WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
April 26, 2024
Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Commentary: Corey Graves and Wade Barrett
Results by: Roy Nemer of Wrestleview.com
WWE SmackDown kicks off with clips of Cody Rhodes, AJ Styles, Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair showing up to the arena.
We cut to Kayla Braxton backstage with Paul Heyman. He tells her that there are no rumors about Roman Reigns, there are facts. He says Roman Reigns has width drawn from eligibility from the 2024 draft. It is not a negative, it is a positive. He says Roman Reigns built SmackDown since the pandemic, Roman is the biggest star in the industry. He asks why Roman would hog the number one draft pick and the spotlight when he won’t be returning in the immediate future. That is not what a real tribal chief would do. Instead, the pressure is on Nick Aldis because if Roman Reigns is not the first draft pick, who is the first draft pick? Heyman says he is intrigued and walks away.
We cut to Jackie Redmond inside the NXT Performance Center in Florida. She says last year, Grayson Waller wished he would be drafted and now he is a tag team champion.
Back on SmackDown, Corey Graves is in the ring. With two tables behind him, he welcomes everyone to the draft. He says he will be moderating the contract signing for the Undisputed WWE Championship match at Backlash. He introduces AJ Styles to the ring.
WWE Undisputed Championship Match Contract Signing
AJ’s music hits and out he comes to the ring for the contract signing. Graves introduces the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to the ring and out he comes.
Cody places the Championship on the podium in the middle and takes a seat on one side of the ring with AJ Styles sitting on the other side. The fans chant “Cody” and AJ reads through the contract.
AJ says that before he signs it, he says they have two Georgia boys for the first time for the biggest prize in the game. He can understand why they boo him but they have to know that he does not respect LA Knight and he got under his skin. That is why he lost at WrestleMania but what happened was he got his composure back and he realized that he is phenomenal. He says he beat LA Knight to earn the right to fight Cody Rhodes at Backlash but unlike LA Knight, he respects Cody. They have been down the same roads and they have to prove themselves outside of WWE. And he is willing to believe that the same man who gave him advice a long time ago, gave him the same advice. How to be their own man and he goes by the name of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes.
The fans chant “Dusty”. AJ says he learned a lot from his Dusty, he was a good man. He taught him how to carry himself and how to carry the weight of a champion. AJ looks at the belt and he says he looks at it and the weights of this isn’t just of leather and gold. And at Backlash, they are going to see if Cody can carry it. AJ signs the contract and Graves gives it to Cody to sign.
Cody asks the crowd what they want to talk about. They can talk about respect, there is not a locker room that you will find where every single person, they all respect AJ Styles. He said last week, he said AJ was the modern day excellence of execution. They respect each other but at Backlash, that will be put aside. And he thinks AJ is implying that he cannot carry the weight of the Championship. He says the person who trained him once told him that it is not about winning the title, it is about keeping it. And he respects AJ but when he signs it, at Backlash, no matter how phenomenal AJ is, this is not a dream match for him but a must win. Cody signs the contract.
Both men stand up and Cody extends his hand. AJ tells Cody it was a beautiful thing to see him finish the story and get the championship but it is a shame that his title reign is going to end at Backlash. Both men shake hands and AJ leaves the ring with fans booing him. Cody’s music hits and he lifts the Championship in the air and leaves the ring.
Cody walks down the ramp and Triple H’s music hits. They shake hands and Cody joins Triple H on the podium on the ramp. Triple H welcomes everyone to the first round of the 2024 WWE Draft. Triple H says champions are protected and Cody will be staying on SmackDown, he thought maybe Cody could read the SmackDown picks and he will read the Raw picks.
First Round Draft picks:
SmackDown picks: Bianca Belair
Raw picks: Jey Uso
SmackDown picks: Carmelo Hayes
Raw picks: Seth Rollins
Carmelo Hayes comes out and he tells Cody that ever since Cody won the title, he kept saying if you come for the king, you best not miss. The thing about him is when he shoots, he doesn’t miss. And as a first round draft pick, he can’t think of a better way than to shoot his shot on SmackDown than to shoot it against Cody.
Cody tells Carmelo that the fans don’t want to see him in action tonight do they? And the fans cheer. He says what if he forgot his gear and the fans boo. Cody says he didn’t forget his gear and the Championship for him means that Carmelo is on. They shake hands and Cody’s music hits.
