Cesaro with a knee only to get lifted up into a European Uppercut by Cesaro. This takes a lot of wind out of Cesaro, who looks to get the tag to Styles before Jericho gets thrown out of the ring. Just as Cesaro can get the tag, Styles is dropped off the apron by Jericho who mocks Cesaro tagging in Owens. Owens misses a running senton in the corner, allowing Cesaro to get the tag to Styles. Styles unleashes a flurry of offense on the former IC champion, while also dropping Jericho with a Ushigoroshi and a sitout facebuster on Owens for a nearfall. Styles sets up Owens, but gets a back body drop for his troubles. Styles off the ropes for a moonsault, but takes a superkick by Owens for the nearfall. Owens lifts Styles onto his shoulders, but Styles gets out and hits a Pele Kick. Styles goes to the ropes, but a distraction by Owens allows Jericho to take him off the rope and Owens gets a nearfall in the process. Owens drops Styles with a package powerbomb for the nearfall, before Cesaro breaks the count. Jericho and Cesaro go to the outside, where Cesaro catches Y2J with a European Uppercut. Back in the ring, Owens looks to throw Styles out until Zayn comes out to the ring, being held back by staff as Styles rolls up Owens for the win!
Winners via pinfall: Cesaro & AJ Styles
Owens gets out of the ring to fight with Sami Zayn, throwing the former NXT Champion into the steel steps before staff hold Owens back. We see Zayn hurting by the steps as Owens shouts “I HATE YOU” before the show comes to a close.