-Commercial Break-
Legado Del Fantasma vs. LWO
Huberto and Dragon Lee start the match,. Dragon Lee with a head scissor take down and Humberto falls to the outside. Dragon Lee with a splash over the top rope onto Humberto. He throws Humberto back in the ring and lands a cross body. He goes for the cover but Humberto kicks out. Dragon Lee with an arm bar but Humberto gets out of it. He throws Dragon Lee to the ropes and Angel lowers the middle rope and Dragon Lee falls to the outside.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Rey with a head scissor take down onto Angel. Rey climbs the top rope and he lands a seated senton. Rey goes for the cover but Humberto breaks it up. Rey throws Humberto to the outside. Angel goes for a double underhook suplex but Rey reverses it and Angel falls onto the second rope. Rey tags Dragon Lee and Rey hits Angel with the 619. Dragon Lee hits Angel with the Project Dragon. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winners: LWO
The LWO celebrate in the middle of the ring but out comes Santos Escobar and Elektra Lopez. Santos says he is many things but a liar he is not. And when he said he did not attack Dragon Lee before WrestleMania 40, he meant it. Elektra has been working for weeks to track down the security footage for that evening. He tells Rey what he is about to see, he will find it very interesting.
We see security footage of Carlito attacking Dragon Lee from behind and throwing him into a garage door. Back in the ring, Carlito pushes Rey down and attacks Dragon Lee from behind. Zelina throws her slipper at Carlito who leaves the ring and jumps the barricade.
-Commercial Break-
Bron Breakker vs. Cedric Alexander
The bell rings and we are under way. Bron goes for a clothesline but Cedrick ducks. Cedric with chops to the chest. He tries to send Bron to the ropes but Bron throws Cedric to the ropes. Cedric with a handstand run to the ropes, he turns around, lands on his feet and Bron hits him with a spear. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Bron Breakker
We see clips of last week’s match between Bayley and Naomi and Tiffany Stratton attacking both women.
We cut to the arena and Nick Aldis leaves his office. Tiffany Stratton stops him and she tells him that she dropped Naomi and Bayley last week. She asks when her match is against Bayley. Aldis says it’s not Tiffany time on his watch and that he was going to send her to the back of the line until someone gave him the idea of having Tiffany against Naomi tonight. The winner will face Bayley at Backlash for the WWE Women’s Championship. Tiffany asks him who’s stupid idea that was and in comes Bayley. Tiffany tells Bayley she can be at ringside for her win tonight.
We see Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson walking backstage holding draft pick cards.
-Commercial Break-
Out come Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson for the WWE draft. They both stand on the podium and announce the picks. Michelle McCool announces the SmackDown picks and Torrie Wilson announces the Raw picks.
Second Round Draft picks:
SmackDown picks: Randy Orton
Raw picks: Bron Breakker
SmackDown picks: Nia Jax
Raw picks: Liv Morgan
We see clips of Tama Tonga attacking Kevin Owens last week.
Paul Heyman is backstage and in comes a black SUV. Heyman stands there for a few seconds and apologizes as he opens the car door and out step Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga. Solo asks Heyman if The Bloodline has gotten drafted and Heyman tells him not yet. Solo asks him to give him all the details. Heyman says Roman was excluded from the draft, Solo is adding new members to The Bloodline and with all due respect, no one knows what they are getting when they draft The Bloodline. In steps Tama Tonga and Solo asks Heyman to repeat what he said one more time. Kevin Owens attacks Tama Tonga from behind and WWE officials break it up.
-Commercial Break-
Kayla Braxton is standing in front of the ramp and she introduces Bianca Belair. Out she comes and Kayla congratulates her on being the first overall pick. She says at Backlash, her and Jade Cargill will take on the Kabuki Warriors for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Bianca says she hopes Jade gets drafted to SmackDown on Monday and she says Jade is the perfect person to help her take down Damage CTRL.
Bianca says once they take the titles away from them, the Kabuki Warriors won’t even have a reason to show up on SmackDown. Out come Asuka and Kairi Sane. All three women argue and Jade’s music hits and out she comes. Both teams are face to face arguing. While they argue, Kevin Owens and Tama Tonga fight through the entrance ramp and in between both teams. They fight into the ring.
Kevin with a double leg take down but out comes Solo Sikoa. He attacks Kevin Owens from behind and they double team Owens. WWE officials run down but Tama Tonga attacks them all.
Randy Orton’s music hits and out he walks to the ring. Orton hits Tama Tonga with a clothesline. He goes for an RKO on Solo but Solo pushes him away and leaves the ring. Orton chases Solo but WWE officials grab Orton. The fans chant “Randy” but WWE officials separate both teams.
Bubba Ray Dudley leaves the SmackDown office and D-Von Dudley leaves the Raw office with draft picks.
-Commercial Break-
Out come The Dudley Boyz for the WWE draft picks. The fans chant “ECW” and “We want tables”. The Dudley Boyz wear their Dudley glasses. Bubba Ray picks for SmackDown and D-Von picks for Raw:
Third Round Draft picks:
SmackDown picks: LA Knight
Raw picks: Ricochet
SmackDown picks: Solo Sikoa, “MFT” Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman
Raw picks: Sheamus
Out comes Tiffany Stratton to the ring for her match.
Number 1 contender’s match -Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi
The bell rings and we are under way with Bayley on commentary. Naomi with right hands and she throws Tiffany to the ropes but Tiffany rolls to the outside. Naomi to the outside and she hits Tiffany with right hands. She slams her face first onto the ring apron and into the ring. Naomi goes for a splash off the top rope, Tiffany moves out of the way and Naomi lands on her feet. Tiffany with a hip attack.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Naomi with a sunset flip cover but Tiffany kicks out. Naomi with a head scissor slam. She goes for the cover but Tiffany kicks out. Both women run to the ropes but both women slam each other onto the mat. Both women on their feet, Tiffany goes for a suplex, Naomi kicks her away.
Nia Jax attacks Bayley on the outside form behind. Naomi sees it and goes to the outside. Nia Jax pushes her into the ring post and the referee calls for the ball.
Winner: No contest
Nia slams Bayley onto the outside. Tiffany throws Naomi and Bayley into the ring. She places them next to each other and hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.
The Street Profits and B-Fab are backstage. Dawkins is wearing a Bengals NFL jersey. In comes Byron Saxton and B-Fab tells Byron that next week, they will become new WWE Tag Team Champions. In come Austin Theory and Grayson Waller and Waller tells Dawkins that they are champions, something the Bengals know nothing about. Bobby Lashley steps in and as he does, Theory and Waller walk away.
We cut to Teddy Long and JBL leaving the SmackDown and Raw offices.
-Commercial Break-
Karrion Kross and Scarlett are outside of the arena. We hear noise and Karrion brings the camera behind him,. The Final Testament attack the New Catch Republic and Karrion Kross says they will continue to rule Raw or SmackDown.
Out come Teddy Long and JBL for the draft picks. Teddy Long picks for SmackDown and JBL for Raw.
Fourth Round Draft pick:
SmackDown picks: AJ Styles
Raw picks: Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri
SmackDown picks: Andrade
Raw picks: Kiana James
We cut to Florida and Jackie Redmond is with Kiana James. She tells Jackie that it means the world to her but she knows that every decision she has made, has brought her to this moment. James says she is ready to show Raw that she is the 1% and in comes Shawn Michaels who congratulates her.
-Commercial Break-
Kayla Braxton is backstage with Nick Aldis. He tells her that he feels good about their selection, the future is bright and he can’t wait for the new recruits to show up.
Aldis says two new matches have been added to Backlash in Lyon, France. Bayley will defend her WWE Women’s Championship against Naomi and Tiffany Stratton. In comes Teddy Long and he announces The Bloodline against Kevin Owens and Randy Orton.
Cody Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes
The bell rings and we are under way. A loud “Cody” chant. Cody with a right hand but Carmelo with a right hand. Cody with a clothesline.
-Commercial Break-
Back from commercial, Cody with a headlock in the middle of the ring. Carmelo gets out of it and he hits Cody with a chop to the chest. Cody with forearms to the face. Cody runs to the ropes but Carmelo with an elbow. Right hands and a chop to the chest by Carmelo. Cody throws Carmelo in the corner and he stomps on him. Cody with a back drop.
He grabs Carmelo but Carmelo with a facebuster. Carmelo jumps off the second rope and lands a DDT. He goes for the cover but Cody kicks out. Carmelo grabs Cody but Cody rolls him up but Carmelo kicks out. Cody with a disaster kick. He goes for the cover but Carmelo kicks out. Cody with a running powerslam. He goes for the cover but Hayes kicks out. Cody hits him with the Cody Cutter. He goes for the cover but Carmelo kicks out. Cody goes for the Cross Rhodes, Carmelo lands on his feet, he hits Cody with the First 48. Carmelo jumps off the top rope, Cody moves, Carmelo lands on his feet, both men with springboards off the second rope and miss each other. Cody holds his shoulder, Carmelo grabs Cody but Cody hits him with the Cross Rhodes. He goes for the cover and gets the pin.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Cody celebrates on the top rope. He turns around and AJ Styles is in the ring. Both men are face to face and SmackDown goes off the air.